Chapter 94: Academy Turmoil

Chapter 94: The Academy Disturbance

"Uncle Li!"

Shen Miao turned around and saw Li Tiaozi stopping his mule cart under the willow tree at the end of the alley. She was thrilled and immediately ran over to him, "I had Tang Er wait at Shuimen Dock for three whole days, and he went to the water gate early this morning to wait. Where did you return from?"

"On the way back, Commissioner Tong, the Transport Official arranged for us to take a grain transport barge, saying it would be faster," Li Tiaozi sighed in relief upon seeing Shen Miao, his small eyes narrowing into slits with joy. "The grain barge unloaded at Tongjin Gate, where the granary is. Grain barges seldom stop at small ports, usually only docking for supplies, mostly at night, so I couldn't find time to send you a message. How has Gouer been these past months? How has everyone been?"

"Of course, the grain barges going and returning must be different," Shen Miao slapped her forehead, realizing she had been foolish. She had forgotten that there were so many docks outside the capital, Bianjing, with different grain barges docking at different ports. They left from Shuimen, but didn't necessarily return the same way. Poor Tang Er, waiting for days with no result.

Hearing Li Tiaozi's concern for Li Gouer, Shen Miao knew he was worried about his son and explained in detail, "Everyone is fine. Gouer has already gone to the private school early this morning. Uncle Li, don't worry. Ninth Geer's father, a scholar, has been staying in the west alley recently, and he has been teaching the children from our families how to write and compose essays. It must be said that the heritage of noble families is truly remarkable. Gouer has only been practicing for a few days, and the private school teacher has already praised his progress in calligraphy."

Everything was fine, and nothing could be better. Li Tiaozi instantly felt relieved, his smile widening even more: "Da Jieer, this is all thanks to you. Otherwise, Gouer wouldn't have had such good fortune."

Shen Miao noticed that Li Tiaozi was alone on the mule cart and couldn't help but ask, "Where is Auntie?"

Li Tiaozi was about to speak when the sound of gongs and drums from the procession came from the street, startling the mule, which raised its head and neighed, pawing the ground in agitation.

Shen Miao turned with Li Tiaozi to see twelve yellow-robed monks carrying a gilded Buddha palanquin around the street corner. The freshly washed Buddha statue shone with a golden glow, and the fragrant water dripped onto the bluestone pavement along the way.

"Oh no, they've already brought it out! It'll get crowded soon, and we won't be able to leave. Da Jieer, come with me quickly!" Li Tiaozi grabbed the reins urgently, "Auntie is still waiting at the duck farm. We can't leave so many ducks unattended."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a bronze chime came from the west.

The temple was about to begin the procession of the main hall's golden Buddha statue through the streets!

Today was the Buddha's birthday, and major temples would hold "Bathing the Buddha" ceremonies, boiling fragrant water with licorice and spices, immersing the golden bronze Buddha statue in a basin, and continuously pouring the fragrant water over it by the abbot and devotees.

The fragrant water used to bathe the Buddha would be carried in buckets and sold along the streets, said to bring good karma in the next life. After bathing the Buddha, the monks would carry the golden Buddha through the streets, with incense boys scattering spice powder along the way. Many devotees would hold incense and bow along the way, following and escorting the Buddha statue.

In Da Jieer's experience, the busiest times could block even the Donghua Gate of the imperial palace, with crowds of people outside.

"Alright, alright, I'll go back and give some directions first," Shen Miao hurriedly lifted her skirt and rushed into the courtyard: "Fu Xing, first move the newly made batch of dried fish noodles to the courtyard to dry, then run to Shuimen and call Tang Er back. Uncle Li and Auntie have already returned home. A Tao, just keep an eye on the shop..."

As she spoke, she glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw Uncle Xie A Chong leisurely holding a bowl of sweet tofu pudding, sitting very elegantly and comfortably under the osmanthus tree, sipping and even playfully extending his spoon to tease the Kylin.

Shen Miao didn't waste any time.

"Uncle Xie, an urgent matter has come up today, so I'll have to trouble you to look after the children. I have urgent business to attend to and will be back later."

