Li Chengqian explained, "I'm on duty. We work in two shifts, morning and evening. I'm on the evening shift, so I don't get off until ten o'clock at night."
"All the young ladies will be arriving over the coming period one after another. The municipal government takes security here very seriously, so they've strengthened public order management."
"Yes, Miss Cui need not worry. Longcheng is very safe — this is simply to ensure everyone's safety absolutely."
Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Cui Yingying nodded, then paused. "Oh? You know my surname is Cui?"
"The Five Surnames and Seven Lineages — dynasties may fall, but the Seven Lineages endure. Who wouldn't know of them?"
Cui Yingying was genuinely surprised. Li Chengqian was right — the Five Surnames and Seven Lineages were indeed formidable, but this was knowledge confined to the educated class.
Ordinary folk would have no idea about such things.
"You know so much, and from the way you speak, you must have had schooling as well?"
"I did study for a few years."
"Then how did you come to be..."
How did you end up as a minor official?
Li Chengqian naturally understood what she left unspoken, and smiled with easy grace. "The family fortune declined. Such is life."
What he did not say was that he had done far more than merely study for a few years — and every one of his teachers had been a great Confucian scholar.
Though he held only a minor post, the fact that he was an educated man set him apart in her eyes.
Li Chengqian's standing in Cui Yingying's estimation rose considerably.
"By the way, since you've just arrived in Longcheng and don't yet know much about things here, I'd suggest attending the elementary school. It's probably the quickest way to understand this place."
"After all, once people come to Longcheng, they almost never want to leave again. The sooner you understand it here, the sooner you'll feel at home."
"I'll leave it there for tonight — my shift is ending. Goodbye, Miss Cui."
"Goodbye, Young Master Li."
The two exchanged nods, and Li Chengqian turned and strolled off into the night.
"My lady, so Young Master Li is a scholar! I said as much — someone that handsome couldn't possibly be just a minor official."
"My lady, Xiao Hong's heart is all aflutter! Why not just let her marry someone?"
"Nonsense! No such thing! Say another word and I'll tear that mouth of yours right off! Don't you run!"
Cui Yingying and her maids dissolved into playful squabbling, though her eyes strayed now and then toward the direction in which Young Master Li had disappeared.
What a free and easy person he was — and so learned. She wondered whether she would ever meet him again.
The elementary school, was it?
She would have someone look into it when she got back.
On the other side of the city, Li Chengqian was strolling through the night and soon arrived at a well-guarded residential compound. The wolf soldiers at the gate recognized him and, without so much as a sideways glance, let him pass through into the courtyard.
This compound was the municipal estate — housing reserved for civil servants of a certain rank from the city and district governments who had applied to live there. Spacious, low-density, pleasant surroundings, and best of all, free of charge. The only requirement was the right rank.
He came to a two-story building, pushed open the door, and found his father Li Xuanji sitting on the sofa in the wide living room, writing something. His little sister Li Lingshu was tucked in beside their father, working on her homework. She was still young and attending the elementary school, so she learned at a slower pace.
"Father, I'm home." Li Chengqian took off his shoes at the entrance and came into the sitting room, settling into the seat across from Li Xuanji and sitting up straight.
Li Xuanji smiled and nodded. His son was becoming more accomplished by the day.
"How is it going? Are you settling into the work?"
"Well enough. The only complaint is that it's hard on the legs."
Li Xuanji laughed heartily. Father and son had come to the same conclusion — that was exactly how he had felt when he first started working too.
"There isn't as much pressure now. As long as I do my job well each day, that's enough — and after my shift I can relax and enjoy myself with friends. Speaking of which, I... I've made a few friends."
"Good, good. Make more friends. Life is only full of joy when you have them."
"These are good times. Longcheng is developing rapidly and needs people in every field. With ability and hard work, advancement comes quickly."
"A new sub-station is being set up on Qingxiu Street to ensure the safety of the ladies coming in. I've already discussed it with the relevant people — in a day or two, you'll be promoted to squad leader. Work hard."
"Yes, Father."
"You're home now — relax a little. Go do whatever you need to do. I still have work."
Li Xuanji picked up the documents he had set aside and returned to them.
Li Chengqian would ordinarily have gone upstairs to his room at this point, but he hesitated, then went and sat down beside his sister.
"Lingshu, is there anything you don't understand? Your brother is also studying at the elementary school — and he's doing very well. You can ask him anything."
"Brother, really?" Li Lingshu had been sitting with a furrowed brow, chewing on her pen, and her face lit up with delight.
"Brother, what does this character say? What does it mean? I can't make sense of it."
Li Chengqian patiently began to explain it to her.
Li Xuanji glanced over and allowed himself a quiet smile.
"Someone come and help me!" Empress Jiang pushed open the door and came in, arms laden with bags and packages.
Li Chengqian hurried forward to help. "Mother, why so many things? Is it more than just dinner?"
"On my way home I passed the fruit shop by the gate. There was quite a queue, so I went to have a look."
"The sugar mandarins are in season — wonderful quality, and cheap too. All three of you love them, so I bought a bit extra."
"Oranges! I want oranges!" Li Lingshu came bouncing over, clamoring to eat some.
"Absolutely not! Eat them after dinner. If you eat them now, you won't touch your food!"
"Mother, if little sister wants one, let her have just one. Just one. Lingshu, brother will peel one for you."
"You and your spoiling her. What will we do when she's completely ruined?"
"She's my only sister. A little pampering never hurt anyone."
---
The next day, Li Chengqian put on plain clothes and went to school for class. When the lesson let out, he ran into Cui Yingying again.
"Young Master Li, so you study here too?"
"Indeed. I didn't expect you to be so keen — you enrolled this quickly."
"I enjoy reading in my usual life, so here I am. And from now on we'll be classmates — I hope you'll look after me, Young Master Li."
"'Look after' would be putting it too grandly, but I do move through the material quite quickly. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime."
On this point, Li Chengqian felt genuinely proud. This content truly was elementary to him. If anyone still thought this was difficult, the great Confucian scholars who had taught him over the years would probably spit blood.
"Then Yingying thanks you in advance."
"You're still calling me 'Young Master' — that really is too much. Why not follow the custom here and just call me Senior Brother?"
"Very well then, Senior Brother Li."
"Miss Cui, I must go eat quickly — I have to be at work after lunch. Talk later."
"Take care, Senior Brother Li."
---
That evening, as Cui Yingying came outside, she chanced upon Li Chengqian again on duty.
She hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
"What a coincidence, Senior Brother Li."
"I went to enroll today and stayed for a bit of class. Since the new cohort hasn't formally opened yet, there were some things I didn't quite follow. I was hoping to ask you about them — I wonder if this is a convenient time?"
"No trouble at all. I just have to stay on this street during my shift. Go ahead."
"Then Yingying thanks Senior Brother again."