Chapter Seventeen: Blind to True Worth

All morning, Mr. Zhang paid little attention to the two of them. He listened to Hai’s recitation, taught the new lesson, asked questions—everything was directed toward Hai. In truth, what he taught was so simple for Liu Qin that she understood it at once, but since he ignored her, there was nothing she could do. Bored out of her wits, Miss Liu Qin could only lean on the desk and study our teacher Zhang closely.

Her scrutiny yielded some interesting observations. For example, Mr. Zhang greeted Hai with a beaming smile, but when faced with others—oh, those others being Jiang Li and herself—he assumed the stern demeanor of a master. What was the meaning of this? Why such partiality? Furthermore, he never ceased quoting sages and ancient worthies, living up to his name, for he was indeed a dutiful descendant of the virtuous, as his name suggested.

But these were not the main points. The focus was his appearance. He wasn’t handsome, though not unpleasant to look at; his face was lean, with several wisps of yellow beard under his chin, giving him an air of severity. His eyes were small, with more white than black, yet he carried himself as if his eyes were set above his head, often lifting his chin high and rolling his eyes upward until all she could see was white, the black pupils nowhere in sight.

“A sightless gaze,” the phrase drifted into Liu Qin’s mind without conscious effort, and she almost wanted to clap with delight—it was so fitting, tailor-made for him.

Chuckling quietly to herself, Liu Qin hid behind her desk, covering her mouth as she laughed. Jiang Li was following the lesson in earnest with Mr. Zhang, but glimpsed her odd behavior out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but shake his head, amused. This little cousin, what mischief was she plotting now?

The two exchanged several glances, carrying on a silent conversation. Though originally ignored by all, their back-and-forth caught the attention of the teacher—much like students whispering in class or employees playing games at work. Mr. Zhang happened to turn his head, happened to glance their way, and that one look sent him into a fury.

Mr. Zhang felt his authority as a teacher had been gravely challenged. He stopped the lesson and shouted, “Jiang Li, Liu Qin, what are you doing?”

Startled, Liu Qin jumped to her feet instinctively—an old school reflex.

“Sir, the fault is mine. I wasn’t attentive, and had to trouble Qin…Qin brother to urge me. If you must punish someone, punish me,” Jiang Li quickly took the blame upon himself, fearing his cousin would be scolded.

“No, no, it was me, it was me…” Liu Qin, loyal as always, couldn’t let Brother Li take all the punishment. If there were blessings, they’d share them; if there were difficulties, they’d face them together.

“Brother Qin, don’t say that,” Jiang Li hurriedly interrupted her, shooting her a warning glance.

“Enough! Are you two trying to infuriate your teacher?” Mr. Zhang rolled his eyes again—this time out of anger. “Hopeless children! You have just arrived, yet you shirk study and argue stubbornly. Such laziness is heartbreaking. You reside in the same household as Wen Hai. Look at him! Though the direct grandson of the Liu family, young in years, he already knows to respect his elders and strives diligently. Compared to you, he is a pearl, while you are mere fish eyes.”

Liu Qin seethed inside. Lazy? Fish eyes? No, he wasn’t even that. He was truly sightless. Did he think she couldn’t see through him? He called Hai a pearl only because he was the Liu family’s direct grandson. If Hai were just an ordinary child, would he still be so full of praise? Hardly.

While she fumed, Mr. Zhang continued his harangue, “Do you realize how fortunate you are to enter the Liu household and have this opportunity for study? It is due to the generosity of the master of the house and your own good fortune. Otherwise, as mere distant relatives, how would you warrant personal instruction from me? Since you are so favored, you must cherish it—do not waste time or disappoint the master of the house’s good intentions. The sages said, ‘See the virtuous and strive to emulate them; see the unvirtuous and reflect upon oneself.’ You should take Wen Hai as your mirror, improve yourselves, and thereby comfort both the master and your teacher…”

Liu Qin finally understood. Mr. Zhang was not only sightless, but also a snob. No wonder he looked at her and Jiang Li with such disdain all morning—he saw them as poor relations leeching off the Liu family. He thought highly of himself, and except for the direct grandson, he viewed others as beneath him, unworthy of his instruction. Well, at least he didn’t know she was a girl; if he did, who knows whether his face would turn red or pale, whether he’d keep flattering her father or stick to his principle of not teaching girls?

