NOVPUB"Hey, why do I get the feeling Boyan was bullied by you?" Chen Xi turned to Zhuge Liang, whose expression was calm and asked, though he always thought Zhuge Liang’s current demeanor resembled his own indifferent facade when he was caught daydreaming.
"I was looking over the Grand Strategy of Heaven and Earth outside the cabin, and he came to look at it as well. I’ve read this book dozens of times and pretty much understand the essence of it. It’s less about reading and more about flipping through. Then he said I didn’t understand it, and after we chatted for a while, he ended up like this," Zhuge Liang said nonchalantly. He had already given the book to Lu Xun; naturally, Zhuge knew it was full of superfluous talk, but also rich in essence.
"Oh, let me think about what I wrote in that book." After looking up at the sky and thinking about the contents of his own book named Grand Strategy of Heaven and Earth, Chen Xi said, "That book is quite suitable for you, but probably not for him."
Zhuge Liang frowned upon hearing this, having a hard time recalling the contents of his own book. If it weren’t for the book’s genuine brilliance, Zhuge Liang would have felt like hitting the author.
"It suits him too," Zhuge Liang glanced at Chen Xi and said, "At least when I was talking to him, he had his own thoughts on military strategy, though naive and immature. Nevertheless, they were his own insights, quite imaginative!"
On the other hand, although Lu Xun was carefully reading the bootlegged copy of the Grand Strategy of Heaven and Earth that he had wheedled from Zhuge Liang, he couldn’t help but become distracted when Chen Xi came over, pricking up his ears to listen to the conversation between Zhuge Liang and Chen Xi. The more he heard Zhuge Liang’s words, the worse he felt, though, of course, he still greatly admired Chen Xi for being able to write such a book.
"He’s suited to the Technique, and you’re suited to the Strategy. You should learn how to grasp the grand trends of the world, to know the causes of success and failure, to seek power, and to change the course of events," Chen Xi said with a frown, feeling that he might have led Zhuge Liang astray, "That’s what my book ought to discuss, I believe."
"Your own book, and you don’t know?" Zhuge Liang asked helplessly, "Impressive that you dared to write it."
"Written so many, who remembers so clearly? Even the titles were slapped on randomly with a suitable choice," Chen Xi said nonchalantly.
Zhuge Liang nodded with a wry smile and dropped the honorifics, "Indeed, your Military Books do discuss how to grasp the grand trends, to know the causes of success and failure, how to seek power, but you have a habit of digressing mid-writing. Eventually, you start rambling about civil administration. In any case, the book is quite good."
"Oh, then no problem, it suits your type, if I remember correctly," Chen Xi nodded, confident he hadn’t just let Zhuge Liang read anything awry.
"To embrace the grand trends of the world, to quest for power, to alter the course of events, those should be Zichuan’s strong suits," Zhuge Liang considered, "Zichuan neglects to manage the details, or rather, should say he’s too lazy to do that meticulous work, a lot of things are just a general idea."
"Hahaha," Chen Xi laughed dryly, indeed not particularly adept at meticulous tasks. Regarding the embracement of world trends, it seemed to be his true forte; after all, from the start when there were trends to catch onto, to now when he could barely suppress the Four Directions and steer events in the direction he’d planned.
"That’s why I want to learn what you’re best at," Zhuge Liang said with a smile, "That’s why I like that book so much, and I feel what you excel at is precisely what I should master, and it also happens to be what interests me the most."
When Zhuge Liang said this, his gaze bore into Chen Xi, his eyes conveying a sense of longing. Zhuge Liang envied Chen Xi’s grasp of the grand trends and felt dissatisfied with Chen Xi’s lax attitude; it seemed to Zhuge Liang that Chen Xi had many tactics at his disposal but neglected to use them because he found them troublesome.
"I want to learn too!" Lu Xun suddenly burst out, joining in.
"I don’t even know how to teach you," Chen Xi yawned as she spoke, truly at a loss this time.
"I’ll just follow you, and I will learn on my own," Zhuge Liang said calmly, "I have always self-studied. If there’s anything I don’t understand, I will ask you. Given time, I’ll get it."
"Boyan, you’re probably not suited for this kind of study. Kongming’s thoughts are meticulous, and he is better suited for learning strategies. In your case, learning laws or techniques would be better. Each of you has your own strengths; Kongming just has too much of an advantage in terms of meticulous thinking," Chen Xi turned to speak to Lu Xun, noting that for some reason, Lu Kang still bestowed upon Lu Xun the courtesy name "Boyan"—which was truly astonishing. However, the formal conferring of the name would have to wait until Mount Tai.
"I want to learn," Lu Xun said firmly, determination in his eyes as he looked at Chen Xi.
"Your talents don’t mainly lie here," Chen Xi frowned, saying her biggest advantage was knowing the development paths of these people and not letting them waste their efforts.
"I want to learn," Lu Xun said, glancing at the composed Zhuge Liang. "If he is learning and I don’t, the gap will surely widen."
"Let him learn," Zhuge Liang said calmly.
"You’re not the same as him," Chen Xi said discontentedly, finding the cheeky kid’s lack of understanding frustrating. With Zhuge Liang cheering from the side and seeing the hopeful look on Lu Xun’s face, Chen Xi felt a headache coming on. Directly sending Lu Xun away might lead to awkwardness in the future, and that was the special kind of trouble with stubborn children.
"Diligence can compensate for dullness, a hundred drops of sweat are no match for a bit of natural talent. Standing like a crane in snow, the fool sees the crane, the sage sees the snow, and the Zen practitioner perceives the whiteness," Zhuge Liang said, looking meaningfully at Chen Xi and speaking to himself.
Lu Xun, not understanding, first frowned at Zhuge Liang, then stared at Chen Xi with wide eyes.
"All right, you can follow along too," Chen Xi sighed.
Chen Xi figured out what Zhuge Liang meant: the same thing could lead to different understandings for different people. Zhuge Liang’s point was that since Chen Xi was so idle that one story could have a multitude of conflicting interpretations.
What’s the problem then? One could always explain meanings that fit with Zhuge Liang’s mentality to him and those that fit with Lu Xun’s beliefs to Lu Xun. After all, the insights they would gain were sure to differ. Both could be right, and different teachings could be imparted separately.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Lu Xun knelt down and bowed three times to Chen Xi immediately, continuing until Chen Xi, her face flushed with embarrassment, helped him to his feet.
Zhuge Liang glanced at Lu Xun, then turned his head, hesitant at first, but finally he sighed and waved his hand, "I suddenly realize I have taken a lot of advantage from you. Maybe I should also take you as my teacher."
"Don’t," Chen Xi stopped Zhuge Liang quickly, "Stop it, my head is already aching. Boyan was because I didn’t react in time, if you start messing around too, I’m seriously going to get a headache. Sigh, Boyan, why did you want to take me as your teacher?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
