Chapter 104 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 104

Su Xiangyu was still holding back a breath of anger, standing with her back to him as she sulked in silence.

Ji Xiu reached out and turned her shoulders to face him. His palm was warm, his gaze steady and forceful. “Su Xiangyu, listen to me. From now on, Ling’er will be taught by me. I will not punish her by making her kneel, nor will I neglect her studies. She is already very good. Give me three months. I will give you a better Ling’er.”

Su Xiangyu looked at him with suspicion, clear disdain in her eyes, plainly not trusting him.

Ji Xiu almost laughed in anger. Suddenly, he raised his hand and rubbed her head.

For some reason, he felt that the way she looked right now was just like a rebellious young girl.

Su Xiangyu reacted violently. Her face was full of shock as she stared at the hand he had withdrawn, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

Ji Xiu, however, reacted completely naturally. “Whether you believe it or not, you have to believe it. Three months is nothing. You and Ling’er can afford it. But if you do not hand Ling’er over to me, I will keep interfering from time to time, and you will never be able to teach her according to your own wishes for the rest of your life.”

“…You win!” Su Xiangyu flung her sleeve angrily and left. When she reached the doorway, she turned back to glance at Ji Xiu again. “From now on, every day at mao hour, I will have the wet nurse bring Ling’er here. I want to see exactly what you can teach her in three months.”

Ji Xiu smiled and made a gesture that he was ready to welcome her at any time.

Su Xiangyu’s eyes flickered slightly. Her still somewhat swollen eyes revealed a trace of complicated emotion before she turned around and left.

Once she left, the servants all followed after her. Songtao Courtyard immediately fell quiet.

Su Ling’er, who had hidden inside earlier in panic when she saw Su Xiangyu arrive and had no idea what had happened in the courtyard, saw that everyone was gone and walked out blankly. “Where did Mother go?”

“She went back,” Ji Xiu said, looking at Su Ling’er and sizing her up from head to toe. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face as he slowly said, “Ling’er, from now on, are you willing to study together with Father every day?”

“With you?” Su Ling’er froze, then her eyes lit up. “Of course I’m willing!”

In every child’s heart, their father was undoubtedly the most formidable person in the world. She did not care what Ji Xiu would teach her. As long as she could stay with him and study together, it was better than anything else.

Ji Xiu smiled in satisfaction. “Good. From now on, come report to Songtao Courtyard every day. We will start tomorrow.”

…

No one knew how Su Xiangyu went back and apologized or explained things to Master Su and Madam Su. In any case, the incident at Xinghua Courtyard that night was like a stone thrown into a lake. It stirred up a small ripple, then quickly calmed down, leaving no trace behind.

No one in the Su household mentioned Su Ling’er crying loudly at Xinghua Courtyard. Nor did anyone dare gossip about Su Xiangyu shedding tears in front of Ji Xiu.

It was as if nothing had happened.

The next day, escorted by the wet nurse and servants, Su Ling’er arrived at Songtao Courtyard on time at mao hour.

At this time, it was roughly five in the morning by modern standards. Su Ling’er was full of energy, clearly already accustomed to starting her studies at this hour.

Ji Xiu, an adult, also only got up around this time.

But thinking about how ancient nights lacked entertainment, how Su Ling’er went to bed as soon as it got dark and even took a nap in the afternoon, he did not say much. He took the little girl to walk two laps around the courtyard to loosen her muscles, then led her into the study and began asking about her academic progress.

Su Xiangyu had never given birth to a second child. The entire Su household already regarded Su Ling’er as the next head of the family beyond doubt.

As a merchant heir, Su Ling’er did not need to study imperial examination essays or calligraphy and painting. As long as she learned arithmetic well and mastered basic literacy, it would be enough.

This was also the reason Su Xiangyu was willing to send Su Ling’er over.

Just as Ji Xiu had said, three months was nothing. What truly required time was a merchant’s smoothness and composure in dealing with people, something that could only be learned through time and experience. Before Su Ling’er established her own household, there was ample time for her to study other subjects. Three months was insignificant.

