After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

After passing the annual examination last year, Zheng Hao and Zhen Cheng and the other three were promoted from the Earth Class to the Heaven Class. Unlike the slightly lax atmosphere of the Earth Class, the students in the Heaven Class were almost twenty years old and much more mature and steady than the students in the Earth Class. They would get up early to study on their own without the need for teachers to urge them.

However, when Zheng Hao and his two companions entered the school today, they clearly noticed that the atmosphere of the school was quite different from usual.

The students and senior students who were usually focused on studying or practicing calligraphy were now distracted. Several of them had their heads slightly lowered as they looked at their books, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that they hadn't turned a page in a long time.

Suddenly, several hurried footsteps approached from afar. Zheng Hao and the other two turned slightly to the side, and several figures flashed past their eyes. The students who had been reading their books all looked in this direction, or rather, looked at the people who had entered.

"Scholar Xu." The pageboy from the prefectural school stepped forward. Because of the hot weather, he had run from the school gate to the top class, and his face, which was originally as white as a ball, had turned rosy.

Putting down the book in his hand, Xu Xiucai looked at his page, barely managing to calm his agitation, and asked, "What did my servant say to you?"

Although the page was a little out of breath, he spoke clearly: "Scholar Xu, your servant said that many of the bath gels in Jinhua Pavilion were sold out yesterday. Today, servants and maids from various households are lining up outside Jinhua Pavilion, buying dozens of bottles at a time. I don't know if we'll be able to buy any today."

"Oh dear," Xu Xiucai said, flicking his wide sleeves with a hint of annoyance on his face, "I told them to hurry up and line up, why are there still so many people buying?"

Not only Xu Xiucai, but the other students also looked dejected after hearing the pageboy's words, each of them looking like wilted eggplants.

Some students who had lived in the school dormitory for a long time and knew almost nothing about the outside world saw the usually composed scholar Xu behaving like this, and saw the disappointed looks of several classmates around him. They became a little curious and asked scholar Xu, "Brother Xu, what is troubling you? Why are you so unhappy?"

The person asking the question was one of the most learned students in the school, and was generally well-regarded by his classmates for his character and conduct.

Scholar Xu told the truth: "I sent my servant to Jinhua Pavilion to buy bath gel. This bath gel is a popular item in the city recently. Its effects are similar to bean powder but better. It can not only cleanse the body of dirt, but also remove body odor and leave a fragrance on the body for a long time."

As soon as Xu Xiucai finished speaking, the students who hadn't been paying attention to this side and were still studying all raised their heads, their eyes and ears focused on the commotion.

After hearing what Xu Xiucai said, the student asked, "Is such an elegant item unsuitable for us scholars?"

He was an extremely particular person. Although he lived in the school dormitory, it did not prevent him from burning incense in the dormitory and wearing clothes that had been scented.

"Brother Xu, have you managed to buy it?"

Xu Xiucai shook his head slightly and said, "If I could buy it, I wouldn't be so disappointed. This shower gel has suddenly become popular, but there are many people who know how to appreciate it. We are studying hard at the academy and don't care about worldly affairs. By the time we know about the shower gel, it has already been bought up."

Upon hearing Xu Xiucai's words, the other students looked disappointed. If they could buy shower gel, they wouldn't have to worry about being embarrassed by body odor in the hot summer.

"Brother Zheng, Brother Zheng, I can't buy any shower gel outside. Please go back and ask Uncle Gu if he can get Jinhua Pavilion to sell me some. My mother, aunt, brothers and sisters are all waiting for it!"

Peng Zhizhi rushed in, carrying his book box. In his haste, he forgot the rule that no one should make noise in the classroom. When he stepped into the classroom and saw everyone in the room looking at him, Peng Zhizhi's legs, which had been rolling like wheels of fire, came to a stop.

Only then did he realize his mistake, and a look of apology and shame crossed his face. He bowed to the students and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, fellow students and seniors, I was rude!"

Unexpectedly, no one paid attention to his earlier commotion; instead, they noticed what he said when he ran in.

Xu Xiucai looked at Peng Zhizhi and asked, "Junior Brother Peng, what did you mean by what you just said? Why did you ask Brother Zheng to contact Jinhua Pavilion to purchase the bath gel? Could it be...?"

Scholar Xu did not finish his sentence.

Upon hearing the question, Peng Zhizhi felt a slight chill run down his spine. He didn't answer immediately but instead turned to look at Zheng Hao, who was sitting in his seat.

Noticing Peng Zhizhi's gaze, Xu Xiucai, in his haste, forgot that the person in question was right in front of him.

