The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Is It Worth It?

"Y-Your brother-in-law is a constable? A constable at the county government?"

"If you don’t believe me, we can have a go at it first," Lu Yu said, rubbing his hands together with a somewhat sleazy grin. "It’s been a while since I’ve had a good workout. I was just itching to..."

The man in green and his cronies didn’t dare entertain the thought. They scattered, each one faster than the last.

Lu Yu turned around and spread his hands to his good buddies.

"See? Simple as that. A gentleman uses his words, not his fists. We should be reasonable, not violent."

As he spoke, his eyes kept darting toward the half-brick clutched in Zhang Wu’s hand.

Zhang Wu tossed the brick aside, his knuckles cracking loudly. "So we’re ’pathetically weak, not even worth mentioning’?"

Lu Yu ducked his head and slumped his shoulders, backing down in a second.

"Strategy! It’s all strategy! Wasn’t I just trying to create a little dramatic tension by downplaying us first?"

While they were goofing off over there, Song Jing was watching Ji Huan, a look of amusement and curiosity on his face.

"I never thought I’d see you get so angry."

Recalling her impulsive actions, Ji Huan felt a little embarrassed.

"I admit I was a bit irrational just now, but..." She paused, then said seriously, "They deserved to be cursed out."

Song Jing ducked his head, muffling a laugh. "You’re right. They did deserve it."

Ji Huan was stunned for a moment, but then she realized it made perfect sense.

’There was no reason Song Jing wouldn’t have thought of the same things she had.’

"As soon as news of the peace treaty spread, we discussed it amongst ourselves." Song Jing gestured toward Wu Rongying and the others. "We all agreed it didn’t sound like General Kou’s style. Plus, we’ve been in and out of the county government a lot lately, and from Lord Pan’s reactions... it seems he was forced into it."

’Looks like there are some people who understand, after all.’

Just as she had that thought, she saw Song Jing shake his head.

"But there are so many people in the world, and the majority don’t understand. The common folk, especially, are mostly illiterate. They’re the easiest to incite, and when you add in people with ulterior motives stirring the pot, General Kou has to take the blame whether he wants to or not."

He paused, his voice turning somber.

"It’s laughable when you think about it. A general who has fought all over the country, and yet the very people he’s dedicated to protecting don’t understand him at all. They turn on him just because of a few rumors. Are people like that... worth it?"

His last words were almost inaudible, but Ji Huan heard them. And she could feel his sympathetic grief.

To ordain the universe, to secure the people’s fate, to continue the teachings of past sages, and to bring peace for all eternity.

This has always been the creed of those who study the Holy Books.

Beyond bringing glory to their ancestors, most who become officials also want to shepherd the people of their domain.

But the way the common people reacted to the peace treaty...

And this was just in the Northern Pass, a place directly protected by the army.

If it was like this here, in the regions south of the Northern Pass, where the people knew even less... it was unimaginable.

’So that’s why these scholars are so disheartened, maybe even ready to give up.’

’Their passion has been doused with cold water. They’ve gone from being idealistic scholars to repeatedly asking themselves in their hearts, "Is it worth it?"’

’This is growth, but it’s also a turning point.’

’It might even decide the direction of the rest of their lives.’

Ji Huan considered her words carefully before she spoke.

"Maybe General Kou doesn’t care about all that. Some people do things simply because they want to. Whether the world condemns or praises them doesn’t cause a single ripple in their hearts."

It wasn’t that Song Jing hadn’t considered it, but his conclusion was that if he were in the same position, he probably—

Even though his own teacher praised him for being calm and steady, if he were one day to face the condemnation of the entire world, he probably couldn’t ignore it completely.

Ji Huan knew it wasn’t that simple. It was incredibly difficult.

Even for someone like Kou Changqing, now that he stood against the whole world, it was hard to say if he would be able to recover from the blow.

"We could look at it another way. It’s true many people aren’t worth it, but there are people who are. Like you all, like me, like Aunt Xie’s family, and like all the others we don’t even know. In the vast Great Zhou, there will always be someone who is worth it. To abandon the worthy for the sake of the unworthy, to let the worthy be heartbroken and disappointed—that is what’s truly not worth it."

She delivered this little tongue-twister of a speech without resorting to grand principles about all lives being equal or how you must love the people no matter how they treat you.

She wasn’t a politician, nor did she have such a big heart or such profound enlightenment.

"When you one day reach a high enough position, just do more good for the people who are worth it. For example, lower their taxes, reduce their compulsory labor, allow them all to receive an education, and let them live lives of plenty... Of course, the ’unworthy’ people will benefit too. And then, naturally, they’ll switch from opposing you to joining your camp, singing your praises and showering you with compliments. But by then, you probably won’t care about any of that anymore."

The common people are like grass on a wall, swaying with the wind. It’s not a pleasant thing to say, but it’s the truth.

The reason they’re like this is because they haven’t had the opportunity to study and learn reason. They lack the ability to distinguish right from wrong, so they can only let their emotions rule their minds.

But in the end, ignorance isn’t incurable.

To the common folk, whoever can feed and clothe them is a hero.

And the question is, are you feeding and clothing them to achieve your own political ideals, or merely to receive their gratitude?

Once you’re clear on that, the world opens up.

Song Jing listened to her intently. After a moment of contemplation, he said,

"’What does it matter if the whole world scorns you? What does it matter if the whole world praises you? Do what you must, and let others judge the rights and wrongs, the merits and faults.’ Is that the principle you mean?"

"You’re a quick study!" Ji Huan gave him a thumbs-up.

Song Jing’s expression was teasing. "You’re speaking so eloquently now. I wonder who it was that flew into such a rage earlier..."

Ji Huan flushed with embarrassment. ’Can’t he just stop harping on that one mistake?’

"I was speaking just as eloquently to those men. It was just a case of playing a lute to a cow."

Just as Song Jing was trying to hold back a laugh, Lu Yu sidled up to them.

"What’s all the lively chatter about? Hey, I never would’ve guessed, little Ji Huan. You’re quite something when you’re mad. Somebody’s life is going to be tough in the future... OW!"

His sudden yelp made everyone around them jump.

Song Jing nonchalantly pulled his hand back from behind Lu Yu and asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"

Lu Yu clutched his pinched lower back with one hand, grimacing in pain. "N-Nothing."

’So heartless! So unfair!’

The little man in Lu Yu’s heart was crying his eyes out.

Only then did Ji Huan remember to ask, "Why are you guys here?"

And what a coincidence that they’d shown up just in time to help her out of a jam.

Li Guanchun walked over and said, "Song Jing was going to treat us to ’Golden Partners,’ but our teacher kept us after class for a while, so we were delayed."

Lu Yu didn’t say anything, just shot a sidelong glance at Song Jing.

Song Jing coughed, looking a little uncomfortable.

Ever since that trip to town, he and Lu Yu’s group had been constantly on the move.

He had returned to Dafeng Village twice during that time, but Ji Huan rarely went out, so they hadn’t had a chance to meet.

Even if he could have found an excuse to visit her home, he always gave up on the idea, afraid of causing trouble for her.

After the market opened, he heard that the Hu Family had also set up a stall. For the past few days, he had been restless, wanting to come and see if Ji Huan was here.

Ji Huan glanced at him, her eyes meeting his just as he looked over.

Ji Huan faltered for a second. "Well... why don’t you come earlier tomorrow? I’ll save some food for you."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!