novelSusiti Chapter 22 Nunu called Lychee
Chapter 22 Nunu called Lychee
The Lychee Girl obtained a "ticket" with a single silver bean. Li Xuan arranged for this distinguished guest to stay in the best "first class" cabin. Since the girl had come specifically for Li Ji, and seemed well-mannered and attractive...
Li Xuan cunningly arranged for Li Ji to take charge of Lychee's daily life. These past few days, Li Ji has been subjected to strange stares from his brothers wherever he goes.
"Let's bet! Place your bets and see how many days it takes for Brother Ji to win over that girl."
"Brother Ji is still a fledgling, and that girl is quite fiery, so it might not be easy for him. I think twenty days is enough."
"Aren't you just telling stories? Twenty days? In twenty days, we'd be in Chu Prefecture long ago, and we wouldn't even be able to find the person. I bet five days."
"Why five days?"
"Because Brother Ji can only last five days. Since ancient times, it's been said that it's easy for a woman to pursue a man. Brother Ji is fair-skinned, handsome, and skilled in both literature and martial arts. He's not some penniless pretty boy. If a girl is interested, she only needs to make a little effort. It would be good if Brother Ji could last five days."
Li Xuan walked in from outside, his face dark, and said, "We're on the same boat, separated only by a few planks of wood. If we're not careful, someone will overhear us. Are you bunch of idiots just bored and deliberately ruining my brother's plans? Using Brother Ji for gambling, are you asking for it? When did gambling become permitted in the military? Stop talking nonsense, let's get to class!"
As conditions improved, the Li family's followers no longer used sandpaper for calligraphy practice and lessons. They made charcoal pencils, wrapped and bound with cardboard. Because they were hard pencils, they weren't picky about paper and could write on cheap, brittle reed paper as well.
Once aboard the Li family's ship, the journey was finally peaceful. Li Xuan's sailboat carried the banner of an imperial merchant; it turned out they were a family that delivered lanterns to the palace. Lying on the bed, Li Zhi murmured to herself, "Fortunately, they're not a merchant family. But a family that has always been known for its farming and scholarship is ultimately a bit lacking. Should we try to find them a chance? But who should we ask to arrange it?"
As she was thinking, the sound of reading came from the cabin below. Although Lychee herself was not good at studying and her grades were terrible, she could still recognize the sound of reading.
"Those who planned for the state in the past would first educate the people and be close to them. There are four kinds of disharmony: if the state is not in harmony, one cannot send out an army; if the army is not in harmony, one cannot march out of battle; if the battle is not in harmony, one cannot advance into battle; if the battle is not in harmony, one cannot achieve victory. Therefore, a wise ruler, when he wants to employ his people, will first bring them to harmony before undertaking great tasks. He dares not trust their private schemes, but will consult the ancestral temple, seek guidance from the tortoise shell, and consult the timing of Heaven. Only when it is auspicious will he act. When the people know that their ruler cherishes their lives and values their lives so much, and when they face danger with him, then the soldiers will consider dying for their cause an honor, and retreating to live a disgrace."
This looks like a military treatise? Lychee couldn't stay in bed any longer, so she quickly went out of the cabin and onto the gangway, wanting to go down and see who was reading it.
Professor Li Xuan was reading aloud, while Li Ji was left on deck to steer. He happened to see Li Zhi emerge from the cabin.
Lizhi also saw Li Ji. Since she had been spotted, she simply went up to Li Ji and asked, "My benefactor, what are they doing down there? Are there students from the school on board?"
Li Ji didn't want to reveal too much about his family's background, so he explained vaguely, "My family has always had a tradition of studying, and we have to study wherever we go. There are many boring times on the ship, and my brother's teaching is just a pastime. The other brothers keep him company."
Lychee looked incredulous. "Studying is so painful. Who would want to learn as a game?"
Li Ji quickly changed the subject: "My brother is an old-fashioned guy, don't pay him any mind. Just let him bother the brothers. If you ask him directly, he'll think you're studious and try to get you to study with him."
Lychee was startled. She couldn't understand why there were such cruel people in the world, and quickly said, "Ah, then I won't go down. Were you forced to study like this by your older brother since you were little?"
Li Ji paused for a moment, then said, "That's not the case. My family has a clan school. Boys and girls all have to go there once they reach the right age. Some wealthy families can afford to send them for five years. Other poor families only send them for two years to learn basic literacy before they have to go out to work. Is the girl interested in reading because she has been educated at home?"
A fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Lychee's face, but she defiantly replied, "That's right, I've read many books. Confucius taught us things like, 'If you don't miss the farming season, you'll have more grain than you can eat; if you don't use nets with too small a mesh in ponds, you'll have more fish and turtles than you can eat; if you use axes and hatchets in the mountains and forests at the right time, you'll have more timber than you can use. If you plant mulberry trees on a five-acre plot of land, a fifty-year-old can wear silk; if you raise chickens, pigs, dogs, and swine at the right time, a seventy-year-old can eat meat.' Right? I can recite them all."
