The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1032 - 111 Chen Fulin

Chapter 1032: Chapter 111 Chen Fulin

Mr. Zhuang waved his hand at his three disciples and, with Bai Erlang’s help, sat back down on the chair. He said to Mr. Jiang and the others with a smile, "The tea Mr. Jiang brought today is too good. I did not expect to become intoxicated after only a few cups."

Mr. Jiang turned his head and glanced at Chen Fulin, who was silently looking down. Mr. Jiang could not help but burst into laughter and cheerfully said, "This is the first time in my life I’ve seen someone drunk on tea. Come on, Brother Zhuang, have another cup to sober up."

Mr. Jiang passed the tea over, and Mr. Zhuang indeed took it and had a sip, praising, "Good tea."

The crowd: ...So, was he really drunk on tea or pretending to be?

At that moment, everyone looked at the calm Mr. Zhuang and then at Chen Fulin, who was intently staring at Mr. Zhuang. They began to suspect something was amiss—the relationship between these two classmates and fellow townspeople didn’t seem to be very good.

After everyone finished speaking, Chen Fulin smiled at Mr. Zhuang, "It’s been many years since I last saw Brother Zhuang. How about we find some time to catch up?"

Mr. Zhuang responded with a smile, "I think there’s no better day than today, why not meet today?"

Chen Fulin was taken aback and said with a smile, "That would be too rushed. How about I set a date to host a banquet at Primus Pavilion and invite Brother Zhuang for a drink? I remember you used to love drinking."

Mr. Zhuang said nostalgically, "Yes, drinking leads to trouble, so I’ve given it up."

The three disciples all looked up at their master, thinking: Yeah, right, he still loves to drink as much as ever. Our master’s mouth—a deceiver’s haunt.

Chen Fulin didn’t believe it either; wasn’t it only recently that he had seen him drunk at the Primus Pavilion?

Mr. Jiang asked with a laugh, "So you’re not drunk on wine now, but on tea?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded earnestly, "Yes."

Mr. Chen, who had just drunk with him recently, was: ...

Chen Fulin paused, still not giving up, "I wonder where Brother Zhuang is staying since you arrived in the capital. Why don’t I visit you tomorrow to reminisce?"

"Considering my humble dwelling, I fear it wouldn’t be suitable to host Lord Chen. I dare not invite you in," said Mr. Zhuang, gesturing somewhat dismissively, and without care for the specifics, he added with a smile, "Lord Chen, if you have something to say to me, why not make use of our host’s hospitality today?"

Mr. Jiang clapped his hands and laughed, "I like this spontaneity. Since Lord Chen and Mr. Zhuang are old schoolmates, there’s no need for such formalities. Let’s do as Mr. Zhuang suggests, no other day but today. Actually, I see no need to go elsewhere; this place is perfect. We’ll make room for you."

With that, he beckoned everyone, "Let’s go, let’s head to the central courtyard and see what good verses have come out this Mid-Autumn Festival."

The crowd already had a hunch and, considering the tension between the two, old affections were probably gone, but old grievances might still linger.

Everyone politely smiled and followed Mr. Jiang.

Peng Zhiru and Lu Xiaofu hesitated, glanced at Bai Shan, and then followed Mr. Jiang. Mr. Chen, who was about to follow along, turned back and saw that Bai Shan and the others had not moved. He couldn’t help but call them, "Let your master speak, come on, you just came from the central courtyard, right? Lead us back to see?"

The three disciples turned to look at their master. Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly at them, and they glanced at Chen Fulin again, noting that he looked only slightly younger than their master, and reasoned that even if a fight broke out, their master likely wouldn’t be at too much of a disadvantage, they turned and left together.

Although they refused to join the others in the central courtyard, they found a slightly elevated spot to discreetly watch over the area, ready to rush over and support their master at a moment’s notice if a fight did break out.

Seeing everyone had left, Mr. Zhuang gestured, "Lord Chen, please, sit down."

Chen Fulin sighed and said, "Junmei, must you be so distant with me?"

Mr. Zhuang gazed at him indifferently.

Chen Fulin averted his gaze slightly, maintaining a sincere expression, "How come you’re in the capital?"

"People tend to reminisce as they grow older. I found myself longing to revisit the places I once knew, so I came," replied Mr. Zhuang.

Chen Fulin nodded and sighed, "Indeed, I often find myself reminiscing about our days studying in Yizhou. I was only a year older than you, yet I often needed your care. How long do you plan to stay in the capital this time?"

Pouring himself another cup of tea and giving a light smile, Mr. Zhuang said, "It’s uncertain—perhaps three to five months, or three to five years; who knows?"

Chen Fulin immediately clenched his fist and after a moment, relaxed his grip, smilingly asking, "Are those three young men your disciples? Are they here to study in the capital, hoping to take part in the Imperial Academy’s examinations next year?"

Mr. Zhuang just smiled, offering no reply.

"I heard that you opened a school and took disciples in Mianzhou; I did not expect that you could teach such fine students. They seem young; how confident are you in their chances at next year’s examinations?"

After drinking his tea, Mr. Zhuang set down his cup and said with a smile, "There’s no need for them to take the examination; they are already in the Imperial Academy."

He continued, "One studies in the Imperial Academy, and another in the Highest Institute—their treatment far better than the recommendation from our prefectural school back in the day. If I recall, if fortunate enough to be recommended, one could only attend a Fourth-Level Institute, right?"

"Isn’t that where Lord Chen started?" Mr. Zhuang asked.

Chen Fulin swallowed hard, glanced at Mr. Zhuang, then averted his eyes, laughing, "That was due to your benevolence, Junmei. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to enter the Imperial Academy in my final year."

Mr. Zhuang pursed his lips but said nothing.

Chen Fulin spoke softly, "Junmei, after you left the capital, I asked our classmates to look for you. I wanted to recommend you for the position of Assistant County Magistrate in Tongzhou. You know, my uncle was the governor there. With your capabilities and my uncle’s support, it wouldn’t have been long before you could have been promoted to County Magistrate. Unfortunately, when you left the capital, we lost touch. I heard you went back to your hometown, took your sister and nephew away... Ah, what was the need for all that?"

Mr. Zhuang, looking at his kind face, suddenly felt fed up, "Speak plainly, Lord Chen."

Chen Fulin shook his head, "Junmei, you’ve greatly misunderstood me. I know that no matter how much I explain the events of those days, you won’t believe me, but you must trust, our friendship... The matter back then truly wasn’t my intention. When I chanced upon you at the Primus Pavilion last time, I thought it might be you, then worried it wasn’t you, I even sent someone to find you ..."

"I know," Mr. Zhuang said with a light smile. "I knew someone was following my carriage."

Chen Fulin choked up at that.

Seeing Mr. Zhuang’s cold gaze, Chen Fulin raised his hand and swore, "Junmei, I swear, no harm was meant. At our age, with one foot in the grave, what would I have to hide from you? I swear, whether it was over twenty years ago or now, twenty years later, I have never thought to harm you."

Mr. Zhuang looked at him for a while, nodded, and said, "All right, I believe you."