Chapter 138: A Visit to Request the Text
"Rules for Disciples, teachings of the sages: First, respect and filial piety, then, integrity and trust… Candied hawthorns?"
The middle-aged man paused in his tracks, carefully listening to the child’s recitation. A hint of puzzlement appeared on his face.
The three-character rhyming text was catchy and rhythmic. Though the words were simple and almost vernacular, on closer listening, it seemed to serve as a guide for nurturing proper behavior—an enlightening text for educating children. It was perfectly suitable for inspiring young minds.
There were similar instructional texts for children’s education, but they were often more esoteric. Such a straightforward and accessible text was a rare find.
Furthermore, the article the child was reciting was something he had never heard of before.
As for… candied hawthorns—what in the world was that?
The middle-aged man stood outside the courtyard, listening for a while. The child repeated the same lines over and over. At this moment, the man seemed to have come to a realization. A trace of eagerness appeared on his face as he strode inside.
The mischievous child held a piece of paper in his hands, reciting as he went, but all he could focus on now were the words "candied hawthorns," which he repeated over and over.
Drooling slightly, the boy suddenly heard the sound of footsteps. He raised his head to see a stranger entering the courtyard.
Startled, the boy stared at him in silence, a hint of nervousness flashing across his face.
"Little one, what text were you reciting just now?" Governor Dong asked gently as he approached the boy.
The boy’s father had warned him that the people living in the Prince's Manor were all important figures. He was told to only play in this section of the guest quarters and not to disturb others. Seeing this unfamiliar man now, he said nothing and obediently handed over the piece of paper he was holding.
Governor Dong took the paper from the child’s hands and saw that it contained only a few short lines. After reading them, his eyes sparkled with interest. Unable to contain his excitement, he asked, "Do you know who wrote this?"
Inside the room, Steward Wang was still reconciling the household accounts when the door was pushed open again. Looking up, he saw the child peeking his head in from outside.
When Steward Wang lowered his gaze back to the account book, he suddenly forgot where he had left off. Frustrated, his face darkened. He glared at the boy and said, "Have you memorized it yet? If you haven’t, watch your backside!"
At that moment, a hand reached out from behind the boy, pushing the door open fully. A familiar middle-aged man walked in from outside.
Seeing the man, Steward Wang froze for a moment, then abruptly stood up, his face turning pale. His voice trembled as he said, "G-Governor Dong..."
At that instant, his heart filled with dread. Could it be that this little rascal had offended Governor Dong, and now the man had come to seek justice?
The thought nearly caused Steward Wang’s legs to buckle as he almost collapsed back into his chair.
"I have a question for you: Was this three-character text written by you? Is there more to it?" Governor Dong wasted no time on pleasantries. He held up the paper and walked straight over to Steward Wang.
"Three-character text?"
Steward Wang stared blankly at the piece of paper in Governor Dong’s hand. Recognizing it as something he had just written for the boy, he glanced at the governor’s expression. Relieved that this was not about some offense, he forced a smile and began to explain.
"To think that in such a small village, there would be someone so talented." Governor Dong stroked his short beard, praising as he spoke.
With his level of experience, he could immediately discern the value of the words on the page.
This was clearly a text designed to teach children proper conduct. Without understanding propriety, one could not stand firm in the world. Teaching children to cultivate kindness and righteousness from a young age, to adhere to familial and social responsibilities, and to guard against improper thoughts—this text was not only beneficial for shaping individual character but also for fostering virtuous family traditions and scholarly values.
If this text could be widely disseminated, it would undoubtedly contribute greatly to societal enlightenment. Such an achievement would be a monumental service to the community and a legacy that could last for generations. For Governor Dong, it could also solve the problem he was currently facing. If successful, there might even be a slim chance for his name to go down in history…
For an official, who wouldn’t dream of leaving a mark in the annals of history? Based on his other political accomplishments, this was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. But contributions to education and enlightenment—those could influence future generations.
The mere thought of it made even someone as composed as Governor Dong feel a surge of excitement.
"Do you know the complete text?" Governor Dong’s eyes burned with anticipation as he questioned Steward Wang.
At this moment, he was eager to confirm whether the text was as exceptional as he imagined, or if this would turn out to be a hollow hope.
"Your Excellency, I only heard these ten or so lines that day. I don’t know if there’s a complete version," Steward Wang answered honestly.
Governor Dong studied him for a moment before saying, "Send someone to ask that village schoolteacher again. If there is indeed a complete version, you must deliver it to the Yamen without delay."
Though Steward Wang held a significant position in the Prince's Manor, before the Prefect of Qing’an, he could only bow repeatedly and agree.
To demonstrate the importance of this matter, Governor Dong had only just left when Steward Wang hurried out of the manor. He ordered the household servant driving the carriage to make haste so they could handle the matter as quickly as possible.
…
At Liu Ye Stronghold, outside the school, Qin Qing saw Steward Wang again. When she learned he wasn’t here to see her brother-in-law but had come specifically to find her, she was slightly surprised.
She had some impression of Steward Wang. She only knew that he seemed to be a friend of her brother-in-law. Just a few days ago, she had seen the two of them talking by the stream. Not wanting to be impolite, she listened to his explanation but was still somewhat taken aback.
"You said just now… is this the Rules for Disciples?"
Qin Qing went back into the school and retrieved a thin booklet she had personally transcribed. She handed it to Steward Wang.
Steward Wang hurriedly accepted it and, upon opening it, saw that the first few lines matched exactly what he had heard before. Flipping through a few more pages, he found that there were hundreds more lines. Only then did he realize that what he had heard earlier was just a small portion of the full text.
Overjoyed, he now had something to present to Governor Dong.
"Miss, may I ask if you can provide me with an original copy of this Rules for Disciples?" he asked urgently.
Hearing this, Qin Qing hesitated slightly and said, "This Rules for Disciples was not written by me. I will need to ask the author’s permission before giving you an answer."
"It wasn’t written by you?" Steward Wang was taken aback.
Qin Qing nodded and briefly explained.
"It was him?" Steward Wang murmured in surprise. He hadn’t expected this text to have been written by that sharp-tongued scholar. After a moment of astonishment, he smiled and said, "To tell the truth, I am here on Governor Dong’s orders to retrieve the original Rules for Disciples. The governor holds this text in the highest regard. This could be a tremendous opportunity for Mr. Li!"
"Governor Dong?"
Qin Qing gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment.
For someone who had lived in the stronghold all her life and rarely left, even the County Magistrate of Anxi County was an unimaginably high-ranking official. As for someone of Governor Dong’s stature, that was already beyond her comprehension…