Chapter 36 A Man's Heart is Like a Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
“You yourself.” Lu Jinlan handed the irrefutable evidence to Ling Zhixu. “This is Feng Xian’s private account, written in his own handwriting, and it even bears his seal. It’s absolutely true, and there’s no denying it.”
Lu Jinlan glared at Feng Xian and said sternly, "It's clearly recorded here that you collect 600 taels of silver from students for meals every month and 600 taels of silver from the academy for subsidies. You report monthly expenses of 1,100 taels to the academy, but you say to the outside world that you only make a profit of 100 taels."
"In fact, you give the supervisor two hundred taels of silver every month to help you cover it up. You feed the students this unpalatable food, and the canteen seems to have leftovers every day, but in reality, you spend less than three hundred taels of silver a month on the canteen. You make a net profit of seven hundred taels of silver every month, far exceeding the normal profit of a canteen. Is this the money you should be making?"
Feng Xian was shocked and flustered, his face was pale, his lips were trembling, and he couldn't utter a word for a moment.
Xiang Ruzhen then presented the evidence of their kinship, saying, "The evidence is irrefutable. Please, Dean and other officials, make a wise judgment."
Ling Zhixu, with a sullen face, glanced at the document and handed it to Jin Yunning.
Jin Yun Ning looked at the handwritten family genealogy and a smile gradually spread across her face. "They even copied the family genealogy. Kids these days are really capable. They know how to solve cases at such a young age. The handwriting is also excellent, strong and powerful. Whose handwriting is this?"
Xiang Ruzhen hurriedly replied, "Your Excellency, it was I who wrote it."
Jin Yun Ning nodded. "I've heard that there's a great talent among this year's students named Lu Jin Lan. Is that you?"
Jin Yihuai laughed and said, "Mother, Lu Jinlan's handwriting is not very good. That's Lu Jinlan, her name is Xiang Ruzhen."
Jin Yun Ning snorted coldly, "They're all better than you."
She turned to Dean Ling and said, "They truly are students of the Royal Academy. They are so united, so dedicated, and so capable. I think if Dean Ling doesn't give them a clear judgment, they won't let us off the hook."
Ling Zhixu twitched the corner of his mouth. "What Lord Jin said is very true. This year's freshmen are especially unique."
She sighed helplessly. "Effective immediately, Feng Xian's canteen management rights are revoked. You are given ten days to return all the college subsidies you have fraudulently obtained over the past three years. Otherwise, prepare to go to jail in the capital. As for the academic supervisor Miao Jin, he abused his position, violated regulations, and accepted bribes. He is dismissed from his post, must reflect on his actions, and return the ill-gotten gains."
Miao Jin was taken aback: "Dean..."
Ling Zhixu said coldly, "Stop talking. I've already given you a break because you've worked at the academy for over ten years. So don't say anything more."
Miao Jin and Feng Xian left, their faces ashen. Ling Zhixu looked at Lu Jinlan, "The cafeteria is gone today. Even if we start recruiting tomorrow, we don't know when we'll find a suitable operator. You've made such a fuss, have you considered any follow-up plans? How will the students' meals be handled next?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "Reporting to the Dean, we have a follow-up plan. Until the new operators arrive, the students and the remaining cooks will buy groceries and cook together; it shouldn't be any worse than before. More than a hundred students have signed up to be volunteers, and Ruzhen has already arranged shifts for them; they can start working tonight. As for lunch today..."
Lu Jinlan smiled slyly, "Uh, it's really too late for us to redo it now. Dean, it's your birthday today, why don't you join us for the celebration?"
Ling Zhixu laughed out of anger, “Gentlemen, look at these rebellious disciples of mine! They’ve ruined my birthday banquet and slapped me in the face, yet they still want to eat at my feast?”
The officials all laughed and said, "Good at scheming, good at shamelessness, he's got the makings of an official."
Lord Jin said, "Since we're already here, let the students bring over the banquet, and we can relive our college days."
Ling Zhixu glanced at Lu Jinlan and the others, "Aren't you going yet?"
"Yes!" The students beamed with joy and rushed out of the cafeteria like a swarm of bees, heading straight for the dean's house.
What does 300 people mean? Originally, six tables of banquet were prepared, with 28 dishes on each table, but it wasn't enough for them to carry in one trip.
Seeing that many of the people who had come along were still empty-handed, Lu Jinlan said to the dean's housekeeper, "The dean said to take everything that can be eaten and drunk, because she is afraid that the students will not have enough to eat."
The dean didn't say anything, of course, but she felt that the dean wasn't a petty person, and she thoughtfully thought of it for her.
The butler rubbed his sore neck and reluctantly opened the cellar door. "There's some cured meat here, and some wine..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already jumped down and started moving things immediately, like a locust swarm passing by.
The butler, furious, chased after them, muttering, "Are you bandits? Huh?"
Her response was laughter and the sound of footsteps gradually fading away.
*
Amidst the students' cheers and laughter, Ling Zhixu's sixtieth birthday banquet officially began.
After a few rounds of drinks, Lu Jinlan, Xiang Ruzhen, and Yan Wuxin walked up to the dean and said a few words of birthday wishes. Then they said, "We know that we have caused the dean trouble again today, so we and the students have prepared a small performance to celebrate your birthday."
While they were getting the food, Yan Wuxin led his men to the music classroom to retrieve various musical instruments.
At this moment, Xiang Ruzhen played the flute, Lu Jinlan played the guzheng, Yan Wuxin played the pipa, and the other students who were good at playing instruments played instruments and those who were good at singing sang. Together they performed "Bring in the Wine," the most popular song in the capital at the time.
