Chapter 355 Your father is a disgrace to scholars
Old Master Qian was being far too enthusiastic, which made Shen Zheng feel disgusted.
He said calmly, "My father has already arranged an inn, so there's no need for you to trouble yourself, Master Qian."
He walked over discreetly, separating himself from Old Master Qian, and helped Cheng Wanwan on the other side. The group then headed towards the city center.
"Even Lady Sui is too lazy to pay attention to us, why bother trying to be friendly?" Qian Hui snorted. "I'm exhausted, let's go to the other courtyard to rest."
"You little rascal!" Old Master Qian kicked him in the butt. "That lady is a seventh-rank official, registered with the Emperor. And Cheng Zhao is a sure-fire scholar. You must go and build good relationships with them. Don't stay at the villa anymore. Go with them and stay at the same inn."
Qian Hui covered his backside, looking extremely aggrieved: "The inn must be fully booked..."
"If the order is full, we'll charge you more," Old Master Qian said coldly. "If you can't even handle this small matter, how will you inherit the Qian family's vast fortune?"
The old man walked away angrily, his hands behind his back.
Qian Hui sighed silently and had no choice but to follow Shen Zheng's group.
He had always been inseparable from Zheng Wangfeng, and had never gotten along with Shen Zheng. He had even framed Cheng Zhao before, but now he had to try to please him. He suddenly felt that life was so difficult.
But there was nothing I could do; it was my grandfather's order.
"Brother Shen, Brother Cheng, wait for me." Qian Hui composed himself and walked up to them with a smile. "We're practically from the same hometown, and we came to Huzhou together to take the imperial examination. Let's stay together and look after each other."
Shen Zheng smirked: "Where's your brother Zheng?"
"Haha, Brother Zheng has a villa arranged by Magistrate Zheng, he's quite comfortable there." Qian Hui walked to Cheng Wanwan's side and politely cupped his hands in greeting. "I hope Madam Sui won't mind that I'm sharing an inn with her?"
Cheng Wanwan felt extremely dizzy and just wanted to find a bed to lie down. She waved her hand weakly and said, "Mr. Qian, please make yourself at home."
The group walked through the bustling streets and soon saw the Yuelai Inn, a top-class inn in Huzhou City and the first choice for many scholars.
Shen Zheng quickly went in and announced his name as Shen Dongming. The waiter then handed out several nameplates. There were five superior rooms in total. Shen Zheng and Afu shared one room, and the other four each had a room.
Qian Hui took ten taels of silver and found a relatively poor scholar to vacate a room for him, which served as a temporary solution.
"Zhao'er, you guys go downstairs and order first," Cheng Wanwan said weakly. "I only want a bowl of porridge. Bring it up to me after you've finished eating."
Lu Yingxue helped her upstairs, and she immediately lay down on the bed, feeling as if she had been given a second chance at life.
A few children downstairs chose a window seat and started ordering.
We set off in the morning and traveled for three hours. We had some dry biscuits for lunch, and now it's lunchtime.
The inn was always bustling with people, mostly students who had come in groups. The wealthy stayed in the best rooms, while the poor stayed in the worst rooms, so all sorts of people could be found there.
"Order whatever you like," Qian Hui said, waving his hand. "This meal is on me today."
"Go away, get out of here," Shen Zheng said disdainfully. "Do I need you to treat me to a meal? Where is Young Master Shen's dignity?"
Afu sat in the corner, patting the bundle on his shoulder: "Our young master is rich, he's not short of money."
Cheng Zhao coughed and said, "When you're out and about, keep a low profile."
Telling everyone you're rich—are you trying to get your money stolen?
Shen Zheng glared at Afu: "Keep a low profile, keep a low profile for me."
"Let's start with a bowl of plain rice porridge," Yu Zhan said. "Then a boiled tofu, a mixed vegetable dish, and a bowl of peanuts... When you first arrive in a new place, it's easy to get sick from the change in environment, so it's better to eat something simple."
Cheng Zhao agreed and handed the order directly to the waiter.
Shen Zheng reluctantly shut his mouth, deciding to wait until today was over before having a big meal tomorrow.
Qian Hui naturally didn't say much; his goal was to integrate, not to raise objections and invite rejection.
