The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 913 - 911: Seeking Help

Chapter 913: Chapter 911: Seeking Help

However, the current situation is unclear. Baiyun Academy’s regulations are still unknown, so it’s not appropriate to draw rash conclusions.

It’s also not wise to bring up Madam Song Chongjin’s household, for fear that any trouble could befall them, and it would be our fault.

Thus, he simply nodded in agreement with his heart, smiling to thank the neighbors, before leading the Baiyun Academy students toward Changqing Academy.

The government officials, uneasy, escorted them in name only, but in truth, they were concerned the Baiyun Academy people might cause more trouble, so they closely guarded the way.

The onlookers, seeing no more commotion, gradually dispersed.

With smiles on their faces, everyone felt it was a great honor to be thanked by the teacher from Changqing Academy. In the coming days, they would have something to boast about when going out.

Seeing everyone leave, Madam Gu returned to her own courtyard.

Only then did they help Old Granny Zhang back inside.

Gu Zikai also followed in, having been unable to ask about many details earlier, he was now anxious to find out.

Entering the courtyard, he smelled the fragrant mushroom sauce, and couldn’t help but smile: "It seems this mushroom sauce was the source of the trouble, but given its heavenly aroma, it’s worth it!"

Song Chongjin also laughed and invited Gu Zikai to stay for dinner.

Gu Zikai didn’t decline, and the three sat under the corridor while Gu Yu served them tea.

Despite the day’s commotion, Old Granny Zhang was in high spirits. Upon hearing Gu Zikai would stay for dinner, she insisted on cooking a couple of her special dishes herself.

Old Lady Li naturally stayed to help, and the kitchen became lively.

Wang Yongzhu and the others sipped tea, slowly recounting the day’s events. In the end, Wang Yongzhu sighed helplessly: "If I had known brewing mushroom sauce would cause all this, I wouldn’t have done it."

Song Chongjin, however, said: "What does it matter to us? Even without the sauce, those people looking to take advantage would have found a chance. Not to mention the Baiyun Academy students today; they came with malicious intent. Even if they hadn’t acted today, they would’ve eventually found an opportunity. So, this incident revealed Baiyun Academy’s ill will, giving us precaution, which is a fortunate outcome!"

Gu Zikai nodded repeatedly: "Honestly, if they hadn’t shown their hand today, we wouldn’t have been wary of them. Our academy treated them with great respect, who would’ve thought they harbored such thoughts! Baiyun Academy, despite being a century-old academy, and having made considerable achievements over the years, why does this cohort of students behave so disgracefully? It’s an affront to the scholarly spirit! If word of this spreads, the reputation of the century-old academy would be in jeopardy!"

He couldn’t help but shake his head in lamentation.

Wang Yongzhu, however, snorted coldly: "I don’t think so! If there truly is such scheming among a few individuals, I don’t believe the Baiyun Academy teacher didn’t notice! These people, new to the area, chose not to join others in visiting Changqing Academy, making such unconvincing excuses. If the teacher truly cared about the students, wouldn’t they have stopped them? At least report at Changqing Academy first, wouldn’t you say?"

"I noticed that teacher seemed unsurprised by those students. Either the teacher knew about this beforehand, or these individuals were already known for misdeeds at Baiyun Academy, and the teacher is used to it! If the former is true, it suggests Baiyun Academy harbors malice towards Changqing Academy! If the latter, that these academies exchange, yet send such ill-reputed students, they must want the world to know their intentions!"

The more Wang Yongzhu thought about it, the angrier she got. Had she not been home today, leaving only her mother, Old Granny Zhang, it would likely have not ended peacefully given her temper.

If it weren’t for Changqing Academy’s teacher intervening today, Wang Yongzhu wouldn’t have understood Baiyun Academy’s complexities well enough to stop them, so she let them go.

Nonetheless, she noted this grudge.

Song Chongjin was unfamiliar with Baiyun Academy, but judging from Gu Zikai’s words, he understood it quite clearly.

Wang Yongzhu, having a plan in mind, was particularly attentive, personally serving Gu Zikai tea and snacks.

Gu Zikai was flattered. In all his acquaintance with Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu, such treatment was unprecedented, despite knowing Wang Yongzhu’s attentiveness had an ulterior motive.

Still, he found it quite enjoyable.

Ultimately, Song Chongjin couldn’t stand it, feeling a wave of jealousy, coughed several times, and pulled Wang Yongzhu back to her seat, with a stern face: "Yongzhu, Brother Gu is not an outsider, there’s no need to be so courteous!"

Wang Yongzhu...

Gu Zikai...

Finally, Gu Zikai snapped back, with a half-smile, glancing at Song Chongjin, and then asked seriously: "Sister-in-law, what would you like to ask?"

Having seen those who, even when asking for a favor, pretended to want nothing, or who wanted your help but wouldn’t say it directly, expecting you to beg them.

Gu Zikai rather appreciated Wang Yongzhu’s straightforwardness — being courteous because she had a request, her face nearly expressing it outright — it was like a breath of fresh air.

Truth be told, before this, Gu Zikai hadn’t thought he’d be so easily softened. Just by Wang Yongzhu looking at him, he felt that maybe, even if her request today was excessive, he could still agree.

Seeing Gu Zikai was understanding, Wang Yongzhu’s eyes brightened.

She bluntly asked about Baiyun Academy’s background.

Gu Zikai hadn’t anticipated her question, but after a brief moment of reflection, he guessed most of her intentions.

He couldn’t help but glance at Song Chongjin, sighed quietly to himself, and began to speak in detail.

Baiyun Academy is also a well-known academy in Qingzhou Prefecture, which is located slightly northeast in the Central Plains, mostly plains. In the northeast lies vast mountains, several ranges one after another.

Changqing Academy and Baiyun Academy are both in Qingzhou Prefecture, with one in the southwest plains and the other in the southeast mountains, separated by a long distance.

Baiyun Academy has a history of several hundred years, even older than Changqing Academy.

It was initially established by renowned ministers of the previous dynasty who were natives of Qingzhou Prefecture, after retiring back home.

Back then, with their students and old friends spread throughout the world, the academy gained a prestigious reputation right after its establishment, attracting countless students far and wide.

From its founding until now, Baiyun Academy has produced numerous famous scholars, with two to three out of ten civil officials in the court being from Baiyun Academy. The academy’s prestige was unmatched by any other.

It’s said that of the world’s literary talents’ ten portions, seven reside in Baiyun Academy.

People used to say that entering Baiyun Academy was equivalent to having one foot in court.

Although Changqing Academy had the name of Changqing Great Scholar, in its early decades, it was no match for Baiyun Academy.