Chapter 887: The Mohist School, Envisioning Mechanized Farming (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang: "..."
Hearing this, she realized the schemes of the powerful families.
So they're here to get free teacher training?
After all, guidance from a 16th-rank Grand Master is no easy feat; it's a rare resource, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No wonder the aristocratic families were tempted. Were these families just itching for a bargain, trying to take advantage of her? When did she have time to train apprentices?
I immediately wanted to refuse, but then I changed my mind and stopped myself.
He was mentally calculating his options.
These boys are young and seem quite obedient—aren't they ready-made laborers? Since these aristocratic families are practically offering them up, why not take advantage of this free labor? Whether they're useful or not, she can occasionally offer some guidance, and even if they don't improve, she can claim it's their own lack of comprehension, and it has nothing to do with her. Why would the aristocratic families cause her any trouble over this?
Even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare!
Shen Tang feigned difficulty and said, "This...isn't this inappropriate?"
His gaze swept over the group of fresh young leeks, his eyes gleaming as he plotted where to dump them and squeeze them dry.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. She doesn't keep idle people or useless individuals under her command. These fresh-faced young leeks have entered her territory, so naturally they must abide by her rules. Every young leek whose gaze swept over by Chen Tang lowered their heads, their expressions vaguely showing a hint of resentment.
Shen Tang expressed his understanding.
What kind of naughty child would like their parents to enroll them in tutoring classes?
There's nothing wrong with it.
Kang Nian cursed inwardly—this Shen guy's eyes were practically glued to him, what was he supposed to be reserved about? But hypocrisy was the nature of those in power. Even if they were very satisfied with the gift, they would still pretend to refuse it several times before accepting it, so as to show that they were honest and selfless. He understood!
Haha, he understands everything!
Kang Nian, who thought he understood everything, cooperated with Shen Tang in her act.
What followed was a back-and-forth exchange, and Shen Tang finally accepted it with a smile.
As the head of the Kang family, Kang Nian had a host of family matters to attend to. After his part-time job as a brothel madam delivering the woman, he felt incredibly ashamed and took his leave. This incident was undoubtedly the biggest stain on his life! However, Shen Tang insisted on keeping him.
Their reasons were also very valid.
According to Kang Shi's letter, he would arrive in a day at most.
Have the two brothers not seen each other for many years?
Upon hearing this, Kang Nian stopped in his tracks, looking quite hesitant.
As Shen Tang said, if he didn't seize this opportunity, the brothers wouldn't see each other again for at least half a year.
Thinking of this, Kang Nian reluctantly stayed another day.
However, he didn't want to see Shen Tang for the time being, so he used the excuse of being "tired from the journey" to politely decline Shen Tang's invitation to dine together. Kang Nian had provided her with so much labor without paying her a salary; it was only right and proper for him to express his gratitude.
Seeing Kang Nian looking like he had a fire in his pants, Shen Tang was puzzled.
"What's wrong with Kang Bosui today?"
Could it be that he/she urgently needs to pee?
Or was it that he couldn't hold it in when he was about to poop?
Gu Chi, who had been trying so hard to hold back, finally broke down, his face turning blue with frustration: "Why does my lord think that way?"
Shen Tang replied matter-of-factly, "As the saying goes, 'Holding your pee can get you a thousand miles, but diarrhea makes it hard to walk.' Everyone has to go to the bathroom sometimes, I understand. Kang Bosui and Ji Shou are not the same kind of people. I've dealt with him quite a bit, and he's acting very strangely today."
Gu Chi rubbed his sore cheeks.
"What are your plans, my lord, for dealing with those martial artists from aristocratic families?"
"Where there's a shortage of people, that's where they'll be sent." Shen Tang mistakenly thought Gu Chi thought her handling of the situation was inappropriate, so she preemptively struck, "Wang Chao, you heard it too, Kang Bosui said that the aristocratic families sent them here hoping I could guide them, which is equivalent to them becoming apprentices. What kind of work do the master assigns to the apprentices? Do they have the right to complain? If you're a martial artist, you have to be able to endure hardship and be hardworking. Don't play the aristocratic family game!"
If you want to enjoy life, stay at home.
If you want to grow, don't complain!
Sweating and working hard, living up to our youth!
"What you say makes a lot of sense, my lord."
Gu Chi didn't want to expose the aristocratic families' intentions at this moment, otherwise, given his lord's personality, things might escalate. If the misunderstanding persisted, the aristocratic families would ultimately suffer in silence, while his lord would remain unscathed. As for the misunderstanding, the aristocratic families would soon realize what had happened.
Shen Tang keenly sensed something.
She moved a few steps closer to Gu Chi with suspicion.
He narrowed his eyes: "Are you feeling guilty?"
None of her subordinates were good people; their lives could be summed up in one sentence: "Always be wary of others, but you'll always have the heart to harm them." Gu Chi also enjoyed watching her make a fool of herself.
Gu Chi has been acting strange ever since Kang Nian arrived.
Gu Chi responded without blinking, exuding an aura of righteous indignation: "I have lived an upright life and know nothing of guilt."
Shen Tang raised an eyebrow: "You haven't been hiding anything from me?"