Faced with such a teacher, Liu Qin couldn’t even muster anger anymore. She simply muttered inwardly, “Oh, teacher, can’t you speak normally? Must you always quote the classics to show off your knowledge? I know you’ve memorized plenty, but what use is it to only recite? You say to reflect upon oneself when seeing the unvirtuous—I’ve reflected a thousand times already after seeing you. When I grow up, I must never become like you. Not just me, but my children and grandchildren, generation after generation, must never be like you.”

Just as she thought this, Mr. Zhang wrapped up his lengthy lecture and turned to Jiang Li, “Do you understand what I have said?”

“I understand, sir.”

Seeing Jiang Li’s respectful reply, Mr. Zhang was somewhat satisfied. He then turned to Liu Qin, “Do you understand?”

Understand? Of course she did. Liu Qin answered inwardly, but outwardly, she assumed a blank expression, tilted her head in thought, shook it, and said naively, “Sir, I don’t understand what you said. My father and mother never speak to me that way.”

Mr. Zhang rolled his eyes again, tossed his long sleeves, and left with a final, “Hopeless child,” returning to his seat. Behind him came Liu Qin’s crisp voice, “Sir, would you repeat it again?”

Jiang Li, watching the teacher leave in a huff, was secretly amused. This little cousin was truly clever and mischievous. She could hardly fail to notice the teacher’s disdain for them, yet she feigned ignorance so convincingly that the teacher was left exasperated, as if playing music to a cow.

Liu Qin and Jiang Li exchanged a glance, with Liu Qin making a gesture Jiang Li didn’t understand, and then they both smiled.

Because the students were young, the Liu family’s morning lessons were only three periods, including breaks—about an hour and a half. The afternoon was for self-study and play. Usually, the teacher assigned homework to be checked the next day. It was much like her previous life, but more merciful, with no full days of lessons.

The morning’s lessons finally ended after Mr. Zhang assigned homework. He strode out of the study, head held high, as the three students called, “Take care, sir!”

Liu Qin waved at the teacher’s retreating figure, muttering quietly, “Take care, no need to see you off.”

“What are you saying, sister?” Turning around, Jiang Li stood behind her, smiling.

“Nothing, nothing at all. I’m just so happy we can finally play! Hai, wasn’t class tiring?”

Hai was every bit the little adult, shaking his head solemnly and replying, “Not at all. The teacher said we must study tirelessly.”

Ah, the gap between the underachiever and the model student—no common language, no way to communicate. How Liu Qin envied, begrudged, and admired such a good student. Why hadn’t she inherited those genes in either life?

Well, underachiever it is. Liu Qin decided to embrace her playful nature. “Brother Li, Hai, let’s go play in the garden.”

Even the most studious child is still a child, and Hai was excited at the prospect of playing. As for Jiang Li, he was now completely susceptible to his little cousin’s pitiful looks, so he naturally followed her lead. The three were happily discussing where to go and what to do when Cui Liu, who was packing up their books, hurriedly interjected, “Miss, you can’t go play now. The madam is waiting for you to return for lunch.”

At the mention of food, Liu Qin realized she was hungry. She thought for a moment, then said to Cui Yu, “Go tell mother I want to practice characters with Brother Li, so I won’t be coming back. Have lunch sent to the Ink Fragrance Courtyard for the three of us.”

After instructing Cui Yu, she turned to Chang Xing, “Chang Xing, move the table into the courtyard, right under those crabapple trees. Brother Li, let’s eat and play at the same time, shall we?”

Jiang Li agreed happily, even reaching out to pat her little head.

Cui Yu and Chang Xing set about their tasks, and Liu Qin, satisfied, took Jiang Li’s hand in one, Hai’s in the other, declaring with a flourish, “Let’s go!”