Showing Off at the Ministry of Revenue

Then she explained her thought process using theories mentioned in math textbooks.

Gan Lun: "..." I don't understand, but it sounds really impressive.

Seeing that it was almost time, he resisted the urge to ask more questions and said, "Go to class first, and explain it to me again after class."

"I'm going to the auction with my master today. Aren't you going, Master?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

"I'm not going, I'm not going." Gan Lun waved his hand, but he knew in his heart that he couldn't stop Zhao Ruxi from going.

He knew that Zhao Ruxi had paintings going to be auctioned. Kang Shilin had already shown them off at the academy.

Hmph, so what if you took this girl as your apprentice?

"Then, teacher, I'm going to class." Zhao Ruxi stood up.

Gan Lun hurriedly said, "I'll take your cousin's student in. What's his name again?"

He owed Zhao Ruxi Zhao Ruxi countless favors for solving so many problems for him. No matter how stupid her cousin was, he had to accept them.

"Zhao Jingli." Zhao Ruxi wrote down Zhao Jingli's name. "When would be a convenient time for you? I'll take him to pay his respects."

"I don't have classes tomorrow afternoon, so you can bring him over when you're free," Mister Gan said.

Both of them knew that Zhao Jingli's learning from Gan Lun was just like the other students at the academy; their relationship was simply that of a teacher and student, not a closer master-disciple relationship.

Whether Gan Lun will actually accept Zhao Jingli as his apprentice in the future depends on Zhao Jingli's character, personality, and learning talent.

After Zhao Ruxi left, Gan Lun patiently finished his lesson and hurriedly left the academy, urging the coachman, "Take me back to the Ministry of Revenue, and be quick."

The coachman thought he had some urgent official business to attend to and found it strange, after all, his master had retired two or three years ago.

He didn't dare delay and drove the carriage very fast, just managing to get Gan Lun to the Ministry of Revenue before he left the yamen.

Upon entering the yamen, Gan Lun encountered Qi Xugu, the Minister of Ministry of Revenue.

Qi Xugu was only Little Five or six years younger than Gan Lun, so they were of similar age. They had both worked their way up from minor positions in the Ministry of Revenue and had a good personal relationship.

Gan Lun was obsessed with mathematics and not good at handling interpersonal relationships, so he only became a Principal Fifth Rank physician. Qi Xugu, on the other hand, was adept at social maneuvering and eventually became the Minister of Ministry of Revenue when Gan Lun retired.

Qi Xugu didn't put on airs in front of Gan Lun. As soon as he saw Gan Lun, he smiled and said, "Lord Gan, have you solved another difficult problem?"

Gan Lun had always enjoyed studying these long-standing problems accumulated by the Ministry of Revenue. Lately, he had been frequently visiting the Ministry of Revenue to find solutions, and once he solved them, he would bring Ministry of Revenue to show off. Qi Xugu was already familiar with his routine.

Even though Qi Xugu had seen through his intentions, Gan Lun wasn't disappointed.

He laughed heartily, "That's right. Hey, you'd never guess which problem my student solved."

"Which one? Could it be the most difficult one? Lord Gan, you're amazing! You've solved a problem that has plagued our Ministry of Revenue for so many years." Qi Xugu laughed.

"Hehe..." Gan Lun laughed smugly, but then shook his head and said, "But I already said, it wasn't me who solved it, it was my student."

"Alright, alright, it's not you, it's your student, okay?" Qi Xugu said.

He didn't believe a single word Gan Lun said.

Gan Lun was one of the most outstanding mathematicians in their Ministry of Revenue, on par with Guo Jitong. If these difficult problems weren't solved by Gan Lun, could they really have been solved by his student? Don't be ridiculous.

Seeing this, Gan Lun felt quite helpless.

Zhao Ruxi had repeatedly instructed him that he could solve the problems, but on one condition: when he discussed these problem-solving methods outside, he should not mention her name. She said that she had already gained fame for her painting and secured such a good position at the Court of Judicial Review, which had already made many people resentful; becoming famous in mathematics would not do her any good.

Although Gan Lun was not good at flattery, he had spent his whole life in officialdom and was extremely insightful about worldly affairs.

He felt that Zhao Ruxi understood the situation clearly and that what she said made sense.

A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind.

Zhao Ruxi is young and a woman. It is not good for her to be too prominent, as she cannot become an official or teach at the academy. On the contrary, it is quite disadvantageous. She will either be coveted because she is too outstanding, or she will be suppressed because she is envied.

Princess Xiangyang, the daughter of Consort Jin, was praised by the world for her mathematical talent. Even though Zhao Ruxi was the apprentice of Mister Kumu, she overshadowed Princess Xiangyang and her life was far from easy.

Therefore, when Gan Lun boasts about his problem-solving methods, he only mentions those of his own students.

He taught many students; among his disciples, one became an official in the Ministry of Revenue, and several others taught at academies, possessing considerable mathematical skills. No one could guess exactly who they were.

Surprisingly, the people in the Ministry of Revenue didn't believe him. They all thought he had solved the problem himself and brought fame to the student. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have mentioned the student's name? Who wouldn't admit to something that brought them so much fame?

"Go, summon those less busy officials from the Ministry of Revenue, let them all listen," Qi Xugu said to his attendant.

As the Minister of Ministry of Revenue, he was very willing to help the officials in the Ministry of Revenue improve their mathematical abilities. Gan Lun's solution to these difficult problems was a great help to him.

As the two approached Qi Xugu's house, Qi Xugu spotted Guo Jitong emerging from the adjacent room and quickly called out, "Lord Guo, come here for a moment. Come and listen to Lord Gan's solution to this difficult problem."

"Yes, sir." Guo Jitong replied with a smile, then turned to greet Gan Lun, "Lord Gan, you're truly remarkable. I've heard you've solved quite a few difficult problems lately."

"I didn't solve it, it was my student." Gan Lun's expression was indifferent.

Guo Jitong's smile remained unchanged as he praised, "A student? Which student? Truly, the student has surpassed the teacher."

Qi Xugu also looked at Gan Lun expectantly.

He really hoped that the difficult problem was solved by one of Gan Lun's students.

If someone with such talent existed, he wouldn't need to fawn over Guo Jitong.

Guo Jitong's money-making methods were so corrupt that few upright gentlemen would respect him.

But he was highly talented and good at mathematics, and the Ministry of Revenue still had to take the lead when it encountered difficult problems. So even if they disliked him, they couldn't do anything about it. As the Minister of Ministry of Revenue, Qi Xugu sometimes had to flatter him to prevent him from shirking his duties. If that happened, the work couldn't be arranged, and it would be difficult for Qi Xugu himself.

If Gan Lun's student were that capable, even if he wasn't a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), Qi Xugu would be willing to transfer him to the Ministry of Revenue. Then, he could get rid of Guo Jitong whenever he wanted, and no longer have to fawn over this person of questionable character.

"Haha, she's still young, it's not a good thing for her to become famous too early, so I can't say anything," Gan Lun laughed it off.

Qi Xugu's face immediately showed disappointment.

At this time, the other officials from the Ministry of Revenue arrived at Qi Xugu's room one after another.

"Alright, Lord Gan, stop keeping us in suspense. Show us the question," Qi Xugu said.