Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 121 A Perfect Match

After the meal, the woman brought hot tea and then took Yunniang to tidy up. The three members of the Wang family, father and sons, chatted with Lin Chuan in the main room.

Wang Dalang was cheerful and had a family background in learning. He could talk about anything from astronomy and geography to anecdotes with ease. He was very talkative. Wang Erlang, on the other hand, was more introverted and would only chime in when the topic came up.

After chatting for a while, Lin Chuan changed the subject to the purpose of his visit. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Wang Ji and said, "I have a favor to ask of you, Mr. Wang. Would that be convenient?"

"Speak freely, as long as it is within my power!" Wang Ji nodded.

"Mr. Wang should know about the Gewu Research Institute, right?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.

"Of course I know. I heard that your Institute of Physics has not only developed a water-powered forging hammer, but also a method for printing books. I'd like to shamelessly ask you to help me print books!" Wang Ji said.

"Mr. Wang, what a coincidence!"

Actually, when I asked His Majesty for permission, in addition to building the Institute of Physiology, I also built an academy next to it!

The academy is almost finished now. I asked Master Yan for help in hiring some teachers, and Master Yan's son, Mr. Wencheng, has also agreed to teach at the academy. However, we still need some teachers to teach miscellaneous subjects. I would like to ask Mr. Wang to help introduce some teachers to teach miscellaneous subjects!

Firstly, and secondly, regarding books, I plan to build a library at the academy. In addition to the various classics, histories, philosophical works, and collections passed down from our ancestors, I also want to collect as many works by great authors as possible!

"Therefore, I would like to borrow Mr. Wang's collection of books!" Lin Chuan said.

"An academy? Lin Dalang, this academy is not so easy to set up—" Wang Ji sighed softly.

"Mr. Wang, no matter how difficult it is, we have to try to find out. Besides, the academy is approved by His Majesty, which already provides many conveniences!" Lin Chuan said.

"Yes, we have to try to know!" Wang Ji nodded, and after pondering for a moment, he solemnly said to Lin Chuan, "It's no problem to ask someone for you. I will do my best!"

As for books, I do have some in my family collection, but most of them were passed down from my elders, so I can't give them to you on my own. How about this: if you're not in a hurry, I'll have my eldest and second sons make a copy for you!"

"Mr. Wang, you've misunderstood. I'm not just being polite about borrowing the book. I'm borrowing it to the Gewu Research Institute so they can print a batch. Once the books are printed, I'll return them to you exactly as they were!"

"If Mr. Wang needs it, I'll have them print two more sets and send them back to him!" Lin Chuan explained.

"Young man, do you know how many books I have at home? Printing a complete set would cost a fortune!" Wang Ji said with a wry smile.

"Didn't Master Yan mention the printing of books to Mr. Wang?" Lin Chuan asked in surprise.

"Master Yan did mention it a couple of times, but this is a secret of the Institute of Natural History, and I couldn't let Master Yan be put in a difficult position, so I didn't ask any further questions!" Wang Ji said.

"Mr. Wang, I've had people develop movable type printing technology and improve papermaking techniques. Now, printing books doesn't cost much, and the more you print, the lower the average cost becomes!"

"According to the artisans at the Gewu Research Institute, if we print in large quantities, the cost will be less than half of what it used to be!" Lin Chuan said.

"Is that really true? How is the printed book? It wouldn't be good if it were too poor quality!" Wang Ji asked doubtfully.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wang. The printed book will be clearer and neater than the handwritten one, except that it will lack some of the spirit. Otherwise, how would I dare to ask you for help?"

"The research institute is currently printing the books that I borrowed from Master Yan's house. Why don't you take me to the Institute of Physiology tomorrow?" Lin Chuan asked.

"I'll go! Of course I'll go!" Wang Ji nodded, his face serious. "If what you say is true, I'll abstain from alcohol for half a year at worst, but I'll still manage to raise the money for printing the book!"

"Mr. Wang, you've misunderstood again. I'm just borrowing your book to print; there's no reason for me to make you spend money. If you promise me that you'll put the book in the academy's library, I'll even have someone send you a copy of the authorization fee!"

"Don't complain about the amount when it's too little!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Wang Ji stared blankly at Lin Chuan, then asked suspiciously, "You're not trying to help me out because my family is poor, are you?"

"Speaking of which, sir, you are my mentor. It is only right and proper for me to be filial to you. There is no need for me to go to any other way. Just rest assured, even if I put the books of Yan Gong and Yan Shi Gong into the academy library, I will still have to pay for them!"

Besides borrowing books from Minister Yan's house, I also plan to borrow books from Minister Fang, Minister Du, and Right Chancellor Wei. I'll have to pay them for those too!

Lin Chuan said.

"Ha, you certainly know how to do things unexpectedly!" Wang Ji sighed with a wry smile and said, "I agree to this. Forget about the money; just have someone take it away when you need it!"

Lin Chuan nodded, then turned his gaze to the two Wang brothers and asked with a smile, "Eldest brother Wang, second brother Wang, the academy is currently short of teachers. If you two brothers don't mind, why don't you come to the academy as instructors?"

"this----"

The Wang brothers were stunned for a moment, then turned their gaze to Wang Ji.

"Go if you want, do you think I'll stop you?" Wang Ji snorted coldly, then turned to Lin Chuan and said, "Their knowledge is sufficient, but reading and teaching are different. If they're not suitable, Lin Dalang, you can tell them to get back here!"

"Mr. Wang, you flatter me. It would be a waste of your talents to send your two elder brothers to the academy to be teachers. I'm afraid it would delay your future!" Lin Chuan said.

"You're just idling around all day, what future do you have to waste?" Wang Ji said without any politeness.

Lin Chuan stayed at the Wang family's house until 7 PM before taking his leave.

The next day, after the court assembly, Lin Chuan went to the Secretariat to summon Wang Ji, and together they went to the Institute of Natural Sciences.

Although the Yan family was not extremely wealthy, they were still quite well-off. Their books filled three rooms, including works by several generations of the Yan family, as well as works by many great Confucian scholars.

The Yan family's collection of books alone could easily fill a small library.

Once inside the Second Research Institute of the Gewu Research Institute, watching dozens of craftsmen working methodically and smoothly from typesetting and ink application to final binding, Wang Ji's mouth never stopped moving.

He picked up a printed copy of the "Annotations to the Book of Han," flipped through it, and said excitedly to Lin Chuan, "I'll send someone back to Longmen right away to have Wang Ju send all the books from the old mansion over! Lin Dalang, is that alright?"

"It is my pleasure, but I dare not ask! Mr. Wang, please send it over. I'll have a couple more sets printed!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Haha, it's settled then. Leave the matter of being a teacher at the academy to me. I'd even be happy to be a teacher at the academy myself!" Wang Ji laughed heartily.

"If you are willing to go to the academy, I would like to offer you the position of vice dean!" Lin Chuan had no intention of being polite. If he could get Wang Ji into the academy as a teacher, and with his future father-in-law Yan Wencheng by his side, the academy would have two more treasures.