Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 69: For Whom the Universe Is Bright and Clear, Deep Mountains Covered by Mist and Clouds

The sky was bright, the shadows of the mountains were heavy, and the bamboos were half leaning against the window. Guan Yin sat at the desk, his brush dipped in ink, and according to Cheng Jianwei's notes and the books on the bookshelf, he drafted a teaching outline for the next few days.

The ink, which had been stored for who knows how many nights, did not smell as fragrant as imagined, and even had a slight bitter smell.

In hot weather, the ink in the inkstone will inevitably go bad. Cheng Jianwei was not rich, and the pens, inkstones, and paper in his home were not good.

Guan Yin couldn't stand it anymore, so he stood up and wanted to clean the inkstone and pen and replace them with new ones.

Guan Yin's fingers, which were already a little sore, felt much more relaxed after he put them away. He placed the brush on the inkstone and sat down at the table. With his hands empty, Guan Yin felt as if he had rested.

Once people unload their burdens, they will begin to crave this leisure time, and soon they will not be as enthusiastic about doing things as before...

So Guan Yin put aside what he was doing temporarily, looked at the gray tip of the brush, and quickly stretched out his hand again, picked up the brush on the inkstone, and was about to start writing on the rice paper in front of him.

"No..." I have to grind the ink myself.

The laziness that he had finally put aside was soon aroused by the small difficulties in front of him. Most of the time, people just muddle through. Guan Yin asked himself that he did not have any overly noble character - the sky outside the window was clear and the air was fresh, and there were green pines and flowing clouds on the mountain tops. When people did not have a full stomach and life and death were inevitable, unless it was the grievances of the whole nation, and the mountains and rivers were broken under the iron hoof, it was difficult not to be lazy for a moment.

It was early in the morning. Guan Yin looked at the ink sticks placed aside, frowned, and looked back and forth at the white paper he had prepared. The edges were torn and ragged. Fortunately, this prepared teaching outline did not need to be submitted like in school, otherwise Guan Yin would be embarrassed to take it out.

"Let's talk about it later." Frowning, Guan Yin leaned back in his chair, picked up a book beside him, and glanced through it.

Not only are people lazy, but when they are alone, they easily feel bored and tired, and it is difficult to get interested in doing anything. Guan Yin was just like this, sitting alone in silence, and he could no longer do things that he had originally been very interested in doing.

The sun was at its highest point in the sky, and Guan Yin decided to find himself something to eat and fill his stomach before continuing with his work.

He got up, tidied up, and ate, feeling a little tired again. Guan Yin leaned against the table and took a nap in the strong sunlight. He fell asleep easily - until he felt a little cold and opened his eyes in a daze.

Guan Yin looked out the window, and the light outside finally made his sleepiness fade away: "Have you slept for so long?"

As the sky gradually darkened and a faint orange-yellow light fell on the wall, Guan Yin suddenly realized - such a good time had been wasted.

He stood up hurriedly and felt a little hungry. For a moment, Guan Yin wanted to heat up a bowl of porridge for himself.

After taking only three or two steps, Guan Yin's willpower finally pulled him back. Thinking of the lunch he had allowed himself to cook and eat... Time couldn't be dragged on like this any longer. There was a saying that goes: delay leads to change.

Guan Yin understood this truth, and naturally knew that he didn't have that many opportunities to continue. Moreover, the longer things were delayed, the more difficult it would be to fully piece together the evidence that had been sealed away.

For Guan Yin, after understanding the situation clearly, it is not difficult to formulate a relatively feasible teaching syllabus and detailed teaching plan.

Pulling back his thoughts that had drifted off to rest and calming down, Guan Yin finished most of the things he needed to do in a short while.

"It's getting late, and lighting a candle will inevitably hurt your eyes. Let's take a rest." Liu Jiaoan was not feeling well, and she felt better after resting until the starry sky was shining.

During the day, Guan Yin tried his best to understand and refused to let Liu Jiaoan accompany him no matter what. Now that the latter came to persuade him to rest, Guan Yin, who had slept for an afternoon, felt as if he had done something immoral... Feeling guilty, he turned his gaze towards Liu Jiaoan.

"Nothing, go and rest first, I'll go to bed later."

"Not on this day." Liu Jiaoan thought Guan Yin was just holding back his anger and wanted to do things better and faster and give a result as soon as possible. "You...don't be too tired."

