Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 10 Midlife Crisis
Having experienced the incident at the Imperial Academy, the Wang family also felt the crisis and hoped that Wang Xi could study well. Therefore, Wang Shouyi returned home early and waited with Princess Xue for his son to come home from school.

As evening fell, Wang Xi returned home humming a little tune.

"Sparrow, how's your learning going?"

Wang Shouyi asked anxiously.

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "That's great, the teacher even praised me."

"Really?" Princess Xue's face lit up with joy. No teacher had ever praised her son before. Just as she was about to ask about his performance, her delicate nose twitched slightly, and she asked suspiciously, "Que'er, why do you smell of alcohol?"

Upon hearing her words, Wang Shouyi also caught the smell and couldn't help but glare angrily, saying, "On the first day of school, you skipped class to go drinking?"

"No."

Wang Xi quickly shook his head and said seriously, "I drank it in the academy, I didn't skip class to drink."

"Drinking in the academy?" Wang Shouyi was immediately furious. You're really going too far. You're not even trying to hide it anymore.

Wang Xi quickly explained, "No, it was the teacher who made us drink it. I'm innocent."

"Bastard!"

Wang Shouyi rebuked, "Why would Mr. Wuming drink with you?"

Princess Xue frowned slightly, "Que'er, you are really outrageous."

Outrageous!

Why would a teacher drink with his students?

If you're going to lie, at least use your brain. Do you think we're fools?

"Mother, it's true."

Wang Xi said with a wronged expression, "Today, the teacher taught us to be independent and self-reliant."

Wang Shouyi was taken aback. "Sir did mention this before, but what does it have to do with your drinking?"

Instead of answering, Wang Xi asked, "Father, Mother, did you perform the traditional wedding ceremony?"

The so-called "gift of tuition" was simply a way of paying tuition. However, ancient scholars did not like to talk about profit, so they could only use gifts instead.

This ceremony was also required when going to the Imperial Academy, and several bolts of silk had to be sent every year. The Wang family was well aware of their limitations; the first time they sent more than a dozen bolts, but now it seems that all of it was wasted, as they hadn't even received them in three months.

Wang Xi was very angry about this.

Because the Imperial College made no move to back down.

Princess Xue said, "We will not forget this gift, but the teacher firmly refused, saying that he would only need a house for teaching."

"This is it."

Wang Xi said in a mature tone, "Mother, studying always costs money. For example, the teacher can't afford to pay for the ink, paper and inkstone. But the teacher hopes that we can earn our own tuition to support our studies. Only in this way can we understand the value of knowledge, understand the hardships our parents have endured, and cherish our time even more."

So the first lesson the teacher assigned us was to tell our parents that they weren't allowed to give us any more money during this period, otherwise the teacher would punish us.

Princess Xue nodded slightly, "That does sound like what you said, sir."

Wang Shouyi found it strange and laughed, "So, you won't ask us for money anymore?"

Wang Xi said, "This is homework assigned by the teacher, of course I will complete it, but after I finish it I will still want it, hehe."

With so much money in our family, if I don't spend it, who will?

Princess Xue suddenly asked, "But what does this have to do with you drinking?"

Wang Shouyi also realized what was happening and saw the kid had dodged the question, "Yeah! What does this have to do with you drinking?"

Wang Xi said, "Because today, the teacher is teaching us how to make a living, which is to brew a new kind of wine, and then sell it to earn the money needed for our studies."

Princess Xue asked in surprise, "The nameless gentleman taught you how to brew wine?"

"It's not for brewing wine."

Wang Xi said, "It is the way to make a living. The nameless teacher said that his students must know the way to make a living. If they do not know the way to make a living, they will inevitably go astray. As the saying goes, a gentleman loves money, but he acquires it in a proper way. If you understand this way, you can benefit the world when you are successful, and cultivate your own virtue when you are poor."

This explanation immediately sounded much more sophisticated. Princess Xue was deeply impressed: "Wonderful! Wonderful! Mr. Wuming is truly a reclusive master!"

Wang Xi was secretly delighted. If this logic worked, he could drink however he wanted from now on. Haha, I'm a genius!

