Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

The two walked side by side through the deep alleys of Nanluoguxiang, the bluestone pavement under their feet gleaming coolly in the moonlight.

The air was filled with the distinctive smell of coal smoke and the faint fragrance of locust blossoms characteristic of this era. The farce that had just occurred at the entrance of the courtyard house seemed to have been isolated in another world by the tranquil night.

"Teacher Ran, were you scared just now?" Jiang Chen broke the silence, his voice deep and gentle, completely different from the "living devil" who had casually tossed Jia Zhangshi away just now.

Ran Qiuye shook her head gently, her hands gripping the bicycle handlebars, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force: "No... I just find it quite unexpected. I teach at a school, and I deal with children all the time. Although I've heard of some difficult parents, I've never seen one as unreasonable as Jia Zhangshi before."

"In this world, reason alone won't get you anywhere." Jiang Chen looked ahead, his tone calm yet exuding an undeniable certainty. "Especially when facing those who bully the weak and fear the strong, your kindness must have a sharp edge. Otherwise, it's weakness, handing a knife to bad guys."

Ran Qiuye turned her head, pushed up her glasses, and a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes: "Kindness must have a bit of an edge... Comrade Jiang, what you said is very philosophical. It's a bit like... a bit like the viewpoints mentioned by Sukhomlinsky in his theory of education."

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, and a barely perceptible smile curved his lips.

The fish has taken the bait.

In this era, those who can read Sukhomlinsky are extremely rare. Since Ran Qiuye mentioned this, it means she is not merely a teacher, but also an intellectual with spiritual pursuits.

To win over this kind of artsy young woman, offering money and food is a poor strategy, an insult to her dignity; only by creating a spiritual resonance, or even achieving a superior level of understanding, can you truly enter her heart.

"Sukhomlinsky did say something similar." Jiang Chen slowed his pace, his tone becoming casual yet profound. "However, I personally feel that his discussion of 'all-round development of personality' in 'Advice to Teachers,' while idealistic, actually requires a combination of 'collectivist education' and 'iron discipline,' like Makarenko's approach, especially when dealing with problem students like Bang Geng."

Ran Qiuye suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring wide-eyed at Jiang Chen as if she were looking at an alien.

"You...you've also read Makarenko's 'Pedagogical Poems'?"

In this era where workers were the masters of the country, how could a head of the security department, a military man who dealt with catching spies and maintaining order all day, casually talk about classic Soviet educational works? This huge contrast instantly shattered Ran Qiuye's psychological defenses.

"I just browse around in my spare time." Jiang Chen smiled, his nonchalant attitude making him seem even more unfathomable. "I don't just read Soviet Russian books; I also dabble in Western educational psychology. For example, Dewey's 'learning by doing,' although it's a bourgeois approach, the idea that 'practice makes perfect' is actually very relevant to the training of our current skilled workers."

Ran Qiuye's eyes now held more than just surprise; they had transformed into a mixture of admiration and excitement. In an era of extreme cultural scarcity, where books were considered a rare resource, encountering someone who had read these books and possessed such profound insights was like finding a spring in the desert.

A kindred spirit!

The two unconsciously slowed their pace, their conversation shifting from the basics of education to literature, philosophy, and even their visions for the future. Ran Qiuye's previously reserved face radiated an unprecedented brilliance as she spoke eloquently about her educational ideals, while Jiang Chen consistently offered insightful comments at crucial moments, each word hitting the nail on the head.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance of the alley where Ran Qiuye's house was located.

"Oh dear, we've arrived." Ran Qiuye stopped, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. This was the most enjoyable conversation she had had in all these years.

Jiang Chen stopped, glanced around to make sure no one was there, and then very naturally reached into his military satchel—actually, he was probing into his system space.

That handbag was like a treasure chest, always able to produce surprises at crucial moments.

"Since we're on this topic, there's something I think I should give you."

Jiang Chen took out a thread-bound book from his bag. The pages were already a bit yellowed, and the cover was written in traditional Chinese characters as "A Brief Analysis of Western Educational Psychology".

This wasn't a common book available at Xinhua Bookstore in this era; rather, it was a unique manuscript that Jiang Chen acquired in a dimensional transaction from a down-on-his-luck professor in a Republican-era world. In this world, the book was absolutely out of print.

"This is..." Ran Qiuye saw the cover clearly in the dim light of the street lamp, and her breathing became rapid instantly.

"I found this at a used bookstore a while ago. It's supposedly a compilation of manuscripts by a master from the Republican era." Jiang Chen handed over the book, his tone sincere. "A fine sword is given to a hero, and a good book is given to a teacher. This book is just an ornament here; only in your hands can it realize its true value."

Ran Qiuye took the book with trembling hands.

In an era of intellectual scarcity, the weight of this out-of-print book far surpasses that of a large diamond ring bestowed upon future generations. It represents not merely knowledge, but a profound sense of recognition and understanding.

She gently stroked the rough cover, her eyes slightly moist. She looked up at Jiang Chen's deep, ocean-like eyes, and her heart pounded violently.

"Comrade Jiang, this...this is too valuable, I can't..."

"Keep it." Jiang Chen interrupted her refusal, his voice gentle yet firm. "Consider it tuition for Bang Geng. I hope you can find a way to teach that troublemaker a lesson from it."

Ran Qiuye stopped crying and smiled, carefully holding the book in her arms as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

"Thank you... thank you so much." Her voice was soft, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness. "Comrade Jiang, are you free this weekend... this weekend? I'd like to... I'd like to go to the park to read this book. If you don't mind, could you..."

"It would be my pleasure." Jiang Chen smiled and nodded. "See you at the entrance of Beihai Park at nine o'clock on Sunday morning."

"Okay! See you there!"

Ran Qiuye pushed her bicycle into the alley, but after a few steps, she couldn't help but turn back. There she saw that tall figure still standing at the intersection, watching her go.

At that moment, Ran Qiuye felt that the moonlight tonight was the most beautiful she had seen in the past twenty years.

Back home, Ran Qiuye sat under the lamp, holding the book, unable to fall asleep for a long time. Her mind was filled with Jiang Chen's eloquent speech and his imposing figure standing in front of her at the entrance of the courtyard house, blocking her view.

At this moment, Jiang Chen was walking back to the courtyard house.

He lit a Daqianmen cigarette, took a deep drag, and amidst the swirling smoke, a cold, hunter-like smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Intellectuals are the easiest to win over because they are naive; yet they are also the hardest to win over because they are aloof. However..."

He patted the seemingly empty satchel.

"I possess the wisdom of an entire library; how could I possibly be afraid of defeating a mere elementary school teacher?"