TTLJDFL chapter 23

Li Jin playfully held the little baozi for a while, but the child kept a stiff expression. As soon as Li Jin returned him to Qin Muwen’s arms, the baozi immediately burst into laughter.

Qin Muwen: “???”

Li Jin didn’t feel particularly upset about it. As a doctor, he knew this was purely a newborn’s instinctive attachment… no, attachment to their father.

But seeing his own kid be so uncooperative with him? That was really the first time he’d encountered it.

Li Jin laughed as he pushed his wet hair back, saying, “That was a quick change of face.”

It was obviously a teasing remark, and after saying it, he got ready to practice his calligraphy.

Earlier, when he wrote that ‘petition,’ Li Jin felt he had been a bit impulsive, but he didn’t regret it.

No matter what, it was those guys’ fault for insulting others with harsh words.
Besides, even if they apologize later, it wouldn’t really affect their normal lives anyway.

At most, it was just to let them know that Qin Muwen was no longer someone they could reach.

Just because of this matter, Li Jin could not be complacent in this round of the Tongsheng exam and had to study with all his might. So, he picked up his pen and began to rewrite ‘Shengyu Guangxun¹[Shengyu Guangxun (聖諭廣訓) translates from Chinese to English as ‘The Extensive Teachings of the Holy Edict’ ].’

Although it was dark now, it was still early to go to sleep. Baozi had eaten and slept enough, and was acting spoiled in the boy’s arms. The boy saw Baozi being so disrespectful to his father and worried that Li Jin might get angry.

So, he watched Li Jin’s back a bit nervously, opening his mouth but not knowing how to explain.

he young man could tell that Li Jin genuinely cared for the child, but Baozi, this kid, really didn’t know who the head of the family was, acting so boldly toward his father …

Before the young man could figure out what was going on, Li Jin had already finished writing out a copy of the ‘Shengyu Guangxun’. He took the scroll to the bedside.

With clear and handsome features and a high nose bridge, he said, “Come, father must read the ‘Shengyu Guangxun’ to you. After listening, you must know how to honor your father.”

Qin Muwen: “……”

Li Jin spoke these words, but the person he was staring at was the young boy. His lips moved open and closed, not as slowly as most people do when reading.

The tone rose and fell naturally, his voice like a clear mountain spring. Each pause in his sentences was perfectly timed, so even someone who hadn’t read the book could roughly understand a bit of it.

Qin Muwen never imagined that he would actually blush while listening to A Jin read.

Li Jin’s eyelashes were quite long, but not curled. As he lowered his gaze, they blocked the faint yellow candlelight, making his eyes look even deeper.

Qin Muwen finally felt completely at ease; Ajin didn’t seem upset at all by Baozi’s actions.

He quietly got out of bed and adjusted the wick of the oil lamp to make it burn brighter.

He realized that Li Jin, while seeming capable of doing some chores like laundry and cooking, was careless in many things.

For example, if the oil lamp burned for a long time, the wick would soften in the oil and wouldn’t be as bright as before.

Li Jin frowned because of this, not realizing that as long as he flicked the wick a little, the lamp would shine brightly again.

After doing these things, the young man went back to the bed himself, leaning on the inner side of the bed, watching Li Jin.

By the time Li Jin had finished reciting ‘Shengyu Guangxun’ from memory, the young man had already fallen asleep leaning against the head of the bed.

Li Jin washed his hands, moved him into the bed, took off his own coat, and sank into a sweet dream.

=

Since the boy had become more nimble in his movements, in the mornings when Li Jin woke up to feed the child, he would go and make breakfast.

After finishing the meal, Li Jin said, “It’s still early today. Which shops in town did you get those pouches and handkerchiefs from? I’ll deliver them for you.”

The boy immediately told Li Jin the address: “A wealthy family that recently moved into town, surname Chen. Their residence is over by West Street.”

Li Jin thought that in ancient times, people with a good reputation would add a plaque above the door, writing ‘X Residence.’

If the person held high rank and power, it would even be called ‘Duke of the Nation’s Residence,’ ‘Prime Minister’s Residence,’ and so on.

This also made it easier to find someone.

Li Jin said, “Coincidentally, my school is over there too, so I know the way.”

=

Li Jin realized that the more he walked the road from the village to the town, the faster he went.

He arrived at the master’s doorstep today just after eight o’clock. Of course, this was partly because he had gotten up early.

As luck would have it, the Chen family’s residence was the second house next door to the master’s.

Li Jin didn’t go through the main gate; instead, he found the side entrance that the maid Xiao Si²[Xiǎo sī (小厮) means a young male servant, page, or servant boy in traditional Chinese society] usually used and knocked on the door.

To his surprise, the one who opened the door was a young master dressed in fine clothes.

The man looked wealthy, slightly chubby, and was wearing moon-white silk clothes, which made him look even fatter.

“Who are you looking for?”

Li Jin gave a slight bow and said, ‘My husband previously took on some sewing work from your residence, and this time I came to specially return the finished pouches.”

The young master, Chen Xiran, felt a bit doubtful when he heard Li Jin say this.

The person in front of me was clearly wearing a scholar’s robe, and there was also a scholarly vibe about him. How could someone like that have their family doing needlework?

In Chen Xiran’s eyes, scholars were usually pretty well-off. The few young guys he had met recently in town could casually pull out a few taels of silver each.

That was enough to feed a rural family for several months.

“Where’s the pouch you mentioned? I need to see the pouch before I let you in.”

