Chapter 205 Thirty Years East of the River, Thirty Years West of the River
Jiang Nuanzhi had already asked Lü Shizhu and Xiao Er to prepare the tea for Ping'er's apprenticeship ceremony when Madam Xue suddenly said something unexpected. She was stunned and looked at Dean Xue with a strange expression.
If I remember correctly, Ping'er said, "This person has already expelled Ping'er from the academy, hasn't he?"
At this moment, Ping'er, upon hearing this, also subconsciously looked at Jiang Nuanzhi, and the two looked at each other in silence.
It must be said that Ping'er's emotions were very complicated. In just a few days, he experienced the ups and downs of life.
In his most helpless moments, he even longed to see the dean, just to keep him at the school, and he would do anything for him.
However, he never imagined that one day, the dean and his wife would come to his house and ask his mother if she could take him as her last disciple.
This scene had such a profound impact on him that he felt as if all those agonizing days before had been a dream.
Dean Xue was helping Elder Lü and the others process the medicinal herbs when he heard that sentence. His hands trembled three times, and his ears perked up involuntarily.
However, Dean Yue, who had just returned from digging a basket of vegetables, immediately broke down upon hearing this.
"Zheng Mingyue! How could your heart be so biased!"
Dean Yue threw down the basket, scattering the vegetables all over the ground, and then stormed up to Madam Xue, hands on her hips, glaring at her: "What you did back then is fine! It's my own fault! I don't blame you!"
"But now, the apprentice I finally managed to win over, you're turning around and giving him to your husband? That's outrageous! We're from the same school, he was just an outsider at the beginning!"
Dean Yue grew increasingly angry as he spoke, his expression gradually becoming resentful.
The old man, who was sitting with his legs crossed and drinking tea, unconsciously moved closer, his eyes wide and his ears perked up as he listened intently.
Jiang Nuanzhi covered the pot with the lid and looked over here.
Even Magistrate Feng and Old Man Lü stopped what they were doing, looking surprised.
Madam Xue, in a daze, caught sight of the newcomer and was immediately taken aback: "Senior Brother? What are you doing here?"
"So you didn't even see me! Zheng Mingyue, I've circled around you several times already!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xue smiled apologetically and said, "Senior brother, don't be angry. I was so busy playing with the children that I didn't see you."
As she spoke, she glanced at Dean Yue's expression and explained, "The matter of taking the child as a disciple was actually something that Lao Xue and I had discussed long ago. Dr. Jiang is my savior. This was just something my husband and I discussed. Today, by chance, we discussed it with Dr. Jiang. Senior brother, if I had known that you also wanted to take the child as a disciple, I definitely wouldn't have let Feng Yi compete with you for it."
"My savior? What's wrong?" Dean Yue looked at Madam Xue, the anger in his eyes had subsided somewhat, but his brows were still tightly furrowed.
"Isn't that why I'm standing here perfectly fine? I'm alright now. Having just walked through the gates of hell, looking back on what happened back then, we realized we were the ones who let our senior brother down."
"That's good. Why bring up the past?"
Dean Yue frowned, seemingly relieved, but then suddenly widened his eyes: "Wait, what do you mean by 'competing with me'? Can he even compete with him?"
Then he looked at Jiang Nuanzhi beside him: "Ping'er's mother, tell me, is Ping'er's master me or someone with the surname Xue?"
Seeing that Dean Yue's eyes were red with anxiety, Jiang Nuanzhi knew that although she didn't know what had happened back then, it sounded like some unhappy things. So she smiled and said, "Madam Xue, I'm sorry I didn't explain it clearly to you. Today's banquet is Ping'er's apprenticeship banquet. Dean Yue is teaching Ping'er now."
Madam Xue couldn't help but ask in surprise, "That's not right. I remember your child used to study at Gu Kui Academy."
Jiang Nuanzhi smiled faintly: "Yes, indeed, but Dean Xue should also know the cause and effect."
Dean Xue frowned, noticing that everyone's gaze was fixed on him, and pondered how to explain the matter clearly.
Jiang Nuanzhi patted Ping'er on the shoulder and smiled at him.
Ping'er took a deep breath, mustered some courage, and stepped forward, saying, "Madam, I was expelled from Gu Kui Academy for making some mistakes. Li Junping is no longer a student of Gu Kui Academy."
Dean Xue was surprised. He didn't expect that a child who needed others to threaten and hide his fights would speak so openly at this moment.
"I was also somewhat biased about what happened to you back then, and I will investigate this matter thoroughly later."
Dean Xue coughed lightly, feeling a little awkward, and said, "If you are willing, you can come back to the academy, and I can accept you as my last disciple."
Li Junping does have some talent, although he has some personality problems. However, Dean Xue feels guilty now, and if he can personally guide him onto the right path, he will feel a little better.
"Xue Fengyi! You're brazenly taking advantage of me, aren't you? I should have known better than to save you and let the old man break your legs! You ungrateful bastard!" Dean Yue jumped up and down, cursing loudly.
"Yue Qingfeng, I respect you because you're my wife's senior brother, so I've shown you some courtesy, but don't go too far!" Dean Xue was also angered. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. I don't want to dwell on your shortcomings, but you should know that times have changed. How many years has your academy been open? Not even a single scholar has emerged! The academy has fallen into such a state of disrepair that students not only have to study hard but also have to go out and make a living to support you, the dean! Some people have even been swindled out of a lot of money at your academy, don't think I don't know that!"
Dean Xue took a breath, then said coldly, "Li Junping is a promising student. He used to be a student at my Gu Kui Academy. It's understandable that he had no choice but to come to your Pan Shi Academy. But no matter how you look at it, my Gu Kui Academy is the place he should be. If you really care about him, you should say less!"
"Feng Yi, how dare you speak to your senior brother like that!" Madam Xue was startled and gave Dean Xue a light tap, then glared at him fiercely.
Dean Xue, glared at by her, pursed his lips and sat back down. However, he still couldn't stand Dean Yue's attitude.
"Senior brother, don't take it to heart. He's just stubborn as a mule, you know that." Madam Xue smiled apologetically. "But senior brother, although Fengyi's words weren't very pleasant, your academy is indeed too difficult these days. I'm afraid the child can't handle it. How about this, why don't we let Ping'er go back to Gu Kui Academy and have him become your apprentice?"
"You two can each teach him, one in literature and the other in martial arts. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
Dean Yue remained silent for a long time after hearing this.
He seemed to be looking at Madam Xue, yet also as if he were looking through Madam Xue at something else.
After a long while, he sneered, "Junior sister is still the same as ever, she's quite the smooth operator."
He pursed his lips, his expression stubborn, and said firmly, "But I refuse."
As he spoke, he shook off the mud still clinging to his hands, straightened his slightly wrinkled robe, and turned his gaze to Li Junping.
“Li Junping, now you have two paths before you. You can choose whichever you choose.”
(End of this chapter)
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