Chapter 63: Protection

"Brother Zhou?"

A tentative voice called from behind, causing Zhou Huaihai to turn around. 

Sun Zenian, recognizing Zhou Huaihai, stepped forward, "I thought your back looked familiar. I didn't expect it to really be you. Is there someone in your family also taking the exam this time?"

Sun Zenian was Zhou Huaihai’s neighbor after he moved to the county. 

The two had become good friends due to their similar temperaments and often met up.

While they chatted, Sun Zenian’s eyes swept over the red list. His gaze quickly fell upon the three characters: Zhou Huaishan.

This spot should have belonged to his son, Sun Jin. 

Now, it had been taken by this country bumpkin.

"Zhou..." Just as he was about to say the name, "Huaishan," the words caught in his throat. 

Zhou Huaishan. 

Zhou Huaihai. 

Sun Zenian’s eyelids twitched, and he turned to Zhou Huaihai, shocked, asking, "Is this top scholar by any chance your brother?"

Zhou Huaihai's face darkened, and he let out a cold snort.

Hearing this sound, Sun Zenian seemed to realize something. 

Observing Zhou Huaihai’s expression, he cautiously asked, "You know my son, Sun Jin, Brother Zhou. I thought he would be the top scholar this time, but he barely made it to fifth place."

At this, Sun Zenian let out a long, bitter sigh. "Right now, my son is staying at home, refusing to come out. I’m really worried he won’t be able to handle the shock."

Zhou Huaihai replied, "That Zhou Huaishan was originally my second brother. But he’s a despicable, vicious, and cunning man. I’ve already severed all ties with him."

"Severed ties?" Sun Zenian was dumbfounded. After a pause, he sighed, "Indeed, someone like him doesn’t deserve to be associated with someone of your character, Brother Zhou. It’s just a shame that he’s so knowledgeable."

Zhou Huaihai gritted his teeth, "Knowledgeable, my foot! He hasn’t studied a day in his life. He learned to write on the ridges of the fields. Don’t you find it strange that such a person could become the top scholar?"

"What are you implying, Brother Zhou?"

"He took on an apprentice, who happens to be the young owner of the Calligraphy Shop. I suspect there’s something fishy going on here."

"Brother Zhou, this is the county exam!" Sun Zenian gasped, looking incredulous. "There are too many eyes and ears around. Let’s go somewhere private. I’ll treat you to a drink at my place."

With a resentful glare at Zhou Huaishan’s name, Zhou Huaihai followed Sun Zenian away.

He was genuinely furious. 

Back in the day, he had to study day and night, failing the county exam three times before barely passing at the bottom of the list. 

How could Zhou Huaishan achieve top honors on his first attempt? There had to be something fishy!

Zhou Huaishan, I won’t let you have your way.

After Zhou Huaihai and Sun Zenian left, Zhao Dacheng, who had been standing behind the red list, stepped out. Staring at the two as they walked away, Zhao Dacheng’s expression turned peculiar as he glanced back at Zhou Huaishan’s name.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Dacheng turned and ran toward Yunhai Bookstore.

"Big brother, big brother, something terrible has happened!"

Xu Feng, the owner of Yunhai Bookstore, was inside, flipping through his poetry book, when Zhao Dacheng rushed in, nearly causing Xu Feng to drop the book in shock.

"What happened?" Xu Feng’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of dread washing over him. 

Zhao Dacheng was usually carefree and reckless—what could have frightened him this much? Could it be something about Keying... or Zhao Xi...

Xu Feng’s heart pounded in his chest, almost leaping out of his throat.

Zhao Dacheng charged into the bookstore, rushed to Xu Feng’s side, and grabbed the half-finished cup of tea Xu Feng had been drinking, downing it in one gulp.

"Big brother, Zhou Huaishan became the top scholar!"

Xu Feng’s heart, which had been about to burst from worry, suddenly...

