Chapter Fifteen: Silver Bills

  As soon as he said this, several people next to him nodded in agreement. These people were all familiar with each other and were young masters from Hangzhou City, with some family background, so they naturally looked down on these country bumpkins. The person who spoke was the son of the Hangzhou judge, named Xia Ziqi, a notable figure among this group.

  Pan Yu didn't know what these people were thinking, and usually he wouldn't have thought much of it. But now that he heard them speaking ill of Xu Xian, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart: You guys who frequent brothels and compose crooked poems dare to call yourselves romantic heroes? Xu Xian's courage and talent are not something you can evaluate.

  But on the surface, he just smiled and said: "Brother Xia's words are wrong, personal preferences are different, can't be forced."

  Even someone as skilled at reading people like Xia Ziqi couldn't guess what Pan Yu was thinking behind her smile, but he also knew that Pan Yu never spoke ill of others behind their backs. He thought he had coincidentally aligned with Pan Yu's thoughts and couldn't help but feel pleased with himself.

  The bell rang, and it was time for class. The students poured in, and Xu Xian turned to Pan Yu with a faint smile; their seats were also adjacent.

  The husband on the stage looks like he's in his forties, but what he's talking about is the first classic of Confucianism, "Analects". Although this book is the core of Confucianism, who among us hasn't been reading it since childhood? Anyone can stand up and recite it word for word.

  But it's indeed worthy of a Confucian scholar, if at first there was still some disdain, but as the ups and downs of the lecture voice continued, all sorts of profound Confucian principles slowly emerged, and everyone who listened felt like they had just woken up from a dream, with their minds suddenly opened up, and the principles they had previously grasped were not even worth a smile.

  Xu Xian couldn't help but sigh in admiration, although it was ancient times, the level of education was truly not bad. If one were to compare the experts and professors from the Confucian school of thought from his previous life with this teacher on stage, they would be like minor sorcerers compared to a great wizard.

  There have been countless critics of Confucianism in the past, but most of them haven't even read "The Analects" from cover to cover, let alone grasped the profound meaning of this Confucian classic. However, it's also true that there are too many fake Confucians who pretend to be virtuous, and by the Qing dynasty, they had become nothing but sycophants. The true spirit of Confucianism had long been lost. No wonder Lu Xun said "Confucianism is a doctrine that eats people with its so-called benevolence and righteousness."

  Although he was a traverser, he couldn't completely agree with the views of the ancients, but it also made Xu Xian put away his disdain and truly valued these studies. Not for fame, but because these benevolent words coincided with his intentions.

  After one class, Xu Xian still felt a sense of incompleteness and secretly sighed that if the teachers in his previous life were all of this caliber, he wouldn't have to worry about educational problems. But then he thought again, this Traversing Heaven Academy was equivalent to gathering the strength of an entire province, teaching only these few dozen people in a year, truly unmatched by any famous school.

  Just as Xu Xian was packing up his things and preparing to leave, a voice said: "Brother Xu, please stay for a moment."

  Xu Xian turned around to see a refined young man waving at him. Although he had vaguely seen him at the banquet yesterday, Xu Xian was too busy eating and drinking to pay attention, and couldn't help but ask: "Who are you?"

  Xiaziqui felt slightly displeased in his heart, but still smiled and said: "Xiaziqui."

  Xu Xian nodded and said: "Brother Xia, I don't know what advice you have."

  "Xu Xian, this is the son of Xia Tongpan, the summer judge of Hangzhou Prefecture, Master Xia!" Wang An reminded him on the side.

  "Xia Tongben is indeed my father, but Brother Xu can just call me Xia Ziqi." Xia Ziqi remained respectful, but the pride in his eyes was unmistakable.

  Xu Xian was taken aback and said: "Zi Qi, what's going on? Hurry up and say it, I'm in a rush to go eat!"

  Pan Yu has been paying attention to this side, and upon hearing this, she almost couldn't help but laugh, thinking: You're quite straightforward.

  Xia Ziqi's face flashed a hint of displeasure, but he still forced himself to say: "Please lend me a step to speak, if the matter is successful, I will invite Brother Xu to drink at Tingyuelou." Although Xu Xian was new here, he also knew the great name of Tingyuelou, which was considered one of Hangzhou's most famous wine houses and brothels, a great place to drink flower wine.

  Xu Xian smiled slightly and said, "That's a good attitude. I don't eat the cheapest, only the most expensive." Xia Ziqi felt contempt in his heart, while Pan Yu's smile grew even thicker.

  Two men came to a quiet place, Xia Ziqi immediately made a long bow and said: "This matter please brother Xu must help Ziqi with one arm." He imagined that before this bow was finished, Xu Xian would come to support him, but his expectation soon fell through.

  Xu Xian stroked his chin and sized up Xia Ziqi in front of him: "Ziqi, hurry up and say what's on your mind!"