However, Ji Xiu had ambitions of his own. Having traveled through countless worlds, he was exceptionally capable, proficient in all things and skilled in all arts.

Now that he was personally teaching a little girl, if he could not teach her something of substance, he might as well give up the imperial examinations and directly become a househusband in the Su family.

He was serious about Su Ling’er’s education.

Hearing Ji Xiu’s questions, Su Ling’er quickly had the servants bring over her textbooks and handed them to him for review.

After looking through them once, Ji Xiu had a general grasp of things. He nodded and said, “Good, I understand. Then today we will continue with arithmetic.”

A family head did not necessarily need to be extremely proficient in basic arithmetic. There were countless accountants below who could be employed. However, one could learn more advanced mathematics, such as probability and statistics, to be used in the future to estimate market capacity and trends.

Ji Xiu added these two subjects on top of Su Ling’er’s original studies.

As for other aspects, such as literacy and reading, those also needed strengthening.

Su Xiangyu had strict requirements for Su Ling’er’s character and ability, but she did not care whether her daughter could write poetry or had good handwriting. As long as Su Ling’er was tough-minded and capable of handling the complex family business in the future, that was enough.

But in Ji Xiu’s view, learning some miscellaneous arts, such as calligraphy and painting, was also very good.

First, it could cultivate one’s temperament. For a girl, with poetry in her belly, her aura would naturally flourish, adding a bit more grace. Second, it could provide more interests. In the future, when encountering difficulties, at least she would have an outlet to relieve stress.

With a few bold strokes, he added two more items to Su Ling’er’s curriculum.

Su Ling’er widened her eyes, staring blankly at Ji Xiu as he revised and wrote out a curriculum schedule. Many of the terms on it were unfamiliar to her.

Practicing calligraphy, reading books…

Why did it feel like there was even more homework than before? Was Father not here to rescue her?

Ji Xiu organized the curriculum and began teaching Su Ling’er a new lesson.

This was something Su Ling’er had never encountered before.

What were probability and statistics? Why had she never heard of them? A new world slowly opened its doors before Su Ling’er. She felt curious and afraid, yet unknowingly took a step forward, entering this mysterious world of mathematics.

An hour passed quietly.

Ji Xiu stopped lecturing, set down the teaching notes he had been writing and explaining at the same time, and said, “Let’s have breakfast first. We will continue afterward.”

Eh, was it already chen hour?

Su Ling’er was a bit slow to react, her mind still immersed in the wonders of mathematics.

After breakfast, she excitedly grabbed Ji Xiu’s sleeve. “Father, let’s continue the lesson quickly. You haven’t finished explaining yet.”

Ji Xiu drank tea and rested. Seeing her delighted expression, he also felt happy.

Interest was the best teacher. It seemed his daughter was very interested in mathematics, so there was no need to worry about her disliking study.

Ji Xiu taught Su Ling’er for another hour, then assigned her some practical exercises as homework, sending her out to complete them while he calmed his mind and hid in the study to read imperial examination essays.

Career and teaching his daughter both required effort.

As for Su Ling’er, this was her first time encountering what homework was. Her eyes were full of novelty. She took the assignments and ran around everywhere with the servants, studying the correctness of probabilities.

At noon, father and daughter had lunch, then each returned to their rooms for a short nap.

After waking up, Ji Xiu said to Su Ling’er, “Let’s go. Father will take you out for a walk.”

Su Ling’er: “!!!!”

Her eyes widened round, her small mouth slightly open, completely stunned. “Father, Father is taking Ling’er out?”

She was so excited that she stuttered. Then she thought of something and hurriedly looked left and right. After confirming that the wet nurse was not in the study, she relaxed and tightly grabbed Ji Xiu’s wrist. “Father, you must not lie to me!”

Ji Xiu drank tea calmly. “When has Father ever lied to you?”

Su Ling’er thought about it and immediately felt reassured. She beamed with joy and clung to Ji Xiu, acting spoiled and flattering him. “Father has never lied to Ling’er. Father is the best. Ling’er likes Father.”

