Inside the smithy.
The meeting had ended, and everyone had long since left.
Only Li Xing and Angie Turner remained in the shop.
"This is... oh! I almost forgot about it."
When he saw Uncle Angie Turner holding the drawings on the wooden boards he had brought that morning, Li Xing remembered that he had forgotten something.
Uncle Angie Turner laid the boards out one by one on the meeting table.
Seeing Uncle Angie Turner's serious expression, Li Xing knew what they were about to discuss.
"Uncle, you've looked at these drawings, right?"
Uncle Angie Turner sat back in his chair and answered Li Xing's question.
"Li Xing, I've looked at them. I wanted to talk to you this afternoon, but you were in a hurry to go hunting, so I didn't bring it up. Since you're here tonight, let's finish discussing it today!"
As he spoke, Angie Turner placed one of the boards on the table.
The charcoal drawing on it showed the plans for developing the high ground behind Li Xing's cottage.
Uncle Turner pointed at the drawing.
"Are you serious about this?"
"Yes, Uncle Turner. That high ground really is suitable for building a residence of my own.
"But I don't need that much land.
"Although it isn't particularly level, I'd guess it's about the size of two towns!
"So I want to put it to use and do something for everyone in town."
Uncle Turner nodded in approval. "So you want to build an academy up there!"
After Li Xing nodded in confirmation, he continued.
"That's thoughtful of you. When I heard what Yilaikesi and the others were guessing before, I did suspect you might be a noble's son. But I can truly feel how much you care about everyone.
"You're willing to share your knowledge and help the villagers. That alone convinced me you weren't a noble."
"Why? Uncle Turner, could you tell me?"
Angie Turner smiled as he recalled the past.
"When I was young, I wanted to go out and make something of myself.
"My goal was to master a craft, then return home and build up my hometown.
"As I traveled, though, I encountered all kinds of nobles who kept knowledge to themselves, as well as knowledgeable people under their control. Whenever I asked them to teach me,
"they would turn me down again and again, guarding against me as if I were a thief. Especially when they found out I planned to return home after learning. The looks in their eyes reminded me of how nervous my younger brother and I were when we saw a rat outside the granary the first time we stood guard over it!"
Angie Turner looked at Li Xing and smiled.
"You already know what happened afterward. That was how I had my fateful encounter with the Pandaren."
After a moment of silence, Uncle Turner said,
"The traveling merchants will be here soon, so work will be hectic. Once things slow down, I'll teach you all my skills, as thanks for teaching in Hunter Town! What do you say?"
Li Xing eagerly agreed.
Then Li Xing suggested, "Building the academy will require the townspeople's help. Only then will everyone care about getting a place to study."
Uncle Turner agreed, then asked, "Once the academy is built, what are you planning to teach?"
Li Xing laughed. "Uncle Turner! Teaching isn't a job for one person. No matter how much I know, I can't teach everything.
"To be precise, it's not a question of what I'm going to teach, but what you're going to teach!"
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Seeing Angie Turner's confusion, Li Xing explained.
The reason was simple: the older generation would pass their knowledge and skills on to the next generation, while the academy would support the town's elderly by employing them as teachers.
But when Uncle Angie Turner heard this, he burst out laughing.
"I don't know if you're joking with me, but if you're serious, you'd better think carefully about whether you have what it takes! Hahaha!"
While Angie Turner was laughing,
Old Turner, who had heard the commotion, came out of the inner room after washing up.
"What's so funny, big brother? You're laughing so hard."
When his younger brother came over, Angie Turner repeated their conversation.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
This time, Old Turner lost his composure and burst out laughing too.
Li Xing looked helplessly at the two brothers before him. He knew that this embarrassment was another situation caused by that damned difference in understanding.
But this time, Li Xing did not feel ashamed.
He knew that his current outlook and understanding had been shaped and established by countless bloody and painful lessons from history and the accumulated experience of those who came before him: knowledge needed to be shared and spread.
"All right, all right, stop laughing. Can't you see Li Xing doesn't even want to talk anymore?" Angie Turner calmed himself and patted his brother as he admonished him.
"Li Xing, you... really are different. Just for what you said, I'm having Little Jerry follow you from now on. Don't hold anything back!"
Having been warned by his older brother, Old Turner calmed himself and spoke his mind.
"I understand what you two mean. If knowledge has no price, people won't value or cherish it," Li Xing said.
The two Turner brothers exchanged a glance when they heard him.
"Good! Looks like he hasn't gone mad yet."
Seeing their expressions, Li Xing sighed and said nothing more.
When the two saw that Li Xing had nothing else to say, they knew their conversation was about done for the day.
So Li Xing and Old Turner left the smithy together.
"Li Xing, I'm going to the tavern for a residents' meeting. Want to come?"
Old Turner patted Li Xing on the shoulder and asked.
"I'll pass. Too much has happened today. I want to go back and get some rest early."
"All right. I'll let my big brother know. You go on back first!"
After speaking, Old Turner seemed to remember something and added a reminder.
"Remember to keep Little Jerry with you! You're the one I'll come to when I want him back."
"Don't worry, Big Brother Turner. I won't learn your 'Miracle' for nothing."
That was Li Xing's reply.
Watching Li Xing walk away, Old Turner muttered to himself.
"Big Brother Turner! Oh well, as long as he takes good care of Little Jerry, being called big brother isn't a bad deal for me!
"But isn't that the way to Lucy's house?!"
After thinking for a moment,
"I... damn! No way, is he going to Lucy's house to rest? No, I have to hurry and tell my big brother. I can't be the only one who knows about this..."
As it turned out, gossip was not a matter of gender, only of interest.
While Old Turner went to share the gossip with his dear big brother, Li Xing arrived at Lucy's door.
He knocked!
When the door opened, Lucy saw Li Xing standing there.
"Did you need something, coming so late?" Lucy looked at Li Xing in confusion.
"No! I can't just leave Little Jerry here, can I?"
Looking helpless, Li Xing explained why he had come.
"I asked you to look after him, but I don't remember asking you to keep him overnight, right?"
Lucy was shocked by Li Xing's complaint.
"You didn't? Weren't you... all right, then I guess I read too much into it!"
The wariness Lucy had shown Li Xing before was gone from her eyes.
In Lucy's eyes, Li Xing now seemed a little foolish in an endearing way, but also somewhat forlorn. Perhaps Li Xing was so lonely that he didn't want to offend any of the acquaintances he knew in town, and so had indulged her excessive request. Although it was a misunderstanding, Lucy was still touched.
"Li Xing, from now on, you're my friend!"
"Really? Then I'm honored!"
Although he knew Lucy seemed to have misunderstood something about him, Li Xing had no regrets at that moment. To him, being able to befriend someone who cherished friends and feelings at that price was something truly worth remembering and being proud of.