Chapter 1077: The Truth Doesn't Matter
Li Daoxuan continued, "Furthermore, human society is an intricate system. No advanced concept or technology can remain a permanent secret. It won't be long before rival nations inevitably catch up."
Gu Yanwu murmured, "Oh?"
Li Daoxuan elaborated, "The Westerners acquired cannons, and not many years passed before our own nation possessed them. A few more years, and the Manchus also fielded them... To completely halt the spread of technology? That's simply impossible; at best, you can gain a temporary advantage."
Gu Yanwu began, "Does the Heavenly Lord imply..."
Li Daoxuan smiled, "The Heavenly Books I bestow upon you will only grant a temporary advantage. In a matter of years, outsiders will inevitably catch up; it is merely a question of when."
Gu Yanwu's eyes widened.
Li Daoxuan concluded, "Thus, to truly learn from the Heavenly Books and then, critically, to surpass them—that is the most profound purpose of establishing schools and fostering education."
At last, Gu Yanwu comprehended.
He even realized that the Heavenly Lord had been anticipating his involvement in this endeavor all along.
Li Daoxuan affirmed, "Because you possess the vision of popular governance! From the very first day I encountered you, I awaited the moment you would seek me out."
To assimilate the Heavenly Books and, crucially, to transcend them, would require an individual courageous enough to question the Heavenly Lord's very authority. That individual could only be Gu Yanwu. Across this entire realm, he was the sole figure bold enough to champion the ideal of popular governance within a strictly feudal society.
Only with such a profound vision could one truly gather wisdom from many sources, reject antiquated notions, avoid being confined by the 'Heavenly Books,' and ascend to an even higher plane of understanding.
Gu Yanwu performed a deep bow, his spirit now resolute.
He had already envisioned the perfect location for the academy: Luoyang!
Luoyang, the very "center of the world," was where he would erect the most cutting-edge educational institution...
As he mused contentedly, Gao Sanwa's voice abruptly echoed from outside: "Sister Yiye, Sister Yiye! Come downstairs, quick! They're about to start filming the movie at Thirty-Two Middle School! It's about our childhood, you know. Aren't you coming to see?"
Gao Yiye's head poked out from the third-floor balcony. "Quiet down," she chided, "the Heavenly Lord is present."
"Oh?" Gao Sanwa jumped, startled.
Li Daoxuan's head emerged beside Gao Yiye's, peering over the railing. He chuckled, "It's quite alright. We've just concluded our discussion. Come on, let's all go to the movie set. I even have a cameo to perform."
Hearing their words, Gu Yanwu's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, oh, oh? Matters concerning the school," he inquired, "may I also attend and observe?"
"Of course you may. Come along," Li Daoxuan replied with a smile.
And so, the trio descended the stairs, joined Gao Sanwa, and made their way toward Thirty-Two Middle School.
Thirty-Two Middle School, at that moment, was indeed a hive of activity.
Students from the school formed dense rings, three deep and more, surrounding the film crew at the center.
Chen Yuanyuan stood at the heart of the throng, clad in a white outfit styled exactly like the one Mrs. San had procured for Gao Yiye during her youth. She looked as ethereal and beautiful as a celestial being.
The encircling students stared, their eyes wide with awe...
She was, by now, the undisputed superstar of the Heavenly Lord's Liberation Zone. Her woolen sweater advertisements were broadcast daily before Gaojia News and during cinema intermissions, wielding an influence that could only be described as staggering.
Yet, despite being the center of universal attention, she remained grounded. Her demeanor was consistently humble and gentle, utterly free of the diva-like affectations characteristic of future celebrities.
Li Daoxuan and his companions eased through the throng. Gao Yiye caught sight of Chen Yuanyuan and instantly registered surprise. "Oh," she exclaimed, "to have her portray my younger self is almost an insult to her talent! She is far more beautiful than I, and possesses a much gentler, more refined disposition."