Ji Xiu felt quite comfortable being praised like this. A smile appeared in his eyes.

However, Su Ling’er could not go out dressed like this.

He stared at her for a moment, then raised his hand to summon her personal servant and whispered a few words in front of him.

The servant accepted the order and left. Not long after, he brought back a new set of men’s clothes.

This was a newly purchased ready-made outfit. The size fit Su Ling’er perfectly.

Su Ling’er’s eyes widened as she could not help but look at Ji Xiu with admiration.

Mother never allowed her to go out. How had she never thought of changing into men’s clothing to go out?

After a while, Su Ling’er, now dressed in men’s clothes, spun around in front of Ji Xiu and showed a proud little expression. “Father, does your child look very handsome?”

Her voice was clear and sweet, but boys who had not yet undergone voice change often sounded like this, so it did not seem out of place.

What was more eye-catching was her appearance, inherited from Ji Xiu and Su Xiangyu.

A handsome and beautiful young gentleman, wearing a headband with one end hanging down, blending with his black hair. Fair skin, large bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, like a youth stepping out of a painting.

Standing together with Ji Xiu, they shared three points of resemblance. Anyone who saw them would think they were an intimate father and son.

Su Ling’er had found something fun and kept staring at Ji Xiu.

Ji Xiu rubbed her head. “Stop looking. Let’s go.”

Because he had already made up his mind to take Su Ling’er out, when Ji Xiu was teaching in the morning, he had strictly ordered the servants not to enter the study, not even to serve water.

The wet nurse had waited in the courtyard all morning and knew this rule. In the afternoon, she relaxed a bit and did not wait outside the whole time. At Ji Xiu’s request, she went to take care of some miscellaneous matters in Su Ling’er’s courtyard.

By the time she returned to Songtao Courtyard, Ji Xiu had already taken Su Ling’er away.

Father and daughter walked on the street, with one servant following behind them, blending into the lively crowd.

The Su family was a prominent household in Shanglang County, but Ji Xiu’s face was not widely recognized. It had already been fifteen years since he became a xiucai at fourteen and made a splash. Few people knew what he looked like now.

Walking down the street with Su Ling’er, although their good looks drew some curious glances, no one showed any strange expressions.

It was Su Ling’er’s first time out. She was very lively, full of ideas. She wanted to watch street performances, eat candied hawthorn, buy small trinkets from roadside stalls. Ji Xiu indulged her in everything, letting her have some fun first.

After half an hour, Su Ling’er grew tired and calmed down. Only then did he take her into a teahouse, chose a seat by the window, and pointed at the Su family cloth shop across the street. “Ling’er, this is your practical assignment for today. Calculate how the Su family cloth shop is doing. How much is its daily income?”

Su Ling’er was stunned.

Could this also be calculated? And was it not too difficult?

“Is it difficult?” Ji Xiu smiled. “Did I not teach you statistics and probability today? You just need to find out the prices of each type of cloth in the Su family shop, as well as the approximate prices of the ready-made garments. Then do a bit of calculation and you can figure it out.”

He showed an encouraging look. “It is not difficult at all, right?”

Su Ling’er: “……”

Probably so.

In any case, since Ji Xiu asked this of her, she could only try her best. Being idle was idle anyway. Besides, she herself was quite curious.

Su Ling’er looked at the servant behind her. No wonder Father had deliberately told someone to bring brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone when they went out. So this was what it was for.

After the servant laid out the writing materials, she began to seriously tally things up.

Ji Xiu calmly drank tea, his demeanor relaxed, watching Su Ling’er busy herself.

He did not intend to make things difficult for her. The reason he chose this place was after special consideration.

The Su family was wealthy and could not possibly rely on just one cloth shop to survive. In fact, this was only one of the Su family’s shops, not the whole picture. Besides cloth shops and garment workshops, the Su family also had their own workshops and farming households, supplying goods in bulk to surrounding counties. That was where the Su family truly made money.

The Su family cloth shop across the street was located in a relatively remote area, not in a bustling commercial district, with ordinary residents nearby. Business was mediocre. Most customers bought the cheapest white cotton cloth and hemp cloth, making it very easy to tally.

