Chapter 122: Chapter 108, Enemies on a Narrow Road_1
As Yan Wenkai and Wentao spoke in turns, telling Daohua about everything they had encountered at the Academy, her feelings became somewhat complicated.
Only when she knew that they couldn’t even see Xiao Yeyang’s face did she deeply perceive the strictness of the ancient hierarchy and understand more clearly that for Xiao Yeyang, the Yan Family really didn’t count for much.
“Big sister, you mustn’t tell our grandparents about these things,” Wentao said after explaining. “Big brother said that this is a test for us, so let’s not worry the family.”
Wentao also nodded, “Actually, it’s not really a big deal. We can handle it.”
Daohua silently nodded.
Before, she had vaguely hinted to Madam Li to tell her foster father not to have too high expectations of Xiao Yeyang, but at this moment, hearing that Xiao Yeyang hadn’t even seen her three brothers once at the Academy, she also felt a trace of disappointment in her heart.
People are like this, when something doesn’t happen to themselves, they can always talk in an imposing and justified manner, but when it really happens to them, perhaps they become even more whimsical and twisted than others.
Before this, she thought that Xiao Yeyang might have some special regard for her and the Yan Family, but reality told her, she thought too much.
She could understand why her foster father wasn’t invited by the Governor. After all, although he held a noble status, he was not in the official circle, and he couldn’t influence official affairs;
But being in the same Academy, not to mention any special care towards her three brothers, there wasn’t even a single summon, which showed he truly didn’t keep them in his heart.
Alas…
Not only should her foster father not harbor too many expectations, but she shouldn’t either!
Later, Daohua and the others quickly took some grape wine and returned to the grandmother’s courtyard.
…
Although Yan Wenxiu hid it well inside the house, Yan Zhigao, having been an official for many years, could not miss the unspoken words of his eldest son. Thinking of the casual conversations he heard at the Prefectural Governor’s Office, his expression turned somewhat dark.
“The Little Prince simply didn’t regard the Yan Family seriously; otherwise, why wouldn’t Lord Yan be invited to the Governor’s Mid-Autumn banquet?”
“Isn’t that so? I heard that the Prefectural Governor from Fanzhou next door was invited.”
“Then why did the Little Prince stay at the Yan Family previously?”
“Who knows? Maybe the Little Prince was just looking for some fun or was curious?”
Thinking of these whispers, Yan Zhigao let out a wry smile.
Indeed, one sentence can awaken someone from a dream!
First was the overnight stay, and then his eldest son and his brothers obtained spots at the Wangyue Academy. He naively thought that the Little Prince and their family had a close relationship.
Unfortunately, the reality check came swiftly.
He had greatly overestimated their family’s importance in the Little Prince’s heart!
He really had lost a little self-awareness!
Yan Zhigao looked at his eldest son: “Seeking education is not just about seeking knowledge in books, but also about interpersonal skills, human relationships. The Academy is a microcosm of society, where you’ll find all kinds of people. You must think more, observe more, grasp the right measure in dealing with others.”
“Wherever a person goes, as long as they possess true skill, they will find a place to stand. Help from outsiders is ultimately temporary.”
Yan Wenxiu understood the underlying meaning and immediately stood up to show his respect: “Thank you for your teachings, father. Your son will remember them.”
On the side, Yan Zhiyuan looked at the two of them, his expression shifted slightly, then the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.
It seemed his three nephews weren’t having such an easy time at the Academy after all!
In an instant, any resentment he felt about his own son not being able to go to the Academy dissipated.
…
This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival dinner was exceptionally sumptuous, prepared by Madam Li, and with the help of grape wine, the family enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
After spending two days at home, Yan Wenxiu and his brothers were about to return to the Academy.
“Big brother, do you have a holiday for the Double Ninth Festival?”
Before leaving, Daohua asked her three brothers.
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “Yes, we’ll have a day off, but it’s unlikely we’ll make it back.” The journey between the Academy and Xingzhou City was not short; a round trip would take nearly half a day.
