sovbooks Chapter 71 0069 [First Time Alone]
Chapter 71 0069 [First Time Alone]
Chapter 71 0069 [First Time Alone]
(Thanks to the reader for the reminder. The last time I encountered quadratic equations in two variables was more than twenty years ago. I have already revised the relevant description in the previous chapter.)
Today is a day off; not only are schools closed, but government offices are also closed.
Yu Jing wasn't in a hurry to go to work; he leisurely chatted during his meal.
When his wife, Madam Lin, wanted to inquire further, Yu Jing steered the conversation toward mathematics, leaving Madam Lin speechless.
Xu Lai jumped from counting rods to abacus: "Sir, the abacus should be an evolution of counting rods, but I have found some inconveniences in it."
"What's the inconvenience?" Yu Jing asked.
Xu Lai said, "One jin is equal to sixteen liang. One liang is equal to ten qian, one qian is equal to ten fen, and one fen is equal to ten li. When calculating these weights, two abacuses are needed."
"So how do you think it should be improved?" Yu Jing asked curiously.
Xu Lai said, "Add one bead to each of the upper and lower sections."
Is it that simple?
Yu Jing was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Yes, just add two beads and the problem will be solved.
The officials in the Three Departments are probably ecstatic. Their workload will be greatly reduced, as they'll be spending all their time calculating.
In fact, Xu Lai had already noticed something was wrong with the abacus when he first bought the book.
At this time, the abacus has only one bead on the upper shelf and four beads on the lower shelf.
Calculating decimal numbers is no problem at all.
In ancient China, one jin was equal to sixteen liang. However, units below liang, such as qian, fen, and hao, were based on a decimal system.
If the beads on the abacus are changed to two on top and five on the bottom, it can be used for mixed carry-over of sixteen and ten.
A small change can perfectly solve a practical problem.
After lunch, Lin found an excuse to call Yu Jing into the inner room: "Have you really made up your mind?"
"I'm even more certain today," Yu Jing said. "This child is exceptionally intelligent. He can learn everything, whether it's Confucian classics or practical matters, and he can apply his knowledge to other areas as well."
Lin said, "Then let's send him to the Imperial Academy to study. It's too difficult to pass the imperial examinations in Guangzhou."
Madam Lin did not look down on Xu Lai's background; she was only worried that he would not pass the imperial examination. If he came from a humble background and was not a successful candidate in the examination, the Yu family would indeed be ridiculed by some people for having such a son-in-law.
Sending someone to study at the Imperial Academy would greatly increase their chances of passing the imperial examination.
Firstly, the teachers there are more capable.
Secondly, it allows you to contact the teachers who set the questions and understand their question-setting preferences.
Yu Jing nodded and said, "Guangdong is in dire need of reconstruction, and many long-standing problems have not yet been eliminated. I can't leave for the time being. I will stay for at least another year, and then I will take him to the capital."
Guangdong was developing well, but Nong Zhigao's rebellion dealt a heavy blow to the province. Although it has now largely recovered, many messy problems remain.
Cai Kang was in charge of leading the charge, reforming the salt transport system in Guangdong, and improving the official purchase system for copper mines—all of these changes required Yu Jing to oversee the operations, as Cai Kang alone could not manage them.
Only when the new system is in operation and becomes a consensus among officials can the two of them feel at ease about being transferred.
As for advancing to the Imperial Academy, there are two methods.
First, students from the prefecture could apply themselves, and after obtaining school approval, they could travel to the capital at any time to participate in the supplementary examination for the Imperial Academy. If they passed the exam, they could enter the Imperial Academy.
Secondly, local officials could recommend candidates for admission to the Imperial Academy without taking the entrance exam. However, the number of recommendations was limited. Even Yu Jing, who served as both military commissioner and prefect, only had one recommendation quota per year.
The number of students recommended for admission to the Imperial Academy was strictly controlled. Otherwise, with so many prefectures and military districts across the country, if students could simply be recommended by their superiors, the Imperial Academy would have long been filled with people with connections.
Yu Jing and the Lin family went off to have a private chat, leaving Xu Lai and Pianpian alone in the dining room.
Pianpian felt a little awkward and embarrassed; this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.
