Mo Sang – CH 330

Chapter 330. A Mistake

The next day, after breakfast, Li Sangrou went to check on the private school in Gaoyou County. Gu Xi, having nothing else to do, changed into a plain silk robe often worn by wealthy young men, his hair tied up with a white jade hairpin. He wore neither a crown nor a turban, and carried a bamboo folding fan worth a few coins. He dressed up and looked himself over, feeling quite ordinary.

Li Sangrou drank half a cup of tea and waited for Gu Xi to emerge, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

His clothes were ordinary, but he was exceptionally handsome and exuded a powerful aura. He swung his bamboo folding fan, creating a menacing presence.

“How is it? Just average, right?” Gu Xi was quite pleased with his appearance.

“Hmm, the clothes are quite ordinary, and the fan is quite ordinary too, not as good as Hei Ma’s,” Li Sangrou complimented earnestly, then stood up and walked out with Gu Xi.

Early in the morning, while buying breakfast, Xiao Lu had already gone to the academy following directions. Now, he was walking ahead with Mazha, Chuantiao, and Datou, chatting and laughing, looking left and right, pointing and gesturing, seemingly just strolling around idly.

Da Chang followed behind Li Sangrou, with Pang’er peeking out from the cloth bag at Da Chang’s waist, occasionally barking.

Hei Ma followed Gu Xi, head held high, swaying his arms, occasionally strutting with smugness. Da Chang, annoyed by his smugness, simply grabbed him and shoved Pang’er into his arms.

Ru Yi and the others, dressed as ordinary servants, followed around.

The academy was located in the southern part of the city, in a large courtyard.

“There are three gates in total. That’s the main gate. There’s a side gate this way, and then another side gate over the wall,” Xiao Lu explained, pointing.

“Let’s go through the side door,” Li Sangrou gestured to Xiao Lu.

Gu Xi chuckled.

Li Sangrou glanced at Gu Xi.

“Pan Dingshan said the first time he saw you, you climbed over the wall, and he almost arrested you for a thief,” Gu Xi laughed.

“Going in through the main door is too much trouble,” Li Sangrou explained. “Why not go through the main door, and I will go through the side door? We can look around one after the other.”

“I do not have anything to see. I am just here to keep you company. Whichever door you go through, I will go through. I just remembered something and spoke up,” Gu Xi said, taking a step forward to follow Li Sangrou closely.

Li Sangrou followed Xiao Lu around to the side door. Xiao Lu stepped forward and carefully pushed the door open a crack.

Xiao Lu, with a pursed mouth, craned his neck to look inside, then reached in with both hands, poked around a few times, unlocked the door, and opened it.

Da Chang reached into Hei Ma’s arms and took Pang’er from him, standing outside the side door to wait.

Hei Ma patted Pang’er on the head, then quickly climbed the steps and went inside.

Xiao Lu, Datou, Mazha, and Chuantiao split into two groups, heading to either side. Hei Ma followed closely behind Li Sangrou, heading straight for the row of main houses in the middle.

Gu Xi followed closely beside Li Sangrou, watching the group’s incredibly coordinated and well-defined roles, and was full of admiration.

Qiao An had once said that the Boss and her brothers were the sharpest blades, unmatched in the world.

A dozen steps away from the last row of main houses, a clear reading voice rang out.

Li Sangrou stopped, listening intently.

“What are you listening to? That’s poetry; they all seem to be children,” Gu Xi leaned closer, pretending to listen carefully.

“You cannot tell if a child’s voice is male or female,” Li Sangrou replied, glancing around before heading towards the moon gate on the left.

Passing through the moon gate, there was a wide, covered corridor. Li Sangrou took a few steps forward and looked towards the spacious main room.

Inside the five-bay main room, rows of tables were neatly arranged, filled with eight- or nine-year-old boys, swaying their heads as they read aloud to the pacing teacher.

“This school is well-managed, really well-managed!” Gu Xi praised in a low voice, looking around.

Li Sangrou gave a vague “hmm” and turned to walk forward.

