Chapter 87: Loneliness

Sun Zenian cupped his hands and bowed to Zhou Huaishan with a forced smile, saying, "Brother Zhou, you're magnanimous. Don't bother with these foolish kids."

As he spoke, Sun Zenian shot a fierce glare at Sun Jin, "Hurry up and apologize to your Uncle Zhou!"

Before Sun Jin could speak, Zhou Huaishan waved his hand.

"Uncle? Don't dare. You look older than me—I wouldn’t dare to be his uncle."

Zhou Huaishan then asked, "Is he your son?"

Sun Zenian suppressed the torrent of curses in his heart and smiled apologetically. "My poor parenting has caused you embarrassment, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Huaishan replied, "Embarrassment isn't the word; I've seen funnier things. But your son accused me of swindling Zhou Huaihai's money. What's going on?"

Sun Zenian, momentarily confused by Zhou Huaishan's words, gave Sun Jin another angry look and apologized again. "A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. It's all our fault, Brother Zhou. Please be magnanimous and let it go."

Zhou Huaishan wasn’t feeling magnanimous; he wanted to hold a grudge. But he was hungry.

"Fine, just apologize, then go home and teach your son properly!"

With his chin lifted high, Zhou Huaishan struck a grandiose pose of forgiveness, then signaled to Zhou Qing: I'm hungry!

Then why don't you let go of him already?

Zhou Huaishan immediately released his grip.

The student, nearly strangled, collapsed to the ground, his body still numb and weak.

As Zhou Huaishan let go, the student fell to his knees with a thud.

The other students thought he was making an overly grand apology gesture.

Before they could react, they all fell to their knees one after another.

Shen Li, with a flick of his wrist, sent a small stone flying into Sun Jin’s knee. Sun Jin, suddenly in pain, knelt down with a thud as well.

At that moment, Sun Jin was about to explode with rage.

Why should I kneel to this old peasant!

His anger surged like a flood, and he clenched his fists, attempting to rise.

But before he could move, another small stone from Shen Li struck, forcing Sun Jin to kneel again, his face twisted in pain and fury.

I asked for an apology, not for you to kneel!

Zhou Huaishan, playing the part of the bigger man, waved his hand. "Be mindful in the future. Don’t go around slandering people!"

With that, he didn’t spare them another glance, pulling Zhou Qing along as they walked away.

So hungry! I want meat!

As Zhou Huaishan and his group entered the Qingfeng Inn, the onlookers at the door also dispersed.

Sun Zenian, his face pale with anger, grabbed Sun Jin and quickly led the group away. They were staying at the Xiangyuan Inn, directly across from Qingfeng Inn.

As soon as they returned to their room, Sun Zenian, his voice low and furious, said, "Why did you provoke him? Why couldn't you just wait for the prefect's side to act?"

Sun Jin angrily replied, "Father, I just can't stand seeing Zhou Huaishan looking so smug."

The top rank in the county exam should have been his!

Why Zhou Huaishan?

Why him!

Sun Zenian, knowing his son's pain, sighed helplessly.

"The county exam is already over. A top rank doesn’t mean much. Focus on the prefectural exam."

Pausing, Sun Zenian eyed Sun Jin. "Were you instigated by Zhou Huaihai today?"

Sun Jin nodded. "He gave each of us thirty taels of silver."

Sun Zenian then said, "From now on, stay away from Zhou Huaihai."

Sun Jin was puzzled. "Father, but you..."

"If it weren’t for his son working in the capital, do you think I’d want to associate with him? It’s just to leave a path open for you. But you should stay far away from him. That man is both evil and foolish, I don’t want him corrupting you."

Sun Jin frowned, opened his mouth to say more, but in the end, just nodded.

Sun Zenian patted his shoulder. "Don't overthink it. We've already greased the wheels with the prefect. After the exam, you'll be top-ranked, and Zhou Huaishan will be reported for cheating. The humiliation you suffered today will all be paid back."

"Understood."

Meanwhile, while the Sun father and son were having this conversation, Zhou Qing and her group were enjoying a sumptuous meal on the first floor of Qingfeng Inn.

After the earlier incident, many patrons in the inn had come to recognize them.

Learning that Zhou Huaishan was a self-taught scholar and the top rank in Qinghe County's exam, many students came over to greet him.

As night fell, the atmosphere in the inn’s main hall became peaceful and harmonious.

Almost every table was engaged in discussions about the upcoming exam.

Zhou Huaishan picked up a piece of roast lamb for Zhou Qing. "Daughter, don’t be angry. A man doesn’t argue with dogs!"

Just as Zhou Qing was about to eat, a dog suddenly appeared.

At the exact moment Zhou Huaishan said this, the dog placed its paws on the table, staring intently at Zhou Huaishan.

Its gaze seemed to say, What did you just say? Aren’t I your most loyal friend?

Its expression, distilled into one concise statement, was: "Woof!"

"Father, I think it’s talking to you."

"I am not worthy!"

Shen Li chuckled and tossed a piece of meat to the dog.

The dog snapped up the meat with practiced ease and wagged its tail as it walked away.

Zhou Qing turned to Shen Li. "It looks like you know this dog well."

Shen Li smiled. "I used to stay at this inn when I was in the city for business. It’s the innkeeper's dog."

Zhou Huaishan heaved a sigh of relief.

"You scared me. I really thought it came for me! From now on, I swear I’ll never compare scoundrels to dogs again. It's an insult to dogs."

Just as they were chatting, a blood-curdling scream suddenly erupted in the peaceful hall.

The scream was followed by a student slapping his hands on the table and pulling at his hair.

"Damn it! I didn’t sign up! I studied for two whole months, and I didn’t sign up! What did I study for? Just for loneliness?!"

The student’s cry of anguish stunned the entire hall.

For a moment, everyone gave him a look of sympathy, and then the hall erupted into loud chatter.

"Father, did I sign up?"

"Teacher, did I sign up?"

"Brother-in-law, did I sign up?"

Everyone began asking the people around them to confirm whether they had actually registered.

The atmosphere, calm until a moment ago, suddenly became tense as exam nerves took over.

The student who had studied for nothing roamed from table to table, hoping to find a fellow sufferer to share his misery.

After all, shared pain is half the pain.

Unfortunately for him, the pain was his alone.

Sighing, he declared, "You all go ahead and take the exam. I’ll just wait to see who fails and joins me next year."

The other students:

Do you want a beating?

A group beating, maybe?

After a noisy evening, the inn finally quieted down late at night.

Some made a last-ditch effort, cramming late into the night. Others tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Zhou Huaishan, however, fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Had Zhou Qing not tossed and turned all night, Zhou Huaishan might have ended up like the other student—preparing all that time, only to have "studied for loneliness."

The next morning.

Before dawn, students had already gathered at the gates of the prefecture, waiting for the officials to verify their registration and begin entering the exam hall.

Zhou Huaishan, relaxed and calm, walked in like nothing could disturb him.

Zhou Qing, anxiously waiting outside after sending him in, stood there nervously, feeling the constant need to use the restroom.