Chen Yuanyuan flinched, then quickly curtsied in return. "The Saintess jests," she demurred. "For this humble maiden to portray the young Saintess is the highest honor. I am filled with trepidation, fearing I might botch some gesture or expression and thus tarnish the Saintess's esteemed reputation."
Gao Yiye almost burst into laughter. "What heroic reputation?" she scoffed good-naturedly. "You've surely memorized the script by now, haven't you? How can you possibly believe I possess any 'heroic reputation' after reading that?"
Chen Yuanyuan blinked, "Oh? But in the script, you are portrayed as an ethereal, celestial being."
Gao Yiye exclaimed, "What?!"
She quickly snatched the script and scanned it, her face instantly morphing into a look of profound embarrassment. "Who wrote this drivel?" she demanded. "It paints me as some ethereal, otherworldly being! My younger self wasn't like this at all, was she? I was terribly mischievous! I stole cotton, I even pilfered the Heavenly Lord's Solar Car No. 1 and dragged Gao Sanwa along to skip lessons! Why does this script portray me as such a dullard?"
Lao Nanfeng interjected, "Is that truly the case? But the one who penned this script is Gao Sanwa, is it not? He's one of the people who knows you best! How could he possibly make such a grievous error?"
In unison, everyone's gaze snapped to Gao Sanwa.
Gao Sanwa squirmed, a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Sister Yiye, there's something you must understand," he began. "A story isn't necessarily more compelling just because it's more realistic."
Gao Yiye raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Gao Sanwa huffed, "Everything serves the plot. The truth itself is irrelevant; what truly matters is a captivating story. As long as the narrative is engaging, anything can be sacrificed."
Gao Yiye gasped, "What?!"
Gao Sanwa explained, "So, what the real you is like simply doesn't matter. The goal is to convey the Saintess's divine aura. And as for the real me, things like skipping lessons? None of that made it into the script. In the play, I'm a model student—virtuous, talented, revered by all teachers and students, and cherished by the Heavenly Lord..."
"Get out!" Gao Yiye roared, delivering a swift kick that sent Gao Sanwa sprawling.
Having sent Gao Sanwa flying, she calmly retracted her foot and offered Chen Yuanyuan a knowing smile. "There," she said, "that kick right there? *That* is the real me."
A collective silence fell over the onlookers.
Chen Yuanyuan instantly felt a mountain of pressure. Portraying the Saintess in her youth, she realized, had just become immeasurably more challenging. To truly grasp such a character felt incredibly difficult.
Gao Yiye, seizing Gao Sanwa by the ear, dragged him to a quieter spot. "You will redesign this character," she declared, "this is simply preposterous!"
Gao Sanwa, having been subjected to Gao Yiye's myriad methods of 'discipline' since childhood, was now powerless to resist. He could only meekly comply...
Lao Nanfeng cast a quick glance at the two huddled over the script, then, a smile playing on his lips, turned back to the rest of the crew. "Until the script is finalized," he announced, "the leading lady's scenes are temporarily on hold. We'll start with the supporting characters' parts instead. Yes, let's begin with Young Master Bai's scenes."
A young actor, clad in a white robe, stepped forward.
His appearance genuinely captured the essence of Young Master Bai in his younger days.
Then, Madam Bai, who had been invited to perform a cameo, also arrived. After exchanging a few lines with the young actor portraying Young Master Bai, she raised her hand and, *smack*, delivered a resounding slap to his head...
The young actor, looking utterly bewildered, clutched his face.
Madam Bai stared, momentarily stunned. "Oh?" she murmured, "So, I really used to hit my son like that often? Recalling it now, I feel quite awful about it."
A burst of laughter erupted from the assembled crowd. "Hahaha!"
Gu Yanwu, observing the scene, couldn't help but smile faintly. "This film, once completed, will undoubtedly have a profound impact," he remarked. "When the common folk see that even today's prominent figures once attended Thirty-Two Middle School in their youth and shared such tales, they will surely be far more inclined to send their own children to school."
Li Daoxuan stepped beside him, a smile gracing his lips. "Precisely," he affirmed. "This is the very reason for producing this movie."
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