Gu Chi passed the buck back to the lord: "What does the lord think?"
Shen Tang said, "I'll trust you this once."
Kang Shi returned a day later than expected. It was assumed that Kang Nian would be impatient and set off for his hometown early, but unexpectedly, he waited patiently to see his younger brother. Kang Jishou, travel-worn, arrived in the middle of the night. He ordered someone to fetch warm water. He hadn't had time to groom himself these past few days, and a layer of stubble had sprouted. He skillfully used a razor to cleanse his face and beard when a report came from outside the tent.
"Come in."
Kang Shi spoke offhand.
The tent flap was opened, and a cold wind rushed in.
A figure entered without making a sound. Kang Shi ignored it, but the newcomer said, "Fourth Brother, you don't even recognize your brother's aura?"
Kang Shi paused, his knife still.
He suddenly turned around.
The dim candlelight inside the tent did not affect Wenxin's vision. The person in front of him had a face that had not changed much from back then. Who else could it be but his elder brother? The two brothers, one sitting with a sword in hand and the other standing at the tent entrance, looked at each other in silence.
In the end, it was Kang Shi who reacted first.
The man holding the knife pointed to the mat beside him: "Sit."
His tone was calm, without a trace of the excitement of brothers reuniting after many years. Kang Nian wasn't surprised and sat down as Kang Shi gestured. He sat quietly, watching Kang Shi shave in front of the mirror, changing angles at various times, and couldn't help but sigh.
Kang Shi chuckled and asked, "What are you sighing about, brother?"
Kang Nian said, "You've suffered these past years."
Who would do these tedious things like shaving and face cleaning themselves?
However, Kangshi was an exception.
As a child, Kang Shi was also a pampered child at home, the youngest son favored by his father. However, since awakening to the way of the scholar, the younger brother, who couldn't even dress himself, was forced to learn to do things himself. The Kang Shi before him was covered in blood and his clothes were disheveled.
It's not hard to guess why he was a day late.
Because the powerful families only outwardly submit to Shen Youli, a submission forced by circumstances, how many truly respect her in their hearts? Behind the scenes, they continue their underhanded tactics. Sometimes, they don't even need to act directly; they can simply instigate and use others to do their dirty work, causing trouble for those sent to take over. Coupled with Kang Jishou's enigmatic luck, minor incidents are bound to escalate, and he will inevitably face more than one assassination attempt.
The fact that Kang Shi didn't go to see Shen Tang immediately after returning home, but instead stayed in his tent to tidy himself up, also gave us a glimpse into his situation.
Kang Shi rubbed the razor on the whetstone a couple of times to make it sharper, then rinsed it in cold water before continuing to shave his face: "I've only suffered a few setbacks, but their entire families have lost their lives. This little bit of hardship is what I have to endure."
As he spoke, he touched his cheek to see where it was uneven.
Kang Nian asked, "Kill them all?"
Kang Shi sneered: "If we don't kill them, are we going to keep them alive to celebrate the Qingming Festival with our ancestors? If we don't nip the problem in the bud, it will surely cause endless trouble in the future."
Shen Tang granted the business trip team a great deal of authority.
When necessary, act first and report later, or even without reporting at all.
Looking at Kang Shi's profile, which gleamed coldly in the candlelight, Kang Nian hesitated to ask who he had killed to elicit such a good mood. Not daring to press further, he tactfully changed the subject: "...In the years since Si Lang left home, everything in the clan has been peaceful."
Kang Shi ignored his brother's discomfort and said, "Oh."
The response was very cold.
The brothers' conversation was even less extensive than their last letter home.
Kang Nian continued to find topics to talk about, the content of which acquaintances had settled down, gotten married and had children, which clansmen were successful, and which clansmen were causing trouble... The topics circled around, seemingly intentionally avoiding their own family. Kang Shi's reaction was indifferent.
The suffocating atmosphere made Kang Nian feel a little breathless.
Unable to contain himself, he said, "On the anniversary of my father's death after the New Year, you..."
Kang Shi said, "I'm afraid he'll be too busy to handle it."
Whether it was this remark that angered Kang Nian, or Kang Shi's thoughtless response and indifferent tone that ignited his emotions, he abruptly stood up: "You're not going to Erlang's death anniversary? What are you so busy with? The lord you chose will probably be indulging in a life of pleasure in a while, and won't have time to care whether you're busy or not..."
Kang Shi's nimble fingers suddenly went out of control.
A sharp blade left a finger-length, crimson gash on his face, blood trickling down the cut and soon sliding down his jaw and into his neck. Kang Shi was jolted awake by the pain, and Kang Nian was also startled. He was about to raise his hand to step forward when the other man dodged him.
Kang Shi grabbed a wet towel and covered the wound.
He circulated his inner energy, suppressing the pain in a few breaths. He tossed the blood-stained cloth into the copper basin, where the crimson blood rippled in the water. Kang Shi's face was smooth and clean, showing no trace of the recent cut: "Brother—"
Kang Nian: "I'm sorry."
