Lewis, of course, could never teach a gentleman how to curse.
He would teach him sonnets, social pleasantries, how to appreciate cigars or fine wine, how to choose accessories… and if there was a chance in the future, he might even teach him horsemanship and swordsmanship— these were all lessons for a gentleman.
He himself had always received this kind of education.
His father, grandfather, great-grandfather… going back through a dozen Earls of Beaumont—all of them had been given this gentlemanly education.
The Beaumont name was both an honor and a burden, constantly reminding Lewis to be a true gentleman.
“Are you really not able to speak English?”
Lewis couldn’t help but ask the question again, then he gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry, please forgive me. It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just… God, this is really unbelievable.”
Jiang Mingxi answered honestly, “I guess I have some talent for languages. I’ve always been good at mimicking sounds, but I’ve only ever studied dialects from various parts of China. This is my first time encountering a foreign language.”
“But as long as you find the key features, English isn’t actually hard to imitate. I don’t know how to describe it…”
She hesitated, trying to find words to express the subtle feeling. “To me, your English sometimes tastes like honey water— sticky and sweet. Sometimes it’s like green apples— sour and crisp with a hint of bitterness. As for Chinese, different dialects have different flavors and scents. For example, the Hangzhou Dialect smells like a fishy sweetness, like being in the damp plum rain season.”
Lewis: ……
What an abstract description.
He really couldn’t understand how English had anything in common with honey water or green apples.
Nor could he understand why languages would have scents.
But this strange description reminded him of a good friend.
“I have a friend who’s very similar to you; you two should have a lot in common.”
Lewis fell into a memory, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “He says the ‘e’ in Euler’s identity (e^{iπ} + 1 = 0) tastes cool and slightly sweet, like mint leaves; the ‘i’ is sour with lemon acid, tingling the tip of the tongue; and π is dark chocolate, smooth as velvet with an infinitely repeating faint bitterness lingering.”
Lewis shook his head and smiled wryly, “Ordinary people like us are destined never to understand the world of heavenly talents.”
Yes, heavenly talent.
Without a doubt, the young Eastern boy before him was a heavenly talent.
Lewis had once doubted it, but this wonderful metaphor completely dispelled his remaining doubts.
He had only ever met one other heavenly talent— a friend with exceptional mathematical genius, whose name would be remembered a hundred years from now.
The boy before Lewis now was another heavenly talent, a linguistic one.
Lewis thought, in that case, there must be something universal among talents in different fields.
Lewis asked curiously, “No matter what I recite, can you remember and recite it back perfectly?”
Jiang Mingxi answered cautiously, “I actually don’t know, but I can try.”
So Lewis recited a Shakespearean sonnet.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the Eastern boy began reciting the Shakespearean poem fluently and perfectly, with not a single mistake, and his intonation and tone were impeccable.
If he wasn’t so confident, Lewis would have thought a Londoner was sitting across from him.
Lewis then tried another English poem. The female poet wasn’t well-known in England, but she had great talent; Lewis thought she just lacked time and luck.
Once again, the scene repeated.
As soon as Lewis finished reading, the Eastern boy’s fluent London Accent rang out, matching Lewis’s own intonation perfectly.
“This poem is so beautiful!” The boy’s eyes sparkled brilliantly as he said enthusiastically, “I feel as if I’ve reached a splendid starry sky, sensing a vast and eternal artistic conception.”
Then he recited a Chinese poem related to stars. Lewis couldn’t understand it, but seeing Jiang Mingchuan’s admiring expression, he believed it must also be an outstanding poem.
Lewis adjusted the collar of his tie, feeling a bit breathless.
Indeed, the poem he had just recited was about the universe, with lines reflecting an immortal, eternal theme.
It wasn’t the first time.
Jiang Mingchuan, without fully understanding the meaning of the verses, could accurately grasp the emotions and philosophy the original author had infused in the words just by hearing someone recite them— he might well be the soulmate every poet dreams of!
Lewis didn’t know how Jiang Mingchuan did it. He could only guess that for someone like Jiang Mingchuan with a heavenly talent for language, every sentence sounded like music.
Even if he couldn’t understand the lyrics, he could still accurately perceive the emotions in the song.
Lewis’s eyes shone brightly.
Oh, God.
He felt like he had discovered a hidden treasure that day— excited and tireless.
Beyond poetry, Lewis recited prose and famous passages, and Jiang Mingchuan never disappointed him. Each time, he only needed to hear it once.
Lewis suddenly asked, “Do you still remember Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind?”
That was the first poem Jiang Mingchuan recited the two of them ever met.
“Of course I remember. This poem is as beautiful as the wind. I’ll never forget it. After this, you have to tell me the meaning of every single word in it.” Jiang Mingxi once again recited it with perfect accuracy, not a single word wrong.
Jiang Mingchuan also possessed a heavenly talent-like eidetic memory! Lewis should have been amazed, but now another discovery had captured all his attention.
