Chapter Nine: Meeting Men Zijian Again

About a quarter of an hour later, the old man staggered out of the academy and respectfully returned the wooden plaque to Ma Jianguo.

“Please, both of you, come inside with me,” the old man said, raising his hand and pointing toward the academy.

Ma Jianguo was overjoyed. “Thank you, sir.”

One would never realize the hidden charm of Quhe Academy without stepping inside. Beyond the main gate stood two ancient locust trees, their trunks as thick as barrels—about the width that three people could barely encircle.

Ma Jianguo couldn’t help but marvel at Quhe Academy’s venerable history. The old-fashioned buildings exuded a rustic elegance, accompanied by faint echoes of voices reciting texts.

“The rustic people, simple and dull, carry cloth and trade for silk. Not coming to trade silk, but to seek my counsel. Sending you to cross the Qi River, arriving at Dunqiu, it’s not my fault for the delay, you lack a good matchmaker…” Ma Yuan also heard the recitations but wore a puzzled expression, for he did not understand the meaning. Yet, deep within his heart and mind, a powerful stirring arose, as if these words resonated with him on a profound, inexplicable level.

Following the old man through several winding turns in a daze, they arrived at a room. “Gentlemen, this is Director Wang’s office. Please wait here a moment; I’ll go in to report your arrival.”

Ma Jianguo bowed politely, then stood respectfully by the door with Ma Yuan.

Impatient and restless, Ma Yuan’s dark eyes scanned the modest room. Looking up, he noticed a plaque hanging on the door beam, inscribed with three characters. He recognized only the first—“Three”—while the other two were unfamiliar.

“Please come in,” the old man appeared again and beckoned Ma Jianguo and Ma Yuan inside.

Ma Jianguo nodded and led Ma Yuan into the room. Inside stood a peachwood table, behind which sat a middle-aged man in a black long gown, leafing through a worn book.

“Please, have a seat,” the man said without looking up. “Old Wang, brew some tea for our guests.”

“Thank you,” Ma Jianguo replied humbly. Being an honest man, this was his first time speaking with a scholar of modern academies. In his rural hometown, he had met scholars before, but none bore the refined demeanor of these new-style teachers, who had not risen from the ranks through imperial exams but carried a different air.

“I hear from Old Wang that you two were recommended by Boss Ma. Let’s not waste time; we’ll get straight to the point. Your son wants to enroll in Quhe Academy, which is possible, but the tuition fees…” The middle-aged man was none other than Wang Yuan, the head of Quhe Academy, the very person Ma Jianguo had come to see.

Ma Jianguo immediately understood Wang Yuan’s subtle hint. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cloth bag and placing it on the peachwood table with a smile, giving it a gentle push.

“Director Wang, tuition is no problem. As long as my boy can enter this academy, I won’t begrudge the cost. Also, from now on, I entrust my son to your care,” Ma Jianguo said earnestly.

Wang Yuan clicked his tongue, feigning reluctance. “Ah, what are you doing? You’re making me…”

Ma Jianguo saw through Wang Yuan’s pretense. He pressed the cloth bag harder into his hands. “Director Wang, this is just a small token. Compared to you letting my son enter the academy, it’s nothing, really.”

Seeing this, Wang Yuan stopped resisting, laughing heartily as he accepted the bag.

“Very well, very well. I’ll have someone register your son shortly, and then we can proceed with the enrollment.”

Ma Jianguo bowed again in thanks.

“Old Wang! Old Wang! Go fetch Mr. Men for me,” Wang Yuan called loudly. A voice responded from outside, followed by footsteps fading away.

After arranging this, Wang Yuan returned to his tattered book. Ma Jianguo and his son stood awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or stand.

Ma Yuan, unfamiliar with such formalities, kept his wide, dark eyes moving about the small room. His curiosity was piqued by the furnishings, especially a landscape painting hanging on the wall. It depicted an old man fishing alone on a cold river, with distant mountains barren of trees, evoking a winter scene. Later, Ma Yuan would learn that the painting was titled “Fishing Alone on a Cold River.”

After about half an incense stick’s time standing blankly, the old man who had led them in returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man dressed in a Zhongshan suit.

Ma Yuan’s eyes lit up—it was none other than Men Zijian, whom he had seen a few days earlier at the Huamao Center. He never expected to meet him so soon again; fate indeed worked in mysterious ways.

“Ha! Little brother, we meet again so soon,” Men Zijian said with surprise, noticing Ma Yuan’s nervousness but quickly understanding the situation.

Ma Yuan shyly scratched his head.

Ma Jianguo, of course, remembered Men Zijian, and quickly cupped his hands in greeting. “Ah, it’s you, sir. I apologize for any rudeness.”

Worried he might have offended Men Zijian at the Huamao Center, Ma Jianguo muttered apologies under his breath.

“Ha ha, Mr. Ma, you’re too polite. You make me, Men Zijian, quite at a loss. I’m not petty—I wouldn’t be angry over such a trivial matter,” Men Zijian quickly reassured.

“All right, all right, Zijian, since you know each other, I won’t bother with formal introductions. Zijian, please handle this young man’s registration and enrollment,” Wang Yuan instructed without looking up.

Men Zijian smiled and nodded. Then he said to Ma Jianguo, “Please follow me.”

Men Zijian led them to the academic administration office of Quhe Academy, where he helped Ma Yuan register and even advanced part of the tuition fees to complete the enrollment.

“Mr. Men, you’ve really gone out of your way today. I don’t know how to thank you,” Ma Jianguo said repeatedly, clasping his hands before Men Zijian outside the academy.

He hadn’t expected the tuition to exceed his estimate so much that he had brought too little money, forcing Men Zijian to cover the difference.

Men Zijian declined the thanks again and again, clearly uncomfortable compared to people like Wang Yuan. He preferred to avoid such scenes.

“Ma Yuan, for today, go home first. Once you’re settled tomorrow, come find me at the academy—I’ll take you to my class,” Men Zijian said with a smile.

“Also, next year is the recruitment period for Huali Military Academy. This time, the principal fought hard to secure fifteen spots for Quhe Academy. Ma Yuan, if you truly want to contribute, this is a great opportunity.”

Ma Jianguo listened carefully. Though he had never heard of Huali Military Academy before, he felt a sudden pang upon hearing Men Zijian encourage Ma Yuan to apply, but he said nothing.

Ma Yuan, half understanding, nodded solemnly in response.