Chapter 272 - 270: Drunk

Chapter 272: Chapter 270: Drunk

Professor Xiao and Professor Fan were overjoyed, a rare sight. Looking at the smiling faces around the table, they felt a deep sense of contentment. Perhaps this was the most fundamental warmth a person needed. The moment felt like a perfect family reunion, with children seated at the table and grandchildren playing at their knees—a truly beautiful scene.

Children can’t stay up late. Even though they were especially excited tonight, they were nodding off by around ten. Sister Fang took the two of them to rest, leaving Professor Xiao, Professor Fan, Li Xiu, and Zhou Lian at the table. Seeing Professor Fan’s rare enthusiasm, Li Xiu joined him for a few more glasses. Professor Xiao also let herself relax for once. The cherry wine wasn’t particularly strong, so Li Xiu grabbed two more bottles. But by the end of it all, Li Xiu was the only one left with a clear head. Professor Xiao and Zhou Lian weren’t completely wasted, but they’d had quite a bit.

Li Xiu put Professor Fan’s coat on him and helped him to the guest room. Professor Fan had drunk a bit too much tonight, and Li Xiu didn’t feel comfortable letting him and Professor Xiao go back to their own place. After helping Professor Fan lie down on the bed, Li Xiu was already covered in sweat from the effort.

When he returned to the dining room, he saw Professor Xiao and Zhou Lian in a loud debate. As he got closer and listened, Li Xiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It turned out the teacher and student were arguing about Wei Jin literature. Professor Xiao appreciated Wei Jin literature, but her favorite was from the Tang and Song dynasties. Meanwhile, Zhou Lian appreciated Tang and Song literature, but her favorite was from the Wei Jin period. This was the cause of their argument.

Seeing Li Xiu return, Zhou Lian grabbed him and said to Professor Xiao, "Teacher, Tang culture is magnificent and Song culture is graceful, but Wei Jin literature has a unique, unrestrained elegance! During the turmoil when northern tribes overran China, it was this distinct Han culture that held up the backbone of the Central Plains. Teacher, of all the scholars throughout the dynasties, those of the Wei Jin period best embody the quintessential Han spirit! Jin Chen, you tell her!"

Gently stroking the top of Zhou Lian’s head, Li Xiu looked at the eagerly staring Professor Xiao and said, "Teacher Xiao, you can’t really compare them. In all of China’s five thousand years of civilization, every period is indispensable. Personal preferences may differ, but the culture of each era is irreplaceable. Bao’er loves Wei Jin literature, especially its spirit and unrestrained elegance, but that doesn’t mean she dislikes the magnificence of the Tang, the grace of the Song, or the iron-willed dominance of the Great Han dynasty!"

Professor Xiao, a little tipsy, was placated by Li Xiu’s bluff. Zhou Lian still wanted to say something, but Li Xiu quickly patted her on the head and coaxed her in a low voice, "Bao’er, be good now. We can discuss it slowly in our room later, okay? Be a good girl, Bao’er!"

"Teacher Xiao, Professor Fan is waiting for you in the room. Bao’er and I will help you back first. We can continue this discussion about Tang and Song versus Wei Jin literature tomorrow!" Seeing that it was already past midnight, Li Xiu worried that staying up too late would be bad for their health, so he and Zhou Lian helped Professor Xiao to the guest room.

Seeing that Professor Fan was already snoring, Li Xiu smiled. He noticed Zhou Lian was just a little excited, not sleepy, so he had her help Professor Xiao get ready for bed. He went to the kitchen himself to fill a thermos with warm water, grabbed two cups, and finally arranged some preserved fruits and candied snacks on a fruit platter. He carried it all to the guest room on a large tray in case the elderly couple got thirsty or hungry in the middle of the night.

After settling the two professors in, Li Xiu saw that Zhou Lian was still a bit wound up and asked gently, "Bao’er, are you not tired yet?"

"Not at all, Jin Chen. I don’t want to sleep right now!" Zhou Lian said, a little pouty.