Li Jin untied the back basket, lifted the bamboo leaf wrapping and the copied ”Shengyu Guangxun’ on top, and only then did the pouch underneath become visible.

The young master picked up a pouch, and seeing that it was indeed embroidered with the Chen estate, he stepped back to let Li Jin in.

He casually called out to a man, saying, “The pouches and handkerchiefs, give him the money.”

Then he paid no attention to Li Jin and let the two kids lying behind the rock continue writing.

“Hurry up and write, Mr. Song is about to start class, and I need to check before class!”

Upon hearing this, Li Jin raised an eyebrow. Mr. Song… could it be that this person is a new disciple of Mr. Song?

However, he didn’t think much of it, took the twenty-four wen, thanked them, and left.

Although Mr. Song explained the main content of the ‘Shengyu Guangxun’ to him yesterday, he still found that there were parts he could not understand when he was reading by himself in the evening.

Since this chapter has been discussed recently, it would be best to thoroughly grasp it all at once.

Today, the door was again opened by Mr. Song’s son. The child saw Li Jin and said, “Brother Li Jin, you came so early.”

Then he led Li Jin into the study, and coincidentally, Mr. Song was also practicing calligraphy there.

He looked up at Li Jin, then continued practicing calligraphy, saying, “Have you memorized the ‘Shengyu Guangxun’?”

Li Jin replied, “I have memorized it.”

“Then recite it for me.”

From ancient times to the present, the habit of teachers liking to test their students has never changed.

Li Jin started reciting from the beginning, speaking at an even pace with appropriate pauses. Halfway through, Mr. Song interrupted, “Chapter seven, second paragraph, start reciting.”

Li Jin thought to himself that fortunately he had a general understanding of the content of this piece, which made it easier for him to remember deeply.

He hardly paused and then continued with the second paragraph of Chapter Seven.

Mr. Song, seeing him finish reciting, said, “Paragraph Four of Chapter Five.”

“Paragraph Six of Chapter Six.” Finally, Li Jin finished reciting, and Mr. Song had just finished writing the text.

He laughed heartily, “This child is teachable!”

Li Jin, feeling thirsty and dry-mouthed, said, “You flatter me, sir.”

Mr. Song then said, “Being able to memorize this much in one night shows that you indeed put in effort.”

He got up and pulled another book from the bookshelf, handing it to Li Jin.

“This is the annotated ‘Shengyu Guangxun’ that I used when I took the Tongsheng exam back in the day. It contains insights from both my teacher and myself. You read it first, and when you’re done, I’ll explain anything you don’t understand after class.”

Li Jin hurriedly took it with both hands and thanked him. So it turned out that Mr. Song wanting him to recite it yesterday was actually a test for himself.

Although he didn’t realize it was a test, as a serious and diligent medical student, he still memorized all of it.

He didn’t expect that the teacher would directly give him such a generous gift.

Li Jin carefully copied the notes onto his own paper, and the parts he didn’t understand before suddenly became clear.

However, the annotations in this book are obviously in two different fonts. The first type of ink is a bit light, and it looks like it was left by Mr. Song’s teacher.

The second type is in a popular style, very similar to Mr. Song’s own recent handwriting. This is probably Mr. Song adding his own understanding while studying his teacher’s books.

Thinking this way, Li Jin wasn’t stuck on just the few notes Mr. Song wrote; he even added his own thoughts.

It’s just a pity that he could only add his own thoughts in ‘farming and mulberry,’ and had to recite what Mr. Song wrote in other areas.

Since he wasn’t a native of ancient times, although he’d adapted quite a bit over these days, some customs and habits still Baffled him.

This book, ‘Shengyu Guangxun’, ironically ended up becoming his introductory guide to understanding the spirit in this era.

Li Jin wrote for an hour, then put down his brush, stood up straight, and stretched his muscles.

He is still young now, so bending over like this is fine, but when he gets older, he will definitely have some hunchback.

Li Jin doesn’t want to be hunched over when he gets old, so he both writes and stretches his muscles.

Taking a short break in between, reviewing what he just wrote in his mind, isn’t really slacking off.

By the time Mr. Song finishes class, Li Jin has already written down all the annotations.

Although he can remember six tenths of what he sees in one glance, with a few more readings he can remember almost everything.

But a good memory is no match for a worn-out pen; if he doesn’t review regularly, he will forget.

He has to rely on these notes to take the Tongsheng exam next February.
Mr. Song pushed the door open, bringing someone along.

Li Jin straightened up and looked; he looked familiar.

Isn’t this the person from the Chen household who delivered the pouch this morning?

Mr. Song, holding a wooden ruler, eyes wide, said, “Hold out your hand.”

Chen Xiran stretched out his chubby little hand, and Mr. Song brought down the ruler: “This is for punishing you for trying to cut corners and having someone else copy the books for you.”

Chen Xiran gasped in pain.

Another strike of the ruler left his palm red. “This is for punishing you for deceiving the teacher in class and talking nonsense.”

Chen Xiran was hit twice and hurriedly begged for mercy: “Sir, I was wrong. I will never do it again.”

Mr. Song withdrew the ruler and said, “If you make the same mistake again, I will call your father. Your father might use the military rod directly.”

Chen Xiran: “……”​

• 1
  [Shengyu Guangxun (聖諭廣訓) translates from Chinese to English as ‘The Extensive Teachings of the Holy Edict’ ]
• 2
  [Xiǎo sī (小厮) means a young male servant, page, or servant boy in traditional Chinese society]