The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1002 - 981: Testing

Chapter 1002: Chapter 981: Testing

Everyone turned their heads to look at Bai Cheng.

Blinking his eyes, Bai Cheng looked at Feng Chenxiang and asked, "How did you figure out he’s not a good person?"

Feng Chenxiang gathered his bowls and chopsticks, stood up, and said, "No particular reason, just a feeling."

Everyone: ...That’s a divine intuition.

Bai Shan had already found Zhang Jinghao.

He was a student at the Imperial Academy, while Zhang Jinghao was a student at the Highest Institute. Though both were students under the Imperial Academy, supposedly there was no hierarchy between them, but that was just superficial. In reality, everyone knew that because the Imperial Academy only accepted children of third-rank officials, and the Highest Institute accepted those of the fourth-rank, with students of the four branches being fifth-rank...

Although people wouldn’t say it outright, everyone knew that students from the Imperial Academy were slightly more significant than those from the Highest Institute.

Thus, when a fellow student from the Imperial Academy approached him, Zhang Jinghao was very pleased to get up and perform a courtesy.

With a smiling face, Bai Shan returned the gesture and pointed towards Bai Cheng, saying, "Bai Cheng is my cousin. I occasionally heard from my cousin about Brother Zhang knowing horse traders. A few friends and I are also taking equestrian classes this year, so I wanted to learn more from Brother Zhang."

Zhang Jinghao’s smile stiffened. A classmate nearby heard this and quickly asked, "Jinghao, you know a horse trader? You should have said so earlier; I would have contacted you when I was buying a horse."

Zhang Jinghao hurriedly explained, "I know one, but not very well. I only mentioned it once to Bai Cheng, and it seems he misunderstood."

"Indeed, my cousin mentioned that because he was introduced by you, the horse trader even reduced the price by three hundred silver taels for him. I thought you were well-acquainted."

Zhang Jinghao’s classmates gasped in excitement, "Three hundred taels, that’s really generous! No way, Jinghao, you must introduce us to this horse trader. Speaking of which, my younger brother also wants to buy a horse."

"Yeah, Jinghao, you even know horse traders but never mentioned it. My cousin wants to buy a horse too; you’ll have to give us a good deal when the time comes."

Zhang Jinghao’s entire body froze.

Grinning, Bai Shan added, "My cousin, I, and our Senior Sister each want to buy one; we are counting on Brother Zhang."

Bai Shan initially intended to confirm the swindler and then invite him outside to beat him up, but now it seemed unnecessary.

Bai Shan stayed in the Highest Institute for an additional quarter hour to foster his relationship with Zhang Jinghao until Bai Erlang meekly came looking for him, prompting Bai Shan to bid farewell.

Only then did Zhang Jinghao notice Bai Cheng’s miserable state today and asked in surprise, "Bai Cheng, what happened to you?"

Bai Shan replied on his behalf, "Nothing serious. He was just being naughty yesterday, and our teacher punished him. He’s upset, so his eyes are swollen from crying."

Bai Shan, dragging Bai Er, said their goodbyes and had him escort him back to the Imperial Academy.

On the way, Bai Shan found a secluded spot and lightly slapped Bai Er, "What are you feeling guilty about? Did I beat or scold him?"

Bai Er awkwardly replied, "You went over to him with such pretense, I thought you were warning him."

"That was the plan," Bai Shan said. "I was all set to invite him outside, beat him up, and warn him not to cause trouble for you. But now it seems unnecessary."

"We went gambling as a big group, Ren Ke was there, he gambled as well, and so did Qiao Tao..."

"I won’t pursue the gambling matter right now. That horse, did he sell it just to you, or to everyone?"

"Of course, just to me," Bai Er said. "I’m close to him."

"You’ve only been at the academy for about twenty days, how close can you possibly be? Those classmates who were dining with him have been with him for six months, yet they didn’t even know his family was connected to the horse trader," Bai Shan said irritably. "Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its burrow. Coincidentally, you’re not considered the grass by its burrow." Bai Shan said, "He scammed you, and later in the Highest Institute if you run into him, just pretend not to know him. Even if you’re in different classes, what can you do even if you know you’ve been scammed?"

"I’ll tell my classmates."

"Who would believe you?"

Bai Shan said, "Didn’t you hear what he said today? He’s not close to that horse trader; he just mentioned it once in your presence! You bought the horse from the trader and paid the trader directly. What does it have to do with him? At most, he mentioned it once in front of you, and then you got scammed..."

Bai Shan could easily guess what Zhang Jinghao would later say based on common sense.

He’s a student from the Highest Institute, coming from a well-off family; does he need to swindle his classmates’ money?

If Bai Cheng had swallowed the loss in silence, that would be one thing. If he didn’t bear it, and this matter blew up, the teacher and classmates would only think Bai Cheng was foolish, not that Zhang Jinghao was a swindler.

Bai Er, dumbfounded, finally said, "You mentioned his family isn’t poor, so why would he do this?"

"What else? He’s short on money," Bai Shan said resentfully. "His family not being poor doesn’t mean he isn’t short on money."

Bai Er fell silent, his instincts telling him to trust Bai Shan more.

Bai Shan continued, "Let it go, Manbao and I will handle him. Hmph, taking you gambling; is gambling money that trivial to you? Think about how you’ll face our teacher after school."

Worried by Bai Shan’s last remark, Bai Er spent the whole afternoon restless. When school ended, he didn’t dare to go out and play. He turned down numerous invitations from classmates and sulkily walked out carrying his book basket.

Daji was outside to meet them, bringing along a medicine from Yin Huo.

A servant from the Yin Family was waiting nearby, Changshou being one of them.

Yin Huo glanced at them, handed the book basket to Changshou, and said, "I’ll go up and talk to them for a bit, I’ll be back soon."

The Yin Family’s servant stood there dumbfounded as their young master boarded the Bai Family’s carriage. When one servant tried to approach, Changshou pulled him back and said, "Are you stupid? Just yesterday, our young master had us send something to the Bai family, and they accepted it. They’re friends now; what are you doing trying to butt in?"

The servant hesitated for a moment then stopped, still craning his neck to look at the carriage.

The curtains of the Bai Family’s carriage were drawn, and the carriage flaps were down. After boarding, Yin Huo picked up the medicine jar, tested its temperature, and finding it too hot, just held it without drinking.

He looked up at Bai Er, quickly looked down again, then looked up and down again.

Annoyed, Bai Er said, "If you want to look, just look openly. What are you afraid of?"

Yin Huo then carefully looked at him and pointed at his eyes, "Putting some cold well water on them would help a lot."

Bai Er touched his own eyes, then looked at Bai Shan, "Why didn’t Manbao apply any medicine to my eyes yesterday?"

Bai Shan glanced at him and said, "Applying medicine to your eyes? Are you planning on not needing your eyes?"

Yin Huo laughed quietly, then brought the medicine jar to his mouth and necked the medicine.