Chapter 20: Lisi-my lord (Part 2)

The Black Man and Lisi were both stunned, while Ah Wu burst out laughing.

Zhang Lisi was furious and pointed at Wang Yang: "You, who are you?! Dare to tease me?"

The Black Man hurriedly said: "Lisi-my lord, this is the young master of the Langya Wang family."

"I don't care what young master... you said who? Langya Wang?!" Lisi said halfway, looking at the Black Man in disbelief.

Little Ah Wu snorted: "Lisi-my lord, you haven't kowtowed to Young Master Wang yet! Dad and I both kowtowed this morning, and when Du Du Du Sanye came yesterday, he also kowtowed before leaving!"

Wang Yang thought: This clever ghost is quite good, very good at bluffing. Lies come out of her mouth, and if she were to cooperate with his fake identity, the effect would be much better than the Black Man's.

After all, few people would think such a small child would lie. What's more powerful is that her lies are half-true and half-false, mixing lies with truths, which is more deceptive.

The Black Man secretly blamed his daughter for talking nonsense. If Du Du Du Sanye heard this, it would be another disaster.

Zhang Lisi's heart was surging with waves. He had been wondering why Du Du Du Sanye made such a big commotion, but left after asking for pen and ink. So it was because there was a big shot here!

But then he thought again, this person was dressed so ordinarily, how could he have the appearance of a gentry? Besides, would a noble young master of the top-tier Langya Wang family come to this poor place? And not bring a single attendant?

But if it wasn't the Langya Wang family, why did Du Du Du Sanye retreat?

Zhang Lisi couldn't make up his mind and didn't know whether he should believe Ah Wu's so-called kowtowing. He stood there, a bit at a loss.

Wang Yang scolded coldly: "Confucius did not speak of strange powers and chaotic gods. The taboos of vulgar customs are close to demonic delusions. Meng Changjun was also born on the fifth day of the fifth month, and he was still a prosperous family, famous through the ages. It can be seen that the saying of double-five children has empty taboos but no real verification of misfortune. It's fine for foolish men and women to believe and talk nonsense like double-five children. You are a leader of a village, in charge of the people, if you also follow along and make trouble, what does it look like? The way of the court's governance, teaching the common people and changing customs, wouldn't it all become empty talk?"

Zhang Lisi was sweating profusely, his back bent, and he kept saying yes.

It wasn't that he truly believed Wang Yang made sense, but such words could definitely not be said by ordinary people. Even if it wasn't the Langya Wang family, it should be someone with some background. Besides, in the end, it was all about the court's teaching and customs, so who dared to refute it?

Seeing Wang Yang's few words dispel Zhang Lisi's arrogance, little Ah Wu's big eyes shone slightly.

Wang Yang said this not only to vent for little Ah Wu but also because Du Du Du Sanye borrowed pen and ink from Lisi's house yesterday, and he felt that Lisi should be someone who had read books after hearing his speech. So he first shocked Lisi, and then it would be convenient to ask about some things that only scholars would know.

"I ask you, does Jingzhou have a county school?"

The county school was a local school set up by the government, which together with the National University (anciently called "Taixue") set up by the court in the capital, formed the official school system.

Lisi hurriedly replied: "Yes, there are two, both in Jingzhou city."

"There are two?" Official schools were usually one, so why did Jingzhou have two?

"One is the original local county school in Jingzhou, and the other is the 'Wang Guan School' established by the Grand Marshal Prince of Yuzhang when he was in charge of Jingzhou."

Wang Yang noticed that when Lisi mentioned the "Grand Marshal Prince of Yuzhang," he arched his hands toward the sky, his attitude extremely respectful. Although he was curious about the background of this Prince of Yuzhang, he couldn't ask, otherwise he would appear too ignorant.

"Who is the libationer of the two schools?"

The libationer was the person in charge of the school, equivalent to today's principal.

"The libationer of the local county school is Liu Zhao, and the libationer of the Wang Guan School is Director Liu Tan Tan. Young Master should know them." Zhang Lisi secretly glanced at Wang Yang.

"Why should I know them?" Wang Yang asked back.

"Director Liu Tan Tan comes from the Hedong Liu family, and like you, Young Master, is a high-ranking Qiao Xing family. I thought you would know each other." Zhang Lisi probed.

The Hedong Liu family was also a top-tier high-ranking family of the Southern Dynasty. Although slightly worse than the Langya Wang family, it was enough to compete. Especially Director Liu Tan Tan's father was the famous Liu Old Duke! Unless this young master's father was the late Prime Minister Wang Jian, then they could be compared! Zhang Lisi secretly slandered in his heart.

Wang Yang didn't know what deep meaning Zhang Lisi had about the topic of knowing or not knowing, but no matter what Zhang Lisi wanted to probe, he had to stop here!

He raised his eyebrows slightly and said coldly: "Answer what I ask you, don't be like Du San'er, saying things that shouldn't be said, just annoying people."

Du... Du San'er???!!!

Zhang Lisi was so scared that his legs went soft, and he almost couldn't stand still!

Even the Black Man was startled!

Du Du Du Sanye has a powerful background! It is said that the person behind him is a big shot in the capital, and the yamen runners are all respectful when they see him. Now, someone actually dares to call him "Du San'er"?!

The little boy didn't understand these things. Compared to Du Du Du Sanye being called Du San, little Ah Wu glaring at him just now made him more afraid. He grabbed his grandfather's clothes, didn't dare to look at Ah Wu, and just wanted to go home immediately.

Zhang Lisi pushed his grandson's hand away, trembling and bowing: "Yes, yes, I misspoke, please calm your anger, Young Master."

Wang Yang continued to ask: "Liu Zhao, Director Liu Tan Tan, what classics do they study?"

"Study" in ancient times meant research.

Zhang Lisi didn't dare to talk more and answered honestly: "They both study the 'Book of Documents'."

Wang Yang was happy. The so-called "Four Books and Five Classics," "Four Books" was a term that only appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty. Before that, the supreme classics of Confucianism were the "Five Classics": "Book of Songs," "Book of Documents," "Book of Rites," "Book of Changes," and "Spring and Autumn Annals."

Among the Five Classics, his "Book of Rites" was the weakest. As long as it wasn't the "Book of Rites," half the matter was done.

He asked again: "Which school do they study the 'Book of Documents' from?"

The "Book of Documents" studies were divided into different schools. Asking "which school" in ancient times meant "which faction."

"Which... which school? This... I don't know."

Wang Yang thought for a moment and said: "You go. Remember, treat the neighbors well in the future, and don't make trouble for no reason."

Zhang Lisi retreated, and Wang Yang called him back: "After you go back, send paper and pen, I want to write."

"I'll go back and get it now."

Zhang Lisi pulled his grandson and left in a hurry. The little boy suddenly said: "Grandpa, it really was her who beat me first!"

"Still dare to talk! If you cause trouble again, I'll beat you first!"

He said this, but in his heart, he suddenly thought: Shouldn't we be talking about who was right and wrong in the fighting? Why ask clearly who started it? How was I taught a lesson by him using the "double-five child" handle, and the matter of fighting wasn't mentioned at all, and it just passed! In the end, it became my fault! This is unreasonable!

But he immediately thought through it: What reason is there to talk to the gentry? I was really confused! ===== CHAPTER 21 =====