Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!
Chapter 43 - 43 43 Mr

43: Chapter 43 Mr.

Song Has a Little Idea 43: Chapter 43 Mr.

Song Has a Little Idea The bygone era was a beautiful time for scholars.

The saying went, “All trades are beneath contempt, only scholarship is exalted.”

In books, one finds beauties like jade, houses of gold, and stores of grain that fill a thousand bins.

By studying the teachings of the Sages and passing the imperial examinations to enter civil service, one could uphold the highest principles in the world.

Become a Scholar and you could teach others, earning tuition fees.

Become an Advanced Scholar and your lands were tax-exempt, securing a life free from material worries.

And if you became an Advanced Scholar in the highest degree, it was as if a fish leapt through the dragon’s gate, transcending social classes in a single bound to fulfill one’s life’s ambitions.

But now, the times have changed.

Not that scholars are no longer noble; they still are.

But the scholars of old have been abandoned by the times.

Song Qingping, who studied assiduously for thirty years, finally obtained the title of Advanced Scholar twice over, originally believing he was set for a meteoric rise.

Yet he had not anticipated that overnight the world would be turned upside down, everything changing.

The Scholar of today could only degenerate to selling calligraphy on the streets for a living.

Even someone like him, once a distinguished Scholar, now finds his home village’s little school with hardly a student in sight.

To initiate modern education yet stands against the very principles he holds dear.

Scholars suffer a common affliction: a sense of proud superiority.

Without a steadfast belief in one’s own studies, one could never stand out from among the countless students.

The greater the knowledge, the more obstinate the mind.

Song Qingping fundamentally disagreed with, even detested, the government’s so-called modern education combining Eastern and Western learning.

What was there to learn from the exotic and seductive tricks of the barbarians?

All deceitful and misleading!

But he was powerless; with a change of dynasty, the President wielded absolute power, leaving not even a sliver of space for the remnants of the former dynasty.

Still too young…

These were thoughts Song Qingping kept to himself, never daring to voice them aloud.

While it was inevitable that new education be promoted,

the President perhaps was too hasty, eager for quick success.

He completely ignored the practical difficulties.

Zhou Yaowen was able to run a school with government subsidies and recruit teachers.

No matter what trouble arose, just a phone call could smoothen things over.

But what did that mean?

Other schools, without his background and connections, could not achieve his teaching results.

In other words, it was a special case created by brute-forcing with resources and lacked representativeness.

If the President were to only see his accomplishments and develop the delusion that what worked for one could work for all, and thereby push more aggressive policies…

Should problems arise, it wouldn’t be just the waste of a generation but could possibly threaten the very stability of the state.

Those who sit in the high towers have worries for their people, those distant from the Jianghu World have worries for their ruler.

Old Master Song was deeply troubled over the state of the nation.

There was absolutely no envy, jealousy, nor resentment in his heart.

There must be a secret at Qinghe Middle School, one that Zhou Yaowen refuses to share with everyone.

There are rumors in the Jianghu World that the President is preparing to draft young talents from everywhere to form the Imperial Guards.

Many believe Zhou Yaowen’s personal teaching at Qinghe Middle School is to train the President’s henchmen.

Such words are unpleasant to hear, but if you put it another way—calling them “Imperial Disciples,” for example—it sounds much more palatable.

Although these are just rumors, many take them as truth.

As long as it benefits them, they believe anything.

The question is how to pry some benefits from the mouth of this hog who feeds alone?

Song Qingping frowned in worry.

“…

In my view, this cesspool is bound to erupt with immoral acts sooner or later.”

“Mr.

Tong is right,” someone agreed.

“Or perhaps, such acts of immorality have already occurred, only to be deliberately concealed by him, unknown to outsiders.”

“Uh…

Without evidence…”

“How can you know if there are secrets if you don’t investigate carefully?”

Song Qingping’s eyes brightened and he coughed before addressing everyone present, “In my view, this cesspool is bound to erupt with immoral acts sooner or later!”

The others exchanged glances.

They were initially enlightened, then confused.

So what?

“Or perhaps such acts of immorality have already occurred, only to be deliberately concealed by him, unknown to outsiders,” he continued.

Song Qingping said with a calm smile, “We can investigate in secret, and perhaps uncover some trace of evidence.

Mr.

Hong, when the time comes, we would need your eloquent writing, and beg the editor to publish it, exposing the ugly truth.

Let’s see how Zhou Yaowen can face teaching any longer!”

No one spoke.

Only after a long pause did someone hesitantly ask, “Is that really necessary?”

Issues of morality are usually discussed in private for a bit of fun; what’s the point of exposing and reporting it directly?

To incite parents to cause trouble, to force Zhou Yaowen to resign?

We all just want a sip of the soup; aren’t you just throwing a stone to break the pot?

Song Qingping shook his head, “Think about it, why does Zhou Yaowen have such networks and resources?

Isn’t it because he is favored!

Now, a woman of valor who will not yield to men sits in the Golden Chariot Hall.

If such matters were to come to light, how could she not feel estranged in her heart?”

And then?

His thinking was too quick and everyone hadn’t caught up.

“Once he loses the Saint’s favor and resigns his Principal position, the school will ultimately need someone to manage it.

When it comes to education, outsiders can never know the local customs and sentiments as well as the natives.

Do none of you seated here have the confidence to compete for it?”

Song Qingping chuckled, “Moreover, even if we take a step back and say that we don’t publicize it, having a hold over him isn’t a bad thing.

Principal Zhou has always been self-righteous and aloof, signifying his difference; it only serves to highlight our own vulgarity and shallowness.

With this leverage, let’s see how he can continue to hold his head high in the future!”

What the hell are you talking about…

The person beside him was bewildered and just about to retort but paused for two seconds, and his words changed to “Old Master Song’s words, I deeply agree with!”

“Indeed, although we didn’t find any shortcomings of his in the school today, he is not an Immortal indifferent to the Mortal World; how could he not make any mistakes?

As long as we investigate in secret, we will surely find his weakness!”

“Well said!”

“Well said!”

The crowd applauded in agreement, and the atmosphere became exceptionally lively.

After finishing their tea, everyone dispersed; the shop assistant came in to clean up the tables and chairs.

He couldn’t help but sneer to himself, “Goodness, seven or eight people, all dressed in wealth and nobility, came into the Elegant Room and only ordered two pots of tea, filling up on water.”

They didn’t order any dishes.

On the contrary, the complimentary plate of Five-Spice Melon Seeds provided by the establishment was picked clean without a single seed left.

Downright stingy.

Out of eight teacups, seven had been drunk to the last drop, not even the tea leaves remained; only one cup was left completely untouched.

The young shop assistant subconsciously recalled whether seven or eight people had left just now.

He remembered that when they came in, the waiter called out, “Seven honored guests!

Upstairs in the Elegant Room—!”

So for whom was that cup of tea poured?

Of course, this was not something for a young shop assistant to worry about, so he dismissed the thought instantly and swept it from his mind.