He quickly turned around to look at Zheng Hao, first apologizing and then asking, "Junior Brother Zheng, I don't know what the shower gel sold outside has to do with your family. My family urgently needs it. If you can help me find someone to buy shower gel, I am willing to pay several times the price."

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

Many students in the top-tier class come from wealthy families. They spend tens or hundreds of taels of silver a month on spices for their homes, so they don't care about the high price of the bath gel at all. On the contrary, they are all determined to get their hands on the bath gel.

Looking at the excited students in front of him, Peng Zhi belatedly realized that he had made a mistake and seemed to have caused trouble for Brother Zheng.

The scene unfolding before him was somewhat different from what he had expected, but Zheng Hao remained calm and composed, managing to maintain order in the situation.

His expression remained unchanged, and he spoke gently to Xu Xiucai and the others, saying, "As classmates, we should help each other. My elders have some connections with the owner of Jinhua Pavilion, but I don't know if there is any bath gel left. If you senior brothers trust me, I will send someone home to inquire. If I have definite news, I will come back to tell you all."

"Good, no wonder the masters all praise Junior Brother Zheng for his gentlemanly demeanor!"

Thinking of how they had been raising the price, hoping that Junior Brother Zheng would help them buy the shower gel, Scholar Xu said apologetically, "We were rude just now, Junior Brother Zheng."

Judging from Zheng's daily life, it was clear that he was not short of money. They were both scholars, yet Xu Xiucai felt it was inappropriate to trouble him with such a valuable item.

The students who had just echoed the high bids apologized to Zheng Hao one by one.

Zheng Hao smiled and said, "My fellow disciples were just being impatient."

After Xu Xiucai and the others apologized, they looked up at the handsome young man with a deep and gentle smile in front of them. They already had a good impression of Zheng Hao, who was often praised by the teacher, and now, seeing his considerate and kind behavior, their impression of him improved even more.

Zheng Hao changed the subject and said to everyone, "However, after the matter is completed, I will need to trouble you senior brothers to send someone to pick up the shower gel, as there are not enough people at home to deliver the shower gel to your residences."

"Of course, of course. We have already delayed your studies and run errands for us, how can we trouble you to do these things?"

Xu Xiucai said this, and the other students echoed him.

After resolving the matter, the students' previously restless hearts calmed down, and before the teacher came to teach, they all returned to their seats to study.

Peng Zhizhi sat down in the empty seat next to Zheng Hao, looking apologetic. He whispered an apology to Zheng Hao, "Brother Zheng, I'm sorry. If it weren't for my hasty actions, you wouldn't have had to take this job."

Faced with Peng Zhizhi's self-blame, Zheng Hao did not blame him. He said to Peng Zhizhi, "Brother Peng did not do it intentionally. In fact, your unintentional act just now helped the family and resulted in an additional order for bath gel from the prefectural school."

Although Zheng Hao said that, Peng Zhizhi didn't take it seriously. He knew how well the shower gel sold outside, and the other party was obviously just comforting him.

However, Peng Zhizhi found it hard to forgive himself this time. Unlike him, who was a carefree person, Zheng Hao was going to take the provincial examination next year. The fact that Zheng Hao had moved from his home to the prefectural school showed his determination for the exam. However, Peng Zhizhi felt very guilty because of his unintentional act that delayed Zheng Hao's studies.

He looked up at Zheng Hao and said, "This whole affair started because of me. To avoid delaying your studies, if you want to send a message home, write it down and I will take it home for you. That way, you won't have to ask someone else to deliver your message."

Seeing the other party's anxious and apologetic expression, Zheng Hao hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I will trouble Brother Peng."

Peng Zhizhi breathed a sigh of relief when Zheng Hao agreed.

Seeing the other party's behavior, Zhen Yuan, who had been sitting to the side holding back for a long time, said, "Let's see if you dare to be so hasty in the future."

Peng Zhizhi was still shaken and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I wouldn't dare to do it again."

After school in the evening, Zheng Hao wrote a letter and asked Peng Zhizhi to deliver it to Uncle Gu. Peng Zhizhi took the letter and left the school. Before it got dark, he told the driver to hurry up and drive to Haoyunlou.

Gu Lin sent Lin Xiaoyao out to deal with the managers of other restaurants. Gu Lin showed no hesitation in cultivating Lin Xiaoyao. He didn't want such a promising talent to be confined to a restaurant as a bookkeeper.

Peng Zhizhi stepped into Haoyunlou and looked around for Gu Lin. He had eaten there several times, so he recognized Gu Lin.

Upon seeing the familiar figure behind the counter, Peng Zhizhi walked up to the counter and said to the young man who was engrossed in calculating accounts, "Zhizhi greets Uncle Gu."

