Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 59 Settling the Mind

The handover of medicinal herbs, which was originally a complicated process, was handled surprisingly smoothly today.

As the father and son walked out of the gate of Ji'an Hall, Uncle Liu, who had been watching the unloading of goods in the backyard, smiled more brightly than the spring sun.

"Sixth Uncle, look at the price Manager Lin offered." Lu Shouye subconsciously touched the money pouch in his arms.

Uncle Liu patted the crossbeam of the oxcart with his rough, large hand: "Shouye, we've lived most of our lives and only now do we realize that studying does have its merits."

He turned to look at Lu Chuan, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Chuan'er, your sixth uncle only knew that studying could lead to becoming an official, but today he has finally seen the truth. Even if you don't become an official after studying hard, you'll still be more impressive than an old farmer like us."

"Sixth Uncle, you flatter me. It's only because the medicinal herbs in our village are of such high quality that Manager Lin is giving me this favor," Lu Chuan replied humbly.

"Don't be so modest," Uncle Liu waved his hand. "It's a miracle that our village has produced such a bright scholar as you. As for the family business, we absolutely cannot let Chuan'er be delayed in taking care of the work at home or in the fields."

The oxcart swayed and rattled out of the city gate, the noise fading into the distance.

Lu Shouye and his sixth uncle were still basking in the glory of what they had just witnessed, and they continued to sing in unison.

Lu Chuan sat on the carriage floor, listening to the laughter of his elders. Although he felt warm inside, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Father, Sixth Uncle," Lu Chuan suddenly spoke up, "We'll let today's events go once we leave the city, but we still need to be more discreet when we return to the village."

Lu Shouye was taken aback, then scratched his head: "Chuan'er, everyone saw it, we have our pride, why should we hold back?"

Lu Chuan said slowly, "Confucius once taught that 'the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind.' In the previous dynasty, there was a prodigy named Fang Zhongyong who could compose poems on any subject at the age of five. His neighbors all thought he was a child prodigy, and his father took him around every day to show off and make money, which even delayed his studies. What was the result? When he reached the age of twenty, he became just like everyone else, no different from an ordinary farmer."

Upon hearing the words "faded into the crowd," Uncle Liu froze in his smoking motion, and Lu Shouye also stopped laughing.

"Our Lu Family Village has a weak foundation. This title of top student in the county school is a stepping stone, but if we use it as a means of showing off, it will eventually backfire." Lu Chuan looked at the two elders with sincere eyes. "Manager Lin is giving me face today because he has high hopes for my future. If I indulge in these empty titles and stop studying hard, and fail the imperial examination next year, all this flattery and politeness will turn into cold stares and ridicule in an instant."

Sixth Uncle, having lived a long life, understood the deeper meaning in Lu Chuan's words, and his expression became solemn.

He sighed, "Chuan'er is right. It's just that we old bones are getting senile, only caring about the present glory. Maintaining the family business is a hundred times harder for scholars than for us farmers. We can't become like Zhong Yong's father, who ruined others."

Lu Shouye was also startled and broke out in a cold sweat. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Chuan'er, I'll remember this. If anyone brings this up again after we get back to the village, I'll just say you were lucky. We should continue farming and gathering herbs as usual."

Lu Chuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his elders had listened to him.

The holiday flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to return to the private school.

The difference is that the initial enthusiasm for returning to the village was suppressed.

The oxcart stopped at the entrance of Qingyang Academy. While helping Lu Chuan carry his luggage, Sixth Uncle saw Master Zhao pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

Sixth Uncle was a straightforward man. Upon seeing the teacher, he immediately stopped what he was doing, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Teacher Zhao, Chuan'er has brought this back to you."

When Master Zhao saw that it was Lu Chuan Guishu, a smile had just appeared on his face when he heard Sixth Uncle start talking, his expression still showing a trace of lingering fear.

"The old man has lived to this age, and the other day after hearing what Chuan'er said, he broke out in a cold sweat." Uncle Liu recounted to Master Zhao how Lu Chuan had advised his elders to restrain themselves and how he had mentioned the story of "The Tragedy of Zhongyong" on the oxcart that day.

Uncle Liu sighed, "We originally wanted to show him off in the county, but this kid is so shrewd! He said something about 'the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind,' and he was afraid of becoming just another ordinary person like Fang Zhongyong. Don't you think this kid is much more thoughtful than us old farmers? We almost became that 'Zhongyong's father' who ruined everyone!"

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao's hand, which was stroking his beard, froze in mid-air.

He glanced at Lu Chuan, who was silently packing his bookshelves, and a look of intense amazement and admiration flashed in his eyes.

A hint of admiration flashed in Master Zhao's eyes. After a long while, he sighed and said to Uncle Liu, "Uncle Lu, Lu Chuan's insight is more reassuring than his winning the county school's top prize. 'The tragedy of Zhong Yong was not his talent, but the destruction caused by excessive praise.' So many brilliant talents have been ruined by the excessive praise of their neighbors and the greed of their elders. It is truly fortunate that Lu Chuan can be so self-aware."

After Uncle Liu drove off in his oxcart, giving repeated instructions, only the master and apprentice remained in the courtyard.

Master Zhao walked slowly to Lu Chuan's side, his gaze intense, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Chuan'er, stop what you're doing for a moment."

Lu Chuan stopped what he was doing, stood properly, and bowed, saying, "Master."

"I was worried that your early success would blind you to the empty fame of the county town. I even prepared several sages' admonitions against arrogance, and was thinking about how to give you a stern rebuke today to prevent you from becoming haughty," Master Zhao said with a face full of satisfaction. He patted Lu Chuan's shoulder heavily, his tone full of emotion. "I never expected that you would be so clear-headed. Self-reflection leads to self-improvement; restraint leads to long-term success. You are better than I thought."

He led Lu Chuan to the corridor of the study, pointed to the smooth bluestone path worn smooth by generations of students, and said earnestly, "In this academy, and even in the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there has never been a shortage of talented people who can write brilliant articles and become famous overnight. But the arena of fame and fortune is like boiling oil; most of those talented people are like fireworks, brilliant for a moment and then extinguished. Those who can truly go the distance are always those who are willing to endure loneliness and know how to conceal their talents."

Master Zhao paused for a moment, his gaze deep: "If you can maintain this composure and take the empty title of top scholar lightly, I can be completely at ease after the preliminary examination. You must remember that the imperial examination is a single-plank bridge, and below the bridge are the temptations of the mortal world. The fact that you can think of Fang Zhongyong at this time means that you have already won half the battle against your opponent."

Lu Chuan lowered his head respectfully, his voice clear and firm: "Master, you flatter me. I grew up in the countryside and have seen countless crops fall over because they grew too fast. I just feel that compared to those impressive articles on paper, we must walk the path under our feet more firmly. Reputation is given by others, but ability is something we make ourselves."

"What a great saying: 'Reputation is given by others, but ability is your own.'"

Master Zhao laughed heartily and said "Good" three times.

"Go and bring out that Duan inkstone. Today, I'll accompany you to practice calligraphy."

Master Zhao walked into the study with his hands behind his back, his back view revealing a hearty smile. "We won't practice romanticizing things, but rather the line from 'Admonition to My Son': 'Without tranquility, one cannot achieve far-reaching goals; without detachment, one cannot clarify one's ambitions.'"

Lu Chuan responded and followed the teacher steadily.