Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 54 Departure

Once the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is over...

The year is finally over.

The remaining snow on the ridges melted into mud, revealing the soil underneath.

The leisurely days came to an end, and it was time for Lu Chuan to return to the Qingyang County School.

The luggage was a bit heavier than when it came. In addition to the book "Collected Annotations on the Four Books", it also contained two pairs of thick-soled shoes that Lu's mother had rushed to make.

On the day we set off, it was just getting light.

Sixth Uncle personally harnessed the oxcart and, together with Lu Shouye, escorted Lu Chuan into the city.

Besides Lu Chuan's book box, there were a few other eye-catching items on the carriage: a pair of fifty-year-old Cistanche deserticola carefully wrapped in red silk, and several bags of aged Pinellia ternata processed to the highest quality.

These things represent Lujia Village's best harvest last year and are considered the village's treasures.

The oxcart swayed and rattled until it arrived at the school gate.

After settling Lu Chuan's luggage, Lu Dehuang and Lu Shouye straightened their coarse cloth clothes, carried the two heavy medicinal herbs, and respectfully requested an audience with the manager under the guidance of the gatekeeper.

The steward was sitting in the duty room reviewing the roster when he saw them. He quickly stood up to greet them: "Mr. Lu, Brother Lu, please come in. The tutor is in the inner room."

Sixth Uncle Lu Deshou and Lu Shouye exchanged a glance, straightened themselves, and followed the steward into the inner room.

The inner room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, so warm that it made one sweat a little.

Master Zhao was sitting upright behind his desk, holding a scroll in his hand. When he saw everyone enter, he slowly put down his brush.

"Master, I wish you a belated Happy New Year," said Sixth Uncle Lu Dehuang, bowing deeply.

He gently placed the pair of fifty-year-old Cistanche deserticola, along with several bags of fine old Pinellia ternata, on the table.

"This is just a small token of our appreciation from the villagers. It's nothing special." Lu Shouye also bowed and said in a low voice, "Thanks to the teacher's careful guidance, Chuan'er has become much more sensible since returning home for the New Year."

The Master raised his hand slightly, his gaze lingering on the Cistanche deserticola for a moment before a smile appeared in his eyes: "You two are very thoughtful. This Cistanche deserticola is the essence of the mountains, replenishing the middle and boosting qi, truly a rare find. Lu Chuan is a clever and diligent child, ranking among the top in last year's assessment, truly a promising talent."

Upon hearing the teacher's praise, Lu Shouye unconsciously straightened his back a bit.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lu Dehuang rubbed his hands together carefully before getting to the other main point of his trip: "Master, I've come here today not only to express my gratitude, but also to seek advice on the regulations for our Lu Family Village's medicinal herb fields. You are a man of profound learning and broad knowledge, and our village would like to ask for your guidance on the breeding of medicinal herbs."

The master picked up the warm teacup beside him, gently brushed away the foam, and gestured for him to speak freely.

"Thanks to the good fortune of our school, the plants we planted last year have all grown successfully. Not only are their roots thick and robust, but their quality is also among the best in the county." Uncle Lu Deshou's eyes lit up when he talked about the medicinal herbs. "With the snow melting and the spring water rising, the villagers are discussing how to let these old medicinal roots sprout and grow on their own after the spring arrives in March, so that we can cultivate a few more acres of hillside land."

The Master pondered for a moment, but did not immediately respond.

He knew all too well how hard life was for farmers; a single seed and a patch of land often provided for a family's entire year's needs.

"Natural reproduction, in accordance with the seasons, is of the best quality." The Master slowly put down his teacup, his voice gentle. "However, the properties of medicine are far more complex than those of crops. If you wish to expand, you must know that stability is paramount, and you must not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of short-term gains."

He pointed to the bag of Pinellia ternata on the table and gave specific instructions: "First, the selection of seeds must be meticulous. Not all mature medicinal roots can be used for propagation."

"Select plants with round, spotless, and firm root tubers. If diseased or weak plants are mixed in, they will be destroyed by disease the following spring."

"Secondly, the soil must be evenly distributed. Newly cleared slopes have raw, unripe soil that needs to be neutralized with mature soil. The wood ash you mentioned should not be sprinkled directly on tender shoots; it should be mixed into broken soil to prevent insects and foul odors and protect the medicinal core."

"Thirdly, and most importantly," the Master looked at Lu Dehuang, his gaze sharp, "to accomplish great things, one must first have the right tools. Your Lu Family Village should establish rules."

"When to sow, when to harvest, and when to prepare the crops—there must be a set of ironclad rules. I will compile a relevant chapter from the 'Essential Techniques of Agricultural Administration' and give it to Lu Chuan so that he can teach it to you all when he returns to the village."

Lu Dehuang and Lu Shouye listened with rapt attention. They didn't even bother to wipe their sweat, nodding repeatedly as if they had found a treasure, and even wanted to engrave every word the teacher said in their hearts.

The Master looked at the two people and was also moved.

He beckoned, and the steward, understanding immediately, took out a stack of yellowed paper rolls from behind the bookshelf.

"These are some medicinal processing techniques that I've collected in recent years. They're not complete, but they're very detailed." The master handed the scroll to Lu Shouye. "Take this back and have Lu Chuan read it to the villagers. Studying isn't about detaching yourself from the land, but about better protecting it."

Lu Shouye took the papers with both hands; they felt incredibly heavy in his hands.

When I stepped out of the duty room, the sun had already risen higher, casting dappled light on the school's corridors.

Lu Chuan was standing at the end of the corridor. Although he was thin, he looked exceptionally tall.

"Father, Sixth Uncle." Lu Chuan greeted him, his eyes clear.

Lu Dehuang patted the receipt for the Cistanche deserticola and the stack of papers tucked into his chest, and breathed a long sigh of relief: "Chuan'er, the teacher said you're a good student. From now on, don't worry about anything at the academy."

Lu Chuan nodded silently. He saw the fine crow's feet at the corners of his father's eyes and his sixth uncle's hunched back.

The oxcart slowly drove away from the school on its return journey.

Lu Chuan stood at the entrance of the school, watching the oxcart disappear into the distance.

Spring is cold.

After returning to the school, the first thing Lu Chuan did was go to his seat.

On the desk, he opened the book "Collected Annotations on the Four Books," which his mother had carefully wrapped in coarse cloth.

He sat down, his fingertips gently stroking the paper, and opened to the first chapter—"The Great Learning."

"The way of the Great Learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue, in loving the people, and in abiding in perfect goodness."

Zhu Xi's meticulous and rigorous annotations resonated throughout the school like a resounding bell.

Unlike the catchy nursery rhymes and rhyming couplets of early childhood education, the words that come into view now are text.

Although these texts were not unfamiliar to Lu Chuan, he could even recite the annotations, which were as fine as fly heads, from memory.

But now, when he faces these familiar words of sages again, his state of mind has undergone a complete transformation.

He knew he had to learn, and he had to learn it more deeply and thoroughly than in his previous life.

This knowledge was partly for himself, as he was no longer content to be a pawn drifting with the tide; he wanted to take control of his own destiny. The other half was for the people he left behind.

"Reading is for self-improvement, but even more so for giving back to the community."