Perhaps it was because everyone worked together today, but the ensemble of hundreds of people, without a conductor, was so harmonious and beautiful. The young people's voices were so clear and bright, and their melodious singing and beautiful melodies were more intoxicating than the fine wine on the table.
When the last line, "Together we dispel eternal sorrows," was sung, Lord Jin burst into tears for some reason, and even the dean's eyes reddened.
As the music ended, everyone stood up and chanted in unison: "May the Dean be as radiant as the sun and moon, as eternally youthful as the pine and crane, and as healthy as the evergreen tree!"
Ling Zhixu couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down his face.
Lin Cheng stood in the corner of the kitchen, peering at Lu Jinlan in the crowd. She was so spirited and radiant that his heart pounded for her.
As the event was ending, he couldn't help but call Lu Jinlan aside and whisper, "I didn't know you had already obtained the ledger. I was trying to help you, but didn't I just make things worse?"
Lu Jinlan had drunk some wine and leaned lazily against the wall, her eyes slightly tipsy. She smiled and replied, "No, what you said was very helpful."
Lin Cheng added, "What the boss said isn't true. I haven't been having an affair with anyone."
Lu Jinlan smiled and nodded, "Of course I know that's not true. I know what kind of person you are."
Lin Cheng pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "When I said I hated you yesterday, I didn't mean it."
Lu Jinlan: "I know that too."
"You know?" Lin Cheng lowered his eyes and said self-deprecatingly, "You seem to know everything, but I seem to know nothing. In your opinion, am I particularly stupid?"
How should I tell him? She certainly knows more than he does, because she has lived two lives and received a comprehensive and systematic modern education, but I can't say any of that.
As Lu Jinlan was pondering her words, Xiang Ruzhen came over to remind her, "Jinlan, it's time to go to class."
Yan Wuxin, drunk, clung to Xiang Ruzhen, opened his eyes to glance at her, and teased, "I have to admit from the bottom of my heart that Jinlan has a better eye for men than I do. Brother-in-law, you were really brave today."
"Brother-in-law?" Lin Cheng quickly looked at Lu Jinlan, but she didn't say anything, only smiled. He couldn't help but panic and said, "What...brother-in-law? Don't talk nonsense. I have to go wash the dishes, I'm leaving."
Lu Jinlan smiled and pulled him along, "See you at the usual place tonight."
Watching Lin Cheng's hasty departure, Lu Jinlan suddenly realized something.
Sexual shame is not something that exists naturally; it is only when the concept of chastity is implanted in someone's mind that they will feel shame.
This is like that inhuman joke of modern society: why can't men get nude loans? Because even if you don't give them the money, they're still willing to post it. If men could borrow money using nude photos, all the nude loan companies would go bankrupt.
Public opinion is very double-standard. Men who have dozens of lovers are praised for their ability, while women who have dozens of lovers are criticized for being shameless.
While everyone appears to be equal, women actually endure multiple forms of oppression from cultural traditions and social environment from a young age. They are forced to examine their words and actions throughout their lives to see if they are appropriate, and even use shyness and resistance to prove that they are not promiscuous.
Otherwise, they would hear the classic questions: "You're a girl, don't you know shame?" "You're a young woman, don't you have any sense of shame?"
Looking back from her previous world, Lu Jinlan found it truly strange. It seemed as if shame and a sense of shame were unique to women, but even a fool could tell that these things were definitely not good. Otherwise, they would have been taken away long ago.
What value does such a wicked thing have? It should remain in the evil old society, like foot bindings.
Since arriving here, Lu Jinlan has completely abandoned any sense of shame, almost forgetting its existence. After all, the treatment is different now; her promiscuity is now considered anecdotal tale of a successful woman. Everyone treats it as a beautiful story, and no one will criticize or judge her.
Because this gender-swapped world values male chastity, they are always particularly concerned about this aspect.
Yu Mian would be eager to show off his chastity mark, and Lin Cheng would be nervous to clarify the rumors about his integrity. They were both afraid that she would misunderstand and that they would be seen as men who did not uphold chastity.
Once Lu Jinlan understood this point, she gradually realized the contradictions in Lin Cheng's personality and understood why he was so conflicted.
As a man of outstanding appearance, what he fears most is being criticized for his conduct. He studies and practices martial arts, and dares to defy the arrangements of fate. He seems bold and clear-headed, but when it comes to relationships between men and women, he still falls into unseen traps.
He dared not express his true feelings, dared not respond to intimate gestures, and feared being seen as a promiscuous man. If the main function of shame is to make a person awkward, then its side effect is to make a person passive.
Taking the initiative is shameless behavior. Whether it's actively expressing love, actively seeking confirmation of a relationship, or actively demanding recognition, these are all things that are discouraged in today's social environment.
But acting passively can bring a series of negative problems. He always waits for others to take the initiative, and if they don't, he just keeps waiting. If they do take the initiative but it's not the outcome he wanted, he gets upset. It truly makes a man's heart unfathomable.
It's not that women are inherently insecure; who can feel secure when they're in a passive position? Whoever is forced to overthink all day becomes anxious and sensitive, becomes unfathomable, and ultimately lacks a sense of security.
As Lu Jinlan was leaving, Yan Wuxin suddenly reminded her, "I think Lin Cheng is quite nice, he's just easily shy. You are a woman after all, you should take the initiative."
Lu Jinlan: "I know."
On the back mountain, at the same large blue stone, Rin was already waiting for her.
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Author's Note: I had considered changing "Imperial Censor" to "Imperial Censor's Wife" before, which corresponds to "Imperial Censor-in-Chief," but I completely forgot about it when I got to this part... Should I revise it? What do you think, my few readers? Is calling her "Grandma Jin" better than "Lord Jin"? Doesn't it feel more prestigious and rare? —July 8th: Everyone felt it didn't matter, so we decided not to change it.
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