Chapter 71 Mountain Home Hearth 71

Chapter 71: Hearth and Home in the Mountains

"What could Qin Rongshi say?"

"What more could Qin Rongshi say?"

He had already seen through it all.

Xu Xing excelled in his studies, and the masters favored him, naturally inclining them to believe him. Without irrefutable evidence, anything Qin Rongshi said would be futile.

He lowered his gaze and said softly, "I suppose Xu didn’t do it on purpose. You must be more careful next time."

Hearing this, Xie Baozhu immediately bristled, opening his mouth to retort, but Qin Rongshi firmly gripped his wrist, silencing him. Master He, oblivious to the gesture, nodded with satisfaction, seemingly pleased with Qin Rongshi’s apparent reasonableness.

But Qin Rongshi quickly added, "However, the Riding and Archery Master has yet to teach mounted archery. For Xu to recklessly practice on his own not only disregards his own safety but also endangers his fellow students. Today it was me, but who knows who it might be tomorrow? As the saying goes, 'A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.' Brother Xu’s actions are hardly those of a gentleman."

Even the Riding and Archery Master nodded vigorously, exclaiming, "Precisely! Precisely! I haven’t taught it yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

Xie Baozhu also puffed out his chest, chiming in, "Exactly! You haven’t even learned to crawl, yet you’re trying to run! Xu Xing, I never knew you were so obsessed with archery and horsemanship!"

Xu Xing was left speechless: "I…"

Qin Rongshi didn’t give him a chance to explain, immediately continuing, "Dean, Xu may not have done it on purpose. But such behavior is still improper. If it’s handled lightly, I fear other students might follow his example."

Master He: "But…"

Master He felt protective of his prized student, but Qin Rongshi’s words were undeniably sound.

He accepted that Xu Xing hadn’t acted intentionally, but Qin Rongshi kept emphasizing Xu Xing’s unauthorized horseback archery. As the victim, the Dean naturally had to offer some consolation.

Sure enough, Dean Lin nodded with his hands clasped behind his back and said, "You make a valid point."

"Xu Xing," Dean Lin called his name, then turned to look at him. "Whether you intended it or not, Qin Xuesheng was injured because of you. You will be responsible for all his medical expenses during his recovery."

"The Simu Wall in the academy has been old and discolored for many years. Additionally, you are punished to reflect on your mistakes at the Simu Wall after classes end, for one month, and to repaint the inscriptions on the wall."

Upon entering Luming Academy via the stone steps of Luming Mountain, the first thing one sees beyond a bamboo grove is a tall stone wall. The wall is about two zhang high and over three zhang long, named "Simu Wall" after the principle of "Do not be willful, do not be inflexible, do not be stubborn, do not be self-centered."

It bears the decades-long history of Luming Academy, the biographies of outstanding students over the years, and the academy’s rules—totaling over twenty thousand characters.

The text is carved into the stone wall and painted with black ink. Repainting the entire wall would take a considerable amount of time.

Moreover… that area sees heavy foot traffic—students, masters, and laborers cleaning the academy all pass by there. Having Xu Xing punished there, under public scrutiny, would be more embarrassing than a physical punishment.

Xu Xing was horrified and tried to plead: "Dean!"

Even Master He said, "Dean, isn’t this punishment too severe?"

Dean Lin raised a hand to cut him off, his expression turning stern, and said with his hands clasped behind his back, "You think it’s severe because Qin Xuesheng’s injury is minor. What if he had been permanently disabled, unable to take the imperial exams, or even lost his life? Would you still think the punishment too severe?"

"Master He, you are a master to all students at Luming Academy, not just Xu Xing’s! Do not show favoritism!"

This was the first time Dean Lin had spoken to him so harshly. Master He’s expression changed, and he said nothing more. Xu Xing was even more terrified, his face pale, not daring to utter another word of explanation or plea.

Dean Lin sighed softly and looked at Qin Rongshi. "Qin Xuesheng, what do you think?"

Since it was the Dean’s decision, Qin Rongshi could only agree.

But Xie Baozhu interjected at that moment, muttering under his breath, "Dean, why don’t you ask me! Look at my face—bruised and swollen! He should compensate me too! Pay me!"

Xie Baozhu didn’t need the money.

But Xu Xing came from a farming family; every coin counted, and Xie Baozhu wanted him to feel the pinch!

Dean Lin glanced at Xie Baozhu and nodded. "Hmm, reasonable, quite reasonable. He should compensate."

Xu Xing was unwilling and finally voiced his dissatisfaction: "Dean, he whipped my hand! This injury is worse than the one on his face! Shouldn’t he compensate for that?"

