Ch 148: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

When Zhang Lishan arrived at the Wu family home for his lesson, he recounted his encounter with Old Man Shen to Shen Yunxuan.

Shen Yunxuan first praised him, “You did nothing wrong. You had reason and logic on your side, and you were also being filial. The one who was disrespectful was someone else.” Then she added, “Thank you for standing up for your teacher, but you’re still young, without backing, and your words carry little weight. If a real conflict arises, it will be difficult for people to believe you. On the other hand, your opponent, due to their seniority, is more likely to be taken seriously.

“So next time you face such a situation, remember to protect yourself first and act within your limits to avoid causing trouble for yourself and your family.”

Zhang Lishan was bright and immediately realized that he had indeed been too impulsive today. When he saw the village head walking by with his grandson, looking relatively calm, he quietly exhaled in relief, feeling a bit of lingering fear.

If Old Man Shen had gone to the village head and the village head had sided with him, Zhang Lishan would have suffered for his words. His mother would have been forced to come forward to apologize, and people would have criticized her for raising a disrespectful child. Worse, it might have even affected his teacher’s reputation.

At that moment, Zhang Lishan truly understood the meaning of “Think before you act.” And in his small heart, a seed of ambition took root—he wanted to become stronger. If his background were powerful enough, even if he were only three years old, no one would dare to challenge him. That was the power of authority and status.

And to obtain that power, he needed to study diligently, pass the imperial exams, and become an official. He also needed to understand human relations and learn about people’s livelihoods. Only then would he know how to govern the people and be a capable official.

Shen Yunxuan was unaware that her “top student” had already set his sights on grand ambitions. She simply exchanged a few words with the village head and officially accepted his grandson, Shen Xing, as her student. The village head subtly reminded her that Old Man Shen had a strong grudge against her, even accusing her of misleading children and being a fraud.

Shen Yunxuan laughed and said, “If I walk the right path, I fear no shadows. Besides, I’m not officially running a school to prepare students for the imperial exams. I’m simply teaching children to read, write, and understand basic principles of conduct. If I come across poems I know, I explain them. I also take them up the mountains to explore—it’s nothing more than being a leader of children. They find it fun, so they call me ‘teacher.’

“Village Head, don’t worry. I know my limits and won’t bring shame to the village. On the other hand, you should keep an eye on the Shen family. Old Madam Shen did the Li family a favor, and now Shen Jiaoyao has entered the Li family as a study attendant. That means the Shen family has connected with a major household in the county. Those types of people are difficult to deal with—I’m not sure if Shen Jiaoyao’s position there is going smoothly. It would be best if he doesn’t cause any trouble.”

The village head hadn’t been aware of the Shen family’s situation, but hearing Shen Yunxuan’s words, he took note. “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. You go ahead with your lesson. Shen Xing, make sure to learn more words. Didn’t you say you wanted to be an accountant? You’ll need both literacy and arithmetic for that, understand?”

“I understand! Grandpa, I’ll study hard!” Shen Xing’s face lit up with excitement, his cheeks turning red with enthusiasm.

His family had sent him to a county school before, but most of the students there came from wealthy backgrounds and looked down on rural children like him. It had been a miserable experience. One time, some classmates bullied him, and when he fought back and punched one of them, his father and grandfather had to take him to apologize. The humiliation of that moment had burned deep inside him.

Moreover, the teachers at the academy were strict and dull, making studying unbearably boring. He had a lively personality and couldn’t sit still for long. After class, he enjoyed running around outside, but every time the teacher saw him, he would frown and scold him. After a few such incidents, Shen Xing felt like everything he did was wrong. Eventually, he threw tantrums at home, refusing to return to the school.

But after hearing his friends describe the lessons at Shen Yunxuan’s place, he was immediately eager to join. Here, he could study with his friends, play together, and even learn the arithmetic he wanted most. It was perfect for him!

As a result, during the lesson, Shen Xing and Zhang Lishan were the most focused students. Some of the other children were still thinking about yesterday’s rabbit-catching adventure in the mountains and were reluctant to stay in class, pleading with Shen Yunxuan to take them up the hill again. Before she could even respond, Shen Xing took charge, telling them they needed to follow their teacher’s schedule—when it was time to go up the mountain, they would go.

