Chapter 429 Baoyu's School Days Part 2
"I never imagined that there was such a person as my younger brother in the world. Now it seems that I have become nothing but a mud pig and a mangy dog."
Jia Baoyu gazed at Yinzhi intently, holding his hand tightly.
Yinzhi pursed his lips and smiled politely: "Second Master is joking. I am just a study companion."
Jia Baoyu shook his head, his expression disapproving, and softly advised, "Brother, don't underestimate yourself. Although I may appear more noble than you, this brocade and silk are nothing more than covering this lifeless piece of wood; fine wine and lamb are merely filling this ditch of filth. The word 'wealth and status' has become a burden for me!"
"It's a pity I was born into this noble family. If I had been born into a poor scholar's family, I could have befriended you much earlier, and my life would not have been in vain."
rhetoric!
Smooth talker!
Outrageous!
The veins on the foreheads of Yinzhen, Yinreng, and the others watching from the side were bulging. They clenched their fists tightly, their gazes burning so intensely that they almost bore a hole through Jia Baoyu's hand holding Yinsi's.
Unfortunately, Jia Baoyu didn't care about other people's opinions at all; his heart and eyes were only on Yinzhi in front of him.
Yinzhi, who deliberately promoted "Jia Baoyu" to make others laugh, but accidentally got himself into trouble, showed no panic whatsoever.
He can handle small situations.
Before Yinzhen and the others could erupt, Yinsi followed Jia Baoyu's words and got to the point: "It's not too late to befriend you now, Second Master. I was originally chosen as your study companion. When it comes to studying, one must have one or two close friends to accompany you and discuss things together often in order to make progress. What do you think, Second Master?"
"That's right, that's right." Jia Baoyu nodded hurriedly, showing no sign of disliking studying.
"If you could study with me in the family school, we could keep each other company and benefit each other. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"
"In that case, Second Master, you are willing to choose me as your study companion?" Yinzhi asked again to confirm.
“What’s a study companion? Even if my little brother wants the stars in the sky, I’ll find a way to get them for him.”
When Jia Baoyu made his boast, Yinzhi immediately smiled with satisfaction and then said without any politeness, "Since you've said so, Second Master, I won't stand on ceremony with you either. Second Master, why don't you select the remaining six companions?"
"Six study companions?"
Only then did Jia Baoyu spare a glance for the remaining six people.
"That's right, to be honest, Second Master, these six are all my brothers."
"oh?"
Upon hearing Yinzhi's words, Jia Baoyu immediately became interested and began to re-examine Yinreng and the other six.
He glanced at Yinreng on the far side and frowned slightly: "The brocade curtains are too luxurious; they don't seem like the attire of a study companion."
Then look at Yin Zhi: "Mountain-like pen holder, with a scholarly air about him, he does have some composure."
Reaching Yinzhen, she couldn't help but take two steps back: "You're so cold, are you an ice block that has come to life?"
Upon seeing Yinqi again, he was still not satisfied: "Round head, round face, and a simple-minded look."
Seeing Yinzhuo, he nodded slightly: "You still have some innocence, though not as much as your younger brother... Oh, I forgot to ask, what's your name, younger brother?"
Jia Baoyu turned back halfway and looked longingly at Yinzhi. Yinzhi replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Second Master. My name is Yinzhi."
"No need to call me Second Master. Just call me Baoyu or Second Brother, like my sisters do."
Judging from Jia Baoyu's emphasis, he clearly wanted Yinzhi to call him "brother," but unfortunately, the real "second brother" was standing behind Baoyu, watching him intently.
As if he hadn't understood the hint, Yinzhi called out, "Baoyu."
Jia Baoyu was a little disappointed, but one look at Yinzhi made him forgive everything.
Recalling Yinzhi's suggestion, Jia Baoyu couldn't help but sigh and bluntly said, "Brother Yinzhi, your six older brothers are far inferior to you."
Yinzhi glanced at Yinyou, whom he had overlooked, and reminded him, "Baoyu, I have another older brother you haven't seen yet."
