Chapter 224: with translation of chapter title

When Yan Shijin was so angry that smoke seemed to pour from his nostrils.

Gu Qingwan's chief eunuch led a group, holding a horsetail whisk, as they came.

"Yan, Grand Secretary, you're not teaching at the Guozijian—why are you here?"

The chief eunuch, voice shrill, looked at Yan Shijin and said.

Yan Shijin startled, about to speak, when the chief eunuch directly looked at him and said.

"His Majesty's oral command: Yan, Grand Secretary, hurry back to the Guozijian to give lectures—don't delay."

Yan Shijin startled, then a bit dazed, said.

"His Majesty is here?"

Actually, the moment he saw the chief eunuch, Yan Shijin should have realized Gu Qingwan was here.

However, at this moment Yan Shijin, angered by Lu Yuan, was a bit flushed and didn't think much.

Meanwhile, the chief eunuch held his head high, voice shrill, and loudly said.

"That's right, His Majesty is not only here today—he was also here yesterday."

The students of Qingbei Daxue will be the pillars of the state and will become practical officials.

His Majesty has taken notice; from now on he will often come, and if he sees good performance, he will reward on the spot!

After the chief eunuch finished speaking, Yan Shijin was stunned.

Before Yan Shijin could think or speak, the chief eunuch, voice drawn out and eyebrows raised, said.

"Yan, Grand Secretary, aren't you going back yet?!"

Yan Shijin startled, then clasped his hands and could only go back.

However, many of the people Yan Shijin brought were left stunned.

The chief eunuch's words were heard clearly by everyone.

His Majesty is at Qingbei Daxue.

From now on, Qingbei Daxue will produce officials.

At that moment, nobody was foolish or stupid; they instantly understood what it meant.

For a moment, everyone looked at each other.

This time, Yan Shijin returned, and another group of people was missing.

Among the students who previously attended lectures at the Guozijian, there were Yan Shijin's disciples, as well as some disciples of Yan and Kang.

Now, only Yan Shijin's disciples followed him back.

The disciples of Yan and Kang all stayed at Qingbei Daxue.

Of course, many of Yan Shijin's disciples very much wanted to stay.

However, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the master-disciple bond is similar to that of ancient Earth, and it is highly valued.

So, Yan Shijin's disciples, no matter how much they wanted to stay, had to consider their master's reputation.

Moreover, no matter what, their master is currently a Vice Premier of the Imperial Court's Cabinet!

In the future, when entering officialdom, they will still need to find a patron.

Now, in the entire Imperial Court, who could be greater than the Cabinet?

So, this is absolutely something that cannot be overlooked.

Of course, the disciples of Yan and Kang have no such concerns.

At this moment, Lu Yuan took a cup of cold water and poured it into the boiling water full of tea dregs.

Then Lu Yuan proceeded to say.

"Do you see? The tea dregs in the boiling water are flowing upward along this water column."

"So, if you were to urinate into this boiling water, you'd all turn into roasted chicken~"

The students in front squatted, those behind tiptoed, stretched their necks, watching this strange sight.

Immediately someone asked curiously.

"Principal, why is this happening?"

Immediately, Lu Yuan set down the water cup and laughed.

"It's because of water's surface tension!"

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, a Guozijian student on the periphery raised his hand and loudly said.

"Principal, I'm here."

Huh?

Lu Yuan looked at the Guozijian student with a bewildered expression.

And the student, after blinking, said.

"Teacher, my name is Zhang Li."

Lu Yuan: ……

……

In the evening, Lu Yuan sat behind the lectern, legs crossed, drinking water infused with sterculia.

This afternoon was a bit better than yesterday.

He was getting a bit used to it.

His throat wasn't as sore.

"Today ends here; I'll give you homework: write on paper how you think trains operate, and I'll check it tomorrow."

Lu Yuan took a sip of sterculia-infused water and lightly said to the microphone in front of him.

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, the students below instantly became excited.

Everyone knows that the steam train was designed single‑handedly by Principal Lu Yuan, a groundbreaking super machine.

