Chapter 452: The Gentleman

Liu Dongzhu was about to refuse Wei Yuan's "good intentions"; she has no goodwill toward Wei Yuan, the County Magistrate, and from his way of addressing her—no, he doesn't even address her at all—one can see his thoughts.

Obviously he's on Wang Ruhai's side!

People like Lü Tu and Yu Die, she would accept the gifts they give, not merely because they "coerce" her with words, but also because she knows that Lü Tu and Yu Die have good intentions.

Who knows what motive Wei Yuan has in giving her this yellowed book, who knows whether the Confucian text he offers is good or bad; even if the Confucian text he gives is a good thing, she would not deem it worthy.

Perhaps it's because one person vents anger onto a profession!

"Yo, 'The Gentleman's Words', this is a good thing!"

Yu Die glanced at the book Wei Yuan produced, and her eyes instantly brightened.

For a Confucian scholar, this is a first‑rate treasure.

Using the Dharma Eye, she can clearly sense that this 'The Gentleman's Words' contains an astonishingly righteous aura, clearly penned by a great Confucian master.

Any work authored by a great Confucian need not be priceless, but most are far from cheap.

Especially this 'The Gentleman's Words', which records the sayings of virtuous Confucian gentlemen through the ages; writing it casually is no problem, but to capture its spirit and the inherent righteous qi requires considerable effort.

Many great Confucians may never, in a lifetime, be able to write even a few 'The Gentleman's Words' with true spirit, so every such work by a great master is exceedingly expensive.

Even an ordinary clan, exhausting all its resources, may not manage to acquire a single 'The Gentleman's Words' from a great master; at most they can purchase a few fragments, which still drains the entire family fortune.

For Wei Yuan, a modest County Magistrate of Qingyang County, to obtain a 'The Gentleman's Words' shows he must have been quite corrupt in office.

Although he may come from a noble lineage, his many years as Qingyang County Magistrate without promotion indicate he is not valued within his family.

Even if Wei Yuan's birth family possessed a 'The Gentleman's Words' by a great master, they would not give such a treasure to him, but rather to a younger relative with a brighter future.

Yu Die, seeing Liu Dongzhu trying to refuse, hurriedly urged: "Madam Wang, this 'The Gentleman's Words' is a fine thing, it's also a token of goodwill from the Wei County Magistrate; how can you refuse?"

"Lord Yu…"

Liu Dongzhu was about to say something when Dai Zhishang, standing nearby, cut in first:

"Sister Dongzhu, I know you don't want your child Ping'an to take the imperial examinations, but even if he doesn't, reading the saints' writings is beneficial; it can cultivate the heart and nature.

This 'The Gentleman's Words' records the deeds and sayings of virtuous Confucian gentlemen through the ages; if you occasionally let the child Ping'an read it, you can nurture him into a gentleman, preventing him from growing up to do something worse than a pig or dog!"

'The Gentleman's Words' is one of the best books for cultivating the habits of young Confucian students; it cannot be said that every student who studies it will certainly become a gentleman.

But there is an eighty‑percent chance of becoming a gentleman and only a twenty‑percent chance of turning into a treacherous petty person.

Therefore, conditional aristocratic families teach their children to study 'The Gentleman's Words' from an early age.

It is said that since 'The Gentleman's Words' was compiled, many historically renowned great Confucians, to varying degrees, learned it in childhood.

Liu Dongzhu sensed Dai Zhishang's insinuation; the hesitation that had made her want to refuse suddenly returned, and Yu Die seized the chance, snatched the 'The Gentleman's Words' from Wei Yuan's hand, forced it into Liu Dongzhu's palm, and said:

"Madam Wang, you may not know that many people in the Capital City raise their children by starting with 'The Gentleman's Words' from an early age.

Consequently, 'The Gentleman's Words' is a hard‑to‑find book in the Capital City; who doesn't know that ten out of nine children who read it become Confucian gentlemen!"

She didn't tell Liu Dongzhu about the value of 'The Gentleman's Words'; she could see Liu Dongzhu isn't a money‑grubbing person, and mentioning its worth would only backfire.

Liu Dongzhu opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out; she hates Wang Ruhai, the ungrateful man, and worries that her child Ping'an, once grown, might become the next Wang Ruhai. She is anxious yet unsure how to teach Wang Ping'an.

Hearing Dai Zhishang and Yu Die's words, she realized that this 'The Gentleman's Words' is the most suitable book for teaching the child Wang Ping'an.

"Wei County Magistrate, thank you for this 'The Gentleman's Words'!"

Liu Dongzhu expressed her gratitude.

"You're welcome, you're welcome. Since your child Ping'an shows promise, I wish to form a good bond with him. If I didn't place a heavy bet, others would think I'm speculating; I only need this 'The Gentleman's Words' to help Ping'an."

Wei Yuan forced himself to suppress the blood‑pounding impulse in his heart.

This novel you...

This 'The Gentleman's Words' penned by a great Confucian master is something he spent a great price to collect, intending to use it at a crucial moment—when a coveted position becomes vacant, he would seize it with this book.

But unexpectedly, before this 'The Gentleman's Words' could take effect, it was given to an ignorant child, causing a bright pearl to be dulled.

Lü Tu looked at Wei Yuan with surprise, then at Yu Die; originally he was curious about what motive Yu Die had in forcing the corrupt official Wei Yuan to form a good bond with Wang Ping'an—perhaps she was a newcomer unaware of worldly treachery?

Expecting a corrupt official like Wei Yuan to look after the Wang Ping'an family?

If the Wang Ping'an family were just an ordinary household, knowing that he, Yu Die, and even Dai Zhishang all valued them, given Wei Yuan's character, one wouldn't even have to think—he would certainly look after the Wang family.

But the Wang family differs from ordinary families; they have a 'Qilin child'—though one who is ungrateful and treacherous.

Wei Yuan might look after the Wang family, but not Wang Ping'an and Liu Dongzhu; he might even harm them while currying favor before the Prime Minister's Daughter.

No one could have imagined…

Wei Yuan actually was willing to offer a 'The Gentleman's Words' written by a great Confucian as a gift!

In Lü Tu's mind, myriad tangled thoughts surfaced, and he muttered in surprise: 'Could it be that I have misread Wei Yuan, or perhaps that the little lady Yu, slyly whispered something to him, prompting Wei Yuan to part with a 'The Gentleman's Words' penned by a great master?'

Wei Yuan, from the corner of his eye, noted Lü Tu's surprised gaze, let out a low snort, and smiled: "How about you also take a look at my 'The Gentleman's Words' and see if your child likes it?"

He naturally wouldn't tell Lü Tu that he was willing to give this great‑master 'The Gentleman's Words' to Wang Ping'an to forge a good bond because he was confident he could retrieve that same book later.

(End of Chapter)