Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 404: Don't argue about this
Originally, he recommended his elder brother-in-law to go to Cangzhou to clean up the mess, but ended up being forced to do so instead. Zhang Shou felt that, although his experience in Cangzhou over the past few months could not be described as full of ups and downs - his elder brother-in-law, who had even experienced an assassination attempt, could be described as full of ups and downs, thrilling and exciting - but leaving the capital and seeing the life of the people with his own eyes also allowed him to gain a lot.
At this moment, he was sitting in Ge Yong's carriage, which the emperor had usually ridden in incognito and which had an ice basin on it on a hot day. He felt that the return journey was much more comfortable than the hard work of rushing here. He even enthusiastically and sincerely advised Ge Yong not to read in a moving vehicle, but he was given several cold stares by the teacher.
"Time is money, and money can't buy time. I don't have as much time as you do, so how can I not seize it? Besides, look at your two future students in the car behind you. They can't put down their books as soon as they get on the car. How can I lose to my disciples?"
Zhang Shou was a little confused. A few days before his departure, he organized a large-scale donation to Wendao Charity School. At the same time, under the witness of Ge Yong, he and Xu Weng discussed the issue of expanding the enrollment of Wendao Charity School in the future. Since it was not easy to reform the county and state schools, he could only start with Wendao Charity School, which was relatively mature in teaching and operation and had a great reputation in Cangzhou.
As for the fact that he had taken two students who were very interested in mathematics and had good talents from Mr. Xu to serve as the second batch of students of Jiuzhang Hall, that was a pleasant surprise. Now, the two students from poor families were studying "Ge's New Edition of Mathematics" in the carriage behind, and they even made the studious old master Ge feel a sense of crisis!
"Teacher, time is precious. Living and learning is an admirable quality, but don't forget that you are not old at all." Zhang Shou flattered Ge Yong. Seeing that Ge Yong was not moved at all, he smiled and said, "I also know that learning has no end. Because of this, I hope that more people can work together to derive mathematics to a new level."
"You're just being lazy!"
Ge Yong ruthlessly exposed Zhang Shou's true nature. He was not embarrassed at all when he met people, but nodded happily. He couldn't help but roll up the book in his hand and knocked Zhang Shou on the head. He still smiled and looked relaxed when he met people, as if he would always look so bright and cheerful. He suddenly didn't know whether he should be angry or helpless.
"You have such good talent, but you just look so lazy."
"The more capable you are, the more work you should do. I don't want to become Brother Zhu who is so busy all the time." Zhang Shou laughed and said without any guilt, "If you hadn't brought me back, I'm afraid that Brother Zhu would have dragged me to help him for a day every day he was in Cangzhou. He is a hardworking person, but I am a lazy person who takes time off when I can. How can we be the same?"
"You're not even twenty yet and you want to take a break? Dream on! If you really want to take a break, I'd suggest taking a boat ride on the canal, but you wouldn't want to!"
Zhang Shou raised the curtains and looked at the sky, then he said calmly, "When you came to Cangzhou before, didn't the emperor suggest that you take the water route because it was too slow, so he sent you a carriage? Now that you are going to the capital this time, given your habit of thrifty manpower and resources, you will definitely not let the carriage return empty, but take the boat yourself."
You don't even let me take advantage of this little advantage, you unworthy disciple!
Ge Yong stared at Zhang Shou in anger, and finally stopped talking. However, when Zhang Shou diligently poured him tea and water to wipe his sweat, the old man's anger finally calmed down, and then he said with a dull look, "I don't like taking a boat, especially the section from Tianjin to Beijing. In the dry season, we often have to use boatmen."
"Even though I know that if the boatmen don't do this, they don't know how to do anything else and will starve to death, I still feel uncomfortable watching people pulling the boat forward. So, whether it's the loom and spinning wheel you came up with before or the other things you are thinking of, I agree with them very much."
"If people can get more output with less effort, that is the direction of progress. Even if some people lose their jobs due to the increasing number of machines, the world is so big that if we try hard, we should be able to find jobs that people can do. Even if one day machines can do all the jobs that people can do, it is not something to be vigilant about."
The old master narrowed his eyes slightly, and then said with some longing: "Nowadays, few people are willing to study mathematics, because it does not help them to be officials or to make a living. But if one day, everyone can have enough food and clothing, officials may not be needed. Then, can't the remaining time be invested in learning?"
