Chapter 337 Trial Assembly
As the two descended the mountain, Lu Qingqing was still deep in thought.
According to Ji Ruyan, if one plays the flute without a purpose, it will only attract birds and beasts to watch, and nothing else will happen.
To command birds and beasts, one must always keep one's mind taut, like pulling a string to its limit.
Furthermore, with external noise interference, it is necessary to use internal force to amplify the pitch.
Once it starts blowing, it cannot be stopped.
The saying goes, "A good invitation is a good gift."
Otherwise, they will suffer the backlash and reap the bitter fruits of their own actions.
Lu Qingqing thought for a moment, and realized that it would require mental strength and internal energy.
Excessive mental exertion can lead to sudden death, and damage to the lungs and internal organs can also cause death.
This aligns with the idea that one will die or go insane before the age of thirty.
She first gave Ji Ruyan some medicine to nourish her nerves and repair her internal injuries.
But most importantly, we must never again drive birds and beasts!
Ji Ruyan released Lu Qingqing's hand.
Lu Qingqing looked ahead.
There are two people talking over there.
Liu Lizheng and Qu Shan.
Qu Shan is currently a criminal under the imperial court, so it is not appropriate for him to show his face and he will remain in the village for the time being.
Liu Lizheng prepared a house for their family, but he couldn't stay idle and said he wanted to teach the village children to read for free.
The village head advised him to focus on recovering his health first.
Qu Shan became anxious.
“Teaching basic knowledge shouldn’t be tiring. Look at the village kids, all they talk about is dog poop and cow dung. You know, jade needs to be carved to become a useful object, and people need to learn to understand righteousness!”
What are you talking about? They haven't gone to school, and they're not rotten dog shit either!
However, Liu Lizheng held Qushan in very high esteem.
This is the most outstanding teacher in Ming'an County. Countless scholars have tried to become his disciples but failed!
If they can teach children in their village for free, then their village is incredibly lucky.
But... but right now everyone, adults and children, is busy planting crops and herbs. He was thinking of telling everyone after he finished this busy period.
Moreover, Mr. Qushan can rest for a while longer and fully recover, isn't that perfect!
What's the rush?
"Mr. Qu, you're out for a stroll before you're fully recovered. Does your wife know?"
"Hey, what do you mean by this? Are you making excuses to prevent your child from learning from me?"
"No, no, no..."
“The children in the village really should go to school,” Lu Qingqing said as she walked over.
Qu Shan was delighted. "That's right! Miss Lu has a long-term vision."
Liu Lizheng secretly pursed his lips, thinking to himself:
You have to eat first before you can study. What's the point of studying if you don't have anything to eat?
Anyway, studying should come after farming and growing medicinal herbs!
but……
Qu Shan and Liu Lizheng's eyes were both fixed on Ji Ruyan.
They greeted each other and exchanged vows.
"Is this the general from the Gu family army? He looks like this..."
Liu Lizheng thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an adjective, and finally said one word: "Handsome!"
Qu Shan: "The general exudes righteousness and heroic spirit, with a handsome face, a sharp posture, and a resounding gait..."
After saying all that, he looked at Liu Lizheng as if to say: Now you know that if you don't study, you won't even know how to compliment someone, right?
Liu Lizheng: "Yes, yes, he's really handsome."
Qu Shan's beard trembled several times with anger.
Lu Qingqing smiled and said, "How about this, Uncle Village Head, you should inform the villagers first that children under the age of eight can go to Mr. Qu for their early education, and we can talk about the others after we're done with this."
Children over ten years old are the main workforce in the village. Many of them do so not only because they can't afford to go to school, but also because they don't want to miss out on working to earn a living.
Lu Qingqing can't force people to do things!
“Okay, I’ll go and inform them,” Liu Lizheng said.
Lu Qingqing continued, "Mr. Qu is very kind. I would like to thank you on behalf of the children in the village. Although you said you would teach the children for free, your family still needs to make a living. How about this, can the workshop give you fifty catties of rice and flour every month? It's not a reward, but a token of our gratitude."
