Who is Shen Zhaolin in Chapter 161?
"Ah Sui!"
Not long after Lou Yansui entered the school, she ran into an acquaintance.
Several former classmates ran towards him with joyful expressions: "Ah Sui, it really is you!"
“I heard from my dad that you’re coming back to school, and you’ll be going to the same school as me!”
"That's great, it's good that you're back."
They attended the same junior high school and had a good relationship before; now they've both entered the same high school.
Several classmates greeted him warmly while carefully observing his expression.
Lou Yansui was the son of Commander Lou, and he was intelligent and quick-witted, making him a leader among his peers.
However, they never saw each other again after the accident.
That day, Lou Yansui went out with them and was kidnapped. Although the Lou family kept the news under wraps and didn't let outsiders know the details, they had heard some things about it.
They felt incredibly guilty, and after Lou Yansui's accident, they all went to visit him out of concern.
Lou Yansui, however, had lost both his arms and legs and was unable to care for himself. He was in a pitiful state, and given his pride and arrogance, how could he allow anyone he knew to see him in such a wretched state? He shut himself away from everyone, unilaterally cutting off all contact with them, and treating his former friends like strangers.
Gradually, the gifts he received decreased, fewer and fewer people visited him, the phone stopped ringing, and he lost contact with all his former friends.
And now...
Several people couldn't help but look at his legs. At first, they restrained themselves, but seeing that Lou Yansui didn't mind, they looked over there openly.
"Ah Sui, is your leg better?" the classmate couldn't help but ask. "The last time I saw you..."
Before he could finish speaking, someone next to him nudged him.
The student immediately corrected himself: "Ah Sui, I'm sorry."
The others also looked over with tense expressions.
The last time we met was at Miss Zhang's birthday party.
They met Lou Yansui, who was in a wheelchair, at the Zhang family's dance party.
In everyone's memory, Lou Yansui was always proud and spirited, but at that time, he sat quietly in the corner, his figure thin and lonely, almost unrecognizable.
Although they offered him words of encouragement and cheered him on, everyone was still apprehensive.
They had all heard about the accident that happened to Lou Yansui, an accident that was enough to destroy a person's pride and integrity. Even if it was all well-intentioned, words of comfort felt like kicking someone when they were down.
Even if Lou Yansui stood up again, back straight, and appeared before everyone as if nothing had happened, they could not ignore the painful past that had befallen him.
Lou Yansui also noticed the sympathy in her classmates' eyes.
The emotions he used to avoid at all costs are still something he doesn't want to see now.
He never wanted to be looked at with pity.
Lou Yansui tightened his grip at his sides, but he didn't flinch. He didn't turn around; he hadn't even entered the teaching building yet, and perhaps Mao Mao was still watching him from behind.
He is Mao Mao's older brother and cannot run away from her.
"It doesn't matter."
Lou Yansui said frankly, "I have recovered. My second brother said the surgery was very successful and it will not affect my mobility, but I can't do too strenuous exercise."
The group exclaimed in delight, "That's wonderful!"
"Ah Sui, thank goodness you persevered and didn't give up!"
"Ah Sui, if you need anything, just tell me. You can't do strenuous exercise, so I'll run the errands for you!"
"That's right, I can do it too!"
Someone tentatively reached out to Lou Yansui, imagining them hooking their arms around his shoulder like they used to, like brothers.
Lou Yansui stiffened, but did not refuse.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
They surrounded him as they walked toward the teaching building.
"Ah Sui, which class are you in?"
Lou Yansui: "Class One."
"Great! You're still our classmate!"
"I'll take you to be introduced to your classmates."
The crowd, laughing and joking, ushered Lou Yansui into Class 1's classroom.
Someone ran ahead and quickly cleared out an empty seat.
Lou Yansui's close friends are mostly the children of high-ranking officials in Haicheng. Their fathers had connections with them, and they were also prominent figures at school.
Now, they walked in, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, drawing stares from many classmates.
"Jiang Cheng, who is he?"
The boy named Jiang Cheng immediately replied, "He is Lou Yansui, and he will soon become our classmate."
"Ah Sui, let me introduce you to your classmate." Someone volunteered: "That's......"
Introduce them one by one according to their seating order.
When introducing a boy by the window, Jiang Cheng said, "That's He Mingshu, the top student in our class. He always gets first place in every exam."
Lou Yansui looked over curiously.
He Mingshu was wearing the same black school uniform, but on his feet were a pair of patched cloth shoes.
Upon hearing his name, He Mingshu turned around, nodded at him, and immediately turned his attention back to his book.
"However, I think our Ah Sui is smarter."
“Ah Sui used to always be number one in exams. He’s definitely no worse than He Mingshu.”
The boys laughed and joked until a teacher entered the classroom, at which point they scattered like birds and returned to their seats.
The teacher who entered the classroom was handsome and refined, with gentle features behind his silver-rimmed glasses. He wore a well-tailored suit with one pocket slightly bulging.
Lou Yansui wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
Jiang Cheng, who was sitting next to Lou Yansui, leaned over and whispered, "Ah Sui, I forgot to tell you, our teacher is Shen Zhaolin."
