Chapter 426

Chapter 426

Wang Qinghe arrived at the home of his teacher, Zhou Jieshu. The elderly couple still had a pot of soup simmering at their doorstep to ward off the cold, intended for passersby to have a sip and warm themselves.

Inside the house, Wang Qinghe immediately noticed Yu Cheng sitting on the sofa, waiting to pick up some medicine.

At that moment, the living room was empty, so Yu Cheng greeted Wang Qinghe.

Wang Qinghe glanced at him but ignored him.

He would never show any familiarity toward Yu Cheng unless it was in a specific safe setting.

Yu Cheng, knowing the temperament of his partner, wasn’t offended.

"Qinghe is here?" Zhou Jieshu emerged from the kitchen, greeting him warmly.

"Go ahead and read over there. Everything you need to study today is prepared for you. I’ll help shimu with stewing the fish first—she’s always anxious about it. If I don’t help, she’ll definitely get upset."

With that, Zhou Jieshu returned to the kitchen.

Wang Qinghe took a seat.

Yu Cheng glanced at him, wrote a sentence on a piece of paper with his pen, and handed it to Wang Qinghe.

Wang Qinghe glanced at it; it stated that his share of the final payment would be three hundred.

Wang Qinghe nodded.

Yu Cheng acted curious and strolled over to him, making sure that Zhou Jieshu and his wife were not around before handing the money to Wang Qinghe.

After all, it was usually such a hassle to find Wang Qinghe!

If he could seize this opportunity, there was no need to think of other methods.

However, the thought of Wang Qinghe saying that he wouldn’t be doing bulk medicinal herbs in the coming days left Yu Cheng feeling a bit down.

But at the same time, he felt slightly reassured.

This was how it should be. If Wang Qinghe had an endless supply of medicinal herbs even in winter, it would be hard not to suspect some secret behind it.

It was only natural to wait until spring for the herbs.

Thinking this way, that bit of regret disappeared.

Moreover, he was about to get married, and his old man had urged him to settle down and work more responsibly.

He didn’t want to cause any trouble for Qiu Yu, so taking a break was just right.

He was just hooked on making money!

Yu Cheng sighed heavily, shooting Wang Qinghe a resentful look.

How could this guy hold back like that?

Wang Qinghe ignored him, quietly reading his book. The future he saw in his dreams fascinated him.

If those dreams were real, if they had truly happened before.

Then he could use these precognitive dreams to achieve something even more perfect than the version of himself in the dreams.

The reason he thought it was a precognitive dream was also because if reality truly unfolded as in the dream, and Xiuxiu really died, what he would do would be no different from what he did in the dream.

In other words, he’d lose his mind.

For the plan, he had to first make sure he could pick up this knowledge quickly.

While reading, Wang Qinghe scribbled a note and handed it to Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng picked up the note with confusion, and after reading it, he felt like cursing.

He knew Wang Qinghe was up to no good!

He was asked to help find textbooks and some reading materials for school.

It’s been years since he was in school. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to ask the He family for these things?

Had his relationship with the He family gotten this bad?

Yu Cheng was at a loss for words. Wang Qinghe glanced at him and knew what he was thinking: "He Ming’s textbooks are incomplete; these are the missing ones."

"Really owe you guys."

Yu Cheng scowled and tucked the note away.

In the kitchen, Zhou Jieshu helped his wife stew fish, then came out to see Yu Cheng standing by his apprentice, looking less than friendly.

"Yu Cheng, don’t disturb my apprentice’s studies. The medicine is ready, take it back."

Zhou Jieshu called out to him.

Yu Cheng protested loudly, claiming his innocence.

"I didn’t! I was just curious and wanted to get to know him. After all, our families live in the same courtyard, and he can be your apprentice—how impressive is that?

Don’t you know me? I like to be friends with capable people."

Yu Cheng blurted out nonsense.

"Knock it off. My apprentice doesn’t live in your courtyard, and don’t go introducing your shady friends to him. Stay away from him, unless he actively seeks your friendship."

Zhou Jieshu warned Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng had always been a fearless kid, and his family let him get away with everything.

He didn’t want his good apprentice to be led astray.

"Alright, forget I said anything. I’ll definitely keep my distance!" Yu Cheng slapped his own mouth.

Cursing himself for being so unlucky.

This old man isn’t usually like this—why is he being so protective now?

And, from the old man’s tone, it seemed like Wang Qinghe was some pitiful, weak, and helpless person.

Should he doubt his own judgment?

Yu Cheng quickly took the medicine and left.

Zhou Jieshu came over to give his apprentice a lesson.

"Qinghe, you haven't forgotten what you learned before, have you?" Zhou Jieshu still couldn't quite believe he had managed to get such a bright apprentice.

Wang Qinghe nodded: "Master, I haven't forgotten."

"Good, then I'll test you again."

Zhou Jieshu immediately began to test Wang Qinghe on what he had learned before, and Wang Qinghe answered every question correctly.

Satisfied that there were no mistakes, Zhou Jieshu beamed with joy.

"Good, continue with today's lesson."

Wang Qinghe quietly continued reading.

Compared to Wang Qinghe's calmness at this moment, the He family was still in chaos.

After returning from Wang Qinghe's place, He Ming was in a very low mood, finding everyone in the house irritating.

He Zhifei's mood was already quite heavy; he dared not look at his father, who was holding a bag waiting for He Youde to pick him up, fearing that one glance would soften his heart again.

His father didn't take him seriously at all; their whole family was just a resource to be exploited by He Youde.

He could no longer stop the losses in time and could only ruthlessly drive him away, lest in the future, apart from the eldest son, the other sons also...

His already foul mood only got worse when He Ming returned with a face that looked like everyone owed him money.

"Who do you think owes you with that expression?" He Zhifei questioned him.

He Ming sneered upon hearing this: "How could that be? I just think it's right that big brother doesn't want to come back. By the way, Dad, is third uncle coming over later? Since second brother is also at home, why don't second brother and I ask third uncle something?"

Seeing his youngest son like this, He Zhifei had a sinking feeling that trouble was brewing.

But since the family was already in such a state, he didn't mind his youngest son stirring things up a bit.

Rather than having it explode uncontrollably later, it's better to get everything out now.

"What do you want to ask your third uncle?" He Youde was puzzled, glancing at He Cheng and his wife who hadn't said a word since returning.

"Us?" He Cheng was also confused; he hadn't wanted to ask anything.

He was just enjoying the spectacle, what was there to inquire about?

He Tian and grandpa had been kicked out of the family, he was thrilled!

The things their parents could leave them were limited, and now that He Tian and grandpa had used them, they wouldn't get any. At such times, isn't it better to just watch quietly?

He Cheng was baffled, unsure what his brother was trying to do.

Seeing that he didn't understand, He Ming snorted: "Second brother, when we were kids, what did third uncle tell us every time we did our homework? Every holiday, whenever we said we wanted to start our apprenticeship...

And every time our parents forbade us from doing something, as soon as we told third uncle.

Whenever it was something dangerous or not good, what did third uncle do?"

As He Ming spoke, He Zhifei's face grew increasingly grim.

He glared at He Cheng: "What did your third uncle say?"