Zhang Shou was immediately amused by Ge Yong's beautiful wish. It has to be said that some people pessimistically believe that one day when all material needs are met, human beings will fall into emptiness, but some people are optimistic that once freed from the crisis of survival, human beings will liberate their instincts of learning and exploration, and that will definitely be an era of rapid development.
His view is somewhere in between, but of course, it is too early to think about this now.
However, he did not mind supporting his optimistic teacher. So, after his smiling approval and flattery, Ge Yong's face showed a visible improvement, and then he imagined the beautiful scene of people all over the world studying mathematics together.
Faced with this scene, Zhang Shou really wanted to tell Teacher Ge that hundreds of years later, mathematics would really be ranked as the top basic subject like Chinese, and everyone would have to study for at least nine years (compulsory education), and then study for another three years (high school education). Then, students who chose science and engineering would have to endure at least one year of the horrific baptism of advanced mathematics.
No matter how much the poor students hate this, those with outstanding qualifications and talents will definitely stand out.
Under such an education and selection system, there will definitely be no one who slips through the net!
The teacher and the student were talking at cross purposes in the carriage, looking forward to the future. At dusk that day, they finally arrived in Tongzhou. This was the last stop before entering Beijing. However, when they arrived at the amphibious Luhe Posthouse, Zhang Shou helped Ge Yong, the teacher of the highest rank in the court, get off the carriage. The postmaster who came out to greet them was extremely terrified after learning their identities.
"Ge... Grand Tutor Ge, the post station is full today. The courtyard facing west is occupied by the governor of Zhejiang, the provincial governor of Hubei, and the newly appointed governor of Tianjin. The courtyard facing east is occupied by three imperial inspectors. The other courtyard is occupied by..."
He swallowed hard, and then stammered, "In the other courtyard lives Elder Jiang, who just retired as the Prince's Grand Tutor and returned home... No, Elder Jiang."
This is really a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road!
It was only at this time that Zhang Shou learned that Jiang Ge Lao had actually bowed and stepped down. It can't be said that he was out of touch with the news. Anyway, they were on their way to the capital, and the capital was not in a hurry to inform them of such news. As for running into them here, I'm afraid it was because the former prime minister packed up his bedding and ran away, which was really faster than expected.
Seeing Ge Yong frowning slightly and Zhang Shou not speaking, the postmaster felt sweaty and miserable. Tongzhou Luhe Posthouse is the main road leading to the capital, and it is one of the top three posthouses in the entire northern Zhili. The problem is that there are too many important officials coming and going. Forget about the oil and water. When he welcomes and sees off people, he will be lucky as long as he does not anger these high-ranking old men.
Who would have thought that the former Prime Minister and the current Imperial Tutor, Master Ge, would both appear in his small post station on the same day? Even if Lord Jiang had left office, he would not dare to offend him. Could it be that he had to ask other officials living in the post station to make room for Grand Tutor Ge?
Jiang Ge Lao was very ostentatious, with few family members but a large number of followers. Just because the emperor ordered him to return home , he occupied an entire courtyard! And it was the best courtyard that the Zhejiang Provincial Governor took the lead in giving up!
Seeing that the postmaster was almost crying, Ge Yong turned his head to look at Zhang Shou and asked, "It seems that this post station is really full. What do you think we should do?"
Zhang Shou saw that there were quite a lot of onlookers, including civilians, postmen, and family members of officials staying here. He said calmly, "Teacher is a first-rank imperial tutor, so it is natural that he should stay at the post station, but since it is really full, there is no need to bother. Tongzhou is so big, there will be a place for us to stay."
As he said this, he smiled at Ge Yong and said, "Teacher, it's a rare opportunity for a student like me to show my filial piety. How about we find a century-old hotel in the city to stay in? Last time, I heard from Yingying that there is a century-old hotel with an inn in Tongzhou, and copper pot fish is their specialty."
Seeing that Zhang Shou decided not to argue about this without even thinking about it, Ge Yong nodded in appreciation. He was older than Jiang Ge Lao and had a higher official rank than him. Moreover, although he was now unemployed, because he was from the capital, the emperor would come to see him as his teacher from time to time, while Jiang Ge Lao, who had also retired, had to return home in disgrace. But precisely because of this, there was no need to argue.
He immediately smiled at the terrified postmaster and said, "Forget it if it's full. We can live somewhere else. You don't have to work so hard."
