Chapter 304: Chapter 311: Brother, What’s Your Father’s
Surname? (Third Update)
Translator: 549690339 1
“When was Su Dajia’s announcement made?”
Caught off guard, Yang Zhen found himself being pulled by Xue Zonghn towards a bell tower. The two of them squeezed through the crowd for a while. Even the normally refined Xue Zonglin swore a few times, “damnit,” before they reached the front of the bell tower.
At that time, countless people had gathered around the bell tower. There were frail old people being jostled around, cursing as they tottered along, and children as young as seven or eight years old were wriggling around in the crowd, adding to the liveliness.
In front of the bell tower, two haughty young girls dressed as maids looked at the crowd. One of them, a girl wearing purple, held something that looked like a proclamation in her arms.
The other girl, dressed in white, smiled, and the noisy surrounding suddenly quieted down. Everyone was waiting for the girl in white to speak.
Xue Zonglin whispered to Yang Zhen, “Brother Yang Kang, this is your first time here, isn’t it? You must not know about Su Dajia’s announcement, do you?”
Yang Zhen nodded and said, “I was about to ask you about that. Those two little
maids over there seem quite arrogant.”
Xue Zonglin gave a bitter smile and said, “Not just arrogant. Cuwei and Emu are personal maids to Su Dajia and have a higher status in Tieling City than the sons of some noble families. Many young men want to win their favor to get
closer to Su Dajia.”
Yang Zhen laughed and said, “No wonder the two maids are so arrogant. It’s hardly surprising!”
Xue Zonglin snorted and said, “Only people who overestimate their own abilities resort to such despicable tactics. Those who truly possess great talent participate in the contest held once a month. Once they’re recognized by Su Dajia and get their names on the Wenhua List, they become the heroes of Tieling City. If they can reach the top of the list, they will even have a chance to engage in a classic debate with Su Dajia.”
“A classic debate?” Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked, “What is a classic debate?”
Xue Zonglin was stunned, then smiled awkwardly and said, “Well, I…”
“Keep your voice down!” The girl in white glared at Yang Zhen and Xue Zonghn and huffed, “Master Xue, do you have any doubts about this announcement?
Xue Zonglin’s face changed and he quickly shook his head, saying, “No, no, no, how dare I question Su Dajia!”
Yang Zhen chuckled lightly, looking at the girl in white with interest. Although she was young, she had a fiery temper.
The girl in white hesitated, then asked Yang Zhen, “The gentleman looks unfamiliar, are you new to Tieling City?”
Hearing this, everyone instinctively turned to look at Yang Zhen, and whispers rose amongst the crowd.
“He’s unfamiliar alright. I’ve never seen this man before. Could he really be a newcomer to Tieling City?”
“I heard that the Yang Zhen, who’s been making wild claims, arrived in Tieling City, and even brazenly shouted his name in the crowd. That’s really outrageous!”
“But this person should not be Yang Zhen. As arrogant as Yang Zhen is, I doubt he would dare to come to the bell tower.”
“That being said, he probably isn’t.”
Hearing the discussions around him and seeing the expression on the girl in white’s face, Xue Zonglin hurriedly said, “Miss Wei’er, you misunderstood. This gentleman is indeed new to Tieling City, but he is not Yang Zhen. His name is
Yang Kang.”
Yang Zhen chuckled lightly and said to the girl in white, “My name is Yang
Kang, Miss Wei’er. Greetings!”
The girl in white huffed lightly and, speaking with an expressionless face, said, “Then, Master Yang, please refrain from causing a commotion.
Yang Zhen laughed and said, “My apologies, I couldn’t help myself. Don’t , worry, I’m usually quite low-key. I wouldn’t do anything to startle people.” “That would be better!” The girl in white glanced at Yang Zhen. For the first time, a smile crossed her face as she said, “Everyone who comes here is profoundly talented. We wouldn’t want you to become a laughingstock.”
Yang Zhen chuckled and said, “Thanks for the warning, miss.”
Xue Zonglin let out a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and whispered, “Brother Yang Kang, we should keep quiet and watch. Many here are extremely talented and even have numerous classic works under their belt. We simply cannot afford to be disrespectful.”
Yang Zhen nodded and curiously looked at the girl in purple.
