CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 73 SENIOR BROTHER

Chen Zigeng walked out in a sapphire blue robe, the new color instantly brightening his entire being. His small waist was held upright, and his every movement was orderly, just like a descendant from a scholarly family.

Chen Zigeng smiled at Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen before being led inside by Li You to perform the apprenticeship ceremony.

The ceremony was simple, with a portrait of Confucius hanging on the wall. Mr. Dongli sat on a chair, watching Chen Zigeng offer incense and make his bows.

Each of Chen Zigeng’s bows was performed to perfection, the little child was so humble and composed, which was quite endearing.

Li You stood by, observing Chen Zigeng, reminiscing about his own apprenticeship years ago. He was a simple-minded man, not as skilled as Chen Zigeng, but the teacher had always patiently guided him, never disdaining his dullness.

The years spent with the teacher brought warmth to his heart; the teacher was both mentor and strict father to him. Later, when the teacher retired to seclusion, departing the Capital City, Li You felt a sorrow that was difficult for others to understand.

Being by the Emperor’s side all these years, he often pondered why the teacher left abruptly. It wasn’t because of his own lack of intelligence or his rough behavior, but because he hadn’t fulfilled the promises he made to the teacher.

Now the Emperor wishes to invite the teacher back to court, and on his way to visit, Li You had many thoughts. Upon seeing the displaced citizens and the desolation in the North, he vaguely understood the anger that led the teacher to leave in the past.

He once thought of restoring the land for the people’s welfare, but years of constant warfare have left the people in unbearable suffering.

Li You sighed inwardly; in the quest to secure the throne, the Emperor has forgotten to look at the people under his rule.

The apprenticeship ceremony concluded.

Chen Zigeng stepped forward to assist Mr. Dongli up, and the old and young walked out of the room together.

Outside, Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen stepped forward to greet Mr. Dongli.

Mr. Dongli laughed and said, "As it’s our first meeting, I won’t stop you, but in the future, you must not do this."

Old Mrs. Chen replied, "I entrust my little grandson to you."

Mr. Dongli said, "I am old, without children, and have a selfish wish to find a good disciple to be my closed-door student."

Old Mrs. Chen understood the difference between a closed-door disciple and an ordinary one, and was momentarily stunned; if Xie Liangchen hadn’t tugged at her sleeve, she wouldn’t have come back to her senses.

"Teacher," Old Mrs. Chen said, "You have bestowed a great favor upon Brother Geng."

After speaking, Old Mrs. Chen advised Chen Zigeng, "From now on, even if you don’t listen to your grandmother, you must listen to your teacher and honor him well in the future."

Xie Liangchen observed her grandmother, thinking that in crucial moments, she instinctively knew what to say without needing others’ reminders.

Old Mrs. Chen thought, sigh, we must earn more silver coins to give more gifts to the teacher; with only Zigeng as his disciple, how can he live with little offerings?

In the future, she’ll have to buy more books, paper, ink, and brushes.

These are genuine matters and cannot be skimped on.

Old Mrs. Chen couldn’t stay; she needed to return to the village to collect herbs.

Mr. Dongli’s gaze turned to Xie Liangchen, the young girl who stood beside him with a respectfully smiling face, her expression was very familiar because Chen Zigeng had just looked the same.

Chen Zigeng’s actions were all in imitation of his sister, even though he hadn’t spoken to Xie Liangchen, Mr. Dongli was certain this girl was very intelligent, beyond normal means.

No wonder even Xu Tingzhen thought of accepting her as a disciple.

Sigh, he couldn’t provoke Granny Xu; he decided not to compete for her.

Mr. Dongli looked at Chen Zigeng, "Let’s go and study."

Once the main house door closed.

"I’m leaving," Old Mrs. Chen instructed Xie Liangchen, "You stay and take care of Brother Geng on his first day."

Old Mrs. Chen was anxious to hurry back to the village. As she was about to bow out to Li You, she heard Li You say, "I’d like to speak a few words to the old lady and miss."

Li You invited Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen into the side room, took a blue cloth bundle from the table, and handed it to Old Mrs. Chen.

Li You said, "Inside, there are pens, ink, paper, and brushes I prepared for Zigeng."

"How could this be appropriate?" Old Mrs. Chen was embarrassed to accept more of Li You’s things, "Mr. Li found a teacher for Zigeng and arranged his clothing; we don’t know how to repay you."

A smile appeared on Li You’s straight face, "The teacher truly likes Zigeng, which is why he accepted him as a pupil, and this has nothing to do with me. I give these because Mr. Dongli is also my mentor, and Zigeng is now my junior fellow.

The senior must give a meeting gift to the junior."

Old Mrs. Chen was astonished and opened her mouth wide. How did Brother Geng become a fellow student with Mr. Li so quickly? She couldn’t help pinching her own thigh.

Ouch, it hurt; she wasn’t dreaming.

"Grandmother." Xie Liangchen stepped forward to hold Old Mrs. Chen’s hand.

Li You continued, "Just keep this knowledge to yourselves, and do not publicize it, lest it brings trouble to Zigeng."

Old Mrs. Chen understood the principle that treasures are coveted, so she nodded vigorously: "Rest assured, Mr. Li, we won’t tell anyone."

A smile returned to Li You’s face, "Zigeng is more gifted than me; if he diligently follows the teacher, he will surely accomplish great things."

Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen bowed to Li You again.

Li You personally assisted Old Mrs. Chen up, "If you continue to do so in private, you treat me like a stranger."

Old Mrs. Chen was so happy that she didn’t know what to do, and after a long while, finally calmed herself.

Li You observed this scene and thought, if he mentioned that Zigeng was also a fellow student with the current Emperor...

Sigh, this matter can wait for another day!

Li You shifted his gaze to Xie Liangchen, "What has Miss Xie been doing recently? Are the Chen Family Village’s herbal sales going smoothly?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "I hired the Tian Family Trading Team to help me purchase some herbs from the Southern regions."

"Oh?" Li You was quite puzzled, "Why is that?"

Xie Liangchen explained, "The North is different from the South; there’s no work in winter, so I plan to learn how to process herbs. If I do well, I can take business from the pharmacy."

Li You couldn’t have imagined that Xie Liangchen had already planned what to do during winter. If it weren’t for Xie Liangchen standing right in front of him, he couldn’t believe these words came from a girl of fourteen or fifteen.

Xie Liangchen continued, "The price difference between raw and processed herbs is significant; if done well, there’s profit to be made."

Xie Liangchen took out a few sheets of paper from her sleeve and handed them to Li You, "Mr. Li, please look, these are items I asked the blacksmith to make, used for processing herbs."

Li You didn’t understand processed herbs, but found the drawings on the paper quite intriguing.

Li You asked, "All of this was your idea?"

Xie Liangchen smiled and nodded, they were used in the Su Family in her previous life.

Li You studied the paper for a long time before returning it to Xie Liangchen. Seeing these, he thought of someone, Granny Xu, whom the teacher knows.

Currently, the court plans to establish a medicine bureau in Zhenzhou, an Official Medicine Bureau for the people’s welfare. The herbs purchased by the medicine bureau must be good, and the prices as cheap as possible. Will the price of herbs from Chen Family Village be lower than that of merchants once they’re processed?