Master He also said, "Xie Baozhu! This is too much! How could you strike his hand! And his right hand at that! If it leaves a hidden injury, how will Xu Xing write in the future?"

Xie Baozhu laughed in anger, discarding any pretense of respect, and said sarcastically, "Master He, you’re too biased! You have so much to say now, but why weren’t you worried about Qin Rongshi’s leg having a hidden injury that might prevent him from taking the imperial exams?"

Master He was so angry he bristled, immediately scolding, "How dare you! Who taught you to speak to a master like that!"

Dean Lin rubbed his throbbing temple and said impatiently, "Enough!"

He first looked at Xie Baozhu and said mildly, "Do not disrespect your masters."

Then he turned to Master He, his tone sharper. "If a student is dissatisfied, you should first reflect on whether you’ve done something wrong. 'If a man is upright, he will be followed without an order; if he is not upright, he will not be obeyed even with an order.' As a teacher, if you fail to lead by example… you, enough, say no more!"

Being reprimanded in front of the students, Master He felt both ashamed and embarrassed. Seeing the Dean was truly angry, he dared not speak again, lowering his head and shrinking back like a quail.

Meanwhile, Xu Xing still wanted to say more.

He was indignant!

Paying Qin Rongshi was one thing, but why should he pay Xie Baozhu! He didn’t need the money! And Xu Xing’s injury was worse!

But before he could speak, Xie Baozhu rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.

"If he hadn’t deliberately stayed on the horse, who would have hit him? Who knows if he did it on purpose? Maybe he was just trying to stall."

He had indeed hit upon Xu Xing’s ulterior motive. Xu Xing had indeed thought that at the time, planning to delay Xie Baozhu so that Qin Rongshi, alone on the frenzied horse, might fall and be severely injured—or worse.

His sinister thoughts exposed by Xie Baozhu, Xu Xing’s face turned pale. He dared not argue further, afraid the Dean and masters would investigate deeply.

He fell silent, and the Dean nodded in agreement, adding, "Xu Xing’s hand is indeed injured…"

Xu Xing’s eyes widened slightly, waiting expectantly for the Dean to continue.

Dean Lin: "Recovery for your hand will take time. You shall have one extra month to complete the repainting of the wall."

Xu Xing: "...Yes."

Qin Rongshi, who had remained silent until then, added, "The Dean’s consideration is thorough, and I find it very fair. However, I have one more request."

Dean Lin: "Speak."

Qin Rongshi: "Xu and I share a dormitory. Given the current unpleasantness, continuing to room together would be awkward. I request the Dean’s permission to change dormitories."

Dean Lin sighed but finally nodded in agreement. He then summoned the page boy Wu Tong and asked which dormitories had vacant beds.

Before Wu Tong could answer, Li Anyuan happened to enter with the physician, just in time to hear the question.

Li Anyuan led the physician in, scratched his head, and replied, "Dean, I live alone. If Qin doesn’t mind, he could move in with me."

Li Anyuan, accustomed to poverty, spent every night either copying books or writing letters, staying up very late. Other students found him disruptive to their sleep and were unwilling to share a room with him.

Dean Lin opened his mouth to speak but then glanced at Qin Rongshi, who happened to nod at Li Anyuan and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble you to look after me from now on, Fellow Student Li."

Li Anyuan chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head as he nodded.

Xie Baozhu rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "Oh, enough you two! The doctor has been standing here for a while! Qin Rongshi, hurry and let the doctor check your foot!"

At Xie Baozhu’s words, the other teachers suddenly snapped to attention and quickly made way, inviting the doctor to examine the injury.

Everyone was tense, except for Xu Xing, who looked displeased, his face dark as he stared silently at Qin Rongshi.

He only wished for the doctor to say that the injury was severe, that it would leave lasting damage and turn Qin Rongshi into a cripple—that would make him happy.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he hoped.

The doctor’s diagnosis was similar to that of the equestrian instructor. He prescribed some medicated oil for application and carefully gave instructions before finally taking his fee and leaving.

Seeing that the doctor also said there was no serious issue, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief, especially the equestrian instructor, whose tense shoulders finally relaxed.

Dean Lin offered a few more words of comfort to Qin Rongshi and instructed the attendant Wutong to bring over some items—food, essentials, paper, ink, and brushes—as a gesture of consolation.

Afterward, the Dean left with the teachers, leaving only Qin Rongshi, Xu Xing, and the others in the dormitory.

With the teachers gone, Xu Xing’s displeasure was fully visible, unadorned.

