Because Zhu Biao’s arrival was so abrupt and his questions came so suddenly, Ma Yu had no time to prepare. He did not answer immediately; instead, he sat in silence for a long time, carefully selecting and organizing the relevant points.
Zhu Biao was not in a hurry. He figured that the longer Ma Yu took to prepare, the more significant and complex the subject matter must be. He was more than happy to let Ma Yu take his time. While Ma Yu thought, Zhu Biao did not remain idle; he fetched paper, ink, brushes, and an inkstone, setting them up so he could take notes. He wanted to be sure he wouldn't miss anything important due to the sheer volume of information.
After about two quarter-hours, Ma Yu finally finished organizing his thoughts. He looked up and said, "Alright, let's begin."
Chapter 58