Chapter 9: The Death of Qi and the Unavenged Death of Husband

  Small families make a big deal out of trivial matters, while large families settle major issues with ease and handle everything in a businesslike manner.

  Among the admiration of many relatives, Tang Guan finally got through what he thought was a big show-off day, but on the second day, he was woken up early again by old Wang from next door.

  "Master...master...it's time for you to get up"

  "What's wrong again!?" Tang Guan rubbed his sleepy eyes, having stayed up late last night to repeatedly admire the picture of Cui Gong under his bed before finally falling asleep, and was now extremely unwilling to be woken up.

  "Master is here!" Old Wang helped Tang Guan change his clothes with one hand and gestured to him in a low voice.

  Upon hearing this, Tang Guan suddenly came to his senses. "What the...? So fast!" Tang Guan's eyes widened as he felt a stir in his heart, and only then did he notice that there was a long-bearded scholar on the bedside table, flipping through the books on the desk with great relish.

  There was a screen separating them, and Tang Guan only saw the shadow of a person. Old Wang was quite nimble with his hands and feet, and before long he had dressed and sat down in front of the basin to wash up.

  Tang Guan finally had a chance to walk around the screen and saw clearly the gentleman sitting upright, holding a book and shaking his head.

  The master saw Tang Guan approaching, gently put down the book, stroked his beard and said: "Do you know that when the rooster crows, it dances? The Master said: Born without rest?"

  "Get out, can't speak properly, pulling my leg, I know Analects better than you." Tang Guan heard this and didn't show any expression on his face, knowing that Mr. Sour was saying he himself was lazy and gluttonous.

  "Sir, the students have paid their respects to you."

  "This Mr. Long-whiskers, seeing Tang Gun was quite polite, no longer strict, stood up and said: 'I am Guan Shi, you enter my door, if this is a private school, first pay respects to Confucius, then pay respects to me as teacher, that would be the proper way. Now I am your family teacher, so we'll temporarily dispense with that.'"

  "Come on, stop with the fancy words, can't you just speak plainly? Even if I understand what you're saying, don't you think about whether the common workers and peasants will be able to understand?" Tang Guan listened to this Mr. flowery language, feeling somewhat impatient, didn't expect that yesterday was just a casual conversation with Tang Wei Xi, today this Mr. had already arrived.

  But Guan Shi was delighted, seeing Tang's naive face still wooden, he thought it was due to being shocked by his own literary talent, and smiled: "The Master said:..."

  He had just quoted "zi yue" when Tang Guan suddenly stopped him and said, "Sir, zi yue: the past is like this, not letting go of day or night. You can start class now."

  "You...". Guan Shi was scolded by him, and he couldn't help but get angry, but then he suppressed it. Tang Guan looked like a 7 or 8 year old child, and previously he was an idiot, now he didn't know where he learned this sentence from, and he didn't take it seriously, and slowly asked: "Do you know where the phrase 'the deceased is gone' comes from?"

  "Get out, you poor and sour scholar, thinking of testing me?" Tang Guan heard him say this, knowing he wanted to give himself a boost, immediately said without hesitation: "Analects of Confucius, Zihan Chapter 17"

  Guanshi was shocked by the words, and he opened the book in his hand, only to find that it was exactly the same. Just as he was stunned, the door creaked open and a young girl with a pale complexion walked in from outside. Although she was young, her hair was smooth and silky, and her facial features were delicate, like they had been carved with precision. As the saying goes, "people rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles", the girl's specially made light pink dress fit her perfectly.

  Tang Guan's eyes widened as he took in the sight, and he couldn't help but take a sharp breath. "Whoa, who is this!? Is this really the true loli? Was that Huan'er from yesterday my destined bro?"

  The gentleman also looked back and saw the girl's appearance, slightly stunned. Seeing her dressed in a dignified manner, he thought she was a young lady from the mansion and asked: "Little miss, what brings you here?"

  The delicate little girl first went to Tang's side and whispered a word: "Lang Jun", and then bowed to the master, "Xun'er has seen Master".

  Lang Jun let out a loud cry as Tang Guan suddenly rose into the air, only to plummet back down. Hearing the little girl's self-introduction, he couldn't help but be shocked, and then blurted out: "Is it you?"

  Guanshi heard the sound and was very curious. Tang Guan immediately reacted and said: "Sir, this is my sister, she came to accompany me in reading."

  "What nonsense!" Guan Shi heard this and immediately became angry, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

  "Since ancient times, men and women have been different. A woman without talent is virtuous! Get out!" Guan Shi suddenly stood up and scolded Lin Yu Xun.

  Lin Yuxun also took a few steps forward, "Alright, spending money to invite you and yet you still pick on students. If you have the ability, go take the imperial exam, why bother being a teacher here!" Tang Guan immediately became indignant at the sight.

  "Isn't it that without learning one cannot expand one's talent, and without ambition one cannot accomplish learning? You said that a woman with no talent is virtuous, so doesn't that mean the empress today is also a person without talent?"