They were waiting for the elderly couple to return, but the servants came to clear the dishes and table, which made Pianpian even more at a loss.
"It's quite cool today," Xu said.
Pianpian said, "Yes. It rained in the latter half of last night."
Xu Lai said, "Let's go for a walk."
"Okay," Pianpian replied.
The two left the dining room, but didn't go too far, so they just looked at the scenery from the corridor.
Xu Lai's romantic experience is not extensive.
He had a crush on a girl in junior high, but never dared to confess. He attended a top-tier high school, which was extremely strict, to the point of being inhumanly strict.
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During his undergraduate years, he had one relationship. But it was short-lived; his girlfriend was too demanding, and they would argue and quarrel every few days. Xu Lai ran out of patience and broke up with her.
This experience left Xu Lai with a psychological scar, making him afraid to fall in love easily again. Wouldn't it be better to use that time to read books, discuss politics, play games, or watch videos?
"What games does the young lady usually play?" Xu Lai asked casually.
Pianpian replied, "Backgammon, Cuju, Swing, and things like that."
Swings are too ambiguous.
Xu Lai doesn't know how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), but he's pretty good at basketball.
How do you play backgammon?
Xu Lai has the mind of an adult; it would be too easy for him to fool a little girl.
However, he was unsure about ancient etiquette, especially regarding the daughter of a high-ranking official like Yu Jing. Getting too close might seem abrupt.
Xu Lai asked, "How do you play backgammon?"
"You're so smart, you'll definitely learn it in no time." Pianpian was also bored, and playing backgammon could pass the time and also ease the awkwardness.
Since it was inconvenient for them to go anywhere else, they simply went back to Yu Jing's study.
Yu'er had already finished lunch and even stood under the corridor for a while, keeping a distance without disturbing her.
Seeing the two heading to the study, Yu'er quickly followed and offered to help them set up the chessboard.
This maidservant, acting like a traitor, actually abandoned her mistress and stood directly next to Xu Lai, explaining the rules: "First, you must roll two dice, and then move the pieces according to the numbers. If you roll a pair, you can move twice as many steps—"
They get to know each other while playing.
When we first started playing, Yu'er basically helped Xu Lai play chess.
In the first round, Pianpian won.
Yu Jing had already returned when the second game was being set up. He saw his daughter playing backgammon with his disciple, so he stood at the study door for a while, then quietly turned and left.
Taking advantage of a rare moment of leisure, and with the weather cool and pleasant, Yu Jing strolled alone in the garden.
Yu Jing had received a private letter from Ouyang Xiu and knew the general situation in the capital.
The day after the late emperor's death, a throng of officials rushed into the Imperial City Guard to request Zhao Shu to succeed to the throne. Zhao Shu's first reaction was to cry out in terror, "I dare not do it! I dare not do it!"
Then, Zhao Shu turned and ran.
Several prime ministers rushed forward to hold him down. Ouyang Xiu untied his hair, Han Qi helped him put on a yellow robe, and then they dragged him to the main hall.
The scene was chaotic.
Because Emperor Renzong of Song never designated an heir before his death, even the imperial edict for succession had to be fabricated on the spot. Wang Gui, who was in charge of drafting the edict, was dumbfounded and stood there not knowing how to begin writing. He could only write down what Han Qi said.
At the beginning of his reign, Zhao Shu trusted no one except a few former officials from his time as a prince. He refused to govern and refused to meet with officials from outside the capital.
Zhao Shu, citing the need to observe mourning, handed over all military and political power to Han Qi. Han Qi, along with his ministers, refused.
Only three days after ascending the throne, Zhao Shu claimed to be ill and refused to leave his residence. He may have been faking it, or he may have genuinely fallen ill due to fear.
But this illness lasted on and off for a year. Even if he was genuinely sick at the beginning, he was definitely faking it later. But that's another story.
There was no other way but to ask the Empress Dowager to rule from behind the curtain.
Because Zhao Shu refused to see outsiders, and even the palace eunuchs, the eunuchs, feeling hopeless about their future, went to the Empress Dowager to report on him, secretly urging her to establish a new emperor.
As time went on, the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor became increasingly tense.
