A glimmer of hope rose in Pang You's eyes. Yes, he had studied hard for several years, sleeping only three hours a day, making up for the shortcomings caused by not being able to receive a formal education when he was young. In just a few years, he had become a scholar.
If he passes the county-level imperial examination and then the provincial-level examination the following year, he will be qualified to become an official and have the capital to challenge Qiao Lian'er.
When he becomes powerful enough, he will surely overthrow the entire Qiao family. He will watch as every member of the Qiao family groans and wailes under his feet.
He constantly befriended the sons of noble families, seeking their protection and then using them; these people would later become his allies.
He first lost the financial support of Deputy General He, and then he lost the financial support of Deputy General Chen (who was later demoted to lieutenant), but it didn't matter, because he had these sons of high-ranking families who would send him money and accommodations.
He's doing quite well now.
"If I pass the exam and rank well, it will prove that my learning experience is useful. I will then print out my notes and give them to everyone for free," Pang You said modestly.
“Young Master Pang is kind and benevolent. No wonder so many students are willing to be your friends. In the academy, no one is of better character than you,” the student said.
Pang You clasped his hands together, his attitude very devout: "Teacher taught that kindness comes from good thoughts and virtue from a good heart. I am just doing my bit, and I am grateful that everyone does not look down on me and thinks highly of me, a friend of ordinary birth."
After school, Pang You spent half an hour consulting with his teacher, then carried his books and rode a carriage back to his residence.
The carriage, lodging, daily meals with both meat and vegetables, and the cost of maintaining his writing implements were all provided to him by the wealthy young master.
The place where they lived was a medium-sized courtyard house, with guards, servants, and old women.
Originally, Pang You's move from a remote mountain valley to such a place was a world of difference, but he felt little satisfaction with this residence. On the contrary, he felt that what he had received was far from enough.
Because the Qiao family lives in such a large mansion and has an army, the men of the Qiao family are all generals with their own personal guards, and the women all manage large shops and are doing very well as owners. Qiao family son-in-law Mu Xinghe will one day be promoted to the fourth rank and then he will be able to attend court meetings.
The most despicable of all, Qiao Lian'er, goes without saying—
Compared to that, what he has now is insignificant.
Thinking of Chen Tingxin's failure, Pang You frowned and clenched his fist in front of the door.
"What a waste! They can't even seize such a good opportunity. I wonder how many useless people they'll waste if they want to bring down the Qiao family."
Pang You sighed and was about to go inside when he noticed something and looked back.
A woman stood not far away, her eyebrows and eyes gradually widening, her height increasing again; she was so familiar, yet so repulsive.
After Song Laosan's death, Pang You avoided contact with the Qiao family and made almost no moves. The academy where he worked was quite far from the Qiao family.
He feared that seeing the Qiao family would tempt him to overstep his bounds, and that his lack of power would ultimately harm him.
Therefore, Ponda simply watched the newcomer quietly, waiting for him to speak, his eyes filled with a hint of wariness.
Qiao Lian'er's arrival must have been a guess; Chen Tingxin had sent the Qiao family's formation to the northern Da Nu Kingdom at his instigation.
But so what? Does she have any evidence?
"Song Ruier, how have you been?" Qiao Lian'er called out the name he hadn't used in a long time, in a clear and crisp voice.
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