Chapter 211 Rumors
Xu Jinnian kept his word. After spending a day with Sheng An to rest, he took her sightseeing in and around the city, turning down several poetry gathering invitations from acquaintances in the process.
The couple had a great time, buying lots of delicious food and fun toys, and sharing them with the other two couples and the Tan siblings.
Little did they know, a rumor was quietly spreading among the students.
This rumor was directed at Xu Jinnian, saying that in order to live a better life when he was young, he abandoned his biological parents who only had him as their son, and begged to be adopted by his wealthy uncle.
Later, fearing that his biological parents would cling to him, he instigated his adoptive father to sever ties with his biological father at a young age, and went to the city with his adoptive father to enjoy a life of luxury, completely disregarding the life and death of his biological parents.
When he came to Jinling to take the provincial examination, he happened to run into his biological father who was accompanying his nephew to the examination. Fearing that people would find out what he had done, he deliberately provoked his biological father's anger and ordered the guards to arrest his biological father and lock him in jail on the grounds of disrupting the order of the examination hall.
Xu Jinnian was the top scorer in the provincial examination three years ago, and also the champion of the last internal competition of the Jiang family. He was not only famous among the scholars of the same year, but also quite influential among the veteran scholars.
Privately, many people were keeping an eye on Xu Jinnian, believing that he was likely to become the top scholar in this year's provincial examination.
The title of Jieyuan from Dongjiang Prefecture is so prestigious that it would make even the most diligent and studious students envious.
Therefore, within just a few days, the rumor quickly spread among the students, and countless people cursed Xu Jinnian for being unfilial and unjust.
Everyone says he is unworthy of being a human being, and the court should strip him of his scholar title and completely cut off his path to the imperial examinations, as a warning to those who are as unfilial and unjust as he is.
Xu Jinnian accompanied Sheng An shopping and sightseeing every day, so naturally he didn't hear this rumor.
It was only today, when Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua attended a poetry gathering organized by students from Qingzhou, that they inadvertently heard about this from them.
The two were furious and immediately rebuked the people who were spreading rumors.
Immediately, they rushed back to the villa and told Xu Jinnian about this very unfavorable rumor.
Sheng An was so angry that she trembled all over. Ignoring the presence of outsiders, she cursed directly: "How could that shameless uncle and nephew be so despicable!"
Aside from Xu Huaining and Xu Laosan, she couldn't think of anyone else who would spread such rumors.
Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua had known Sheng An for three years, and this was the first time they had seen her so angry. They both offered their comfort:
"Rumors stop with the wise. As long as the rumors are refuted in time, they will not have a significant impact on Mingyu."
Compared to Sheng An's fury, Xu Jinnian appeared remarkably calm, gently patting Sheng An's back to soothe her emotions: "This matter is not difficult to resolve; it's not worth getting yourself worked up."
Sheng An took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger within him: "This concerns your future. We can't let the rumors continue. Let's go to the government now and have them catch the culprits!"
A hint of coldness flashed in Xu Jinnian's eyes: "The authorities will report it, but not now."
Sheng Anxin quickly guessed his meaning: "Alright, let them be smug for two more days."
There are still twenty days until the results are announced. As long as the culprit is found before then, it will not affect Xu Jinnian's provincial examination results.
Seeing that their friend was aware of the situation, Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua both breathed a sigh of relief.
Knowing they wouldn't believe the rumors, Xu Jinnian took the initiative to bring up the grudges and entanglements between himself, Xu Huaining, and Xu Laosan.
"This is blatant distortion of the truth, a thief crying 'stop thief!' - How absurd!"
The two never imagined that their friend's experience as an infant was so tragic, that he was thrown into the mountains by his own father to be fed to wild animals. This was an act that was worse than that of an animal!
And then there's Xu Huaining. He looks respectable, but he's actually a treacherous villain. People like him should be stripped of their official titles and have no hope for a career in government.
"I'm not angry, and you shouldn't be angry either. Just do what you need to do next, don't argue with anyone, and don't try to clarify things for me."
Xu Jinnian patted his two friends on the shoulder, looking nothing like a victim whose reputation had been tarnished by rumors.
Fang Qingzhou's expression was complicated, and after a long while, she said, "I'll listen to you."
Ye Yunhua remained silent, offering his unwavering support for all his friend's decisions.
The two didn't linger; they exchanged a few words and then left.
On the way back, Fang Qingzhou sighed, "I never imagined that Mingyu's background was so pitiful. If it weren't for Uncle Xu's kindness in adopting him back then, he probably wouldn't have survived to this day."
Ye Yunhua's mood was also heavy: "I still remember when he first came to the school to audit classes, he was so naughty, but his talent and comprehension far surpassed the three of us, so we all disliked him."
At this point, he couldn't help but laugh: "Even against three opponents, we didn't gain any advantage. This kid isn't one to suffer a loss."
Fang Qingzhou's face also showed a look of nostalgia: "Yes, who would have thought that he almost never grew up? If I had known that his background was so tragic, I should have been more lenient with him back then."
Ye Yunhua shook his head: "He doesn't need us to give way, and judging from his arrogant appearance, he doesn't feel sorry for himself."
Fang Qingzhou concluded, "With such a temperament, he was born no ordinary person. But Uncle Xu also deserves credit for treating him like his own son."
Ye Yunhua agreed: "He is also very filial to Uncle Xu, and Uncle Xu's hard work has not been in vain."
At this point, he frowned: "But that Xu Huaining, I'm afraid he's an ungrateful wretch."
Xu Laosan, a country farmer, was traveling far from home to a place like Jinling for the first time. Judging from his reaction when he was arrested at the examination hall last time, he was a complete bully at home.
He certainly wouldn't have had the confidence to fabricate such rumors if no one around him had encouraged him.
Fang Qingzhou scoffed: "This kind of person will reap what he sows sooner or later."
As the rumors grew increasingly rampant, countless slanderous remarks were directed at Xu Jinnian, with some even suggesting that they unite to petition the government and request the prefect to deal with the matter severely.
"Such an unfilial and unjust person is not worthy of being a human being, much less worthy of being among us. We must drive him out and never let him tarnish the reputation of scholars!"
"That's right, allowing such a person to rise to a high position will have endless consequences."
"We should unite and let the Prefect hear the voices of the scholars and handle this matter impartially."
"..."
In the teahouse lobby, Xu Laosan overheard dozens of scholars criticizing and accusing Xu Jinnian. He was so agitated that his face turned red, as if he could already see Xu Jinnian being stripped of his official title and destined to a life of poverty and failure.
Xu Laosan returned to the inn in high spirits and saw Xu Huaining sitting by the window reading a book. However, he dared not mention what he had been doing in private, for fear that Xu Huaining would disapprove and make him unhappy.
A few days later, the rumors spread even further, and even street vendors heard about them. When they got home, they joined their families in condemning Xu Jinnian, the person involved.
Tan Zhenlin, who was confined to his home by Madam Tan to recuperate, also heard the rumors and couldn't wait to go to the villa to discuss countermeasures with Xu Jinnian, only to find that the couple had gone out to play as if nothing had happened.
Well, he worried for nothing.
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