After saying this, Shen Miao casually rubbed the tail-wagging Thunder, then said to Xiang Jieer and Chen Chuan, who had just finished washing up and came out to eat breakfast under the corridor, "Sister is going to the duck farm and might not be back soon. Be good and listen to Uncle Xie today!"

The two little ones, still half-asleep, nodded dazedly.

Shen Miao then looked worriedly at Youyu, who had tofu residue all over the corners of her mouth, and said softly, "Youyu, stay with Xiang Jieer and Xiao Chuan, and don't run around, okay?"

Youyu had already finished two bowls of tofu pudding. She liked the salty kind and was now on her third bowl. Hearing Shen Miao call her, she hugged the big bowl and nodded obediently, picking up the tofu residue and wood ear shreds from her face and eating them.

So fragrant, so delicious.

Holding the bowl, she could giggle to herself endlessly.

Father Xie, suddenly tasked with babysitting, held the black pottery bowl and was momentarily stunned. He wanted to say that he had never taken care of children before—Third Geer, Ninth Geer, and Eleventh Niang had all grown up with wet nurses... But Shen Miao was already too busy to care. She grabbed the small bag hanging by the door and dashed out of the courtyard.

"I'm off! The house is yours to manage!"

Father Xie had no choice but to sit back down, holding the spoon, and silently took a few bites. Suddenly, he paused and silently turned his gaze to the corridor.

Xiang Jieer, Chen Chuan, and Youyu were also looking at him with innocent faces.

The four of them exchanged glances in silence, while the plump sparrows hopped about under the eaves, chirping lightly.

After exchanging glances, neither side seemed confident in the other's reliability. After a while, Xiang Jieer, her hair still loose over her shoulders, tentatively asked in a small voice, "Uncle Xie, can you help me tie a flower bun? I'm going to play with the silk doll at Douhua's house later."

Uncle Xie was silent.

What is a flower bun?

Meanwhile, Shen Miao had already boarded Li Tiaozi's mule cart, and the two fought their way through the growing traffic towards the outer city. On the way out of the city, they happened to pass by the broker's office. Shen Miao quickly said, "Uncle Li, wait a moment. I need to fetch the people I had the broker hire earlier. I just told A Tao the day before yesterday that I wanted to take advantage of you and Auntie not being back yet to have the newly hired people tidy up the duck farm. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that you and Auntie arrived before I could do it."

She called out to the short broker, asking him to help bring the people over. The street was bustling, and Shen Miao's shouts were half drowned out by the street performers' calls.

Fortunately, the short broker also caught sight of her and ran out to listen to her. After understanding, he nodded, "Alright, alright, I'll bring them right away."

Soon, the mule cart was packed with people.

These people were brought by the short broker for her to meet, a family of four.

The man in his prime was named Hong Ba, who used to help others raise chickens and ducks. He quit in anger and took his whole family with him after working for five years without a raise, and this year his salary was even reduced.

The woman, in her early thirties, was named Luo Niang, his wife, who also had some experience in taking care of chickens and ducks. The couple had two children, a son named Hong Shan and a daughter named Hong Xi, both quite capable. When Shen Miao asked them about raising ducks, they spoke with authority. They were considered half a strong labor force. According to Hong Ba, his children had been helping their parents at the duck farm and learning how to raise chickens and ducks since they could walk.

Though young, they had a decade of work experience.

Shen Miao hired the whole family, asking them to move to the duck farm later. The four of them would be paid five strings of coins per month, with accommodation provided. When Hong Ba heard that there were newly built brick houses at the duck farm reserved for them, he was both surprised and satisfied. Previously, working for the former employer, the whole family had to live with the ducks.

Picking up the Hong family delayed them only briefly, but soon the mule cart was stuck between a meat pie stall and a monkey show troupe.

Incense smoke filled the air, stinging Shen Miao's eyes. Fortunately, it wasn't long before the Garrison Troops from the street administration came to clear the road, and Li Tiaozi's mule cart crept forward again.

