Chapter 16: White Jade Pendant

One day, one guan; one month, thirty guan.

Li Guanyi suddenly felt a golden radiance emanating from the girl before him, who was no more than a year or two older than himself.

But could a mere reading companion receive such treatment?

The girl across from him, seemingly fourteen or fifteen, smiled faintly:

“Please, Young Master, become my younger brother’s teacher of arithmetic. Do not refuse.”

Such a fine position, Li Guanyi naturally would not refuse; though the sixty guan were more, and of far greater intrinsic value as gold and silver, they could not be used openly in the short term. Moreover, not only would having more silver on hand be advantageous when he eventually left Chen Guo, but even daily life would improve.

He had no reason to refuse.

When he departed shortly after:

Several tutors saw off Miss Xue; the same Liu Zhuang, who had taught arithmetic earlier, was among them—his smile now sincere, unlike before when he had made Li Guanyi wait in the courtyard. He personally escorted them out, his face beaming, offering warm inquiries and farewells.

Watching Li Guanyi depart with Miss Xue, he stroked his beard and smiled naturally: “What good fortune—he refused to work for me, yet found an even better place.”

“Li Xiao, shouldn’t you thank me?”

“In my view, no thanks are necessary. No thanks at all.”

Li Guanyi said: “Thank you, Master, for one sentence.”

He looked at the gentle Confucian scholar, asked for paper and brush, wrote a single line, folded it, and handed it over—then departed with Miss Xue.

Liu Zhuang’s smile slowly faded. Without even glancing, he carelessly tossed the paper aside.

“Clearly, he’s annoyed with me. Indeed, only petty men and women are hard to manage.”

Normally, he didn’t mind repaying the favor to Huichun Hall, but this time was different. In Jiangzhou, the capital of Chen Guo, a major event was coming: an elderly master of arithmetic, long absent from the capital, rushed back urgently to plead for the Yue General.

On his way, he would meet with prominent clans and stay at this private academy.

At this moment, every position in the arithmetic hall carried immense weight—none could be given away freely.

He had even inquired ahead of time about a question from the great arithmetic master’s book and given it to his favorite student in advance, hoping to showcase his talent. Soon after, seeing his student arrive with a beaming face and the correct solution, he couldn’t help but smile with delight.

“Ah! Bright future ahead!”

Liu Zhuang praised repeatedly:

“No wonder you’re my student—I knew you had great talent.”

Yet the students all looked uneasy. In these times of warring states, gentlemen still walked the world. They were young, in the most spirited and proud years of their lives, and refused to steal another’s achievement: “We didn’t solve it.”

Liu Zhuang asked: “Who solved it?”

The boy frowned: “Huh? Didn’t Master just call him in?”

Liu Zhuang froze, eyes widening: “You mean… that, that, that…”

The student replied: “The gentleman in plain clothes.”

It was a simple sentence.

Yet for some reason, Liu Zhuang’s face turned pale then flushed red. Suddenly remembering, he snatched up the paper he’d carelessly discarded, unfolded it, realized he had let slip a heavenly opportunity—and staggered backward, collapsing onto the ground. The paper fluttered down. He slammed a fist hard into the earth, cursing: “You—you—you lot… worthless disciples!”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

“How you’ve misled me!”

The students exchanged glances, confused why their master was angry. They looked at the paper, where several large characters were written:

In bold, swirling script:

“Why the sudden change from arrogance to deference?”

………………

Li Guanyi sat with the coachman up front, watching the scenery on either side of the road for the first time. He imagined Liu Zhuang’s expression upon learning he had solved the problem—and seeing the letter—and his mood lifted.

Li’s heart is small: if you treat me well, I treat you better.

If you insult me, I will not tolerate it.

Strike the face to strike a man; strike the heart to kill him. The coachman wielded his whip expertly, driving the horse with sharp agility. As Li Guanyi answered Miss Xue Shuangtao’s questions, he pondered another matter.

One guan per day, thirty guan per month—equivalent to over twenty taels of silver.

