Chapter 67: The Crime of Gender 67
"Mr. Min, we are all common people heading to the border city under the court’s decree. Since you are also going to the border city, why not travel with us? We can look after each other. Besides, as your health hasn’t fully recovered, you can ride on the ox cart."
Qin Shuangshuang was planning in her mind, no matter what, to first get Min Tiancheng to travel with them, and then gradually find a way to keep him in Qin Family Village.
Min Tiancheng understood that Qin Shuangshuang’s invitation for him to join them was to look after their family, to prevent him from fainting from hunger again.
Although, being a man of letters, he felt a bit embarrassed to follow others for free food and lodging, he was completely penniless, and he couldn’t bear to see his wife and children suffer any more. So, with a blush on his face, he nodded and agreed, while in his heart he decided to properly repay these kind people once they reached the border city.
Qin Shuangshuang was not yet aware that her plan was already seventy to eighty percent successful. Seeing Min Tiancheng’s awkward demeanor, she understood that he was shy about taking charity due to his scholarly nature. She just smiled and didn’t reveal his thoughts.
After bringing Min Tiancheng back, Qin Shuangshuang sought out the village chief, a few clan elders, and her mentor Fang Zhongyi to explain Min Tiancheng’s background, emphasizing that he was an Advanced Scholar with profound knowledge, and mentioned her intention to keep him in the village, urging everyone to be gracious and courteous to him.
As soon as Qin Shuangshuang spoke, even if others didn’t, the eyes of several clan elders with scholars in their families immediately lit up. They had been worried about finding a good teacher for their grandsons once at the border city, and now a ready-made teacher had come to them. They wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away!
Next, Qin Shuangshuang personally witnessed what it meant to curry favor! Several young Scholars and child students from Qin Family Village swarmed around Min Tiancheng’s family, eager to help, as if they wanted to carry them while walking and feed them at meals, making Min Tiancheng laugh and cry!
He knew these people wanted to learn from him, and with a mind full of knowledge and nothing else to do, he used the time during breaks to teach them and solve their doubts! It was also a way to pass the time.