Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 25 Hey! We're not good students!

“Work-study?”

Yang Zhan and the other two looked at each other, seemingly unaware of the meaning of the words.

"Exactly."

Li Jieman, however, said with an arrogant expression, "The so-called work-study program means that we earn our own money to pay for our tuition and study. Only in this way will we learn to cherish the opportunity to study."

"Ha ha!"

Upon hearing Li Jieman's explanation, Yang Zhan laughed loudly, "Xiaoman! You've been fooled!"

Wang Xi, standing behind Li Jieman, felt a sudden jolt of fear. "You knew? Are you really a genius?"

"Am I the one who lies?" Li Jieman was also a little confused and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Don't you understand?" Yang Zhan shook his head and smiled. "The princes no longer expect you to be able to study, so they've come up with a work-study program to settle you down. They just ask that you don't cause trouble!"

After hearing this, Wang Xi breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although what he said was correct, he had not truly seen through it.

But everyone around them burst into laughter.

Almost everyone agreed with Yang Zhan's statement.

Li Jieman, however, became so anxious that his face turned from wine red to liver red, and said, "What do you know? Our teacher said that this is called 'When you are successful, you should help the world; when you are unsuccessful, you should cultivate your own virtue.'"

The laughter subsided considerably after those words were spoken.

Wang Xi thought to himself, "This is bad."

Upon seeing this, Li Jieman's confidence returned, and he laughed, "You people who only know how to lie in the shadow of your ancestors don't understand."

Ok?
Almost everyone looked at Li Jieman.

Making such sweeping generalizations in the East Market Restaurant is truly suicidal. Nine out of ten customers sitting here today are living off their ancestors' wealth.

Yang Zhan, also enraged, retorted, "Aren't you the same?"

He couldn't refute that, but the problem is, we're all from the maternal relatives' aristocratic faction. How dare you bring this up?

"That was true before, but it's not true now."

Li Jie said, “Didn’t you see? We’re brewing our own wine to sell and earn our own tuition fees. As the saying goes, ‘In the morning a peasant, in the evening an official in the emperor’s court; nobility is not inherited, a man should strive for it.’”

If one day we are able to enter the Emperor's court, we will naturally share the Emperor's burdens, serve the country, and speak out for the people.

But if Your Majesty doesn't need us, we won't be a burden to Your Majesty or the country. We can make a living by brewing wine.

Unlike you, if you can't one day ascend to the throne, hmph, you'll only be able to live off your ancestral blessings, adding nothing to the burden of the country and the people. How dare you speak so arrogantly! It's truly laughable.

After this long speech, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence!
Even Yang Zhan and the others were dumbfounded.

Is this...is this still the Xiaoman we know?
Only Wang Xi was going crazy. "You fatso, when did you become a liberal arts student again? Aren't we supposed to be science students? And what's wrong with living off your family's wealth? You're bragging so much now, can you even do it? We tell you to be good students, but you want to be bad students; we tell you to be bad students, but you want to be good students. Are you kidding me? This is infuriating!"

"Great! That's very well said!"

Suddenly, a shout of praise rang out, and a middle-aged man who had his back to them stood up. When he turned around, the man was nearly forty years old. Although he was only wearing an ordinary blue robe, he was clean and tidy, with a dignified and handsome appearance.

Upon seeing this man, Yang Zhan quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This junior greets Mr. Qujiang."

Many people bowed and greeted the guests.

Only Wang Xi and a few others remained unmoved, as if they didn't recognize this person.

Qujiang? Could it be Zhang Jiuling?
Wang Xi couldn't help but scrutinize Zhang Jiuling carefully. Judging from his demeanor, he seemed to be the right person, but he was also more anxious. Could it be such a coincidence?

It wasn't really a coincidence; the people in the East Market were either high-ranking officials or ministers of the imperial court.

However, when faced with a true genius like Zhang Jiuling, many lies cannot withstand scrutiny.

At the same time, Zhang Jiuling was also sizing them up. He stepped forward and asked in a gentle voice, "May I ask your esteemed master's name?"

Li Jieman seemed to still be in the mood, raising his head arrogantly and saying, "My teacher is... Oh, Sparrow, why did you kick me?"

