Chapter 21: Diligent Study

Chapter 21: Diligent Study

"A Rong, you're not going to stay a while longer?" Chen Youyan stood up quickly upon seeing Gu Rong emerge.

Gu Rong made a sound of acknowledgment, and seeing that Chen Youyan was about to see him off, he quickly spoke up: "Uncle Yan, no need to walk me out. I'm heading back now."

Chen Youyan smiled, but his steps didn't stop.

As he walked, Chen Youyan said, "I made wild vegetable buns for lunch. Take a few back for your mother to try."

Hearing this, Gu Rong finally stopped in his tracks.

Gu Chaoning stood by his side and patted Gu Rong's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. You're still young, and it's no big deal to take the exam a couple more times."

Though he said this, Gu Chaoning knew that Gu Rong would surely succeed.

Not to mention that in his past life, Gu Rong had passed the Tongsheng exam on his first try and then went on to become a Xiucai.

Even in this life, Gu Rong was naturally smart and had been diligent in his studies since childhood, never slacking off in winter or summer. His passing was a sure thing.

Gu Rong couldn't help but laugh. "I'm still young—how come you talk like you're so much older, Chaoning?"

Gu Chaoning smiled and thought to himself, My age—if I told you, it'd scare you half to death.

Yin Hongxue, having picked up on something from their exchange, also chimed in with encouragement: "Brother Arong has been diligent in his studies ever since he began reading. He's bound to get what he wants."

Gu Chaoning's eyes landed on Yin Hongxue's.

The little boy spoke with a radiant, spirited look.

"A few days ago, I read about a kid in Xuanzhou from the previous dynasty who practiced writing by the pond every day since he was little. In the end, the pond water turned black from the ink on his brush, and the kid eventually became a great calligraphy master."

"In my opinion, Brother Arong's willpower is just as strong as his. He's definitely going to pass with flying colors and make a name for himself."

Pass with flying colors and make a name for yourself—what scholar hasn't dreamed of that?

Gu Muan also came over holding a yellow tangerine. "Pass with flying colors, make a name for yourself!"

Yin Hongxue's words made Gu Rong both excited and shy. Even his ears turned red. He was quiet for a moment and was about to say something when Chen Youyan walked out carrying a basket of buns.

"I didn't bring a lot—just enough for you to try. In a few days, spring will be in full swing, and there'll be more wild veggies."

He said the rest to explain why he didn't bring more, since wild veggies were still pretty scarce right now.

Gu Chaoning glanced at Gu Rong and suddenly spoke up: "Xue Geer's right. Brother Arong works hard, so he's bound to pass with flying colors and make a name for himself."

"Chaoning..."

Gu Rong was already embarrassed, and now that Gu Chaoning had suddenly said this in front of the adults, he was all flustered and red-faced.

Hearing this, Chen Youyan first gave Yin Hongxue a surprised look, then spoke with a big smile:

"Uncle Yan thinks Xue Geer's right too! Even Uncle Yan can see how hard Arong works."

Now even Chen Youyan was joining in. Gu Rong was only a little over ten and had thin skin, and the red on his ears looked like it was spreading.

If they kept going, he'd probably start steaming from the top of his head.

Gu Chaoning noticed he was uncomfortable and finally took pity on him. "Alright, Brother Arong, I'll see you at the school in three days."

After this, Gu Rong would probably be too embarrassed to come see Gu Chaoning for a few days.

Hearing the out Gu Chaoning had given him, Gu Rong, just as Gu Chaoning had anticipated, quickly took his leave and hurried away.

"This Arong, still so shy."

Chen Youyan shook his head, then saw Gu Muan eating yellow tangerines again.

Worried he'd get overheated from eating too many, Chen Youyan immediately scooped him up and coaxed the little guy inside to have some tea.

Once everyone was gone, the small courtyard went quiet.

Gu Chaoning stood tall, looking down at Yin Hongxue in front of him.

Yin Hongxue felt a little proud inside, since he'd deliberately brought up that calligrapher from Xuanzhou earlier just to get Gu Chaoning's praise.

"Xue Geer hasn't been slacking off on his studies lately either."

Yin Hongxue lifted his chin a little, about to say something modest.

Gu Chaoning looked at him quietly, not waiting for Yin Hongxue to answer, and suddenly asked in a tone that was hard to read: "Between me and Gu Rong, who do you think studies harder?"

What—what does that mean?

Yin Hongxue stopped feeling proud. He looked up with a bewildered expression at Chaoning Ge before him.

Gu Chaoning didn't retract his question just because of his puzzled look, and immediately repeated: "Between me and Gu Rong, who do you think is more diligent and hardworking?" He took a step forward. "And who do you think will pass with flying colors and make a name for himself?"

Yin Hongxue was even more confused. Why—why wasn't he getting praised, and instead getting asked all this?

