Chapter 103: The Grace of a Lifesaving Favor

…

Tang Yin actually went to become a disciple.

This news spread quickly.

Originally, everyone thought that the Jiangnan scholar Tang Yin would surely despise Fang Jifan’s character and would definitely remain stubborn to the end. Moreover, many members of the Qingliu Faction in the imperial court had also revealed some information. It seemed they were preparing to argue vigorously on Tang Yin’s behalf. If Fang Jifan continued his coercion, they would likely impeach him for ‘forcing a good person into prostitution’.

But who could have expected that Tang Yin, early one morning, went and knelt outside the Fang residence. He respectfully presented his name card and carried his gift for the teacher, directly entering the Fang household.

Fang Jifan woke up very early. He was clearly a bit annoyed that Deng Jian had rushed to wake him up in such a hurry.

However…

It seemed today was destined to be recorded in the history books. A famous person often had some records in official histories, unofficial histories, prefectural records, and county records. Fang Jifan was determined to maintain his last bit of pitiful image. So when he heard Deng Jian say that Tang Yin had arrived, Fang Jifan looked overjoyed. “Xiaoxiangxiang, help me get dressed. This Young Lord wants to happily welcome Little Tang.”

Xiaoxiangxiang helped Fang Jifan get dressed. During the process, there were inevitably some indescribable moments.

It seemed habit had become second nature. Fang Jifan actually did not feel ashamed anymore.

Sigh… He had fallen. The damned squanderer.

Since this was a historical celebrity, he naturally needed to put on some airs. He had to intimidate Tang Yin properly. So he ordered Deng Jian to go to the Study and invite his three disciples, Ouyang Zhi and the others, to come as well.

When they reached the central hall, Ouyang Zhi and the other two were dressed in new clothes. They stood on the left and right, their eyes dull and vacant like wooden chickens.

Those poor three Tribute Scholars. When they first met, one could still see a tiny bit of spark in them. But after witnessing so much absurdity, their spirits were worn down. After years and months of endless practice exams, they had tragically become victims of Fang Jifan’s education system.

Fang Jifan sat down, crossed his legs, leaned back slightly, and said casually, “Tea.”

Deng Jian, eager to claim credit, poured the tea. Actually, Fang Jifan wasn’t really someone who could appreciate the finer taste of tea; his palate was too crude. But the most important thing was the show of pomp.

Not long after, a shivering Tang Yin was led in by Manager Yang.

Manager Yang sighed inwardly. Every time a scholar entered the Fang household, it felt like pushing someone into a pit of fire. And he himself had actually become the procuress and pimp who aided the tiger in its cruelty.

Tang Yin entered the hall. His frozen, stiff fingers still held the gift for the teacher. Originally, in his heart, he felt an inexplicable gratitude towards Fang Jifan. So before stepping over the threshold, he was still thinking that once he entered the hall, he would immediately kneel and perform the formal ceremony to acknowledge his teacher. But as soon as he saw Fang Jifan sitting high with his legs crossed, he felt regret. He didn’t know why, but it felt like he had entered a wolf’s den. His heart wavered, and he wanted to retreat.

Sigh…

He sighed inwardly. Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. If he left now, he would probably be beaten half to death again.

He knelt down. A respectable twenty-eight-year-old man actually performed a solemn bow to a fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth. “The Tribute Scholar from Wu County, Tang Yin, styled Bohu, wishes to enter your esteemed school, listen to your teachings, and humbly requests that you, my Esteemed Mentor, do not reject me.”

Saying this, he respectfully kowtowed.

Fang Jifan laughed. “No need to be so formal, no need. Get up and speak. Deng Jian, go get a chair.”

Tang Yin felt extremely complicated. When the chair was brought, he sat down sideways, not knowing what to say.

But Fang Jifan was overjoyed. Four Tribute Scholars! All four of these Tribute Scholars had become my, Fang Jifan’s, disciples. The top three from the Metropolitan Examination, caught in one net. And there was one more… hmm… he was a bit lacking. Your senior apprentices got first, second, and third. You actually got eighth? I really want to smack you.

So his eyes flashed like lightning, and he glared sternly at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen felt so wronged he wanted to cry. Ever since the results were posted, even though he had technically beaten all the other scholars in the world and placed eighth, he always felt he couldn’t hold his head up. Especially when his Mentor occasionally glanced at him with fierce eyes, making him feel even more ashamed. He hurriedly lowered his head, his face ashen.

Fang Jifan’s gaze quickly swept past Jiang Chen’s face. He had just pulled someone into the thieves’ den—ah, no, into the warm, big family of the Fang household. This person was new here; he mustn’t scare him off. So he laughed heartily, trying hard to appear amiable and kind. “Shall I call you Little Tang?”

“…” Tang Yin was silent. Of course, this was tacit acceptance.

Fang Jifan said, “You are currently a Tribute Scholar. Two months from now is the Palace Examination. Only then will you officially become an official. For these two months, you should move into the Fang residence. Your Mentor will teach you all how to respond before the sovereign.”

What was the so-called Palace Examination if not an interview?

Given the dispositions of these four disciples—or rather, given their backgrounds—it would be very difficult for them to shine brilliantly in the interview.

After all, the one with the best background among the four was Tang Yin. But even Tang Yin was only from a merchant family; they just had money. Compared to those from true aristocratic families, the difference was like that between clouds and mud.

Take that guy who got fourth place, Wang Shouren!

