Chapter 457 - 175: Prefectural School (6)
Chapter 457: Chapter 175: Prefectural School (6)
Seeing this, De’an felt even more depressed.
He nudged Zhao Jing. "Are you going to eat or what?"
"Let’s wait for Wang Jun." A servant from the Wang Family had come looking for him, so Wang Jun had stepped out.
"Jing, what are you writing? You spent all morning on the exam. Isn’t your hand tired?"
Zhao Jing answered at a leisurely pace, "I’m writing a letter to my sister. I’ve been at the academy for three days, so she’s probably worried about me. Since someone from the Wang Family is here, I’ll have them take it to her on their way back."
A stifled laugh came from nearby.
De’an turned his head and saw that the three young women from Yueli Hall still hadn’t left.
The one who had laughed was the daughter of the Vice-Prefect, a young woman named Zhu Caiwei.
When she saw De’an look over, she bashfully covered her mouth and said sheepishly, "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make fun of anyone. I’m just envious of how close Zhao Jing is with his sister."
De’an said darkly, "He calls her his sister, but actually, that’s his wife."
The young woman apparently didn’t know this; the smile on her face froze instantly.
Her two companions noticed her gaffe and quickly pulled her away.
On the way to the dining hall, Sheng Saya remarked casually, "Zhao Jing is already married. His wife is Chen De’an’s biological sister. They were childhood sweethearts and are a deeply devoted couple. His wife is skilled at making incense and is also an excellent businesswoman. Zhao Jing and Chen De’an’s ability to study here in the Prefecture is largely thanks to her financial support."
Zhu Caiwei countered, "Zhao Jing and Chen De’an are both Scholars. Zhao Jing is even a stipended Scholar; he receives a monthly allowance of grain and silver from the court. That’s enough to support himself."
"It’s enough to support themselves, but I doubt it’s enough for their families. Let’s not even talk about Chen De’an—his parents are alive and in good health, so they don’t need his care. In fact, they probably help support him. But Zhao Jing has a widowed mother and a young sister at home. I don’t know if that income is enough to provide for them, but one thing is for sure: if his wife weren’t taking care of things at home, he certainly couldn’t be studying at the Prefectural Academy with a clear conscience."
Zhu Caiwei seemed to want to say more, but intimidated by Sheng Saya’s cold expression, she swallowed her words.
Sheng Saya, for her part, was annoyed by Caiwei’s lack of self-respect. ’There are so many talented young men at the Prefectural Academy. Even if they aren’t as strikingly handsome as Zhao Jing, countless others surpass him in family background.’
’It’s not that she has to choose one of them, but Zhao Jing is a married man. Why would she stoop so low and meddle in their relationship? Doesn’t she find it degrading?’
’I always knew Caiwei was a bit petty and spoiled by her family, but I never expected her to be not just ill-tempered, but rotten at heart.’
’If I associate too much with someone so clueless, she’s bound to do something stupid and drag me down with her. I’d better start distancing myself and seeing less of her.’
Zhao Jing finished his letter, but Wang Jun still hadn’t returned.
He stood up and headed to the academy entrance with De’an.
Before they even reached the entrance, they saw Wang Jun approaching with two large food containers. De’an quickly waved him down, telling him to have his servant, Shouquan, deliver the letter to his sister.
"Your family sent you food again? Nice. From now on, on the fifth and eighth of every month, I’ll have my sister send me some good stuff too."
The academy food wasn’t bad, but you were bound to get sick of it eventually. De’an wasn’t sick of it yet, of course, but a man always has to plan ahead.
"I’m sick of the food from home, too. I had Shouquan pick this up from a restaurant. I got enough for all three of us, so let’s eat together."
The three found an empty pavilion to eat. And sure enough, any restaurant Wang Jun favored was bound to be excellent.
One dish in particular, a Crystal Pork Knuckle, was succulent and juicy. It was rich without being greasy and simply melted in your mouth.
De’an was so impressed he kept crying out in delight, the gloom from his poor exam performance completely forgotten.
By the time they returned to their quarters, De’an’s mood had visibly improved. But when he remembered his recent failure, a trace of resentment lingered.
"Jing, you can’t be so impulsive anymore. Or, you know, you can be impulsive when I’m not around."
Zhao Jing replied calmly, "I can’t do that. ’Brothers to hunt tigers, father and son for war.’ We might not be father and son, but we are brothers-in-law. How could I forget about you when there’s trouble to be had?"
De’an put his hands on his hips and shot back, "Bullshit! I wish you *would* forget me, especially when it comes to offending the proctors! I don’t have your natural genius. That one exam aged me ten years. If it happens again, I can’t guarantee I’ll even make it to the end."
"Of course you can. I have faith in you."
De’an rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was about to start a fight, but then he remembered Zhao Jing’s martial prowess... and thought better of it.
They had been thick as thieves since they were kids. Jing had thrown him under the bus, but he’d done the same to Jing plenty of times. If they really started keeping score, they’d be at it for three days and three nights.