114 Regarding education...

Through the air, Shen Tang could feel Qi Shan's blood pressure skyrocketing, as if his foot was pressing down hard on the accelerator, racing towards the sky. Yet the other party seemed indifferent.

"What's the commotion about?" Chuyao resisted the urge to roll his eyes, facing Qi Shan's explosive demeanor as if ignited by gunpowder. He remained calm and composed, even retorting, "Are you the only one capable of speaking here? Although I am old, my hearing remains sharp."

Qi Shan's fury surged forward once again, "What... what's happening to him?" At this moment, Qi Shan was starting to question his life choices. Had he been away for only five or six days, or was it five or six years? Where was the clean, elegant Shen Tang he knew, with the handsome face that could pass for both male and female? Who was this innocent-looking fool blinking before him, resembling someone who had just crawled out of a rural backwater? Who had turned him into this? So filthy, as if he had rolled back from a mud pit?

Chuyao remarked, "Young people are naturally lively and active."

"Is this just being lively and active?" Qi Shan smirked coldly. He was increasingly displeased with Chuyao. At thirty-four, pretending to be an elder in front of him, addressing himself as "old man," subtly asserting his seniority. And now, trivializing such a serious matter as "the liveliness of youth"?

Chuyao countered, "What else? Suppressing one's nature is not good for Wulong. Let him be noisy when he wants to be, let him laugh when he wants to laugh. A person only lives through their youth once. If they don't make the most of their energy while they're young, are they going to bounce around when they're older?"

Qi Shan's face trembled with anger as he exclaimed, "Nonsense!"

Chuyao narrowed his eyes, undeterred by the simmering frustration emanating from Qi Shan's controlled anger. Instead, it was the black-faced lord and the group of piglets who trembled, huddling together in fear. His tone suddenly stern, Chuyao questioned, "Qi Shan, who do you think you are?"

Shen Tang, listening in from the sidelines, sensed the conversation heading in an unsettling direction. Seeing tensions rise between Qi Shan and Chuyao, she quickly interjected, wiping nonexistent sweat from her forehead, attempting to separate them. How strange! Qi Shan was one thing, after all, he had authority. But why did Chuyao emit such a compelling aura? It even made her, caught between the two, feel a language-defying sense of anxiety and tension.

"Uh, well, Yuanliang has just returned after a long journey and must be tired. Why don't we let him rest first? Wuhui, I, I'm hungry. Shall we call Banbu over to slaughter the black-faced lord and make a feast for everyone tonight?" Shen Tang was prepared to sacrifice the newly recruited black-faced lord for her own happiness.

Chuyao's expression softened slightly. "Wulong, I need to speak with Yuanliang."

Shen Tang asked, "What's there to discuss that I can't hear?"

Qi Shan sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Sure, what's there to hide from me? Can't I hear it?"

Shen Tang's scalp tingled slightly, as she weakly voiced her concern, "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just worried that things might escalate between you two."

From a gentleman who speaks but doesn't act to one who acts without speaking.

Chuyao dropped his reserve and rolled up his sleeves in frustration. "Am I afraid of him, Qi Yuanliang?"

Shen Tang had to remind him softly from the side, "I know you're not afraid, but, Wuhui... you don't have Wenxin."

Not having Wenxin was a significant disadvantage.

Chuyao's face darkened as he snorted, "Why should I be afraid? Does he think he's raising a daughter? What's wrong with running around, laughing, and playing? What's wrong with riding a pig? What's wrong with herding pigs while riding one? Is he going to keep himself confined like a sheltered maiden behind closed doors?"

Shen Tang remained silent, inwardly exclaiming at the sudden turn of events. Although Chuyao didn't mention her name, every word seemed to be directed at her.

Qi Shan, with a stern face, retorted, "When did I say anything about raising a daughter?"

Chuyao chuckled, "So you want to raise a gentleman then?"

Qi Shan remained silent.

"Those who know others are wise, those who know themselves are enlightened," Chuyao shifted the conversation without batting an eye, disregarding Qi Shan's darkening expression, "It's not that I'm discouraging you, but it's better to be realistic. Wulong is different from the people you've encountered before, and he's still young."

It was just a step away from telling Qi Shan – you, Qi Yuanliang, are not material for cultivating an outstanding gentleman. Let's recognize reality and let him grow up wild.

The literary aura emanating from the waist token around Qi Shan's waist was already stirring, as if it could erupt at any moment.

Shen Tang felt her role becoming increasingly peculiar. Before she could fully comprehend why, Qi Shan's dark expression softened somewhat as he said, "Even so, if you could teach him some eloquence or common knowledge, it would be better than... better than letting him..."

After struggling for a while, he couldn't bring himself to say the words "riding pigs."

Chuyao didn't even furrow his brow, "What's wrong with riding pigs? Throughout history, many famous generals didn't only ride horses. Some rode oxen, some rode elephants, some rode tigers, and some rode leopards into battle. Who cares what he rides? As long as the thing under his hips can run, that's all that matters. Stop being so long-winded."

Qi Shan: ...

Shen Tang: ...

Lin Feng, who finally understood what she had said: ...

Chuyao, realizing what he had just said: ...

Spending time in a place like Moonlight Pavilion, even someone who has received orthodox literary education like him cannot avoid being influenced. Even if he didn't mean to be vulgar, the coarse language that slipped out made people think too much and produced a lot of garbage thoughts.

Qi Shan's blood pressure, which had just dropped, soared once again.

"Chuyao Wuhui!"

"I'm right here in front of you, no need to yell," Chuyao only felt guilty for a moment before regaining his composure, "I've been busy these days, even half a step is busy, but you're not here. Wulong has no one to look after him, and I'm also spread thin..."

So, Wulong was left unattended and went to ride a pig.

Qi Shan: ...

So it's still all his fault?

Chuyao's brain was spinning so fast it seemed like smoke would come out. He quickly retorted, "Moreover, have you ever thought about why Wulong did this? You only see him riding a pig and playing around, so you assume it's not good? Do you think I'm indulging and neglecting? Hmph, shallow! If you were to become a teacher, you would mislead the students!"

Qi Shan sneered, "Why don't you explain why?"

Chuyao slapped Shen Tang's notes and bamboo slips into Qi Shan's arms, saying, "Read this and you'll know. If piglets can be raised and taste good in a few months, the people will accept it. In the future, not every household will raise them, but at least it can provide an additional livelihood for the people. This is clearly a long-lasting benefit for the people, not just for someone's pleasure. But you, Qi Yuanliang, are narrow-minded, only seeing Wulong's playfulness. You tell me, who is right and who is wrong?"

Lin Feng: ...

Does the young master have such grand aspirations and broad-mindedness?

Shen Tang: ...

No, she doesn't. She clearly was forced into raising pigs and riding them just for fun...

It's like being caught between arguing parents, and little Tangmei is just caught in the middle.

It's not helping either of them |ω｀)