Because Shen Xing was the village head’s grandson, the other children had heard at home that he would likely become the next village head. This status made them instinctively respect him, and they actually listened. Shen Yunxuan no longer had to worry about classroom discipline and immediately appointed Shen Xing as the “little manager,” responsible for organizing the children, leading them in line, and keeping order during lessons.

Shen Xing was overjoyed—this was just like being a mini village head! He couldn’t wait to brag about it to his grandfather when he got home.

Zhang Lishan, on the other hand, was deep in thought. So, this was what power and status could do—it gave one authority, even without real ability. He didn’t feel jealous, though. Instead, he realized that a person’s strengths weren’t just about skills but also included status, background, and other inherent advantages. Learning from others didn’t just mean acquiring new skills; it also meant understanding and leveraging the power that came with one’s position. If there was something he couldn’t attain, then he at least needed to recognize that reality—because true fairness didn’t exist in this world.

Shen Yunxuan then introduced them to basic arithmetic. She started by having them count hawthorn berries, then count from one to two hundred, and then count backward from two hundred to one. Afterward, she taught them addition and subtraction within twenty, using copper coins to show them how to calculate transactions.

These were skills they would use in everyday life. Within half an hour, the children had already grasped the basics and were making far fewer mistakes!

Shen Xing became anxious when Shen Yunxuan stopped teaching arithmetic. “Teacher, how do you calculate things like seventy or eighty, a hundred, or a thousand?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “We’ll learn that tomorrow. For today, focus on remembering what we’ve already covered. You can practice by teaching your family members or other children, which will help you remember it better. Now, we’re going to learn a survival skill—catching fish.”

“Survival skill?” The children were curious about this new term. “Catching fish is a survival skill?”

“Of course! If you can catch fish, then if you’re ever truly hungry, you’ll know how to get food from the water. Otherwise, even if there are fish in the river, you wouldn’t be able to eat them. Survival skills also include making fire, finding water, climbing trees, recognizing wild vegetables and fruits, identifying directions, and reading animal tracks. These are all useful skills for villagers like us. Of course, I don’t know everything, but I’ll teach you what I do know. This is called balancing work and rest—studying will be less tiring and boring, and you’ll learn many things at the same time.”

“Wow! We’re learning survival skills! Teacher, let’s go!”

The children were thrilled. They grabbed the fish traps woven by Old Madam Wu and ran outside. Shen Yunxuan called them back to line up properly, and Shen Xing immediately stepped up to organize them. He led everyone in an orderly march to the river.

Shen Yunxuan showed them how to dig for worms as bait, helped them set the fish traps in the water, and then crafted a fishing spear. Rolling up her pant legs, she stepped into the river and, with a swift and precise motion, speared a fish!

“Wow! She caught a fish! Teacher is amazing!” The children clapped and cheered loudly, their voices carrying far enough that even the villagers working in the fields heard them.

For the next half hour, Shen Yunxuan continued teaching them how to catch fish. They managed to catch over a dozen fish in total. When they pulled up the fish traps, there were also some thumb-sized fish and a few shrimp inside.

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Looks like we did well—it’s a great harvest! Let’s go, today your teacher will cook something delicious for you.”

The children didn’t feel tired at all. They happily carried everything back for Shen Yunxuan, counting the fish and shrimp several times. When she confirmed that their calculations were correct, their faces beamed with pride.

Next, Shen Yunxuan taught them how to clean and prepare the fish and shrimp, as well as how to build a fire and cook. One boy hesitantly asked, “Teacher, isn’t it said that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen? My grandfather and father always say that men should work outside and women should stay inside. A man entering the kitchen is disgraceful.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Then if the women in the house are sick, does that mean the men just starve? And if a man isn’t married and has no woman in the house, should he just starve to death? When soldiers are at war, protecting the country, who cooks their meals?”

“It must be men!”

“And what about the chefs in the county’s restaurants? Are they men or women?”

“I know! When I was in the county, I heard the head chef was an older man. So it’s a man!”

“And… what about the imperial chefs in the palace?”

The children looked at each other. “They’re men too…? Huh? Wait a minute…”

Shen Yunxuan explained patiently, “We should have our own thoughts and not just follow what others say. Lishan, you live with your mother. If she works hard all day and is exhausted, but still has to cook dinner, what should you do?”

Zhang Lishan immediately answered, “Of course, I would tell my mother to rest, and I would cook!”