He shot Zhao Dacheng a sharp look and snapped, "What are you panicking about? Someone else becoming the top scholar—what’s that got to do with you?"

He had been so scared that he almost thought...

Pei pei pei!

Keying and Xier would both live long, healthy lives. What could possibly happen to them?

Zhao Dacheng plopped down opposite Xu Feng and began recounting what he had just overheard.

"Big brother, I think that Zhou Huaishan’s brother is definitely up to no good. He might be planning to harm Zhou Huaishan."

Xu Feng raised an eyebrow, giving Zhao Dacheng a curious look.

"Heh, even if he is planning to harm Zhou Huaishan, what’s it got to do with you? Is that worth you losing your wits over?"

Zhao Dacheng immediately puffed out his chest, slamming his hand on the table.

"No way! If he tries to harm Zhou Huaishan, I won’t let him off!"

Xu Feng’s eyes twitched as he stared in disbelief at his bizarre brother-in-law.

What was he on about now?

"Weren’t you at odds with Zhou Huaishan just a few days ago, saying that two tigers couldn’t live on the same mountain?"

Zhao Dacheng chuckled sheepishly. "Well, after I got home, Keying scolded me. She said, ‘You couldn’t even outdo him in making cricket cages, so what makes you think you can challenge him? You couldn’t even pretend to be a beggar without him seeing through it and taking all your copper coins.’ She’s right—I’m still far from his level."

"I said the same thing before, didn’t I? Do you remember how you responded?"

Zhao Dacheng forced a smile and said weakly, "But you can’t compare to Keying, can you?"

Xu Feng was so exasperated that he laughed.

Zhao Dacheng quickly brushed the matter aside, half-leaning over the table as he asked Xu Feng, "Big brother, how do you think Zhou Huaishan’s brother plans to harm him?"

Xu Feng’s expression turned serious, and after a moment’s silence, he said, "Now that the rankings have been announced, if he wants to harm Zhou Huaishan, he’d have to either prove to the county magistrate that Zhou Huaishan cheated in the exam, or..."

"Or what?"

"Or something happens that makes everyone aware of Zhou Huaishan’s corrupt character, making him unworthy of the top scholar title, forcing the magistrate to revoke it."

Zhao Dacheng immediately slammed the table again.

"Bah! Zhou Huaishan is clearly honest, upright, talented, and virtuous..."

After praising Zhou Huaishan, Zhao Dacheng pleaded with Xu Feng, "Big brother, you have to help Zhou Huaishan. It’d be such a pity if something happened to him."

"Why do you care so much about him?"

"It’s not every day that someone from our circle of dandies becomes a top scholar. We have to protect our achievement!"

"Our circle of dandies?"

Zhao Dacheng beamed proudly. "Big brother, let me tell you, Zhou Huaishan may look all honest and straightforward on the outside, but deep down, he’s definitely a dandy like us."

How could he not be a dandy? Who else would publicly compete in making cricket cages and come up with thirty-five different styles?

How could he not be a dandy? Who else would go to Fushun Restaurant and order every dish on the menu?

How could he not be a dandy? Who else could see through his beggar disguise and take all the copper coins in his bowl?

"Although Zhou Huaishan himself doesn’t know it, we’ve already reserved the title of Qinghe County’s top dandy for him. From now on, whenever Zhou Huaishan comes to town, I guarantee no one will dare mess with him."

What an honor!

You should be grateful if you don’t mess with him.

"Big brother!"

Seeing Xu Feng remain silent, Zhao Dacheng reached across the table and shook Xu Feng’s sleeve.

Xu Feng turned his gaze back to his poetry book. "Fine, I’ll take a trip to the county office. After all, I did recommend Zhou Huaishan for the exam. If something goes wrong, I’ll be held accountable too."

Zhao Dacheng immediately grinned from ear to ear. "You really are my dear big brother. The sooner you go, the better—why not set off right now?"

You really are my dear brother-in-law!