Passing through another moon gate, Li Sangrou had just looked towards the main room when the teacher inside saw her. He immediately rushed out, pointing at Li Sangrou and Gu Xi, and demanded sharply, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“We came to take a look,” Li Sangrou interrupted before Gu Xi could answer.

“This is a school! Not a place to wander around! How did you get in? Where’s Old Zhang?”

This seemed to be a teacher in charge. After reprimanding them a few times, he raised his voice.

“Sir…” Gu Xi bowed, about to speak, but Li Sangrou stopped her with a gesture of respect.

“Watch carefully; let’s go.”

Gu Xi nodded and followed Li Sangrou straight out of the main gate.

“What kind of behavior is this!” The teacher was angered by Li Sangrou’s abrupt departure.

“How did they get in?” The teacher demanded sharply, facing the trotting laborer, Old Zhang.

“No, I do not know. I was in the gatehouse; I did not see anyone,” Old Zhang was bewildered.

“Outrageous!” Looking at the group of men, including Hei Ma and Ru-Yi, following behind Gu Xi and Li Sangrou, the teacher angrily repeated “Outrageous!” several times.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Gu Xi hurried forward to stand beside Li Sangrou, frowning as he asked, “You’ve already decided? What exactly are you looking for?”

“Did you see any girls?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Gu Xi.

“I do not think so,” Gu Xi thought for a moment, then shook his head. “You are only looking at this? What about the others? Are you going to check if the headmaster is doing a good job or if the teachers are teaching well?”

Li Sangrou glanced at Gu Xi, took about ten steps forward, and sighed. “For example, if you want to buy a horse, and there’s a cow in front of you, would you also check if the cow is strong? Would you?”

Gu Xi groaned, followed a few steps, and sighed again. “That’s true. So what do you plan to do? Reopen the school?”

“We will wait until Zou Wang arrives and ask him about it,” Li Sangrou said in a muffled voice.

“It’s nothing serious.” Gu Xi followed for a few more steps, thought for a moment, and then smiled, advising, “That’s how things are. It is either this kind of mistake or that kind of mistake. You correct it as you go, and things will get better slowly.”

“Yes, it is nothing.” Li Sangrou glanced at Gu Xi and smiled.

………………………………

The next day, in the evening, Zou Wang hurried to Gaoyou City.

Li Sangrou told Zou Wang to rest first. Zou Wang slept well, and the next morning, after breakfast, he rushed over to pay his respects.

Li Sangrou and Gu Xi had just finished eating and were sitting on the veranda, drinking tea and waiting for Zou Wang to arrive.

Zou Wang greeted her with impeccable manners.

Although he was now a prominent manager, he had never met someone like Gu Xi—a high-ranking general, a prince, the Emperor’s brother—he was a legendary figure!

“Sit down,” Li Sangrou gestured to Zou Wang.

“Yes.” Zou Wang sat stiffly, not daring to look at Gu Xi, only daring to look at Li Sangrou.

“I called you here to inquire about the private schools. There is not a single girl in any of the three schools in Gaoyou City. What’s going on?” Li Sangrou asked directly.

“Yes!” Zou Wang swallowed hard. “Yes, I really did not know. No, I mean, I did not know there was not a single girl. There used to be. Please allow me to investigate, Boss.”

Zou Wang wiped his brow.

“Are the three schools managed by three different people or by one person? Did you choose this person?” Li Sangrou asked, frowning.

“The three teachers each manage their own school. I’ve personally examined all three teachers; they are of upright character, and their knowledge is quite good.” Upon hearing that there were no girls, Zou Wang realized he had made a mistake and immediately became more focused, his words crisp and his thinking quick.

“Go and order the three academies to temporarily suspend classes starting today. Summon the three teachers here and question them in person,” Li Sangrou coldly ordered.

“Yes,” Zou Wang immediately stood up, turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he remembered there was a prince among them. He quickly stopped, spun around, bowed to Gu Xi, then spun again and ran out.

He’d messed up his errand!