Ouyang Xiu didn't go into too much detail in his letter, but he used subtle language to express it all, and Yu Jing could imagine how chaotic the situation in the court and palace was.
Inside the study.
Xu Lai has gradually figured out how to play. Backgammon not only depends on the luck of rolling dice, but also on strategic marching tactics.
It is like chess, where pieces are arranged in a strategic formation, and like Go, where black and white pieces occupy territory.
We must hold our ground, occupy key areas, destroy the enemy's defenses, and ultimately eliminate all of their pieces.
By the third game, Xu Lai was already in a strong position to win.
But there's no need to take it so seriously. In the fourth game, Xu Lai was too lazy to think and just played his pieces based on his feelings without any planning.
This would make the situation evenly matched.
Yu'er stood beside Xu Lai, watching with growing anxiety. She wanted to point out Xu Lai's mistake, but as a silent observer, she had to hold back.
"Ha ha!"
Pianpian was no longer embarrassed and happily played her piece, eliminating Xu Lai's key piece on the outside of the board.
"Ugh."
Yu'er sighed inwardly.
Isn't Saburo supposed to be smart? How come he's so bad at chess?
Yu'er didn't want to watch anymore and asked softly, "What snacks does Sanlang like to eat?"
Xu Lai replied, "Anything is fine."
Yu'er went out to instruct the lower-ranking maids, while she returned to her room to retrieve the sachet.
This was something she had carefully sewn herself while accompanying Pianpian to practice needlework. She had hidden it under her pillow for a long time, but she hadn't given it to her last time, and Pianpian had caught her red-handed.
After much thought, Yu'er put the sachet back under her pillow, hoping that Sixth Sister and Third Brother would get engaged soon.
Then she can give gifts!
Yu'er returned to the outside of the study and waited a moment before a maid brought over pastries and dried fruit. She took the snacks, dismissed the maid, and carried them into the study herself.
"Sanlang, my wife, the snacks are here," Yu'er said with a smile.
Pianpian was happily playing chess when she heard this and turned around to glare at him.
Before anything was even settled, they were already calling him "Sanlang," making Xu Lai seem like the male head of the household.
Startled by that glare, Yu'er quickly lowered her head.
She put down the tray, stepped back behind Pianpian, and dared not stand next to Xu Lai any longer.
Having spent so much time together, their relationship had clearly grown closer, and Pianpian took the initiative to ask, "Don't you play these kinds of games in the dormitory besides studying?"
Xu Lai said, "Playing chess in the dormitory is against the rules; you can only play in the dormitories. The dormitories are all thatched huts, and there are open spaces around them where students play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) every day."
Pianpian asked again, "Aren't you going out to play?"
"They do go out on their days off, but most students choose to stay in their dorms and sleep," Xu Lai asked. "Is your wife always in the inner quarters of the Military Command?"
Pianpian said, "I often go to the West Garden to play, which is next to the inner courtyard. When there are festivals, I go to worship Buddha with my mother and take a walk to relax."
A few months ago, she often met up with Shi Zaizai. The two girls, accompanied by their maids, had a great time playing together in the West Garden.
But from some unknown day, Yu Jing solemnly warned Pianpian to stop associating with Shi Zaizai.
Pianpian was unaware of the situation and was saddened for a while, after all, Shi Ranran was her only best friend in Guangzhou.
In the late afternoon, Yu Jing returned from his walk.
Xu Lai took the opportunity to say goodbye, as he needed to go back to school to study and it wouldn't be good to stay here any longer.
Pianpian, carrying Yu'er, escorted him to the inner courtyard gate.
Watching Xu Lai's departing figure, Yu'er finally could finally speak without holding back: "Wife, when will Sanlang come next time?"
"How would I know?" Pianpian said irritably.
She was actually quite happy today. Although it was just playing chess, it was the first time she had talked so much with a man who was not related to her at all.
Yu'er reminded her, "Next time Sanlang comes, you can ask him for advice. He's very good at writing poetry and is probably also skilled at writing lyrics. If any of your lyrics don't conform to the rules of lyrics, you can ask Sanlang to help you revise them."
Xu Sanlang: ? ? ?
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