  Tang Guan stepped forward and directly put a tall hat on Guan Shi's head. Guan Shi was shocked upon hearing this, as it was a matter of beheading, yet he stood there in a daze.

  "Words must be followed by actions! Actions must bear fruit! Sir, isn't it that you have taken our family's money and don't want to teach the students?"

  "You... you! You're just a young whippersnapper who distorts the truth!" Seeing Tang Guan continuously citing classics and canons, Guan Shi was secretly shocked on one hand, while anger rose to his heart on the other.

  Lin Yuxun saw Tang Guan take the blame for herself and couldn't help but turn pale, her mother had just warned her last night not to cause any trouble, yet as soon as she entered the door, she got into trouble without doing anything.

  Tang Crown as a freak who can memorize books, of course, does not need Mr. Labor, he is now considering his own unexplored infinite martial arts talent.

  "Hmph!" Guan Shi flung his sleeve and walked out directly.

  "Sir! Sir!" When Lin Yuxun's father was still alive, their family had also invited a talented woman to teach her reading and writing. Now seeing Tang Guansan chasing away a gentleman, she couldn't help but be surprised, rushing forward and calling out.

  "Xun'er, stop yelling, just leave if you're going to. I'll teach you when I have time," Tang Guan called out to Lin Yuxun nonchalantly.

  Lin Yuxun stopped in her tracks and turned around, saying: "You... you're not my brother"

  Although it's the same retort, compared to Lin Yuxun's current appearance yesterday, the effect is entirely different. The shameless Tang Guanquan must be flirting with a reluctant refusal.

  Physiologically speaking, they are actually children at this age. From the perspective of modern ethics, it is not uncommon for people to get married at the age of 13 or 14 in contemporary times. After all, the current medical level is not as good as that of later generations, and being able to live up to 70 is a rarity since ancient times.

  "You are Father's adopted daughter, I am not your brother, what am I to you?" Tang Guan Gang walked away in anger, and then with a face full of smiles, he teased Lin Yu Xuan.

  "You are the young master of Tang's family" Lin Yuxun was originally a noble lady, never leaving her house, although she had experienced many ups and downs before arriving at the Tang's residence, but her shyness did not decrease, and her words were all soft and gentle.

  This sound actually fell into Tang Guan's ears, but his eyebrows were tightly furrowed. The title of Lang Jun was a respectful term for outsiders, not the flirtatious "Lang Jun" he had seen in TV dramas before.

  "Who told you to call me like that?"

  Tang Guan knew that the little girl was very easy to deceive, so he immediately repeated his old trick and wanted to get some information out of her.

  Kelin Yuxun, however, seemed to have learned her lesson and remained silent no matter what Tang Guan said.

  Tang Guan saw her remaining silent, also a moment of dumb mouth, after a long time before speaking: "You will grind ink, right?"

  Lin Yuxun nodded slightly, and Tang Guan waved his small hand: "Grind the ink!"

  "Sir, what exactly did the child do wrong?"

  "Although you are talented and capable, I, an old man, am unable to teach you anything more." Having said that, he continued on his way with a burst of energy.

  In the hall, Tang Weixi was pulling and tugging at Mr. Guan Shi, who had been driven away by Tang's arrogance. He instructed his servants to hire Mr. Guan overnight, saying that with a large sum of money, they would surely find a brave man. Mr. Guan was originally a private school teacher, and even the young Xie An, a talented scholar from Hangzhou, had learned to read under him.

  "Sir, considering my age, I'd like to say a few words and give some advice to my son!"

  "Tang Yuanwai, I'll ask you one thing, did you let that young girl be a study companion for your son?"

  Tang Weixi was taken aback by his words and nodded immediately.

  "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked!" Guan Shi cursed softly at the sight.

  "You old scoundrel!" Tang Weixi saw Guan Shi directly scolding someone and couldn't help but get angry.

  "Guanshi saw this and coldly smiled saying: 'You this thieving merchant!'"

  "How dare you insult me!" Tang Weixi's eyebrows shot up, as if he had suffered a great indignity.

  "Tang Er! Tang San! Throw this poor old man out for me!"

  Tang Weixi let out a loud shout, and instantly two guards rushed out, holding wooden clubs and wildly striking the stone.

  "What a shame to the literary world! What a shame to the literary world! Tang Dehua, you are rich but not benevolent! You will surely face retribution! I'm going to report you to the authorities!" Guan Shi retreated while covering his head and cursing back.

  " Bah! Both the county magistrate and the vice-magistrate are my disciples, you dare to tell me to report to the authorities? Go ahead and report then!" Tang Weixi rarely lost his composure, having been a refined and courteous man since leaving office and becoming a merchant many years ago. But now he was furious because of his son, showing how deeply concerned he was about protecting him.

  Tang Weixi walked back to the living room with his hands behind his back, and slapped the table heavily. He didn't get much information from Guan Shi, and suspected that the reason lay with Lin Yuhong.

  He immediately got up and stormed towards Tang Guan's study room with a burst of anger.