After Crossing Over to the Republic of China, I've Become a Heartthrob Chapter 9

Ambiguity

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The class ended at eleven o'clock in the morning and Shi Yao went to Han Pu's office.

It was simple and elegant, with a faint fragrance throughout. The window was open and on the table was a pot of green plants.

"Tea or coffee?" asked Han Pu, who graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in literature and was a classmate of Song Liao.

Shi Yao said, "Actually I'd like a coke."

"My humble abode is not well stocked."

"Then let's have tea!"

Han Pu fixed a cup of tea for him.

Shi Yao asked, "Professor Han, didn't you call me over to write a review?"

"Did I ever say it was to write a review?"

"Oh, what is it then? Calling the parents?"

"Mr. Shi, by parents, who are you referring to? Song Duheng?"

"Who is Song Duheng?"

Han Pu's eyes showed some surprise: "Zhixi xihe hewu, lingzhi xi du heng. Duheng is Song Liao's courtesy name, don't you know it?" (Angel: Zhixi xihe hewu, lingzhi xi du heng, 芷葺兮荷屋，缭之兮杜衡, is a line from Nine Songs Mrs. Xiang, a poem written by Qu Yuan, a poet of the Chu State during the Warring States Period. In modern Mandarin, it is 在荷屋上覆盖芷草，用杜衡缠绕四方, and the meaning is 'Cover the lotus house with purple gromwell and wrap the four sides with duheng'. )

"Ah, I forgot." Shi Yao concealed it and said, "I was struck in the head by lightning before, so my memory is not good. Don't let Song Liao know, he's too strict with me! He'll punish me again when he finds out."

Han Pu meaningfully said, "Is this a special love affair between you?"

"What kind of love affair?"

"Discipline and punishment."

Shi Yao: ? Is he a proper professor?

But Han Pu was serious and unashamed, as if they were talking about an elegant literary topic.

Shi Yao straightened his mind and changed the subject, "So, what are we doing if not writing a review?"

"I'd like to hear Mr. Shi's views on social progress."

"Huh? What?"

"The ones you and Miss Song Xiang mentioned."

"Oh oh," Shi Yao said, "about women's rights?"

"En." Han Pu asked, "You support women's right to education?"

"Of course. Everyone is born equal and there should be no distinction based on race, gender, wealth or social status."

"Anyone can say beautiful words, are you willing to put them into practice?"

"What do you mean?"

Han Pu took out a handout from the bookshelf, "I founded Xinmin School to promote the education of women, orphans and the poor at the bottom. Is it of interest to Mr. Shi?"

Shi Yao took the handout and opened the table of contents to find that it was written by Han Pu himself, a pamphlet for promoting education.

"If you wish, you can join me in lecturing at the academy."

In all fairness, he was moved deep inside, what does it mean to have an educational sentiment, this was it: "Willing, willing!"

"The corresponding compensation..."

"No need for payment!" Although Shi Yao liked money, a gentleman loves money in the right way: "This is a public welfare endeavour, I'll do my best voluntarily, and I won't take a penny."

He could earn Song Liao's money, he could earn Song Yuan's money, he could earn Ling Junde's money, but not Han Pu's money!

Blue eyes do not take a penny, and white eyes do not change for a thousand pieces of gold.

This was Shi Yao's principle.

When he returned to the Song residence in the evening, Shi Yao immediately went to see Song Xiang.

Song Xiang and Nian Zhen were embroidering, and Shi Yao said, "Miss Song, do you want to study? Now there is a wonderful opportunity!"

Song Xiang asked, "What opportunity?"

"Professor Han Pu has set up Xinmin School, which offers classes for girls, and they offer three courses: Chinese Studies, Foreign Languages and Arithmetic. You can go and learn foreign languages!"

"That's great," Song Xiang's face flushed with joy, but in an instant, it transformed into an emotion of loss, "Father will definitely not allow it."

Shi Yao hurriedly said, "Shall we go and ask together?"

"No need." Song Xiang pushed back, "Father will definitely not agree, I won’t bother Mr. Shi."

"I'm not afraid of trouble!" Shi Yao insisted, "Why don't you wait here and I'll go ask for you?"

Nian Zhen also urged, "Miss, studying has always been your heart's desire, why not give it a try? Just let him ask."

Shi Yao nodded vigorously in agreement.

Only then did Song Xiang reluctantly agree, "Then I'll be grateful to Mr. Shi."

Shi Yao asked for half a day before he could discover Master Song's whereabouts.

At that moment, it just so happened that Song Liao and Song Yuan were greeting the old master, so Shi Yao said, "Master, Master, I have something to report!"

Song Liao was afraid that he would cause trouble for him, so he immediately glared at him in warning.

Shi Yao pretended not to see it and approached Master Song with a playful smile, "May I speak?"

Master Song was in a good mood tonight and agreed, "Okay."

"Master Song, you look very energetic and young today," Shi Yao babbled, "There is a saying that an old steed is still in the stable, a martyr is still in his twilight years, but his heart is still strong. You are like that Cao Cao who is eloquent, Genghis Khan who shoots the eagle with a curved bow, Lian Po who can still eat and Qin Shi Huang who is extremely awesome!"

The veins on Song Liao's forehead bulged.

