Chapter 2, Reading is Beneficial

"Well... that was in the past." Liu Xiu felt a bit embarrassed, realizing that his former "self" had such a dislike for reading.

At noon, "Father" Liu Yuanqi returned on a bullock cart. He was dressed quite formally today, with clear creases on the new clothes that had been hidden at the bottom of the trunk. Although he did not wear a crown, he wrapped a brand new headscarf around his head, which, along with his square face and three short whiskers, gave him a certain air of authority.

Why is there still lees in this wine? I must be too happy and have grabbed the wrong jar of wine. He stood up, just about to go to the kitchen to swap it out, when I, Liu Yuanqi, called out to him, looking puzzled: "Where are you going?"

I will go ... ... and change it. Liu Xiu shook the wine jar in his hand, showing him the thick lees inside.

Liu Xiu nodded slightly, looking at the wine jar that was about the height of a calf, frowning. Although he knew that the alcohol content at this time was not high, at most similar to beer, drinking an entire jar of wine would be overwhelming, even if it were beer. He was uncertain about his current robust physique's tolerance for alcohol. Despite feeling anxious, he did not dare to show any signs of fear. He reached out to remove the straw rope from the wine jar, peeled off the sealing clay on top, and tore away the oil paper covering the illustrations. A strong aroma of wine wafted up. He stood up, lifted the wine jar, and was just about to pour wine for Liu Yuanqi when he caught a glimpse and was immediately taken aback.

Tang Shi quickly prepared several cold dishes and happily brought them out. She noticed that although Liu Yuanqi in the hall had a poor tone, he did not lose his temper, and Liu Xiu, with his head lowered, was also unusually quiet. This made her even happier. She said repeatedly, "My son, today is a rare occasion for your grandfather to be happy, so you should drink a few cups with him. Don't rush; take your time eating. I will go make a few more dishes and then come to accompany you two in drinking. " As she spoke, without waiting for Liu Xiu to respond, she stepped out with a light pace. Soon, she brought over a jar of wine and placed it beside Liu Xiu, winking at him to signal him to drink well with his father, Liu Yuanqi. She repeated, "My son, today is a rare occasion for your grandfather to be happy, so you should drink a few cups with him. Don't rush; take your time eating. I will go make a few more dishes and then come to accompany you two in drinking. " As she spoke, without waiting for Liu Xiu to respond, she stepped out with a light pace. Soon, she brought over a jar of wine and placed it beside Liu Xiu, winking at him to signal him to drink well with his father, Liu Yuanqi.

I do not know whether you genuinely wish to pursue your studies or if you have been persuaded by Xuande. Liu Yuanqi glanced at him again and said lightly, As long as you are willing to go, that is a good thing

Liu Xiu remained silent. He clearly understood Tang's maternal affection, but he was no longer her son. It was impossible for him to throw himself into her arms and act like the previous person, who, despite being tall and strong, had no reservations. His willingness to study stemmed from a desire to connect with the influential Lu Zhi, not to achieve personal success through education, but to escape the tumultuous environment of Zhuojun. In his memory, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had also affected this area, and Liu Bei had risen to prominence by defeating the Yellow Turbans. Although he was physically capable, he did not wish to involve himself in this great upheaval and risk losing his life for nothing. His willingness to study was driven by the hope of aligning with Lu Zhi, not for personal advancement, but to leave the troubled land of Zhuojun. He recalled that the Yellow Turban Rebellion had impacted this region, and Liu Bei had built his reputation by combating the Yellow Turbans. Despite his strong physique, he had no desire to participate in this major turmoil and risk his life unnecessarily.

Tang Shi was still somewhat skeptical. She turned around, thought for a moment, and then said resentfully, "It's all that little brat's flowery words. Sigh, you, having grown so big, still can't see through that brat's tricks, not even listening to your mother's words. It's really..." She stamped her foot in frustration, unwilling to give in, and waved her hand dismissively: "Think it over carefully. It's fine to talk about it in front of me, but if you say the same in front of your grandfather, not only will it cost a lot of unnecessary money, but you might also regret it when it's too late."

Tang Shi's somewhat thick lips moved, and he squeezed his eyes tightly, still hesitating. He said with difficulty, "That... didn't you say before that you would get a headache just from looking at the scrolls, and that the pen felt heavier than this stone lock? To get you to study, your grandfather even broke a few thorny branches, but how... how..."

Liu Yuanqi kept looking at him, his eyes revealing a rare admiration. After a moment, he suddenly asked: "Has Xuande been here?"

"Are you going to study?" When Liu Yuanqi heard Liu Xiu's words, he also showed a hint of surprise, his lips twitching as if he wanted to laugh but couldn't. He looked Liu Xiu up and down, and, rare for him, reached out to touch Liu Xiu's forehead, then tried it on his own forehead to confirm that Liu Xiu was not running a fever. He withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back, glancing at the still-fuming Tang, and waved his hand: "Go prepare some food and drinks; I want to have a couple of drinks with A Xiu."

Mr. Lu is a person of both literary and martial prowess. In terms of classical studies, he is a direct disciple of Ma Fufeng, possessing considerable expertise in both modern and ancient textual studies. Regarding governance, he has achieved remarkable results during his tenure in Jiujiang, making him a rare talent and a pillar of society. If it were not for his health issues, he would have already gained the court's favor, and there would be no opportunity for him to return to Zhuo County to teach students. This is a rare and valuable opportunity that you should not miss. Liu Yuanqi spoke while observing Liu Xiu. Although his tone still carried some coldness and reproach, compared to his previous indifference, Liu Xiu could finally sense some of the warmth that should exist between father and son. Mr. Lu is not a pedantic person who nitpicks over words; he is insightful and enlightened. Having the chance to hear his teachings is a blessing for you and for our family, and it will greatly benefit your future.

Liu Yuanqi turned and ascended the platform, taking a seat in the center. He then gestured to the adjacent seat, indicating for Liu Xiu to sit down. Liu Xiu hesitated for a moment; although he found kneeling to be quite exhausting, for the sake of safety, he walked over and sat down properly, adjusting his robe before placing his hands on his thighs, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

Tang Shi, who was sulking, was taken aback, her eyes widening as if she had heard something incredible. Soon, however, joy lit up her face, and with a twist of her stout waist, she floated out like a light butterfly. From a distance, her cheerful voice echoed from the kitchen

Liu Xiu nodded repeatedly, but found it amusing in his heart. If he were to know the true reason why I wanted to go to school, I wonder if he would still be interested in discussing these matters.

Liu Xiu felt somewhat uncomfortable with Tang's warmth. He gently pushed aside Tang's warm hand, yet felt a twinge of reluctance. After a moment, he finally spoke: "Mother, I truly want to study. If I remain illiterate, won't I be destined to face the earth and turn my back to the sky, living my life as a farmer?"

Liu Xiu remained silent, his face betraying no expression, yet he felt a sense of sorrow for the original self that had long since vanished.

Liu Xiu furrowed his brow, wondering why there were thorns hidden within these words

Liu Xiu felt somewhat dejected, as it seemed that in the impression of "mother," "father" had never been this affectionate towards his "son" before

"It was I who invited him here," Liu Yuanqi said straightforwardly. He paused for a moment and continued, "Li Ding asked me to come, specifically to discuss the matter of him going to study. I know you do not enjoy studying, but this opportunity is rare. Lu Jun is a remarkable scholar from Zhuojun, and even in the entire Han dynasty, he is a talent. Studying by his side, even if one does not excel in the classics, one can still gain some insight and understand that having mere physical strength is not enough to be impressive.

Hmm