Chapter 160

Wang Yang read this essay with a mixture of amusement and unease; it was full of forced connections, yet it got one thing right—that Wang Yang played a crucial role in establishing the Evernormal Granary, even speculating he used the Yuye family of Xinye as intermediaries to persuade the scholar-gentry and officials to cooperate, and to illustrate his deep planning, claimed he entered the prefectural school specifically to befriend the second son of the Yuye family.

Fortunately, these debates remained confined to students and Confucian scholars as mere "passionate quarrels," not taken seriously by outsiders; otherwise, Wang Yang truly feared Wang Tai might grow suspicious. Even if Wang Tai learned it was Wang Yang who had asked Yu Yi to intervene, it wouldn't be a major issue—yet it might cause Wang Tai to take greater notice of him, which would harm, not help, the counteroffensive plan.

At first, Wang Yang publicly clarified that the silk matter had nothing to do with the Evernormal Granary.

But the more he denied it, the less his supporters believed him; they all wore expressions of "I understand," nodding vigorously and continuing their debates; some even imitated the method of the "Silk and Grain Exegesis," dissecting his denial word by word, claiming it contained "three unavoidable reasons, two lamentable aspects, and one virtue of achieving success without claiming credit." They spoke with such solemn conviction!

Wang Yang found it absurd; when others asked again, he simply shook his head and denied without elaboration. The opponents seized this opportunity to regroup, declaring: "Wang Yang himself won't speak—why are you still arguing?" They spread the rumor far and wide that Wang Yang was too ashamed to speak.

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan anonymously wrote an essay titled "Proof Without Words," detailing why Wang Yang remained silent: "Those who know me need no words; those who don't know me, why should I speak?" He cited the example of Wang Tanzhi asking Han Han Kangbo, "Why don't you speak?" and Han Han Kangbo replying, "Neither yes nor no," concluding that Wang Yang, having achieved success and withdrawn, spoke or remained silent with equal indifference. The essay ended with:

"The Master said: 'What does Heaven say? The four seasons proceed, all things grow—what does Heaven say? Great eloquence needs no words; great virtue needs no praise; those who misunderstand its meaning buzz like flies.'"

The essay was incisive, rich in satire, concise in length and language, and dramatically lowered the barrier to reading; once published, it spread rapidly, pushing the debate to its peak and delivering a crushing blow to its opponents. After this essay, anyone who accused Wang Yang of engaging in commerce was labeled a "fly." When asked what a "fly" meant, the answer was: Mediocre words and actions, entirely dependent on others' evaluations; failing at everything, yet constantly buzzing without pause.

The opposition collapsed.

While the Evernormal Granary was being built with great momentum and the students' debates raged fiercely, Wang Yang—who was connected to both—had already withdrawn, settling into quiet routine: reading, practicing calligraphy, training in martial arts, riding horses, managing his business, and living as usual. With the added task of memorizing texts, he kept only his prior arrangement with Liu Zhao—visiting the prefectural school every three days—and declined all other social invitations. To avoid disturbance, he even adopted Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan's method of sealing his door.

But sometimes, sealing the door didn't work. For instance, when Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan "invited him out of gratitude"; when Zong Ce refused to stop singing; or when Fatty actually delivered a whole pig—there was no way to send it back.

On this day, the kitchen staff at the Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie residence were given another day off. In the courtyard, Wang Yang and Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan huddled around a boiling copper pot, eating heartily.

Wang Yang placed a piece of lamb coated in sesame paste into his mouth, swallowed, and sighed: "Pity—I can't make fermented tofu. This flavor always falls a little short."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan, no longer the poised noblewoman of before, her delicate cheeks flushed from the steam, beads of sweat glistening on her nose, her honey-colored sleeves rolled halfway up, her jade hairpin slightly loose, pinched a mushroom and asked: "What's fermented tofu?"

"It's a dipping sauce—mix it with sesame paste and fermented garlic chives, and it's delicious."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan blew lightly on the scalding mushroom, dipped it in the dish, and carefully placed it in her mouth, letting the oily mushroom dance on her tongue. She mumbled: "This one you mixed for me is also delicious!"

