Chapter 228: Small Moves
Hangcheng Academy.
After Educational Commissioner Wei took office, he changed the grand lectures held twice a month, on the first and fifteenth, to once every ten days, and most of the time he lectured himself.
Today was another ten-day lecture day. A thick, large padded seat was placed on the steps in front of the Great Accomplishment Hall. After a few chime sounds, Educational Commissioner Wei, with a somber face, ascended the steps, sat on the padded seat, and began his lecture.
Educational Commissioner Wei was clearly not in good spirits today, distracted. After only a few sentences, he faltered. A servant quickly handed him a stack of papers. Educational Commissioner Wei glanced at it, continued for about ten sentences, and then made another mistake.
The students in front of the Great Accomplishment Hall immediately perked up.
Educational Commissioner Wei’s scholarship was renowned throughout the world, so his lectures were naturally not to be missed. However, Educational Commissioner Wei’s lectures were always delivered in a flat, monotonous tone, making them excellent sleep aids. But no matter how dry and soporific his lectures were, they had always been incredibly smooth. For him to falter and make mistakes like today was unprecedented!
What was wrong with Educational Commissioner Wei?
The students filling the courtyard became excited, craning their necks and cupping their ears.
Educational Commissioner Wei made another mistake!
The students began to whisper amongst themselves.
Educational Commissioner Wei, with a somber face, paused, then continued. After only a few sentences, he made another mistake!
Educational Commissioner Wei suddenly stood up, beckoned the Director standing beside him, stuffed the stack of papers into the Director’s hands, and turned to enter the Great Accomplishment Hall.
The Director hurried a few steps, sat on the padded seat, coughed loudly, and began to read in a clear voice.
The students filling the courtyard had no intention of listening to the lecture anymore. Each one stretched their necks, peering inside the Great Accomplishment Hall, while occasionally whispering a few words to their neighbors.
The entire academy was filled with a strong atmosphere of gossip.
After the Director finished reading the lecture notes and a chime announced the end of the session, the students excitedly stood up, looking for each other to inquire about the gossip.
There were various theories about Educational Commissioner Wei’s anger, summarized as follows:
The first theory was that Educational Commissioner Wei’s grape trellis had collapsed.
Most of the students considered this theory to be nonsense, as his grape trellis had never been successfully propped up. They had long heard that at home, Educational Commissioner Wei was not only lectured by his wife but even his two daughters could scold him a few words.
The second theory was that Jiang Cao Division had deducted funds for the academy’s repairs, and Educational Commissioner Wei had argued with Jiang Cao Division but lost.
This theory was somewhat plausible, but only somewhat. Educational Commissioner Wei had argued with Jiang Cao Division more than once or twice. In terms of arguing, Educational Commissioner Wei was eloquent and far more formidable than Jiang Cao Division. As for deducting academy funds, it wasn’t the first or second time, but rather they had never been fully and smoothly provided every time.
The third theory was that Educational Commissioner Wei was angry with his nephew, the Young Lord. It was said that Educational Commissioner Wei had called his Young Lord nephew reckless, that this Young Lord nephew was a menace like the old Prince Rui, and that he wouldn’t stop until he hit a brick wall. It was also said that this Young Lord nephew didn’t even listen to his father, calling him unfilial, and that he wouldn’t stop causing trouble until an imperial decree was issued.
Regarding this theory, the students looked at each other, not daring to discuss it much.
The students looked at each other, knowing full well that the Young Lord’s reckless behavior was referring to the Young Lord’s actions concerning the Silk Guild.
Back then, the old Prince Rui had ordered the Jiangnan Silk Guild to pay taxes uniformly, which had completely wiped out the numerous and prosperous small weaving workshops scattered throughout Jiangnan, leading to widespread hardship. When this Young Lord suddenly targeted the Silk Guild, they were reminded of the old Prince Rui.
No one dared to discuss the third theory much, yet everyone felt it was the most plausible.
With their thoughts occupied, the students left the academy and went their separate ways.
………………………………
Pingjiang City.
Yu Chengfu sat in the tea house diagonally opposite Cai Lian Lane, occasionally peeking out the door. When he saw Li Wenliang enter, he quickly stood up to greet him.
“Brew another pot of tea and bring out a few plates of fruit,” Yu Chengfu instructed the shop assistant.
