The carriage stopped in front of the gate of Qin Mansion. When Su Shi got off the carriage, someone immediately came up to him and led Su Shi to the study.
Su Shi was about to step into the study when he heard Kong Wenshun's disappointed voice: "Nan'er, how can you do anything like a merchant?"
Su Shi put one foot in the study and saw Kong Wenshun sitting on the chair. Qin Nan stood aside obediently like a child who had done something wrong.
Seeing Su Shi come in, Qin Nan seemed to be relieved, a smile secretly appeared on his face, and his eyes became a little gloating.
Qin Zhidao was also looking at Su Shi, his expression full of helplessness, as if he was asking for more blessings.
Although Su Shi didn't know what was going on, judging from the looks on Qin Zhidao's and his daughter's faces, Kong Wenshun was afraid that it would be bad if he came to see him, so he wanted to quietly withdraw his step into the study.
Kong Wenshun was sulking and didn't notice Su Shi standing at the door. Qin Nan saw that he was trying to escape and whispered in a low voice: "Teacher, Mr. Su is here."
He raised his head sharply and saw Su Shi closing his feet. He sneered repeatedly, "Since when did little brother Su become so sneaky in his actions?"
Su Shi stood with one foot outside the threshold and one foot in the air, forming an independent posture like a golden rooster.
After hearing Kong Wenshun's words, he touched his nose and hurriedly put down his aching feet. He walked a few steps and came to Kong Wenshun. He forced a smile on his face and saluted: "Su Shi has seen Mr. Kong, Mr. Kong's body How are you?"
Kong Wenshun said angrily: "I'm not mad to death yet."
Su Shipei smiled and said, "Who dares to vent my anger on my brother?"
He was both grateful and respectful to Kong Wenshun.
Kong Wenshun had a very high status in the literary world, but he was free and easy-going, without any airs, and he was willing to support talented young people, so he was willing to lower his status and make friends with Su Shi.
And without Kong Jijiu, he and Qin Nan might have lost their fate.
The most important thing is that during this period, he learned about Kong Wenshun's past experiences from Zhou Jin and Qin Nan.
He came from a famous family, and when he was young, he was famous in the capital for his intelligence and studiousness. When he became an adult, he became rich in learning and was a rare hero.
Kong Wenshun could have been an official in the court for a long time, but he refused to become an official many times because of his lack of talent and lack of knowledge. Instead, he traveled around to increase his knowledge.
After the age of thirty, Kong Wenshun devoted himself to the education industry. Everywhere he went, he lobbied local wealthy nobles to build schools. Most of the students he accepted were from poor families. Over the past twenty years, he taught countless students and had disciples all over Daqian.
At this time, Kong Wenshun looked at Qin Zhidao. Qin Zhidao looked upright and looked at the bookshelf intently.
He looked at Qin Nan again. Qin Nan quickly lowered his head and couldn't help but glance at Su Shi shyly.
Finally, his eyes fell on Su Shi, with a hint of anger in his eyes, and a feeling of hatred for iron.
Su Shi had no choice but to say, "I haven't seen Brother Kong for many days, but I'm not afraid of making him angry."
Kong Wenshun said coldly: "You don't dare to make me angry, how dare you encourage Nan'er to do business as a merchant."
Su Shi was stunned: "Am I teasing Miss Qin?"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but look at Qin Zhidao, but at this moment Qin Zhidao was standing by the window, with his hands behind his back, concentrating on admiring the scenery outside the window, and seemed not to hear their conversation at all.
Su Shi sighed secretly, and then looked at Qin Nan, who was standing behind her and beating Kong Wenshun's back. Although her eyes were full of apology, her mouth was tightly closed, and she obviously had no intention of speaking.
Seeing that Qin Zhidao and his daughter had no intention of helping, Su Shi could only sigh: "I have my own intentions in swaying Miss Qin to do business. Please forgive me, Brother Kong."
When Kong Wenshun saw Su Shi's admission, he couldn't help but said sadly: "Businessmen are all greedy for money, and they will do anything for profit. Why do you want Nan'er to be such a cunning person?"
Su Shi saw that Kong Wenshun was so angry and knew that Qin Zhidao did not tell him the cause and effect of the matter, so he couldn't help but hesitate for a moment.
While he was hesitating, something suddenly moved in his heart and he couldn't help but ask: "Has Mr. Kong seen the prince?"
Not only was Kong Wenshun slightly stunned by his question, but even Qin Nan's hand that was beating his back stopped and he looked at Su Shi in surprise.
Qin Zhidao no longer pretended to appreciate the scenery at this time, and turned around to look at Su Shi.
Kong Wenshun nodded slowly, his eyes full of memories, and after a long time he slowly said: "Fifteen years ago, I was invited by the prince to have a day of chatting with him at Chongwen Hall."
When Su Shi saw that Kong Wenshun had not only met the prince, but also chatted with him for a whole day, he couldn't help but wonder: "With Master Kong's talent and learning, the prince must be thirsty for talents and will definitely try his best to keep Mr. Kong in the capital. But according to reports As far as I know, Mr. Kong has been studying everywhere for more than ten years, and he did not return to the capital until two years ago."
Kong Wenshun sighed: "You are right. The prince tried his best to persuade me to stay in the capital. It's just that I built a new school in Dingbian Prefecture. If I left, the school would definitely end without any problems, so I didn't stay in the capital." , but we made a five-year agreement with the prince."
"Five-year agreement?"
Kong Wenshun's expression became a little sad, and he said slowly: "I made an agreement with the prince that I will return to Beijing in five years to work for the prince."
Having said this, he was silent for a long time and murmured: "Unfortunately, God is not kind to me. Just when I was about to return to the capital, I heard the news that the prince had died of illness. Therefore, I felt discouraged for a while. After returning to the capital to pay homage to the prince, I left. He left the capital and didn’t return to the capital again until two years ago.”
Su Shi smiled and said, "To be able to make Brother Kong say whatever he wants, I think the prince must have been extremely convinced by the conversation that day."
Kong Wenshun sighed and said: "Daqian is lucky to have such a talented and strategic prince, and the death of the prince due to illness is a great misfortune for Daqian."
Su Shi suddenly asked: "What does Lord Kong think of the prince's business behavior?"
Kong Wenshun was slightly startled, not expecting Su Shi to ask this question, but Qin Zhidao couldn't help but smile and looked at Su Shi happily.
Qin Nan couldn't help but secretly raised his head and looked at Su Shi narrowly.
Su Shi kept a straight face, and it wasn't until Qin Nan apologized that he smiled. Qin Nan lowered his head at this time, not daring to look at him again.
Kong Wenshun was lost in memories at this time and did not pay attention to Su Shi's expression. After a long time, he said: "At that time, I also asked the prince why he acted like this?"
Su Shi was looking at Qin Nan amusedly, so he asked casually: "Then how did the prince answer Mr. Kong?"
Kong Wenshun said slowly: "The prince said that only when business is prosperous can the people be rich and live and work in peace and contentment."
Su Shi touched his nose and said doubtfully, "I'm afraid this explanation won't convince Mr. Kong."
Kong Wenshun nodded and continued: "I also raised objections, but the prince did not answer me directly. He just smiled and said to me that when I return to Beijing in five years, it will be the time to give me the answer."