He sat at his desk, opened a book, and began reading, then said sarcastically, "If Fellow Student Qin is moving, he should hurry up and do it! Don’t disturb people’s rest too late!"

Late?

How was it late?

By the usual class schedule, it wasn’t even time for dismissal yet.

Xie Baozhu shot him a glare, then turned to Qin Rongshi and said, "I’ll help you move! Where are your things? I’ll help you pack! What a dump—who’d want to stay here anyway? It’s dirtying the soles of my shoes!"

True to his word, he walked over to the other desk and began packing the books, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, all the while glaring at Xu Xing beside him, his eyes like daggers aimed at Xu Xing’s shoulders, as if he wished to poke several large holes in him.

Xu Xing, however, was thick-skinned and remained unmoved despite Xie Baozhu’s repeated glares, sitting steadily and continuing to read.

Seeing Xie Baozhu start working, Li Anyuan also rolled up his sleeves to help, saying, "Let me help too, let me help too."

The two of them packed up all of Qin Rongshi’s belongings. When Qin Rongshi tried to get up and help, Xie Baozhu pushed him back down, joking, "Don’t push yourself! Be careful you don’t really become a cripple!"

Qin Rongshi opened his mouth to say something but didn’t know what, so he could only watch his two classmates work. After a long silence, he finally said, "Thank you, both of you."

Xie Baozhu and Li Anyuan didn’t say anything more, each busy packing. Qin Rongshi didn’t have many things, so they finished quickly and then helped him leave the dormitory where he had lived for less than two months.

Only after the door closed did they hear the sound of books being thrown inside—clearly, Xu Xing was expressing his displeasure.

Xie Baozhu’s eyes widened, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge back in, angrily saying, "Hey! Who does he think he’s slamming books and tables for? I’ve had enough of his attitude!"

Li Anyuan quickly stopped him, whispering, "Let’s first take Fellow Student Qin back to his room. His foot is still injured; he shouldn’t stand for too long."

Hearing Li Anyuan’s words, Xie Baozhu let out a heavy sigh, turned back to Qin Rongshi, and supported him, suppressing his anger as he said, "Fine. I have plenty of ways to deal with him. It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow."

Young Master Xie’s methods were simple but satisfying: he just paid a couple of thugs to ambush Xu Xing on his way home, put a sack over his head, and beat him up.

It was best to do it when it was dark and hard to see, avoiding vital areas and focusing on thick, fleshy spots, punching and kicking until he was bruised and swollen.

Xu Xing suspected it was him but had no proof and couldn’t do anything about Young Master Xie.

After beating him up, Young Master Xie felt much better.

Back to the present, he and Li Anyuan helped Qin Rongshi move to his new dormitory.

Li Anyuan was neat and tidy, keeping his room orderly and sweeping it daily, with not a speck of dust on the floor.

He helped Qin Rongshi inside, pulled out his own chair to seat him, then scratched his head sheepishly and said, "This is my dormitory. I hope you don’t mind, Fellow Student Qin."

Qin Rongshi looked around—it was clean and tidy. He smiled and nodded, replying, "Fellow Student Li keeps the room very well."

This was Young Master Xie’s first time in Li Anyuan’s dormitory, and he found everything curious. Finally, he spotted a sewing basket and laughed, "Li Anyuan, you’re so handy!"

Li Anyuan looked a bit embarrassed, his ears turning red, but he spoke frankly without hesitation.

"I make socks for the students of Mingde Academy. I earn fifteen coppers per pair."

Socks.

Young Master Xie, who didn’t even wash his own socks, marveled at this. He tugged at his robe, pointing to a torn opening on his shoulder, and said, "Can you mend this? Preferably so it looks like there’s no patch!"

"This robe was newly made by my mother this year. She and my father are coming to Fushui Town at the end of the month to check the accounts. If she sees my clothes torn, she’ll definitely give me an earful!"

The tear was from when he had held Qin Rongshi while falling off the horse on the back hill, scraped by the gravel on the ground.

Li Anyuan leaned in, stood on tiptoe to examine the tear on Young Master Xie’s shoulder, and seriously studied the torn fabric.

He said, "I can mend it, but it’ll be troublesome. For your sake, Fellow Student Xie, I’ll only charge you twenty coppers."

Xie Baozhu: "Deal! I’d give you forty coppers if you want!"

The two bantered and joked, while Qin Rongshi watched them, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.

He had smiled at Young Master Xie and Li Anyuan before, but those smiles had been polite and perfunctory. This time, it was genuinely from the heart.