Song Chuyi knew that Longgu Qing was putting on such an act, so she must have already made a decision. If she continued to refuse, it would only annoy people. She did not plan to leave the State of Wey for the time being, and matters that required compromise still had to be compromised.
The thought flashed by, and she immediately said without hesitation, “Since the general says so, I naturally have no objection.”
“Excellent.” Longgu Qing’s expression became even more amiable, and he pushed the sheepskin on the table toward Song Chuyi. “These are the supplies prepared for you. Please have a look.”
Song Chuyi rose, took the sheepskin, and glanced over it roughly with lowered eyes.
She had previously instructed that not too much needed to be prepared, so as things stood, if these items were to be used for diplomatic relations, they were indeed rather few. However, Song Chuyi had no intention at all of sending Qin material goods. For the journey, these things were more than enough even if spent freely.
“These are enough.” Song Chuyi rolled up the sheepskin and stuffed it into the sleeve pouch, saying, “In that case, I will set out two days from now.”
“Diplomatic relations require reciprocity. Moreover, the new ruler of Qin has just ascended the throne. It really would not do to not send congratulatory gifts,” Longgu Buwang said.
“There are congratulatory gifts: giving the new ruler of Qin the best opportunity to attack Wei and a strategy for attacking Wei. If circumstances are favorable, he can take a large stretch of land in one stroke at very little cost. What congratulatory gift can compare?” Song Chuyi said with a slight smile.
Longgu Qing looked carefully at Song Chuyi several more times, feeling in his heart that Yi Shikui truly had the talent to recognize a fine horse. To have him serve as a mere clan-school teacher in his residence was truly wasting his talent. He decided that after Song Chuyi’s matter was accomplished, he would recommend him to the ruler.
Longgu Qing asked a few more simple questions, then let Song Chuyi go back to prepare.
Song Chuyi had come into a windfall, and as soon as she left the main hall she immediately began planning how to use it.
She had taken a fancy to that patch of wasteland outside Puyang City. If she could occupy it as soon as possible, all the better. However, she had no one trustworthy by her side to handle this matter. With no people, how could anything be done?
After thinking it over and over, Song Chuyi felt she could only rely on opportunity. Although it was a matter of opportunity, the odds of her obtaining it were still sixty or seventy percent. First, over the past nearly hundred years, the wars among the various states had become more frequent and intense, with countless people dying every year. Some places had already become desolate and uninhabited. At present, the number of states that could still achieve “the people having no land to cultivate” could be counted on one hand. Second, the time each state generally conducted its annual re-survey of cultivated land was in early spring. It was now deep winter, and there would be more than three long months of harsh winter ahead. That piece of land should not be bothered with for the time being.
Moreover, she did not necessarily have to have land in the State of Wey. If she could have it in Zhao, so much the better.
Song Chuyi thus temporarily stopped thinking about this matter and went to the school building to teach Longgu Buwang.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw the clan-school students who were preparing to eat their midday meal all casting strange looks at her.
These looks were not merely curiosity. Song Chuyi could sense that, and she felt somewhat baffled.
Naturally, she did not know what a great stir had occurred in the clan school that morning.
Previously, Longgu Buwang would go to the school building whenever he pleased, unlike the other clan-school students who began reciting texts before dawn. But today he had come early, astonishing everyone else.
However, after the morning reading, Yi Shikui taught three classes. Seeing that it was almost time for the midday meal, Longgu Buwang waited and waited, yet Song Chuyi still did not come. His expression grew worse and worse. When the sky was fully bright, he suddenly sprang up, kicked over the desk with one lift of his foot, and angrily shut himself in the study.
“Sir, my cousin is in the study,” a youth whispered in reminder.
Song Chuyi grinned at him and praised him with a sentence, “Really quite well-behaved.”
The youth’s expression became conflicted. He was already fourteen almost fifteen years old, and appeared to be only a few years apart from Song Chuyi. How could the two words “well-behaved” be used to describe him? Moreover, his reminder to Song Chuyi had merely been because he wanted to watch the excitement before eating. Unexpectedly, he was first left feeling displeased by Song Chuyi’s words. Yet these were clearly words of praise, and he did not know how to refute them. Song Chuyi also did not give him the chance to refute.
Some people nearby had already been unable to hold back and burst out laughing with a “pfft.” Some even jokingly called him “Little Well-Behaved.”
The youth’s face instantly turned red.
Although they were making noise, most of them still kept their attention on Song Chuyi. When they saw her reach the front of the study and, sure enough, not push the door open, they watched with even greater interest, thinking that the next thing would be her speaking.
Sure enough, just as they thought this, they heard Song Chuyi say, “Buwang, open the door.”
There was not the slightest movement inside.
The first time she had met Longgu Buwang, she had known he was a stubborn calf. Song Chuyi was certain that no matter how many times she shouted, it would be of no use, and she had no intention of putting on a performance for others to watch.
Song Chuyi turned back and saw a group of youths suddenly turn their heads away. She cursed inwardly, a bunch of little brats. She wandered around the school building and found a square bronze incense burner. Its legs were very long, while the upper part was short. She tried moving it and found the weight acceptable, so she carried it by the legs toward the study.
Everyone was wondering what Song Chuyi was doing with the incense burner when they saw her swing it up and smash it against the door. The lattice window was very fragile. Song Chuyi had only struck it three times before a large hole appeared in the door. She threw down the incense burner, reached her hand in, and slid the door bar inside open.
As soon as she entered, she saw Longgu Buwang staring dumbfounded.
“Thank god, you’re fine.” Song Chuyi looked relieved. “They said you were inside, but when I called, no one answered. I thought something had happened to you, and it worried me greatly.”
When Longgu Buwang heard how sincere and heartfelt her words were, the anger in his heart subsided somewhat, but he still brooded over the humiliation from that morning. “As a teacher and model for others, you are so unpunctual. On your very first lesson, you break your word to your student. What authority can you possibly have?”
When it came to matters of dissatisfaction, Longgu Buwang was never tactful in his words.
“I was wrong yesterday not to mention the teaching time.” Song Chuyi cupped her hands slightly in apology. Before Longgu Buwang could respond, she began lecturing earnestly. “Heaven gave you wisdom because it wanted you not to toil as ordinary people do. If you are this diligent, how are others supposed to live? The Mohists speak of universal love. You must learn to be considerate of others before you can love broadly, and only then can you be tolerant and great.”
To Longgu Buwang, this whole speech sounded like mockery again, yet her expression was so sincere… it seemed as if she really was teaching him principles. But in all these words, Longgu Buwang did not think there was any principle worth learning.
“Do you mean that only if I stop studying from now on will I be worthy of Heaven’s favor?” Although Longgu Buwang’s tone was interrogative, the implication was that he acknowledged himself to be a genius.
Song Chuyi sat down on the mat, took out a handkerchief, and wiped her hands. “Silly talk. Heaven gave you wisdom, and it must not be wasted. From now on, come at nine.”
“Oh, right.” Longgu Buwang was just about to speak when Song Chuyi cut him off. She continued, “Yesterday I already persuaded the general to take you on a study tour. The things in books are all dead. I will teach you how to use them flexibly. As for this arrangement, do you have any objection? If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”
