Chapter Text
There did appear to be a disconnect between how Shen Qingqiu actually was and the image that the new junior disciples painted of him.
Shen Qingqiu's halfhearted snubs and chilly dismissals in times of interacting with rogue twelve year olds crisis seemed to translate into their pubescent brains as either indirect inspiration to perform better in their studies or as a persona to cast aspirations to.
To hear them chatter "out of earshot" (but what was truly only out of their direct line of sight), one would presume that their shidi actually possessed interpersonal skills or charisma. Positively fascinating.
Most people could not last five sentences with Shen Qingqiu without adverse reactions.
It was a little intriguing, to be honest.
After some hasty conferring, it was decided amongst the seniors that it was best to leave it be and ignore such interactions. Respect and awe for one's teacher was far better than the opposite, no? Masters ought to be revered in the eyes of their disciples.
That being said, they were convinced that too much interaction would be of great detriment to both student and teacher, what with Shen Qingqiu's inclinations to hiss and puff up like a particularly aggravated feline with prolonged exposure to any human contact, so they would need to strive to limit the aforementioned interactions.
Any questions about cultivating? Art? Literature? Arithmetic? Calligraphy? History? Music? Swordplay? Ask us! Not him! Shizun is very VERY busy! Busy man!
Oh, you'd like to play weiqi against Shizun? Haha, beat all your shibos first, you rascal. Don't overestimate your skills. Shizun is the best in all Twelve Peaks. He'll wipe the floor with you if you go against him now, and how embarrassing would that be?
You bought this crate of tea for Shizun? Well... alright, yeah, you can give it to him, but be quick about it. The best gift you can give your master is raising your grades, young man. Remember that.
"Shen-shidi really does dislike tangible gifts though," Bai-shixiong remarked, recalling how callously Shen-shidi disposed of or refused precious materials from suitors.
"You'd think that Zhangmen-shixiong would take the hint at some point," his junior muttered, flipping to the next page in his novel.
"Dripping water cuts through stone."
"Not this stone."
"If he only prefers women, he's hardly going to take a husband. Of all his issues, that's not an issue. Some like only one or the other, not both."
"Mn."
"But we'd get an even larger annual budget if they got married. Think of all the rare scrolls we could purchase with that."
"We're not selling off Shen-shidi to the Sect Leader for scrolls. Shizun will scalp us if he comes to visit."
"You mean Shen-shidi will scalp us himself."
"Do you suppose he actually goes to brothels, or is that just shit from those Bai Zhan bastards? I'm not convinced he does. Can you imagine him talking to someone long enough to fuck?"
Tang-shixiong smacked him upside the head. "Don't be crude. What's with that language? You're an adult now. If you were mortal, you'd be an old man."
"Tch."
"Maybe that's why he uses brothels. You don't need to talk to-"
The man was cut off by a palm to his mouth. Yao-shixiong talked over him. "It is reasonable that the children want to see their master. I say we promote healthy competition and allow the clever ones to serve Shen-shidi either meals or tea."
"Oh, that could work."
"Tea, anyone could brew, but for cooking, we might have to hold a separate competition for that."
"A weekly competition. That would be fairer. They could improve themselves and their recipes and show it off."
"Indeed, that could work."
They nodded to themselves. Children liked little events like this, and they would most likely find it to be a treat, a kind reprieve from their usual studies.
It was a rather inane and foolish waste of time to hold such competitions. The prize was also stupid.
Using grades and progress to determine who could serve him refreshments was to be expected, but the additional cooking competition with rounds for side dishes and desserts was not as necessary.
Shen Qingqiu, however, did not care what his disciples or his shixiongs did in their spare time, so long as they were not causing issues he needed to deal with. This was an issue he had to deal with, but he could concede that the children held their tongues and spoke little out of turn, minding their manners when serving him tea once a day or lunch once a week.
It was... acceptable.
A filial duty he would allow.
The tea and food was edible, so it was not unbearable. His shixiongs served better fare objectively however. They didn't try to ask about his day either.
"The Hallmaster on duty is different from last month," Yue Qingyuan commented, accepting the tea that Shen Qingqiu was coerced into taking with him. The bastard.
"So he is," Shen Qingqiu replied, indifferent.
Ming Fan, the latest child with the highest scores in tests for the past three weeks consecutively, bowed and retreated from the room. He understood Shen Qingqiu's preference of leaving straightaway unless told otherwise.
"Pei-shidi was dissatisfying?" Yue Qingyuan continued, and Shen Qingqiu regarded him from the corner of his eye.
With the light pinching between his brows, it was evident what he must be thinking.
It wasn't an unreasonable assumption given his standards and temper, and Shen Qingqiu did not care to correct it. If Yue Qingyuan assumed he was demoting and promoting his seniors at a whim, so be it.
"My shixiongs tend to be dissatisfying," Shen Qingqiu answered.
Yue Qingyuan had little to say to that. "... Ah. What was wrong with that one?"
"He has a weak wrist," Shen Qingqiu said.
"This other one does not?" Yue Qingyuan asked.
"If Zhangmen-shixiong does not wish to get to business," Shen Qingqiu stressed, "then we have nothing more to speak on today. Shidi has papers to grade."
Yue Qingyuan smiled, mildly strained. "Yes. My apologies, Shidi."