Chapter 15: Silver Notes

When he said this, the people around him all nodded in agreement. These were all familiar faces, sons of families from Hangzhou, each with some background, and naturally looked down on those from the countryside. The one who spoke was the son of the Hangzhou assistant magistrate, named Xia Ziqi, a notable figure among them.

Pan Yu, of course, saw through their thoughts. Normally, he wouldn’t care, but hearing them speak ill of Xu Xian, he couldn’t help but sneer inwardly: You all call yourselves romantic for whoring and sleeping with prostitutes, and call yourselves talents for reciting a few crooked verses. Xu Xian’s courage and talent are beyond your judgment.

But on the surface, he only smiled, “Brother Xia, that’s not quite right. Everyone has their own preferences; you can’t force it.”

Even someone as skilled at reading people as Xia Ziqi couldn’t see through Pan Yu’s smile, but he knew Pan Yu never spoke ill of others behind their backs, so he thought he’d struck the right note and felt pleased.

A bell rang “dang”signaling class time. The scholars filed into the hall. Xu Xian turned and gave Pan Yu a slight smile; their seats were next to each other.

The teacher on the dais looked only about forty, but he was lecturing on the Confucian classic, The Analects (Lunyu). Though this book was the core of Confucianism, every student present had read it since childhood and could recite it by heart.

But this was no ordinary teacher, he taught at the official academy. If at first there was any disdain, as his voice rose and fell, the deep meanings of Confucian doctrine gradually became clear, and the students felt as if waking from a dream, suddenly enlightened. The principles they thought they’d mastered before seemed laughable by comparison.

Xu Xian also sighed inwardly. Though it was ancient times, the level of education was truly high. If you just looked at Confucian learning, the professors of his previous life were nothing compared to this teacher.

There had been countless critics of Confucius and Confucianism in his previous life, but most had never even read The Analects, let alone truly understood the classics. But then, there were too many fake Confucians and pedants in the world; by the Qing dynasty, the court was full of sycophants, and the true meaning of Confucianism was long lost. No wonder Lu Xun called benevolence and righteousness “man-eating.”

As a transmigrator, Xu Xian couldn’t fully agree with the ancients, but it made him put away his contempt and truly respect these teachings, not for fame, but because the talk of benevolence and righteousness resonated with his own heart.

After the class, Xu Xian still felt unsatisfied, thinking if all his past teachers had been this good, there’d be no education problem. But then he remembered,Jintian Academy gathered the resources of an entire province to teach just a few dozen people a year; no famous modern school could compare.

As Xu Xian was packing up to leave, a voice called, “Brother Xu, please wait.”

Xu Xian turned to see a refined young man waving at him. He vaguely remembered seeing him at the banquet yesterday, but he’d been too busy eating and drinking to notice. “And you are?”

Xia Ziqi felt a twinge of annoyance but still smiled, “Xia Ziqi.”

Xu Xian cupped his hands in greeting. “Brother Xia, what can I do for you?”

“Xu Xian, this is Young Master Xia, son of the assistant magistrate of Hangzhou!” Wang An reminded him.

“My father is indeed the assistant magistrate, but Brother Xu can just call me Ziqi.” Xia Ziqi remained polite, but couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes.

Xu Xian blinked. “Ziqi, then. What is it? Hurry up, I’m starving!”

Pan Yu, watching from the side, almost burst out laughing, so blunt!

A flash of annoyance crossed Xia Ziqi’s face, but he managed to smile. “Could we speak in private? If you help me, I’ll treat you to a feast at Tingyue Tower.” Xu Xian, though new, already knew Tingyue Tower by reputation, it was the most famous restaurant and brothel in Hangzhou, the top place for drinking and entertainment.

Xu Xian grinned, “Sounds good. I never eat the best, only the most expensive.” Xia Ziqi felt contempt, but Pan Yu’s amusement only deepened.

They went to a quiet spot. Xia Ziqi made a deep bow: “Brother Xu, I beg you to help me.” He expected Xu Xian to rush to help, but was disappointed.

Xu Xian stroked his chin, eyeing Xia Ziqi. “Ziqi, just say it.”

Xia Ziqi felt blocked, but forced a smile and straightened up. “Mingyu and I have been friends since childhood. I wanted to room with him at the academy, but fate didn’t allow it. I’d like to swap rooms with you. I promise you’ll be repaid in the future, please agree.”

The assistant magistrate was a big official in Hangzhou, but nothing compared to the famous Pan family. Xia Ziqi wanted to latch onto Pan Yu for the sake of his own future, but was annoyed that a country bumpkin got lucky. He thought his status and a small favor would settle it.

But Xu Xian was a man of two lifetimes, he could see Xia Ziqi’s arrogance. Coming from a modern society that valued equality, he found it laughable. Especially in school, the richer you were, the more you hid it to blend in. If you went around bragging about your family, you’d end up alone.

Xu Xian sighed, “I admire Mingyu too. Looks like I won’t get to eat at Tingyue Tower; better stick to the cafeteria!” He shook his head in mock regret and turned to leave.

“Brother Xu, wait, this is a small token, please reconsider.” Xia Ziqi pulled out a banknote.

Xu Xian saw it was a three-hundred tael silver note. He marveled, his sister had raised him for years and probably hadn’t spent that much, and this young master was offering it just to swap beds.

Xia Ziqi thought Xu Xian was wavering and, feeling even more contempt, pulled out another two-hundred tael note. Five hundred taels, enough to make even him wince, but for his future, he’d pay it.

Xu Xian looked at the five-hundred tael notes with interest. “Ziqi, that’s some nerve. But tell me, how much did Mingyu’s banquet cost yesterday?”

Xia Ziqi was confused, but since he needed a favor, he answered, “At least a hundred taels.”

Xu Xian clapped and laughed, “Anyone can buy gold, but a golden touch is better. Mingyu is so generous, if I stick with him, I’ll eat and drink for free. Isn’t that better?”

Xia Ziqi trembled with rage. He’d seen shameless people, but never one so brazen. He barely stopped himself from cursing as Xu Xian walked away, his silver notes crumpled in his hand. When he came to his senses, he wailed, “My silver notes!”

Xu Xian walked away, thinking about lunch. As he turned the corner, a tall figure stood there. Xu Xian looked up, Pan Yu was smiling at him.

“Mingyu, let’s eat! I hear the cooks here are Sichuan masters!” The academy had its own dining hall.

But Pan Yu dragged Xu Xian outside. “Let’s eat out!”

Xu Xian was puzzled. “Eating out every day, you’re not afraid of going broke?”

Pan Yu sighed theatrically, “I have to make your five hundred taels worth it, don’t I? If I don’t let you eat your fill, how could I live with myself?”

Xu Xian blushed. “You, you were eavesdropping?”

Pan Yu tapped his ear, grinning, “Did you forget? I know martial arts. Within a hundred paces, I can hear a mosquito.” It was true, but she’d only heard because she was focusing her energy.

Xu Xian scratched his head. “I was joking. Let’s just eat in.”

Pan Yu sighed, “So I’m only worth five hundred taels? If Ziqi had offered more, you’d have sold me off!”

Xu Xian joked back, “I got my Zhu Yingtai, why let Ma Wencai have her for nothing?”

Pan Yu was puzzled. “Who are Zhu Yingtai and Ma Wencai?”

Xu Xian slapped his forehead. That classic love story hadn’t happened yet! “Tonight, I’ll tell you. I guarantee you’ll be in tears.”

Pan Yu nodded, not asking further, thinking: “In tears? You don’t know how many years it’s been since I cried.”