Young People Who Will Eventually Go Their Separate Ways

Chapter 91 Young People Who Will Eventually Go Their Separate Ways

With the Lunar New Year approaching, Wansong Academy will be closed for the holiday again.

That year, Liang Shanbo's days at the academy seemed to pass exceptionally quickly. In the first month of the lunar calendar, he bought a Go set and played against Zhu Yingtai; in the autumn, Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan visited, presenting him with a letter inscribed with pine and cypress leaves and a sword awaiting its time, and he once again won the autumn archery competition. From the first month to autumn, and from autumn to the twelfth month, a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Year after year, but some people have to graduate and leave.

Students at Wansong Academy typically spend three to five years from enrollment to graduation. Some stay longer, even after five years, while others leave after less than a year.

For example, in a pine forest, new leaves sprout while old leaves fall.

Xiao Hu and Sun Yuangui were about to graduate. Both of them had only studied at the academy for three years and would not be coming back next year.

Yu Yanzhi was also about to graduate. He had already studied at the academy for four years, but his impoverished family could hardly support him to continue his studies. He was not Meng Wenlang's close disciple, so his hopes of entering officialdom were extremely slim. After graduation, he would take up a common profession for scholars, such as copying books and letters for others, like Liang Shanbo's father, Liang Yuanqing.

Wang Shu is also about to graduate.

Wang Shu has been studying at the academy for five years. He will turn twenty this year and will have his coming-of-age ceremony. Meng Wenlang and his family have already planned a bright future for him in the government. He will go to Jiankang and become an aide in the staff of a high-ranking official, which will give him a higher starting point than the sons of ordinary gentry.

That day, after finishing his breakfast, Liang Shanbo, as usual, walked with Wang Shu and Gu Jun through the fields outside the back gate of the school and along the winding mountain path toward Songzha.

The three of them walked more slowly than usual.

Wang Shu walked ahead, his back as straight as ever, but his gaze would occasionally drift to the pine forest on both sides, as if he wanted to memorize each and every one of these pine trees that he had watched for five years.

We've arrived at Songzha.

The three people pushed open the door and entered.

The charcoal fire was burning warmly, and Meng Wenlang sat calmly by the window as usual.

The three knelt, with Wang Shu in the center and Gu Jun and Liang Shanbo on his left and right.

Meng Wenlang's gaze lingered on Wang Shu's face for a moment before he spoke: "Wang Shu, today's lesson is your last at Wansong Academy."

Wang Shu stood upright with his back straight and his lips slightly pursed.

Meng Wenlang suddenly took out an old document and said, "The three of you, pass it around and read it."

Wang Shu took it with both hands and looked down at it.

This is a draft of a letter of resignation from office, written more than ten years ago. The wording is proper, stating nothing more than "I am weak and sickly, and cannot bear to be driven." Although the handwriting is neat, the ink has faded, the edges of the paper are yellowed, and it has been pressed at the bottom of a box for many years. When unfolded, a faint musty smell can be smelled.

After reading it, Wang Shu silently handed the document to Gu Jun. After reading it, Gu Jun also silently handed it to Liang Shanbo.

After the three of them had finished reading, Meng Wenlang retrieved the document. He lowered his eyes and lingered on the faded ink marks for a long time, as if examining his former self.

He suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "Everything written in this memorial is a lie. I was only thirty years old when I resigned from my post, and I was in good health. I could eat two bowls of rice in one meal. Saying that I was weak and sickly was just to save face for the court and to give myself a respectable explanation."

I resigned from my post because of my pride, disappointment, and cowardice. You will all witness the various affairs of officialdom in the future, so I will not go into details today. Others' stories are ultimately their own; you must each walk your own path in your official careers.

I have been teaching at Wansong Academy for ten years now. In these ten years, I have taken in more than a dozen disciples, including the three of you.

When I was thirty, I realized something: even if I no longer serve as an official, it doesn't necessarily mean I have to withdraw from the world. I can teach and carefully cultivate my students to enter officialdom. If my students become capable and can do what I was unable to do, then these ten years of my life will not have been wasted.

At this point, Meng Wenlang put away the draft of his resignation letter, gazed at Wang Shu, and said solemnly and earnestly, "Wang Shu, five years ago you first came to the academy at the age of fifteen, and at that time you were full of talent."

I remember once, you debated with someone in the Jiazhai Lecture Hall, refuting their argument until they were red in the face. Afterwards, I told you: "A sharp sword, once drawn, is indeed sharp, but if it doesn't know how to return to its sheath, it will eventually break." From then on, you indeed became more restrained, not in the sense of sheathing your sharpness, but in the sense of learning to return to your sheath.

Wang Shu's lips moved, but he only lowered his head.

Meng Wenlang continued, "You have studied at the academy for five years. I have no worries about your talent or your character. However, you must remember that learning is not for oppressing others, but for achieving success. When you enter officialdom next year, you will encounter many people who are less talented than you, and you will also encounter many people who are less virtuous than you. Do not look down on them, and do not be harsh on them. You only need to do your best and uphold the righteousness in your heart."

Wang Shu raised his head and looked at Meng Wenlang.

Meng Wenlang looked at him and continued, "You are different from your teacher. I used to retreat when faced with problems, but you will be taking office next year. Don't follow my example and give up halfway."

The lotus grows from the mud, unafraid of getting its hands dirty, unafraid of hardship. For you, the meaning of "practical application of knowledge" lies not in the study, but in the mud. You have studied for many years and practiced martial arts, not to become a self-righteous hermit, but to become someone who can apply their knowledge in this turbid world.

Wang Shu was always strong-willed and rarely shed tears in front of others, but at this moment, tears streamed silently down his cheeks, and he did not wipe them away.

He straightened his clothes, then bowed to Meng Wenlang, his voice choked with tears, and said, "This disciple is about to take his leave of you, sir, and embark on his journey."

"Regardless of my fate or the ups and downs of my official career, I will remain true to my principles and, as you have said, become a person capable of serving the world in this turbulent era. I dare not claim I will achieve great things, but I dare say I will not fail your five years of dedicated teaching."

After speaking, he bowed again.

Meng Wenlang reached out and gently supported his arms, helping him up. He patted his arms lightly, as if gently stroking a child about to embark on a long journey.

Gu Jun and Liang Shanbo both felt their eyes well up with tears.

A sudden wave of melancholy washed over Liang Shanbo.

He has already planned to leave Wansong Academy next winter and bid farewell to Mr. Meng.

At that time, he will most likely sit in the pine-covered enclosure, listening to his teacher give him his last lesson. The charcoal fire will still be warm then, but Wang Shu will no longer be by his side.

Gu Jun will also graduate and leave next year to take up an official post.

Ten years have passed, and one by one, Mr. Meng's dozen or so disciples have bid farewell to him.

Wang Shu hastily wiped away a tear with his sleeve, then bowed to Gu Jun and Liang Shanbo respectively: "Junior Brother Gu, Junior Brother Liang, I will be leaving first tomorrow. You two should immerse yourselves in your studies at the academy. I will be waiting for you in your official careers."

Outside the window, the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind surged in, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled, as if playing a farewell song for the departing traveler.

The mountain stream is thin and long, flowing down from the heights, leaping and tumbling among the rocks, splashing water droplets, and then rushing down the mountain without looking back.

Just like the prime of life.

Just like these young people who will eventually go their separate ways.