When Jiang Chen arrived at the Qingya Academy's Linzi branch, the place was much emptier than usual.
The academy students bathed every five days, and today was a rest day.
But it was far from quiet.
Before Jiang Chen even entered the courtyard, he heard the old dean's anguished voice: "Advance? How can you advance again?"
Then came Xu Xiangqian's righteous response: "It is merely my rightful teaching fees, only drawn a little early. What is wrong with that?"
Teaching fees, traditionally paid in dried meat, generally referred to a teacher's remuneration.
The old dean's voice trembled, likely with rage: "Preposterous! You have already drawn advances all the way to thirty years from now!"
"Are you doubting my loyalty to the academy? Would I not stay at the academy for my entire life? Or perhaps you think I won't live another thirty years? Are you cursing me — a fine young man in the prime of his youth?"
"Get out, get out! Stop pestering me with your nonsense!"
"Oh, Dean, your attitude is truly a disgrace to scholarly decorum."
"What is scholarly decorum?"
"Scholarly decorum is... Are you trying to play me? Just say whether you'll give it or not!"
Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment, then walked in.
He heard the old dean asking: "Do you see that door over there clearly? What style is it?"
Xu Xiangqian clutched his sleeve and wouldn't let go: "Dean, are your eyes failing you? That is a wall."
"Isn't that just it?" The old dean sneered, flinging off Xu Xiangqian's hand: "No door!"
"Oh, you!" Xu Xiangqian pointed at the old man's retreating figure: "When I write poems attacking you and ruin your reputation, don't say I didn't warn you!"
Writing essays to attack others was a mainstream method among literati, encompassing poetry, songs, and various literary forms.
Generally it was taken quite seriously and required careful consideration.
For example, the great Qingya scholar Mo Ya's couplet: "In deathly entanglement, wealth and rank endure; a nameless general who gave his life for the nation."
This had nearly nailed Jinghai Gao to the pillar of shame, and was no good reputation for the State of Qi itself — which was why it was rarely recited in Qi.
But to such a weighty threat from a literatus like Xu Xiangqian, the old dean merely let out a cold snort, completely indifferent and utterly unmoved.
"Aaargh!"
Xu Xiangqian was so angry the veins on his forehead bulged, feeling his literary talent had been profoundly slighted.
He turned and saw Jiang Chen, and his eyes lit up.
Today Jiang Chen wore a set of pure white scholar's robes. His appearance was already on the refined and scholarly side, and his fair complexion suited white remarkably well. This set of scholar's robes, commonly worn by literati, looked unexpectedly fitting.
"Brother Jiang, in that outfit today, we could be called the Twin Jewels of Horse-Chasing Mountain!"
Horse-Chasing Mountain was the burial ground he had chosen for Xu Fang...
Jiang Chen had no desire to be paired with the high-foreheaded one as the Twin Jewels of Horse-Chasing Mountain. He laughed it off: "When are we setting out?"
Speaking of which, Xu Xiangqian going to collect Xu Fang's remains — while the Qingya Academy may have had its own considerations — was primarily helping Jiang Chen resolve this burden on his heart. Neither side spoke of this explicitly; they both understood in their hearts.
"Once the coffin is ready at Funeral Street, we can leave."
Xu Xiangqian said casually, then asked with some indignation: "Why is it so difficult to advance some teaching fees? Brother Jiang, tell me — does Dean Liu look down on me?"
Jiang Chen offered no comment on this.
The prominent paths of Dao, Confucianism, and Buddhism were different from ordinary sects. Not all their followers devoted themselves to cultivation. A great many spent their lives poring over texts, dedicating themselves solely to scholarship and buried in classical works, with no thought of transcending the mortal realm through cultivation. Of course, those who truly penetrated the classics were not lacking in examples of those who ascended in a single step.
Though Old Dean Liu appeared to be merely the head of an unremarkable branch academy, who knew what intricate connections he might have at the main Qingya Academy.
And regarding such so-called "old fogeys," he actually held them in respect.
But then again, Xu Xiangqian wanting to advance his teaching fees was obviously to cover the cost of burying Xu Fang's remains. This money Jiang Chen could not provide, and Chong Xuansheng certainly would not step forward.
This was not the sort of thing he could easily ask others to chip in for. Otherwise, given how carefree the elder Xu the scholar usually was, money was never something he needed to worry about.
He only held a modest teaching position at the branch academy, and his teaching fees were not substantial.
As a transcendent being, the main Qingya Academy would never stint on his daily expenses, but he spent extravagantly at the four great pleasure houses year after year.
No matter how renowned Qingya Academy was throughout the world, it could not support its scholars the way great noble families pampered their young masters. So Xu Fang often found himself short of funds, always mooching off his friends — the reputation of "Penny-Pinching Xu High-Forehead" was exactly how it had spread.
"Ahem." Jiang Chen thought for a moment: "As for the money..."
"Don't worry about that." Xu Xiangqian waved his hand: "I'll handle it easily."
If it really came to the point where Jiang Chen had to pay for Xu Fang's funeral, then Xu Xiangqian's involvement would be meaningless.
Jiang Chen said no more. After all, for a transcendent being, this level of money was never much of a hardship.
Before leaving the academy, Xu Xiangqian thought it over and still felt he couldn't swallow his anger. He ran back to his quarters and retrieved an inkstone.
He stood before the courtyard wall and fell into still contemplation, motionless.
Jiang Chen had no idea what he was thinking, nor could he take a stand, so he could only watch awkwardly from the side.
After a long while, a sharp light flashed in Xu Xiangqian's eyes. He pressed one hand down upon the inkstone, and had already ground ink to the perfect consistency.
Then, pulling the ink outward, he drew it forth and, using his finger as a brush, wrote vigorously upon the wall of the Qingya Academy branch!
The inscription read: "On the Qingya Branch Academy."
The poem went:
An old dean stuck in his ways. A branch academy full of filth. One meal's here but who knows the next, How can a phoenix nest in a clump of grass!
Having finished, he looked immensely pleased and turned to Jiang Chen: "Well?"
Jiang Chen, still indebted to him, replied: "The ink was ground beautifully! The poem is written with excellent symmetry!"
Indeed — every line was exactly seven characters, perfectly aligned and pleasing to the eye.
Xu Xiangqian was very satisfied. He casually tossed the inkstone into the flowerbed by the wall: "Let's go!"
Jiang Chen followed him, and they broke into a run.
...
They had left the academy far behind.
Suddenly Xu Xiangqian sighed: "Ah."
"What is it, Brother Xu?" Jiang Chen was genuinely playing along today, since Xu Xiangqian had helped him by going to collect Xu Fang's remains.
Xu Xiangqian sighed: "Though Old Dean Liu is a bit stubborn in character, he's not actually a bad person. If my quatrain spreads far and wide in the future, wouldn't it ruin his reputation? Perhaps... I should go back and wipe it off!"
Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and replied carefully: "I don't think that's necessary..."
"Of course, I'm not saying your poem lacks that kind of influence, nor am I saying it's poorly written. I also lack the ability to appreciate poetry. What I mean is..."
"A scholar's name is cleared by his own conduct; an upright person need not fear a crooked shadow. How is Old Dean Liu's character? It cannot be decided by a couple of poems."
Jiang Chen thought and added: "Besides, by now he has probably already seen your poem on the wall. Whether to leave it or not — let the old dean decide for himself. If we go back now and happen to run into him face to face..."
He wasn't sure which point convinced Xu Xiangqian.
In any case, after much persuasion, he finally quelled the urge to rush back and run straight into the blade's edge.
The two headed straight for their next destination — Old Zhang's Coffin Shop at Little Lian Bridge.