Chapter 174 Li Deguang Sends His Grandson to the Imperial Academy
He even took the initiative to act as Shen Yulou's informant, reporting who spoke ill of Shen Yulou behind his back and who was lazy and didn't memorize their books, all in meticulous detail.
Shen Yulou was very pleased with his performance, patting his chubby little face and saying,
"Tianbao, work hard, and I'll make you a class representative in the future."
Zhang Tianbao was startled: "Mr. Shen, how big of an official is a class representative?"
"Hmm... it's probably about as important as the head maid who feeds you in your household."
Although Zhang Tianbao didn't fully understand, he felt it sounded very impressive.
Seeing Zhang Tianbao hesitate, Shen Yulou asked him what was wrong.
Zhang Tianbao explained his feelings.
Shen Yulou said, "See, you don't study hard usually, so you can't even chat with educated people."
"Although I don't know what it is, it feels very impressive."
"There's an idiom for that phrase."
"It's 'buming jueli' (unclear but awesome)."
"Did you remember it?"
Zhang Tianbao was genuinely impressed; Mr. Shen was indeed knowledgeable.
"I remembered it."
After Zhang Tianbao left, Shen Yulou suddenly paused.
Was 'buming jueli' actually an idiom?
...In the following days, the Imperial Academy was calm and peaceful.
Under Shen Yulou's education, which combined both strictness and kindness, and a bit of bluffing and coaxing, the children were all as energized as if they'd been injected with stimulants.
In the morning, they recited the Four Books and Five Classics, louder than anyone else, because reciting quickly meant chicken legs.
In the afternoon, they listened to Shen Yulou lecture on business thinking, their eyes shining with excitement, and they even started forming groups and discussing their own entrepreneurial projects.
"I think we can set up a ghostwriting service, specifically to help those uneducated officials in the court write memorials!"
"That's a great idea! We could even offer a yearly membership package, guaranteeing no repeats!"
"Your scope is too small! If you ask me, we should monopolize the toilet paper industry in the capital! Think about it, people have three urgent needs, who can do without this? That's called a 'hard demand'!"
These children had already started to brainwash themselves, constantly talking about business models and core competitiveness, making one wonder if they were at a team-building event for a venture capital firm.
Of course, they also noticed Shen Yulou's abnormality.
Several children huddled together, whispering.
"Did you notice? Mr. Shen seems to be limping a bit recently."
"Yes, yes, it's like he has sandbags tied to his legs, moving one step at a time."
"Is Mr. Shen sick?"
When Eighth Prince Zhao Lü heard this, he walked over with his hands behind his back, looking smug and acting like an old man.
"Ahem, you guys just don't understand, do you?"
He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Mr. Shen just got married, a newlywed, understand? All his energy was used on his Madam, so naturally, his legs are weak and he has no strength when he walks."
A child innocently asked, "Eighth Prince, why do his legs get weak when he uses his energy on his Madam?"
Zhao Lü rolled his eyes, feeling like he was casting pearls before swine.
"Why ask so many questions? You're just a little kid, even if I tell you, you won't understand!"
...At the same time, the atmosphere at Junior Grand Tutor Li Deguang's mansion was somewhat heavy.
Li Deguang's daughter-in-law had been unable to hold her head up in the circle of noblewomen recently.
Whenever they gathered, they would start showing off.
"Oh, my son, the business plan he wrote yesterday, saying he wanted to open a royal-certified carriage driving school, made my husband so happy!"
"That's nothing? My daughter said she wanted to organize a Da Hun Beauty Week, introducing cosmetics from the Western Regions, and even talked about finding princes and princesses to endorse them! I've never even heard these terms before!"
Listening to all this, Li Deguang's daughter-in-law thought of her own son, who was still playing in the mud, and felt as if a cat was scratching her heart. She went home and argued with her husband, Li Zhanyong.
The couple argued from their room to the main hall, eventually alarming Li Deguang's Madam.
Madam Li Hu, after hearing her daughter-in-law's tearful complaints, also sighed deeply and turned to enter the study.
"My Lord, are you really going to jeopardize our grandson's future for the sake of your pride?"
Li Deguang slammed his brush down, puffing out his cheeks and glaring.
"Woman's opinion! If I send him to the Imperial Academy, wouldn't that be admitting, in front of all the court officials, that I am inferior to that Shen Yulou? Where would I put my old face?!"
Madam Hu was no pushover and retorted directly.
"Can face be eaten? Now the entire capital knows Shen Yulou is capable, and you're the only one being stubborn!
If you keep being stubborn, when our grandson grows up and falls far behind other children, then your old face will truly have nowhere to be placed!"
This speech left Li Deguang speechless, and eventually, he slumped back into his chair, somewhat relenting.
"Alas... mainly I'm afraid of Grand Tutor Wang's side... If he knew I sent my grandson there, he'd surely break off our friendship."
Madam Hu rolled her eyes at him: "If you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, and our whole family acts mute, how would an outsider like him know?!"
Li Deguang deliberated repeatedly, ultimately deciding that for his child's future, his pride was not worth keeping.
He waved his hand, letting Madam Hu handle it herself... The next day, Madam Hu took her grandson, clutching a thick stack of silver notes, and waited at the entrance of the Imperial Academy.
As soon as Shen Yulou came out, Madam Hu greeted him with a beaming smile, and very naturally slipped the stack of silver notes into his sleeve.
"Lord Shen, I've long admired your name. This is a small token of appreciation for the children, a humble gesture."
She explained her purpose.
Shen Yulou's eyelids twitched, and his heart bloomed with joy.
Goodness, even that old fox Li Deguang couldn't withstand the pressure anymore?
If that old stubborn Wang Shushi knew, wouldn't he be so angry he'd swallow his own coffin lid?
Shen Yulou calmly accepted the silver notes and nodded in agreement.
"Madam, rest assured. Leave your grandson to me; I guarantee he will be completely transformed in a month."
Then, he changed the subject, leaned into Madam Hu's ear, and lowered his voice.
"However, I have a small favor I'd like to ask Junior Tutor Li and Madam to help with..."
Shen Yulou whispered a few words in this manner.
Madam Hu was first startled upon hearing it, then felt it was a simple matter, and readily agreed.
"No problem! It's a small matter, leave it to us!"
Back at the Li mansion, Madam Hu reported to her husband about blocking Shen Yulou at the Imperial Academy entrance today and successfully getting their grandson admitted.
Upon hearing this, Li Deguang slammed the book in his hand onto the table with a 'bang,' so angry that his beard almost flew up.
"Foolish! How could you agree to him so easily? And even help him with his affairs?!"
Li Deguang puffed out his cheeks and glared, "That Kid (kid) looks like a smiling tiger, full of bad intentions. Can the matter he asked you to do be a good thing?
This is clearly a weasel paying a New Year's call to a chicken—he has no good intentions!"
Madam Hu rolled her eyes, long accustomed to her husband's stubborn pride that only brought him suffering.
"My Lord, what do you mean, 'help him with his affairs'?"
Madam Hu said righteously, "It's just a small matter, and it can even help you improve your reputation, what's wrong with that?"
"I think this matter Shen Yulou mentioned not only has no harm for you but can also help boost your reputation. Why not do it?"
Li Deguang frowned, it sounded like she had a point.
But he always felt something was off.
That kid Shen Yulou was as cunning as a monkey; would he just give their family benefits for free