He asked eagerly, “I noticed… you adjusted the pronunciation of some words. Why is that?”
Since they met, this was the first time Jiang Mingxi had seen such a serious expression on Lewis’s bearded face.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly recalled the poem she had just recited… Compared to the Cao Translation version, her second recitation had many different pronunciations!
Oh no, such a rookie mistake! How did she not notice it when she first recited it?
Jiang Mingxi said anxiously, “I didn’t do it on purpose, and I don’t know how I got it wrong. I can recite it again. This time, I definitely won’t make any mistakes!”
“…No need.”
Lewis’s voice was hoarse, and his expression turned strange.
Jiang Mingxi grew anxious.
She had always been unlucky— both in this life and the previous one, every opportunity she encountered required her to fight with all her might.
So, ignoring Lewis’s objection, she resolutely recited Ode to the West Wind again. This time, her pronunciation was flawless.
But for some reason, after listening, Lewis’s face showed a bitter smile.
Looking at the young Eastern boy’s anxious yet composed expression, Lewis said seriously, “You didn’t recite it wrong.”
“Indeed, some pronunciations changed because your talent corrected you.” Lewis looked at the young Eastern boy.
He was so young and humble that he hadn’t realized the terrifying, world-shaking talent he possessed.
“Your subconscious sensed some disharmonious rhythm and naturally gave a correction.”
Lewis paused, his gaze complex. It was full of admiration for his extraordinary brilliance, mixed with the feeling of a mortal facing a monstrous heavenly talent.
“You unconsciously used some London Accent pronunciations.”
Even without his teaching and corrections, even if she was unaware of the content she was reciting, her outstanding talent for languages had made her keenly pick up on some frequently repeated words, and she replaced them during her second recitation.
That was why her second recitation of Ode to the West Wind sounded disjointed— sometimes perfectly standard London Accent like Lewis’s, and other times carrying a hint of immigrant accent.
Lewis’s words made Jiang Mingxi fall into thought.
She realized that was exactly what had happened.
At the time, she had subconsciously felt that this way would sound smoother.
“Dear Jiang, never doubt yourself. Your talent, your body knows you better than anyone else.”
The elderly Western gentleman looked at the young Eastern boy with admiration, as if gazing upon a living miracle.
“Follow your talent, and you will achieve something extraordinary. I am honored to be your Enlightenment Teacher. I believe our meeting here was guided by God.”
After saying this, he drew a cross on his chest and devoutly said, “Amen.”
Jiang Mingxi stared at Lewis in shock.
She had an eidetic memory, which meant that whatever people said to her— good or bad— she could remember and never forget.
No one had ever told her this before.
No one had ever told her that she had talent and would achieve something great.
When she first revealed her linguistic talent, the only compliment she received was from a foreign shirt wearer who wanted to take her as a concubine.
Later, when she successfully scammed her first sum of money, her Teacher did pat her shoulder happily and said, “I knew it. You’re a heavenly scammer.”
Later still, her Teacher called her a once-in-a-century heavenly talent of Yanmenguan.
But…
She never felt happy hearing those words.
Because a brilliant scammer is still a scammer.
She had strayed into the wrong path for the sake of a scheme, seemingly glorious but inwardly ashamed and fearful.
So when she developed a gambling addiction and ruined everything, deep inside she felt a strange relief.
Jiang Mingxi lowered her head, hiding the rising tears.
Then, silently and inwardly, she gave thanks to some unknown God, just like Lewis.
Although she still didn’t believe in God, and still thought fate was in one’s own hands,
she still thanked whoever had given her a second chance.
In this life.
She had finally met a good teacher.
She could finally be a good person.
After Lewis finished his solemn prayer, Jiang Mingxi gently asked him a question.
“May I ask, what is your destination for this trip?”
“Peking,” Lewis said. “I’m going there to visit an old friend.”
At that moment, Jiang Mingxi really hesitated inwardly about staying in Peking for a few days.
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
Because according to her memories from her previous life, there was a chance to make money in Shanghai soon, and missing it would be such a pity.
Jiang Mingxi silently calculated that from here to Peking would take about 26 hours.
Subtracting time for meals and rest, there were about 16 hours left.
And since Lewis was traveling and might be tired, she didn’t want to disturb him for too long.
So…
Lewis had been speaking for quite some time and was a bit parched.
He picked up the now slightly cold coffee and took a sip.
“I think six hours should be enough to learn basic English conversation.”
Lewis: Pfft… cough cough cough.
Jiang Mingxi was startled and quickly took a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe his mouth.
After Lewis finally stopped coughing, she saw the young Eastern boy staring at him with a heavy expression, as if making a difficult decision.
“Then four hours it is,” he said.
Lewis: ………
If anyone else had said something so shameless, he would have hit them with his cane long ago.
But this was Jiang Mingchuan…
He sighed and smiled bitterly. “If it’s you, then of course you can do it.”