Xue Zonglin also looked at the girl in purple, anticipation in his eyes. Suddenly, a hand slapped his shoulder, and he jumped with a start, turning his head to look and his face instantly falling.
“Gong Tianque!”
Yang Zhen turned around in surprise, and immediately, his eyes widened and he was left speechless.
Damn, this Gong Tianque in front of him was unbearably flamboyant. Dressed in rosy, fur-trimmed thin attire, with a light green hat on his head that oozed the vibrancy of spring. To top it off, he wore a smug expression. He casually shoved Xue Zonglin away and said contemptuously, “Xue Zonglin, someone who fails to even make it onto the Culture and Manners Chart dares to show their face here? I, Gong, do not have such a thick face!”
“You…” Xue Zonglin’s face paled, looking at Gong Tianque he said, Gong Tianque, not to mention me, since when have you been able to get on the Culture and Manners Chart?”
Gong Tianque laughed, “I am sorry, it seems like I, Gong, have a chance to enter the Culture and Manners Chart this time!”
“What?” Color drained from Xue Zonglin’s face, he stared at Gong Tianque incredulously, saying in a low voice, “Impossible!”
Gong Tianque looked down at Xue Zonglin dismissively and said, “Xue Zonghn, remember the agreement between us, if I get onto the Culture and Manners Chart, you will get out of Danwen Academy!”
“Well, let’s just see if you can get onto the Culture and Manners Chart first! Xue Zonglin grinded his teeth and said, although the expression on his face was rather unpleasant.
Yang Zhen curiously watched the two. Just when he was about to speak, there was a sudden uproar in the crowd again.
There were gasps all around, even the two ladies, Cuwei, frowned, but this tune they didn’t silence the crowd.
Yang Zhen followed the crowd’s gaze and the crowd automatically parted, a group of people were cheerfully approaching them.
“It’s Gan Bailin, never thought Gan Bailin would actually come in person!”
“They say Gan Bailin is the one with the highest hopes to top the Culture and Manners Chart this time. A while back, he left the whole of Danwen Academy in shock with just a single character – he’s the most talented among the students of Danwen Academy!”
“That’s not necessarily the case. Supposedly, there’s a young girl who recently joined Danwen Academy with amazingly impressive talent, and at her tender age, she’s already put down her marks on the talent register. She’s also taking part in the Culture and Manners Chart this time, but I don’t know if she’ll come to watch the competition!”
“Dear sir, you seem to be uninformed. That little girl is very liked by Su Dajia, they’ve already met several times. I’ve even heard that the little girl is currently inside Su Dajia’s bell tower!”
“What?”
Everyone gave a start, giving Gan Bailin a strange look.
“No wonder Gan Bailin looks so bad, even if he tops the chart this time, he might not have a chance to have a talent duel with Su Dajia!”
“That’s not necessarily the case, it all depends on Su Dajia’s arrangements.” Amidst the hubbub of the crowd, Gan Bailin and his group cast a glance toward the edge of the crowd and headed straight toward Xue Zonglin.
Xue Zonglin’s face turned extremely gloomy, and he even subconsciously moved closer to Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen was taken aback, and asked in bewilderment, “Brother Xue, do you have a grudge against this Gan Bailin?”
Xue Zonglin gave a bitter smile and said, “I simply stated once, out of honesty, that Tian Rou is more talented than Gan Bailin, and I managed to offend him.”
Tian Rou?
Yang Zhen was taken aback, suddenly feeling that the name was somewhat familiar, but for the moment he couldn’t remember where he had heard it.
At this moment, Gan Bailin and his group arrived in front of Xue Zonglin, sneering coldly, he said, “On the day of the rankings announcement, when did it become a convention to allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to be present?”
Then, Gan Bailin looked at Yang Zhen with profound implications. Yang Zhen pointed to himself with a dumbfounded expression and said, “Damn, you’re insulted the Sao Saint too?”
Hearing this, everyone present was shocked, Xue Zonglin paled even more, quickly tugging at Yang Zhen’s clothes corner.
Ignoring Xue Zonglin’s attempts to stop him, Yang Zhen walked up to Gan Bailin, looked him in the eye and asked, “Sir, what’s your father’s family
name?”