While Shen Miao went to see the ducklings she had been longing for, at the Piyong Academy, Shen Ji's noodle soup business was also booming.

The young scholars were the first to return to the academy to study. These students had all enjoyed good food at home during the New Year, and now they couldn't bear the slop in the dining hall. The sausages and two large boxes of noodles his sister sent with Tang Er sold out in just a few days, leaving only a few pieces.

Due to the good business, his stove was specially placed under the corridor behind the dormitory, no longer moved, and he cooked the noodles there.

Today was Buddha's Birthday Festival, and many students sneaked out to join the fun. Rumor had it that acrobatic and puppet troupes from the entertainment district would join the street parade, and there would be float parades, which sounded very exciting.

Shen Ji only made two pots today. The second pot was because Meng Honghe was craving it, insisting that the snacks his mother sent at noon weren't enough, so Shen Ji reluctantly put down his book to cook for him.

Squatting under the corridor pillar, the shadow of the window lattice mottled on the floor tiles. Shen Ji used chopsticks to stir the noodles, cracked a raw egg into it, and cut half a sausage. Soon, the pot was boiling with foam, and he quickly turned off the fire, handing the small clay pot to Meng Honghe along with it.

He leaned against the balustrade in the corridor, his eyes behind the crystal lenses gleaming, already eager to eat.

"Eat, eat," Shen Ji grumbled as he handed him the chopsticks. "I was in the middle of my homework, really."

Meng Honghe held the chopsticks and smiled ingratiatingly, "I'm really hungry."

"Eat quickly, then go back to memorize the book. The teacher said he would quiz us on 'Mencius' tomorrow," Shen Ji said as he turned to tidy up the charcoal in the stove.

"I know, I've memorized it. Wow, it smells so good. Only you can cook the noodles to taste like this..."

Meng Honghe quickly lowered his head to pick up the noodles with his chopsticks, but as soon as he took a bite, the steam fogged up his glasses, turning them into two white clouds, and he couldn't see anything.

He had to put down the chopsticks again, untie the string of his glasses from his ears, and wipe them with the corner of his clothes.

Shen Ji glanced at him, gritting his teeth, "...I haven't memorized it yet."

"Wait until I finish eating, then I'll go back to help you memorize. I'll quiz you; don't worry, we'll manage," Meng Honghe said as he wiped, laughing. But without his glasses, even Shen Ji, who was right in front of him, looked like a flower seen through water, his features blurred and unclear.

After putting his spectacles back on, Meng Honghe's vision became clear again. His eyes had been weak since childhood, and his mother always blamed herself, saying it was her fault for not eating grapes while pregnant, which made him born with poorer eyesight than others.

But Meng Honghe didn't think it had anything to do with his mother. Some people are born without arms, some are born mute. He wasn't blind; he just couldn't see as clearly as others, which was already fortunate.

For his eyes, his mother sought doctors everywhere, but in the end, they all said his nearsightedness couldn't be cured, and the only solution was to save money to buy him spectacles.

A pair of spectacles cost over ten strings of coins.

Meng Honghe buried his head in eating the soup noodles, and soon his vision fogged up again, but he was too lazy to wipe them. The trouble with wearing spectacles was this: every day, either his eyes would be fogged up by heat and he couldn't see, or he would take them off and easily lose them. Being unable to see clearly, he could only squint and fumble around.

Shen Ji often joked that Meng Honghe spent ten out of twelve hours a day looking for his spectacles.

Just as Meng Honghe thought of this and was about to laugh, a cold voice suddenly came from the side:

"Making money in a place meant for learning, you've got some nerve."

Shen Ji and Meng Honghe turned their heads simultaneously. It was Wang Shanwen from Dormitory Yi and his two lackeys. Seeing the three of them approach, both felt a chill run down their spines.

Wang Shanwen was the nephew of the academy's dean. He had a large head, short neck, broad shoulders, thick waist, and stout legs. He had a penchant for dark-colored attire. To someone like Meng Honghe with poor eyesight, without his glasses, Wang Shanwen from a distance resembled a massive, arrogant winter melon lumbering towards them.

