ALL NOVEL Chapter 4
Jing Xingzhi stated that he wasn’t personally aggrieved, but the sense of grievance was evident in his words. He then mentioned countless poor students who were no longer within Zhang Qiwen’s jurisdiction.
Could they despise countless future poor students who might attends their school? Absolutely not.
Zhang Qiwen’s heart raced, his face flushed as he glanced at Li Huasui with regret.
“Don’t worry, this matter will be handled strictly. I can’t make the decision alone, so I must consult the chief.” After Zhang Qiwen spoke, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his back.
Li Huasui panicked, taking two steps forward and grabbing Zhang Qiwen’s sleeve: “Teacher, it’s a misunderstanding. I apologize to Jing Xingzhi!”
Li Huasui looked at Jing Xingzhi again, saying, “I was wrong. I apologize and will give you water for a month. Can you forgive me? Ask Teacher Zhang not to bring the matter to the headmaster.”
Zhang Qiwen was responsible for the school building, not the students.
Conflicts were solved together between students, and minor character flaws were not an issue. However, Fang Qichen, the chief, was disciplined and might expel Li Huasui if he accused classmates with malicious framing.
Jing Xingzhi stepped back: “Brother Li, Xingzhi just wants a justice, is that too much?”
‘Isn’t this the outcome you wanted for the young man? Now that it has fallen on you, do you find it difficult to accept?’
Li Huasui, meeting Jing Xingzhi’s indifferent eyes, knew that Jing Xingzhi might have guessed their secret actions.
Despite many taking action, why was he the only one bearing the responsibility of being expelled from the academy?
In the past, intentional misidentification was just a reprimand!
Li Huasui saw that the request for Jing Xingzhi was useless, so he asked Zhang Qiwen again: “Teacher! I misunderstood. Can you give the student a chance? The student didn’t mean it. Believe me!”
Zhang Qiwen heard this today.
The first time Jing Xingzhi spoke, Zhang Qiwen believed in him and so did his classmates.
But what about that time? None of these students were soft-hearted.
Moreover, if Li Huasui was in such a panic, there might be things he didn’t know. Zhang Qiwen thought about it, and his rejection of Li Huasui surged.
Zhang Qiwen hardened his heart: “I just want to tell the chief, if you really didn’t mean it, the chief knows everything, so don’t be afraid.” His words didn’t comfort Li Huasui.
Li Huasui’s eyes darkened as he glanced at Zhu Da and others involved in the planning.
Zhu Da frowned, casting an evil stare at Li Huasui. Meanwhile, Zhu Da’s friends smiled, giving Li Huasui a nonchalant yet dangerous look.
Li Huasui, contemplating Zhu Da and his associates’ reckless actions behind his back, refrained from speaking. The threat in his eyes transformed into a silent plea, hoping for Zhu Da and the others to intervene.
However, Zhu Da and his companions grasped the implications of Jing Xingzhi’s accusations, labeling him as the leader of a gang bullying the underprivileged. Moreover, Jing Xingzhi was the one being mistreated, and if he spoke up, the Chief Fang Qichen would undoubtedly support him in the name of justice.
Zhu Da shook his head slightly, pinched his purse, and gave Li Huasui a pointed glance.
‘Behave, and you’ll still have money. Misbehave, and that money might end up covering your family’s funeral expenses.’
Li Huasui grasped Zhu Da’s meaning, his eyes dimming suddenly, as if all life had been drained from him.
.
Zhang Qiwen sighed internally, addressing Li Huasui and the others: “You follow me.”
He then turned to Jing Xingzhi and Wu Mingrui, saying, “I’ll take them to see the chief, and I’ll explain everything clearly. You must come along, alright?”
Wu Mingrui glanced at Jing Xingzhi, stating, “Teacher, if traveling makes him uncomfortable, let me go. I’m aware of everything and can explain it to the chief clearly.”
Concerned that Zhang Qiwen might be swayed on the way, he wanted to prevent falling victim to Li Huasui and others’ deception again. As for Jing Xingzhi, his roommate was still unwell.
Wu Mingrui expressed to Jing Xingzhi, “Xingzhi, rest first. I’ll handle this matter.”
Wu Mingrui and Zhu Da’s group had always been at odds but Wu Mingrui possessed upright character, making Jing Xingzhi trust him.