“Exactly.” Shen Yunxuan nodded in approval. “Because Lishan cares for his mother, and he doesn’t feel that cooking diminishes his pride. This is filial piety—ensuring the whole family is fed. How could that be disgraceful? Why shouldn’t a man cook? However, everyone has different thoughts. When living with family, if you want to challenge certain ideas, you must find the right way to do it and not act recklessly.”

A little girl raised her hand. “Teacher, you didn’t have a good life in the Shen family. Is what you did considered rebellion?”

“Of course,” Shen Yunxuan said with a smile, ending the topic. “Now, if you want to learn how to cook, stay here. If you don’t, you can go play in the courtyard.”

“I want to stay!” The children shouted in unison—none of them wanted to leave.

With that, Shen Yunxuan guided them in steaming the fish, carefully removing the bones, and mixing the fish meat with seasonings and chopped vegetables to make fish meatballs. She then brought out some brown rice and cooked it with the fish balls to make a thick porridge. Each child was given a bowl, and they all sat together in the courtyard to eat.

The children exchanged glances, hesitating. This was thick porridge—just one bowl was enough to fill them up! And there were even meatballs in it! Were they really allowed to eat this?

Seeing their hesitation, Shen Yunxuan and Old Madam Wu took their own bowls and smiled. “Eat up, but be careful—it’s hot. This meal is the result of our teamwork. Try the fish we caught together. Isn’t it delicious? But remember, you must never go fishing alone. Stay away from the water—it’s dangerous. Understand?”

“We understand, Teacher!” the children chorused.

They carefully held their bowls and took a small sip. Instantly, their faces lit up.

“Teacher! This is amazing!”

“Teacher, why does the porridge have a little bit of salt? Can you put salt in porridge?”

“Teacher, why doesn’t the fish taste fishy at all? This is the best fish I’ve ever had!”

“There isn’t a single grain of grit in the porridge! How did you do that? You’re amazing!”

The children chattered excitedly, their eyes filled with admiration for Shen Yunxuan. They treasured every bite, carefully finishing their bowls of porridge. When she offered them seconds, some children hesitated, sneaking glances at her several times…

A child leaned in and whispered, “Teacher, can I take some home for my mother to try?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “This is a special treat we occasionally have here in our little courtyard, just for you all. I know you’re filial, which is a wonderful thing, but if we start taking food home for others, it could lead to disputes. So, you may save a portion and let your family taste it when they come to pick you up, but you cannot take it away.”

The children all nodded in agreement. Zhang Lishan suggested that everyone drink half a bowl and save the rest to share with their families. This was the first time they had done something like this, and they found it novel, fun, and meaningful. They all followed through obediently.

When the villagers came to pick up their children, they could smell the delicious aroma from the entrance. They joked about how the little teacher’s house must have some good food cooking. Just as they were teasing, the children stepped forward, each holding half a bowl of porridge, and handed it to their parents, explaining that they had deliberately saved some for them to try. They proudly told their families that they had helped their teacher catch the fish and that learning survival skills was part of the day’s lesson.

When the villagers saw that the porridge even had meatballs in it, they hesitated, feeling too shy to accept such a luxurious treat. But after a few words from Old Madam Wu and the village head, the village head took the lead by accepting the porridge from his grandson. He took a sip and was astonished. “Did Yunxuan make this? No wonder my elder sister keeps praising her! This cooking skill isn’t any worse than what you’d find in the county’s restaurants. This is the first time I’ve ever had porridge with both a salty taste and meatballs!”

With the village head setting the example, curiosity took over. The porridge smelled too enticing, and since he had already taken the first sip, the others felt comfortable enough to follow. They accepted the porridge with gratitude and slowly finished their half-bowls.

“Yunxuan, you have quite the talent for cooking! If my family ever hosts a banquet, I’ll be sure to hire you!”

“Yunxuan, you’ve been hiding your skills all this time. I never knew you could cook this well! How did you make this? It’s delicious!”

The children immediately puffed out their chests. “I know, I know! We helped make it too! I can cook now!”

The villagers laughed. Even if the children had helped, how much could they really have learned? Still, no one pressed further, realizing that Shen Yunxuan’s family now sold food. This porridge might even be something she planned to sell in the future. They thanked her once more, then took their children home. Even after walking some distance, the sounds of their children reciting numbers and practicing arithmetic could still be heard.