Moreover, the homework left by Principal Lu Yuan often relates to the next day's lesson.

When Principal Lu Yuan says something like that…

Then isn't it… that tomorrow's lecture will be about the steam engine??

Instantly, the people who had come to their senses exclaimed excitedly:

"Principal, are we going to talk about the steam engine tomorrow?"

Lu Yuan nodded, then grinned and said:

"Exactly. So today you go home and think hard about it; tomorrow I'll give you a lecture on the steam train."

Hearing this, everyone instantly became excited, especially the students of Qingbei Daxue.

However, the Guozijian students just looked at each other, bewildered.

"Can anyone even understand this stuff?"

Soon, the Guozijian students' worries were dispelled by Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan sat where he was, legs crossed, head held high, and loudly addressed the Guozijian students behind him:

"You also have to do this homework; otherwise, tomorrow you won't be allowed to listen up."

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, the Guozijian people immediately broke into smiles.

This shows Principal Lu Yuan treats these people as his own, not outsiders!!

Immediately, this group laughed and loudly responded.

……

On the way home that evening.

Lu Yuan sat in the carriage, looking at Gu Qingwan beside him, and said:

"Sister Wan, tonight we need to set up a hands‑on workshop right away.

Just get a few big logs for pillars, put a roof on top so the rain won't leak in."

Gu Qingwan looked curiously at Lu Yuan and said:

"What else?"

Lu Yuan then added:

"From the Ministry of Works, bring over every lathe and machine needed to manufacture the steam engine, one each.

Set up a workshop here at Qingbei Daxue; of course, the artisans must come too."

Gu Qingwan nodded repeatedly upon hearing that.

The next second, Gu Qingwan pulled open the curtain and said to the senior eunuch outside, who was panting as he rode a bicycle:

"Did you hear that clearly?"

The senior eunuch, while riding Lu Yuan's bicycle, kept nodding and said:

"I heard clearly, I heard clearly, Your Majesty."

The next second, Gu Qingwan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Then why aren't you getting on it?!"

The next second, the senior eunuch slammed on the brakes and hurried off to the Ministry of Works.

……

The next morning, Lu Yuan had a pressure cooker on the back seat of his carriage.

He was ready to set out.

"Brother, I'll bring you lunch at noon~"

Su Liyan saw her man off.

Lu Yuan looked at his adorable wife and, smiling, rubbed her cheek, saying:

"No need~"

"The cafeteria food is fine—minimum standard is four dishes and a soup, about the same as the Agriculture Bureau; just stay home and eat well~"

Su Liyan obediently nodded, and after seeing her man off the compound, she dutifully went home and continued sewing clothes.

As Su Liyan walked from the front courtyard to the back, she greeted the aunties she passed.

But after Su Liyan left, the aunties huddled together and began muttering.

"Didn't Lu Yuan open a shop for Su Liyan? Why haven't we seen her go there lately?"

"Yeah… it seems she only went to the shop for two days, then stayed home all the time… she hardly went out."

"What else could it be? Surely the shop has no staff, so they just closed it—better not to lose money."

They said this while clicking their tongues.

"When they first opened, I went to have a look; a summer outfit cost them over ten silver pieces each.

Who would be foolish enough to spend dozens of dollars on a summer shirt? One look and you know it won't last long!"

"A piece of clothing for several dozen? What kind of nonsense is that??"

"……"

……

Lu Yuan didn't know what the aunties were gossiping about in the courtyard, and even if he did, he wouldn't take it to heart.

While on the road, Lu Yuan happened to see the three senior gentlemen of the compound.

"Hey, three seniors, you're not riding a vehicle?"

Lu Yuan caught up with the three seniors and rode slowly beside them.

These three seniors are tutors, i. e., private school teachers.

Basically speaking, it's equivalent to being an elementary school teacher.

Although the money he earned wasn't as much as the craftsmen in this courtyard, Third Master lives stingily, being frugal, and even bought a bicycle.