"Alright, we won’t sleep yet. We’ll wait until you’re sleepy," Li Xiu didn’t press her. It was rare for Zhou Lian to be so full of life, so what was the harm in letting her enjoy it? With that, he took her hand and led her back to the dining room.

Seeing the messy table covered in plates and cups, Li Xiu pulled a chair over to the kitchen doorway for Zhou Lian to sit on. He then began to clean up with quick, deft movements. Afraid she would get bored, he started a conversation. "Bao’er, how did you get into that argument with Teacher Xiao earlier?"

Sipping from her personal mug of jujube, longan, and goji berry tea that Li Xiu had prepared, Zhou Lian said reluctantly, "It was Teacher’s fault. She said she admires Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, and I said I like Xie An, also known as Xie Anshi. She said she likes Su Dongpo’s bold grandeur, and I said I like Xie Anshi’s carefree elegance. And just like that, we went from the Wei Jin to the Tang and Song!"

Hearing this, Li Xiu was a bit speechless. ’Such is the way of scholars!’ he thought. But it was the New Year, and he didn’t want to spoil Zhou Lian’s mood, so he asked gently, "Bao’er, do you just like Xie Anshi from the Wei Jin period, or is he your favorite figure from all of China’s history?"

Watching Li Xiu move back and forth between the dining room and the kitchen, Zhou Lian tilted her head and looked at him. Pouting unconsciously in a cute way, she said, "Well, um... I do like Xie Anshi the most. Actually, there are many I like. For example, the Han dynasty’s Champion Marquis, Huo Qubing, who famously drove his enemies far to the north. Or King Ran, Ran Min, who issued the ’Order to Kill the Barbarians.’ And the founding emperors of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di. I like all of them. But I suppose my absolute favorite is still the elegant prime minister of Jiangzuo, Xie Anshi!"

Having finally finished cleaning the dining room, Li Xiu was at the kitchen sink washing the dishes. He paused when he heard Zhou Lian’s words. ’Huo Qubing, Ran Min, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di... they were all ruthlessly decisive, iron-fisted figures. Bao’er likes them?’ he thought. ’That’s right, even the elegant prime minister, Xie Anshi, single-handedly preserved decades of peace for the Eastern Jin. With eighty thousand men against eight hundred thousand, he defeated the Former Qin so badly they fled in disarray, leading to their rapid decline and collapse. They’re all fierce, formidable people!’

"I never realized you liked such passionate and heroic figures, Bao’er. I thought you just liked Xie Anshi for his carefree elegance!"

Zhou Lian paused at his words, thought for a moment, and said, "You know, you’re right. I always thought I liked Xie Anshi for his unrestrained elegance. But thinking about it now, maybe what I admire most is their spirit. The reason I like Xie Anshi the most is that he single-handedly protected the Han dynasty’s lands and secured decades of peace!"

After cleaning the kitchen, Li Xiu came to stand before Zhou Lian. He gently took her hand and said, "Perhaps... for you, I could do that too, Bao’er."

"You wouldn’t need to," Zhou Lian, frighteningly direct from the alcohol, said, her gaze on Li Xiu both passionate and deeply affectionate. "If you were born in that era, Jin Chen, even if not for me, you would still be a man of peerless grace and unyielding pride. You would have left an indelible mark on history!"

Basking in her gaze, Li Xiu felt his heart melt. He carefully scooped her up into his arms, looked at her ardently, and said, "Bao’er, I would. You understand me. I have passion, I have a sense of justice, but that’s only when you are by my side. If it weren’t for you, do you really think I’d have the heart to right the wrongs of the world and uphold justice? My master once said of me that if I wasn’t determined to be a gentleman, I would surely become a demon. For me, perhaps... if you weren’t in my life, whether I’d be a gentleman or a demon, it’s really hard to say."

"Why?" Zhou Lian’s head was a little fuzzy. She looked at Li Xiu in confusion.