Hearing the boy's voice from above, Gu Lin looked up slightly and saw the person in front of him. He asked with a slightly surprised expression, "Zhizhi is here. What would you like to eat today?"

"Uncle Gu, I'm here to deliver a letter for Brother Zheng."

After saying this, Peng Zhizhi took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Gu Lin.

Gu Lin took the letter, and then Peng Zhizhi recounted what had happened at the school. Gu Lin listened to the other person's words without immediately opening the letter.

After learning the cause and course of events from the other party, Gu Lin comforted Peng Zhizhi, who looked apologetic, saying, "Since Xiao Hao said it's nothing, then it really is nothing. Don't feel too guilty. Just get rid of your impulsive and hasty ways. It's just a small matter."

If he were talking to other people, Gu Lin would only say the first part of his sentence, but when it came to Peng Zhizhi, who was Zheng Hao's classmate and often ate at Haoyunlou Restaurant, Gu Lin couldn't help but remind him.

Peng Zhizhi was not offended by the young man's lecture. He nodded earnestly and said, "I know the lesson and I won't make the same mistake again."

Seeing the other person looking dejected like a little dog, Gu Lin beckoned someone to prepare a food box of cake. Then, under Peng Zhizhi's stunned expression, Gu Lin said to him, "It is a great virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them. You delivered the letter for Xiao Hao, which is an act of atonement. I see that you know your mistakes and can correct them, so the cake is your reward."

Peng Zhizhi stared blankly, his eyes slightly glazed over, looking at the young man in front of him who was called an elder but was actually only a few years older than him. Peng Zhizhi couldn't help but wonder if Brother Zheng's stable emotions and confidence, and his ability to handle everything with ease, were related to Uncle Gu in front of him.

Thinking of this, Peng Zhizhi recalled what Uncle Gu had said earlier: "Since Xiao Hao said it's nothing, then it's nothing."

Before meeting Uncle Gu, Peng Zhizhi had never imagined that there was such an elder as Uncle Gu in this world. He did not think that the younger generation was immature at all, and even trusted the younger generation's words, actions and decisions.

In the Peng family, not to mention his grandparents and parents, even his eldest sister still treated him as a child who had not yet grown up, worrying about his food, clothing, shelter, and his studies, and regarding his daily words and actions as childish play.

But Uncle Gu was different. Brother Zheng was also his son, but there was no obvious distance between them as elders and juniors. After many interactions, Peng Zhizhi knew that Brother Zheng respected Uncle Gu very much, but Uncle Gu never took Brother Zheng's respect for granted. In return, Brother Zheng would also respect Brother Zheng and his every word and action.

Most elders might think that their words and actions are for the good of the younger generation, thus forcing them to do things they don't like, but Uncle Gu wouldn't.

Peng Zhizhi still remembered that they had eaten with Zheng Hao before. It was the third time they came to Haoyunlou. They had just finished the annual exam and ran from the prefectural school to Haoyunlou to eat hot pot to warm themselves up.

Uncle Gu instructed the kitchen to send each person a bowl of mutton soup. It was winter, and mutton soup was the best way to nourish the body. Peng Zhizhi's mother also liked to send him a bowl of mutton soup to his study every few days. Peng Zhizhi got used to it, and even Zhen Cheng and Zhen Yuan, who were standing nearby, looked perfectly normal, clearly accustomed to it.

However, Peng Zhizhi noticed that Zheng Hao's stew pot contained not mutton soup, nor any other tonic soup, but a light and refreshing cabbage soup.

Others noticed as well. Peng Zhizhi still remembered Zhen Yuan jokingly saying to Uncle Gu, "Uncle Gu, Brother Zheng's stew pot contains vegetable soup, but ours contains mutton soup. Aren't you afraid that Brother Zheng will make a fuss about it when he gets back?"

In fact, it was impolite for Zhen Yuan to say such things in front of his elders. Moreover, Peng Zhizhi wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Zheng Hao, who was sitting opposite him, had darkened his expression. Then, he realized that he was not mistaken, because the other party was looking at Zhen Yuan with the same piercing gaze as Zhen Cheng.

Zhen Yuan also realized that he had lost his temper and said the wrong thing.

Gu Lin didn't care, and just smiled and said that Zheng Hao didn't like eating meat soup every day.

Peng Zhizhi remembered how Zheng Hao behaved at the time. He watched as the man, who had been cold-faced just moments before, softened his expression and obediently reached out to scoop soup and serve food to Uncle Gu, just like a lamb.

In the past, when they ate together, the other party never behaved like this. But now, Peng Zhi belatedly realized that when Zheng Hao picked up food and ladled soup, Uncle Gu seemed to take it for granted.

Peng Zhizhi thought, this is what it means for elders to respect juniors and juniors to respect elders.