When I first learned that he had passed the preliminary examination at such a young age, I knew he was a promising student.

After getting to know Xu Yaozu for a while, Li Xu was somewhat disappointed. He wasn't as talented as he had imagined, and moreover, he wasn't willing to work hard despite his lack of talent.

He always compared himself to Jiang Jingyi. Although Jiang Jingyi spent more time reading than him, to outsiders, they seemed to be encouraging each other to improve.

In reality, Xu Yaozu was completely focused on winning and losing against Jiang Jingyi, and was in a fit of rage. How could he possibly pay attention to even a single word?

"Master, I didn't."

Seeing that Li Xu had spoken, Xu Yaozu quickly cupped his hands in greeting, refusing to admit that he had done the things Li Xu described.

"Dean, I would never do such a thing." Xu Yaozu panicked when he met Dean Li's scrutinizing gaze.

"What do you think?" Dean Li looked at the other two students in the main hall. Their faces were also scratched, but not as badly as Xu Yaozu's.

Just as the two students were about to say something, they were interrupted by Madam Xu: "Dean Li, it must be these two bad students who corrupted our Yaozu. It has nothing to do with our Yaozu."

"If you're going to punish someone, punish these two ill-mannered kids, and that motherless brat from Jiang Hua's family too."

Xu Yaozu looked at his grandmother in disbelief, and simply gestured for her to stop talking.

"You're the one who has no manners!" The two students frowned upon hearing Madam Xu's harsh words.

"Xu Yaozu, we were just trying to help you. You said Jiang Jingyi used underhanded means to become the dean's last student, and you actually let this foul-mouthed person talk about us like that." The two students were immediately enraged and questioned Xu Yaozu directly.

"Dean, Master Li, the matter is clear now. We should handle it as appropriate. I will not tolerate my A-Yi being bullied in the academy." Jiang Hua beckoned Jiang Jingyi over.

"I know, I'll handle it." Li Xu replied hastily. Even if Jiang Hua didn't say anything, he would handle the matter properly and give Jiang Hua and the others an explanation.

“I want him to apologize to me! In front of everyone in the entire academy,” Jiang Jingyi said proactively.

Xu Yaozu is very concerned about his reputation. Making him apologize publicly in front of everyone in the academy is undoubtedly like killing him out of his spirit. He probably won't have a good time at the academy afterwards.

Jiang Hua saw through Jiang Jingyi's little scheme at a glance. She then looked at the injury on his face and said it was nothing serious; he could just apply some medicine when he got back.

"Xu Yaozu, are you willing?" Master Li didn't think there was anything wrong with Jiang Jingyi's request, nor did he know what conflict existed between them.

Xu Yaozu pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Jiang Hua, Yao Zu is still your brother, so let's just let this matter go." Madam Xu looked at Jiang Hua, her tone pleading. Clearly, the trauma from last time was still lingering, and she dared not say anything harsh.

"Dean, you can't treat my Yaozu like this! My Yaozu is a student who has just passed the imperial examination. How can you apologize to him in front of them so casually?" Madam Xu was displeased. She secretly pinched Madam Xu and went up to argue with Dean Li.

"So what if you're a student who has passed the preliminary examination? There are plenty of them in the academy, and even some who have passed the county-level examination." Li Xu sneered. He was curious about Xu Yaozu's personality; it turned out he inherited it from him.

"Xu Yaozu, I'll ask you one last time, are you willing to apologize to Jiang Jingyi?"

After hesitating for a while, he finally heard Xu Yaozu's soft "I do".

"And what about you two?" Li Xu then looked at the other two students: "Is the academy a place for you to form cliques? If there's a next time, I'll just have your parents take you back home."

The two students were startled. It wasn't easy to get into Shifang Academy. They hurriedly went to Jiang Jingyi and bowed their heads to apologize.

Jiang Jingyi accepted their apology, but he still held a grudge against Xu Yaozu for what he had done.

We'll wait and see what Xu Yaozu says in response.

Li Xu was also very efficient, and had all the students of the academy gathered in the courtyard.

Are you satisfied?

Jiang Hua watched as Xu Yaozu blushed and apologized in front of everyone, while Jiang Jing beside her watched with great interest.

“Yes, we can’t go too far in the academy. If we have the chance in the future, we definitely won’t let him off so easily as we did today,” Jiang Jingyi replied softly.

After apologizing, Dean Li told Xu Yaozu and Jiang Jingyi to go back first and come back in three days.

As soon as she stepped out of the gate of Shifang Academy, Madam Xu was ready to roll up her sleeves and start cursing.

"Grandma, that's enough! Stop causing trouble here!" With that, Xu Yaozu glared at Jiang Jingyi with venomous eyes and strode away.

"Bring glory to our ancestors! Bring glory to our ancestors!"

"You just wait!" Madam Xu cursed and quickly caught up with Xu Yaozu.

"Stepmother, has Madam Xu changed for the better?" Jiang Jingyi looked at Madam Xu, who was barely daring to breathe, and found it rather strange.

She used to be able to hurl all sorts of insults at her stepmother, but this time she's completely silent.

Have you ever seen a bad person turn good?

No, Jiang Jingyi shook his head.

Since the dean told us to go back and rest, then we should go back and get some rest. Xu Yaozu, on the other hand, had no intention of resting at all.

"Why did you suddenly come back?" Lin Shuyan asked with concern as she looked at Xu Yaozu, who had a sullen face. Zhou Yingxuan also came along with her.

Since Lin Shuyan attempted suicide by cutting her wrists for him, Zhou Yingxuan's heart has been in turmoil. He never expected that Yan Yan cared about him so much.

"Sister Yan Yan, how did you hurt your wrist?" Although Xu Yaozu was in a bad mood, he asked anxiously when he saw Lin Shu Yan's injured hand.

"It's alright, Yaozu, it was just an accident." Lin Shuyan hid her bandaged hand in her sleeve.

"It's not a day off at the academy yet, why are you back?"

"Grandma and Aunt rushed to the academy around noon. Did something happen there?"

Seeing Lin Shuyan's concerned face, Xu Yaozu was touched and briefly recounted the events at the academy.

Of course, they all spoke ill of Jiang Jingyi, completely absolving themselves of any responsibility.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuyan frowned slightly, hesitating to speak: "Yaozu, now that you're back, you should rest at home."

"By the way, the village chief said that wolves have been appearing in the mountains recently, and people in our village and Shili Village have already been attacked by wolves."

"Remember not to go up the mountain."

Lin Shuyan's words made Xu Yaozu fall into deep thought. A wolf?

Xu Yaozu nodded haphazardly, then made an excuse that he was tired and went back to his room.

At this time, Da Xu and Xu returned from outside. The family was building a house and they wanted to save money wherever possible. Da Xu was reluctant to spend the two copper coins for the oxcart ride, so she took Xu with her back from town.

"Aunt, why do you look so pale?"