Meanwhile, a neighbor who had also sent their child to learn with Shen Yunxuan was walking home when they encountered members of the Shen family returning from work.

Old Man Shen saw a child hopping along, excitedly talking about adding ten copper coins to six copper coins, and scoffed. “If they want to study, they should do it properly. Having a fourteen-year-old girl as their teacher will only ruin them! She’s just tricking you all into giving her tuition money, and yet so many of you fell for it!”

The neighbor was a bold and outspoken woman. She immediately stopped in her tracks and snapped, “You old fool, always causing trouble and running your mouth. Are you saying Shen Yunxuan is scamming us? That we’re all idiots? Do you think you’re the only smart one in this village? You’re ridiculous! We’re not paying tuition; we’re giving her a token of appreciation for watching over our children and teaching them. And what of it? While you’re sitting here grumbling, she’s feeding our kids meatball porridge! Do you know how kind she is? Go ahead, say one more bad word about her, and I’ll gather the whole village to tear down your house!”

Her child stood tall, adding, “Mother, don’t bother with ignorant people. Be careful, or he’ll use his seniority to pretend he’s respectable and spread rumors about us. Some people, when they have no real abilities, can only go around badmouthing others.” Then he patted his stomach. “Ah, I’m so full! Mom, my stomach hurts from eating too much. I need to take a nap. Teacher said that to have a promising future, we must stay strong and healthy. We can’t be like those weak, frail scholars who don’t know anything. That would make us useless. Let’s go home!”

The neighbor couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She pulled her child into their courtyard and slammed the gate shut.

Old Man Shen was so enraged that he nearly lost his breath. Shen Cai and Shen Dong hurried to help steady him. “Father, don’t let that woman and her brat get to you. She has no manners, and that kid could use a good beating. Don’t waste your energy.”

Old Man Shen seethed. “Did you hear what that brat said? He called me ignorant! He said I was abusing my seniority! He said I had no real abilities and only knew how to badmouth others! And worst of all, he dared to insult Jiayao, saying he was a useless good-for-nothing! How dare he? He’s been learning under that unfilial girl for just two days, and now he thinks he can surpass Jiayao?!”

Old Madam Shen quickly reassured him. “No one in this village will ever surpass our Jiayao! Don’t get angry over this.”

Zhou Shi added, “Father, calm down. When Jiayao comes back in a few days, he’ll return looking grand and dignified, serving a wealthy young master, receiving a monthly stipend, and studying under the best teachers in the Li family. Everyone will envy us then. Let those fools have their fun for now—soon enough, they’ll be eating their words.”

Shen Dong nodded in agreement. “When Jiayao returns, we’ll set off firecrackers! Let them die of jealousy! Let’s see if they dare talk back to you then. I bet that third brother’s whole family will come crawling back, begging for forgiveness and asking to be accepted back into the family.”

Old Man Shen finally started to calm down. With a cold snort, he spat, “That unfilial brat better not even think about coming back if he dares die outside!”

Just imagining that future soothed him. For the first time, he felt that time was crawling too slowly—why hadn’t Shen Jiayao returned from the Li household yet?

Meanwhile, over at the Li household, Shen Zhong (formerly Shen Jiayao) was living in agony. Every day, he had to wake up at the crack of dawn and stand outside Li Yaosheng’s door, waiting. No matter when Li Yaosheng decided to wake up, he had to be there first. At night, he couldn’t rest until Li Yaosheng finished all his leisure activities and went to bed. Even then, he had to wait an extra hour to make sure Li Yaosheng wouldn’t wake up and call for him. Most nights, he didn’t get to sleep until well past midnight.

Shen Zhong had never woken up so early or worked so late in both of his lifetimes. Now, he shared a large communal sleeping area with three other servants. The wooden bed was as hard as a rock, and even with a thin mattress, it was unbearably uncomfortable. His body was already weak, and after just a few days, he felt sore all over, like he was falling apart.

Every day, Li Yaosheng did nothing but fight crickets, listen to performances, occasionally gamble at the gambling house, or visit the teahouse to hear storytellers. He did everything except study. He hadn’t even stepped foot in the study room. Shen Zhong had imagined he would be helping copy books, grind ink, or assist with scholarly tasks, but none of that happened. He didn’t even get the chance to take punishment on behalf of Li Yaosheng—because Li Yaosheng never attended his lessons!

