Chapter 61: Lift the bowl to eat, then set it down and curse the farmers

Their status is destined not to do these things; why force it?

Ningguang sighed. This is the privilege of aristocratic youth, something many from humble origins can only hope for but never attain; yet from birth, one's fate is already set.

Ningguang, I don't think so.

No matter what their status is, no matter how far their future goes, but...

They cannot ignore the people's suffering; they cannot be ignorant of how the food in their own mouths comes to be.

Perhaps they will never encounter agriculture in their lifetime.

But!

I don't want the children who leave my academy to lift their bowls to eat, then put them down and curse the farmers.

Idle hands, ignorant of grain—what they learn will just feed dogs. I want those I teach to be able to hold high office, enter the slums, serve as local officials; even if they face disaster, they'll have a skill to avoid starving themselves and being driven to desperation.

Jiang Yun Chu spoke without pause; clearly she had pondered this idea for a long time.

Her words also made everyone, including Ningguang, reflect deeply.

Idle hands, ignorant of grain.

Lift the bowl to eat, then set it down and curse the farmers.

Isn't every sentence just the current state of officials?

Not to mention aristocratic youth; even officials from humble origins, on this road to wealth and status, gradually lose their way.

The hardship they've endured will also be inflicted on others.

"Alright, you've convinced me." Ningguang looked at Jiang Yun Chu, wondering how many more ideas were hidden in her little head.

The key is that she's very stubborn—either she convinces others, or she gets convinced.

How many years has it been since anyone dared to oppose her?

But this person's appearance brought her a surprise, even anticipation for the future.

With such a person leading, what's there to worry about not producing outstanding individuals?

"Then tell me about military strategy." Ningguang pointed to another spot.

Her "hairpin flower" calligraphy was irregular, her habitual wild cursive destroying the delicate beauty of the style and some ineffable grace.

She simply isn't suited for hairpin flower calligraphy—the idea that handwriting reflects character isn't without reason.

She insists even more; her innate wildness suits the wild cursive style.

But she, however……

I truly don't know what she's thinking.

"These children are still at the enlightenment stage; few at this age know what they want to do, let alone what they're capable of."

"But I hope my children will have options in the future, not just a single path of officialdom."

"Over these past days, you must have come to know those six children quite well."

"Never mind others; Kang Wu's temperament is perfect for the battlefield—once he grows up, he'll surely be a commander who leads troops into battle, with strategy, judgment, and a habit of preparing ahead."

Jiang Yun Chu smiled; she had never stopped recording these little rascals.

These little rascals continually surprise her as well.

"Kang Wu?" Ningguang thought of the twins, "Can you tell them apart?"

She was curious, but after observing them for days, she still couldn't find any differing traits.

"Their personalities differ; Kang Wen is more impulsive and brave, while Kang Wu prefers to prepare first, then act, with strategy."

"Just look at their eyes, and you can tell who is who."

Jiang Yun Chu laughed heartily, then explained to Ningguang.

But even if she said so, anyone wanting to tell them apart still needs careful observation to find the trick.

At the very least, Zi Wu hasn't figured it out……

But……

"Those who choose this path are, after all, few." Ningguang looked at the person opposite her.

Their back-and-forth is like that of someone holding a spear—each advance, each retreat, is for the next attack.

"But…… they're still human!"

"If they take the official route, military strategy and tactics can help them avoid others' schemes and keep them vigilant, with a sense of preparedness."

"If they go the mercantile route, I don't know if Ningguang has heard this saying……"

Jiang Yun Chu paused; Ningguang set down her teacup and softly said, "Oh?"

"The marketplace is a battlefield!"

"Weren't there enough business wars in our past life?"

"Military strategy is useful on the battlefield; it might not be useless in the marketplace either."

She smiled, a faint smile on her face; their chat was calm, merely a collision of awareness and understanding.

This conversation was within Jiang Yun Chu's expectations.

Yet it was beyond Ningguang's expectations.

Having taught students for half her life, she found none comparable to Jiang Yun Chu.

"Alright, I've looked it over; I agree it's not enough—you still need to convince someone else!" At that moment, Ningguang laughed, her silver hair catching the sun and flashing with strands of light.

"Who?"

Jiang Yun Chu was somewhat surprised.

But at that moment, Ningguang rose, smiling, and said, "He's here."

Jiang Yun Chu abruptly turned and saw a tall man, a few strands of white in his hair, meticulously combed into his cap, his face lined with creases, wearing dark blue robes, walking toward her step by step.

"Kang Meng, long time no see." Ningguang said with a smile.

Kang Mengxian nodded, "Eighteen years have passed, that's long enough."

Then he looked at Jiang Yun Chu, "Yun chu."

Jiang Yun Chu came to her senses, looking at the old man before her, "Maternal grandfather."

The old man smiled, "May I have a cup of tea at your residence today?"

She looked at this old man, and many of her perceptions were refreshed; his visage was kind, from the first glance she saw his gentle smile, this person had no harsh aura, nor any aggressive intent.

It made people unconsciously relax.

This person…

He is somewhat frightening.

"It is an honor." Jiang Yun Chu reached out, and Zi Su immediately stepped forward to pour a cup of tea for the old man.

"You're all standing like this, I'd feel bad sitting down, so please all sit." Ningguang glanced at this one, then that one.

She had not come down the mountain for eighteen years; only these two days did she learn that Yun chu had never entered the Kang Clan.

The Kang Clan has only recently begun to move about; given her understanding of Kang Meng, he is not such a person, likely there are unavoidable reasons.

"Take a look at this."

Ningguang directly handed Jiang Yun Chu's written ideas to Kang Mengxian.

But Kang Mengxian had only just looked at a few pages, his face showed no expression, occasionally revealing a thoughtful look.

Until… he finished reading it all.

Only then did he set down the papers in his hand, look at Jiang Yun Chu, and ask, "Are these ideas all yours?"

Jiang Yun Chu's tea-drinking motion paused, then she nodded, "It's me."

"Wait a moment." Ningguang interrupted their exchange.

Instead, he looked toward Kang Mengxian, "Since you have seen our academy's ideas, you can only join."

…