"Mr. Wenji (Li Gang, also known as Wenji), I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you doing?"
Qujiangfang, a quiet and elegant two-entry house, Li Zexuan knocked on the door and saw Li Gang who was watering the orchids with a water ladle in the yard, and said hello with a smile.
This is a relatively simple old house. The decoration is not luxurious at all. There is no rockery pond or pavilion. There is only a small bamboo forest in the yard and a flower garden. It is extremely quiet and elegant.
"Haha~! I'm still in good health~! Why do you, a busy guy like you, have time to come to me, an old man~?"
Li Gang slowly put the water ladle into the wooden bucket next to him, turned around and said with a smile.
Li Zexuan did not answer Li Gang's question directly, but glanced at the "Datang Daily" lying quietly on the stool, and asked Li Gang: "Sir, do you also read the "Datang Daily"~?"
"Look~! I have nothing to do at home. Apart from watering the flowers, I can only read the newspaper~! This newspaper your kid made is really a good choice to kill time~!"
At this point, Li Gang suddenly came to his senses. He pointed at Li Zexuan and smiled meaningfully: "Haha~! I know why you came here today~! This is to ask the old man for me to pay off the wine debt. ~! Haha~! Come into the house and say~!”
Arriving at the house, Li Gang asked his grandson Li Anren to pour a cup of tea for Li Zexuan, and then the two sat opposite each other. Li Gang smiled and said: "I'm not as wealthy as your kid's family here. We don't have fine wine, but we still have good tea. Don’t dislike your kid~!”
Li Zexuan cupped his hands and said: "How dare you, how dare you~! The old gentleman doesn't value fame and wealth. Although you live in a humble house, your moral character is beyond the reach of many of us~! How dare you dislike me~!"
This flattery made even Li Gang, a steady-minded old scholar, couldn't help but laugh. He laughed and scolded: "Glib talk~! I'm afraid I can't bear your high hat~! This tea was made by me personally in March It is picked in the tea gardens in the east of the city and tastes very good, you should try it too~"
The corners of Li Zexuan's mouth twitched slightly and he said: "Thank you for your kindness, old man. Although the tea is good, I am not used to this method of making tea. I appreciate your kindness~!"
Li Gang frowned and asked curiously: "How to prepare tea~? Is there any other way to prepare tea besides my method of preparing tea~?"
Li Zexuan coughed dryly and said: "Let's not talk about this for now. If you are interested, Mr., I will use a new method to make you a pot of tea. Today, I am here to ask for something~!"
"Haha~! Do you want to invite me to your Yanhuang Academy~?"
It's easy to talk to smart people. Li Gang guessed Li Zexuan's intention without Li Zexuan taking the initiative to point it out. He shook his head and said with a smile:
"I have already read today's "Datang Daily". What you want to say should be in the newspaper, right? There is no hierarchy in academia, and engineering is only for the benefit of all people in the world~! Xiaoxuan, although I said this I agree, but if you write it like this, I’m afraid you’ll get a lot of criticism~!”
Li Zexuan said: "I have never paid attention to public criticism. I can make engineering known to the world, be used by the world, and benefit the world. Even if I am full of criticism, what do I have to fear~"
Li Gang slapped the table and laughed loudly: "Haha~! Okay~! You are really a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers. I am very happy to have a responsible young hero like you in the Tang Dynasty~! If your Yanhuang Academy has It is my duty to use the old and decayed place~!"
Li Zexuan said happily: "Did the old gentleman agree~?"
Li Gang smiled and said: "Hmm~! But your Yanhuang Academy should mainly teach engineering, right~? Although I am familiar with classics and history, I know very little about engineering construction, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much~!"
Li Zexuan had already considered this. He smiled and said: "Although Yanhuang Academy mainly teaches engineering, Confucian classics also occupy a very large proportion. I believe that Confucianism cultivates the mind and engineering benefits the world. Without the influence of Confucianism, teaching Even if the students who come out are more capable, but their outlook is not correct, it will be of no benefit to the country~!
Besides, you are a highly respected person, but you just don’t do anything. You only stop at our Yanhuang Academy. By then, people within a hundred miles of Yanhuang Academy will be able to smell the scholarly scent of Yanhuang Academy. Who says you can’t be of great help~? "
Although this is a bit exaggerated, Li Gang's role is really like a needle that stabilizes the sea. His prestige in scholars and popular reputation are among the only famous scholars in the Tang Dynasty. Li Gang has With the addition, the overall grade will rise one level.
Li Gang stroked his beard, pointed at Li Zexuan and cursed with a smile: "I don't know where you learned this skill of flattering me~! It doesn't matter~! I will go to your Yanhuang Academy to teach. You have to take care of the wine and food. That’s enough~! If you can offer such a high salary to other gentlemen, it will definitely cost me a few bottles of wine~!"
How could Li Zexuan not respond? He hurriedly said: "Don't worry, old man, it should be like this~! It should be like this~!"
Li Gang nodded with great satisfaction, then he thought for a while and said: "It just so happens that I still have a few close friends who are quite knowledgeable, but they have retired to seclusion. Previously, you said in the newspaper, "Everyone has retired to the world, so why not come to Yanhuang? The academy trains three or two disciples and watches them live and work together and become famous throughout the ages." I really agree with this~! I will invite them to come to Chang'an someday, and you guys can come and meet them. If you think they are okay, you can also hire them to the Yanhuang Academy. Let’s go~!”
Li Zexuan waved his hand and said with a smile: "Since the old gentleman thinks they are knowledgeable, what else do you think~? You always think it's okay. As long as they are willing to come to Yanhuang Academy, I would love it~! I just don't know if any of your friends are good at it. The art of engineering construction, machinery and equipment~?”
Li Gang was startled. After a moment, he nodded with a heavy expression and said: "This... this old man actually knows someone who is very proficient in engineering construction and mechanical equipment. However, they have not contacted each other for many years. I will write a letter for a while. See if you can still get in touch~? If I have the chance, I can recommend you~!"
Li Zexuan's eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "Thank you, Mr. Lao~!"
He has been in Datang for so long that he has met only a handful of engineering talents. As Yanhuang Academy will be the first engineering college in Datang in the future, how can it be done without a top talent reserve~? So today Li Gang really solved his urgent need~!
Li Gang hesitated and said, "But this person's identity is somewhat special. Do you really want to see him~~?"
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