Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
âMoreover, your brother and sister earnestly implored my sister to assist you in reaching Cultivated Talent,â Qin Zhenzhen continued with a sincere expression.
âEspecially your Second Brother, he risked his life to save me. After he was stabbed, he thought he might not survive, but he kept pleading with my sister not to abandon you. He insisted that she must stay by your side and help you overcome any misfortunes.â
âThe most important thing he asked of my sister was to accompany you to the prefectural city. He believed that my sister possesses a keen eye for recognizing peopleâs true character and can help you turn misfortune into fortune.â
âMy sister, being kind-hearted, agreed to his earnest request.â
âWe have come here not seeking cold shoulders but to repay their kindness!â
âAfter learning about the conditions at the settlement offered by the prefectural school, my sister approached Uncle and sought his help. Consequently, we are now staying at Uncle Chenâs home.â
âUncle Chenâs family are all good-hearted people, and he readily agreed to let you stay with us.â
âHis home is located nearby, very close to the examination hall. The environment is excellent, the house is spacious, and there are only a few people, allowing for a peaceful study and good sleep at night.â
âUncle Chen holds a prominent position as the strategist of the prefectural magistrate, so his home is undoubtedly one of the safest places for you to stay.â
âI have delivered the message. You can think about whether you want to stay at Uncle Chenâs home. I wonât force you,â Qin Silong reiterated before he turned and walked away.
Though he didnât want to involve himself too much in Su Binâs affairs, he still felt obligated to pass on the message from his family.
Su Bin picked up the food basket from the ground and made his way into the settlement. He chose a table in the canteen where breakfast was served and sat down.
Upon opening the food basket, a mouthwatering aroma of steaming lean meat soup hand-rolled noodles with small green rapeseed filled the air, catching the attention of some nearby students.
âBrother, where did you buy that? It looks incredibly delicious! Tell us, we want to buy some too!â
âItâs truly fragrant. Definitely worth trying!â
âJust share the location, and weâll all head there to get some!â
The dry steamed buns were nearly inedible, and the rice porridge was equally lackluster, with a stale taste that left much to be desired. Nonetheless, given that the breakfast was free, the students couldnât decline the meal.
Despite this, when they saw Su Binâs bowl of delectable hand-made noodles, their dissatisfaction with the bland breakfast intensified, making it difficult for them to swallow the dry buns.
When asked about the source of his delicious meal, Su Bin replied, âI didnât buy it. My family made it for me.â
However, he chose not to reveal that it was his wife who had prepared it.
The students couldnât help but feel envious, and their curiosity prompted questions like, âDoes your family live in the prefecture?â
âWhy donât you stay with your relatives if they are here? They surely offer better conditions.â
âYouâre right. Good food and a comfortable place to stay are worth more than anything else.â
âThe snoring here is unbearable. I might switch to a better hostel outside, even if it costs a bit more. A good nightâs sleep is crucial for my performance in the examination, and itâs a small price to pay compared to retaking the exam, which is much more expensive.â
Another student chimed in, âAbsolutely! Saving money is important, but if it affects our exam results, the losses will be far greater. Staying in a better hostel might cost five or six more liang, but retaking the exam will cost over ten liang.â
They were all aware that the examination fee alone amounted to 12 liang.
Hearing their discussion, Su Bin hesitated but eventually made a decision. âI think Iâll move to my relativesâ home soon..â