Chapter 29: Xu Jian is punished and Xu Nian succeeds

Lingshan County School

Xu Ji and the other two had been attending the county school for over ten days. It only took a moment for them to go from feeling lost at first to feeling indifferent now.

"Brother Ji, are we going to Ziyuan? I'm starving to death."

The person who spoke was a young boy who had not yet lost his baby fat and looked to be about the same age as Xu Ji.

This was Xu Ji's roommate Fan Wensi, Teacher Fan's youngest son. His only hobby was eating, and the thing he could not stand was being hungry.

Xu Ji put away the paper and pen, then slowly walked to Fan Wensi's side and walked towards Ziyuan with him.

The county credits are divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D, which are further divided into A start class, A middle class, A end class, etc. according to different progress.

Class A consists of people who have passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, so there are only a handful of people in it; Class B consists of people who have passed the imperial examination and become a student, and they are all around fifteen years old; Class C consists of people who have a certain foundation and can prepare to take the imperial examination and become a student; and Class D is much more complicated, with some people who have already read the Four Books and some who have not even memorized all the enlightenment books.

When Xu Ji and his two brothers were admitted to the school, they were tested and Xu Ji was assigned to the Ding class (work class) and the Xu Kang brothers were assigned to the Ding class (middle class).

Although they were not in the same classroom, fortunately the three of them were assigned to the same dormitory.

In addition to the three brothers and Fan Wensi, there were two other people in the school. One was the county magistrate's youngest son, Wu Ziwen, but he was a bastard and his biological mother was Aunt Qiu.

The other one is Aunt Qiu’s nephew, named Qiu Jie.

However, the other two were both working at C, and Xu Ji was not familiar with them, just nodding acquaintances.

When the two arrived at Ziyuan, many classmates were already sitting inside, including the Xu Kang brothers. When they saw Xu Ji and Xu Jian, they waved their hands excitedly.

Xu Kang was so scared that he quickly pressed Xu Jian's hand down.

"Do you still want to be punished by Zhou Xun to sweep the yard?"

Xu Jian withdrew his hand awkwardly; he forgot about it when he was excited.

Scholars all pay attention to gentlemanly conduct, which is also reflected in their words and deeds, so the county school is very strict about the demeanor of students.

In the past few days, Xu Jian has been punished no less than three times for making loud noises, running and jumping while walking, etc. Now, whenever Coach Zhou sees him, he stares at him with his big eyes, making it almost impossible for him to walk.

Xu Ji also saw the two brothers. He nodded slightly and went to get the food with Fan Wensi.

Accommodation and meals at the county school are free, and you don’t even have to pay tuition.

Part of these expenses come from school land, and part comes from "donors".

According to regulations, only those who passed the Tongsheng examination could enter the county school, but there were exceptions. Some people, like Xu Ji, were recommended by the county magistrate, and some were the nephews and nieces of landlords and wealthy families who paid money to enter the school.

When he arrived at the food pick-up counter and saw that the dish was tofu and cabbage again, Fan Wensi couldn't help but wail.

"I am still growing up, who is so cruel to me?"

Xu Ji calmly prepared the food, raised the corner of his lip and suggested: "There are chicken legs there, only eight cents."

Fan Wensi looked at Xu Ji, who had already turned and left, with a resentful look, and couldn't help but complain in his heart: This kid must have done it on purpose, he knows how stingy my dad is.

When Fan Wensi thought about the fact that he would have to write more than ten articles just for a chicken drumstick, he hardened his heart and put the spoon into the tofu and cabbage.

As soon as Xu Jian saw his brother, his eyes welled up with tears and he started to complain about how Coach Zhou was staring at him without blinking.

Xu Kang looked at Xu Jian as if he were a fool, and sure enough, he heard his second brother's faint voice.

"Don't talk while eating. You haven't swept the yard enough."

Xu Jian felt like a duck with its neck pinched. He wanted to go home. He wanted to tell his elder sister how miserable he was. He also wanted to tell her that his elder brother bullied him...

As soon as Fan Wensi sat down, he saw Xu Jian, who was breathing heavily and had a red face and a thick neck, and wondered, "What happened to you? Were you punished again?"

Xu Kang couldn't help laughing out loud, and even Xu Ji frowned.

Xu Jian ignored the three of them and started eating by himself. Humph, none of them are good people.

Fan Wensi: ...

On the way back to the classroom, the four of them discussed the holiday.

"Brother Ji, I'm going to take a day off soon, where are you going back to?"

Xu Ji also missed his family, but he also had his own plans.

"I won't go back this time. I have a monthly exam at the end of the month, and I want to go back after I finish the exam."

After hearing this, the Xu Kang brothers also agreed: "Then we won't go back either. We'll go back together at the end of the month."

Fan Wensi originally wanted to invite Xu Ji to a restaurant to have a good meal, but now his plan has been ruined.

"You brothers, do you want to spare my life? I tolerate you studying late into the night, but why do you even spare me on my day off?"

After spending some time together, Fan Wensi got to know Xu Ji a little bit, and this kid wanted to be promoted to Class C as soon as possible.

Humph~ He wants to surpass the others and go to Class C to have a good time. That’s just wishful thinking. He won’t go back and will study hard here!

The three brothers twitched their lips speechlessly as they watched Fan Wensi marching forward with his pride and confidence like a victorious rooster.

Xu Kang couldn't help but murmur, "Brother Wensi's personality is really similar to that of my fourth brother."

Xu Jian felt scolded: ...

However, Xu Nian, who missed his brothers dearly, didn't know that the three brothers had decided to take a vacation and not go home.

When they came back from Zhu's house, the Xu Fugui brothers had already come back from selling vegetables, and Wang the Hunter was still standing in the yard.

It turned out that Wang the hunter had gone to Lingshan and killed a large gang and sold them for some silver. This time he came to pay back the money.

Wang took out the IOUs that had been written by each family, found the one from Wang Liaohu and gave it to the other party, and the matter was settled.

"Haha~ I feel so relieved now that I'm debt-free. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep well every day."

"Then you have to take it easy and don't go deep into the mountains just for money."

Wang the Hunter also knew that Wang's words were for his own good, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Xu, I'm being careful."

Xu Nian, who was listening at the side, had some thoughts in mind.

"Uncle Wang, when you go hunting in Lingshan, take me with you."

When Wang Liaohu heard this, he was at a loss. If it were in the past, he would have agreed, but things are different now. The girl from the Xu family is now the housekeeper's daughter. If something happens, it will be no small matter.

Seeing that Wang Liehu looked troubled, Xu Nian looked at Wang pitifully.

Wang was a person who would only respond to soft words and not to hard ones. She really couldn't stand the behavior of her eldest granddaughter. She thought that the eldest girl had always been working hard for the family and had never asked for anything. It was just going up the mountain, so she had to go.

"Wang family boy, how about this? I'll let my second son go with us. They won't go into the mountains, so it should be safer."

Since Wang had spoken, and with the Xu family following him, Wang the Hunter naturally had nothing to worry about.

"I think it's feasible. Let's set out for Lingshan at the beginning of the morning in two days."

Xu Nian narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, and Wang couldn't help but nod at her: "You're like a cat that has stolen some fish, just acting weird."

Xu Nian smiled: "..."