Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 704 - 644: Too Many Trivial Matters in the Cui Family?

Chapter 704: Chapter 644: Too Many Trivial Matters in the Cui Family?

Everyone naturally knew that Zhang San had been on Longyun Path for some time and had only just returned when Vermilion Bird was in seclusion.

Thus, they only met today for the first time.

However, no one could understand why Vermilion Bird’s attitude toward Zhang San had changed so drastically now.

Zhang San didn’t understand either, and just as he was puzzled, Wang Ziteng rushed in from outside.

He paused for a moment at the door when he saw the shattered gate still flaming.

"Brother San, the students of the Imperial College are fighting in the streets!"

"Ah!?"

Hearing this news, Zhang San furrowed his brow.

It was known that earlier at court, Kaihuang had tasked him with maintaining order among the students at the Imperial College to prevent conflicts between the children of the nobility and students from humble backgrounds.

And now, right after court, was this meant to be a trial for him?

Zhang San thought that normally, both sides would show restraint.

But the fact that they chose not to restrain themselves at this time surely meant someone wanted to make trouble for him.

"Wang Ziteng, call someone to come with me."

With that, Zhang San and his companion immediately headed for the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile, at a luxurious restaurant below, the restaurant’s owner was arguing with several students from the Imperial College.

At the same time, a few students from the Imperial College and several lavishly dressed individuals were sitting in the lobby on the first floor, watching the excitement.

Zhang San, bringing along Wang Ziteng and a few Martial Artists from the Town Martial Office, did not immediately make himself known but first inquired about what had happened from the onlookers.

It was only after asking around that Zhang San learned the whole story.

It turned out that a few students from the Imperial College and people from the Cui Family, among the Five Surnames and Seven Families, were drinking upstairs in the restaurant.

Seeing some poor students they recognized from the Imperial College passing by below, they deliberately threw things down from above while mockingly shouting they could not finish their food and it was just as well to throw it down for the dogs.

Incensed, the impoverished students rushed in demanding an explanation.

However, these young students, brimming with youthful vigor and lacking experience, believing in the righteousness of their cause, barged into the restaurant.

And then, they knocked over several dishes being carried by the waitstaff.

As it happened, these dishes were ordered by the people from the Cui Family upstairs, and each was of considerable value.

Now, the restaurant owner would not stand for it and demanded compensation from the students.

And the people from the Cui Family alongside students from noble families at the Imperial College intentionally came down from the second floor to mockingly observe the embarrassing plight of these poor students, unable to pay the compensation.

Zhang San collected information by questioning a few people, finally coming to understand what was truly going on.

Then, Zhang San smiled faintly, telling Wang Ziteng and the others to wait behind while he approached alone.

At that moment, the restaurant owner stood at the door and shouted to the onlookers, "Everyone has seen it. These people, relying on their status as students of the Imperial College, barged into my restaurant, knocked down my waitstaff, and spilled so many dishes. Each one was not cheap! Now when I ask them to pay up, they say they have no money! Isn’t this bullying an honest person?"

Although several students kept explaining it wasn’t deliberate, even offering to compensate a portion of the money every month until the full amount was repaid.

But such words held little persuasive power now.

At least for the restaurant owner, they had no persuasive power whatsoever.

"So, everyone, keep an eye out for me, and don’t let these people escape."

"Since you guys keep saying you don’t have money, then leave behind a leg! How about that!?"

At that moment, the restaurant owner sneered coldly and looked viciously at the several impoverished students from the Imperial College.

Just then, Zhang San strolled over, smiling, and gave a cupped-fist salute to the restaurant owner.

"Sir, if money is owed, then repaying the debt is all that is needed, there’s no need to break someone’s leg over it, right?"

The owner glanced at Zhang San, who looked very young, almost like one of the students from the Imperial College, or even younger than some of them.

But in the Capital, everyone knew that when students from the Imperial College went out, they would wear the college’s uniform; after all, wearing it out represented a certain status already.

And this person appeared polite but was, in fact, not a student from the Imperial College.

Probably just some student from humble families who hasn’t even entered the Imperial College, trying to stand up for others to make connections with the students of the Imperial College.

"What, not their legs, so you’d like yours to be broken instead?"

Zhang San continued to maintain his smile and said, "The Imperial College was established by order of Emperor Kaihuang, and this year’s admission of eight hundred new students was also commanded by him. It can be said that this year’s students of the Imperial College are all disciples of Emperor Kaihuang."

"What? Do you wish to place yourself above Emperor Kaihuang and punish his disciples?"

The owner, never having heard such intimidating talk, coupled with the grandeur with which Zhang San spoke, was immediately scared.

At that moment, noble students from the Imperial College who had been watching the commotion in the main hall immediately spoke up, "Paying debts is a matter of course. These people came to the restaurant to make trouble and broke things, so they have to pay compensation! In the Great Sui, we have laws, and as long as there are laws, everything must be handled according to the rules!"

Zhang San naturally knew that if a student from a humble family were to be thrown into jail, not to mention his own responsibility as a Preceptor,

Even if they were released later, just this incident alone would spread throughout the Imperial College.

From then on, the conflicts between the students from humble backgrounds and the noble students would only intensify.

Zhang San nodded slightly and said loudly, "Since we all know that the Great Sui has laws, then let’s handle this according to the law!"

As Zhang San said this, he waved his hand, and Wang Ziteng, who had been waiting behind, immediately charged forward with his men.

"This man, for provoking the disciples of Emperor Kaihuang in the street and causing disturbances, take him down!"

Several men from the Town Martial Office immediately subdued the restaurant owner.

"However, the other party is just a small restaurant owner, and we are from the Town Martial Office, so it isn’t convenient for us to get involved in this, right?"

At this moment, the restaurant owner, now frightened out of his wits, realized that he had offended someone from the Town Martial Office and nearly knelt on the ground to admit his mistake.

"Sir, rest assured, if things in your restaurant are damaged, or even if staff are hurt, we will compensate. As for you... Bring in the men, escort this owner to the Government Office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture."

Then, Zhang San turned his head to look at the trembling waitstaff beside him and took out a piece of gold from the Gluttonous Bag.

"I don’t know the prices of the food and drinks in your restaurant, but I suppose this piece of gold should be sufficient, shouldn’t it?"

"Sufficient, sufficient!"

The waitstaff, seeing their boss had been taken away, nodded incessantly, not even paying attention to the size of the gold piece in Zhang San’s hand.

Next, Zhang San looked at the students from the Imperial College and the people from the Cui Family in the main hall.

"These people, leading the disturbance and insulting the students from the Imperial College. Those from the Imperial College, take them back. Those not from the Imperial College, bring back to the Town Martial Office and interrogate slowly to see if they harbored any ill intentions!"

Upon hearing this, a martial artist from the Spiritual Platform Realm immediately stood out to protect the people from the Cui Family.

"We are people of the Cui Family!"

Zhang San snorted coldly.

"Cui Family my foot! Take them all! Any resistance is rebellion! Execute them on the spot!"