"Really?" Jia Baoyu turned his head and met Yin You's raised head, muttering, "If you don't move, I'll think you're a piece of wood standing there."
That's called being reserved! Reserved!
At this moment, Yin You, like the "ice cube spirit" Yin Zhen and the "simpleton" Yin Qi, was cursing in his heart.
Having experienced Jia Baoyu's pickiness and pointedly sharp tongue, the six had already given up hope.
Yinzhi gave them a wink, indicating that it was alright and he would handle it.
Jia Baoyu looked somewhat troubled and was about to refuse when Yinzhi, his eyes reddening, gently comforted him: "It's alright, Baoyu, you don't need to worry about me. If my six older brothers can't stay, I'll just get a beating from Father if I go back. But there will still be steamed buns and water, so no one will starve. Therefore, Baoyu, you can choose your companion as you please."
"..." Jia Baoyu opened his mouth, never expecting there to be a father even more cruel than his own. He couldn't help but feel wronged for Yinzhi, "How could he treat you like this?"
"It's alright, it's nothing serious. I'm already very grateful that they didn't kick me out of the house. It's just a matter of picking up scraps of cloth to mend clothes and laying out some straw to use as a bed. I can manage, Baoyu, you don't need to worry..."
“I suddenly think it would be good to have more study companions,” Jia Baoyu said earnestly, with a sense of selfless pride. “If all seven study companions stay, more people will be able to help me better cope with the master’s tests.”
"Thank you very much, Baoyu."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
Looking at Yinzhi, whose smile had returned, Baoyu smiled wistfully.
[Congratulations to the player for passing Jia Baoyu's test and successfully obtaining the "Study Companion" status.]
The system notification sounded at that moment, and Yinzhi winked at his six older brothers.
The six of them suppressed their laughter, thinking that the eighth brother was exceptionally clever, witty, and adorable, but Jia Baoyu next to him was too much of an eyesore, with a pig-like face.
...
Achoo!
Kangxi, who was waiting outside, couldn't help but sneeze loudly. Yinzhi, who was still expressing his dissatisfaction with Jia Baoyu, was startled and turned to look at him: "Father, are you alright?"
"fine."
Kangxi waved his hand, his head was not dizzy and his eyes were not blurry, but he felt as if someone was chirping at him.
"Father, when do you think they'll be able to come out?"
Yinzhi looked at his seven younger brothers "sleeping" on the bed and couldn't help but murmur, "They've been here until now, they should all have passed the exams and started school by now. I wonder what they're learning, and whether it's the same as what we expected..."
Just as Kangxi was about to comfort Yinzhi and tell him not to worry, Yinzhi returned to the question of the assessment, "No, they all stayed. How did they pass the assessment?"
Feeling that his appearance had been underestimated, Yinzhi was indignant and pointed at the person on the bed, questioning, "The fourth prince, with his icy face, and the fifth prince, with his simple-minded look, why was I the only one kicked out?"
Seeing that Yinzhi was truly aggrieved, Kangxi tried to comfort him: "It's not necessarily because of his appearance. Besides, if it doesn't work this time, we can try again next time."
Yinzhi looked up at Kangxi, his gaze falling on the faint pockmarks on his face, and nodded: "That's right, if you can accept it, Father, why can't I? It's Jia Baoyu who has no taste, not that I'm really incapable."
Emperor Kangxi, feeling slighted, twitched his brow and gritted his teeth: "Yinzhi! Have I been too kind to you?"
He casually pulled off the purse from his waist and threw it at Yinzhi. Yinzhi quickly dodged, shouting as he did so, "Don't hit my face! If you disfigure me, I really won't be able to get in!"
Emperor Kangxi slowly rolled up his sleeves and said, "Today, even if you don't get disfigured, you won't be able to get in. I'm going to teach you a lesson about the proper relationship between father and son, and what it means to be an unrighteous father!"
"Aww!"
Yinzhi fled in panic.
"Is this what it means to be rich but heartless? Father, you are the Emperor, don't misuse that term!"
"I am the emperor, and my words are law. A father should not be merciful when he is disciplining his son!"
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