Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

When Li Huasui saw his mother holding Jing Xingzhi, his face immediately turned red.

At this moment, Li Huasui was more concerned about his mother knowing he was expelled from the academy. He tried hard to pull his mother back, impatiently saying, “Mom, don’t pull people around!”

Despite Li Huasui’s shouting, his mother didn’t look back, staring at Jing Xingzhi without letting go, slowly releasing her grip on Jing Xingzhi’s sleeve.

Jing Xingzhi glanced at Li Huasui, thought for a while, and replied to Mother Li, “Aunt, today is a holiday.”

Hearing this, Mother Li looked relieved.

In fact, Mother Li didn’t have much knowledge. Her primary awareness was that she married a scholar. However, for some reason, Father Li left eight years ago, leaving his mother with two children.

Similar family backgrounds were one of the reasons why Li Huasui ended up in a dispute with Jing Xingzhi.

Mother Li was genuinely worried when she arrived. Her eldest son usually had only three days off, but this time he stayed at home for five consecutive days without going to the academy.

When Mother Li asked, the eldest son only mentioned that the academy was on an extended holiday and advised him to study at home.

But Mother Li still doubted whether her son was telling the truth. She searched through Li Huasui’s things and found a considerable amount of money, which shocked her.

Li Huasui was caught with the money, so he had to invent an excuse to deceive Mother Li. Though the performance was more convincing this time, Mother Li steadfastly refused to believe it and dragged Li Huasui directly to the academy.

Li Huasui excused his younger brother, claiming there was no one to care for him at home. Mother Li pondered for a moment and decided to bring her younger son along.

While Mother Li had a vague suspicion, she was afraid to accept that her wild guess might be true. Now that she heard the people in the carriage say that today was a day off, Mother Li felt at ease. Her eyebrows softened, as if all her doubts vanished as long as she heard this answer.

Li Huasui also glanced at Jing Xingzhi in surprise and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. However, considering his mother’s persistence, Li Huasui knew he had to clarify things with his mother and ask her to return home with him.

Having received the answer, Mother Li politely stepped aside. Simultaneously, she felt relieved that the young Teacher had a good temper and didn’t get angry because of her.

The carriage, with Jing Xingzhi aboard, passed the three members of the Li family and continued forward.

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Behind the carriage:

Li Huasui said to Mother Li, “Mom, you see, it’s really a holiday. Let’s go back!”

Mother Li’s expression remained gentle, but she was reluctant to go back at the moment.

She said, “Could you have remembered the class schedule incorrectly? Look, the young Teacher came to the academy today! If it’s a holiday, why would he be here?”

Mother Li glanced down at her youngest son, holding his hand and gently touching the child’s head. She smiled and said, “Your brother hasn’t taken you to his academy yet. Let’s go and see what he’s learning. Huasui, since you’ve earned money, share some with Huamin. We’ll go visit the academy together, and he can study at your academy in the future!”

Mother Li touched her youngest son Li Huamin’s hand very gently. She had spent a lot of money sending her eldest son to school, and being the sole supporter of the family meant there was always work to be done.

Consequently, her younger son didn’t attend school and helped her with household tasks. From this perspective, Mother Li always felt she had wronged her younger son. Fortunately, her elder son loved his younger brother, bringing some relief to Mother Li.

When Mother Li said this, little Li Huamin raised his face to look at Li Huasui, hope evident on his face. He said, “Brother… I want to see it. Let’s go back after watching!”

A pair of small hands pulled Li Huasui’s sleeves, and he looked at his brother’s hands, unable to utter any words of rejection.

Li Huamin, at nine years old, already had calloused palms and shallow scars on the backs of his hands from farm work. Furthermore, Li Huamin had been sensible since childhood and rarely made requests to his mother or his brother. This was one of the few times.

However, when they reached the academy, the gatekeeper wouldn’t allow Li Huasui to bring his mother and younger brother inside. Li Huasui found himself in a dilemma, remaining silent for a while because he needed to reveal something he didn’t want his mother and brother to know.

Mother Li became a little upset and couldn’t understand why her usually sensible eldest son was acting so strangely.

She said, “What’s bothering you? We’re almost at the entrance of the academy. We won’t embarrass you, a great scholar, as your parents!”

“Mother…” Li Huasui’s tone was helpless. He lowered his head, his chin almost reaching his chest, sensing that what he was about to say was difficult.

But Mother Li’s eyes were full of determination, and it was clear she wouldn’t let it go unless he spoke. So, like a buzzing mosquito, Li Huasui finally said it.

“The academy expelled me.” After uttering these words, Li Huasui no longer dared to meet his mother’s gaze.

“Pa—”

Li Huasui was slapped on the face. Covering his face, he looked up in shame to see his mother’s tear-streaked face.

“Is it because of the money?”

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Jing Xingzhi entered the academy in a carriage, then walked back to the school building.

After returning to his room, he took off his book bag and set it aside. Pouring himself a cup of tea, Jing Xingzhi sat down.