Li Ji's lips twitched; he immediately saw through Li Zhi's "talent." He continued reciting Li Zhi's words: "If a hundred acres of land are cultivated without being disturbed during the harvest season, a family of several mouths will not go hungry; if the education in schools is carefully maintained and the principles of filial piety and brotherly love are emphasized, the elderly with white hair will not have to carry burdens on the roads. If those over seventy wear silk and eat meat, and the common people are neither hungry nor cold, yet there has never been a ruler who did not become a king. Your family has high hopes for you, young lady. To actually teach you to read Mencius, you must have a good father."
As Li Ji continued reciting the text, following her words, Lizhi was so ashamed she wanted to jump off the boat. For the first time, she regretted her lack of education and was even more afraid of being looked down upon by Li Ji because of her low level of literacy. When she heard Li Ji say that she must have a good father, Lizhi, who had endured all kinds of hardships and dangers on the boat, could no longer hold back. She squatted on the deck and burst into tears, startling Li Xuan and the others out of the cabin.
"What's going on? What's going on? Li Ji, what's wrong with you? Miss Lizhi is a distinguished guest, how could you offend her? Hurry up and apologize to her!" Li Xuan rushed to the deck in a panic. What he saw was Li Ji standing helplessly by the wheelhouse, not knowing what to do, while Miss Lizhi was squatting on the deck crying incessantly.
Reminded by Li Xuan, Li Ji quickly apologized, "I didn't mean to bring up your painful memories, Miss. I apologize to you. I'm a rough man and my words were not very tactful. Please don't take offense."
Li Xuan stepped forward and said, "Miss Lizhi, don't be afraid. We are all from good families. Since my younger brother has offended you, let's take him down and give him a good beating to vent your anger."
Li Ji's face turned pale. Li Zhi, indignant, immediately stood up and cried, "It has nothing to do with my benefactor. I was thinking of my father and mother, which is why I'm crying. I feel deeply uneasy for disturbing your class."
Now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, Li Xuan decided not to teach today and let everyone have free time. So Li Xuan went back to his cabin to read. The others, however, didn't read on their own; they drew grids on the deck and played various board games.
There were no special chess pieces; they were all various river and lake stones that everyone had collected and polished. The lines were drawn together, and everyone had a great time playing.
When Lizhi saw everyone playing pebble chess, she immediately stopped crying. Her eyes lit up, and she looked around, occasionally saying a few words.
There are no fathers and sons on the chessboard. Lychee's actions have angered everyone, so they simply let her play the game and see how capable this little girl really is.
Lychee, full of energy, accepted all challenges, even playing three games simultaneously. Remarkably, she was truly skilled at Stone Chess. Playing three games at once, she held her own, crushing her men and forcing more and more to surrender. Finally, unable to bear being repeatedly thrashed by this young girl, they called for reinforcements: "Brother Ji, Brother Ji, come quick! Come and redeem yourselves!"
Without saying a word, the two brothers rushed forward, seized the rudder from Li Ji, and urged him to fight against Li Zhi.
Lychee said with a smile, "That was so much fun! I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Please, my benefactor."
Li Ji was a renowned chess master in the academy, virtually invincible among all the students in the clan. At that age, he was eager to prove himself and unwilling to admit defeat. He never thought of letting the girl have an easy time, and immediately picked up the chess pieces and set them up.
Unexpectedly, Li Ji and Li Zhi were evenly matched in chess skills, and the others watching their exciting battle erupted in cheers from time to time. The two played without end, one game after another, becoming more and more excited with each game.
Li Xuan looked out the porthole from inside the room and couldn't help but feel gratified that his younger brother had finally figured things out and was now using chess to charm girls. Little did he know that his seemingly unbeatable brother had simply met his match, and the chessboard was already smoking from the game.
The journey was far from peaceful. They encountered more than one plundered village. If they arrived in time, they could try to save them; if not, they could only check if anyone was still alive. Several more boys and girls joined Li Xuan's boat; they survived the hail of knives by hiding in inconspicuous spots.
Some government soldiers even disguised themselves as river bandits to rob people. Encountering these people was truly bad luck; there was no way to escape except through direct confrontation. Li Xuan and his men fought valiantly to repel a wave of bandits. From the captured official boots, the remaining standard weapons, and the skillful battle formations these men displayed, it was clear they were genuine government soldiers, without armor.
Lychee found it unbelievable: "They are all government soldiers, supported by the imperial court with money and food. It seems they are even given clothes. How could they be out here robbing innocent civilians? And we keep encountering villages that have been plundered along the way. The Jiangbei region is densely populated with troops, how could it be in such chaos?"
These past few days have truly shattered her worldview. Lizhi watched helplessly as families were destroyed in the chaos of banditry, seeing the utter despair and helplessness of the children who were found. Her heart had long been torn apart, shattered. Today, encountering the soldiers raiding the place finally broke her defenses.
