Hot flashes

One hundred books on "Introduction to Mathematics", one hundred books on "A Brief Introduction to Geography", and one hundred books on "Records of the Rise and Fall of Dynasties".

Zhou Heng flipped through it; although the paper was rough, the handwriting was clear, and it felt heavy in his hand.

He piled the books on the table.

Then he stood up and walked outside.

Chen Shen caught up: "Young Master, where are we going?"

"Jiangling".

On the tenth day of the tenth month, Zhou Heng arrived in Jiangling.

It was already dark when he entered the city. The people at the inn had already received the news and prepared the best courtyard, hot water, and food.

After Zhou Heng finished washing up and eating something, he was about to rest when Chen Shen came in to report.

"Young master, the Xie family has arrived."

Zhou Heng was stunned for a moment.

"Who?"

"Xie Jin".

Zhou Heng remained silent for a while.

"Let him in."

When Xie Jin entered, he wore a polite smile. He bowed to Zhou Heng and said, "Lord Zhou, you must be tired from your journey. My uncle asked me to come and inquire after you. If there is anything you need in Jiangling, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zhou Heng looked at him.

"You're too kind, Mr. Xie," he said. "I'm here today to help with the school. We'll be in need of your help with the school's affairs."

Xie Jin's smile faltered.

"What are you saying, Lord Zhou?" he said. "The school is a matter for the imperial court, and the Xie family will naturally give it their full support."

Zhou Heng nodded.

"Thank you very much."

Xie Jin exchanged a few more pleasantries, then took his leave.

On October 12th, the location for the school was decided.

There was an abandoned house in the east of the city, originally the private residence of an official from the previous dynasty. It was later confiscated and had been vacant for several years. Zhou Heng went to see it; the place was large enough, with enough rooms, and it could be used after some tidying up.

He had people clear the weeds from the house, repair the broken doors and windows, and patch the leaky roof. After three days of work, it finally looked presentable.

On October 15th, the school was officially inaugurated.

The plaque bears four characters: Jiangling New School.

Zhou Heng stood under the plaque, staring at the four characters for a long time.

Then he turned and went inside.

There are already people waiting inside.

Chen Shen had found several scholars from Jiangling who were willing to teach at the school. Zhou Heng spoke with them for a while, asked about their situation, and set the start date for the school year as the first day of the second month of the following year.

On the way back, Chen Shen whispered, "Young Master, what about the Xie family—"

"What's wrong?"

"These past few days, some people in the city have been spreading rumors," Chen Shen said, lowering his voice even further. "They say the new school teaches heretical doctrines and will corrupt the children. Some even say that Lord Zhou established this school to recruit students for himself."

Zhou Heng nodded.

"understood."

Chen Shen looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Zhou Heng offered no explanation.

He sat in the carriage, watching the street scenes flash by outside the window.

On October 18th, Zhou Heng spent the entire day in the school.

Together with the other teachers, he went through the textbooks again, rearranged the curriculum, and calculated the enrollment plan for next year. They were busy until dark before leaving the school.

As soon as I stepped out the door, I saw someone standing outside.

It was a young man, in his early twenties, dressed in coarse cloth, standing at the door as if waiting for someone. When Zhou Heng came out, he stepped forward and knelt down.

Zhou Heng was stunned for a moment.

"Who are you?"

The young man looked up, his eyes slightly red.

"Sir," he said, "my name is Zhao San, from Zhao Family Village in the south of the city. My father sent me to thank you, sir."

Zhou Heng didn't understand.

Zhao San said, "The school run by the adults doesn't charge tuition and even provides a meal. My family is poor and can't afford to send me to school. But I've wanted to study since I was little, I've dreamed of it all. Now that the adults have set up a school, I can finally study."

He kowtowed.

Zhou Heng stood there, looking at the young man, and suddenly didn't know what to say.

After a long time, he bent down and helped Zhao San up.

"Study hard," he said. "If you succeed, you'll become an official, accomplish great things, and bring honor to your family."

Zhao San nodded vigorously.

That night, Zhou Heng returned to the post station and stood by the window for a long time.

Outside the window, the lights of Jiangling City twinkled.

Zhou Heng was discussing matters with several teachers in the school when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He went out and saw a group of people gathered at the door, rushing inside.

Chen Shen and his men blocked their way, pushing and shoving each other while cursing.

Zhou Heng walked over.

"What happened?"

Chen Shen whispered, "Young master, it's people from those bookstores in the city. They said they won't let us print books and that they'll shut down our printing shops."

Zhou Heng looked at those people.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a silk robe with a small mustache, clearly the owner of the school. Seeing Zhou Heng emerge, he sneered, "Lord Zhou, we can't interfere with your school. But printing your own books breaks the rules."

Zhou Heng looked at him.

"What are the rules?"

The man with the small mustache said, "It's the rule of printing books. The books in Jiangling City have always been printed by a few of our publishing houses. If you print them yourself, aren't you taking away our livelihood?"

Zhou Heng nodded.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

The man with the small mustache was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhou Heng to ask that.

Zhou Heng looked at him and waited.

The man with the mustache said, forcing a smile, "If you want to print books, you have to let us print them. The price is negotiable."

Zhou Heng smiled.

"You want me to print them?" he asked. "How much do you charge per textbook?"

The man with the mustache's expression changed.

Zhou Heng continued, "I had someone inquire, and you quoted three times the price. Printing a thousand copies would cost two thousand taels of silver. I can afford that, but I'm unwilling to pay it."

He looked at those people.

"I'll print the school's books myself. I'll open my own printing shop. If you have any complaints, go to the government office. If the government office doesn't care, go to the prefectural governor. If the prefectural governor doesn't care, go to the imperial court."

He paused.

"Now, please leave."

The man with the small mustache stood there, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

Zhou Heng didn't look at them again. He turned around, walked back to the school, and closed the door.

Outside the door, the people made a fuss for a while, then gradually dispersed.

Chen Shen followed him in and whispered, "Young Master, they won't let this go."

Zhou Heng nodded.

"I know."

On October 22, the printing workshop was vandalized.

When Zhou Heng arrived, all he saw were broken pieces of wood and rotten paper scattered on the ground.

Old Bi stood at the door, trembling all over, his face a mixture of tears and sweat. Of his three apprentices, one had been beaten until his head was bleeding, and the other two were too scared to come out and hid inside the house.

Zhou Heng squatted down and picked up a piece of broken wood.

That was a half-carved movable type.

Old Bi walked over, his voice trembling: "Sir, I'm so sorry..."

Zhou Heng stood up and looked at him.

"Sir," he said, "are your family alright?"

Old Bi was stunned.

Zhou Heng said, "It's smashed, so be it. We can recarve the items. As long as no one is hurt, that's all that matters."

Old Bi looked at him, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

That night, Zhou Heng sat in the post station for a long time.

Chen Shen entered and whispered, "Young Master, we've found out. It was a group of thugs from the west of the city who did it. Someone paid them to come and cause trouble."

Zhou Heng nodded.

"Who gave it to you?"

Chen Shen shook his head: "We haven't found out yet. Those thugs are stubborn and won't say anything."

Zhou Heng remained silent for a while.

"No need to check," he said.

Chen Shen was stunned.

Zhou Heng said, "I know who it is."

Zhou Heng posted a notice in the school.