The illiterate Wang Shouyi asked, "Madam, what do you mean by that?"

Princess Xue glanced at her husband speechlessly and explained again.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouyi nodded repeatedly. Seeing Wang Xi's smug expression, he was furious and immediately laughed, "This is Chang'an, a city with countless fine wines. Let alone whether you can sell your wine, even if you can, how much money can you make? In just a few days, you'll be asking us for money."

Although he was illiterate, the royal family was extremely wealthy, and when it came to financial management, he had more say than the princess of Xue.

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "Father, don't look down on people. The wine brewed by the nameless gentleman is no ordinary wine. It can be said that this wine should only exist in heaven, and how often can one smell it on earth?"

Wang Shouyi said disdainfully, "What do you know, kid, after drinking a few ounces of wine?"

Wang Xi snorted, "When the wine is ready, Father, don't beg me for a drink."

Wang Shouyi chuckled and said, "Father doesn't care."

Princess Xue was delighted to see Wang Xi's keen interest in learning and took the opportunity to say to Wang Shouyi, "Husband, even the sparrows are working so hard, you must set an example!"

Wang Shouyi's expression changed immediately, and he coughed, "Que'er, you should go back to your room and rest."

"Yes, kid, please leave."

Wang Xi stepped out the door, took a couple of steps, then tiptoed back, hid outside the window, and eavesdropped.

Given the current situation, Wang Shouyi has no choice but to get involved and fight for it, otherwise the Wang family will be finished.

Since there was no way to change Li Longji's scumbag feelings, the only option was for Wang Shouyi to help out a little in the outer court.

A sigh was heard from inside.

Then Wang Shouyi said, "Madam, it's not that I'm not ambitious, it's just that His Majesty has been busy with land system reform and household registration reform lately, which are not my strengths. I... I don't even know how to improve. Where is my mentor?"

Then Princess Xue said, "My husband's unnamed teacher is in the court."

Wang Shouyi responded with an "Oh," and said, "I hope Madam can offer some guidance."

Princess Xue said, "As the saying goes, 'One who is near vermilion gets stained red, and one who is near ink gets stained black.' My husband should cut off his association with those drinking buddies and instead talk with knowledgeable people in the court. He can learn the skills of governing the country from their conversations."

Wang Shouyi said, “Those civil officials are all arrogant and wary of us relatives of the emperor. They would never associate with us, let alone tell me the truth.”

Princess Xue said, "That's not entirely true. My husband and Minister Zhang are quite close, aren't they?"

The "Prime Minister Zhang" she mentioned was Zhang Jia-zhen, the current Prime Minister.

Wang Shouyi snorted, "When I drink with him, whenever the topic of politics comes up, all I hear is him cursing people, and he even forces me to curse along with him."

“Master Zhang is indeed a bit too hasty,” Princess Xue added. “My cousin is also quite talented.”

Wang Shouyi said awkwardly, "He's obsessed with calligraphy, painting, and poetry all day long. In terms of political affairs, he's probably not as good as me."

Wang Xi, listening from outside the window, was very anxious. Was it really that difficult?

After a moment of silence, Princess Xue continued, "There are many talented people in the army. My husband should associate with them more and learn from them. It's much better than spending your days eating, drinking, and having fun."

"I haven't been going out much lately," Wang Shouyi said, sounding quite frustrated.

Throughout history, midlife crises have always existed. During Wu Zetian's reign, when palace coups were the main focus, Wang Shouyi certainly had room to maneuver. But now that the political situation is stable and governance is the main focus, he is naturally outdated.

It's like your major is outdated, but if you want to learn a new one, it's as difficult as climbing to the sky!
Wang Shouyi actually wanted to work hard and improve himself, but he couldn't find any direction.

Wang Xi, who was eavesdropping outside the door, sighed inwardly and quietly left.

Back inside, Wang Xi lay down on the bed and pondered to himself, "Old Wang is willing to work hard, but he can't find the right approach. I have to find a way to help him so that he doesn't lose confidence. After all, if he doesn't work hard, then I'll have to."

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(End of this chapter)