Seeing him, Shen Ji rolled his eyes and sighed inwardly, "Here we go again. It's like a broken record."

Wang Shanwen swaggered over to Shen Ji with his two lackeys, crossed his arms, bent down, and tilted his head to stare at Shen Ji. He began pelting Shen Ji's head and body with copper cash, one after another: "Are you here to study or to make money? Don't you have any shame? If you love money so much, how about I give you a few coins to save for your coffin?"

The coins struck his head and face, and a few ricocheted off the earthen stove, scattering everywhere.

Shen Ji's hand, gripping the fire poker, tensed with veins bulging.

Nowadays, whether officials or commoners, everyone loved playing cuju. The academy had two cuju fields. Earlier this year, the academy held several cuju matches, and Shen Ji had picked up cuju there.

But his aim wasn't great. Once, he hooked a cuju ball with colored ribbons and kicked it, but it hit a pillar and rebounded, striking Wang Shanwen in the face.

Wang Shanwen was knocked flat into the mud, blood gushing from his nose, causing uproarious laughter.

Shen Ji rushed to help him up, only to be kicked in return.

Since then, Wang Shanwen had been haunting him like a ghost. No matter how Shen Ji apologized, Wang Shanwen wouldn't listen, convinced that Shen Ji had deliberately humiliated him on the cuju field. Whenever he saw Shen Ji, he would find fault with him no matter what.

Shen Ji had been enduring it for a long time, thinking he was at fault initially and not wanting to cause trouble for his sister. But now, here he was again!

Seeing Shen Ji silent, Wang Shanwen became even more arrogant. He took out a string of coins from his purse, bit through the string, and poured a handful of coins over Shen Ji's head: "You like money, don't you? How about I give you more? I have plenty!"

Shen Ji glanced at the scattered coins on the ground and felt a bit tempted.

So he remained even more silent.

Seeing Shen Ji not daring to fight back, Wang Shanwen became even more aggressive. He kicked over the earthen stove and stomped on the broken stove in a fit of rage: "I'll teach you to sell! Teach you to sell!"

The still-glowing embers rolled onto the ground, sizzling as they scorched the weeds.

Meng Honghe, clutching the clay pot, ducked behind a pillar, his heart racing with fear, clutching his spectacles, not daring to step forward to help.

Shen Ji, seeing him from a distance, fidgeting like an ant on a hot pan, subtly shook his head, signaling him not to come over.

Meng Honghe was still young, just a bit older than Xiang Jieer. It was better for him to hide; otherwise, if a fight broke out, Shen Ji would have to take care of him.

Looking back at Wang Shanwen, Shen Ji drew a deep breath. His sister had once said, "The more you think about it, the madder you get. The more you back down, the more you feel like a sucker..."

This jerk had wrecked his stove, and he was really starting to boil! Just as Shen Ji was about to raise the fire poker in a fit of rage, a leafy bamboo branch suddenly swung down behind Wang Shanwen's head, striking the back of his neck without warning.

Wang Shanwen jumped in pain, clutching the back of his neck and turning around to shout angrily, "Who! Who dares to hit your grandpa!"

"Good grandson, it's you I'm hitting."

A clear, cold voice said playfully, then struck his arm hard with a bamboo branch.

Wang Shanwen howled in pain and jumped up.

The thin bamboo branch, obviously snapped from the roadside with leaves still attached, looked particularly slender but stung sharply when it hit. Wang Shanwen was hopping around, cursing non-stop, and naturally, he was struck even harder.

"Do you know who my uncle is? How dare you hit me like this!" Wang Shanwen swung his fist, but the Jiansheng calmly turned and dodged, resulting in another strike—this time on the thinnest part of his wrist, causing him to scream in pain. Before his scream ended, he was kicked to the ground, turning his scream into a whimper.

"Wuwu, uncle, someone hit me..." He was pinned down by the person's foot on his back, unable to get up, and could only cry out his uncle's name. But the person just looked down at him and said indifferently, "Uncle Wang sent you to the academy to study, not to bully your classmates. If I see you do this again..."