As for that bicycle, Third Master treasures it dearly, unlike Lu Yuan, who rides his bike around recklessly and doesn't cherish it at all.

Third Master wipes his bike eight hundred times a day, and doesn't allow anyone to touch it.

How come he's walking today?

Third Master turned his head, looked at Lu Yuan, and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"Hey, Lu Yuan, I lent the bike to my younger son; my younger son is going on a matchmaking date today."

Oh~

Oh, that's what's going on~

Lu Yuan nodded, and Third Master stared at the pressure cooker tied to the back of Lu Yuan's bike seat with a strange expression, saying:

"I heard people say you seem to be running a school??"

"What kind of school are you running, and why are you even bringing a pot?"

Lu Yuan then waved his hand and said:

"The school I'm running is big; even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Third Master, just do your job well, and later I'll promote you."

After saying that, Lu Yuan rode off on his bike.

Third Master watched Lu Yuan ride off, dazed; after coming to his senses, he couldn't help but spit in Lu Yuan's direction.

Ah—pah!!

And he's talking about promoting himself?!!

You, who can't utter a single sage-like word from your mouth, still run a school?

You're running a school for nothing!!

It's just that you made a few things and got rewarded by the Imperial Court, yet you actually think you can do anything!!

Pah!!

……

Lu Yuan pedaled his bike all the way to Qingbei Daxue.

After arriving, Lu Yuan first went into his own small room; to be precise, that is Lu Yuan's office.

After entering, Lu Yuan saw Gu Qingwan still hogging his desk.

On the desk lay a pile of yellow little boxes, all memorials.

"Yo, did the Hall of Supreme Splendor move to my Qingbei Daxue?"

Lu Yuan laughed while tidying up the things he'd need for his lecture later, and meanwhile brewed a cup of fat sea.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingwan slightly raised her head, blinked her eyes, and looked at Lu Yuan, speaking coquettishly:

"I'm not doing this just to not miss the principal's lecture~"

"You don't like it, do you? ~"

Gu Qingwan, this person… once she acts alluring, she's truly more tempting than one's wife in bed at midnight.

After all, Gu Qingwan usually presents a cold, imposing demeanor.

But suddenly putting on this coquettish, charming act with you is truly… stimulating!

Especially when you look at Gu Qingwan now, mature and alluring, your mind still thinks, this is the emperor.

That makes it even more stimulating!

Lu Yuan couldn't stand it.

Immediately, without saying anything, he packed up his things, intending to brew a cup of fat sea, and hurried out.

Today there really are a lot of people.

Today, probably no one from the Three Assistants of the Cabinet will come to give a lecture.

Lu Yuan glanced and it seemed like everyone from the Guozijian had come.

Lu Yuan figured that, after yesterday's incident, the Cabinet officials have gathered together today, secretly discussing something.

Lu Yuan doesn't care about those three old men; after all, he's protected by the emperor.

And just as Lu Yuan was looking for a water cup, Gu Qingwan directly handed him his large enamel bucket, speaking sweetly:

"Here~ President, the students have already brewed it for you~"

Got it.

Here we go again.

Immediately, Lu Yuan held the enamel bucket in one hand, carried the pressure cooker in the other, clamped his prepared teaching materials under his elbow, and hurried off.

This made Gu Qingwan burst into gleeful laughter.

……

In the morning, while Lu Yuan lectured, the stove beside him simmered the pressure cooker on low fire, sizzle-sizzle, sizzle-sizzle.

This kind of lecture format is really rare.

That day, Lu Yuan really delivered a lot of substantive content.

This time, he didn't just talk; he also made a big blackboard and drew diagrams.

Lu Yuan taught these people temperature, pressure, and observed steam.

After finishing these topics in the morning, in the afternoon Lu Yuan began lecturing this group on the piston power device in trains.

Lu Yuan taught earnestly; the students of Qingbei Daxue, as well as those from the Guozijian, naturally felt it and all listened attentively.

It lasted until half past seven in the evening.

On the school field, the Spirit Power Lamps had already been lit.

