Chương 3: Entrance Tuition

The water of Black Dragon Pond came from Hidden Dragon Mountain, and all living creatures in the pond were touched by dragon energy. Such folk rumors were mostly imagination, and Jiang Huanyu did not take them seriously. Instead, he felt that the reason the fish of Blackwater Pond tasted so delicious was first because this pond water truly might be mountain spring water, rich in all kinds of minerals. Also, the pond was deep and the water pressure was great.

Fish that lived inside for a long time had meat that was firmer and more delicate. Carefully taking the three black carp out of the net, Jiang Huanyu took out a hemp rope, skillfully passed it through their gills, tied them together, and hung them on a tree branch. Next was tidying up the fishing net, preparing to take advantage of his good luck and cast a few more nets. But today's good luck seemed to have been used up by the Blood Toad's shed skin.

In the next few casts, he only caught a few palm-sized grass carp and had no big harvest. Seeing that the sun was already hanging high overhead, Jiang Huanyu tidied up the fishing net and did not continue. Carrying the fishing net on his shoulder and holding the fish he had caught this time, he walked toward home. When he reached the village entrance, he saw from afar a gray-clothed old man leading a donkey toward him.

Sitting on the donkey's back was an old man dressed in a Confucian robe, with hair and beard both white. The old man in Confucian robes was called Lu Zhiyuan. It was said that he had once been a great scholar at the Commandery Academy. Five years ago, he came to Golden Willow Village, bought a piece of land at the village entrance, built an elegant small courtyard, and settled there. The gray-clothed old man was his servant, named Uncle Ya.

Scholars were aloof, and Lu Zhiyuan basically did not associate with the villagers. When the villagers met him like this, they would respectfully call him "Teacher Lu," while he would merely nod slightly in return.

"Teacher Lu, Uncle Ya." When the two sides met, Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands and greeted them. On the donkey, Lu Zhiyuan nodded slightly, while Uncle Ya smiled politely. Just as they were about to pass each other, Lu Zhiyuan noticed the few black carp in his hand and suddenly said, "Were those fish in your hand caught from Black Dragon Pond?" Jiang Huanyu stopped, raised the fish in his hand, and nodded.

"Teacher Lu could tell?" Lu Zhiyuan turned over and got down from the donkey's back. He walked forward, bent down to look at them twice, then stroked the beard under his chin and said, "They all say the fish of Black Dragon Pond carry dragon energy."

"These few fish have had their gills pierced and been carried under the sun all the way by Little Brother Jiang, yet they still have such spirit and vitality. They are truly unusual."

"To be honest with Little Brother Jiang, this old man has always loved eating fish. I wonder whether Little Brother can part with them?"

"Can you sell these fish to this old man?" He wanted to buy fish? Jiang Huanyu looked at the few fish in his hand, then smiled and said, "It is not a matter of parting with anything. Since Teacher Lu likes eating fish, I will simply give you two." As he spoke, he untied the rope, took down two larger black carp, and handed them over. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"These two are for Teacher. The remaining ones have to be taken back to make soup for my two stinky brats." Lu Zhiyuan did not reach out to take them. Uncle Ya at the side hurriedly came forward, pointed at the hemp rope in Jiang Huanyu's hand, then pointed at the two black carp, gesturing for a while. Jiang Huanyu reacted and immediately tore the hemp rope apart, helping him string the two black carp together. Uncle Ya grinned and took the fish.

"This old man did not bring silver with him. Later, I will have Uncle Ya send it to your residence," Lu Zhiyuan cupped his hands and said. Clearly, he did not want to owe this favor. Seeing this, Jiang Huanyu's heart moved slightly. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Teacher Lu, I am being bold, but I would like to use these two fish to ask for an opportunity."

"Oh?" Lu Zhiyuan smiled slightly.

"Little Brother Jiang, speak first." Jiang Huanyu cupped his hands again.

"I heard Teacher once held a post at the Commandery Academy and is a great scholar of the present age. I am being bold, but I want to ask for an opportunity for my son to become your student." After saying this, Jiang Huanyu felt somewhat uneasy inside. This Lu Zhiyuan was famous for being aloof. When he first settled in Golden Willow Village, many gentry and powerful families from Willow County had once carried heavy gifts as entrance tuition, wanting their family juniors to take him as teacher.

