After Chen Xi finished speaking, he gave Lu Yu a meaningful look. Lu Yu immediately understood and spoke up, "Uncle Wang, I am deeply grateful for your protection, but an eagle must face adversity to soar high. Without trials, how can I restore the glory of the Lu family?"
Wang Lie lowered his head, remaining silent as he pondered this matter. It was clear that Chen Xi possessed a similar ability to his own—they could both see a person's potential. He knew that Lu Yu was best suited for learning political strategy, but politics was the darkest and most corrupting of all disciplines.
"A lotus grows out of the mud but remains unstained, and it bathes in clear water without becoming demonic," Chen Xi said when he saw the deep frown on Wang Lie's face, trying to ease his concerns.
"White sand in the mud turns black," Wang Lie responded, his frown relaxing slightly, though his expression still carried some reluctance.
"Those who yield to their environment and go against their true selves—how can they be called extraordinary talents? Going against the current and pushing forward, just like a sharp sword is forged through honing, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold. I have confidence in this. Does the elder not believe as well?" Chen Xi said with a smile, the sharpness and confidence in his words deeply imprinting themselves in Wang Lie's heart.
"What do you think, Zijia?" Wang Lie turned to look at Lu Yu. In truth, by asking this question, he had already tacitly agreed.
Lu Yu took a deep breath and proudly said, "I, Lu Zijia, believe I can stay true to myself and not be swayed by external influences. After the fall of my family, I must rebuild it with my own hands! How can mere temptations shake my resolve?"
The sharpness radiating from Lu Yu brought a smile to Wang Lie's face. "Very well. Since that's the case, you can take with you what both I and Ciming have given you. Although I haven't taught you much along the way, remember this—while political strategy may not spill blood, when you reach the heights this man has, virtue and vision will serve you better than mere tactics."
Chen Xi couldn't help but be amazed. Wang Lie's relationship with Xun Shuang and Lu Zhi was far stronger than he had imagined. Xun Shuang had even entrusted Wang Lie with his family's most treasured works—original classics from the descendants of Xunzi!
"I... Uncle, which book should I study first?" Lu Yu asked, his gaze fixed on the ground, not daring to meet Wang Lie's eyes.
Chen Xi clearly saw the hint of resignation in Wang Lie's expression. "Study 'strategy' first," Wang Lie sighed deeply, his voice heavy with reluctant acceptance. "Chen Hou, please inform Lord Xuande that Lu Zijia is now under your guidance. As for the notes I made, feel free to print them. Whoever wants to read them, let them."
"Since the elder is willing to entrust the Virtue Classics to me, I won't say more. I noticed earlier that you were interested in establishing an academy. How about using the proceeds from the printed books to fund the construction of your academy?" Chen Xi suggested with a smile. Wang Lie was a true gentleman, a moral exemplar of his time.
"I've never heard of anyone printing books and giving me money for it," Wang Lie replied calmly.
"Your books will surely be collected by aristocratic families as treasures, and the income from that will be more than enough to build an academy," Chen Xi said with a grin. He wasn't joking—while Wang Lie's notes might not surpass the original annotations of the Xun family, his reputation was enough for Chen Xi to make a hefty profit.
"That would be acceptable," Wang Lie nodded. He quickly grasped the situation, though he found the idea of pricing his thoughts somewhat distasteful. However, compared to the prospect of educating more students, he didn't mind that small stain.
"Actually, you could also consider renovating this residence," Chen Xi suggested with a smile. "We can advance you some funds. The man behind me, the Chancellor of Qi, will surely allow it, right, Xiaozhi?"
"No problem. This courtyard is too small and lacks the necessary facilities, like eight proper classrooms for thirty students each, a basic library, a proper storage room, and even an exercise area. The entire courtyard needs to be expanded fivefold," Fazheng commented calmly, listing the standard features Chen Xi had designed for academies, all of which required substantial funds.
Wang Lie was speechless. The cost of all that would be significant, and he couldn't help but look at Chen Xi.
"It's affordable, very simple. Once it's built, and if it passes our inspection, you'll receive foundational books for the library, along with some specialized books, and finally, books of your choice for the academy," Chen Xi explained with a smile.
These conditions were designed to attract small local clans and landowners. These families often had some money, and the cost of building an academy wasn't an issue. They could even repurpose one or two courtyards for it. What they lacked was heritage—books. The option to choose their own books was prepared specifically for them!
Chen Xi didn't have enough time to devote entirely to the spread of education. Once Taishan County's education was up and running, and the collected data remained within the range calculated by Liu Ye and Lu Su, Chen Xi would roll out the plan on a larger scale, inevitably involving the local clans.
"Very well," Wang Lie nodded in agreement. "Then I leave it to you, Chancellor of Qi."
"Elder, may I take a look at your work?" Chen Xi asked after some thought. He was sure that Wang Lie's version would differ from the original, likely emphasizing virtue.
Wang Lie called over the young girl who had opened the door for Chen Xi and his group earlier. She quickly ran inside, returning with nine bamboo scrolls and a paper book. The bamboo scrolls were clearly heavy for the little girl, so Chen Xi hurriedly stepped forward to help, taking the scrolls from her.
"Hey, do you think Zichuan is into that sort of thing?" Fazheng whispered.
"Highly unlikely, it's just compassion. I'd say it's more of a habit, like how Zichuan treats maids," Zhuge Liang replied with a glance at Fazheng.
"You two take a look as well," Chen Xi said, handing a scroll each to Fazheng and Zhuge Liang before diving into his own reading. After a while, the three of them looked up at each other, realizing that the person who wrote these scrolls was indeed a paragon of virtue. His actions were those of an ordinary person, not elevated to the level of a sage. But precisely because he was a real person, his writings had depth and warmth, resonating deeply with them.
"What do you think, Xiaozhi?" This time, Chen Xi didn't ask Zhuge Liang but looked directly at Fazheng.
Fazheng pondered for a while before answering, "The foundation is your harmony, followed by studying this."
Chen Xi nodded, agreeing with Fazheng's assessment. "Since we're in agreement, I'll propose that we make this book a required study upon our return to Taishan. Our primary goal is to establish virtue. With food, clothing, and shelter gradually being addressed, once virtue is established, our future path will be much smoother!"