"Shen Zhaolin?" Lou Yansui paused. "Which Shen Zhaolin?"
"How many Shen Zhaolins are there in Haicheng? Of course, it's the most famous one!"
Lou Yansui: "..."
...
Who is Shen Zhaolin?
Xia Xiaoxiang hugged her youngest daughter and expressed her confusion.
The third concubine raised her eyebrows high: "How come you don't even recognize Shen Zhaolin?"
Xia Xiaoxiang asked in confusion, "Is he very famous?"
"He's quite famous, but only in the newspapers," the second concubine explained. "Have you ever heard of the Shen family?"
Xia Xiaoxiang shook her head again.
"The Shen family is a prominent family in Jiangnan, with many high-ranking officials in their ancestors. Shen Zhaolin is from the main branch. He became famous for his talent and scholarship at a young age, published many books, and often commented on current affairs in newspapers. He was known for his sharp words and profound insights and was highly respected."
As the second concubine spoke, she pulled out several books from the bookshelf in the small living room: "And these too, they are all his works."
Xia Xiaoxiang hadn't read a single book.
But this did not prevent her from having great respect for scholars.
The stack of paper covered in ink felt heavy, instantly making Shen Zhaolin's image seem taller in her mind.
"Wow, he's a famous writer!"
Second concubine: "Exactly!"
"Since he's such a remarkable person, wouldn't it be a great thing for him to be the Fourth Young Master's teacher?" Xia Xiaoxiang said with pride, "If others knew, they would be incredibly envious!"
The third concubine scoffed, "That's hard to say."
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
The first wife came over with a stack of old newspapers and spread them out in front of her.
“Look at this,” the first wife said, pointing to one of the news reports.
Xia Xiaoxiang quickly leaned over and stared wide-eyed.
But after just one glance, she sheepishly shrank back.
"I can't read it."
She currently only knows a few simple words and, like her little daughter eating chocolate in her arms, is illiterate.
The first concubine then read the title to her: "--On the inappropriate governance of this county."
Xia Xiaoxiang humbly asked, "What do you mean?"
The third concubine poked her head with a finger painted with bright red nail polish: "Use your brain and think about it. Who's in charge in Haicheng?"
Who else could it be?
Of course it's Commander Lou!
Mismanagement naturally leads to criticism of Commander Lou's inappropriate management methods.
The first wife read a few more passages, including phrases like "perverted and outrageous actions" and "public resentment and divine wrath."
None of it sounds nice.
Xia Xiaoxiang was shocked: "The General can actually tolerate this?"
"Of course we can't stand it! The commander-in-chief is furious!"
"Does this Shen Zhaolin have a grudge against the Commander-in-Chief?"
"It's not just him. In our Haicheng, there are many people who criticize the Marshal in the newspapers." The first wife folded the newspaper again and shook her head. "These intellectuals don't get along with the Marshal and often criticize him in the newspapers. It's just that Shen Zhaolin's reputation is louder, his prestige is higher, and he is more famous."
"Then the commander-in-chief doesn't care?"
"What's the big deal? Scholars are the most principled. If you touch one, a hundred or a thousand will stand up. Besides, some of what they say isn't entirely unreasonable."
"..."
The First Madam smiled and said, "For example, regarding the report we just discussed, Mr. Shen was right. At the time, the Marshal's actions were indeed overly aggressive and inappropriate. He also offered many suggestions, some of which were adopted."
"So……"
"Of course, he later published several more opinions about the Marshal in the newspaper, each time criticizing him mercilessly, which angered the Marshal every time."
Xia Xiaoxiang listened, pursed her lips, and was no longer happy at all.
If the four young masters become Shen Zhaolin's students, wouldn't that be like lambs to the slaughter, leaving them vulnerable to his clutches?
The commander-in-chief has handed his own son over to his enemy!
"What should we do? He hates the Commander-in-Chief so much, and now that he's the Fourth Young Master's teacher, won't he use this to target the Fourth Young Master?" Xia Xiaoxiang suggested, "Should we help the Fourth Young Master smooth things over?"
Old Madam Lou rolled her eyes at her, picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip: "If he can be bought off with a little bit of profit, the Lou family would not stoop to his level."
“That’s right,” the third concubine said, hands on her hips. “Do you think the Shen family is some kind of down-and-out family? They’re a prestigious and virtuous clan. If you try to curry favor with them, you’ll only end up doing more harm than good!”
Madam Lou said, "Ah Sui has his own destiny. Sooner or later he will have to stand on his own. He should handle these small matters himself first."
Mao Mao sat in her mother's lap, clutching a chocolate ball, munching away with her little baby teeth until her mouth and hands were covered in black grime.
Mao Mao tilted her little head up: "Mother, what kind of snacks are you getting?"
Xia Xiaoxiang: "It's about 'bribing,' not 'giving him snacks.' It's about giving him gifts. If you accept a gift, he'll be more accommodating to the Fourth Young Master."
"Okay." Mao Mao nodded, her little face full of confidence, and said, "Mao Mao has already prepared the snacks."
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