In Yicheng, that was wealth. Thirty guan could replace the hovel where he stared at stars, squashed ants, and occasionally killed rats—with a proper house of brick floors, a warm stove, a comfortable bed, and wooden furniture.

He could buy new clothes for himself and his aunt, eat better food and fruit.

And retrieve his aunt’s jade pendant.

Li Guanyi spotted the pawnshop ahead, hesitated, then spoke: “Miss Xue, I have a humble request…”

Xue Shuangtao smiled: “Young Master, please speak.”

Li Guanyi said: “May I borrow ten guan in advance?”

Miss Xue was slightly surprised, then noticed Li Guanyi’s faded, washed-out clothes—clean but frayed at the edges. She thought for a moment, then spoke softly: “I was remiss. You are a hired teacher; by custom, your full monthly stipend should have been paid upfront.”

The maid Qing’er froze, eyes wide, staring at her mistress.

Huh? Huh? Huh?! When did our family ever do this? Xue Shuangtao pressed a finger to Qing’er’s lips, blinked once, signaled silence, then spoke gently: “I was so delighted by your mastery of arithmetic that I forgot this matter. Please forgive me, Young Master.”

“Qing’er, give the Young Master thirty taels of silver.”

Thirty taels of silver equaled thirty-six guan.

Li Guanyi accepted it, murmured thanks, then said: “Could we stop at the pawnshop ahead? I wish to redeem something my elder once pawned.”

The coachman chuckled: “Honoring one’s elders is right. Sit tight, Young Master.”

He cracked the whip. The carriage halted before the pawnshop. Li Guanyi stepped down, entered, and declared his purpose. When he first came to this place, he had pawned it as a redeemable pledge—so long as no one bought it, he could reclaim it. He feared time had passed too long; clutching thirty taels, he entered.

But the pawnshop owner’s face changed slightly upon seeing Li Guanyi.

When he heard Li Guanyi wished to redeem the item, his eyes flickered sideways.

Li Guanyi’s heart sank.

Sure enough, the owner forced a look of regret, apologetic: “I remember your jade pendant—but unfortunately, a customer has already taken an interest…”

The shop curtain was pulled aside. A young man stepped out holding the jade pendant, smiling: “Master Wang, this pendant is excellent. I’ll take it. Charge it to my account—I’ll pay you next month.”

Li Guanyi recognized him: the young master of Huichun Hall.

He didn’t care about that—he instantly knew it was his aunt’s pendant. He stepped forward half a pace, blocking the youth, calm and unyielding:

“Unfortunately, today I intend to redeem this pendant.”

The Huichun Hall heir glanced at Li Guanyi, saw his plain clothes, frowned, and disdainfully flicked his sleeve: “Yours?”

“Hahahaha, unfortunately, this pendant is mine now.”

Li Guanyi said firmly: “According to pawnshop rules, you haven’t paid yet—you haven’t bought it. I pawned it as a redeemable pledge; the pendant never left the shop—I can reclaim it.”

The youth fell silent, then recognized Li Guanyi as the dismissed clerk from his own shop. Confidence surged. He sized him up, sneered: “Redeem it? Little clerk, keep your money and spend it yourself. I want this.”

He barked: “Move aside. Don’t block the way.”

He raised his hand to shove Li Guanyi aside. Li Guanyi lowered his gaze; internal Qi stirred within.

A soft footstep sounded.

Robes fluttered, carrying a faint orchid scent. A gentle voice spoke beside him: “Young Master Li, why so late? Did something happen at the pawnshop? Did you not retrieve it?”

Xue Shuangtao stood beside Li Guanyi.

The owner and the Huichun Hall heir froze.

This is…

The Xue family?!

The beautiful girl stood with hands folded gently before her, beside the plain-clothed youth. Her eyes lifted slightly, fixed on the young man’s outstretched hand, and she smiled softly:

“Young Master, what are you trying to do, reaching out toward my Young Master Li?”

(End of Chapter)