The five of them sat here. Apart from Afu, they were all scholars. Cheng Zhaoyu was gentle and refined, Shen Zheng had an unruly temperament, Qian Hui exuded wealth, and Yu Zhan, despite his young age, showed the elegance and refinement of a scholar.
People at the next table couldn't help but come over and strike up a conversation.
"I've met you gentlemen before." The man, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood by the table with his hands clasped in greeting. "Judging from your accents, you seem to be from Ping'an County. Am I right?"
Shen Zheng was always impatient with dealing with these things, Qian Hui was not involved, and Yu Zhan was too young, so only Cheng Zhao could step in.
Cheng Zhao stood up, returned the gesture with a cupped hand, and said in a gentle voice, "We are indeed from Ping'an County."
"I heard that the top scorer in this year's county-level examination in Ping'an County is a child who is only ten years old." The man's gaze fell on Yu Zhan. "Could it be this little brother?"
When someone mentioned it, Yu Zhan couldn't just sit there any longer. He stood up and said, "It's just that I ranked first in the county examination. It's not worth mentioning."
"To have achieved so much at the age of ten is truly enviable. My name is Li Zhou." The man introduced himself. "May I ask your name, young sir?"
"Li Zhou, Li Zhou, are you blind?" someone at the next table suddenly jeered. "You don't even recognize the young master of the Yu family?"
Upon hearing the name "Yu family," Li Zhou's expression changed. He looked Yu Zhan up and down, his face full of disbelief: "You...you are Yu Zhan?"
Yu Zhan had been calm just moments before, but now his face had turned extremely dark.
How could he forget that all the scholars in Huzhou knew his father and him? He shouldn't have stood up to deal with these people.
Many people at the surrounding tables gathered around.
"I was wondering why the Yu family's son didn't participate in the county examination. Turns out he hid in a remote and impoverished area to take the imperial examination."
"Tsk tsk, you're actually the top scholar in Ping'an County. How much money did your father bribe the magistrate of Ping'an County to make you famous overnight?"
"Like father, like son. Your father is no good, and neither are you..."
"shut up!"
Yu Zhan's face turned red with anger, and he roared back.
"What are you yelling about?" A tall, burly man stepped forward and shoved Yu Zhan violently. "Your father is a disgrace to scholars, and you actually dare to dream of taking the imperial examinations? You don't think you can get a career in government just by hiding in Ping'an County, do you? Let me tell you, dream on..."
Shen Zheng suddenly stood up and pulled Yu Zhan behind him.
Although he and Yu Zhan didn't have a deep relationship, Master Yu had taught him a lot. Once a teacher, always a teacher, so naturally he wanted to protect his teacher's son.
Just as he was about to speak, Cheng Zhao grabbed his arm.
Cheng Zhao gently shook his head. Shen Zheng's anger had reached the top of his head, and he couldn't hold back any longer.
"A brawl on the eve of the provincial examination will disqualify one from the examination." Cheng Zhao quietly raised his eyes and looked at Yu Zhan. "If one suppresses one's will and endures blame and slander, or if one were to die upholding one's integrity, one would become a handful of dust. Little Zhan, I ask you, how would you deal with others who slander me, deceive me, insult me, laugh at me, belittle me, and despise me?"
Yu Zhan pursed his lips.
He could accept these people insulting him, but he couldn't accept them insulting his father.
Cheng Zhao spoke quietly: "Endure him, let him be, let him do as he pleases, be patient with him, ignore him, and wait a few more years and you'll see."
He sat down and said calmly, "The food is here. Sit down and eat."
As he spoke, a faint aura emanated from him, an invisible force that intimidated everyone present.
Despite his gentle and refined demeanor, no one dared to interrupt or provoke him when he spoke.
"Well said!" Qian Hui was the first to applaud. "Brother Cheng, from now on you will be my best brother. Come, let me toast you with tea instead of wine."
Shen Zheng shoved Qian Hui aside: "Cheng Zhao is my best brother, get out of my way."
"Then I'll be second, okay?" Qian Hui said with a grin, insisting on clinking glasses with Cheng Zhao.
With these two joking around, the atmosphere in the inn's lobby immediately became much more relaxed, and Yu Zhan sat down with mixed feelings.
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