Wasn't that just to comfort Brother Arong who lacked confidence? Chaoning Ge didn't need comforting!

But...

But given the way Gu Chaoning was standing, it was clear he wouldn't let this go until Yin Hongxue gave a straight answer.

Yin Hongxue slowly picked at his hands. Even though he didn't get it, he still played along: "Chaoning Ge is more diligent and hardworking."

Yeah, right!

Chaoning Ge made him and An Geer recite their lessons every day after school, and even quizzed them before bedtime!

Every single day, without fail!

Gu Chaoning raised an eyebrow, clearly satisfied.

Seeing him pleased, Yin Hongxue, going against his conscience, repeated: "Chaoning Ge is more diligent and hardworking. Xue Geer believes Chaoning Ge will pass with flying colors and make a name for himself."

Gu Chaoning was thoroughly satisfied.

Having Yin Hongxue—the Marquis's Young Master who in his previous life had always looked down on him and called him the Useless Top Scholar—say such words was truly a delight to the heart.

"Alright, let's go inside."

Yin Hongxue acknowledged and followed behind Gu Chaoning, silently apologizing to Gu Rong in his heart.

I'm sorry, Brother Arong. Xue Geer had no choice—Chaoning Ge is just too petty.

In the main room, Gu Muan was snuggled in Chen Youyan's arms, begging him to go dig for wild vegetables again tomorrow.

Today's wild vegetable buns and cold wild vegetable salad hadn't cut through his craving at all—if anything, it had grown even more intense, thoroughly whetting Gu Muan's appetite.

There shouldn't be much to do tomorrow, and Chen Youyan, unable to resist his little boy's pouting, finally gave in and nodded reluctantly.

"Alright, alright, we'll go dig tomorrow, but we've got a deal—you have to stick close to Dad tomorrow, no running off!"

Today the little boy had been thrilled, and tomorrow he was afraid the boy would get too excited and run all over the place.

Dad had finally agreed to the request he'd been whining about for so long; at this point, whether it was sticking close to Dad and not running off, or even writing ten sheets of big-character calligraphy right now, he wouldn't even blink!

"Yay yay yay!" Gu Muan jumped up happily, bouncing right in between Gu Chaoning and Yin Hongxue, who had just walked in, grabbing both older brothers' hands.

"Great, great, tomorrow we'll dig wild vegetables—Brother and Xue Gege, you come too!"

Especially Gu Chaoning, whose days off were always few, so Gu Muan deliberately gave him a pitiful look: "Brother, you come too!"

Faced with his younger brother's request, Gu Chaoning nodded with some helplessness.

*

Unlike yesterday, when they dug for wild vegetables in the fields before work, today they were going specifically to dig for them.

Chen Youyan went by memory and found a spot where the wild vegetables were growing pretty thick.

"Dad! There's a wild mushroom here!"

Gu Muan's happy yell echoed across the clearing, and not far off, other people digging for wild vegetables looked over curiously.

Chen Youyan patted him on the head. "Okay, keep it down."

Yin Hongxue held the basket in his hand, using a small trowel to dig up a bitter vegetable, but his gaze landed on two figures not far off.

They were Gu Li and a boy named Xiaoshui.

Gu Chaoning's gaze followed Yin Hongxue's toward that direction for a glance, then returned to rest on Yin Hongxue.

The boy glanced over there as he dug up the bitter vegetable, glanced over there as he shook the dirt off the roots of the bitter vegetable, and glanced over there again as he tossed it into the basket.

"If you want to go over there, then go."

The sudden voice made Yin Hongxue jump.

He glanced over there, a little embarrassed, then back at Gu Chaoning.

"Shui Geer was sick a couple of days ago; I don't know if he's better now," he snuck a glance up at Gu Chaoning's face, "I, I'll just go over and say a few words."

Like someone was stopping you from going.

Gu Chaoning didn't say anything, just slowly nodded.

When Yin Hongxue saw Gu Chaoning nod, his eyes went wide with excitement, handed the basket to Gu Chaoning, and took off running over there, shovel in hand.

Xu Xiaoshui and Gu Li had clearly seen him long before; when they saw him running over, they both looked up at him and stepped forward as well.

Gu Chaoning looked at the basket in his hand, then at Yin Hongxue's back as he scampered off happily, and slowly moved his gaze to the two boys nearby.

Gu Chaoning had some impression of Gu Li, but none of Xu Xiaoshui.

The boy looked younger than both Gu Li and Yin Hongxue; even though it was early spring, he wasn't wearing a padded coat anymore.

The hands he held out were a bit dark and swollen, and Gu Chaoning could almost see the tiny chapped cracks on his hands.

Gu Chaoning looked away, glanced at Yin Hongxue, who had joined the two boys and looked all excited, and only then started looking for wild vegetables.

But he didn't fully let his guard down; he still kept glancing at Yin Hongxue out of the corner of his eye.