In a fit of anger, he ripped open the wound that had just begun to scab over. Facial cuts could be smoothed away instantly with a touch of magic, but the wounds in his heart could only fester and fester, waiting for them to heal and scab over on their own. They wouldn't hurt if left untouched, but touching them would cause pus and blood to ooze out.
Kang Shi said, "I am not worthy of these three words."
Previously, Shen Tang had summoned a group of aristocratic family heads to a banquet. Families like the Ning family had sent their previous generation members, leaving their capable heirs behind. In case they were killed by axemen at the banquet, their families would still have heirs. However, the Kang family sent Kang Shi's eldest brother in person because Kang Shi's father had passed away, and his death was not honorable; he was angered to death by someone.
Moreover, it's related to Kangshi.
Their father wasn't the only one who died; their brothers also died.
The father and son left almost one after the other.
After Kang Shi finished speaking, the two brothers remained silent.
Kang Shi then backed down and made an uncertain promise: "If I have time around the anniversary of the death, I will go back to visit, but I will not appear in public. Please understand, elder brother."
Kang Nian knew he couldn't force it: "Mm."
At this moment, the guards brought over the meal.
Kang Shi invited Kang Nian to sit down and have something to eat.
Kang Nian readily agreed.
Despite the absurdity of the surname Chen, the food at her place was really good; even simple ingredients made it very appetizing. Kang Nian went back and asked his family cook to try making it, but the taste was far inferior. Adhering to the rule of "not talking while eating or sleeping," he ate his late-night snack in peace.
The younger brother, however, disregarded this rule and asked unhappily, "Why did you say, elder brother, that our lord will soon be indulging in a life of pleasure?"
It's one thing for others to spread rumors, but why does my usually pragmatic and disciplined elder brother also speak so recklessly? Could it be that sitting in the position of family head will cause him to lose his mind and be infected by other idiots?
Haven't you learned your lesson from the last time when rumors spread?
Kang Nian didn't have as many concerns when it came to his brothers.
He swallowed the food in his mouth, took a sip of clear soup to mask the taste, wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, and then began to explain the whole story. Even the most debauched ruler wouldn't take in over twenty beautiful concubines without any attempt at concealment!
She actually accepted them all!
They didn't even bother to politely pick a few to cover their shame.
Kang Shi: "...Ahem, what did you say back then?"
Kang Nian recounted the story truthfully, his face filled with shame, indignation, and disdain.
He lowered his voice and said, "That's straightforward enough!"
"...It is indeed straightforward, but not straightforward enough."
Kang Nian looked as if he had seen a ghost, unable to bear the sight: "Fourth Brother, I know you are protective of your lord, so naturally I wouldn't think the worst of her, but she... she really is like that! Alas, but the young men offered by various families are indeed handsome, so it's normal for her to like them. Even if this matter is blown out of proportion, it's only a matter of personal morality. Those who achieve great things, as long as they don't lose their integrity, a little moral failing is acceptable. Commoners think about buying maids and concubines even if they earn a few extra bushels of rice a year, let alone feudal lords?"
Aside from being a bit too extreme, it's not unacceptable.
"You don't understand the lord. What you think is probably completely different from what she thinks. If the lord really likes beautiful women, wouldn't it be better to choose a few women from respectable families to serve? Why does she have to get involved with aristocratic families? What if she accidentally ends up doing all the work for someone else?"
One sentence struck Kang Nian hard several times.
What does "serving people from respectable families" even mean? Although the men he brought are from collateral branches of noble families, they are all talented, virtuous, and learned. How is that considered having a questionable family background? It's as if he brought male prostitutes instead of noble scions!
This is absolutely infuriating!
Kang Shi chuckled: "Brother, if you don't believe me, would you dare to make a bet?"
Upon hearing this, Kang Nian almost laughed in anger, glancing sideways at the overconfident Kang Shi: "Fourth Brother, do you want to make a bet with your brother?"
The implication is that they've forgotten about their luck in gambling?
You always lose at gambling, yet you dare to provoke us?
This was a winning situation, and Kang Nian declared firmly: "Let's bet!"
He's guaranteed to win this game!
Kang Nian laughed at his younger brother for overestimating his abilities.
Kang Shi laughed, saying his brother didn't understand their lord.
The next day, Kang Shi reported back to Shen Tang.
The fundamental skill of a literary scholar is eloquence; Kang Shi was well-versed in knowing when to downplay and when to emphasize certain points. Even so, Shen Tang sensed the underlying difficulties—given Kang Shi's luck, it would be abnormal if things didn't encounter some setbacks.
"Is everything cleaned up?"
Shen Tang didn't care how many people Kang Shi had dealt with.
When someone commits a crime, she punishes them severely.
Kang Shi said, "Everything is in order."
At this time, Kang Nian requested an audience.
Shen Tang wondered to herself, "Why hasn't he left yet?"
He said, "Let him in."
When Kang Nian arrived, he heard his younger brother whispering, "I heard that the lord recently recruited more than twenty strong men?"
|ω`)
My left wrist just won't heal, so I went to the hospital today to see an orthopedic doctor. The doctor said it was a ligament injury or something, and that the recovery is very slow. I also have headaches.
(End of this chapter)
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