Li Ji explained to her, "It wasn't always like this. This year, the salt fields of Hailing were destroyed by the tide, causing the price of salt in Lianghuai to skyrocket, which in turn led to a surge in overall prices. Bandits, civilians, and garrison troops have all suffered greatly, and their previous incomes haven't increased. Naturally, more and more people are taking risks. Don't worry, Chuzhou has the Chuzhou Salt Bureau, which is also the location of the frontline army. I imagine the price of salt there will be lower, and the roads will be smoother."
Lizhi shook her head and said, "Brother Ji, I'm not worried about Chuzhou, nor am I worried about myself. I'm worried about what will happen if the villages and communities can't survive?" Well, after a few days of playing together and sharing a boat ride, Lizhi and Li Ji had become quite familiar with each other, and their interactions were more relaxed and natural. Lizhi was already calling him "Brother Ji" all the time.
Li Ji said strangely, "That's something the government should worry about. We're just commoners; all we can do is try to raise and thicken the walls around our homes, keep our families and relatives from going far away, and stay together for self-protection. We'll deal with this after this wave of price increases passes. What, does Zhizhi have someone in the family who's an official? If your relatives can speak for you in the court, I'll send you into Chuzhou to write a letter. As long as we can get a batch of salt and grain across the river from the south, these troubles will be quelled immediately."
Lychee blushed and stammered, "Officials are all difficult to talk to. I'm just a weak woman, and a junior, so I can only try. They might not even remember me. The imperial court has a large army in Jiangbei, and there are officials at every customs post. Don't they see them?"
Li Ji said with deep sorrow, "Officials are easy to find, but true talents are hard to come by. That's why emperors throughout history have always sought out virtuous and capable people. As long as the county is peaceful and the tax office is safe, what does it matter if there are some bandits in the countryside? Even the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation doesn't concern itself with these matters. Whether the people in the countryside can receive protection depends entirely on whether the local prefectural and county officials have the courage to take responsibility."
Lychee looked at Li Ji with hopeful eyes and asked, "Then, will Brother Ji be a national hero?"
Li Ji chuckled, "How old am I? How much ability could I possibly have? I've only read a few books and understand some principles. How could I possibly be considered a national hero? But if I were in charge of a region, I certainly wouldn't stand idly by while things were in chaos outside the city."
Lizhi didn't believe Li Ji's modesty, but she did believe he wasn't the kind of person to stand by and watch someone die. Every official like Li Ji in the land meant one more place of peace and tranquility. In Lizhi's eyes, Li Ji was perfect in every way. She couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ji, you're so learned, why don't you go to Jinling to seek an official position? It seems the imperial court has started holding the imperial examinations."
Li Ji laughed and said, "What, do you think I'm of a low rank?"
Lychee quickly denied it, her face full of anxiety.
Li Ji brought a fruit to Li Zhi and said, "My family has no connections in Jinling. When the imperial examinations were held, a group of relatives went to Jinling to take the exams, but they didn't even get through the gates of the Jinling Examination Hall. My brother and I naturally have no hope of passing the imperial examinations in Jinling."
Lychee asked in surprise, "I heard Brother Ji mention it these past few days. Your clan is one of the few scholarly families in the world. If they can select a group of clansmen to go to Jinling, even if they don't get official titles, surely none of them will be without the qualifications to enter the Imperial Examination Hall?"
Li Ji said helplessly, "That's right, because we don't have money. The examination officials sent by the emperor have to listen to the five ministers in the court. Those five ministers have clear prices: a registration fee for registration, an entrance fee for entering the examination hall, a departure fee for submitting the exam and leaving the hall, a ranking fee for being listed, and the ranking is also determined by the amount of money paid. There are also important events like the selection of officials later on. If you don't have enough money, even if you buy your way to the top score, you won't be assigned a good position."
The emperor was utterly astonished by the actions of his five trusted ministers. No wonder outstanding young men like Li Xuan and Li Ji were still unemployed. It turned out that someone was blocking the path for talented individuals to enter the court.
Thinking of this, Lizhi angrily cursed. Li Ji stopped her: "Don't get angry over petty people. I'm doing quite well in the countryside, living a comfortable life. I also have a shop in Guangling City. I won't suffer in the future. Instead of spending so much money to please your superiors, only to be exploited even more ruthlessly by the people later, it's better to save your money and live your own life. At least you'll have peace of mind."
Lychee cried out, "No! Ah, I mean, Brother Ji and Brother Xuan are both very talented men, they can't spend their whole lives in the countryside. Yes, it's such a waste for you to be in the countryside. It's letting those petty officials swagger around in their positions, there's no such thing as a free lunch." This reason could only fool others, why did Lychee say no? She couldn't fool herself.
Regardless, Lizhi instinctively felt she couldn't let the Li brothers be relegated to the countryside, nor could she allow the Five Evils to continue wielding power. This time, even if it meant going herself, she would recommend the brothers to her father, the Emperor! Because she was Princess Li Lizhi of Xingguo.