Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 68 The Master's Conversation

The backyard of the inn.

Lu Shouye and his sixth uncle had circled the courtyard gate countless times.

Upon seeing Lu Chuan return, Lu Shouye rushed forward in a few quick strides.

"Chuan'er, did the county magistrate reprimand you?" Lu Shouye asked in a low voice, his weathered face filled with anxiety.

Lu Chuan felt a warmth in his heart.

He calmly pulled his father and sixth uncle up, saying, "Father, sixth uncle, there are too many people watching outside. Let's go inside and talk."

The door creaked shut.

Lu Chuan took out a cloth bag from his pocket and placed it on the wooden table.

Clang.

"This is..." Sixth Uncle's eyes widened.

"This is a private gift from the county magistrate to my son, a total of ten taels of silver. The magistrate said that the prefectural examination is held in the prefecture, which is a long distance away and very expensive. This silver is specifically for my son to prepare for the prefectural examination. Not only that, the magistrate also made a grand promise that if my son can achieve the top score in the prefectural examination in one go, he will personally write a letter recommending me to study at Suyang Academy."

"Ten...ten taels?"

Lu Shouye froze on the spot.

He had never seen so much money in his entire life.

Halfway there, Lu Chuan called for a stop when they passed East Street.

"Chuan'er, aren't we in a hurry to get home? Why did we stop again?" Lu Shouye asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lu Chuan said, "Father, my success today is due not only to your upbringing and the county magistrate's appreciation, but also, and most importantly, to the enlightenment and teachings of my teacher. Now that I have achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, if I do not go to thank my teacher first, but instead rush home to celebrate, then I have lost the essence of a scholar."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shouye slapped his forehead and said with shame, "Right, right, right, look at my brain! I was so happy that I forgot about my husband. We should buy the best."

Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of ink.

Lu Chuan selected two rolls of the finest Xuancheng paper.

"Shopkeeper, two more packets of pine soot ink, please," Lu Chuan said, pointing to the ink sticks in the counter.

Afterwards, Lu Chuan lingered in front of the shelf for a long time, his gaze finally settling on a brush with a round, purple bristle handle.

"Shopkeeper, please also add this Zhongkai purple-haired brush."

Lu Chuan knew that the Master loved to copy the Wei stele of the previous dynasty, whose characters were strong and vigorous. This kind of stiff-bristled brush was exactly what the Master liked.

The abacus beads behind the counter stopped clicking rapidly. The shop assistant raised his eyelids and announced the price: "Thank you, nine hundred and eighty coins!"

Normally, Lu Shouye would have hesitated at the door for half an hour, clutching his money pouch. But today, he didn't even blink, taking out copper coins from his pocket and dumping them on the counter.

"It's all counted, not a single penny is missing."

Lu Shouye had never been so arrogant in his life. He turned his head to look at his son beside him, and the sense of pride in his heart was almost rising to his throat.

Sixth Uncle chuckled from the side: "Maintaining the family business, that's right. Our Chuan'er is now at the top of the class. When he enters Suyang Academy, he'll see the world. The gifts for the teachers can't be stingy."

The oxcart rolled over the bluestone road and stopped in front of the private school.

As dusk fell, the children in the private school had long since dispersed, leaving only a few intermittent sounds of reciting their lessons.

Lu Chuan straightened his clothes, accepted the gift of thanks from Lu Shouye, gestured for his father and sixth uncle to wait, and went into the study alone.

In the study, Master Xu was reading a gazette by the dim light.

Lu Chuan remained silent. He first placed the writing implements on the side table, then walked to the center of the desk.

With a "plop".

The eleven-year-old boy lifted his blue robe and knelt firmly on the blue brick ground.

He didn't rush to speak, but instead respectfully kowtowed three times.

"Student Lu Chuan, having lived up to my teacher's years of guidance, has come today to return from leave and express my gratitude to my teacher."

The scholar's hand trembled slightly as he looked up and examined the student.

He didn't rush to help, but first looked at Lu Chuan, showing no trace of the arrogance that comes with early success.

"Get up." The teacher sighed softly, got up himself, walked around the table, and reached out to support Lu Chuan's arm.

He waved his hand gently, but couldn't hide his satisfaction:

"You were able to achieve the top score because you are quick-witted and hardworking, never slacking off day or night. As your teacher, I merely pointed you in the right direction; ultimately, it was you who made it this far."

He spoke casually, but he couldn't suppress his pride.

He stepped forward and placed the item steadily on the table.

"Master, this is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it. This set of writing implements was specially chosen by me to add some elegance to your study."

As he spoke, his gaze grew increasingly serious:

"If it weren't for your willingness to patiently guide and teach me despite my humble origins, I would probably still be trapped in the countryside. How could I be where I am today? I will always remember this kindness. This small gift is just a token of my appreciation, and I hope you will not refuse it, Master."

The master looked at him quietly, his gaze lingering on the set of writing implements for a moment.

After a long while, he reached out and carefully put away the set of writing implements, placing it gently on the side of the desk.

"I'll accept this writing set; I'll take some of the good fortune from your desk." He said gently.

Then, Lu Chuan recounted in detail his meeting with the county magistrate that day.

He didn't hide anything, from the other party's on-the-spot examination, to the few comments and praises, to the reward of ten taels of silver, and the invitation to a literary gathering after the prefectural examination.

After he finished speaking, he stood there, his expression respectful, but with a hint of anticipation in his heart.

He was more interested in hearing what the man who had truly guided him through these matters would think.

The Master never interrupted, but listened quietly.

His expression wasn't surprised; instead, as the narration deepened, his eyes gained a clearer and more understanding look, as if he had long been accustomed to it.

After the last word was uttered, the study fell into a brief silence.

The Master pondered for a moment before speaking:

"The magistrate's move is both an act of valuing talent and a response to the prevailing trend, so it is not surprising."

His gaze fell on Qin Haoran, and his tone suddenly changed:

"But you, have you ever considered what you should be holding onto most right now?"

He paused, then added:

"Are you just burying yourself in books, preparing for the prefectural examination?"

Lu Chuan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands in a respectful reply:

"I believe that since I have been valued by the county magistrate, I should strive to do my best. My most urgent task at present is to solidify my understanding of the classics, become familiar with current essays, and make further progress in the prefectural examination, so as not to let down the cultivation I have received."

The Master shook his head slightly after hearing this.

"Studying hard is certainly the right path, that's true." He said calmly, "but you've only scratched the surface."

He looked at Lu Chuan, his gaze gradually deepening.

"The real key to your current situation is not how many books you read, but whether you can take that step."

After he finished speaking, he got up, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back.

"You come from a humble background, and that cannot be erased by simply studying hard behind closed doors."

"If you want to cross this threshold, simply burying your head in your work is not enough."