This person was also very famous. Fang Jifan admired him greatly. His father was a Zhuangyuan and now also held a position in the House of the Crown Prince. Although his official rank wasn’t high, he was on very good terms with people like Li Dongyang. As a result, even when Wang Shouren was just a Provincial Graduate, he often composed poetry and exchanged couplets with the Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat. Even in front of the Grand Secretaries, he could handle himself with ease and was never nervous. So appearing before the Son of Heaven was nothing special for him.

To put it plainly, that guy had seen the world. But look at you four. The most impressive person you’ve probably ever met is just your Mentor, right? When you get before the Emperor, if you get too excited or flustered, then the top three positions in the Top Three Candidates would be completely ruined.

Therefore, Fang Jifan was determined to give them crash training. Training? Well, in his previous life, Fang Jifan had attended interview training classes like this.

Tang Yin seemed hesitant. But since his Mentor had given the order, what could he say? He could only nod. “I will respectfully follow my Mentor’s instruction.”

“And also…” One could almost imagine that from now on, this guy Tang Yin would be eating and drinking for free in the Fang household. He actually expected them to provide teaching and guarantee results? Just thinking about it made Fang Jifan feel like there was another freeloader in the house. Right now, it was purely operating at a loss. When would he ever recoup the initial investment?

Fang Jifan narrowed his eyes. “Little Tang, your Mentor asks you again. After the Palace Examination, what are your plans?”

Tang Yin said seriously, “This student was fortunate to pass the exam highly. The imperial court did not reject me, so I am bound to enter official service. Since I will be an official, I should naturally be like my several senior apprentices: bring benefit to my region, provide Moral Education to the people, and be loyal to the Son of Heaven.”

He spoke with great righteousness and impressive dignity.

This actually reminded Fang Jifan of his own past. He recalled how, before his ‘treatment’, he too had been so pure. Sigh… His former self… how could he have changed so completely?

Feeling sentimental inwardly, Fang Jifan shook his head instead. “Wrong!”

Hearing “wrong”, Tang Yin looked up in surprise, gazing at Fang Jifan incredulously.

Even this was wrong?

His three senior apprentices, however, remained expressionless and utterly unmoved.

Fang Jifan spoke with even greater righteousness, “Does a person live just to become an official? And once you become an official, is it just to toil over your Desk?”

Tang Yin remained silent, unsure how to answer.

Fang Jifan declared emphatically, “This is truly absurd. Your Mentor speaks rather bluntly; don’t mind me. Like Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen—these three have wooden heads. They are a bit foolish…”

“…”

Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen felt so sad they wished they were dead.

If anyone else had said these words, it would have been an insult to their dignity. Ouyang Zhi and the other two would definitely fight that person.

But… it was their Mentor who said it. What could they do? If the Mentor said east, would you dare go west? No choice but to forgive him.

“But you are different.” Fang Jifan looked at Tang Yin, his eyes shining.

Tang Yin actually became a bit flustered.

He was only third in the Metropolitan Examination. How could he dare say he was different compared to Senior Apprentice Ouyang and Senior Apprentice Liu?

Fang Jifan said, “You are a person of talent and feeling. Your Mentor deeply despises those who just study mechanically and become officials mechanically. In this life, is there only fame and fortune?”

Saying this, Fang Jifan’s killing gaze swept over Ouyang Zhi and the other two again.

Ouyang Zhi and the other two felt extremely exasperated. Their hearts felt sour. It seemed their Mentor treated this Junior Apprentice Tang somewhat differently.

Tang Yin seemed thoughtful. “Then, may I ask my Mentor…”

Fang Jifan sighed emotionally. “People, they all have emotions. When you have emotions, you need to express them. The so-called ‘A Noble Person expresses from emotion’—isn’t that what Confucius said? No, it was the Sage who said it, right? You are a person of talent and feeling. Precisely because you have this talent and feeling, you should not put all your focus on scheming and climbing. In the future, when you enter the Hanlin Academy, you must naturally do your official duties. But in your spare time, you should find some hobbies. For example, you love painting, you can paint. Painting helps nurture one’s character and sentiment; it can elevate a person. Your Mentor is actually a person of refinement too. Alright then. From now on, after you finish your duties, paint a little or something. After you finish painting, bring it to your Mentor. Your Mentor… wants to appreciate it properly.”

Tang Yin’s body trembled. He looked at Fang Jifan incredulously. In his heart, this Mentor was a very vulgar person, not a bit refined. To put it more harshly, if it weren’t for the lifesaving favor, and if it weren’t for that bet, Tang Yin wouldn’t bother dealing with such a person.

But…

He had actually misunderstood his Mentor. His Mentor could actually offer such profound words.

He actually began to feel that becoming his disciple might not be the worst choice. He quickly said, “This student respectfully follows your instruction.”

Tang Yin felt a tiny bit moved.

People are just so prone to this. When your expectations of someone aren’t very high, if they say or do even a little thing that seems reliable, it can’t help but bring some comfort.

And the first words his Mentor spoke upon meeting him gave Tang Yin a very ‘pleasant surprise’.

“It’s just…” Tang Yin took a deep breath. Just like Ouyang Zhi and the others, a person would always slowly adapt. Natural selection, survival of the fittest. He sighed and said, “Mentor, do you know about the case of my fellow townsman Xu Jing selling examination questions? This student and Xu Jing were very close friends. Now he is suffering an unjust accusation. This student dares to vouch for him: Brother Xu absolutely did not cheat. This student is merely a Tribute Scholar. Even if I want to rescue him, I have no connections. So I humbly request that you, Mentor, consider if there is some way. He is currently in the Brocade Guard. His life hangs by a thread. The slightest mistake, and he will be dead…”