Living off someone else has such high standards
Liu Yingqu had recently been persecuted by Teacher Liu, who forced him to study. He sat on the lawn, chewing on a blade of grass, lying on the grass reading.
Suddenly, faint voices broke the quiet noon. Liu Yingqu looked up and saw the dashing leading male Gu Huanchong.
Beside him was a servant girl in purple clothes, wearing a veil, with a slender figure and speaking in the soft tones of Jiangnan.
"Senior Brother Gu, these are the snacks I made. There's too many; please help eat some," Ye Lu said with a smile.
"Junior Brother Ye, I'm not hungry. You should give them to others," Gu Huanchong refused Ye Lu.
Although Ye Lu was handsome and gentle, Gu Huanchong already had Bai Zhi in his heart. He didn't want to get too close to Ye Lu, but Ye Lu's status was complicated, so he couldn't reject him too much and hurt his feelings.
After they finished speaking, Liu Yingqu took his book and left the lawn.
Gu Huanchong eventually accepted Ye Lu's snacks. Ye Lu smiled brightly and followed Gu Huanchong off the lawn, unaware that someone was hiding behind the bushes.
Someone passed by Liu Yingqu.
"That's him, he's Teacher Liu's final disciple."
"His grades are so poor. Teacher Liu took him as a final disciple to teach him. What a lucky guy!"
Liu Yingqu ground his teeth silently. Damn it!
Thinking of Teacher Liu, Liu Yingqu felt a sharp pain in his heart. He planned to visit Teacher Liu's study later.
Arriving at Teacher Liu's door, Liu Yingqu smiled and knocked, "Master, I'm here."
"Come in," Teacher Liu said, putting down his book.
"Have you finished reading the books I gave you?" Teacher Liu asked. He still valued Liu Yingqu, showing it by assigning him lots of homework, making him miserable all day.
Liu Yingqu bowed, "Master, I have finished reading them."
Teacher Liu said, "Then I'll test you. Recite the 'Governance Chapter' in full."
Liu Yingqu recited it fluently. Teacher Liu's eyes showed a flicker of surprise. "Recite the entire 'Popular Chapter.'"
Liu Yingqu recited that fluently as well.
Teacher Liu pondered for a moment, then said something insane: "Page 350, line 3."
Liu Yingqu cleared his throat, looking elegant and refined, his voice low and steady, and gave the correct answer.
Teacher Liu instinctively leaned forward, his heart burning with excitement. He hadn't expected Liu Yingqu to be such a treasure. If he could teach Liu Yingqu well, maybe he could become famous nationwide, even a top scorer in the imperial exams.
Top scorer, second place, third place—he didn't dare to dream that far yet.
"Do you know any other parts?" Teacher Liu was already overjoyed, imagining the wonderful days after Liu Yingqu graduated. His face was kind: "You must be tired from reciting. Drink more water."
Liu Yingqu shook his head. He only remembered the first half of the book clearly.
"You're too bad. Our old rivals at the Southern Academy have had so much time to memorize the book and know it inside out," Teacher Liu shook his head, looking disappointed.
Liu Yingqu took the water Teacher Liu handed him but was startled. Were ancient scholars all this competitive? He began to doubt life.
Teacher Liu's face darkened. "Go back and memorize. You're truly a stupid student."
Liu Yingqu was a bit incredulous. "Master, is the Southern Academy really that strong?"
"In their memory rankings, you're at the bottom," Teacher Liu said. "Dead last."
Liu Yingqu: "!!!"
When Liu Yingqu left Teacher Liu's study, he still heard Teacher Liu angrily pounding the table. Liu Yingqu shivered and quickened his pace, afraid the old master might hit someone if he walked too slowly.
Although walking, Liu Yingqu's mind was chaotic, filled with random thoughts and a bit discouraged.
He had thought he was doing okay, but it turned out he was dead last. He only wanted to pass as a scholar, but why was it so difficult?
Liu Yingqu walked down the road dejectedly.
The scholars were talking: "Gu Huanchong is amazing, truly the strongest in our academy."
"He even represented our academy to stay at the Southern Academy for a few days."
"This time, the top scorer might be Gu Huanchong. I think it's very likely."
"Our academy's Teacher Miao and Teacher Liu don't get along. I guess Teacher Liu will suffer a big defeat this time."
While Liu Yingqu was doubting life, Shen Qingwu was preparing to visit his lover.
Jiang Luoluo timidly said, "Young master, aren't you afraid of the old master?"
Shen Qingwu confidently replied, "I won't get caught."
Shen Qingwu happily changed clothes, spending two hours carefully selecting his outfit. To avoid suspicion, he wore a light veil over his face, revealing only a pair of jet-black eyes.
"Did you bring the things I bought for Liu Lang?" Shen Qingwu remembered to ask before setting off.
"Roast duck, snacks, books, and five taels of silver are all here."
This time, Shen Qingwu was smarter. He gave Liu Yingqu some other items and reduced the amount of silver significantly. This time, Liu Yingqu should accept it.
"Don't follow me. Stay home and cover for me," Shen Qingwu instructed.
Jiang Luoluo could only watch longingly.
Shen Qingwu got into the carriage.
This time, he arrived at the wrong time; the road was a bit congested. By the time he reached Qingshui Academy, it was somewhat late. Fortunately, he had wrapped the roast duck in cotton cloth, so it was still warm.