  Xiazhi's heart was blocked, and he forced a smile as he stood up straight. "I have been friends with Mingyu since childhood, and I originally thought that after entering the Imperial Academy, we would be together every day, discussing and studying together under the candlelight. However, fate did not permit it, and this time when the dormitories were assigned, we were not placed in the same one. I was thinking of asking Brother Xu to exchange rooms with me, and I will definitely repay him in the future. I hope Brother Xu will agree."

  Although Tong Pan was a high-ranking official in Hangzhou, compared to the famous Pan family, he was still not a contender. Xia Ziqi had his heart set on relying on Pan Yu's influence, and naturally expected to receive boundless help in his future career. But he didn't expect to let a country bumpkin take advantage of him. He wouldn't go to great lengths over such a small matter, and simply wanted to get what he desired from Xu Xian.

  He originally thought that with his identity, as long as he was a bit respectful, Xu Xian would not be surprised and delighted, and after offering some small benefits, he could neatly and efficiently resolve the matter.

  Xia Ziqi didn't know Xusen's thoughts, after all, Xusen was also a person who had lived for two lifetimes. How could he not see Xia Ziqi's arrogance? After all, he too came from modern society, where individual equality is emphasized, although in reality there are still great disparities, but the idea has deeply penetrated people's minds. Especially in school environments, those with better family conditions would rather hide their background and blend in with the crowd. If you really want to talk about your dad today and your grandfather tomorrow, then go play by yourself!

  Xu Xian sighed and said: "Ming Yu's character, even I am deeply impressed, it seems that the banquet at Ting Yue Lou is not for me to attend, I'd better go back to eat in the cafeteria!" After finishing speaking, he shook his head regretfully and turned to leave.

  "Brother Xu, please stay a moment. This is just a small gift, not enough to show my respect. Please consider it again," said Xia Ziqi, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket.

  Xu Xian took a look and it was a 300 taels silver note, couldn't help but sigh what is the gap between rich and poor, my sister raised me to adulthood, the expenses of over a decade are probably not even this much, yet this young master casually pulled it out just to change seats.

  Xu Xian did not permit himself to sigh. Xia Ziqi still thought Xu Xian was hesitant, and in his heart he looked down on him even more, gritting his teeth as he took out 200 taels of silver notes. Five hundred taels of silver was a painful price, even for him. But for the sake of a bright future, he had to make a sacrifice.

  Xu Xian looked at the 500 taels of silver in front of him with great interest and smiled: "Zi Qi, you have a lot of guts. These 500 taels of silver are enough to show that your friendship is very deep. However, you said that Ming Yu spent how much silver on that banquet yesterday."

  Xiazhi was perplexed in his heart, and didn't know how Xu Xian got involved in this matter. Since he had to ask for something from someone now, he could only patiently answer: "Probably not less than a hundred taels!"

  Xu Xian clapped his hands and laughed, "Compared to gold, who doesn't know that the golden finger that can turn stones into gold is even better? With Ming Yu being so wealthy, I'll just follow him and enjoy the free food and drink, isn't that even more enjoyable?"

  Xia Zi's whole body trembled with rage, having seen many shameless people before, but never one as brazen as this. Suppressing the urge to loudly curse, he watched as Xu Xian disappeared before his eyes. The silver note in his hand had long been crumpled into a ball. When he came back to his senses, he let out a mournful cry: "My silver note!"

  Xu Xian walked while thinking about the content of his lunch, and as soon as he turned a corner, a slender figure stood there. Xu Xian looked up to see Pan Yu smiling at him with a gentle smile.

  "Mingyu, let's go eat! I heard the chef here is a top culinary master from Shu!" The academy has a special dining area.

  Pan Yu pulled Xu Xian and went straight out. "Let's go eat outside!"

  Xu Xian didn't understand and said: "You're always staying in hotels, aren't you afraid of going bankrupt?"

  Pan Yuzhuang let out a long, exaggerated sigh: "How can I not make it up to Brother Hanwen for those five hundred taels of silver? Not letting you get your money back would be unbearable for me!"

  Xu Xian's face turned red at this time "You, you eavesdropped?"

  Pan Yuzhi pointed to her own ears and smiled: "Have you forgotten? I know martial arts, within a hundred steps, even the buzzing of mosquitoes can be distinguished." Although this was true, if she hadn't been concentrating her mind and energy, how could she have heard it clearly.

  Xu Xian scratched his head and said, "I was just joking, let's go back and eat!"

  "Alas, I, Pan Yu, am only worth these 500 taels of silver. If Xia Zi Qi were willing to pay a bit more, I'm afraid I would have already been sold to someone else by now!" Pan Yu said with a heart full of sorrow.

  Xu Xian also knew she was joking and joked back "I've got Zhu Yingtai, how could I let Ma Wencan have her for free."

  Pan Yu didn't understand and asked: "Zhu Yingtai, who is Ma Wencai?"

  Xu Xian patted his head, "Not now, I'll tell you tonight, guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes."

  Pan Yudian nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She thought to herself: Tears welling up? You probably don't know how many years it's been since I last cried, do you?