Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 34 Seeking Advice

Within two days, Li Ji indeed swaggered into the classroom and, in front of everyone, placed a scroll of fine rubbings on Lu Chuan's desk, speaking in a loud voice:

"Brother Lu, we were out of line the other day and inadvertently offended someone as talented as you. This rubbing of the Duobao Pagoda Stele is something I specially sought out as an apology. I hope you will forgive me and let us be closer as classmates in the future."

Lu Chuan accepted the rubbing with both hands, his fingertips touching the cool, thick paper, his expression humble. He bowed slightly, his manners impeccable.

"I appreciate Brother Li's kindness," Lu Chuan said in a clear voice. "It's inevitable for classmates to have disagreements, but it's our duty to investigate things and acquire knowledge. This calligraphy copybook is quite heavy; I'm sure Brother Li put a lot of thought into it. I will certainly work hard and live up to this kindness."

Li Ji felt completely at ease after hearing these words. The secret resentment he had felt from losing money now transformed into a generous and magnanimous spirit under everyone's gaze.

He patted Lu Chuan on the shoulder and laughed loudly, "Brother Lu, aren't you straightforward? From now on, anyone who dares to gossip in this academy will be going against me, Li."

Master Zhao was passing by with a teacup in his hand when he saw this. He paused slightly and glanced between Li Ji and Lu Chuan.

"To err is human, to forgive divine." Master Zhao put down his teacup, nodded to Lu Chuan, and said, "Since it is a kind gesture from a fellow student, you should accept it. Do not fail to live up to the spirit of Yan Zhenqing."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, please return to your seats." Master Zhao took a sip of tea, and as the aroma of the tea wafted up, his voice carried a hint of earnest advice, "Lu Chuan, the courtesy name of Yan Lugong, emphasizes strength and that upright spirit."

"Students will strictly follow their teachers' instructions."

......

From then on, Lu Chuan would get up every morning.

He carried a ceramic jar filled with water to a bluestone slab in the backyard of the school.

He used his fingers as a brush, or dipped a sharpened bamboo stick in water, to repeatedly copy the rubbing of the Duobao Pagoda Stele on the cold stone slab.

Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy is characterized by its strong and vigorous strokes and its expansive style.

Lu Chuan stared at the turning points of each stroke, the contrast between the thickness of each line, and the blank spaces in each part of the structure.

"The horizontal strokes are thin, the vertical strokes are thick, and the left-falling and right-falling strokes are bold and expansive."

He discovered that this so-called famous calligraphy work actually coincided with what he had in mind.

To write a character well, you must first eliminate the redundant embellishments and find the framework that supports the whole.

The clear water left dark marks on the bluestone slab, which quickly evaporated in the morning breeze. Lu Chuan repeated this process tirelessly.

During breaks from daytime studies, while Wang Lang and others gathered to discuss which food was more delicious, Lu Chuan would be hunched over his desk, repeatedly practicing on scrap paper.

The progress is astonishing.

In less than half a month, Lu Chuan's calligraphy lost its original naivety and weakness.

Although his writing skills are still somewhat weak due to his young age, the outline of his upright, solemn, and disciplined style is already faintly revealed.

Master Zhao passed by Lu Chuan's seat several times, looking at the increasingly steady regular script on the draft paper, and the satisfaction in his eyes was almost overflowing.

That calm and unhurried mindset is exactly what he wants.

The next day after school.

Lu Chuan knocked on the door three times.

"Student Lu Chuan has some questions and requests your guidance, Master."

Inside the study, Master Zhao was pruning the branches and leaves of an old pine tree.

Upon hearing this, he put down the scissors in his hand, turned around, looked at the student who was increasingly surprising him, and smiled gently: "Come in and talk."

Lu Chuan entered the room, bowed, and opened the slightly worn copy of "The Great Learning." Pointing to the famous "Eight Items" at the beginning, his brow furrowed slightly, and his voice was clear and resonant:

"Master, when I study the Great Learning, there is one point I don't understand regarding the causal chain from 'investigating things and extending knowledge' to 'bringing peace to the world'."

Master Zhao looked at him gently and said, "Speak."

"The book says, 'Only when things are investigated can knowledge be extended; only when knowledge is extended can the will be sincere; only when the will is sincere can the heart be rectified.'" Lu Chuan's finger lightly traced the paper. "What puzzles students is this: investigating things is to understand the principles of all things, but the principles of all things are cold and emotionless. Why is it that understanding the 'principles' can make one's 'will' sincere and one's 'heart' rectified? If someone investigates things to the extreme, seeing through the falsehoods and scheming of the world, they may become cunning and manipulative. Is this also considered 'rectifying the heart'?"

That's a bold question.

A glint flashed in Master Zhao's eyes. Instead of answering directly, he followed the line of thought and asked a question in return.

"Lu Chuan, do you think 'knowledge' and 'heart' are two different things?"

"The student thinks that 'knowledge' is the beads on an abacus, and 'mind' is the hand that moves the abacus," Lu Chuan calmly replied. "If the beads are moved accurately, but the hand is crooked, wouldn't the knowledge gained through 'investigating things' become a weapon for evil?"

Master Zhao remained silent for a long time, then suddenly stood up, took an exquisite bronze scale from the antique shelf, and placed it on the table.

"Lu Chuan, look. This weight is the standard obtained through 'investigating things,' and this scale rod is your 'heart.' If you don't know the weight of all things in this world (investigating things), you won't know where to place the weight."

"When you truly understand the importance of all things and see the cycle of cause and effect, you will find that the accounts of the wicked can never be balanced, and those who harm others will ultimately diminish their own fortune."

The Master pointed to the balanced scales and spoke earnestly:

"The so-called 'sincerity' is not about turning you into a pushover, but about understanding, after seeing through the laws of all things, that only 'upholding righteousness' is the most efficient path."

"If the heart is not upright, everything will fall into chaos. Your investigation into things is profound, and what you will ultimately find is that inviolable 'bottom line'."

As Lu Chuan listened to the Master's teachings, his gaze fell on the balanced bronze scale, and his mind seemed to clear.

"Those who harm others will never be appeased..." Lu Chuan repeated these words in a low voice.

He suddenly understood.

So-called integrity and sincerity are actually the highest level of foresight. Those who see through long-term interests will never engage in deception in the short term.

"The student has learned a great deal." Lu Chuan bowed deeply to the ground.

Lu Chuan maintained his bowing posture, but a door seemed to have opened in his heart.

Master Zhao looked at his back, his hand stroking his beard paused slightly, and he felt gratified.

"Go ahead," Master Zhao waved his hand.

Lu Chuan took his leave and walked out of the study, a gentle breeze caressing his face.

But today, Confucius's "weight theory" was like a heavy hammer, shattering his self-important shell.

He realized that actuarial science is not about being cunning, but about having the courage to choose the most difficult, yet longest and most righteous path after clearly understanding the ebb and flow of cause and effect.

Stepping out of the study, the sunlight slanted across the blue brick floor of the school, casting a long shadow of Lu Chuan.

Today, Master Zhao used a steelyard to tell him.

"Upholding the right path is the most efficient way."