The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 965 - 944: Speculation (Additional update for the reward from "wgqsm")

Chapter 965: Chapter 944: Speculation (Additional update for the reward from "wgqsm")

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang had just dismounted from the carriage when Manbao joyously approached them, whooping with excitement, "Congratulations, congratulations."

Both Bai Shan and Bai Erlang couldn’t help but reveal smiles, replying in kind, "Thank you, thank you."

Manbao asked with a grin, "Is the Six Academies fun?"

The two replied in unison, "Not fun."

Bai Erlang said, "The scenery, though, is quite beautiful, especially vast. The courtyard for our class alone is bigger than our entire Dazhi Academy."

"We twelve were divided into one class, and our classroom is in a corner. The students in the class next door look down on us."

Bai Shan said, "The three of us were inserted into Class A3 of the Imperial Academy, and they looked down on us too, but..."

Bai Shan chuckled, "They also look down on each other. Those who entered by grace disdain those who passed the grand examination, who in turn disdain those who entered by grace. And both groups look down on us, descendants of meritorious servants."

Manbao asked with a humorous smile, "So whom do you look down on?"

Bai Shan laughed, "I don’t know what Peng Zhiru and Lu Xiaofu think, but anyone who looks down on me, I look down on them."

Just as Bai Erlang was about to applaud him, Bai Shan continued with another sentence, "However, their scholarship is indeed above mine..."

His hand then stiffened.

Bai Shan said, "And this is just Class A3. The first two classes have even more outstanding students. It’s a pity that the Imperial Academy exams only rank students but don’t reshuffle classes, otherwise, I’d like to see if I can change to a different class next year."

Manbao remarked, "Constantly switching classes can’t be good for studying, right?"

Bai Shan confidently said, "It doesn’t affect me."

That was true; he had always been slow to warm up, made few friends, so changing classes didn’t really affect him much.

Bai Erlang did not agree, grumbling, "I’d rather not; I just got to know all my classmates today."

As the three chatted, they headed towards the second institute to pay their respects to their teacher and report on today’s enrollment at the academy.

Bai Shan had Daji move all the books he received today and picked out a few to give to Manbao, "I can use the old books. I’ll give you these new ones."

After a look, Manbao handed back two of the books, saying, "I have these two as well."

"Then give them to your nephews, so they don’t have to spend the money."

Manbao happily accepted.

Mr. Zhuang glanced up at them and shook his head slightly, asking, "Are you getting along well with your classmates?"

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang nodded together, "Quite well."

Mr. Zhuang, somewhat skeptical of Bai Shan’s words, cautioned, "Don’t argue with others, and certainly don’t fight. If someone bullies you, don’t be polite, go directly to the academician."

Bai Shan agreed.

Having given Bai Shan his instructions, Mr. Zhuang turned to Bai Erlang with praise, "You did well on the exam, I have a gift for you."

With that, he presented him with a whimsically rustic pen holder.

Bai Erlang was delighted, "Teacher, is this just for me?"

"Indeed," Mr. Zhuang smiled and said, "You too, the atmosphere at the Six Academies is different from other academies. Once you’re in the Highest Institute, no mischief."

Bai Erlang thumped his chest in assurance, "Don’t worry, Teacher, I won’t cause trouble."

Mr. Zhuang nodded with a smile.

He was actually not very worried about Bai Erlang because, despite his seemingly careless demeanor, he had a good nature—getting along with everyone, lively and magnanimous, but also adaptable.

It was Bai Shan who worried him.

This boy was far more defiant than his Junior Brother, with the same problem as Manbao—he couldn’t easily tolerate injustice and was very proud at heart.

But who in the Imperial Academy wasn’t considered elite?

Who didn’t have their pride?

He feared Bai Shan getting into conflicts at the Imperial Academy, unwilling to back down.

Being too rigid can lead to breakage, a lesson many only understand after they have suffered.

Mr. Zhuang sent Bai Erlang and Manbao out first and talked with Bai Shan in the study until dinner time.

Bai Erlang and Manbao were curious. After dinner, they gathered around Bai Shan, who was organizing his textbooks, and asked, "What did the teacher talk to you about?"

Bai Shan glanced outside quietly, noticing that the teacher had gone for a walk to aid digestion, whispered, "He said that when I get into an argument with someone, I should step back for boundless horizons. Even if wronged, I shouldn’t be impulsive, but instead think it over at home and decide what to do... He spoke the entire afternoon."

Bai Shan whispered, "I feel like Teacher’s expression was very off when he said those things."

Manbao pondered, "I feel like Teacher has been off ever since he arrived in the capital. What do you think, could it be because the capital is the place that broke his heart?"

Bai Erlang, recalling what Manbao had told him, let his imagination run, "I understand now, Teacher must have been stubborn before. When others bullied him, he didn’t endure, then he faced retaliation, perhaps even his family was affected. Heartbroken, he left the capital, vowing never to return..."

Manbao and Bai Shan: ...

Manbao slapped Bai Erlang on the head, annoyed, "Can’t you make more plausible guesses? Senior Brother Zhuang is still alive, right? I might not remember Teacher’s wife, but haven’t you met her?"

Bai Erlang, holding his head, said, "I was young back then; I don’t remember. Alright, no harm came to the family. But what do you think, isn’t the capital Teacher’s sorrowful place? Was Teacher bullied in the capital and couldn’t bear it?"

Bai Shan asked, "Bullied by whom?"

Manbao asserted, "No matter who it was, that Chen Fulin must be one of them. I’ve asked Daji today already; Teacher hasn’t gone out since returning from the Imperial Academy."

Bai Erlang lamented, "It’s a shame Teacher won’t tell us anything, and we can’t find out anything from Chen Fulin either. Even Liu Gui has said Chen Fulin has a good reputation, the neighbors almost consider him a saint."

Manbao then spun his eyes and rolled up his sleeves, proposing, "If Teacher won’t tell, we can ask Mr. Lan. He must know something."

"Right, Mr. Lan and Teacher are good friends."

Bai Shan, stroking his chin, mused, "But how to ask? Asking directly won’t work, Mr. Lan won’t tell us."

Bai Erlang puzzled, "If we don’t ask directly, how else can we ask?"

Manbao stroked his chin and wondered, "How would County Magistrate Tang ask?"

Bai Shan had already picked up his pen and dipped it in ink, pondering as he began to write on a piece of white paper. Manbao and Bai Erlang leaned in to look, then nodded in agreement, "Good, good, that’s how to ask."

Bai Shan then gave a slight smile.

He pulled out another piece of paper and said, "I’ll write a letter now. Manbao, keep an eye out for me, if there are any mistakes, we’ll correct them."

Bai Erlang stood up, saying, "I’ll keep watch for you guys."

With Manbao’s help, Bai Shan wrote a letter. The three of them huddled together, mulling over it, changed a few sentences and the tone, and once they all agreed, it was copied onto the letter paper.

Bai Shan prepared the letter and casually pulled out another piece of white paper, asking, "Should we also send a letter to County Magistrate Tang on the way?"

Manbao agreed, "We should. Otherwise, sending a letter to Yizhou City suddenly will surely raise Teacher’s suspicions, and once he knows we’re writing to Mr. Lan, won’t he guess what’s going on?"