After drinking his tea, he picked up the unfinished book from the carriage and started reading. Although he missed his morning class and felt a bit anxious, he was determined to attend the afternoon class. The academy’s teacher posed questions during lectures, which could be intimidating.

After sipping two cups of tea, there was a knock on the door.

Dong dong—

“Xingzhi, I’m Teacher Zhang. Are you there?” Zhang Qiwen’s voice sounded, and his expression outside the door was slightly uneasy.

Jing Xingzhi’s suspicions were confirmed. When he encountered Li Huasui’s family on the road, he anticipated that someone would likely seek him out.

“Yes.” Jing Xingzhi opened the door, standing beside it like a steadfast pine tree. He inquired, “Teacher Zhang, what’s the matter?”

Zhang Qiwen, suppressing a trace of awkwardness, smiled and said, “The Chief is summoning you to his cottage. The Deputy Chief is also present. I heard that Li Huasui’s mother came to the academy.”

After uttering the last sentence, Zhang Qiwen felt a tinge of guilt. Initially, he believed he was being manipulated by Li Huasui, but later he discovered that Zhu Da stood behind Li Huasui. It wasn’t until yesterday that Zhu Da revealed that Zhang Kaiwei was behind him too.

If this was all orchestrated by Zhang Kaiwei, Zhang Qiwen, who nearly became an unwitting accomplice, felt he couldn’t forgive himself to Jing Xingzhi. Due to Zhang Kaiwei’s influence, he had believed the lies of Zhu Da, Li Huasui, and others, nearly wrongly accusing Jing Xingzhi.

Jing Xingzhi turned around, closed the door, locked it, and then faced Zhang Qiwen, saying, “Alright, Teacher Zhang, let’s go.”

Zhang Qiwen was momentarily surprised, “That was quick. Let’s go when you’re ready.”

He walked a few steps, turned back, and added, “By the way, the Chief also summoned Zhang Kaiwei and Zhu Da. I think it’s related to the Chief’s recruitment of disciples. Be cautious.”

The sincerity in Zhang Qiwen’s advice caught Jing Xingzhi off guard. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Thank you, Teacher.”

Zhang Qiwen smiled, waved, and with a satisfied look, stated, “No need to thank me.”

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They left the school and encountered another teacher on the way. The teacher joined Zhang Qiwen, along with Zhang Kaiwei and Zhu Da.

Since he encountered Zhang Qiwen, the teacher naturally walked with him, leaving three students trailing behind.

Zhu Da emitted an unpleasant aura, snorting and complaining to Zhang Kaiwei, “I’m here too. Brother Zhang, are you disappointed?”

Zhang Kaiwei truly felt disappointment, realizing his efforts might be in vain. His uncle had mentioned that the Chief had been unwell in the past year and hadn’t paid much attention to the students during that time.

He was instructed to perform well this month, only to find out that Zhu Da ranked fifth in the exam, sharing the spotlight.

However, Zhang Kaiwei excelled in diplomacy. He smiled and said, “Brother Zhu is accompanying me. There’s no reason for Kaiwei to be unhappy. You underestimate Kaiwei.”

Zhu Da lowered his voice, but it was loud enough for Zhang Kaiwei in the back row to hear: “Do you know if my elder cousin became a concubine?”

His tone carried a mocking edge.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kaiwei recalled the official news sent by his father and immediately regretted his actions. If Concubine Xian, recently named by his father, was Zhu Da’s elder cousin, then the Zhu family was not to be trifled with.

Concubine Xian was new to her position, but she still carried a dragon seed in her belly.

Observing Zhang Kaiwei’s change in expression, Zhu Da sneered and deliberately distanced himself from Zhang Kaiwei, expressing his disdain.

As Zhu Da maneuvered away from Zhang Kaiwei, the road being vast, he found himself inexplicably close to Jing Xingzhi.

Feeling a touch on his shoulder, Jing Xingzhi frowned and turned to look at Zhu Da.

Realizing he had bumped into Jing Xingzhi, Zhu Da immediately took a couple of steps aside and offered a brusque apology, “Sorry about that, Jing Xingzhi.”

Having heard rumors about Jing Xingzhi being broad-minded and tolerant, Zhu Da had some awareness of the student’s character. If Jing Xingzhi was perceived as a bookish person by Zhu Da before, this encounter made Zhu Da reassess him.

Due to the discomfort caused by Zhang Kaiwei’s deception, Zhu Da felt a bit apologetic, leading to a somewhat vague apology.

Jing Xingzhi glanced at him and remarked, “Eyes are meant for seeing. Brother Zhu uses them diligently, so don’t let them go to waste.”

Zhu Da was taken aback, thinking that Jing Xingzhi was indeed the same bothersome bookworm, and his words weren’t pleasant at all.

After the brief commotion, the road finally quieted down, allowing Jing Xingzhi to comfortably ascend halfway up the back mountain to Fang Qichen’s cottage.

Teacher Zhang and another teacher entered the cottage first to report, leaving the three of them standing outside.

Zhu Da swallowed nervously, knowing that today’s summons wasn’t focused on the Li family but rather on Fang Qichen’s selection of disciples.