Song Yuan smiled softly.

Master Song's face also creased with a smile, "Yao'er, get to the point."

"I recently taught at Xinmin School, that school was founded by Professor Han Pu and has classes specifically for female students. Can Miss Song go to school?"

Hearing this, Master Song's expression darkened: "Inappropriate."

"Why?"

"A woman's lack of talent is a virtue, that has been the truth since ancient times."

"It's always been this way, so is it correct?" Shi Yao quoted Mr. Lu Xun's famous words, feeling incredibly smooth. Lu Xun was one of his favourite modern Chinese writers, and definitely not because Brother Xun was good at civilised swearing.

"Alright," Master Song said in a deep voice, "there is no need to discuss this matter any further."

"Master," said Shi Yao, "Miss Song is the daughter of a famous family and a talented woman, can you bear the thought that she cannot read?"

"Xiang'er can read a little, I am thinking of her life."

"Since you are thinking of her life, nowadays, unlike the old days, young scholars prefer those who have studied. If you don't believe me, you can ask Song Liao and Song Yuan."

Master Song was silent for a long time, and then asked Song Liao, "Duheng, is that really true?"

Before Song Liao could answer, Shi Yao snatched up the question, "Nonsense, he even enrolled me in a cram school. I have to get up at six o'clock in the morning, it's a miserable and inhumane situation, you must discipline him for me."

Master Song was amused again.

Song Liao: "Shut up!"

Master Song asked again, "Youlan, what do you think?"

Song Yuan's reply was watertight: "Youlan thinks that while Father's considerations are certainly well thought out, Yao'er's suggestion is not without merit. Perhaps we can let Xiang'er try it out, with enough men escorting her, and if anything goes wrong, then we can cancel the arrangement."

Only then did Master Song relent and say, "Okay."

When the discussion was over, Song Liao was left alone, and Shi Yao and Song Yuan exited the room, a bright moon in the sky outside.

Shi Yao said, "Song Yuan, is your courtesy name Youlan? It sounds like a girl's name."

Song Yuan smiled, "Is that so?"

"Yes, but it sounds rather nice."

"Your courtesy name is also very nice."

"Huh? I have a courtesy name too, huh? What was it? I don't remember."

"Shi buke xi zhou de, liao xiaoyao xi rong yu." Song Yuan's voice flowed like a clear spring under the moonlit night: "Shi Yao, your courtesy name is Shi Rongyu." (Angel: Shi buke xi zhou de, liao xiaoyao xi rong yu, 时不可兮骤得，聊逍遥兮容与, is a line from Nine Songs Mrs. Xiang, a poem written by Qu Yuan, a poet of the Chu State during the Warring States Period. In modern Mandarin, it is 流失的时光不能再得，暂且放慢脚步逍遥盘桓, and the meaning is 'Lost time cannot be regained, so let's slow down and relax for a while'.)

By the gazebo, by the lotus pond, the night breeze was most gentle.

Looking at Song Yuan's profile, an absurd thought suddenly popped into Shi Yao's mind: Youlan, oh Youlan, if only you were really a girl.

Song Yuan saw his dazed and foolish look, smiled and rubbed his hair: "What are you thinking about?"

"Ah, nothing." Shi Yao coughed, "I was thinking, why is Master Song treating me so well? I'm obviously an orphan of the fallen Shi family. I'm not his illegitimate son, am I?"

Song Yuan was shocked by this thought and was slightly lost in thought for a moment.

"Just kidding," Shi Yao patted his shoulder, "After all, I don't look anything like him."

Song Yuan said helplessly, "You always say the most shocking things."

"Sorry, sorry, that's how we uneducated people are. By the way, you haven't answered my question."

"Because your father saved his life and was a very important person to him."

"Oh," Shi Yao seemed to understand, "then he is quite righteous. So why is the marriage contract between Song Liao and me, not between you and me?"

Song Yuan lost his focus once again.

In Shi Yao's impression, he had always been a very poised and unhurried person, what was going on tonight?

But in an instant, Song Yuan regained his old calmness: "Because Song Liao is the first born and I am the concubine."

"Strange rules, but it doesn't matter, anyway, my engagement with him will be annulled sooner or later."

"You wish the engagement to be annulled?"

"Yes," Shi Yao said, "I don't like men, I like beautiful women."

"What kind of woman do you like?"

"One like you."

Song Yuan lost his focus for the third time.

"So-so-so-sorry!" Why didn't he have control over his mouth? Shi Yao wanted to smack himself twice: "I'm just kidding!"

"Yao'er," Song Yuan whispered, "if you make such a joke, I will take it seriously."

"I-I-I mean your courtesy name, and the kind of temperament..."

"If one day, you and Song Liao broke off your engagement, would you..."

There it is! The topic of death that all men dread: if one day blah blah blah, will you love me?

Oh my God, is there a mistake? Song Yuan is a man, and so is he, so where did it all go wrong?

"Ah, it's late! I'm going back to sleep!" Shi Yao said, "Good night, good night, bye!"

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

And the chapter dump is finally done. I've been sitting on these chapters since March, and I didn't want to just keep them. As this series is ongoing, I will update it whenever the author posts a new chapter.

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: March 9, 2023