Today we covered a lot of material, and before we knew it we had reached this time.

Whether it was Lu Yuan or the students present, none had eaten.

However, lost in the sea of knowledge, nobody felt particularly hungry.

"Alright, that's it for today. As for the steam engine, we've finished explaining it completely—does anyone fully understand?"

Lu Yuan said hoarsely.

I went on too long again today.

The audience below—whether Qingbei Daxue or Guozijian students—all stared at one another.

Everyone heard a lot today and took plenty of notes.

But no one dared claim they fully grasped it—this needs to be reviewed and studied again.

Lu Yuan also knew nobody could master it right away; he immediately grinned and said:

"No problem—starting tomorrow, I'll give you five days, in groups of four, to research the steam engine together!"

After five days, each group must hand in a steam-powered device.

Of course, I'm not asking you to build a locomotive—just getting the steam to move counts as passing!

I'll pick the three best entries and award them stars—a golden star badge.

A golden star badge?

Everyone looked curious—what is that?

And Lu Yuan also grinned and said:

"This star badge isn't actually gold and isn't worth money, but don't underestimate it."

"Whoever collects five stars, the principal will take those five-star students along on his next project."

Hearing this, everyone suddenly got excited—this?

From now on we could get to help with the principal's inventions?!

Upon hearing this, everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.

Everyone immediately realized the many benefits.

While everyone stared in astonishment, Lu Yuan continued:

"You saw the lathes and other equipment for making steam engines today; we've already started moving them into the school."

They'll be ready tomorrow, and then specialized craftsmen will build them according to your designs.

So the principal has got everything ready; in five days he'll come to inspect your work.

Don't disappoint the principal, okay!

The Qingbei Daxue students below immediately shouted their excited response.

The Guozijian students just stared at one another.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back and stood up to say:

"Principal, may we join?"

Seeing the Guozijian students, Lu Yuan blinked, then immediately grinned and said:

"Of course you can—but you have to do it; if you can't pull it off, you can't come to class."

Qingbei Daxue doesn't teach idiots.

After Lu Yuan finished, the Guozijian crowd burst out laughing.

They eagerly declared they would surely make it—and make it the best.

The Qingbei Daxue crowd said they were just blowing hot air.

Lu Yuan joined the chatter for a bit, then laughed, shook his head, and went to pack up his things to head home.

By the time he got home, it was eight o'clock.

Nobody at home had started eating either; they were waiting for him to come back and eat.

These few days have really worn Lu Yuan out—he's feeling pretty tired and annoyed.

Besides lecturing by day, he also has to prepare lessons at night.

During these five days I really need to rest.

Lu Yuan gathered his things and headed to his office, where Gu Qingwan was waiting.

As Lu Yuan stepped down from the podium, the Guozijian students—unsure who started it—began to perform the teacher-honoring rite.

They knelt down to see him off.

One Guozijian student did it, and the rest followed suit in unison.

It's no big deal if they do that; the Qingbei Daxue students come from all walks of life and aren't really sure how a teacher-student relationship ought to be.

Seeing the Guozijian students do that, the Qingbei Daxue students also copied them.

Together they knelt down to perform the teacher-honoring rite.

Lu Yuan blinked, snapped out of it, and went back up to the podium.

He grabbed a loudspeaker, looked down at the crowd, and shouted:

"You don't need to do this teacher-honoring thing with me—I'm not your master, just your teacher."

"You're not my disciples, and I don't take any."

Qingbei Daxue has no master-disciple tradition—only teachers and students.

I teach you knowledge not so you can later get promoted and get rich.

I have you study so that the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty will be better.

So that your parents, siblings, and relatives may live better thanks to you!

So that the hungry may eat, the cold may wear clothes, and the sick may see a doctor.

Let the surrounding countries never dare to bully us!

From now on, don't pull this trick again.

Remember the motto of Qingbei Daxue, study for the rise of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

The theme is elevated~

Thanks to old brother Chiyu763 for the 1666 book coin reward, thank you very much~

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(End of chapter)