Chapter 81

Without further ado, Dongfang Shuo, with his long legs, rushed to Liang Xiao's front, extended his arms, which were even longer than Liang Xiao's, grabbed him, and dragged him into the house. It looked like a kidnapping, making Liang Xiao feel a strong sense of unease.

It must be said that a large body means great strength. Dongfang Shuo's towering figure was not for nothing; his strength was so great that even Liang Xiao couldn't resist, and he was directly dragged into the house and pressed onto the mat.

"Quick, tell me, how did you come up with this formula?"

Liang Xiao looked at the pile of counting rods on the ground, not understanding. "What formula?"

Dongfang Shuo was getting anxious, his eyes bloodshot, and he had a large dark circle under them, looking as if he had been up for several nights. He pointed to the counting rods on the ground and shouted, "This is the formula Deng Guobin talked about. He went on and on, but I didn't understand a thing. Explain to me how you came up with this formula."

Liang Xiao was taken aback. So this is how the Han people calculate. This pile of counting rods, my goodness, just looking at them makes me dizzy. If Dongfang Shuo hadn't said this was the formula for calculating the Qianqiu cycle, he would never have recognized it even if it were placed in front of him for a lifetime.

"I don't know. This formula wasn't derived by me, but by him."

"Then what about the diagram you mentioned? What does it mean?" Dongfang Shuo's voice grew louder, rolling up his sleeves, ready to fight Liang Xiao at any moment. Tuniu was anxious and hurried to the hall, ready to intervene and protect Liang Xiao.

Liang Xiao laughed. "That diagram is my personal insight. However, it is more important than the formula and quite complex, not something that can be explained in a few words. Brother Dongfang, I have something to do today, so I can't explain it to you now. Let's discuss it in detail after I move in, okay?"

"No way!" Dongfang Shuo glared. "Do you want Deng Guobin to be smug for a few more days? I can't stand it for even a day. Xijun, Xijun, go sell my sword and buy wine and meat. I have a distinguished guest."

A young woman came out from the west room and gave Dongfang Shuo a cold look. "Your sword was sold the day before yesterday. Where is it now?"

Dongfang Shuo slapped his head. "I forgot. Then go sell the new winter coat I made."

"Your coat is so big, who would want it?"

"Ah..." Dongfang Shuo was embarrassed.

Li Danghu burst out laughing, got up, and stopped the woman. "Brother Dongfang, you focus on your studies. I'll take care of the wine and meat."

Dongfang Shuo clasped his hands and laughed heartily, without a trace of shame. "Li Danghu, you should have said that earlier."

Li Danghu ignored him, arranged for the attendant to buy wine and meat, and set up a feast. He sat to one side, listening to Liang Xiao and Dongfang Shuo discuss. He was very interested, but not in the Qianqiu cycle; rather, he was fascinated by Dongfang Shuo's expression. He had never seen Dongfang Shuo so humble in seeking advice.

He found Liang Xiao even more interesting.

Liang Xiao repeated the method of drawing the diagram he had explained to Deng Guobin. The method was actually very simple, and Dongfang Shuo understood it immediately, slamming the table and shouting, "Deng Guobin is a fool. He made a very simple method so complicated. It's clear that his foolishness is innate and incurable."

Liang Xiao expressed a different opinion. "Although Deng Guobin doesn't have the natural talent of Brother Dongfang, he is diligent and meticulous, willing to put in the hard work. People who can accomplish great things are often like him."

"Accomplish great things?" Dongfang Shuo sneered. "He's just a craftsman. How can he accomplish great things?"

"Then what kind of person do you think can accomplish great things?"

Dongfang Shuo straightened up, one hand on his knee, the other raising his thumb, pointing at himself without any modesty.

Liang Xiao shook his head. "In my view, Brother Dongfang can at most be a scholar, not someone who can accomplish great things."

"Do you look down on me?" Dongfang Shuo raised his eyebrows, grabbed Liang Xiao's collar, and angrily said, "I am well-versed in the classics and knowledgeable about ancient and modern times. You actually say I can't accomplish great things? I won't let this go until you give me a reason."

Liang Xiao raised his hand to stop Tuniu, who was ready to pounce on Dongfang Shuo, and gently pried Dongfang Shuo's little finger. Dongfang Shuo, in pain, quickly let go, moaning, "Let go, let go, it hurts! It hurts!"

Liang Xiao released Dongfang Shuo, calmly patted his chest, and smoothed his collar. "Since Brother Dongfang is well-versed in the classics and knowledgeable about ancient and modern times, I have a question. I would like to ask for your guidance. May I?"

"Go ahead." Dongfang Shuo puffed out his chest and said loudly, "I don't believe you can stump me with any question."

"There are two people. One has a rich family legacy, a thousand-year-old family, with treasures passed down from ancestors piled up like mountains. Although he has no merit or virtue, he can live in luxury. The other is a commoner, striving hard, enduring all kinds of hardships, but can only earn his daily meals with his own hands. Which one do you think is a true man?"

Dongfang Shuo blinked, smacked his lips, and was speechless. As soon as Liang Xiao spoke, he understood Liang Xiao's meaning, but the answer to this question was advantageous to Liang Xiao and disadvantageous to himself.

Li Danghu also laughed. "A commoner who can earn his daily meals is already quite good. A true man, a great man, of course, is one who earns his own wealth and honor, not one who lives off the legacy of his ancestors. What kind of man is that?"

Liang Xiao was taken aback, realizing that his slip of the tongue had an unexpected effect. Three meals a day are not something ordinary people can enjoy; commoners can only have two meals a day. Being able to eat three meals a day means one has entered the middle class.

Dongfang Shuo, of course, was a commoner, and he had to rely on his knowledge to achieve wealth and honor. Li Danghu, although he became a courtier through his father Li Guang's favor, did not benefit much from his family's legacy. For them, they naturally had more admiration for those who started from scratch, and those who achieved wealth and honor through their ancestors' legacy were precisely the obstacles to their success.

"Learned in the classics and knowledgeable about ancient and modern times?" Seeing that he had stumped Dongfang Shuo, Liang Xiao smiled. "Apart from a belly full of fragments and ancient wisdom, what else do you have?"

Dongfang Shuo was stunned, eyes wide open, and opened his mouth to argue but couldn't think of a reason.

Liang Xiao, without mercy, asked another question. "Is there a single original idea in your vast knowledge?"

Dongfang Shuo's face contorted, teeth gritted, but he couldn't argue. He had encountered many debate opponents and countless people who looked down on him, but no one had ever used this reason to despise him.

Indeed, he was well-versed in the classics, but it was all ancient knowledge, with not a single original idea of his own. Liang Xiao might not be learned, but he had his own unique insights, even if it was just a simple Qianqiu.

"You are just a walking bookshelf. You only know how to bury yourself in ancient texts but have no understanding of the path before you." Liang Xiao laughed. "I don't know where your confidence comes from. Deng Guobin is indeed not a genius, but he can do practical things, which is better than just talking big."

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