Guan Yin vaguely guessed the half sentence that Liu Jiaoan took back, and was afraid that he had misunderstood that what she cared about was her original body, rather than the current "soul" that came from nowhere.

But the more cautious Liu Jiaoan was, the more guilty Guan Yin felt for wasting this afternoon.

"I rested in the study in the afternoon. I wasn't busy for long. Jiaoan, you don't have to worry about me." After saying this, the slight regret that had been weighing on Guan Yin's heart dissipated for the most part.

In fact, Guan Yin didn't feel sorry for anyone. If he really had to find someone to feel sorry for, the time Guan Yin wasted was nothing more than feeling sorry for himself - Guan Yin had told these words to his students time and time again, and had heard them from his teachers time and time again.

But it is easy to hear, say, or even say "I promise", but it is completely different from actually doing it.

"I will study hard in junior high school", "I will study hard in high school", "I can do well in college"...

"Teachers have students all over the world", "I am a little teacher now, and I want to teach and educate people in the future"...

How many of these assurances have turned out to be empty words?
"Unity of knowledge and action..." Guan Yin murmured, as if he just realized how difficult it was to achieve this short word.

The candlelight reflected on Liu Jiaoan's face as she stood aside.

The candle flame was very low. If Cheng Heng saw it, he would have hurriedly moved the candlestick to a higher place, and then sighed that the lighting at this angle was really creepy.

However, Liu Jiaoan's face, illuminated by the candlelight, did not have the slightest bit of the horror that a dark light would bring. Instead, silence and gentleness flowed like water, softening the sharpness of light and shadow.

"If you must be busy, then keep busy for a while." Liu Jiaoan finally compromised, moved closer to the candle, and used the scissors prepared nearby to carefully straighten the cotton core inside. "If it's too dim, then go to bed early."

A few words of explanation soothed Guan Yin's anxiety and numbness. When Guan Yin came to his senses and realized that he should give a response, Liu Jiaoan had already closed the door, and only his shadow was left on the door.

"you also……"

Guan Yin swallowed back the unfinished words. Even if the concern was sincere, it seemed perfunctory, so it was better not to say it.

The moon sets and the sun rises, the clouds flow and the stars appear. Guan Yin had almost finished preparing everything he needed to do, and then he thought about how to arrange things for Cheng Heng and San Heng.

"Then I'll follow Sanheng and live in that small courtyard. After all, it's better than you..."

Before Cheng Heng finished speaking, Liu Jiaoan interrupted him: "Mr. Cheng still has to teach."

There are some things that are not tacitly understood in front of Sanheng, for example: Guan Yin and her original body Guan Tongtong are both girls.

"Yes, I still want to teach." Cheng Heng seemed to chew Liu Jiaoan's words over and over again, implying to the latter that the person who really wants to teach is standing next to you.

Guan Yin needs to stay in the private school, Cheng Heng also needs to stay in the private school, Liu Jiaoan can't stay in the small courtyard alone with San Heng. "I once worshipped Mr. Cheng as my sworn brother. I haven't seen him for many years since we parted ways at the teaching academy. Now that I have found him, I still want to stay for a few more days."

After Guan Yin's suggestion, Cheng Heng realized that he was the owner of this private school, and if Guan Yin wanted to stay with a legitimate reason, he had to get his "approval".

"It's been many years since we last met. I miss you very much."

"There are still one or two spare rooms in this courtyard. Why don't you stay here with your sister-in-law? Then you can have more time to plan for a career in politics." Cheng Heng learned his lesson.

"Madam, that Sanheng..."

"Although the courtyard is small, I felt it had everything I needed when I saw it that day. It is also close to the mountains and the water, and it is next to the small tea mountain. If I didn't have to teach, I would have wanted to ask for it to live in."

After all, he is a capable screenwriter and director. Once the introduction is opened and the two girls have made their decision, it is not difficult for Cheng Heng to continue talking.

"Sanheng, that yard was left to me by my mother. I only hope that you can help take care of it and come to the private school often... When your husband passes the exam, we will naturally go back."

Knowing that Sanheng would not refuse what she said, Liu Jiaoan still gave it enough emotional value.

If Sanheng could completely cut off ties with the Liu family, or if he had not been instructed by Liu's father and had had some intentions in mind from the beginning, Liu Jiaoan would have been willing to take care of him as a sworn brother.

