CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 68 APPRENTICESHIP

Chen Zigeng was drawing chess records for Mr. Dongli in the yard, while Mr. Dongli watched, stroking his beard.

Li You stood aside watching Mr. Dongli. In principle, Mr. Dongli should not be interested in these simple chess records that even a child could understand.

"Mr. Li," Chen Zigeng suddenly called out to Li You, "Do you also know how to play chess?"

Li You nodded, "Yes." However, he learned it quite late, only after he met Mr. Dongli.

Chen Zigeng said, "Is it true that many people in the capital know how to play chess?"

Li You replied, "Yes." In fact, it’s not just the capital; the children from wealthy families all learn. It’s surprising that Chen Zigeng knows these things given he’s from a place like Chen Family Village.

Li You was moved, realizing that most places in Daqi are like Chen Family Village, with the majority of the populace living as villagers.

Chen Zigeng showed an envious expression in his eyes, "In our village, only my sister and I can play; Hei Dan and the others don’t even recognize characters."

At this point, Chen Zigeng paused, "But now, Hei Dan and the others can already recognize dozens of characters, all names of medicinal herbs."

Mr. Dongli then spoke, "People in the village really like your sister, don’t they? If not for her, Chen Family Village wouldn’t be what it is now."

Chen Zigeng nodded but then shook his head, "That’s not what my sister says."

Mr. Dongli waited for Chen Zigeng to continue.

Chen Zigeng said, "My sister says it’s not her who helped Chen Family Village, but the things she learned. If we want to live good lives in the future, we must read and write, understand principles, and not be bullied.

Like the medicine merchants tricking us, it’s simply because we don’t understand anything. If everyone knows these things in the future, everything will have to be done according to the rules.

Everyone earns the silver coin they deserve, walks the path they should walk, then there wouldn’t be oppression, everything would be fair.

So, besides picking herbs, we’re all learning characters; my sister teaches everyone starting with what interests them, showing the advantages of literacy. Once the village earns enough silver coin, my sister plans to build a clan school in the village and invite a teacher to come teach."

Chen Zigeng became more excited as he spoke, "My sister says that after the turmoil ends and stability returns, everyone should read and write. Learning what our ancestors left us, then making new studies for future generations, passing it down through the generations, will make us live more transparently.

Just like the medicinal herbs my sister knows, benefiting from the shade of predecessors and paving the way for successors, that’s what we should do."

After Chen Zigeng met Li You last time, Xie Liangchen had told him many things, instructing him on what to say should he encounter Mr. Li again, lest he speak incorrectly.

Although Xie Liangchen had given him prior notice, what Chen Zigeng just said came straight from his heart without any deliberation. After speaking, he looked at Li You and the elder beside him.

Chen Zigeng could see that the two before him didn’t find his words disagreeable.

Delighted, Chen Zigeng spoke faster, "A prosperous people, a strong nation, everyone safe and the way is clear."

Upon saying this, Chen Zigeng felt uneasy; his sister had told him not to mention this publicly because neither his sister nor he should know these things.

He knew because his sister had inadvertently spoken these words while dreaming.

After his sister had woken, he pestered her to explain the meaning of these words, asking where she had heard them. His sister said General Song Xian had mentioned them.

Li You was indeed stunned; what Chen Zigeng said came from the "Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue," reading such books is for learning state governance, ordinary people wouldn’t choose to read such texts.

Mr. Dongli’s gaze grew slightly profound, "Did your sister also teach you these words?"

Chen Zigeng weighed it in his heart and then shook his head, "No... we heard them from General Song Xian." At times like this, he shouldn’t lie, or he’d risk being exposed.

Li You nodded to himself; the fact that Song Xian mentioned these words wasn’t surprising.

The conversation among them continued, and time flew by.

The aroma of food wafted in from the kitchen; Mr. Dongli took Chen Zigeng by the hand, "Come, let’s eat, and then I’ll take you back to Chen Family Village."

"Grandfather, Mr. Li, there’s no need to escort me," Chen Zigeng lifted his head, "I memorized the route when I came, I can find my way back myself."

Li You expressed surprise, "The government office is not close; you memorized the route after just one walk?"

Chen Zigeng replied, "Come out of the government office, head south for two blocks, go west along Three Alleys, turn into Willow Lane, the fifth door is the one."

Li You thought for a moment, and it was indeed so.

Chen Zigeng continued, "If I find the government office, I can find my way home. When I was little, I followed my grandmother to the market; she instructed me if anything happened and we got separated, I should wait for her at the government office entrance, so I’m familiar with it."

Li You looked at Chen Zigeng’s clear eyes, unable to resist reaching out to pat his head, "I’m free today, so I’ll escort you myself. If I’m busy another day, you’ll have to return on your own."

Chen Zigeng agreed happily.

Together, they all ate. Mr. Dongli took out a blue cloth bundle from the room and handed it to Chen Zigeng, "Your sister can read, so I’m gifting you these books for your sister to read to you."

Chen Zigeng was first stunned, then his cheeks flushed with indescribable joy. He saluted Mr. Dongli, "Thank you, grandfather."

Mr. Dongli continued, "When you have free time, come over and chat. If there are things in the books you don’t understand, you can find me."

Chen Zigeng’s eyes lit up again, "Grandfather, are you going to be a teacher for Zigeng?"

This question surprised both Mr. Dongli and Li You.

But soon, Mr. Dongli laughed heartily.

He indeed had a fondness for Chen Zigeng’s talents but hadn’t decided to teach him yet. After all, he had taught several students before, and the results were not as expected. Presenting the books to Chen Zigeng was a kind of test, to see what qualities this child possessed.

Neither expected that their thoughts would be seen through by Chen Zigeng in one glance.

Mr. Dongli put away his smile and looked carefully at Chen Zigeng, "Why do you ask this?"

Chen Zigeng said, "My sister says that books are precious. Grandfather not only gives them to me but also agrees to answer my questions, that’s something only a teacher would do for his student.

If grandfather becomes my teacher, I can’t just take the books and leave."

Mr. Dongli asked, "Then what will you do?"

Chen Zigeng replied respectfully, "I should perform a formal ceremony to honor my teacher and offer a gift."

Li You looked at the bowing Chen Zigeng, surprised, thinking how becoming a student’s disciple was a dream for so many people.

Yet Chen Zigeng simply stated it.

Teacher... Li You turned to look at Mr. Dongli, wondering if he would agree.

Mr. Dongli adjusted his robe, straightened his spine, ensuring he sat even more upright, and his voice gained several degrees of authority, "Then, in that case, bring the gift and come tomorrow."