After accompanying Su Ling’er in the teahouse for half an hour, seeing that it was getting late, he said, “Alright, today’s outing is over. We have to go back and have dinner with your mother, lest she discover that I took you out. When we get back, organize today’s records properly. Tomorrow, tell me your results.”

Su Ling’er nodded and obediently put away the papers.

After that effort just now, she roughly understood how useful the new things Ji Xiu had taught her were. She had no intention of disobeying his requests at all.

She even admired Ji Xiu even more in her heart.

Worthy of being her father, Su Ling’er’s father. Outsiders did not understand him at all.

The next day, Ji Xiu received Su Ling’er’s homework. He glanced at it twice, placed it on the desk, ignored Su Ling’er’s expectant gaze, and said, “Today we will practice calligraphy. Here are copybooks. Copy each character ten times and hand it to me.”

Su Ling’er froze, her disappointment plainly visible.

If this world had arts and sciences divisions, Su Ling’er would undoubtedly be a science student. She did not dislike calligraphy and painting, but she had little interest in them.

She urgently wanted Ji Xiu to comment on her homework.

On the third day, Ji Xiu chose the morning and took Su Ling’er to the teahouse again.

Morning business was different from afternoon. There were slightly more customers.

At Ji Xiu’s request, Su Ling’er tallied things again and somewhat understood why Ji Xiu had not commented on her homework the day before.

After that, father and daughter lived with a rhythm of alternating days. One day for calligraphy and reading, one day for arithmetic and extracurricular practice.

After one month, Ji Xiu had Su Ling’er bring her assignments to Su Xiangyu to look at.

Su Ling’er froze, a trace of mischief flashing in her eyes. “Wouldn’t this scare Mother badly?”

In this era, account books were extremely confidential. Basically, apart from shop managers and accountants, only the owners behind the scenes might have access. Each shop’s profits and cash flow were information that needed to be strictly guarded.

But Su Ling’er had only gone a dozen times, half an hour each time, and she had already calculated the cloth shop’s daily income, monthly income, and even yearly income.

If Su Xiangyu found out, she would definitely be shocked.

Reality matched Su Ling’er’s guess.

Su Xiangyu was in the study checking accounts, reconciling the monthly general ledger.

Su Ling’er suddenly ran in and placed a stack of papers in front of her, telling her that this was the account book of a certain cloth shop. At first, she did not believe it at all. But after flipping through it, her expression immediately changed.

“Where did you get this account book?”

Su Xiangyu was incredulous. Had there been a mole in her Su family cloth shop?

That cloth shop, though its business seemed ordinary and customers mostly bought white cotton and hemp cloth, actually had considerable profit. Compared with other cloth shops, it was even better.

Because not far away was the county gate, villagers often entered the city and bought in bulk, making clothes for the whole family.

Su Xiangyu valued this cloth shop quite a bit. But if there was a mole, did that not mean other cloth shops had also set their sights on this business and wanted to compete with her?

Su Ling’er happily explained her learning achievements over the past month.

Su Xiangyu was stunned. She felt that her daughter’s words were like heavenly scripture. How could it be possible to guess a cloth shop’s profit and income just by looking a few times?

Su Ling’er put her hands on her hips and said proudly, “Father said not only can you see a single shop’s income, if you are serious, you can calculate the Su family’s total income.”

Su Xiangyu held her forehead, staring blankly at her daughter.

Su Ling’er thought she did not believe her and grew anxious, blurting out a number. “Father did not take me to other cloth shops. He only said our family has nine cloth shops in the county, but he analyzed each shop’s location for me, as well as the possibilities brought by location differences. For example, the east city cloth shop is close to the wealthy district. Silk and fine fabrics sell better there, with higher profit, so its income will be better than the shop near the city gate. And the south city cloth shop…” She rattled off a bunch as supporting evidence. “I think this number should not differ much from our family’s cloth shop income.”

Su Xiangyu’s expression was complicated, because Su Ling’er was right.