None of his words, actions, and heart can be considered pure. Liu Jiaoan also felt sorry for Sanheng's situation and treated him with all possible kindness.

But in the end, he didn't dare to wholeheartedly entrust the truth of all things to Sanheng.

If I pity a not-innocent person today, who will pity me tomorrow? To pity others, I must pity myself first. Whether it is Guan Yin or Liu Jiaoan, they ask themselves that they do not have the energy to take care of Sanheng now, and they dare not easily put such an uncertain factor by their side.

"Madam trusts Sanheng, so Sanheng will guard the house for Madam and Mr. Guan."

This time it was tacitly understood. Sanheng knew that her husband was closer to the teacher in front of them, and he also knew that her wife would definitely choose her husband between him and him.

"Sanheng is not by your side, Madam, please take care of yourself."

Living alone was not a difficult thing for Sanheng. It was even easier than living with his wife and husband.

After arranging the destinations of the four people, Sanheng stayed obediently in the small yard and watched the old manuscripts being moved away.

Three people became one, and Sanheng of course took good care of himself, but a sense of inexplicable loneliness suddenly came over him.

If the lady trusted Sanheng himself, she would have given the yard to Sanheng, but would not let him go with her. If the lady did not trust Sanheng himself, she would not let him go with her, but she would have Sanheng take care of the yard and the small tea mountain left by his mother.

So Sanheng also understood that his wife did not trust how he would treat her husband - what could he do with two men?
"Sanheng, take care of yourself." There are always a lot of insects and snakes in the mountains. Guan Yin sometimes feels that Sanheng is mature and even sophisticated, but when he thinks of the latter's age, a sense of disconnection arises spontaneously.

Clearly a child.

He is clearly a child who is forced to act mature.

As a teacher, Guan Yin subconsciously wanted to protect the children who had not yet grown up, so he said these words with some soothing meaning from the bottom of his heart.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Guan."

They were still as awkward and polite as ever, but Guan Yin's sincerity still managed to slightly break through Sanheng's solid shell, and a trace of warmth from Guan Yin and Liu Jiaoan quietly seeped in.

"Sanheng, this house is now in your hands. You are alone at home. Even if you have a cold, you must come to us early... Don't waste your health for the sake of money or trouble."

"Madam, don't worry. Sanheng is very healthy and has seldom been sick over the years. He has been strong since his mother's womb!"

The lady's words were more delicate, and Sanheng's replies were also more detailed.

"Well, just don't let yourself be wronged. San Heng had already sent the two people a long way, and seeing that if he sent them a little longer, they could stay in the private school to rest tonight, San Heng stopped.

Immediately after Liu Jiaoan finished speaking, the three of them didn't exchange any more greetings and each went their own way.

"Madam, why don't you take Sanheng over to your private school? We have kept it a secret for so long, it won't be difficult to keep it a secret any longer."

"Having to take care of teaching and the imperial examination at the same time, Sanheng's presence seems to be causing trouble." Liu Jiaoan just wanted to remove as many stumbling blocks as possible for Guan Yin on this already difficult road.

Even Sanheng, who had done it "for her" and became the influential one in the overall situation, was pushed aside without hesitation.

"Besides, that small courtyard and the tea mountain really need someone to take care of them. Don't blame yourself for everything."

He could no longer mention sending Sanheng back to the Liu family. Otherwise, if Cheng Heng moved into the courtyard, it would not only help him write the script, but also prevent the students from becoming suspicious when they saw two Mr. Chengs, thus ruining all his efforts.

Liu Jiaoan's words were always very clear, and she seemed to have persuaded others and herself. Guan Yin often just nodded - originally this girl was a little younger than him, but she was also forced to be very smart by her experiences.

"It's easy for a woman to dress up as a man, but students should be able to recognize your face." After clearing away the trouble, Guan Yin realized that his identity was also a big trouble in this era.

"I will tell you that you are my fellow apprentice and I am determined to pass the imperial examinations, so you will be the one teaching me this lesson."

Now that the identities have been explained, it seems that everything can only be left to time to solve, letting the years flow quietly and giving those who are busy day and night the answers they deserve.

"Sanheng, don't you really think it's weird?"

"How did you get to know me...brother?"

"He won't tell my father." Liu Jiaoan seemed very sure of this. "Even if he told my father these, my father wouldn't take them as valuable information."

Liu Jiaoan knows Sanheng too well.

Of course, Liu Jiaoan understands his father better.