14 Chapter 14
◎My charming ancestor◎
Regarding the profit sharing, Jiang Jingyun had previously felt that the share given to his uncle's family was too low.
Except for the initial period when he needed to teach personally, almost all the heavy work was done by his eldest and second brothers Jiang. Not to mention that the daily preparation of materials was always done by his aunt and the family, who also helped to take care of his three younger siblings. It was equivalent to him only providing the recipes and a little insignificant labor, but he took 70% of the income.
Now, he has added another purchasing task to his aunt-in-law, and it is no longer appropriate to follow the 30:70 split as previously agreed.
However, if I directly tell you that the money is for my uncle's family, given their personalities, they will definitely refuse. So Jiang Jingyun planned to take out another 20% and give it to his aunt-in-law, saying that it was to be saved for the younger generation in the family. If anyone wanted to study or do other business in the future, they could get money from here. After some persuasion, his aunt-in-law nodded in agreement.
Now that the problem was solved, Jiang Jingyun felt relieved. He went out early and came back late with his brothers every day. Although there were occasional minor troubles, it was no big deal. His business was booming.
One day, Jiang Jingyun met an unexpected person while selling things on the street.
The man was wearing a dark Confucian scarf and a long beard, with a hint of majesty between his eyebrows. At this moment, he stared at Jiang Jingyun in front of the noodle stall with a serious face.
It took Jiang Jingyun a while to realize that this was his original teacher. He hurriedly took him to a quieter place and bowed, "Sir."
Mr. Sun looked at Jiang Jingyun and didn't respond.
Anyone who heard about Jiang Jingyun's family affairs could only sigh that life is unpredictable. Although it was a pity that he missed the college entrance examination, this boy was very talented. After taking care of the family affairs and coming back to study, with three years of precipitation, he would surely be able to pass the college entrance examination.
I never thought that I would not see anyone coming back from the private school for a long time. But today, I suddenly had the urge to come to the West Market to try the food that has been praised by everyone in the town recently. I met Jiang Jingyun, whom I hadn't seen for a long time.
Sun Xiucai looked at Jiang Jingyun, who was wearing brown linen clothes and smelled of sour bamboo shoots, and couldn't help but frowned, "Why don't you come back to study after finishing your family affairs, but instead do this business here?"
Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans. Although this dynasty did not require the sons of merchants to take the imperial examinations, in the eyes of scholars, this was the lowest act.
Jiang Jingyun smiled bitterly. If there was a choice, who would be willing to take the most difficult path, which would only be a struggle for survival? He bowed and explained to the teacher: "Teacher, you don't know, my parents are no longer alive, leaving only three young siblings. My family is in a difficult situation and can no longer afford to support my studies. I am doing this business now because I have no food to eat."
"It has become so difficult..." Mr. Sun sighed, "If it is so difficult, why don't you come to find me?"
Jiang Jingyun bowed his head again, "I know that you are a man of high moral character, and you have always taken good care of me. However, I have already let you down by neglecting my studies without permission, and I am ashamed of your teachings. How can I bother you again with such a mundane matter?"
Mr. Sun still frowned after hearing this.
Jiang Jingyun was about to speak when Mr. Sun suddenly asked, "I heard that your business is very good and you can close the stall every afternoon?"
Although he was puzzled as to why the gentleman asked this, he still replied respectfully, "Yes."
"In that case, starting from tomorrow, you will come to the private school to study from noon to noon every day." After saying this, he ignored Jiang Jingyun's opinion, picked up the food that Brother Jiang had already prepared, turned around and left.
He was the only one left standing there in a daze:? ? ?
What happened? How come I suddenly received an admission notice just after leaving the house?
People have traveled back to ancient times, why do they still have to live a part-time work and study life? What kind of human suffering is this?
The painful memory of death suddenly attacked him, and Jiang Jingyun wailed: No, he didn’t want to study for the time being!
The Jiang family did not understand his wailing, especially Uncle Jiang and his wife. They felt very guilty about Jiang Jingyun giving up his studies and had been wondering when they could let him continue his studies. Now, life at home is getting better and better. Thanks to the teacher for not giving up on me, my nephew can continue to study in the private school. There is nothing better than this.
So, at noon the next day, Jiang Jingyun, who had just had a meal at a noodle stall, was driven to the private school by his brothers who had already received instructions from their parents, so as not to arrive late and displease the teacher.
Helplessly, Jiang Jingyun could only rush to the private school carrying the tuition fee, paper, ink, brush and inkstone that his aunt had hastily prepared for him last night.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw his master and mistress waiting in the hall. Jiang Jingyun hurriedly stepped forward and knelt respectfully, saying, "Student Jiang Jingyun, greetings to the master and mistress."
Sun Xiucai stroked his beard with satisfaction, motioned his wife to take Jiang Jingyun's salary, raised his hand to help Jiang Jingyun up, "Get up."
Jiang Jingyun followed the advice and came on time. Mr. Sun was very happy. When he saw that the package included his favorite braised food, the corners of his mouth curled up even higher. He had tasted it yesterday and it tasted very good. No wonder people in the town are so fond of it. It seems that this student has some clever ideas.
Mr. Sun signaled his wife to take the things downstairs first, and then he asked in detail about Jiang Jingyun's recent studies.
Jiang Jingyun's forehead was covered with sweat after hearing this. He had never touched the books in the corner since he came here. His understanding of the classics was limited to the classical Chinese level of high school, nothing more.
Facing the teacher's scrutiny, Jiang Jingyun replied honestly with shame on his face: "Student... I was seriously ill before and forgot a lot of things after waking up. I haven't read any books recently and have neglected my studies for a long time..."
