Refusing to Teach

Nanny Yan had been gone for quite a while when Wu'er came in and called softly, "Miss? Miss?"

Ge Bao'er came back to herself and suddenly murmured, "Madam is truly formidable..." Lin Yunwan seemed to have done nothing, so how had everyone come to side with her? Even Lu Zhengliu no longer came to see Ge Bao'er.

"Of course! Madam comes from a family of upright scholar-officials and has been steeped in books since childhood. Even managing the household and its affairs is no trouble for her..."

Full of respect and admiration, Wu'er spoke with animated enthusiasm. She did not know what she had said wrong, but when Ge Bao'er shot her a cold look, she promptly stopped.

She lowered her head and pressed her lips together, looking cautious.

Ge Bao'er did not seem angry. She took Wu'er's hand and acted very close to her.

"Wu'er, you're right. Madam comes from an impressive family, and she's capable too. There are so many ways I fall short of her. I still need to learn how she deals with people and handles things. It'll be good for me too."

Wu'er looked puzzled.

Madam was the mistress of the household. What did Miss Ge need to learn from her? Wouldn't it be enough to behave herself as a guest, be filial to Old Madam Lu, and show respect to the family hosting her?

But she dared not say so.

Ge Bao'er's monthly allowance had also been handed out that day.

"Wu'er, how much is your monthly allowance?"

Wu'er looked at Ge Bao'er's silver and did not dare answer. Her own monthly allowance was only two qian of silver less than Ge Bao'er's.

Ge Bao'er had a fair idea herself. She gave Wu'er the money and said, "Go and buy me some brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone."

"Miss, are you going to learn to write?"

Ge Bao'er nodded and smiled sincerely. "Doesn't Old Madam believe in Buddha? Once I learn to write, I can copy Buddhist scriptures for her too."

Wu'er thought it was a good idea and hurried to the Second Gate to ask the purchasing agent in the Front Courtyard for help.

Ge Bao'er sat by the window, her delicate eyes brimming with ambition.

Only after entering the Lu family had she realized how ignorant she was.

She had made a fool of herself far too many times, too.

Now that a renowned teacher like Zhang Feng'an was teaching Qing, she no longer had to worry about him.

She could set her mind at ease and learn the things Lin Yunwan knew, the principles she understood, and the methods she used, so she could pave a longer road for Qing in the future.

The next morning.

Lin Yunwan went to pay her respects at the Hall of Longevity. An uncanny stillness hung over the courtyard.

"Old Madam, Heir."

Ge Bao'er was absent. She had been practicing her writing in the Side Room since yesterday and rarely came out.

Old Madam Lu was happy to turn a blind eye. As long as Ge Bao'er caused no trouble, she could not be bothered to concern herself.

She asked Lu Zhengliu, "Has your post been settled?" After he had been summoned back to the capital, he had submitted his report, but there had been no word since. Still, it was hardly proper for him to remain at home all the time.

Lu Zhengliu replied, "Grandmother, I have already asked someone to make inquiries. They say a post as pacification officer at the Dragon-Tiger Guard Command Office has been proposed for me."

It was a military post of the lower fifth rank, not particularly high. But this was the capital, and securing a foothold there while also bearing the title of heir to the Marquis of Wuding was already quite good.

It was much better than the Lu family's precarious position seven years ago, when it had been battered by wind and rain.

Old Madam Lu said with relief, "You're still young. Take your time. From now on, you and your wife should look after each other more in matters inside and outside the household and move forward hand in hand."

Lu Zhengliu nodded in acknowledgment.

Lin Yunwan, however, wore an indifferent expression.

Old Madam Lu also knew she had upset her these past few days, but what mistress of a household did not have grievances to swallow?

Since she had married into the Lu family as a daughter-in-law, she was one of them. There were no grudges in a family that lasted overnight.

"Yun Wan, Zhengliu's appointment is a great cause for celebration. Let him accompany you on a visit to your family with this good news; it will also serve as an explanation to your family. The two of you should make preparations and go to the Lin Family tomorrow to see your mother and younger brother."

Her mother, her younger brother...

At the thought of her loved ones, Lin Yunwan's eyes grew hot. The only thing worth taking comfort in from her previous life was that her younger brother had made something of himself. Though his path had been fraught with setbacks, he had ultimately brought glory to the Lin clan's door and honor to their father. Her one regret was that after their mother went blind, her eyes had never recovered.

She wondered what her mother and younger brother were like now.

Truly, the closer one came to home, the more apprehensive one felt. She hardly dared to see them.

"Yun Wan?"

Lin Yunwan came back to herself and said to Old Madam Lu, "All right."

Lu Zhengliu also gave her a long look, saying nothing.

She missed home.

Just as they were about to disperse, Nanny Yan hurried in, looking as though something terrible had happened. "Old Madam, Heir, Madam, Mr. Zhang sent someone in with a message. He said... he said he no longer wants to teach Young Master Qing."