He was stopped at the mountain gate. "Qingshui Academy forbids outsiders from entering."
"I'm here to see Liu Yingqu from Ding class," Shen Qingwu said without anger.
The gatekeeper recognized the name — a foolish disciple accepted by Teacher Liu, who had recently become quite famous.
"Wait here. I'll send someone to find him."
The gatekeeper saw that Shen Qingwu was dressed richly, with a tall, slender figure and fair skin. Although his face was hidden, it must be attractive.
He secretly envied Liu Yingqu.
Looking at someone good-looking, even if a bit foolish, there would be admirers.
There had been an incident involving a student from Liu Yingqu's class. Someone sneaked out of the mountain gate at night to a brothel in the county, which infuriated their old teacher.
"It's utterly disgraceful! How can a scholar skip school to go to such a smoky, willow-lined place?"
The old teacher kept lecturing, full of classical phrases and moral admonishments.
Liu Yingqu was a bit hungry. He had only eaten a steamed bun and some pickles at noon. He sighed. Life at home was happier. He wondered how his mother and Yunyuan were doing — probably fine. Liu Yingqu smiled.
He quite liked his mother and Yunyuan. Once he had some silver, he'd buy a few more acres of land. Their family only had three acres, which wasn't enough. He planned to save money little by little. When he had more land, he could hire people to farm it and collect rent.
He had already drawn the design for a cart last night. When he had time, he'd go to the county to find a reliable carpenter and then take the copied Buddhist scriptures to the bookstore.
At home, they could also make some snacks to sell. When the grain in the fields matured, they'd cut the straw, which would give them some free time. In winter, the county magistrate of Qingshui would mobilize people to clear snow from the roads, which was a kind of tax. Every household had to send someone, but scholars were exempt from corvée labor.
As for snacks, he liked pickled chicken feet with chili, pickled bamboo shoots, and spicy potato chips — perfect for hot pot in winter.
Thinking about this made Liu Yingqu even hungrier.
"School's over. Let's go eat dinner," the old teacher said, keeping the students who had gone to the brothel behind for further instruction.
"Yingqu, let's go eat," Jiao Ming put his arm around Liu Yingqu's shoulder.
"You guys go ahead. I'll read a bit more," Gu Zhan said, seriously returning to his book.
"He's been in a bad mood these days. Didn't he get married? His wife is so petty, making the household tense," Jiao Ming said as he ate.
Liu Yingqu recalled that Gu Zhan had many brothers. When there were many siblings, most had already started families and had their own concerns.
"How many brothers do you have?" Jiao Ming asked. He himself had four brothers and many relatives. Most of the kids had already married off.
"I have two brothers. My older brother is married; my younger brother is still at home."
Jiao Ming said, "You have few brothers."
Liu Yingqu liked his family. There weren't many complicated relationships. Relatives avoided them, afraid they'd ask for money.
"Liu Yingqu, a girl named Shuang'er is looking for you at the mountain gate," someone found him in the cafeteria.
Liu Yingqu stood up, wondering who would come looking for him. Could something have happened at home? His first thought was Liu Yunyuan.
He hurried to the mountain gate and saw a familiar figure, causing him to pause.
"Liu Lang!" Shen Qingwu saw Liu Yingqu and happily waved, almost jumping with joy.
Liu Yingqu felt a strange sensation in his heart.
"Why are you here?" Liu Yingqu slowed his voice and instinctively helped Shen Qingwu carry the bundle in his hands.
Shen Qingwu blushed slightly, fiddling with the tassel on his jade pendant. "I just… wanted to see you."
Liu Yingqu was a bit overwhelmed; his ears tingled.
Liu Yingqu whispered, "Let's talk over there."
He led Shen Qingwu to a large rock. Shen Qingwu took out the roast duck from the bundle and handed it to Liu Yingqu. "I've eaten at Qingshui Academy's cafeteria; it's not good. I brought you some roast duck."
Liu Yingqu was genuinely surprised. Shen Qingwu hadn't spent much time with the original owner, who was usually bribed with silver and not cared for regarding food.
"Look at you, you've lost weight. Studying must be hard," Shen Qingwu said. He disliked studying and felt sorry for his lover.
Shen Qingwu leaned too close. Liu Yingqu could smell the fresh fragrance on him and smiled, "It's not that hard. Don't worry."
Shen Qingwu watched Liu Yingqu eat the roast duck, unable to take his eyes off him. "By the way, I also brought you some books. Liu Lang, you must study hard."
Liu Yingqu smiled but hadn't said a word when Shen Qingwu happily continued, "You must become a top scholar."
Liu Yingqu felt he couldn't say that 'good' word.
Are the demands for freeloaders so high now?!
Shen Qingwu was still thinking about measuring Liu Yingqu's size. He remembered how handsome young men used to cling to his father!
He's so beautiful and good-looking, he can do it too!
Shen Qingwu sighed, pretending to stumble and fell onto Liu Yingqu. Liu Yingqu quickly reached out and wrapped one arm around Shen Qingwu's… waist.
Liu Yingqu was shocked.
That waist was so slim, it felt like it could be grasped with one hand — truly fair-skinned and beautiful, with a slender waist and long legs.
Liu Yingqu's mind was a bit dazed. He… he had just wrapped his arm around someone's waist?!