Seeing the teacher's face becoming more and more ugly, he didn't dare to continue speaking and quickly slid to his knees: "The student knows his mistake!" He lowered his head and didn't dare to look at the teacher's face. He only listened to the rapid breathing above his head. A subtle feeling of embarrassment arose in his heart, as if he had been caught by the teacher for not completing his homework at the beginning of the school year and his test scores had dropped to the bottom.
After a long while, I heard a sigh from above my head, "Alas, that's all..."
Sun Xiucai said with a serious face, "Diligence brings success, while laziness brings failure. [1] Although I had to do this, it is not too late to mend the situation. Now that you have realized your mistakes, you will have to work harder in the future to make progress. Do you understand?"
This meant that he would be let off this time. Jiang Jingyun quickly assured, "The student knows and will never do it again."
"You can read the Analects here today. I will come back to answer your questions at 3:30 pm." After saying that, he got up and went to the backyard, as anxious as if he was going to a banquet.
Jiang Jingyun leaned forward and bowed, watching the teacher leave. After making sure that he could no longer see the teacher, he relaxed his tense body, wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at the books on the table, sighed heavily, sat down resignedly, and began his ancient version of studying journey.
Fortunately, as a college graduate, his brain was still fresh and active. With the memories of the original owner, Jiang Jingyun quickly picked up the knowledge that was lost in Guala Country.
After sitting and reading for an entire afternoon, the science student's mind was filled with all sorts of nonsense. As Jiang Jingyun read on, he even began to think angrily: Since he could travel through time, why didn't some great god travel through time to the Qin Dynasty and let Qin Shi Huang unify the vernacular and modernize the imperial examination system?
ah! What's wrong with my charming ancestor!
It’s just an elixir of immortality, give it to him!
Groundhog screams!
I finally got through the whole afternoon and stuttered through answering the teacher's questions. Under his unsatisfied gaze, I ended the day's study dejectedly.
Shaking his head which felt a little heavy due to the excessive amount of knowledge, Jiang Jingyun staggered out of the private school. Just as he was about to go home, he heard a voice calling him from behind.
"Fifth brother, here!" Jiang Jingyun turned around and saw his second brother squatting in the corner outside the private school, waving at him.
He walked over weakly, his voice floating: "Second brother, why haven't you gone back yet? What are you doing here?"
"You get off school too late every day, and it's almost dark. I'm worried that it's unsafe for you to walk alone on the mountain road, so I discussed with my eldest brother and decided to leave one person behind to wait for you every day." Jiang Erge patted his shoulder with a smile, "Why do you look listless? Are you tired from the first day of school? Let's go home. Mom has prepared delicious food for us at home."
Jiang Jingyun responded dejectedly and followed his second brother's footsteps.
***
Days passed, and Mid-Autumn Festival came in a blink of an eye. The private school gave all students three days off.
At this time, Jiang Jingyun was still sitting upright in the private school, answering the teacher's tests.
Sun Xiucai, who was sitting at the top of the class, casually opened a copy of the Analects and asked, "The Master said, 'Governing with virtue is like the North Star, which stays in its place while all the other stars revolve around it.'"[2]
Jiang Jingyun answered haltingly: "Those in power should win the hearts of the people with virtue and govern the country with virtue, just like the North Star, which stays in its place and is protected by all the stars."
“To be poor but not servile, and to be rich but not arrogant, what do you think?”[3]
“The Master said: ‘That is all right. But it is not as good as being poor and yet happy, or rich and knowing and loving propriety.’[4] Being poor and not fawning, or being rich and not arrogant, is not as good as being poor and not changing one’s happiness, or rich and knowing and loving propriety.”
"Gentleman?"
“The Master said: ‘First put your words into practice and then follow them.’”[5]
…
Mr. Sun answered one question after another, sometimes jumping around and sometimes breaking sentences, each sentence more urgent than the last. Jiang Jingyun was extremely nervous throughout the whole process and did not dare to slack off for even a point.
After some examination, Mr. Sun closed the book and nodded modestly, "It's OK."
Jiang Jingyun silently wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve, slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and said modestly: "Teacher, you have taught me well."
Mr. Sun stroked his beard with satisfaction and began to explain "The Analects of Confucius" in detail.
Listening to the gentleman's flat voice, his eyes began to wander: I wonder what to do tomorrow on my day off? I go out early and come back late every day, and I haven't paid attention to the children at home for a long time. I feel a little ashamed when I think about it. Why not take my younger siblings to the town for a walk tomorrow?
Just as he was lost in thought, he was hit on the head by the ruler. Jiang Jingyun covered his head and came back to his senses, only to hear the bad news: "Although tomorrow is a day off, you should not slack off in your studies. Regarding today's questions, go back and write a detailed note and give it to me when you return to school."
? ? ?
Teacher, your body temperature is over 30 degrees, how can you say such cold words? The day after tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival!
Jiang Jingyun looked at the teacher in disbelief.
Facing the accusing eyes of his students, Sun Xiucai coughed uncomfortably and said, "A scholar should never forget to study for even a day.[6] That's it."
The final word was given, deciding the theme of Jiang Jingyun's vacation.
Alas!
It turns out that no matter what era, students cannot escape the holiday homework assigned by teachers!
Jiang Jingyun, died.
【Author’s words】
[1] From Han Yu’s “Explanation for Advancing Learning”
[2][3][4][5] All from The Analects
[6] From Cheng Yi’s Poetry Interpretation: Zi Jin in the Song Dynasty
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