TIPS – Chapter 100

To be fair, earning two taels of silver per month as a tutor in a rural area like this was already quite good. But if that amount was suddenly cut in half, it was understandably hard to accept.

Song Jingwei asked, “Actually, one tael of silver isn’t a small sum either. If you’re coming to teach at our academy, have you considered how much stipend we can offer?” Or perhaps, this person hadn’t really severed ties with the Shen family’s private school and was just here to gather information.

“It’s not entirely about the stipend,” Xu Heng replied. “I just feel the private school is no longer what it used to be. If it has to cut the tutors’ pay just to stay afloat, who knows what the future holds?” He then added, “As for Liangshan Academy, I believe it has great potential.”

“Oh? You’ve done your homework, haven’t you? You know the county magistrate has praised this academy?” Song Jingwei didn’t buy the blind confidence; even he himself wasn’t always that sure about their future.

“Heh…” Xu Heng chuckled awkwardly, realizing he’d been exposed. He nodded honestly. Yes, he had asked around and learned that Song Jingwei had strong backing. Following him seemed like a safe bet.

“Giving help in times of prosperity is easy; providing it in adversity is rare,” Song Jingwei said. “Choosing to join me now shows you’re smart. But I hope you remember your choice and value it. Don’t get muddled later and start thinking too highly of yourself just because you were one of the first.”

“Of course. I will remember this well,” Xu Heng said sincerely. By coming here today, he had already prepared himself to burn bridges with the Shen private school.

“Alright, you probably don’t have a place to stay in the village, do you? Move your belongings over today—I’ll arrange accommodations for you,” Song Jingwei said, speaking slowly as he studied him. “Unlike the Shen private school, we cover room and board here without deducting anything from your pay. However, the monthly stipend is only one tael of silver for now, with quarterly bonuses based on your performance. If you teach well, I won’t treat you poorly.”

Xu Heng wasn’t disappointed. He had mentally prepared for an even lower stipend. To still get one tael was already more than he expected. He said gratefully, “That’s already very generous. Thank you, Young Master Song.” Then he added, “I’ll head back now to pack and be back in an hour.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Song Jingwei nodded.

Having landed a new employer—currently the most sought-after one in the village—Xu Heng was delighted. But being a scholar, he didn’t show his joy outwardly. Instead, he grew poetic about everything around him, finding beauty in all he saw.

Before coming, he’d done his research. Liangshan Academy currently only had two tutors, and they were a married couple. One of them was pregnant, which was why they urgently needed to hire another tutor. Once the pregnant one went on leave, the other would likely need time off to care for their partner, leaving Xu Heng as the only active teacher. Even if someone else joined later, they wouldn’t have his seniority.

Xu Heng stroked his beard with a satisfied smile, already envisioning a bright future as the academy’s head teacher.

Still smiling, he walked back into his quarters at the private school. But when he looked up, he suddenly found himself face-to-face with his old employer, Shen Dongying, whose expression was as dark as thunderclouds.

Shen Dongying had been teaching at the private school since early morning. Someone had rushed over to tell him that a tutor named Xu had left the students behind and stormed off in a hurry. When Shen went to check, the classroom Xu Heng was responsible for was in a state of chatter, everyone wondering why the tutor hadn’t shown up.

“That Xu Heng!” Shen Dongying ground his teeth in anger and rushed off to catch him at his quarters.

Now that Xu Heng had returned, Shen Dongying’s temper had cooled slightly. With a cold face, he asked, “Mr. Xu, where did you run off to this early in the morning?”

If this had been before, Xu Heng would’ve been anxious—after all, his job was on the line. But now, there was no need to worry. He’d already secured a better employer. With a calm smile, he said, “Ah, it’s Headmaster Shen! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Shen Dongying’s eyes blazed with fury. “You’re asking me? You abandoned your students first thing in the morning—what do you think I’m here for?” He found it baffling. Xu Heng had always been honest and dutiful, never daring to act frivolously in front of him. What had gotten into him today?

“Oh, I see,” Xu Heng said with a nod. “Actually, I was just about to discuss this with you. I went out to think things over and realized I’m not suited to be a tutor here anymore. I came back just now to pack my things and leave.” Anyway, he’d already received last month’s pay. As for the days he worked this month, he didn’t expect to be compensated for them—he knew Shen Dongying wouldn’t bother.

“You what? You’re quitting?” Shen Dongying’s eyes widened in disbelief. He never imagined one of his tutors would just up and leave. “Is it because you think the pay’s too low?” he asked. Then, raising his voice, he scolded, “How can you be like this? Times are hard, and we only cut the stipend for two months. And now you want to abandon the private school? Are you even a real scholar? You—you—you shameless man!”

Xu Heng didn’t think he was in the wrong at all. Sure, he was a scholar, but he was also an ordinary person who needed to eat and sleep. He especially looked down on someone like Shen Dongying—always talking about virtue and righteousness, but acting like a hypocrite. If Shen Dongying had really been such a good person, Xu Heng wouldn’t have chosen to leave the private school.

