Qingfeng Academy.
The students were gathered in twos and threes, some studying their lessons and others chatting and laughing.
Dasheng valued agriculture, and even the academies would have holidays so that students could go home and participate in the busy farming season.
Tomorrow is a holiday, so there were no classes scheduled this afternoon. Students spontaneously organized themselves to express their opinions.
Even in a scene of harmony, there are always discordant voices.
Inside the pavilion on the south side of the academy, Chen Genzheng was talking non-stop, “We’ve all been fooled. Cheng’s braised food is just overhyped and doesn’t deserve to be called high-class. I was just about to order some braised food, but do you know who I ran into?”
The seven or eight people around me had different expressions.
Sitting on the far right, Gao Sheng was somewhat displeased. "Brother Chen Gen, what makes you say that? Have you come to the wrong place?"
Chengji Braised Food became known throughout the county in just three to five days after its opening.
It's not because of its famous reputation, but because of its exceptional taste that it has achieved its current popularity.
He's eaten it before, so he knows exactly what it tastes like. He really doesn't understand why Chen Gen would say something like that.
Chen Gen was annoyed that no one responded to his words, as if they hadn't heard his last sentence.
Especially this Gao Sheng, who always liked to go against him, and now he's saying he has problems.
They only have a little money at home, not much of a wealthy family. They're just arrogant because they've become Song Zhibai's lapdog.
Chen Gen suppressed his displeasure and emphasized again, "Brother Gao Sheng is joking. We are all scholars, how could we not recognize the four big characters of Cheng Ji Braised Food?"
I just didn't expect to run into an acquaintance at Cheng Ji Braised Food. You'll never guess who I ran into!
If I hadn't run into those two, I wouldn't have known that Cheng's Braised Food was all show and no substance, a den of snakes and rats in reality.
Gao Sheng saw Chen Gen's lewd face and felt extremely disdainful, so he turned his head away and ignored him.
"What do you mean, 'a nest of snakes and rats'? What's going on?"
"Brother Chen Gen, stop keeping us in suspense and tell us clearly."
If Cheng's Braised Food has anything to hide, they'd better know it and stay away.
They are all scholars who value their reputation above all else. If they pursue things they shouldn't and tarnish their reputation, what future will they have?
Chen Gen's vanity was greatly satisfied. He sat down to the side, lifted his robe, and said in a low voice:
"The two young men hired by Cheng's Braised Food are from the same village as me. One is my cousin, and the other is the eldest grandson of the village head."
But these two, tsk tsk, my cousin is a dim-witted idiot, and the other one is a thief!
What kind of person can a boss be who hires someone like that? Isn't he a den of snakes and rats?
It's hard to say what kind of dirty money they're making, so we'd better not go. We're afraid that if Cheng Ji gets into trouble someday, we'll end up with a reputation for misjudging people.
The students looked at each other in bewilderment. "If that's really the case, it's indeed not advisable to go there again."
"Yes, but it's a pity, Cheng Ji's food is delicious."
"Are you sure you don't want to ruin your reputation for a single bite to eat? Brother Liu, you should be clear about what's important."
Gao Sheng lifted his eyelids, unable to listen any longer. "What Brother Chen Gen said is only one side of the story. You don't even bother to verify it yourselves. You're just making conclusions based on hearsay. Is that the behavior of a gentleman?"
He and Chen Gen had been classmates for three years. Although they didn't know each other very well, they were still familiar with each other. Chen Gen was petty and jealous.
He had witnessed firsthand how the man bullied students from poor families, yet fawned over the powerful and wealthy, which he found utterly despicable.
Since they are all from the same village, and he is also her cousin, why not show them any consideration and instead gossip behind their backs? If they have any complaints, they can simply speak up to each other.
Clearly, there's more to this story than meets the eye.
"How could it be just one side of the story? One is my cousin, and the other is from the same village as me. Who else would know them better than me? What else needs to be verified?"
We're all classmates, and I kindly offered my advice. It's one thing if Brother Gao Sheng doesn't appreciate it, but why say such things to embarrass me!
Chen Gen's face trembled with anger as he spoke, as if Gao Sheng couldn't stand not opposing him for a moment.
Gao Sheng rolled his eyes, shifted his buttocks to the side, and snorted, "You don't need to shut me up with that. If what you said is true, how could an idiot know how to do accounting?"
So many people come to buy every day, how come no one has complained about the accounts being wrong?
Chen Gen choked. Yes, Chen Lin has had mental problems since he was a child. He can't even speak clearly. How can he be a shop assistant?
Wait a minute! He remembered speaking quite fluently just now, no wonder he felt something was off.
The other students, reminded by Gao Sheng, also thought of this problem. "Whether that person was a thief or not is another matter, we don't know for sure. But how could a fool possibly know how to do accounting? It's a bit ridiculous!"
"Yes, Brother Chen Gen, you must have mistaken me for someone else!"
How could the owner of Chengji be so brainless as to hire an idiot as a worker? Who would do such a thing?
Everyone looked at Chen Gen without prior arrangement.
Chen Gen's face flushed red, and his voice rose, "How could I mistake him for someone else! That's my cousin. Do you think I wouldn't know if he's an idiot? If you don't believe me, go ask around in Houshui Village. Everyone knows he's an idiot!"
A shout rang out, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Two students walked out of the pavilion. The one in the lead was dressed in a moon-white long gown, with a handsome appearance and a gentle temperament.
The man following beside him had a dignified appearance and a tall stature, and did not look like a scholar. He was Cheng Jun, the eldest son of Cheng Yang and Liu Shi.
"Brother Zhibai, Brother Chengjun!"
Gao Sheng quickly stood up to greet him, and his face, which had been gloomy for a long time, broke into a smile.
The man in the lead was Song Zhibai, the magistrate's nephew.
Song Zhibai was not a spoiled brat. He was not only well-educated but also very upright. He would never bully others because of his status. On the contrary, he liked to associate with people of noble character and true knowledge.
This is why he is regarded as a role model by many students, and of course, there are also people who rush to curry favor with him because of his status.
Chen Gen went to buy braised food today because he wanted to curry favor with Song Zhibo.
One of the students asked, "Brother Cheng Jun, you just said that Brother Chen Gen was talking nonsense? What's going on?"
Cheng Junming glared at Chen Gen and said, "The idiot Chen Gen is talking about is my aunt's son, my cousin. He's not an idiot."
She's just that she's often bullied by certain people at home, so she doesn't like to talk!
Chen Lin didn't seem unintelligent when he was young, just a little slow to react. Although he hadn't seen Chen Lin for a long time, he wasn't sure about his current situation.
However, he would never allow Chen Gen to speak ill of his own family.
Gao Sheng looked at Chen Gen and then at Cheng Jun, and said incredulously, "I never imagined you two had this kind of relationship!"
He disliked Chen Gen, and Cheng Jun disliked him even more. They ignored each other in private, and when they occasionally bumped into each other, the atmosphere was always tense.
No wonder, having a relationship with someone like Chen Gen is indeed a shameful thing.
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