Having assistance with the task was welcomed. Jing Xingzhi touched his warm forehead and nodded, “Thank you, brother Mingrui. I haven’t fully recovered, so I’ll stay inside. You take care of it.”
Wu Mingrui patted Jing Xingzhi’s shoulder and followed Zhang Qiwen outside.
With Wu Mingrui present, Jing Xingzhi felt assured about facing the reputedly stern old chief.
Yet, Jing Xingzhi also realized that some people would only suffer minor inconveniences, learning no real lesson. Zhu Da and his associates remained in the shadows, positioning Li Huasui at the forefront—merely a pawn to be sacrificed if needed. To them, it meant nothing.
Jing Xingzhi made a mental note of them.
The initial determination of the original body aiming for the imperial examination resonated with Jing Xingzhi. Even if it was just to repay his karmic debt, Jing Xingzhi would continue the original body’s path and fulfill his dream.
The road to studying for the imperial examination was lengthy, and Jing Xingzhi, a member of the transmigrator, was patient and mentally prepared to spend more than a decade studying at Huanshui Academy.
In this way, the obstacles that would disturb Jing Xingzhi’s peaceful life in the academy needed to be removed one by one.
Currently, unable to think of a good solution, Jing Xingzhi reached out and retrieved several round ingots from the desk, stuffing them into his bag.
While doing so, he noticed a partially used copper coins.
Being from a family of cultivators and accustomed to a life of enjoyment, Jing Xingzhi, despite the original body’s poverty, decided to savor life’s pleasures when possible.
He laid down the hard-earned money, shook out the quilt, removed the coat Wu Mingrui had given him, and settled back onto the quilt.
Jing Xingzhi’s physical ailment persisted, and with his energy depleted, he felt a slight dizziness. It was better to rest before addressing anything else.
Closing his eyes, Jing Xingzhi fell asleep, though not very peacefully.
.
He dreamt of his college roommate, Liu Fang.
In the dream, they hadn’t graduated yet; they had just started university. Jing Xingzhi moved into the dormitory as the school mandated two years of dormitory living. This marked the beginning of his communal life.
Liu Fang, in the dream, suffered from inflamed appendicitis, enduring stomach pain while insisting to his dorm mates that he was fine. Recognizing the severity, Jing Xingzhi, knowledgeable about the human body, rushed him to the hospital, where Liu Fang’s appendix was promptly removed.
Following this incident, Liu Fang displayed great kindness not only to Jing Xingzhi but also to the entire dormitory. Jing Xingzhi discovered the man’s inherently good nature.
During meals, Liu Fang took care of the four of them.
In the laundry room, where waiting was tiresome, Liu Fang arrived early.
In class, Liu Fang, the top student, occupied a seat.
Ultimately, Jing Xingzhi moved out of the dormitory in his junior year, and what he missed most was Liu Fang’s considerate nature.
As graduation approached, Liu Fang, usually cheerful, got drunk and cried on Jing Xingzhi’s shoulder. However, amidst the tears, the scene shifted to the moment of Jing Xingzhi’s grandfather’s passing. In the dream, Jing Xingzhi invited Liu Fang for a drink, and as they walked, a truck crashed into them. Liu Fang’s face showed panic as he rushed towards Jing Xingzhi…
Startled, Jing Xingzhi woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up abruptly. A gentle breeze touched his face, and he felt a chill on his face and back.
.
Wu Mingrui, entering the dormitory, held the door, observed his roommate with tears on his face, and asked in surprise, “Xingzhi, why are you crying?”
“Am I crying?” Jing Xingzhi wiped his face with wet hands, realizing he was indeed crying.
He had made it through, but where was Liu Fang?
If they hadn’t gone for that drink.
Liu Fang’s company just starting to gain public attention, and he was very busy.
If he didn’t leave the company to wander the streets late at night. Then he wouldn’t have met… a tragic end.
Enduring the pain in his heart, Jing Xingzhi looked at Wu Mingrui and said, “It’s nothing. I just dreamt about the death of a friend and felt sad, and couldn’t control myself.”
Wu Mingrui, thinking his roommate was quite young, persuaded with a smile, “Come on, dreams are the opposite. Your friend will definitely be fine, maybe even fortunate!”
After saying this, he sat down on the side of Jing Xingzhi’s bed, winked, and remarked, “Xingzhi, you showed remarkable resilience today. Brother is impressed! Do you want to know what the chief did to Li Huasui and his group?”