“Dean Shen says I’m shameless—well, I can’t exactly deny it. But I also have a few words for you.” Xu Heng stepped past him and began packing up his belongings. It was just two changes of clothes and a few books. After stepping outside, he said to Shen Dongying, “If what I’ve done makes me shameless, then you, sir, must be truly vile.”

“You!” Shen Dongying was so furious he nearly jumped, trying to stop him. “Stop right there! Who said you could leave?”

“I’m a free man. I don’t need anyone’s permission,” Xu Heng replied coolly.

“You’ve offended the Shen family—aren’t you afraid?” Shen Dongying suddenly regretted it. He should’ve made the teachers sign a labor contract back then—one that required them to stay for a certain number of years or pay compensation to leave.

Xu Heng chuckled. “Well, I am going to the Shen family—but the one nobody dares to mess with.” He grinned smugly, only further infuriating Shen Dongying. Sensing it was time to leave, Xu Heng picked up his things and darted off before Shen could explode again.

“…So that’s how it is! The Shen family, huh? Very well!” Shen Dongying was livid, practically fuming. The clues from Xu Heng’s words made it all clear: Xu Heng had only grown so bold because he had backing—his own rival’s house, the Shen family’s main branch!

And because of that, Shen Dongying had no way to retaliate. He couldn’t even stop Xu Heng from walking out. The indignation was almost enough to make him cough up blood. But at this moment, he had more pressing worries—would the other teachers at the private school start getting ideas too now that Xu Heng had left?

No, absolutely not. That thought alone made Shen Dongying uneasy. He had to find a way to stop things from getting worse. He needed to make Xu Heng regret leaving.

That evening, back at home, Shen Dongying discussed it with his father, Old Master Shen. “Father, we can’t reduce the teachers’ stipends anymore. In fact, we should restore them to the original rate!”

Old Master Shen was startled. “Why? Didn’t we agree earlier this year to reduce them?” It was obvious something had happened, and this sudden reversal made that all too clear.

“Ah!” Shen Dongying was still fuming as he recounted what had happened with Xu Heng earlier that day. After venting, he added bitterly, “Who would’ve thought Xu Heng was that kind of person? I used to think he was one of the good ones.”

“If it’s really like that, then we should indeed reconsider,” Old Master Shen said. The decision to cut stipends had been a bad idea from the start—one thought up by his younger son. Now they were paying the price. Still, Old Master Shen hadn’t opposed the idea at the time either—after all, who didn’t want to save money?

“A tael of silver is already a decent amount. They were spoiled before,” Shen Dongying said angrily. Back when the school was doing well, they’d paid the teachers generously. Now that times were tough, reducing stipends should be the norm. But those ungrateful backstabbers—how could they not see the bigger picture?

“I think the other teachers still seem loyal. Let’s observe a bit longer. If any of them do decide to leave, we’ll just hire new ones,” Old Master Shen suggested. Just as Shen Dongying had said—a tael of silver wasn’t a bad offer.

“You’re right,” Shen Dongying said, finally calming down. “I almost let Xu Heng drive me mad. It’s not like he’s the only teacher in the world—we can always find others.”

And so, the idea of restoring the stipends was scrapped once more.

Meanwhile, Xu Heng had moved into the courtyard his new employer arranged for him. The moment he saw the environment—spacious, peaceful, and a private yard at that—he was overjoyed. “This is great, this courtyard is wonderful—perfect, perfect,” he kept saying. He was already envisioning himself planting flowers and elegant bamboo out front, living the refined life of a cultured gentleman.

Song Jingwei had him start teaching the very next day, filling the spot left vacant by Qiao Lang. At this point, Pei Hongxuan’s belly had already started to show—it had been over five months. Song Jingwei said to him, “Now that Xu Heng is here, you don’t have to push yourself so hard. Just keep an eye on the students occasionally. The rest of the time, treat it as free time. Get some daily exercise—it’ll be good for your body.”

Since Song Jingwei had experienced it himself, Pei Hongxuan trusted his advice. Smiling, he said, “It’s not too hard, really. My body’s in better shape than yours.” He was naturally tall and strong, and his belly wasn’t too obvious yet—he didn’t look all that different from normal.

“Heh, I’m not the one who’s worried—it’s Wu Xi. He keeps sneaking glances at me, thinking I don’t notice,” Song Jingwei said with a laugh. “Don’t worry—I’ll give him time off too in a few days. Once your baby is born, you’ll both be even busier. You won’t have time to worry about the Academy anymore.” After having Benben, he fully understood how much time and attention a baby took. The whole family ended up revolving around the child.

Pei Hongxuan nodded. “That’s for sure. He already promised me that after I have our first child, he’ll have a second one for me.”

Song Jingwei looked both surprised and amused. “Oh? So he’s serious this time?”

Pei Hongxuan first curled his lips, then said with certainty, “Naturally. If he dares to lie to me again this time, then he must have a death wish.”