Shen Zhong was miserable, unsure where things had gone wrong. One morning, before the sun had even risen, just as he was about to head to Li Yaosheng’s door, he was summoned by the old madam of the Li family.

The old madam coldly reprimanded him, speaking in a detached manner. She questioned him about what Li Yaosheng did every day and then warned him not to bring any of his “rural nonsense” into the Li family. She explicitly ordered him to make sure Li Yaosheng focused on his studies. If she ever found out that he let Li Yaosheng run wild without guiding him, she promised his backside would suffer the consequences.

Shen Zhong was dazed when he returned to Li Yaosheng’s door. He was just a bookboy—what authority did he have to supervise or advise his master? He wasn’t even a bonded servant; he hadn’t signed a contract of servitude. Why should he be punished for his master’s failures?

Before he could figure things out, Li Yaosheng called him inside. Li Yaosheng scrutinized him for a long time, until sweat began to bead on Shen Zhong’s forehead. Finally, he warned him to remember his place and know who he truly belonged to.

Shen Zhong immediately fell to his knees, swearing his loyalty, even though his legs had already gone numb from kneeling too often. Were all the people in the Li family this unreasonable? How had Shen Yunxuan managed to become the winner in the end in his past life?

Just as he was thinking about her, Li Yaosheng suddenly asked, “Did you ever teach your cousin to read?”

Cousin? That meant Shen Yunxuan! Shen Zhong instantly grew alert. Why was Li Yaosheng asking about her? Had he taken a liking to her after just one encounter? He quickly shook his head. “This humble one’s family was poor, and I was always taught to focus on my studies with no distractions. I kept my door closed and devoted myself to reading. I never had any interactions with my cousin.”

Li Yaosheng’s interest deepened. “I had someone look into it. Your cousin—oh, wait, she’s not your cousin anymore, is she? She and her parents were adopted into another family, so she has nothing to do with you now. It turns out she wasn’t particularly famous when she was in your family—at most, she was just diligent and capable. But after leaving, she suddenly started cooking all sorts of delicious food, sending her parents to sell them in town, and even gathered a group of village children to teach them to read.”

“What?” Shen Zhong was shocked. “Shen Yunxuan is teaching in the village? And the village head allows it?”

Li Yaosheng narrowed his eyes. “You seem to remember her new name very well. You said you weren’t familiar with her, didn’t you?”

Shen Zhong nearly bit his tongue. He quickly bowed his head and explained, “She hadn’t been formally adopted yet when she changed her name, and I was asked to give my opinion. My elder cousin wanted a similar-sounding name for her daughter, so I helped suggest the name ‘Shen Yunlian.’ That’s why I remember it so well.”

“I see.” Li Yaosheng recalled the beautiful young woman. What intrigued him the most was that the entire Shen family was desperate to cling to the Li family—except for her. She had shown no interest in money or status. It was the first time he had met a girl who neither coveted wealth nor admired his position. He casually asked, “Did your family ever arrange a childhood engagement for her?”

“Huh?” Shen Zhong looked up in shock and met Li Yaosheng’s oppressive gaze. In that instant, he understood.

Since Shen Yunxuan had been adopted into another family, she was no longer part of the Shen clan. That meant they had no say in her future marriage. However, if an engagement had been arranged before her adoption, it would still be binding.

Why was Li Yaosheng asking this? Did he still want to take Shen Yunxuan as a concubine even though she hadn’t entered the Li household?

Shen Zhong’s heart pounded wildly. On one hand, he absolutely did not want Shen Yunxuan to enter the Li family—if she gained power, she would surely suppress him. On the other hand, if she did enter and won Li Yaosheng’s favor, wouldn’t it be better? After all, family feuds never lasted forever. This time, Shen Fu and Wang Xinghua were still alive, meaning he and Shen Yunxuan could work together to maximize their influence in the Li household.

Shen Zhong carefully chose his words. “This humble one… this humble one never asked about such matters. Perhaps I could return home and inquire?”

Li Yaosheng wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer, but he thought Shen Zhong was rather foolish. The fact that he hadn’t outright denied it meant he was somewhat useful. He nodded. “Then go. The sooner, the better.”

A mere village girl—if she amused him, he would bring her in. It wasn’t a big deal.

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