Li Lao Er felt both sorry for you and amused, and quickly comforted you, "You're all grown men now, it's too embarrassing to shed tears at a time like this. Besides, you have your older and younger brothers to look after you at the academy, and once you leave the academy, you also have our family's courtyard and shop. This is much better than what others have."
That makes sense, but the kids just miss home and won't let go no matter what.
Having no other choice, Li Lao Er said, "How about this, I'll go back and tell your grandma to bring Fu Niu'er to stay for a while."
"Your academy can't keep having half-day breaks every five days. After a while, it will definitely resume full-day breaks. When that happens, your family will send a carriage to pick you up that very night and bring you back the following evening, so you can play to your heart's content at home, okay?"
"Fine." The three boys reluctantly let go, and just as they were about to say something, the school bell rang.
They could only bow hastily and then run away quickly.
According to the academy's rules, being late for the schoolhouse would result in being punished with a ruler on the hand!
Li Lao Er and Mr. Peng couldn't help but laugh, and after a few more casual words, they parted ways.
After seeing that his younger brothers had all gone into their respective dormitories, Jiaren went inside and returned to his seat.
A friend who knew him well asked in a low voice, "Jiaren, I heard your dad came? Did he bring you something delicious?"
Jiaren chuckled and was about to shake his head when another classmate tapped him on the head, saying, "All you care about all day is eating! Uncle Li must be here on business!"
"Yes, yes, I heard about it too. Uncle Li gave Mr. Tang a 'autumn list' (a traditional gift for the imperial examinations), and many scholars saw it and were drooling with envy!" another classmate whispered, adding with a hint of envy as he asked Jiaren.
"Is there anything your family can't do? Growing jade melons and golden fruits is one thing, but the fruits from the mountains are so delicious, and now you're even starting to grow orchids?"
Jiaren quickly shook his head, "Mr. Tang occasionally gave me pointers on writing with my left hand. My family was very grateful and specially asked someone to find orchids as a thank you gift. We can't grow these things at home."
Several classmates knew about this and wanted to express their envy, but when they inadvertently saw the back of Jiaren's left hand, they immediately swallowed their words.
Mr. Tang was naturally highly respected, and it was enviable to receive his guidance.
But everything has two sides, and Mr. Tang is indeed very strict.
Jiaren is so hardworking and conscientious that his hands would be swollen from being slapped every time he came back from calligraphy practice...
This is absolutely terrifying. Even if this opportunity is given to them, they should still think about it!
The group was having a great time, and the bystanders were just enjoying the show, all waiting for the teacher to come and give the lesson.
Everything was fine until two students sitting in the back row suddenly started making sarcastic remarks.
"Oh dear, even though we're all here to study at the academy, we're divided into different classes. Some families are so shrewd, always arranging marriages or sending orchids and fruit as gifts. They always get the best of everything!"
"We're so pitiful! We get paid every month, and we have to fawn over them, sucking up to them, just so we can get a few sips of soup after they've eaten the meat!"
Jiaren's face turned cold upon hearing this, and several of his close classmates nearby were also annoyed. They turned around and cursed, "If you have grievances, just say them properly. Why are you being sarcastic? We're classmates, and studying together should be a happy thing. Why do you have to be a troublemaker? It's really incomprehensible."
"Exactly, she talks like a girl all the time. If you don't like it, if you're unhappy, then don't stay in our class! Why did you have to force yourself in?"
"What's with all this talk about class distinctions? Jiaren's family took over four hundred books, and we're reading some of them now. Even if we're just expressing our gratitude, we should treat Jiaren better. Besides, we were just joking around, how come you see that as flattery! Is it right to receive benefits without being grateful?"
"Don't talk to them. They're just two idiots. Our class was fine, but these two troublemakers have to come along. It's really annoying."
"If they keep doing this, let's all go to the dean's office and protest to get them moved to another class!"
The commotion among the classmates attracted the attention of others, who glared at the two newcomers.
One should have a conscience. Not to mention Jia Ren, who is gentle and polite and studies diligently, take the Li family for example. In the summer, we would send them jade melons and golden fruits, and in the autumn, we would send them fruits. Occasionally, when they were busy with their studies, the food stalls outside the academy would send them food.
They took genuine care of them, treating them almost like their own children.
They have nothing else to repay him with, so it's only right that they befriend Jiaren and help him out when needed.
Moreover, they had been classmates for over a year, and they knew Jiaren's character all too well.
These two newcomers are really unsociable and annoying!
Perhaps realizing they had angered the crowd, the two finally shut up.
Just then, the gentleman came in, and the little disturbance passed.
Jiaren opened the book, his expression still gentle, as if he didn't care about what had just happened, but in fact, he was more wary.
There is no good without a reason, and there is no bad without a reason.
These two new classmates, who have been here for less than three months, are targeting him in every way.
Although it wasn't a big deal, just a few words exchanged and some academic rivalry, he still felt something was off.
I need to be more careful in the future and find a chance to investigate what exactly happened...
After returning to the shop, Li Lao Er chatted with everyone and, seeing that nothing serious had happened, hurried home.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon the Broken Gold Beach, the pebbles reflecting the light, making it truly resemble a field of scattered gold – a beauty that lived up to its name.
The path and stone bridge at the village entrance have been completely repaired, and are much more spacious and tidy than before.
The paths between the Big Locust Tree Village and the villages of Dawangzhuang and Xiaowangzhuang have been repaired, and the people in these villages have truly felt the benefits of being designated as fiefdoms, and have gained a greater sense of belonging.
In the Li family courtyard, Hui Niang and Li Yong, each holding a child, were saying goodbye to the old lady and Tao Hongying.
They're moving back to the village chief's house today!
It wasn't that the Li family treated them badly, but rather that they were planning to build a house next to the village chief's house.
Despite being injured, Li Yong hunted down the tiger and sold it for a full six hundred taels of silver. The head steward of the Marquis's mansion had already delivered the silver.
The young couple wanted to finish building their new courtyard before winter.
Jiayin stood next to Huiniang, and seeing the little girl's feet peeking out, she poked them near Huiniang's mouth.
On a whim, she picked it up and stuffed it into her mouth.
The little girl was suddenly ambushed and started screaming at the top of her lungs!
Everyone turned to look, and caught Jiayin with her toes in her mouth.
Jiayin blinked her big eyes twice, quickly took her toes out, and subconsciously slurped her saliva.
There was a moment of silence, then everyone burst into laughter.
Jiayin was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground!
She's really used to it, she's just used to it!
When I was a child, I would lie on the kang (a heated brick bed) and look at the ceiling. It was so boring that I would gnaw on my toes every day.
Now that I'm older, this habit seems to be etched into my mind...
Fortunately, Li Lao Er returned at this time.
Jiayin buried her head in her second uncle's arms and didn't want to come out.
Li Lao Er thought his niece had been wronged, but when he understood, he laughed so hard his chest trembled.
Grandma Li tried her best to help her granddaughter out of the predicament and changed the subject.
"Why are you back so late? And have you been drinking? Have you forgotten that you have to attend court tomorrow?"
Li Lao Er immediately said, "I've just come back to pick up my official robes. I'll go into the city to find Mr. Wen in a little while, and go to court with him early tomorrow morning."
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