Song Jingwei thought so too. If Wu Xi still dared to deceive Pei Hongxuan after all this, then it would truly be his own fault. From what he knew of Pei Hongxuan, he wouldn’t forgive Wu Xi a second time.

“In that case, I’ll offer my blessings in advance for your ‘big treasure’ and ‘little treasure’. Once they’re born, I’ll have Benben help take care of them.”

“Hahaha, your little Benben is still just a tiny tot.” Pei Hongxuan burst out laughing. Thinking about how Benben was already three months old, he patted his own belly and said, “Alright, he’s the elder brother after all—naturally, he should look after his younger siblings.”

“Exactly.” In Song Jingwei’s mind, children needed peers to grow up with—preferably siblings close in age. But as for himself, he had no plans for a second child. This left him feeling somewhat guilty toward Benben. Thankfully, Pei Hongxuan was carrying one, and Wu Xi would have another in the future. That would be enough.

Because of the sudden departure of Shen’s private school teacher Xu Heng, the two private schools in the village became a hot topic of discussion these past few days. People gossiped about the schools’ pros and cons, speculated on the Academy’s inner workings, and overall seemed more supportive of the Academy’s rise. After all, most villagers were poor and would likely send their children to the Academy in the future, if not already.

“I heard Liangshan Academy is hiring teachers?” This news had long been spreading in the village.

The younger brother of Village Chief Li Zhangguang’s wife had a distant cousin and fellow scholar interested in applying to be a teacher at Liangshan Academy in Chashan Village. Early one morning, the young scholar accompanied his relative to pay a visit—not directly to the Academy, but first to the village chief’s home.

“I wonder what kind of person this Young Master Song is. Would he consider someone like me?” The scholar’s name was Lu Bingjun. He had just turned twenty, with a refined and handsome appearance.

Upon seeing him, Li Zhangguang couldn’t help but praise, “What a graceful young gentleman—truly eye-catching.”

As for the teaching matter, he pondered for a moment and said, “As long as your knowledge isn’t lacking, you’ll surely be fine.” That afternoon, he personally accompanied Lu Bingjun, thinking that no matter what, Song Jingwei would give him some face.

More importantly, Song Jingwei was indeed eager to hire a teacher. Seeing that Lu Bingjun had been brought by the village chief, he didn’t immediately accept or reject him. He noted the young man’s upright appearance and proper demeanor, then asked a few scholarly questions. Upon hearing Lu’s articulate but unpretentious responses, he was quite pleased.

Still, he worried that Lu Bingjun might not stay long and said, “Although I’m in a hurry to hire, I don’t want someone who’s only looking to stay for a short time. If you’re planning to leave after a year or so, I won’t accept.”

Lu Bingjun was also surprised upon seeing Song Jingwei. He hadn’t expected the founder of the Academy to be such a young and remarkable person. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “I can’t promise exactly how long I’ll stay, but I guarantee at least two years.”

Two years wasn’t bad at all. Song Jingwei nodded. “Good. Here, the salary is one tael of silver per month for teachers. Food, lodging, and writing materials are provided. Can you accept that?”

One tael per month wasn’t much, but for a scholar, having food, lodging, and supplies covered was excellent. Lu Bingjun only hesitated briefly before nodding. “I can accept.”

“Very good.” Song Jingwei clearly explained all the terms. Once everything was settled, he arranged for Lu Bingjun to stay in the same courtyard as Xu Heng, with each taking a separate room.

Xu Heng hadn’t expected a colleague to arrive so soon, but it was fine. The newcomer was a fresh-faced youth—no matter in terms of age or experience, Xu Heng held seniority.

Luckily, Lu Bingjun had an excellent personality and temperament, so it wasn’t hard to get along. In fact, they quickly became familiar with each other.

“Brother Xu, you’ve been here longer. Can you tell me about Young Master Song?”

“What ‘Young Master Song’? Call him ‘Master Song’,” Xu Heng corrected him. “That’s what merchants call their young masters. Master Song isn’t that kind of person. Even if he didn’t run the Academy, he’d still be a village gentry.” Though not a pure businessman, Xu Heng thought to himself.

“Sorry, I’m new here and don’t know much yet,” Lu Bingjun said. His understanding of Song Jingwei came entirely from the village chief’s family.

“Ai, let me tell you…” Xu Heng had been around for years—even before Song Jingwei had married into the village, he had already been a teacher at Shen’s private school. He knew every bit of gossip and rumor about Song Jingwei since the day he arrived. Now, sitting with Lu Bingjun, he recounted them with great enthusiasm, spittle flying—an animated side of him rarely seen.

After listening to Xu Heng’s stories, Lu Bingjun finally understood. “So that’s how it is.” His mood had risen and fallen along with the tale. Upon learning that Song Jingwei was already married and had a child earlier this year, he looked a little disappointed.

“Hahaha.” Seeing his expression, Xu Heng laughed. “Master Song is truly outstanding. You’re not the first to like him, and you won’t be the last. But it’s a pity—he’s already married. Otherwise, marrying someone like him would be a true blessing.”