Even the Deputy County Magistrate of Willow County had personally visited him. But without exception, they were all refused outside Lu Zhiyuan's door. Jiang Huanyu opening his mouth now was only to try. In his heart, he did not hold much hope. If this matter succeeded, then exchanging two fish for an opportunity to let his son become a student under a great scholar of the present age would be an enormous profit.

If it did not succeed, according to the old man's temper, he would not take advantage of him for two fish. Most likely, he would either return the fish to him or pay money to buy them. They did not have much friendship to begin with. No matter what, he would not lose out. Lu Zhiyuan did not speak, and the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive. Uncle Ya held the fish and looked at his master's expression, already preparing to return the fish to Jiang Huanyu.

"This old man has always accepted students only by whether they are pleasing to my eyes. If Little Brother Jiang truly wants to try, then tomorrow at the end of the Rabbit hour, bring your son to my residence." Hearing this, Jiang Huanyu's expression froze. Then he quickly cupped his hands.

"Many thanks, Teacher!"

"Whether this matter succeeds or not, these two fish are both gifted to Teacher." After hearing this, Lu Zhiyuan smiled and waved his hand.

"That is improper. These two fish shall be treated as your son's entrance tuition. If this old man does not accept him, then naturally I cannot take this entrance tuition."

"If there truly is no fate of teacher and student, then I shall buy them with silver." Seeing his insistence, Jiang Huanyu did not say more. He immediately cupped his hands in salute and walked toward home. After he had walked far away, Uncle Ya raised the fish in his hand and gestured for a while. Lu Zhiyuan smiled faintly.

"Money and wealth are merely external things. If there truly is a fish-dragon talent, then what does it matter if he comes from a poor family?"

"Uncle Ya, let us go back."

"If these fish die, they will no longer be fresh." … When Jiang Huanyu returned home, Hu Yufen had just finished making lunch.

"Father, you're back!?" Seeing him walk through the courtyard gate, Jiang Wenfeng hurriedly ran over and took the fishing net from his shoulder. The little fellow Jiang Wenyan also happily trotted over, wanting to take the fish from his hand. Unexpectedly, the black carp that had been exposed to the sun for two or three hours still had extremely tenacious vitality. As soon as the little fellow approached, the black carp directly flicked its tail and struck his belly. Slap!

"Aiyo!" The little fellow was hit until he staggered and almost fell. Seeing this from the side, Hu Yufen said with some surprise, "This fish is quite fierce?" Jiang Huanyu smiled and rubbed Jiang Wenyan's head.

"Fish from Blackwater Pond. It's normal for them to be a little fierce."

"You went to Blackwater Pond?" Hu Yufen asked somewhat worriedly. Untying the hemp rope and throwing the fish into a wooden basin, Jiang Huanyu washed the filth from his body while saying, "If I hadn't gone to Blackwater Pond, I wouldn't have picked up a great bargain." He told her about encountering Lu Zhiyuan on the road. After Hu Yufen heard it, she was extremely surprised.

"In the past, the gentry and powerful families in the county pulled boxes and boxes of gold, silver, and treasures to Golden Willow Village. In the end, they could not even enter Teacher Lu's door."

"Husband truly used two black carp to obtain an opportunity for our child to become his student?" Jiang Huanyu nodded.

"After eating, go ask Sister-in-law Zhao to help and prepare a proper set of clothes for these two stinky brats."

"Tomorrow, we can't have them go become students with bare buttocks, can we?" Hu Yufen quickly answered. She did not even care about eating and hurriedly returned to the room to look for suitable cloth. That was a great scholar of the present age. For him to agree to give an opportunity was already something to thank the heavens for. Whether it succeeded or not, they could not lose courtesy.

While the father and two sons ate, Hu Yufen went into the house and rummaged through the cabinet, taking out several pieces of cloth she had bought in town before the New Year. These had originally been meant for making clothes for Jiang Huanyu, but since things were urgent now, she could only take them out first for the two children to use.

"Eat first. There's enough time." Seeing her busy calculating the cloth, Jiang Huanyu came over and spoke. Hu Yufen continued measuring the cloth on her own.

"Teacher Lu is a great scholar. This opportunity wasn't easy to get. Even the small details have to be paid attention to."