To those who understood it, these principles were very simple. But to people like Su Xiangyu, born and raised commoners, they seemed so unique and obscure.

This was a framework and logic no one before had ever thought of.

With this knowledge, at least in future business, Su Ling’er would definitely go farther than she ever could.

Back then, she had expanded her business throughout the entire Jiujiang Prefecture relying entirely on intuition and experience. She did not have a detailed understanding of overall cloth demand in Jiujiang Prefecture.

But Su Ling’er could, through calculation and statistics, clearly grasp market demand.

While feeling gratified, Su Xiangyu also developed a different view of the man teaching her child.

So he was actually this formidable?

For two months, Ji Xiu had not gotten drunk once, had not stayed out overnight once. Every day, he read books in Songtao Courtyard to pass the time, accompanied her and Su Ling’er for meals and conversation. Su Xiangyu had long believed that he truly intended to turn over a new leaf. Even the wet nurse believed his promise and no longer spoke to her about sending Ji Xiu away.

But she had not known that once Ji Xiu set aside the imperial examinations and became serious, he would be this outstanding.

How did he come up with these principles?

After sending Su Ling’er away, Su Xiangyu sat quietly in the study for a long time. Then she suddenly stood up, dismissed the servants, and went alone to Songtao Courtyard.

Songtao Courtyard was somewhat quiet. The master and servants were preparing to rest.

Hearing that Su Xiangyu had come, Ji Xiu came out wearing his underclothes and brought her a cup of tea. His expression showed no surprise at all. “Seeing that you did not come for so long, I thought you would come tomorrow.”

Su Xiangyu took the teacup, looking at Ji Xiu, and softly said, “You are very capable.”

Ji Xiu laughed. “There is nothing capable about it. Just some very simple principles.”

Su Xiangyu shook her head stubbornly. “But before you, no one ever thought it could be done this way.”

Ji Xiu did not say anything more. In Su Xiangyu’s mind, if he explained further, it would only seem hypocritical.

He changed the topic. “Well, now you can rest assured and leave Ling’er to me, right?”

Su Xiangyu nodded, staring at Ji Xiu. A bright light shone in her beautiful eyes, yet she refused to speak.

Ji Xiu suddenly felt uneasy and cleared his throat. “Since you are here, I have something to tell you.”

Su Xiangyu looked puzzled. “Hmm?”

“It is almost August. I plan to head to the provincial capital to take the provincial examination. I will leave half a month early to settle in. I am telling you in advance. Ling’er’s studies will continue after I return.”

Su Xiangyu’s eyes widened as she suddenly stood up. “You still want to take the provincial examination?!”

Ji Xiu nodded, then looked at her strangely. “You seem unwilling for me to go?”

Su Xiangyu hesitated, not knowing how to speak.

Actually, the provincial examination was nothing special. Over these years, she had gained no benefit from Ji Xiu’s examinations and had lived just fine. She did not care that much about whether he passed.

What she cared about more was whether, if he failed again this time, Ji Xiu would return to his former state of getting drunk every day and staying out overnight.

If that possibility existed, she would rather Ji Xiu not go at all. Living like this was also fine.

But thinking about Ji Xiu’s identity as a scholar, she did not voice her thoughts.

It was not that she had never advised him before. But for scholars, this was the only path to realizing their life’s value. Every time she advised him, it only provoked Ji Xiu’s rage. It was better not to advise at all.

She could only say awkwardly, “Go if you want to go. Going earlier is also good to settle down and recuperate. But whether you pass or not is not that important. Relax your heart. Ling’er and I will still be at home waiting for you.”

A smile appeared in Ji Xiu’s eyes. “I know.”

His nominal wife had finally acknowledged him.

If she had not acknowledged him, she would not have lowered herself like this to worry about his mindset.

A few days later, Ji Xiu set off with his servants for the provincial capital to take part in the provincial examination held once every three years.

With his departure, the Su household, which had been peaceful for two months, became lively again.

The son-in-law who was thought to have given up the imperial examinations had not actually given up after all. Did he really have to keep taking exams until his hair turned white before he could accept the fact that he had no talent for the imperial examinations?