Chapter 9: Investigation of Things Is Easy
The next day, Second Young Master Hong arrived punctually again, bringing Li Xuedong a stack of books and a message from Mr. Shao:
He said that studying Investigation of Things required aptitude, so he had selected a few introductory books and two of his own scholarly notes from when he first began studying Investigation of Things, asking Li Xuedong to read them first. Once he felt he had a good grasp, he was to write a summary and send it to him. After reviewing it, they would discuss the next steps.
Li Xiaonan was overjoyed; this teaching method truly satisfied her.
That evening, Li Xuedong sat at the table practicing calligraphy, while Li Xiaonan curled up at the corner of the table, reading by the light of the oil lamp until past midnight, her mind already clear on the matter.
This subject of Investigation of Things was simply too easy for her.
After reading through all the books and Mr. Shao’s scholarly notes, Li Xiaonan organized her thoughts and began secretly giving Li Xuedong lessons based on her own understanding.
Li Xuedong was moderately intelligent. The most important aspects of studying Investigation of Things were the approach and method. With Li Xiaonan, a super expert, providing one-on-one explanations, Li Xuedong managed to understand seven to eight tenths of the books Second Young Master Hong had sent and Mr. Shao’s two scholarly notes in just over ten days.
After spending another two days diligently writing a study summary, he first submitted it to Mr. Gao for review.
Mr. Gao read it very carefully, three or four times. He recognized all the characters, but when they were put together, he couldn’t understand it.
Mr. Gao solemnly sealed it in an envelope, pressed a lacquer seal on it, and entrusted it to an acquaintance going into town to deliver it to the Hong Family.
The very next morning, Second Young Master Hong arrived and, upon seeing Li Xuedong, heartily clapped him on the shoulder.
“You still say you’re not smart! You’re incredibly capable! When Mr. Shao received your summary yesterday, he praised it highly. He was still talking about it at breakfast, saying your understanding was profound and your reasoning extremely clear, that you had grasped the essence. You’re a hidden talent!”
“No, that’s, I mean, I’m a stupid person, that…” Li Xuedong was flustered by the praise, his face turning red. If he didn’t offer a few words of humility, he felt guilty, but if he was too humble, he feared it would arouse suspicion.
Alas, it truly wasn’t his own ability!
Second Young Master Hong looked at Li Xuedong, whose face was flushed red, patting Li Xuedong with one hand and resting the other on his hip, he burst into laughter.
“Weng Weng said you come from a poor, remote village and might not be accustomed to social interactions, and it seems to be true. Let me teach you! You should say: ‘Brother Hong, you flatter me. Even a fool may have a moment of insight.'”
“Yes, yes, yes, Brother Hong, you flatter me. Even a fool may have a moment of insight.” Li Xuedong, feeling awkward and at a loss, immediately repeated it word for word.
Second Young Master Hong froze for a moment, then with a burst of laughter, he clutched his stomach and stamped his feet, laughing heartily.
“Ah ha ha ha! You, yes, yes, I mean, that’s exactly it. Ah ha ha ha! I’m not laughing at you, ah ha ha ha! I’ll teach you from now on.”
After laughing for quite some time, Second Young Master Hong looked at Li Xuedong, whose face was flushed red, and for the first time, he found such an honest person quite interesting.
Second Young Master Hong put an arm around Li Xuedong, “Mr. Shao asked when you’ll be free and wants you to visit. He wants to ask you in person, saying he wants to have a good chat with you to see where you should study next. When will you be free?”
“I’m free anytime, I…” Li Xuedong subconsciously looked back, not seeing Li Xiaonan, but seeing Mr. Gao.
“If it’s convenient for Second Young Master, you can go now,” Mr. Gao said with a smile, waving at Li Xuedong.
“Then let’s go now! Get on the horse. You don’t need to know how to ride, just sit tight. We won’t gallop, we’ll go slowly.” Second Young Master Hong didn’t ask Li Xuedong any more questions and decisively made the arrangements.
