Chapter 74: Human Nature
Academy canteen. Zhong Chushan poked at the greasy-less meal, said bitterly: “Wangshu, do you think we’re injuring the enemy by a thousand while damaging ourselves by eight hundred?”
Zhou Wangshu ate boiled cabbage, said flatly: “If you’re regretting it, go tell the teacher you’re willing to continue cleaning the outhouse until the punishment ends.”
“Then forget it! If I have to clean such a disgusting place like the outhouse every day, even if delicacies from land and sea are placed in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to eat.”
“Why are you in a hurry? Even if someone should be in a hurry, it shouldn’t be us.” Zhou Wangshu raised his eyes, looking toward Xiao Yanci sitting in the corner.
Zhong Chushan followed his gaze, and upon seeing the ostracized Xiao Yanci, schadenfreude flashed in his eyes.
Xiao Yanci was the teacher’s favorite. Not long ago, many people were fawning over him, but this time the new rules he drafted made many scholars suffer. They didn’t dare trouble him openly, but the petty tricks once used on Zhou Wangshu started being used on him. Anyway, Xiao Yanci couldn’t find the culprits, so he had no target even if he wanted to complain.
The one who hated Xiao Yanci the most should be Jiang Yihui. Among those who went out a few nights ago for eating, drinking, and fun was Jiang Yihui. Those scholars knew Jiang Yihui could check Xiao Yanci, so they deliberately dragged him out as a shield, thinking that even if caught, Xiao Yanci wouldn’t dare do anything to Jiang Yihui. In the end, they really were caught. But Xiao Yanci didn’t give Jiang Yihui face, and still punished them to clean the outhouse for a month.
There were quite a few people on that outing, two groups front and back, totaling thirteen. All thirteen were punished to clean the outhouse, and the next day they started causing various troubles.
If it were just one or two people, the teacher could suppress the matter. But it involved thirteen people, and almost all of them had well-off families, so the teacher couldn’t hold out and had to cancel the newly formulated rules. However, to maintain his own prestige, he strengthened the academy’s management, not allowing academy scholars to go out casually anymore.
“Brother Jiang, your slave isn’t very obedient!” A nearby scholar incited, “In my opinion, his household registration shouldn’t have been changed to commoner status; he should remain a slave. Now he’s riding on top of us Brother Jiang and acting wild.”
Jiang Yihui glared viciously in Xiao Yanci’s direction: “Just a dog that bites its master. He really thinks he can pass the exam for an official position? When he fails, he’ll naturally continue as a slave and servant.”
“Excuse me, which one is Young Master Zhou Wangshu?” A shop assistant-dressed person walked in.
Zhong Chushan nudged Zhou Wangshu: “Looking for you.”
Zhou Wangshu put down his chopsticks and stood up calmly: “I am.”
“I’ve seen Young Master Zhou.” The shop assistant first gave a salute, then said, “Your family ordered some food for you, the teacher has already agreed, and I’m responsible for delivering it. Since Young Master Zhou is here, I’ll have them bring it in.”
Zhou Wangshu was surprised and said, “Thank you.”
Zhong Chushan put down his chopsticks and asked excitedly: “What was delivered?”
The shop assistant shouted outside, and one after another shop assistant carried baskets in. When they opened the baskets, dish after dish of delicious food was brought into the canteen.
“Boss Su said if Young Master can’t finish so much, you can share with good friends.”
Zhong Chushan looked in surprise at the table full of big fish and meat, nudged Zhou Wangshu: “My god, your little wif… older sister is so generous.”
Pairs of eyes looked enviously at the mountain of food and sea of food in front of Zhou Wangshu.
Zhou Wangshu was only one person, but Su Yaoguang sent shop assistants with more than twenty dishes, filling up several nearby empty tables.
Zhou Wangshu thanked the shop assistants, then said to Zhong Chushan: “Eat together!”
Zhong Chushan rolled up his sleeves, grinned: “I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”
Zhou Wangshu also invited more than twenty who hadn’t bullied him.
Those were all scholars from poor families who came to the academy to study, so they never actively caused trouble.
These poor scholars had no opportunity to eat such good meals, and upon receiving Zhou Wangshu’s invitation, some were tempted but maintained their pride deep down.
Zhong Chushan saw them dithering, grabbed that roast chicken, directly tore the roast chicken into pieces, and put them into their bowls: “Eat, why be polite?”
The scholars who didn’t receive invitations showed disdain on their faces.
Those people all had some small money at home, usually looking down on this and that in the academy, always causing trouble.
With their family backgrounds, of course they didn’t lack food or clothing. But they had been confined in the academy for several days and couldn’t go out, so their mouths were so bland they could raise fish.
Xiao Yanci looked toward Zhou Wangshu, his gaze stopping on his face.
What methods did he use to make that village girl value him so much? In terms of looks, he didn’t lose to him. Could it be that he had already shared bed with that village girl?
He thought of Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan was much better than that village girl. Once he passed the exam for an official position, he would propose marriage to Zhong Lanhua, asking him to marry Jiang Yihuan to him. As for Jiang Yihui, he was somewhat in the way.
Zhong Chushan ate a chicken leg and said to Zhou Wangshu: “From today, Sister Yaoguang is my own sister. After so many days, finally eating meat, too hard.”
Zhou Wangshu ate in small bites.
“Going to the dance hall tonight.”
Zhong Chushan nearly choked himself.
“Brother, checks are very strict now.”
“On normal days, it might be risky, but after this meal today, we have many more helpers who can help trip up Xiao Ci.”
Zhong Chushan gave a thumbs up.
Su Yaoguang sent the meal to help him build relationships, making his life in the academy smoother.
This boy really knows how to utilize value. Just as this meal started, he’s already thinking how to use those who ate his things.
Previously thought he was a soft and bullyable little lamb, but now it’s clearly a big wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Of course, we won’t give them no benefit. If they help us trip up Xiao Ci, each can get ten copper coins as reward.”
“That’s good. We’re all poor scholars, exhausting our whole family’s strength just to study.” Zhong Chushan said, “I’ll go talk to them later.”
“If they ask what we’re going out for, say I found a job outside and want to earn some money to support the family.” They were all poor scholars, and hearing this not only wouldn’t make it hard for him, but they’d understand him more.
After all, it wasn’t a secret that he was the son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family bought by Su Yaoguang. Though Su Yaoguang seemed quite generous, her having money didn’t mean he had money. Anyone with a bit of face wanting to rely on their own hands to earn money for studying was normal. Zhou Wangshu establishing such a self-reliant image for himself would make it easier to bond with them.