He was only halfway through his sentence when Wang Xi kicked him back.

Wang Xi pulled him and said, "You love to talk nonsense. What time is it? We haven't sold our wine yet. Come on, come on!" Without waiting for their response, he pulled Li Jieman and Wang Shuang out of the tavern.

Why didn't you pull me? Huangfu Sengnian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized that there were enemies all around, so he quickly followed.

"Hey, you guys!"

The man raised his hand, intending to call out to the four of them, but before he could even open his mouth, they had already vanished. He couldn't help but exclaim, "How strange!"

At this moment, a scholar dressed in silk came up from behind and said with a smile, "Brother Zishou, don't be angry. I do know their teacher."

The scholar in the blue robe was Zhang Jiuling, while the scholar dressed in silk was named Zhao Dongxi, who served as a compiler at the Jixian Academy.

Both men were promoted by the newly appointed prime minister Zhang Shuo and had a good relationship. They were talking when they were interrupted by these rascals. However, Li Jieman's words made them see the light.

Zhang Jiuling hurriedly asked, "Does Zhongqing know their teacher?"

“I don’t know them.” Zhao Dongxi shook his head and said, “But I’ve heard a little about them. The chubby boy just now is the son of the Prince of Sipu, and the one who pulled them away is the son of the Duke of Qi. They are all arrogant and domineering. They were expelled from the Imperial Academy not long ago.”

It is said that they later found a renowned teacher, but this teacher was indifferent to fame and fortune, so people called him the Nameless Master.

"Mr. Anonymous?"

Zhang Jiuling pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I have never heard of it."

Yang Zhan, who was standing to the side, also said, "Yes! Uncle Zhao, I have never heard of this person named Chang'an before."

Although Zhao Dongxi did not hold a high official position, he came from a family of officials. His father, Zhao Buqi, had served as a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, so he knew all these noble children.

Zhao Dongxi said, "Actually, I only heard about it yesterday. I heard that His Majesty summoned Mr. Wuming to the palace to paint a portrait of His Majesty."

This nameless man created a unique painting technique that allowed him to depict figures with extreme realism; however, it is said that he suffered from an illness that prevented him from painting.

Xu Daoxuan immediately said, "Perhaps he is just a fame-seeker."

Zhao Dongxi shook his head and continued, "Therefore, Mr. Wuming had that Wang family boy replace him, and the result was amazing."

"Wang Xiaoque?" Yang Zhan asked in surprise.

Zhao Dongxi nodded.

Just then, I could faintly hear people talking upstairs.

“I’ve heard about this too. I initially thought it was just a rumor, but now it seems to be true. That Li kid used to be so brave and violent, doing all sorts of bad things and acting lawlessly. How could he have said those words just now?”

"I heard that this nameless teacher takes in unruly students instead of those who are well-behaved. That's why he took in these four. Those two boys from the Wang and Li families are hated by everyone, but after only a few days, they've changed their attitude."

"Really? Then my son has a chance?"

"Compared to those four boys, your son is much more well-behaved and sensible. I guess he won't accept it."

"This is outrageous! The Imperial Academy thinks my son isn't good enough, and now they think he's not bad enough. What kind of world is this? It's so unfair!"

Hearing their discussion, Zhang Jiuling couldn't help but chuckle: "This is truly a remarkable person. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to pay him a visit."

He came from a poor family, and he deeply resonated with Li Jieman's words.

"Brother Que, Brother Shuang!"

The belatedly aware Cui Gu'er and Xue Jun chased after them outside, but they couldn't find Wang Xi and the others anywhere.

"They run really fast," Xue Jun said, annoyed.

Cui Gu'er said, "Brother Jun, since Brother Que and the others left, we have been bullied at the Imperial Academy. Why don't we go to Wuming Academy with Brother Que?"

Xue Jun said, "I had the same thought. What's the point of reading those lousy books at the Imperial Academy?"

Cui Gu'er frowned and said, "Now I just don't know if our father will agree."

Xue Jun said, "If they don't agree, let's go to the gate of the Imperial College and have a fight, let's fight Yang Lao Er and his gang."

Orphan Cui nodded and said, "I'll invite Xiao Hu and the others later."

(End of this chapter)