The last time, his social interaction with Li Xuedong had been truly awkward. After returning, he had recounted it in detail to his Weng Weng.
His Weng Weng had instructed him: someone like Li Xuedong, orphaned, from an extremely poor family, with no one in his clan to look after him, dedicating all his energy to studying, would surely know nothing about human affections, worldly affairs, or social interactions.
Given such a predicament, and knowing nothing about Investigation of Things, yet still managing to rank eighteenth in the Prefectural Examination, Li Xuedong must be more intelligent than him. When dealing with someone more intelligent than oneself, one need not overthink; one should simply offer genuine sincerity.
If a sincere and genuine heart could not move Li Xuedong, then Li Xuedong was either not destined to be connected with their Hong Family, or he was someone not worth associating with.
With such guidance from his Weng Weng, Second Young Master Hong felt at ease and relaxed about interacting with Li Xuedong.
His greatest strength was his sincerity in dealing with people – these were his Weng Weng’s words.
Second Young Master Hong looked at Li Xuedong again.
Someone like Li Xuedong was also quite interesting; he was just too timid. Hmm, in the future, he would have to be more attentive, care for him more, and look after him.
Li Xiaonan, who had been hiding behind the schoolroom door, watched as Li Xuedong was helped onto the horse by an attendant. He gripped the saddle tightly, his whole body tense, and rode away with Second Young Master Hong towards the county town. She let out a long sigh of relief and patted her chest, having been terribly worried for her brother.
Li Xiaonan went into the kitchen and helped Old Huang Ma with chores, but she was somewhat distracted.
She was a little worried. Her brother was an honest person, and he hadn’t seen much of the world. This trip to the Hong Family would surely put him in a difficult position. Fortunately, that Second Young Master Hong seemed like a very good person.
As dusk began to settle, the Hong Family’s large cart stopped at the entrance of the Gao Family schoolroom. Li Xuedong alighted, and the cart driver unloaded two medium-sized rattan boxes.
The boxes were first carried into the Gao Family Main Hall.
One box was stuffed with books, while the other was filled with high-quality paper and ink, along with a superior-grade She inkstone and about ten superior Hu brushes.
Mr. Gao examined each item carefully and was deeply impressed.
This box of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all genuinely good items, worth a considerable amount of copper coins. The Hong Family’s generosity and magnanimity were truly extraordinary!
It was indeed remarkable that the Hong Family had risen from a middle-class family in Kunshan County to being known as the prominent family of Kunshan County within just twenty years.
Mr. Gao gave Li Xuedong detailed instructions: take only what you need. Although there was plenty of paper and ink, use them sparingly. The Courtyard Examination is extremely difficult. If you don’t pass this time, you’ll surely have to take it again one or two more times, so make long-term plans.
Li Xuedong nodded continuously. The box of the finest Xuan Paper given by the Gao Family was something he couldn’t bear to use a single sheet of.
Li Xuedong carried five or six books and two ink scrolls back to the row of west-facing rooms of the schoolroom. He and Li Xiaonan lived in the smallest room on the westernmost side.
Both were ink scrolls on Investigation of Things. One was an ink scroll from the past ten Courtyard Examinations in the Liangzhe Circuit that ranked among the top three, and the other contained over a dozen ink scrolls from the top performers in the provincial examinations.
Li Xiaonan received them as if they were treasures. She first carefully examined the two ink scrolls. After finishing them, she almost burst into laughter.
This Investigation of Things was simply too easy for her!
If she only had to take the Investigation of Things exam, she could achieve a triple first-class honor in every examination.
Suppressing her inner laughter, Li Xiaonan smilingly continued to read the Investigation of Things books.
Under the dim light of a small oil lamp, Li Xiaonan sat on the floor, leaning against the leg of the table, engrossed in her reading. Li Xuedong sat on a chair, his brow furrowed, struggling to complete the Investigation of Things test papers that Li Xiaonan had created for him.
The questions A Nan created were truly too difficult and too numerous!
