Chapter 83: Analysis

Zhou Huaishan stood to the side, quietly gnawing on a peach, his eyes fixated on Hu Yue. No one knew what he was pondering as the light flickered in his eyes.

Just as the clan leader was about to step in and say something, Zhou Huaishan suddenly grabbed his arm and shook his head.

The clan leader leaned closer and whispered, "Aren't you afraid he might implicate you in the future?"

Zhou Huaishan replied in a hushed tone, "No, I’m not."

"Not?" 

Zhou Huaishan nodded confidently. Then, with a cheerful smile, he picked up another peach from a nearby basket, rubbed it against his clothes, and handed it to Hu Yue with a hearty laugh.

"Brother Hu, here, have a peach."

Hu Yue was momentarily stunned. He stared at the peach for a second before looking up at Zhou Huaishan.

Zhou Huaishan grinned broadly. "My name is Zhou Huaishan, just like the Huaishan Academy. From now on, I’ll be relying on your guidance, Brother Hu."

Hearing this, Hu Yue understood. 

This man must be the head of Huaishan Academy.

Hu Yue quickly took the peach and clasped his hands in thanks, but Zhou Huaishan stopped him with a smile.

"It’s not right for a teacher to bow to others. In Huaishan Academy, you are the most respected, no exceptions."

For Hu Yue, who had been slandered and demoted, and had faced rejection from one academy after another, Zhou Huaishan's words were like a warm ray of sunshine in the dead of winter, or a bowl of nourishing porridge for a starving man. 

He felt a sudden urge to cry.

The abbot of Qingquan Temple gave Hu Yue a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said earnestly to Zhou Huaishan, "Well then, I leave him in your care."

His tone was like that of a father relieved to finally marry off a long-unwanted son.

Transaction complete. No returns.

After this declaration, the abbot turned and called to a monk nearby, "Are you done?"

Everyone followed his gaze and noticed a monk in the courtyard, setting up a pot and boiling noodles.

Boiling noodles?

Even Zhou Huaishan was stunned.

"What are you doing?" Zhou Huaishan rushed forward.

Zhou Ping squatted by the fire and looked up, beaming, "Second Uncle, he's making noodles."

"Noodles?"

The abbot chuckled. "Miss Zhou mentioned that she wanted to try the vegetarian noodles from Qingquan Temple. So, to save time, we’re cooking them right here."

After a brief pause, the abbot added, "Hurry up and eat, so we can be on our way."

Everyone...

Zhou Huaishan looked at the abbot with a kind of admiration.

In all his life, Zhou Huaishan had rarely been impressed by anyone, but this monk... he was an exception!

Bringing a pot to someone’s house to cook noodles? And here they were, doing just that!

Shen Li's ears reddened as he leaned over to Zhou Qing and whispered, "Thank you."

Zhou Qing smiled warmly back at him. "I knew you wanted to try the noodles. I was planning to bring you a bowl, but I didn’t expect the abbot to be so generous."

Cooking noodles right in their courtyard.

Shen Li had the urge to pat Zhou Qing on the head.

His gaze lowered slightly, his eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

So, Zhou Qing did care about him after all.

He knew it—Zhou Qing had feelings for him, indeed.

Such happiness!

Once the pot of noodles was cooked, Zhao swiftly transferred the noodles from the temple’s pot into their own basin.

As soon as the pot was emptied, the abbot and his group quickly took their leave.

After finishing the noodles, Shen Li and Zhou Huailin took Hu Yue to the academy.

Meanwhile, the clan leader pulled Zhou Huaishan aside. "Huaishan, why did you agree so readily just now?"

Zhou Huaishan grinned and said, "Although he’s a demoted official, have you thought about why the abbot from Qingquan Temple is recommending him so openly? And why, despite being a disgraced man, Hu Yue still wants to teach?"

"Obviously, to make a living," the clan leader replied.

Zhou Huaishan laughed. "Make a living? Can’t Qingquan Temple support him?"

"Qingquan Temple?"

The clan leader still hadn’t grasped the point.

Zhou Huaishan explained, "Judging by today’s events, it’s clear that the abbot and this Hu Yue have a close relationship. Qingquan Temple may not be a renowned temple, but it enjoys a strong flow of worshippers and maintains ties with the temples in the capital."

The clan leader grew even more confused.

"Huaishan, what does that have to do with anything? What does the capital's temples have to do with this?"

Zhou Huaishan continued, "Third Uncle, those who visit the temples in the capital to offer incense aren’t just the common folk. There are officials and even royalty among them."

Something clicked in the clan leader’s mind, though the thought quickly faded away, blocked by confusion.

Zhou Huaishan went on, "So, I’m certain Hu Yue knows that he will be reinstated one day."

"Reinstated?" The clan leader's jaw dropped.

Zhou Huaishan nodded with conviction.

"Huaishan, are you sure? We can’t afford to take risks here."

Zhou Huaishan smiled sheepishly. "Third Uncle, don’t worry. I’m good at judging people."

The clan leader frowned.

A blockhead?

Well...

It seemed that ever since Zhou Huaishan started his studies, he wasn’t such a blockhead anymore.

After all, he had even topped the provincial exams.

Oh well, it’s been decided now, no point overthinking it.

Besides, the students at the academy were still young. By the time they were ready to enter officialdom, this Hu Yue would be...

Well, he’d have moved on by then.

With that thought, the clan leader clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.

Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Huaishan with admiration.

"Father, you’re amazing. You even analyzed all of that."

Zhou Huaishan proudly lifted his chin. "Of course, I’m smart!"

To navigate the treacherous waters of the capital, you couldn’t just be any old dandy.

It took more than just enjoying the high life. You had to understand how to manage complex relationships within the court.

Only then could you live your life without unnecessary troubles.

Zhou Ping, holding a bowl of noodles, tugged at Zhou Qing’s trousers.

"Big Sis, Second Uncle didn’t study today, and he made Senior Brother so mad his face turned black."

Zhou Ping’s sudden tattling left Zhou Huaishan’s smug expression frozen. He turned and glared fiercely at Zhou Ping.

Zhou Ping blinked his innocent eyes, confused.

Did I say something I shouldn’t have?

Slurp

He bent down and slurped another mouthful of noodles.

Zhou Qing sighed as she looked at Zhou Huaishan.

"Why can’t you behave for just a little while? The moment I leave, you stop studying. At a time like this, everyone’s working tirelessly, burning the midnight oil to study, and yet you..."

Suppressing his guilt, Zhou Huaishan retorted, "Studying needs a balance of work and rest! I’ve been studying hard for a whole month, and taking a break once in a while—what’s wrong with that?"

"While others are running ahead, you stop to rest. How do you expect to catch up?"

Zhou Huaishan rolled his eyes. "Well, I’m not going to trip them up to catch up! I wouldn't do such a thing!"

A wave of frustration surged through Zhou Qing.