Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 86: No comparison, no harm
Apart from Lu Sanlang, the other 23 nominal students shouted one after another, saying that they were willing to stay in the Imperial College to accompany Zhang Shou through the night, and more than half of them actually did. However, Zhang Shou could see at a glance that many of them were just agreeing for show, but in fact their eyes were rolling around, and it was obvious that they were not serious.
Therefore, he did not agree, but directly waved the weapon of filial piety and drove the man away.
"You've been away from home for so many days, shouldn't you hurry back to greet your elders so they don't worry? Come back later if you want, and go back now!"
Because they had lived in the mountains for too long, Zhang Chen and his group were eager to return home, but Zhang Chen didn't want Lu Sanlang to pretend to be motivated, so he responded symbolically. Now that Zhang Shou said so, he shut up. He didn't fight for it, so others would not make things worse.
Seeing that most people were finally willing to leave, Zhang Shou just breathed a sigh of relief, but when he looked around, he found that Zhu Ying and Wu were gone, and he was immediately shocked. Even if she was angry because he talked to himself, it was unlikely that Zhu Ying would leave without saying goodbye, not to mention that it didn't make sense that even Wu was missing!
Just when he was wondering, he saw Zhu Ying and Wu coming back, and behind them was the dark-faced man in black clothes he had seen before. When he got closer, before he could ask what was going on, he heard Zhu Ying say bluntly: "A Shou, this is Xu Heizi, the supervisor of the Shengqian Hall... No, Xu Heida. You want to live here, let him arrange a room for you!"
At this point, the eldest daughter said to the bewildered Wu: "Aunt Wu, let's go back and send someone to pick up Ah Shou tomorrow!"
As she spoke, she began to Zhang Chen and the others who were not going to stay here to leave quickly and not get in the way. After she half-dragged and half-tugged Wu out for several steps, she turned around and spoke loudly.
"A Shou, I'm going to the palace tomorrow. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll tell the emperor!"
Since Zhang Shou has made up his mind, she will give him her full support. She can still do this little favor!
Zhang Shou did not answer and smiled as he watched Zhu Ying drag the helpless Wu away first. The dandies also hurriedly slipped away. When he turned his head and saw Xu Heida's face was already darker than the night, he said lightly: "Xu Jiancheng, what do you think, should I stay in the dormitory or the Jiuzhang Hall tonight?"
"Dr. Zhang, you are asking even though you already know the answer!" Xu Heidao snorted in annoyance, and then said stiffly, "Just ask Lu Sanlang and you will know. Many dormitories in the Imperial College have fallen into disrepair over the years, and many students have to rent houses to live outside. Where can I find a dormitories in the middle of the night? Jiuzhang Hall has been vacant for many years! You don't live in such a wealthy mansion, are you doing this on purpose?"
"That's right, it's for show. If it wasn't for show, this Jiuzhang Hall might still be in such a remote corner, in such a dilapidated state. They even dared to secretly take down the plaque of Emperor Taizu and hide it. This is really a strange thing." Zhang Shou said, then looked at Lu Sanlang and said with a smile, "Lu Sanlang, how about we stay in Jiuzhang Hall tonight?"
Lu Sanlang bared his teeth at Xu Heida, then laughed and said, "Of course that's good! It would be best if we could invite Master Ge to the court tomorrow to cry and let people know that the Imperial College even took down the plaque of the Jiuzhang Hall!"
Xu Heida felt veins popping out on his forehead, and he growled in a low voice: "Don't be unreasonable. The Nine Chapters Hall has been closed for a long time. If the plaque written by Taizu himself is left here to be exposed to the wind and rain, wouldn't it be disrespectful? Besides, there are not many students in the Imperial College who are willing to study mathematics..."
"But now, I am the new doctor of the Imperial College, and I am in charge of mathematics."
Zhang Shou smiled slightly. Seeing Xu Heida was choked, he said calmly, "The fact that there are no students willing to learn is not a reason to remove the Jiuzhang Hall. You said that the Jiuzhang Hall has been vacant for many years and cannot be inhabited. Well, Lu Sanlang and I will fetch water and clean it ourselves. We will do as much as we can before dawn. As for other matters, I will trouble Xu Jiancheng to take care of them."
Hearing that he had to work all night, Lu Sanlang was shocked at first. When he saw the famous black-faced supervisor's face change drastically and hurried away, he couldn't help but look at Zhang Shou pitifully.
Do you really have to stay up all night to clean up such a long-abandoned Jiuzhang Hall? That would be fatal! Besides, isn't the door still locked?