Daohua said, “What a pity, the chrysanthemums I transplanted in the manor have all survived, and I was hoping to invite you to a chrysanthemum feast on that day.”
Madam Yan: “Whether you return or not, your chrysanthemums are planted in pots and can be viewed at any time. Their journey back from the Academy is not a short one; they’d rather not be bothered by the hassle.”
Daohua nodded with a smile, “That’s fine. If we can’t see the chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine when you come back next time will be just as good.”
Speaking of wine, Yan Wenkai immediately jumped in, “Big sister, take two jars of your grape wine with me.”
Daohua flatly refused, “No, you are studying, how can you drink wine?”
Yan Wenkai: “I won’t drink.” Saying this, he leaned close to Daohua and whispered in her ear, “I’ll give it to the instructor who teaches us martial arts; he has a taste for it.”
Daohua hesitated, looking towards Yan Wentao.
Yan Wentao nodded, acknowledging that their martial arts instructor did indeed love to drink.
Daohua then agreed but still admonished, “Fourth brother, you are still young. Don’t drink when you’re outside. If you really want to drink, wait until you come home for the holidays, and I will let you have some.”
Yan Wenkai rolled his eyes: “Big sister, aren’t you younger than me? It’s funny for a younger sister to call her older brother young!”
Daohua couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and turned directly to Yan Wentao, “Third brother, keep an eye on fourth brother.”
Yan Wentao: “Don’t worry, I will!”
…
Wangyue Academy was built atop Zhongzhou Province’s most famous Wuhua Mountain, with the Dayuan River flowing beneath it.
Huayang Prefecture City, second only to the provincial capital in Zhongzhou Province in terms of wealth and prosperity, was established at the foot of Wuhua Mountain.
Students from Wangyue Academy were often seen in the city.
“Fourth brother, are you sure you want to gift Instructor Fang the grape wine?”
On the street, Yan Wenkai carried two jars of grape wine and dragged Yan Wentao around as if looking for something.
Yan Wenkai: “Of course, because of that son of a bitch Dong Xiangrong, all the instructors in the Academy deliberately ignore us two, except for Instructor Fang who still offers us some guidance. I must think of a way to… no, to repay him.”
Yan Wentao shook his head, his face expressing disapproval, “The Academy explicitly forbids teachers from accepting bribes…”
Yan Wenkai interjected, “Oh come on, third brother, we aren’t giving money or paintings or anything like that, just two jars of homemade grape wine, that’s hardly a bribe.”
“Although the Academy says teachers can’t accept bribes, it doesn’t completely forbid us students from showing filial piety. Look at the other people in the Academy, even students from families less well-off than ours occasionally give the teachers some small tokens, don’t they?”
“Trust me, it’s fine!”
Yan Wentao thought for a moment and felt that Yan Wenkai made sense, so he said no more and helped Yan Wenkai with his search.
“Ah, this big sister really should have put such good grape wine in a nicer jar. Now I have to find a new jar to gift it properly!”
Having not found a suitable jar for so long, Yan Wenkai was getting anxious.
Although he felt there was nothing wrong with gifting the instructor two jars of grape wine, he didn’t want to do it in front of everyone. He had to do it stealthily while the students had not yet returned to the Academy.
Yan Wentao spoke up for Daohua, “Isn’t this because you asked for it all of a sudden, not giving enough time to switch?”
Yan Wenkai smacked his lips. He was just saying. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pointed toward a pottery shop ahead and shouted, “That shop sells empty wine jars, let’s hurry.”
However, just as they were about to step into the shop, a man suddenly emerged from the side, knocking the wine jar out of Yan Wenkai’s hand and onto the ground.
“Crash!”
The sound of the breaking jar and the vivid spilling of grape wine harshly assaulted Yan Wenkai’s eyes.
“Dong Xiangrong, you bastard, give me back my grape wine!”