“Brew a pot of tea, but skip the fruit,” Li Wenliang quickly added with a smile.
The shop assistant looked at Yu Chengfu. Seeing him nod, he only brewed a pot of tea and brought it over.
“Why the rush to come here? What’s happened?” Li Wenliang asked directly.
“Just a small matter,” Yu Chengfu replied with a smile, looking somewhat embarrassed. “A very small matter.”
“Old Yu Xing, please speak freely,” Li Wenliang said, having dealt with Yu Chengfu several times and knowing he overthinks things. He simply gestured with a smile.
“It really is a small matter. I was just afraid of a misunderstanding, and after thinking about it, I felt it was best to talk in person to avoid any misunderstandings. I truly have no other intentions,” Yu Chengfu explained again.
“I understand. Just speak,” Li Wenliang gestured again.
“It’s about collecting cocoons, a tiny matter. Yesterday, my wife’s brother went to Zuo Jia Ji to collect cocoons. When he reached Zhu Jia Village, he was told the cocoons had already been bought. It’s a small matter, so I thought…”
“It wasn’t collected by my side,” Li Wenliang immediately interjected.
He and Yu Chengfu had agreed on how to collect the autumn silkworm cocoons, dividing the areas. The cocoons from the eleven villages in the Zuo Jia Ji area were to be collected by Yu Chengfu.
Yu Chengfu let out a long sigh, his breathing immediately becoming smoother. “I knew it. We agreed, and it’s only been a few days of collecting, how could something like this happen!”
“Did you find out who was collecting the cocoons?” Li Wenliang asked.
“I did. They said they had never seen them before, offering two large coins for every jin. They said if they didn’t sell to them, they wouldn’t be able to sell them anywhere else, and that the weaving workshops had stopped production, with no one buying cocoons. They seemed to be from a reputable family.”
Li Wenliang frowned. “Can you think of which family it might be?”
“That’s precisely why I couldn’t figure it out, which is why I asked you to discuss this matter. Could there be another party involved?” Yu Chengfu also knitted his brows.
“They’re collecting cocoons ahead of us, so it’s obvious there’s another party. Pingjiang City is full of smart people,” Li Wenliang said, puzzled.
“Then we need to hurry,” Yu Chengfu picked up his cup and drank the tea in one gulp.
“Mm. If you encounter it again, send someone to tell me. If I encounter it, I’ll tell you too,” Li Wenliang said as he stood up.
“Okay,” Yu Chengfu agreed. They left the tea house one after the other, walking home while contemplating who else could be sent to collect cocoons and that he needed to increase his manpower.
Li Wenliang left the tea house and headed straight to the Li Family to find Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan had gone out early that morning. According to Mei Jie, Li Xiaonan had said she would return after dinner. Li Wenliang informed Mei Jie that he would be coming for dinner, and after leaving the Li Family, he rushed to the Li Family for dinner after a busy day.
Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu were both away, managing the weaving school, purchasing fine cloth on credit, and so on. Li Wenliang, Li Xuedong, Mei Jie, and Wang Yuting ate dinner together. While drinking tea, he talked with Li Xuedong for a while. A Wu’s shout came from the courtyard entrance; Li Xiaonan had returned.
A Wu followed Li Xiaonan and handed one of the small food boxes in his hands to Yuting, then another to Mei Jie. “They’re all pastries, including goose oil pastries, freshly baked. Mei Jie, try one quickly.”
Mei Jie loved the goose oil pastries from the Prince’s Estate villa the most.
Li Xiaonan looked at Li Wenliang, who had come out behind Li Xuedong. Li Wenliang smiled and said, “There’s a small matter.”
Li Xiaonan paused. Li Wenliang walked past Li Xuedong, watched Mei Jie and the others enter the house, and then lowered his voice to tell Li Xiaonan about Yu Chengfu’s visit. Li Xiaonan hummed and smiled, “I know. If there’s anything, I’ll have someone send a message to Eldest Uncle.”
“Then I’ll be going,” Li Wenliang said with a sigh of relief, called out to Mei Jie, and left to go home.
Li Xiaonan entered the house, took out paper and brush, ground ink, wrote a few lines, sealed them, and had A Wu ride with them to the villa to give to Wan Jing.