If it were a reward, with Qu Shan's knowledge, even two hundred catties of grain wouldn't be enough.
Besides, this was not Qushan's original intention.
Although his home was ransacked and he was penniless, he still had the common flaws of scholars.
He was aloof and proud, untainted by the allure of money.
So the food Lu Qingqing gave was just enough for the family to eat for a month.
It's not payment, it's gratitude.
Qu Shan wanted to refuse, but then he remembered the hands of his wife and daughters that had been worn raw while digging for wild vegetables on the mountain the day before, and he swallowed his words of refusal.
"Then I will accept it."
Ji Ruyan looked at Lu Qingqing with a smile in her eyes.
Qu Shan looked over and saw those eyes filled with shimmering light, and his heart skipped a beat.
He looked at Lu Qingqing, then at Ji Ruyan.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ji Ruyan nodded to him and left alongside Lu Qingqing.
Qu Shan's heart pounded with emotion, and his old eyes welled up with tears.
So, so... he was...
His article is absolutely correct!
The students he trusted were not wrong!
Everything they did was worthwhile!
"Hey, why does that general's figure look a little familiar?" Liu Lizheng clicked his tongue, watching the departing figure.
"This general looks a bit like that county magistrate's son who went away to study, doesn't he? What do you think, Mr. Qu? Oh dear, sir, why are you crying?"
"I didn't cry!"
"Okay, you didn't cry, your eyes just got watery."
Qu Shan angrily turned and left.
Liu Lizheng sighed, "I told you, they were so excited to receive food that they cried. But you still need to eat your fill before you have the energy to study, right?"
...
At the entrance of the Lu family residence.
Old Man Lu sat there with a wooden stool in his hand.
Everyone who went in for treatment greeted him with a smile.
He remained calm and collected, like an old lion guarding a gate.
Before Lu Qingqing even reached the door, he looked up as if he could smell her.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Lu Qingqing asked.
Ji Ruyan looked at Old Man Lu and shook her head regretfully: "Next time, there might be something going on in the city."
The guards he brought stood in the corner, seemingly ready to report something.
Lu Qingqing nodded, "Okay, I'll cook you something delicious next time."
"good."
Their eyes met, both filled with reluctance to part.
However, it was immediately interrupted by two loud coughs.
"Uncle Lu, it's the season for wind-related illnesses, which can easily harm your health. Don't sit at the door, come inside quickly. I'll come to visit you another day."
Ji Ruyan noticed Old Man Lu's displeasure and winked helplessly at Lu Qingqing.
Lu Qingqing found it amusing. "Let's go."
Only after the person left did Old Man Lu carry the wooden stool into the house.
"Qingqing, come inside!"
Lu Qingqing pouted and went inside.
The room was full of people, like a trial was being held.
Old Man Lu took the seat of honor.
"Qingqing, tell me, what do you want? Your father said first, forget about concubines and imperial consorts! He won't even become empress! The emperor's harem is already full of three palaces and six courtyards! If you go into the palace, you'll just be stuck with one man and die inside!"
Once you enter the palace, you'll likely grow old and die there.
The same applies to emperors.
Sitting in that high hall, looking down, one can no longer see the common people.
Lu Qingqing suddenly felt a pang in her heart.
It was as if I could already see Ji Ruyan wearing a dragon robe, sitting on the supreme dragon throne.
Amidst swirling smoke, they were gazed upon by the masses.
But his face was expressionless, like a sculpture.
His eyes were as still as stagnant water.
Suddenly, Chaolu weakly raised her hand.
"Chao Lu, what do you have to say?" Lu Yun asked.
"Second Young Master, someone is eavesdropping!"
Lu Yun opened the door and rushed out, and soon his voice could be heard cursing Mo Lang.
Chaolu shrank back, her face full of guilt.
After all, Mo Lang is her master!
Lu Qingqing covered her head and sighed:
"What's wrong? What's wrong? It's nothing!"
"Alright, since that's the case, I'll tell you clearly today what I really think!"
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