Chapter 75: Chapter 72: Someone Bullied the Young Master_2
Seeing everyone leave, Apothecary Chen Xiao continued to instruct, “I see that Elder Zhang acts with restraint; when necessary, we must help conceal him.”
“Of course!”
Elder Chen Yun nodded repeatedly.
Who wouldn’t want to snatch such a talent? Secretly winning them over and making a fortune in silence is the real deal.
“Patriarch…”
Just as he was internally admiring the patriarch’s profound strategy, an urgent voice rang out, and soon he saw the Chen Clan’s Steward Yu Boping riding in, with a student-looking youth following on another horse.
“What’s the matter?” Chen Xiao frowned.
“Reporting to the patriarch, this is Zhou Qingkai, a schoolmate of the young master, saying he has urgent matters to discuss with you…” Steward Yu promptly replied.
“Hao’er’s schoolmate?”
Chen Xiao looked over and saw Zhou Qingkai tumbling off his horse, and before even approaching, he bowed with his arms wrapped around his fists, tears streaming down his face, “Patriarch Chen, you must uphold justice for Young Master Chen; he has been bullied at the academy…”
“Hao’er was bullied?”
Chen Xiao’s eyebrows furrowed, “Who is it? Daring to provoke the Chen Clan, they have quite the audacity!”
“It was a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher who just joined the academy, someone without any cultivation, who cozied up to School Head Lu to get in… this morning, by some unknown trick, not only did he make the young master lose face in public, he even forced him to kneel, an utter disregard for the rules, arrogant to the extreme!”
With a voice full of misery, Zhou Qingkai cried as if it couldn’t be more pitiful.
Chen Xiao looked shocked, “Forced Hao’er to kneel? What right does a Miscellaneous Duties Teacher have to do that? And why would he do it?”
Zhou Qingkai said, “It’s this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, with no real skill, who wants to teach classes. The young master disapproved, said a few extra words, and then he wantonly took his revenge… This matter, both I and my classmate Wang Yuxing can attest to!”
Chen Xiao waved his hand, “Explain in detail what exactly happened. If it’s true that just a few casual comments provoked such a response, not only will I deal with this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher, but I’ll also make Baiyan Academy aware that the Chen Clan is not to be trifled with!”
Chen Hao was not only his son but also the future patriarch of the Chen Clan. Other humiliations could be overlooked, but kneeling in public was absolutely rubbing the Chen Clan’s face in dirt. If he did nothing, what would the authority of one of the Three Premier Clans amount to?
“Reporting to Patriarch Chen, it went like this: this Miscellaneous Duties Teacher accepted Miss Liu Mingyue as a student, and in the open class, used the blood essence of a Heavenly Destiny Primeval Beast as Fire-Starting Material to help ignite the Furnace…”
Zhou Qingkai recounted the story he had prepared beforehand.
The gist of it was that Chen Hao couldn’t stand seeing Liu Mingyue being fooled by the Miscellaneous Duties Teacher and wanted to expose his identity. He went up on stage to help others ignite the Furnace, but School Head Lu, not wanting the Miscellaneous Duties Teacher to be embarrassed, deliberately cheated to help him. Then the latter reveled in his petty victory, heaping various humiliations and forcing Young Master Chen to kneel…
“Lu Mingrong…”
Remembering something, Chen Xiao flicked his sleeve and gave a cold harrumph, “Knowing that man’s character, he would indeed do anything if it benefits the reputation of the academy!”
This School Head Lu was well-known to them, always favoring the academy, and sometimes sacrificing some student interests wasn’t unheard of! However, sacrificing others might be acceptable, but sacrificing the Chen Clan was something he wouldn’t tolerate quietly.
Seeing he believed it all, Zhou Qingkai breathed a sigh of relief and bowed again, “I implore Patriarch Chen to uphold justice for the young master!”
Chen Xiao nodded, “Don’t worry, I’ll visit Baiyan Academy tomorrow to see for myself. What gives a mere Miscellaneous Duties Teacher the right to teach Liu Mingyue and Yu Xiaoyu, and what qualifications does he have to make my son kneel! If it’s as you say, and he’s just a sycophant, I will personally take action and break his dog legs!”
“Yes!”
Feeling the murderous intent in the patriarch’s words, Zhou Qingkai didn’t dare stay any longer. He shrank his neck, “Then this junior will take his leave…”
“Hmm…”
Chen Xiao waved his hand, and after Zhou Qingkai rode off, he suddenly realized, “I forgot to ask for that Miscellaneous Duties Teacher’s name. No matter, whoever he is, to bully Hao’er, he should’ve thought of the consequences.”
“That’s right, no matter who it is, to maintain the dignity of a teacher at the cost of the Chen Clan’s prestige, a firm stance must be taken! Otherwise, if everyone follows suit, how can the Chen Clan maintain its position?”
Elder Chen Yun also gave a cold harrumph, with discontent written all over his face.
“Hmm!”
Chen Xiao nodded, looking over, “By the way, is the token for the honorary elder ready?”
Elder Chen Yun took out a token from his pocket and handed it over with both hands, “This one was just delivered by Steward Yu…”
After closely inspecting it, Chen Xiao’s face broke into a smile, “Good, Elder Zhang Xuan hasn’t left yet, has he? Come, let’s go together, give him this token in person, and also signify our Chen residence’s respect for him!”
“Good!” Elder Chen Yun nodded again and again.
…
At Baiyan Horse Farm, in front of Jiazi Square’s counter.
The attendant who just greeted Zhang Xuan stretched lazily, sitting idly at the desk, looking utterly bored.
“Zhao Yue, wasn’t there a customer wanting to buy a thousand-li horse’s fine feed for a month? Why aren’t you preparing it, still resting here?”
The second attendant came over, full of curiosity.
Zhao Yue let out a cold huff, “Just a show-off. If I really rushed to get it ready, then I’d be the fool.”
The second attendant was curious, “What do you mean? You think he can’t afford it? The guy looked quite sophisticated, like a wealthy young master!”
Zhao Yue nodded, “Young master? Sun Hong, sister, you’re overthinking it! He comes over to buy fine feed yet doesn’t know the price; he can be said to be ignorant and lazy. After I told him the price, he simply said he wanted to buy enough for one meal to taste… What kind of wealthy young master would say such a thing?”
“This…”
Sun Hong paused.