"This is oil dip—another way to eat it. Too bad we don't have chili peppers, and these garlic chives aren't authentic. Hey? Where's the duck blood? The duck blood's gone? I've barely eaten a few pieces!"

"Is that so?" Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan feigned searching for the duck blood, then called out: "Xiao Ning! Bring another plate of duck blood!"

Xiao Ning, eating her own "personal hot pot" in the kitchen, immediately put down her chopsticks and began portioning the duck blood. Wang Yang had urged her to join them outside, and Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan had agreed—but Xiao Ning insisted that letting Wang Yang see her eat with them would undermine the Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie family's rules, so Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan had set up a separate small pot for her in the kitchen.

Wang Yang looked skeptically at Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan.

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan replied solemnly: "Maybe it dissolved."

Wang Yang: (→_→)

"Aren't you the one who said you wouldn't eat duck blood?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan remembered her earlier adamant declaration: "I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won't eat this stuff!" Her ears burned. She snapped: "I've done everything you asked! What's wrong with eating a few pieces of duck blood!"

"Done everything! Fine, fine! Then I owe you three cups!" Wang Yang beamed, picked up the wine jug, and filled two small porcelain cups.

"Three cups? I only did two things!"

"One cup at a time! First—where did you find the elementary school?"

"I found two. One is the clan school of Lu Tong, the Governor of Nanping, in Jingzhou City; besides members of the Wu Commandery Lu family, it also accepts children of relatives and friends. The other is a private school run by the hermit Liu Qiu on West Sand Islet for his servants and maids. Which one do you want A-Wu to attend?" Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan looked straight into Wang Yang's eyes.

Wang Yang already had his answer; seeing her expression, he knew she had one too. He asked: "What do you think?"

"I think Liu Qiu's school is better. Though our status ensures no one would dare bully A-Wu even at the Lu clan school, the children there are all from great families—A-Wu would likely be isolated. And since they're all young, their speech and play lack restraint; even if warned, trouble will arise. A-Wu wouldn't be happy. At West Sand Islet, it's different: Liu's servants and maids, though varied in age, share similar status and will get along better."

Wang Yang nodded: "You're right—I'll follow your advice." He lifted the small porcelain cup with both hands and toasted Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan: "Lady Si, your consideration is thorough—thank you for your hard work!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan smiled and drank her cup, then said: "I've already investigated Liu Yin. Here's some basic information about him."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Xinghan handed Wang Yang a sheet of paper. As he read, she explained: "He's from a humble family, started as a county clerk, rose through merit over fifteen years to become Commandant of the Prefecture (responsible for selecting and evaluating subordinate officials, akin to a deputy minister of personnel), caught the eye of the Prince of Prince Prince Luling, the then Governor of Yingzhou, who took him into his household and transferred him to the Bureau of Regulations as a clerk..."

Wang Yang set down his chopsticks, his expression growing more serious.

"Normally, after serving as Commandant of the Prefecture with the Prince of Prince Prince Luling's backing, he could have been appointed magistrate of a county. But perhaps the Prince had high hopes for him and wanted him to accumulate more experience before going to the provinces—hence the transfer to the Bureau of Regulations? Yet for some reason, he remained in that lowly clerk position for three years—too long if it were merely for experience. Only after three years was he appointed magistrate, and after that, his promotions accelerated rapidly: from Prefectural Registrar to Assistant to the Governor, then to Governor, finally rising to Chief Secretary. I hear he's stern and unyielding, enforcing laws without regard for powerful clans. Hengyang was full of local tyrants the government couldn't control; when Liu Yin became Governor, he was openly disrespected. He pretended to neglect official duties for three months, secretly gathering evidence, then struck suddenly—arresting over thirty people in a single day, personally interrogating them with every form of torture. Some had maggots crawling on their bones; fathers and sons died together. The prefecture trembled in silence. Locals compared him to the Han-era Hawk."

The Hawk, Zhi Du?

Waiting three months before striking—more patient than Zhi Du...

Wang Yang stared into the boiling broth of the hot pot, lost in thought.