Chapter 103 Brother, are you asleep?
Pan Hongzhi was the youngest of the three private trainers. He passed the exam at the age of 19 and his ranking was not low. With his grades, he could have become a minor official, but he had been poor since he was a child and just wanted to do something to make money to support his family.
The monthly salary given by Hanlin Academy was already higher than the income of most people outside, and the monthly salary given by the Marquis' Mansion was even more astronomical than he had ever dared to imagine in his life, so no matter how much personal emotions he had, he tried his best to suppress them.
But the little devil next to him was not happy.
He glared at him and said, "Hanlin North Courtyard... just wait for me to beat you down!"
Pan Hongzhi: “…”
Is this just adding new hatred to old grudges, and putting all the resentment towards Hanlin on him? The situation doesn't look good...
Xu Wan glanced at them and said, "Master Pan, please come out with me."
"yes."
As the two of them walked out, the little devil quickly approached and asked, "Brother, did you really not lie to me just now?"
Zong Wenxiu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and said, "Really not. You'll know if you try. By the way, aren't you feeling bored? I think you can think about how to get knowledge from Master Pan..."
"Dig for knowledge?" The little devil listened to this unfamiliar word, his eyes rolled around, and he began to think seriously.
Pan Hongzhi was very upset. His clear and rational mind was now in a mess. It was the easiest for him to learn by himself, but it was not easy to teach others, especially when the other person had a devilish personality.
Xu Wan stood still in the yard, looked him up and down and said, "Master Pan, you look a little old in your clothes."
The young man, who was nineteen, wore a dull long gown, making him look like he was twenty-six or twenty-seven.
Pan Hongzhi didn't expect that this would be the first thing he said to him. He was a little embarrassed and said, "The young teachers in the North Courtyard of the Hanlin Academy all dress like this. I was taught to dress like this when I entered the academy. They said that it makes you look older and more able to control the students, and have a sense of authority."
Xu Wan smiled and nodded, "I understand, but it doesn't apply to Jin Cheng. He doesn't feel close to the Master, and it would be easier to communicate if he were a senior brother."
"Senior brother?"
Xu Wan smiled and said, "Yes, you are a student of this year's Jiren, only one year higher than him. Being his senior, it will be easier for you to get to know him. I hope you can get along like friends and subtly instill learning thinking in him in your daily life."
"Being friends with Mr. Cheng... is probably more difficult than teaching." Pan Hongzhi said truthfully.
So far, he has seen that except for his brother Master Xiu, all the others around Master Cheng are playboys, so it is a bit difficult to be his friend.
Xu Wan smiled and said, "Then I'll teach you a method."
"Um?"
"Let him worship you." Xu Wan said, "Jincheng's current learning is relatively superficial, but you know that the imperial examinations are more in-depth, and those are things this kid has never been exposed to..."
Pan Hongzhi suddenly understood and finally smiled: "Thank you for your advice, ma'am. I understand now."
The move was not immediately implemented.
Because both children's bedrooms have a large bed, adding another bed would be a bit too small. In this case, it is most suitable to order two bunk beds, which will facilitate communication.
But it was too different, and Xu Wan didn't want to attract too much attention and cause unnecessary trouble.
"Tomorrow I'll order four beds, all converted to single beds, and put them in two opposite corners of the room to leave some space."
Xu Wan didn't really let them put their beds next to each other from the beginning, leaving them with no privacy. Otherwise, the little devil would get angry and quit easily. Let's keep it at a distance for now, who knows, he might take the initiative to ask for beds next to each other in the future.
Cuizhi asked, "Madam, the young masters usually sleep in big beds. Are you sure you want to change them all to small beds? Do you want to prepare a small couch or something like that for the masters?"
Xu Wan refused, "No, if we want to live together, we have to be equal. They have two children and can't sleep in such a big bed. It's a waste of space."
“……”Okay, the lady is the boss and she has the final say.
Xu Wan went to choose beds for the four people. The teachers were tossing and turning tonight, and the two brothers were in even more complicated moods.
Before going to bed, Xu Wan sent someone to bring a message, saying that Master Xiu should sleep with Master Cheng tonight.
Both of them were a little confused.
But Zong Wenxiu soon understood that his wife wanted his brother to get used to living with others first, so he immediately said, "Okay, I'll go."
The little devil's complicated feelings hadn't yet come to an end when he heard the news. For a moment he couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad, but in the end it all became a novelty.
The servants helped the two young masters wash and go to bed. Shunzi asked, "Master Cheng, Master Xiu, do you want two quilts or one?"
Of course, Zong Jincheng's big bed comes with a big quilt, but considering that he has never slept with anyone else, I asked this question.
"Hmm..." Zong Jincheng hesitated and didn't answer.
Zong Wenxiu came to his rescue and said, "Let's take two beds. Let's get used to it first."
"yes."
Zong Jincheng was still lying in a daze on the bed, and the quilt was quickly brought over, and the two of them lay down in their own small quilt.
I can't describe the feeling.
There was suddenly a stranger in the room... oh no, an acquaintance, and the air seemed a little crowded, but when I thought about it being his brother I didn't feel repulsive, it just felt weird.
It's very quiet in the darkness.
The little devil turned around and asked, "Brother, are you asleep?"
Zong Wenxiu's voice came: "No, I can't sleep at this time, I'm reciting the article."
Zong Jincheng: “!”
Sunflower suddenly exploded: "I was wondering why I have studied for so long but there is still such a big gap between me and you. You are actually still memorizing books while lying in bed at night!!"
The little devil jumped up from the bed and angrily accused him, feeling that he had been greatly deceived.
Damn it, even his brother secretly took advantage of him!
Zong Wenxiu smiled and pulled him back to lie down, explaining, "I'm just used to going to bed after midnight. After my wife asked me to go to bed so early, I've never adjusted to it. But if I lie on the bed and recite an article for a while, I'll get sleepy and fall asleep."
The little devil was satisfied when he heard this. He said proudly: "Let me tell you, memorizing makes people sleepy, it is a good tool to help you sleep!"
Zong Wenxiu smiled and agreed with him: "Yes, you are right."
The room became quiet again.
Not long after, the little devil asked again: "Brother, are you asleep?"
"...No." Zong Wenxiu's voice already sounded a little sleepy, but the little devil next to him was still energetic.
Zong Jincheng muttered, "When you lived in the slums, were you always hungry and freezing?"
"Hmm..." I was getting more and more sleepy.
The little devil was still asking: "So when you sleep together, do you use the same blanket?"
"Well... maybe there's no quilt."
"Ah?" the little devil was stunned, "What to cover without a quilt?"
"Cover yourself up."
The little devil was lying on the bed with his eyes wide open. He became more and more energetic as they talked. He asked again, "What do you think Xu Wan wants to do? I've been studying hard, but she always comes up with some evil tricks to mess with me every day."
…
After waiting for a long time without anyone responding, the little devil stretched out his claws and pushed the person next to him, and asked for the third time: "Brother, are you asleep?"