Zhang Shou also nodded slightly to the postmaster, and then helped Ge Yong to get on the carriage. However. Before Ge Yong stepped on the pedal, he heard a voice from behind: "But Grand Tutor Ge and Doctor Zhang? I am Liu Chuan, the governor of Zhejiang. I live with Brother Qing, the governor of Hubei, and Brother Chen, the governor of Tianjin. If Grand Tutor Ge doesn't mind, we can vacate our yard!"
"I appreciate your kindness, but as the old man, first come first served is the rule. It is absolutely not the case that those who came first should be allowed to come later just because their official rank is lower than mine."
Ge Yong first got into the car and said this. Seeing Ah Liu holding the curtain for him, he smiled and said, "It's rare that my student is willing to pay to show his filial piety. I don't want to miss this opportunity. Thank you for your kindness, but it's really not necessary."
Hearing Ge Yong say this, Zhang Shou bowed to the Zhejiang Provincial Governor who had hurried out.
"Mr. Liu, I rarely find such an opportunity to show my courtesy to my teacher. Please don't snatch it from me. I thank you for your kindness. Please also thank Nei Zhongqing Lianfang and Chen Daotai for me."
Liu Buzheng, who had already given up his room once, saw Zhang Shou getting into the carriage with a smile. Immediately afterwards, a dozen guards who looked extremely skilled escorted the carriage and left immediately without any intention of dragging their feet. He didn't know whether they were reluctant or not, but he was very clear that they didn't want to stay any longer. After being stunned for a moment, he took a deep breath and raised his voice suddenly.
"The old Grand Tutor is truly a role model for others. He is humble, modest and tolerant. He is worthy of being a role model for officials of our generation!"
As he took the lead, the surrounding people, the officials who had not dared to show their faces but now hurried to show their faces, and even the postmasters and postmen, all quickly followed suit. Isn't it right to praise an old master who doesn't cause trouble?
After all, in a post station where people come and go and mix, people often argue or even curse over a good room or yard, but rarely can they calmly give up their room when the room is full. But that's Grand Tutor Ge. His qualifications, reputation and official rank are there. If he puts on airs, who dares not give up his place?
In the main room of the south-facing courtyard of the post station, when the former Prime Minister Jiang Ge Lao, who had just retired, learned that Ge Yong and Zhang Shou had left without hesitation after hearing that the post station was full, his already cold face suddenly became even colder.
And when the attendant who reported the news said with a smile on his face that they respected the master's reputation, he finally couldn't help it.
He put down the teacup in his hand heavily and shouted, "Respect my reputation? I am an idle person who is going to retire to my hometown. What reputation can I have for others to respect? If there was only one Zhang Shou, it would be fine. Ge Yong is the Grand Tutor. Does he need me? If it weren't for him backing up Zhang Shou in Cangzhou, would all the criticisms have been suppressed by the emperor?"
Seeing that the attendant was immediately silent, Jiang Ge Lao knew that he had lost his composure, but at this moment, he was too lazy to endure or care. Just as he was about to send him away, he suddenly changed his mind and immediately ordered: "Take a few people to chase the teacher and the student, and tell them that I was honored by the emperor's grace to return home, but I am unworthy of it. How can I be so shameless to occupy the whole courtyard and leave the two envoys with no place to stay."
"Just tell them that I will give up half of the courtyard, and ask Grand Tutor Ge and Doctor Zhang to stay at Luhe Inn!"
The attendant was completely dumbfounded, and immediately looked at the equally surprised staff member beside Jiang Ge Lao. It was this Mr. Sima who had ordered him and the others to watch the excitement from a distance, and if Ge Yong or Zhang Shou got angry about the lack of accommodation at the post station, they should find a way to incite the emotions of the people around them. In the end, this trick was not used at all.
The other person just turned around and left without making any noise! And now, he still has to find a way to invite him back? If he had known this, he would have run out to show his courtesy just like Liu Buzhengshi, at least this way he could sell it well!
Seeing that Mr. Sima didn't say a word, he didn't dare to disobey his master's words, so he quickly agreed and left.
As soon as he left, Jiang Ge Lao said coldly: "If people knew that I, a retired idler, actually forced the emperor's teacher to retreat, those guys would definitely hold on to it again! I didn't expect that Ge Yong would cultivate himself and cultivate his character at his age. He is not humble and tolerant at all. I think he was a real hot-tempered person in the past!"