The bamboo branch in his hand made a terrifying whistling sound as it sliced through the air, and the unfinished words turned cold.

Wang Shanwen's two lackeys had already huddled together, shrinking to the side. They recognized who this was—it was the Jiansheng from the A dormitory, the top scorer in this year's academy exam, wasn't it?

He seemed... to come from a noble family, not someone as poor and easy to provoke as Shen Ji.

After the three ran away crying, the frosty coldness on Xie Qi's face finally faded.

Shen Ji, still holding the fire tongs halfway up, stared dumbfounded as Xie Qi turned around.

The light, filtered through the tree shadows, flowed gently across his smiling brows, his face returning to its usual gentle and soft demeanor. He even helped Shen Ji pick up the small clay stove that had been half-crushed, sighing sincerely and regretfully, "What a pity, this stove was newly bought by your sister."

Shen Ji then snapped out of his daze: "Ninth Geer, why are you here?"

After asking, he remembered and answered himself, "Today is the Jiansheng's school opening, I forgot."

"Your sister made some Buddha incense cakes and asked me to bring them over," Xie Qi smiled and raised his other hand, his fingers wrapped twice with hemp rope tied around an oil-paper package, the neatly tied package still intact. "Everyone at home has eaten the cakes, only you are left."

Shen Ji took the package, then remembered that Xie Qi had been disciplining Wang Shanwen with one hand. After a moment, he also thought of his sister, feeling both warm and sour in his heart, his mood somewhat low: "The stove is broken, and I've caused trouble for my sister."

"It's not your fault. If that rascal mentions Uncle Wang, just blame it all on me," Xie Qi gently helped pat the charcoal off Shen Ji's clothes and stood up. "The stove is fine, we can just use the silver coins on the ground to buy a new one."

Shen Ji couldn't help but laugh. Any other proud scholar would have been furious at being hit with such dirty money, but only Ninth Geer would say it's just right to use.

"Now that the incense cakes are delivered, I'll head back," Xie Qi said softly. He had just arrived at the academy and hadn't yet paid his respects to Mr. Feng.

"I'll walk you out," Shen Ji quickly got up to accompany him, and Xie Qi instructed him on what to say if anyone asked.

Only when they reached outside the dormitory did Shen Ji see Qiu Hao standing at the corner, a book box on his back, waiting. When the two came out, he even saluted Shen Ji with a clasped hand.

Shen Ji hurriedly returned half the salute, and Xie Qi patted his shoulder: "Go back."

He nodded, watching Xie Qi turn around, then suddenly remembered something and called out, "Ninth Geer, wait."

Xie Qi stopped in confusion, only to see Ji Geer run back to his dormitory and soon come out again, holding a piece of purple grass soap, considerately stuffing it into his hand, and pointing at his own neck: "Ninth Geer, your neck was bitten by an insect, wasn't it? This year's weather is really strange, with mosquitoes so early. This is the purple grass soap my sister gave me, washing with it will stop the itch. Take this new piece, I have another one."

Shen Ji smiled, his eyes somewhat resembling Shen Miao's, and seeing Xie Qi hesitate for a moment, he forcefully pushed it into his hand: "Take it, then I'll go back. I haven't finished memorizing my books, so I'm off."

With that, he ran away.

Xie Qi stiffly looked down at the purple grass soap in his hand.

What he held was clearly soap, but he didn't smell the fragrance of purple grass. Instead, it seemed he smelled the somewhat pungent scent of Buddha incense again.

In the narrow and cramped corner of a deep alley, the noise of the Buddha bathing outside the alley came and went. The daylight shifted under the eaves, leaking some light spots, sprinkling on the flustered him and Shen Miao, who was looking up and smiling.

Two fingers slowly hooked into the rhinoceros horn clasp of his leather belt, pressing against his abdomen through the thin fabric, pulling him closer.

He and Shen Miao were nearly face to face.

Xie Qi felt as if he were about to burst into flames, his neck tilted back, not daring to look down, his heartbeat growing increasingly rapid.