"What?!"

Old Madam Lu sprang to her feet and asked Nanny Yan, "What happened?"

Lu Zhengliu frowned as well. "It's only the first day. What foolish thing has he done now?"

"Mr. Zhang didn't say."

Lu Zhengliu pressed his lips together, his face cold.

"I'll go and see for myself."

Old Madam Lu waited for news in the Hall of Longevity, and Lin Yunwan could hardly leave either.

Ge Bao'er heard the commotion from the Side Room and sent Wu'er to find out what was happening.

Wu'er said softly, "It's about Young Master Qing. Mr. Zhang doesn't want to teach him anymore."

"Why?"

Ge Bao'er gripped her brush, a little too agitated.

Wu'er said, "I... I don't know either. If you want to know, Miss, please wait a little. The heir went himself, and he'll certainly come back soon. I'll go over there and listen."

Ge Bao'er nodded and sat down uneasily. Afraid Wu'er would notice something, she held her brush and forced herself to calm down.

But she did not know how to write, so she could only clutch the brush and scribble at random.

Lu Zhengliu returned shortly, his face dark.

Old Madam Lu asked him, "What happened?"

Lu Zhengliu said helplessly, "Mr. Zhang met Chang Gong first..."

"So he met him. What does that have to do with teaching Qing?"

"Mr. Zhang thinks Chang Gong has good aptitude. He wants to teach Chang Gong, not Qing."

Old Madam Lu was stunned.

How could that possibly do?

Lu Zhengliu said, "I tried to persuade him several times, but Mr. Zhang insists on teaching Chang Gong."

After saying this, he actually glanced at Lin Yunwan, but her air of unconcern irritated him somewhat.

Lin Yunwan was not surprised.

She was a teacher herself, and a student like Chang Gong was indeed endearing. Still, Mr. Zhang surely would not be so unreasonable. The Lu family had invited him to teach Qing; that had been agreed from the start.

Why would he suddenly change his mind?

It was a little strange.

Old Madam Lu said to Lin Yunwan, "Go and try to persuade him. You understand scholars' affairs better, after all."

Lin Yunwan was curious too, so she agreed to go and try.

The people of the household invited Mr. Zhang to the discussion hall, where they spoke with a screen between them.

Just as Chang Gong had described, Zhang Feng'an had a thin face and a small, slender frame, giving him a vigorous appearance.

"Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Feng'an cupped his hands in greeting. "Madam."

Lin Yunwan asked politely, "May I ask why you suddenly no longer wish to teach your student Qing?"

Zhang Feng'an did not answer.

Why?

At first, he had mistakenly thought Lu Chang'gong was his student, and he had been overjoyed. But it turned out his student was Lu Changzong.

His words were cutting as well. "Madam, with exquisite delicacies laid before me, I am asked to choose a plate of chaff and husks. I cannot swallow it."

Lin Yunwan could not help smiling, though she was too embarrassed to laugh aloud.

Zhang Feng'an said with displeasure, "It isn't that I'm being unduly harsh. Young Master Qing's aptitude is ordinary, yet he won't lift a finger either. Yesterday, I asked the heir to show me his previous assignments, but he made all sorts of excuses. Old Madam also kept sending people over to check on us."

"The moment I grew slightly stern, the young master cried, and every servant in your household rushed to coax him. It's only the first day, and I haven't even used the ruler, yet he regards me as an enemy."

"How am I supposed to teach him like this?"

Lin Yunwan truly understood how he felt.

In her previous life, she had forcibly set Qing straight under just such circumstances, yet he had hated her for the rest of his life.

"Mr. Zhang, do you truly intend to resign? Since you have come, there is no reason to resign so readily. If you have any conditions, please feel free to state them."

That struck a chord with Zhang Feng'an.

"I do have conditions."

In less than a quarter of an hour, Lin Yunwan and Zhang Feng'an reached an agreement.

Before leaving, Zhang Feng'an cupped his hands again and said, "Thank you for your assistance, Madam." After all, Qing was not her own son. It was kind of her to take such care.

After agreeing, Lin Yunwan went to the Hall of Longevity to see Old Madam Lu and Lu Zhengliu.

Seeing their expectant looks, she said evenly, "Mr. Zhang said that unless Qing can be as diligent and well-behaved as Chang Gong, he will not continue teaching him. And once he has finished teaching him, the Lu family must not tell outsiders that Qing was his student."

Old Madam Lu and Lu Zhengliu stared, speechless.

Did Zhang Feng'an really hold Qing in such disdain?

Old Madam Lu said, "Tell him the Lu family agrees."

More than the renowned teacher's disdain, she feared Qing would be left without a good teacher. Frowning, she instructed Lu Zhengliu, "Go and bring Qing here. I'll speak to him myself."

"Yes."