Has Chen Yaozu gotten into trouble?
Oh, that's alright then.
Gan Li's anxious expression vanished instantly. She calmly sat down and even lowered her sleeves, which she had just rolled up.
Gan Tian looked at her mother, somewhat bewildered: "Mother, aren't you...aren't you worried?"
"Me? What am I worried about?"
Ganli asked curiously, and before Gantian could answer, she continued on her own:
"To be honest, I was considering whether to change your school. After all, your school even accepts people like Chen Yaozu. What kind of good place can it be?"
"That's good now. They've fired Chen Yaozu, so I think the school can continue! At least it proves they won't accept just anyone for a small tuition fee."
Gan Tian: "..." It sounds like she's right.
Ganli's nonchalant attitude made Gantian unconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.
But just then, Gan Li came over again: "Why did you fire him?"
Gan Tian's heart tightened, and she asked in a casual tone, "Mother, are you worried about my younger brother?"
"Hey, don't say such unlucky things! How could I possibly think about him? The last woman he treated like his own mother, Zhao Juan, is probably wandering somewhere by now!"
Ganli waved her hand, looking disgusted, and said, "I was just a little curious."
Upon hearing this, Gan Tian's slight nervousness vanished completely, and she confidently recounted the whole story of Chen Yaozu's dismissal to Gan Li.
"Actually, it's still because of what happened with Zhao Juan before..."
...
"Bang!"
As the fist slammed down, the teacup on the table trembled violently, emitting a crisp, mournful sound, as if echoing its owner's terrible mood.
"What did you say? The teacher expelled you from school because of Zhao Juan?"
Chen Danian asked incredulously, "What makes him so special?!"
Chen Yaozu, his lips drooping and on the verge of tears, said, "I asked the same question, but the teacher said... he said..."
"What did you say?" Chen Danian demanded angrily, "Is it really because of Zhao Juan? Did you do something else? If you dare to lie, I'll skin you alive!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yaozu's fat trembled in fright, and he quickly said:
“How could your son dare to lie! The teacher said that many students’ parents came to him, and everyone said that you are heartless and immoral, and that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. With such a father, what good can your son be?”
Everyone was worried that I, like a rotten apple, would spoil their whole bunch! So they pressured the teacher to expel me, threatening to stop their children from attending school there. The teacher, not daring to provoke such anger, had no choice but to expel me!
Chen Danian's beard trembled upon hearing this, and he sneered:
"I'm afraid this is just an excuse. Fengxian Academy is the best school in the area. Even if someone is dissatisfied with me, how dare they threaten the teacher?"
"That old bastard, when I was doing well, he called me brother. Now that I'm down on my luck, he's kicking me while I'm down! Every single one of these people is a scoundrel!"
Chen Danian was so angry that he was panting heavily, feeling extremely frustrated, as if a phlegm was stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.
After the Zhao family's misfortune, in order to protect himself, he did not hesitate to divorce his wife twice and drive Zhao Juan away from the Chen family.
Although this move severed ties with the Zhao family and prevented him from being implicated, once the events of that day became known, he earned a reputation for being heartless and ungrateful, and his prestige plummeted.
In the past, Chen Xiucai was a prominent figure in this town, but ever since the Zhao family incident, people used to treat him like a plague god, and even his drinking buddies stopped including him in their social circles.
Chen Danian had always dreamed of studying hard and becoming an official, but now his reputation is ruined and his career prospects are bleak.
In his grief, he could only place all his hopes on his son, Chen Yaozu, hoping that his son would pass the imperial examination with flying colors, bring glory to the family, and make those who looked down on him now regret their actions!
But who knew that her own problems would even implicate her son?
Now that his son Yaozu has been expelled from school, it's as if his path to academy has been cut off. Without a place to study, how can he take the imperial examinations?
A thousand thoughts rushed into Chen Danian's mind all at once, and he was overwhelmed, slumping into his chair.
Chen Yaozu, however, failed to notice his unease and was still preoccupied with his own future:
"Dad, what should I do now? I can't go to school anymore. If I don't pass the imperial examinations, won't I be unable to bring honor to our family?"
Chen Yaozu looked miserable.
Although he hadn't necessarily studied much before, he was now filled with fear after being expelled from the school.
Unlike his father, who at least had the title of a scholar, he could simply move to another place and earn a living by teaching children.
He was different. He had only studied for a few years and hadn't even passed the preliminary examination. If he stopped studying, he might only be able to work as a laborer at the docks like those poor country folk.
But he could go to the docks to do manual labor...
Putting aside whether others want him or not, Chen Yaozu just thought of his former classmates. If they knew that he was competing with those poor people for food at the docks... they would probably laugh themselves to death!
If that's the case, I'd rather be dead!
Thinking of this, Chen Yaozu cried even louder.
The harsh cries echoed incessantly in my ears; even torture couldn't compare.
Chen Danian waved his hand impatiently and scolded:
"What kind of behavior is this, crying and wailing! I'm not dead yet! It's just a small Fengxian School, I don't even care about it!"
Although he spoke harshly, he was clearly not confident, because he knew in his heart that Fengxian School was already the best school in the surrounding towns. To go further, one would have to go to the county town or even the prefectural city.
That would cost so much money!
With his current wealth, he could hardly afford anything, let alone in the prefectural city, or even in the county.
Are we just going to accept our fate like this?
Chen Danian thought of the mocking looks from those people... No, if he accepted his fate, he would never be able to turn his life around!
Since the schools in the county town were not good enough, he had no choice but to select schools from the surrounding towns.
After thinking for a while, Chen Danian made up his mind: "Let's go to Donglu Academy!"
"Donglu Academy?" Chen Yaozu curled his lip in disdain: "That academy can't compare to Fengxian Academy at all..."
Chen Danian glared at him and shouted:
"What kind of time is this to be so picky! Do you think I don't know that Fengxian Academy is good? But now they don't want you anymore, do they?"
Chen Yaozu shrank back in fright and dared not retort.
He was dissatisfied with Donglu Academy, but now that things had come to this, there was really no other way.
Moreover, as long as we don't have to carry heavy bags at the dock, Donglu Academy is fine as it is!
He thought he had compromised, but he didn't expect that even the Donglu Academy, which he looked down on, was not a place he could just attend whenever he wanted!
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