Chapter 7 Apprenticeship
“Grand Master Guan misjudged again.”
This renowned tutor, Guan Zeyang, was incredibly influential, even in the imperial court.
He’d been a tutor to princes but resigned and returned to his hometown for unknown reasons.
However, Mu Jiaojiao, having been in the palace, knew a little—it involved conflicts among princes, so Guan Zeyang chose to withdraw.
Mu Jiaojiao didn’t know what kind of students he preferred, but she’d heard about his personal tastes.
The next day, she sent someone to find her second brother, urging him to return.
She and Shan Cha dressed in men’s clothing and appeared in Zhan’s small courtyard.
Before her arrival, A Liu was clinging to his master’s leg. “Master, how do I find you if I miss you?”
Wu You hated crying; he slapped A Liu’s hand away. “Practice hard; if you achieve something, I’ll appear.”
Zhan Qiyu also wanted him to stay longer; even a few words daily were enlightening.
“Master, please stay a few more days.”
Wu You disliked Zhan Qiyu even more—this young man pretended to be clean and elegant; he was too affected.
Wu You waved to A Liu and Zhan Qiyu, then left, saying they would meet again if destined.
After he left, A Liu cried to the young master. “Will I see Master again?”
Zhan Qiyu was unsure but also wanted to see him again.
Regarding Mu Jiaojiao, he felt he knew more.
Shan Cha giggled. When they emerged from the dog hole, she noticed A Liu’s red eyes.
“What’s wrong, A Liu? Did you cry?”
Embarrassed by a girl his age, A Liu said the wind got in his eyes.
Shan Cha was skeptical, but Mu Jiaojiao didn’t want to waste time and urged them to leave.
“The carriage should be here. Brother Zhan, come with me.”
Zhan Qiyu avoided her gaze, shaking his head. “No, I have books to read.”
But as he turned, Mu Jiaojiao grabbed his sleeve; he stopped, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
“Shan Cha, help me.”
She couldn’t pull Zhan Qiyu alone and asked Shan Cha for help, but before she touched his sleeve, he said, “This pulling is unbecoming. I’ll go.”
This impatience suggested a bad mood, causing A Liu to glare at Shan Cha, saying he was coming too.
Despite only having spent a few days with Wu You, A Liu, imbued with true teachings, felt responsible for the young master’s safety.
The four of them boarded the carriage; Zhan’s mother gave them bean paste buns before their departure.
After they left, she shook her head, feeling her children were growing up and no longer needed her constantly.
If they needed her, she’d help with the children; otherwise, she’d return to the village.
She hadn’t considered meeting another man.
The carriage headed out of town; A Liu asked where they were going.
Shan Cha didn’t know; Mu Jiaojiao was being coy, making A Liu anxious.
Zhan Qiyu continued reading; the wind occasionally lifted the curtains, ruffling his hair.
The heat had lessened; it wasn’t as sweltering.
The carriage ride wasn’t unbearable, but A Liu, restless, sat with the driver.
The driver wasn’t entirely sure, but A Liu understood—they were visiting a master.
Knowing the shortcut, his mood improved.
Around noon, they saw a crowd.
“That’s it,” Mu Jiaojiao pointed, and the carriage stopped; they walked.
She explained, “Master Guan was the headmaster of Fengyang Academy and tutored princes.”
She spoke excitedly; Shan Cha and A Liu were amazed; Zhan Qiyu silently observed the animated girl.
He knew Guan Zeyang; every scholar had read his works; “The Art of Governance” was his favorite.
But Zhan Qiyu didn’t expect to be accepted; tutors to princes were unlikely to be interested in a poor scholar.
But Mu Jiaojiao urged him to try, and he would.
They found a fence keeping people back.
A mud-covered young master sighed. Mu Jiaojiao wanted to ask, but Zhan Qiyu stopped her.
He didn’t want to see her talk to other men and went himself.
He learned that Guan Zeyang was building a house; apprentices had to help personally, no substitutes allowed.
This deterred many rich young men; one, unwilling to give up, tried to help but was rejected.
A Liu was anxious; his young master couldn’t do that.
Mu Jiaojiao thought it unrealistic for Zhan Qiyu to build, suggesting another way.
But Zhan Qiyu had A Liu roll up his sleeves; he would try.
“Young master, I think we should forget it.”
Even Mu Jiaojiao said, “Brother Zhan, we can find another way.”
But Zhan Qiyu didn’t explain, opened the fence, and went inside.
He had a plan because the mysterious book described house building, so he wanted to try.
He’d read the book repeatedly, feeling enlightened.
He wouldn’t have done this before, but his sense of righteousness wasn’t just for the country; he needed to build his own life.
Guan Zeyang saw a tall, fair scholar enter; he didn’t care about looks; he wanted capable people.
Those unwilling to do small things wouldn’t achieve great things.
He observed, thinking this might be another arrogant scholar.
But Zhan Qiyu dismantled the existing brickwork.
“What are you doing?” Guan Zeyang was worried seeing him dismantle instead of building.
Zhan Qiyu, using the book’s knowledge, carefully leveled the ground.
“This wall isn’t facing east; the house will be crooked. The foundation must be solid.”
This silenced Guan Zeyang; he didn’t know much about building but wanted to test the students’ character.
But this scholar seemed to have knowledge, relating it to the way of life, and he paid attention.
Building a house is similar to raising a tree; the seedling must be straight.
The three outside gradually calmed down.
“A Liu, did your young master build houses before?”
“No, I never let him do that. The houses in our village were built by others; I don’t know much.”
This was strange. Mu Jiaojiao pondered; Shan Cha watched with interest.
The crowd dispersed; it was lunchtime.
Mu Jiaojiao didn’t want to leave and had A Liu and Shan Cha borrow a pot and firewood from neighbors and cook.
Half an hour later, they returned with a pot, firewood, and a duck.
A Liu paid; Shan Cha recognized the silver pieces.
A Liu started stewing duck soup with vegetables.
This made Master Guan hungry.
He asked, “Are those people with you?”
Zhan Qiyu nodded, still laying bricks; he focused on building a perfectly level wall.
His name gained a place in Master Guan’s mind, but the test wasn’t over.
After the soup was ready, Mu Jiaojiao and Shan Cha delivered it to the workers; several poor young men hadn’t eaten.
They had flatbreads; each person received a bowl of soup and two flatbreads.
Guan Zeyang initially disliked the young lady in men’s clothing, believing indulgence in beauty led to corruption, but seeing her serving food without airs, he accepted it.
Zhan Qiyu seemed uninterested in her; he only asked her to put down the food, showing no special favor, reassuring him.
A poor scholar needed more effort and shouldn’t be distracted by romance; marriage was sometimes a means for advancement.
Guan Zeyang drank the soup, observing Zhan Qiyu’s back, unaware that he’d misjudged again.