Yet she raised her other hand, her pale fingertips first touching his cervical spine, then her thumb pressing heavily over the faint blue veins on the side of his neck.

His entire body stiffened.

The next moment, a warm, moist sting suddenly came from his Adam's apple, which had been throbbing heavily due to his rapid breathing.

Teeth gently nipped at his Adam's apple.

His breath nearly halted.

Overwhelmed, he abruptly lowered his head, only to see Shen Miao's dark hair bun and the white jade hairpin within it.

Her face was buried deep in the crook of his neck.

His back rigid, his hands clenched tightly, but he still stood firm, a shred of reason remained.

"Ah..." He instinctively tried to call out to her, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his voice broke off as her tongue suddenly brushed over the bite mark on his mole.

Just that one touch, and his bones felt as if they had been deep-fried, turning to jelly.

Xie Qi was burning all over, the last thread of his composure stretched to its limit and snapped, and he slid limply down the wall.

The spot where she had bitten and licked felt as if all the blood in his body was rushing there, his head spinning, he could feel the pulse beneath the skin of his Adam's apple throbbing.

A breeze carrying the scent of sandalwood wafted over the eaves, also stirring Shen Miao's sly smile.

She stepped back half a step, bent down, and glanced at the wet bite mark on his Adam's apple, and with a suppressed laugh, she tucked the stray hair behind his ear.

"Fool."

"Remember, this is what intimacy feels like."

On the small stone path outside the school building, Qiu Hao stood a few steps away, watching Xie Qi stand motionless for a long time, then suddenly blush and stumble, quickly reaching out to steady himself against a nearby bamboo pole.

Qiu Hao tilted his head, puzzled.

What's happening?

Can someone get heatstroke in spring too?

In the Funing Palace within the imperial grounds, Zhao Boyun curiously looked at the fish ball as big as a small bowl and the unusually thick noodles in the bowl.

"This is the new noodle soup from Shen's. I thought it smelled so good, so I took the liberty to buy it back," Liang Qian said with a smile, placing it by Zhao Boyun's side. "Your Majesty has a toothache, right? The imperial physician said it's due to internal heat, so it's good to eat something light, maybe avoid roasted duck for a few days?"

Shen's was missing its lady today, but the staff said the fish noodle soup and fish balls were made by the lady herself. The staff member named Fu Xing was efficient, he cooked the fish noodles, placed them in a bowl, and separately packed a bamboo tube with hot soup, the fish balls were also cooked and packed separately.

He instructed to hurry home, and once there, to combine the noodles, bone soup, and fish balls in a bowl, so the noodles wouldn't clump together, and it would taste just as good.

The imperial palace and Shen's aren't far apart, so Liang Qian thought it over and decided to buy it back—since the emperor's toothache, nothing has tasted good.

The once plump and square face now seemed slightly thinner.

Grand Eunuch Liang had no children of his own, nor a normal family. He spent the first half of his life serving the late emperor and the latter half caring for and accompanying Zhao Boyun. Though he never dared to say it out loud, he regarded Zhao Boyun as his own child, always worrying about and protecting him.

Thus, seeing Zhao Boyun lose his appetite due to toothache, Grand Eunuch Liang felt anxious and distressed. He looked at Zhao Boyun with concern—the emperor had lost at least a couple of pounds! Look, the flesh on his cheeks doesn't jiggle like it used to.

Hearing Grand Eunuch Liang advise him to avoid roast duck, Zhao Boyun covered his swollen, dark cheek with his hand and sighed unhappily, "If I can't eat roast duck, what's the point of living?"

He glanced down at the bowl of fragrant fish ball noodle soup, unenthused. Picking up his chopsticks, he complained, "The fish balls smell too fishy. I might as well just eat plain porridge..."

But recalling that Grand Eunuch Liang had bought this specially for his health, he reluctantly picked up a fish ball and took a small bite.

"Hmm?"

As soon as he bit through the outer layer of the fish ball, his tongue touched a warm, tender, and sweet filling. The outside was smooth, and the inside was tender yet firm, with a springy texture, surprisingly tender and springy.

"Hmm?!"