Chapter 74: Human Nature
Academy cafeteria. Zhong Chushan fiddled with the bland food, saying bitterly, "Wang Shu, do you think what we’re doing is like wounding the enemy a thousand times but harming ourselves eight hundred?"
Zhou Wangshu ate boiled cabbage and replied casually, "If you regret it, you can go tell the teacher you’re willing to keep cleaning the outhouse until the punishment is over."
"Let’s forget about that! If I have to clean the outhouse every day, then even if you put a feast in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to eat it."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Even if there’s rushing to be done, it shouldn’t be us who’s anxious." Zhou Wangshu lifted his gaze, looking at Xiao Yanci sitting in the corner.
Zhong Chushan followed his line of sight and, upon seeing the ostracized Xiao Yanci, his eyes flashed with schadenfreude.
Xiao Yanci was the teacher’s favorite. Not long ago, many people would curry favor with him, but his newly established rules left many students suffering. Although they dared not cause trouble for him openly, they started to employ the same tricks that had been used on Zhou Wangshu against him. In any case, Xiao Yanci couldn’t identify the instigators, so he had no one to complain about.
Jiang Yihui should be the one who hates Xiao Yanci the most. Jiang Yihui was among those who went out for indulgences a few nights ago. Those students knew Jiang Yihui could restrain Xiao Yanci, so they dragged him along as a shield, thinking that even if caught, Xiao Yanci wouldn’t dare do anything to Jiang Yihui. As it turned out, they were caught. However, Xiao Yanci showed no respect for Jiang Yihui and still punished them to clean the outhouse for a month.
There were quite a few people on that outing, two groups in total, thirteen in all. All thirteen were sentenced to clean the outhouse, and the next day they started causing disturbances.
If it were only one or two people, the teacher could suppress the issue. But with thirteen involved and most of them from wealthy families, the teacher couldn’t hold it down and had to cancel the new rules. However, to maintain his prestige, he reinforced the academy’s regulations, preventing students from going out arbitrarily.
"Brother Jiang, your slave is quite disobedient!" A nearby student instigated, "I still think you shouldn’t have changed his registration to a good record; he should remain a slave. Now look, he’s running wild over Brother Jiang’s head."
Jiang Yihui glared fiercely in Xiao Yanci’s direction: "A dog that bites its owner, does he really think he can achieve success? Once he fails, he’ll naturally continue to be a slave and servant."
"Excuse me, who is Young Master Zhou Wangshu?" A person dressed as an attendant walked in.
Zhong Chushan nudged Zhou Wangshu: "They’re looking for you."
Zhou Wangshu put down his chopsticks and calmly stood up: "That’s me."
"Greetings, Young Master Zhou." The attendant first saluted, then said, "Your family has ordered some food for you, and the teacher has already agreed. I’m responsible for delivering it, and since Young Master Zhou is here, I’ll have them bring it in."
Zhou Wangshu was surprised and said: "Thank you."
Zhong Chushan put down his chopsticks and asked excitedly: "What did they send?"
The attendant shouted outside, and one by one, attendants brought in baskets. When they opened the baskets, dish after dish of delicious food was placed in the cafeteria.
"Boss Su said that if Young Master can’t finish all this, you can share it with your friends."
Zhong Chushan was astonished, looking at the table full of sumptuous dishes, he nudged Zhou Wangshu: "My goodness, your little sis... sister is really generous."
A sea of envious eyes focused on the abundance of food in front of Zhou Wangshu.
Zhou Wangshu was alone, but Su Yaoguang sent attendants with over twenty dishes, filling several nearby empty tables.
Zhou Wangshu thanked the attendant and then spoke to Zhong Chushan: "Let’s eat together!"
Zhong Chushan rolled up his sleeves, grinning: "I’m not going to be polite with you."
Zhou Wangshu also invited twenty or so students who hadn’t bullied him.
Those students came from impoverished homes, attending the academy purely for study, and thus never caused trouble.
These poor students rarely had the chance to eat such good food. Although tempted by Zhou Wangshu’s invitation, they maintained their pride deep down.
Zhong Chushan saw their hesitation and grabbed the roast chicken, tearing it into pieces and placing them into their bowls: "Eat up, what’s there to be courteous about?"
Those students who were not invited looked on with disdain.
They were from families with some wealth and often looked down on others in the academy, always stirring up trouble.
With their family’s means, they lacked neither food nor clothing. However, being confined in the academy for days without being able to go out, their mouths tasted so bland they could raise fish.
Xiao Yanci stared in the direction of Zhou Wangshu, his gaze lingering on his face.
How did he make that village girl value him so much? In terms of looks, he wasn’t worse than him. Could it be that he and the village girl are sharing a bed?
He thought of Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan was much better than that village girl. Once he achieves success, he’ll propose to Zhong Lanhua to marry Jiang Yihuan. As for Jiang Yihui, he’s somewhat of a nuisance.
Zhong Chushan gnawed on a chicken leg and said to Zhou Wangshu: "From today on, Yaoguang sister is my blood sister. It’s been days, finally eating meat, too difficult."
Zhou Wangshu ate slowly.
"Tonight, let’s go to the dance house."
Zhong Chushan almost choked.
"Brother, they’re checking very strictly now."
"On normal days, it might be considered risky, but after today’s meal, we have gained a lot of backup; we can get them to help hinder Xiao Ci."
Zhong Chushan gave him a thumbs up.
Su Yaoguang sent these dishes to help him build good relationships and ease his time at the academy.
This kid really knows how to leverage value. Just after eating this meal, he’s already thinking about how to use those who ate his food.
Before, I thought he was a weak, easily bullied lamb. Now it’s clear he’s not a lamb, but a big wolf in sheep’s clothing.
"Of course, they won’t be without benefits. If they help us hinder Xiao Ci, each can earn a ten-cent reward."
"That’s great. We’re all poor students, our families are really strained to support our studies." Zhong Chushan said, "I’ll go and talk to them later."
"If they ask what we’re going out for, just say I’ve found a job outside and want to earn some money to support my family. We’re all impoverished students, hearing this, they won’t make things difficult for us; they’ll understand better."
After all, the fact that he was bought as a live-in son-in-law by Su Yaoguang isn’t a secret. Although Su Yaoguang seems affluent, her wealth doesn’t mean he has money. Those who care about their reputation would consider it normal to want to earn money with their own hands to study. By establishing this self-reliant image for himself, Zhou Wangshu integrates more easily with them.