Chapter 1025: Grudges
Mr. Jiang nodded in agreement and went into the study with Mr. Zhuang.
Because there are four students in the family, and Manbao has to take classes in the study, their study was the most spacious and brightest one.
As soon as you enter, there are three rows of bookshelves against the wall on the left, all filled with books. There is also a row of bookshelves along the wall on the right, also filled with books.
In front of the bookshelf are three small tables and chairs side by side. On each table are pens, inkstones, paper, and several books, but they are placed in different positions and are a bit messy.
Mr. Jiang took a quick look and then looked away, looking at the large desk in the middle. Obviously, that was Mr. Zhuang's seat.
Mr. Jiang smiled and was about to go over to see what kind of books he usually read when his attention was attracted by a pot of yellow orchid beside the desk that had just cracked a little, revealing its beige, millet-teeth-like color.
He walked forward blankly and stared at the orchid pot.
Mr. Zhuang smiled slightly when he saw this, and walked up to him and said, "This orchid has been with me all the way from Mianzhou to the capital. I was worried it would suffer on the road, but I didn't expect it to be so resilient. It's adapted so well in the past two months. Not only that, it's even forming new buds and looks very healthy. This is a pleasant surprise."
Mr. Jiang was speechless for a long time. Unlike most people who love peonies, his favorite is orchid.
Especially the orchid with such a light and elegant color.
Mr. Jiang grabbed Mr. Zhuang's hand and asked with sparkling eyes, "Old Zhuang, don't you think this orchid is redundant and dispensable?"
Mr. Zhuang: ...
Mr. Zhuang broke free from his hand and said, "No, I brought it from home specially."
It's because I'm worried about leaving the grass alone at home, and no one enjoying its flowers. It's such a waste of natural resources.
Mr. Jiang wanted to glue his eyes to the orchid, but he restrained himself and sighed, "Well, I have no fate with it. I can only come to see it from time to time in the future."
Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "You're welcome anytime."
Mr. Jiang looked around, browsed his bookshelf, and said, "Want to drink here?"
"It's not nice here, let's go drink in the garden."
It was Mid-Autumn Festival in the capital, and the weather had begun to get cooler. They were sitting at a stone table under a big tree, drinking and eating, talking as the autumn breeze blew, which was the most comfortable thing.
The dinner was a delight for both host and guest. After seeing Mr. Jiang out, Mr. Zhuang yawned, forced himself to be alert, and called the three children who were dozing in the study over to him. "Where are the calligraphy that Mr. Jiang gave you?"
Manbao said, "We have collected them all."
Mr. Zhuang nodded and said, "Mr. Jiang's calligraphy is excellent. He is famous not only in the capital, but also in the entire Jin Dynasty. You should not only keep the calligraphy I gave you, but also study it often. Do you understand?"
The three of them nodded repeatedly, then one on each side helped the gentleman into the study and sat him down, serving him tea and water. "Sir, didn't you quarrel with Chen Fulin today?"
Mr. Zhuang picked up his teacup, raised his eyelids and glanced at them. "Arguing is bad behavior. In the future, you should avoid arguing when there's nothing to do, and even more so when there's something to do, don't argue. Do you understand?"
The three nodded perfunctorily, and Bai Shan continued to ask, "Sir, what is the grudge between you and Chen Fulin?"
"Children should stay out of the adult business."
"But I think he must know where we live and where we work and study," Manbao said. "Sir, seeing how he sent people to follow us the other day, do you think he'll do something to trip us up behind our backs?"
"Yes, sir, if you don't tell us what kind of grudge you have, we won't even be able to take precautions."
Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "He's only a fifth-rank doctor now, so he can't cause any trouble for us."
They are now against the prince of the super first rank and even the empress dowager in the palace. Of course, their enemies are unaware of their existence at this time, but their friends - Lord Wei, Lord Tang and others must have sent people to keep an eye on them.
So he didn't think Chen Fulin could cause them any actual harm, but...
Thinking of the methods he used in the past and their grudges in the past, Mr. Zhuang frowned and looked at the three disciples.
The three of them looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Mr. Zhuang sighed, knowing that they were just curious and wanted to hear stories.
But if Chen Fulin really doesn't want him to stay in the capital, he might really do something. At that time, it won't matter to him. After all, he is so old and thick-skinned. He is no longer the same as he was in the past.
But three kids...
Mr. Zhuang rubbed his forehead, and Manbao immediately went to press his head, "Sir, is it because it was so long ago that you don't remember it? It's okay, just think about it slowly."
Bai Shan poured more tea for Mr. Zhuang, "Sir, have another cup of tea."
Bai Erlang pushed the snacks on the table forward and said, "Sir, have a snack."
Mr. Zhuang glared at them unhappily, and the slight resentment and sadness that had just risen in his heart dissipated instantly. He waved his hand and told Manbao to go back and sit down. After flicking his robe, he said, "My memory is not that bad. Chen Fulin was once a student of the prefectural school with me."
He paused and said, "My family is poor, I started school late, and there are not many books at home, so I was quite old when I was admitted to the provincial school."
"But I was lucky back then. The new dynasty had just been established, and the wars in the Central Plains and our Jiannan Road area had subsided. It was a time of reconstruction, and talent was needed everywhere," Mr. Zhuang said. "Actually, with my abilities, I wouldn't have been able to get into the provincial academy."
However, the war had just ended and many people died. There were not many teachers and students in the provincial school, and not many students took the exam, so it was so easy for him to get in.
"Not only the provincial academy, but the Imperial College in the capital was also in need of renovation. Therefore, during those years, the Imperial College would grant a number of places to the provincial academies each year. These places were for direct admission, as well as places for the national examination." Mr. Zhuang was silent for a moment before saying, "Although my talent was average, I was able to endure hardships. Therefore, I was selected by the provincial academy and became one of the students sent to the Imperial College. However, the list was changed the night before it was submitted."
Manbao's eyes widened, and he guessed instantly: "It's changed to Chen Fulin?"
Mr. Zhuang nodded.
Bai Shan pursed his lips and said, "This is against the rules. Didn't the school check it?"
Mr. Zhuang smiled bitterly and said, "I checked. The school said it was because our teacher said so. I voluntarily gave up this spot, and the person next to me is Chen Fulin."
Three people: ...No wonder the Huang family's uncles and aunts always feel uncomfortable every time they see Mr. Zhuang. They always hear the uncles and aunts saying sorry to Mr. Zhuang. It turns out they really do mean sorry.
The next update will be around 9pm
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