"Your followers shouldn't have left yet, right?"
"Definitely not." Lu Sanlang answered straightforwardly, but there was some doubt on his face, "Why don't we ask them to help?"
The Imperial College is a very important place, it's not easy for outsiders to come in casually, especially with so many people...
"Of course not." Zhang Shou smiled slightly, "I wouldn't order your family around casually."
As he spoke, he suddenly whistled and called out, "A-Liu."
The next moment, Lu Sanlang saw two people quietly coming out of the darkness. He looked again and saw who else was there, not Ah Liu and Qi Liang. He only heard Qi Liang say awkwardly, "Brother Ah Liu said he would take me to see the Imperial College." Then, he heard Zhang Shou start to give orders.
"Ah Liu, take a look at this lock first. Is there any way to remove it like it's rotten?"
Lu Sanlang was about to say, isn't this asking too much? But then he saw Ah Liu silently step forward, fiddle with the lock twice, think thoughtfully, and then take out a paper bag and a porcelain bottle from his arms. He poured something into each of them, and then fiddled with it for a long time.
Not long after, the lock actually fell off!
Seeing Lu Sanlang dumbfounded, Zhang Shou couldn't help but show his approval, but in his heart he thought, I must be nicer to this little guy who carries corrosive chemicals with him in the future... Otherwise, I will be in trouble! That is comparable to intestinal poison!
Ah Liu put the paper bag and the porcelain bottle back into his arms and said calmly, "The lock has been rotten for a long time."
Zhang Shou didn't comment on the kid's lies, and immediately ordered: "Send Xiao Qi out, and then tell Lu Sanlang's followers to buy us some midnight snacks, and then quietly bring them in. Prepare all the dry and wet food, otherwise we won't be able to hold on."
Seeing Ah Liu nod, he immediately continued to instruct, "While Xu Heida is looking for other school officials, you should quietly find two more people in the Imperial College, preferably night watchmen, and prepare lanterns and candles, as well as buckets and rags. Remember to pay them."
Zhang Shou was very sure that with Ah Liu's expressionless but efficient personality, the people he brought would definitely not talk nonsense.
Seeing that the person agreed and dragged the bewildered Qi Liang away quietly, Zhang Shoucai said to Lu Sanlang: "The people in the Imperial College will naturally know where the well is, so we don't have to run around like headless flies. Let them do the fetching of water, and we will do the cleaning ourselves. It doesn't matter how much we clean up, what matters is the thoughtfulness."
As he spoke, he pointed to the Jiuzhang Hall and walked straight to the front. Lu Sanlang was stunned at first, and then followed him hesitantly. When he stretched out his hand to push open the door of the Jiuzhang Hall, he heard a creaking sound, and then it seemed that countless dust fell from the air. He was so panicked that he quickly dodged. When he found Zhang Shou standing below, he couldn't help but be surprised.
"How can we show that this place is in disrepair if we don't make it look dusty and dirty?"
Lu Sanlang suddenly realized what was going on, but he was also a bachelor, so he rushed into the room, looked around, and then wiped his hand on the ground, then closed his eyes and rubbed his face with his dirty hands. When he turned around, the chubby little fat man had turned into a fat cat with black and white spots on his face!
“Pompous!”
Zhang Shou laughed dumbly, shook his head, and walked around in the dark place. But after a few steps, he heard Lu Sanlang behind him ask in a low voice: "Young Master, even if we really work all night to clean up the Jiuzhang Hall, people can still blame us. Why not invite Master Ge over..."
"Do you think we have the ability of the Snail Girl?"
Seeing Lu Sanlang stunned, Zhang Shou couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed, thinking that Lu Sanlang definitely didn't know the plot of the folk story about the Snail Girl.
So he coughed and said seriously, "We can't clean everything. We don't have the energy, and there's no need. As long as we focus on cleaning a small area in the middle, there will be a comparison. Without comparison, there is no harm. What does the cleanliness in the middle look like compared to the filth on both sides? Compared to alarming the teacher for a small matter , this saves a lot of trouble."
Lu Sanlang almost clapped his hands in applause. That's right, as long as the central area is cleaned up, looking back at the surrounding spider webs and dust, wouldn't that be the most striking contrast?
You old-fashioned officials from the Imperial College, don’t think I don’t know that you call me Fatty Lu behind my back. This time I’ll make you pay!
Wait, Zhang Shou asked Ah Liu to find candles... Can he do something else with the candles?
