When it comes to moving things, just relying on a couple of people isn’t enough. After all, ox carts can’t enter the academy gates, and the back-and-forth journey wastes too much time.
If it were just Ji Wei, it would likely take most of the day to transport everything from the ox cart inside.
However, with Lin Tai, things are different.
Having been here for three years, he has made so many friends that he can’t even count them all. Xu Yao, Ji Baoshan, and others introduced their friends, and before long, a whole group of over ten people appeared in front of Liu Yimian, chatting and laughing, leaving him quite bewildered.
“Brother Ji, who are they?” Liu Yimian quietly tugged at Ji Wei’s sleeve when no one was paying attention and asked in a low voice.
“They’re all your future classmates. You should learn from them and strive to integrate quickly into their group; mutual support and unity are important,” Ji Wei said, giving Liu Yimian’s nose a playful tap and urging him to carry down the book box.
These books were all recommended by Zhang Mingyuan. Ji Wei had accompanied Liu Yimian to the bookstore, picking them out one by one. They weren’t just the required reading for the exams but also included several foundational texts specifically listed by Zhang Mingyuan for Liu Yimian.
After all, he was a latecomer, and his knowledge base was far inferior to that of other students who had studied diligently since childhood. He needed to put in more effort than most.
Among the students who came out to help Ji Wei, two were squatting on the ox cart, passing items down.
From their elevated position, they could see far, and one of them curiously examined this future classmate and noticed the prominent red birthmark between his eyebrows.
Needless to say, even if someone has never seen a pig run, they’ve eaten pork before.
The boy’s distinct features made him easily recognizable.
He nudged his companion and whispered in astonishment, “Hey, look over there!”
“What’s there to see? The sun is blazing outside. We should hurry up and finish moving everything and then go back inside to rest,” the two were roommates and friends who got along well.
“Just look! That person studying is not ordinary!”
He followed Liu Yimian’s gaze and was instantly captivated by the red birthmark. “I can’t be mistaken, can I? That’s a ge-er!”
“Keep your voice down if you don’t want Ji Wei to hear you.”
“I don’t know how he got into the county academy. Although the academy doesn’t have rules against ge-er attending, this is the first time I’ve seen one studying here…”
The two whispered to each other, but when they saw Ji Wei and Liu Yimian turning their heads, they quickly looked away, afraid of being caught.
After everything on the cart was moved, the two jumped down.
“Almost forgot!” Ji Wei took down a bag hanging on the ox’s back, filled with mooncakes, cookies, donuts, and croissants he brought for Liu Yimian to use for socializing.
He was introverted and didn’t often initiate conversations, making it easy for him to be at a disadvantage. Gaining everyone’s goodwill from the start would make Liu Yimian’s life smoother after he left.
He had planned this well in advance, even rummaging through the shop before leaving and depleting a small portion of the inventory, which Zhao Hu had grumbled about for a while.
Thinking of this, Ji Wei smiled as he held the heavy bag and walked towards the school building with Liu Yimian.
“Wen Xuan will also report to the county academy in a few days, so you two can accompany each other,” Ji Wei mentioned that he had talked to Wen Xuan about this and learned that he initially planned to return to the county academy next year, as he didn’t have enough money for tuition and housing fees.
However, after Ji Wei offered him mooncakes, he earned some extra money, and with a frugal living, he could manage for a year. He thought about returning this year, hoping to take part in the county exams alongside Ji Baoshan.
“Will Wen Xuan be staying in the dormitory?” Liu Yimian asked with concern.
“It should be enough. If it’s not, he can share a room with you; that way, they can look out for each other.” Ji Wei wouldn’t normally trust just anyone, but after spending time with Wen Xuan, he found him simple and honest, capable of hard work. If he shared a room with Liu Yimian, he wouldn’t take advantage of him and would take good care of him.
Ji Wei cared about this.
“That room is yours; it’s called Green Bamboo.” Ji Wei pointed toward an open wooden door where people were coming and going, creating quite a lively atmosphere.
Ji Wei and Liu Yimian fell behind while talking. The two students who had noticed Liu Yimian was a ge-er returned early and had already discussed the matter with others, sparking heated discussions. When the two finally arrived, how could they not observe?
Thus, as soon as Liu Yimian appeared in front of the dormitory, he was continuously scrutinized.
He felt a bit uncomfortable and moved behind Ji Wei, puzzled, “Brother Ji, why are they staring at me?”
“Maybe they’re looking at me; don’t be nervous.” Ji Wei’s expression darkened as he noticed they were still focused on Liu Yimian, which he could sense.
The students’ gazes were not on him at all.
It was clear that Liu Yimian’s identity as a ge-er had finally caught their attention.
Although Ji Wei felt a bit displeased, he also knew that once Liu Yimian decided to come to the county academy, these prejudices and criticisms would inevitably arise—it was just a matter of when and to what extent.
The inside was chaotic, with students tossing their belongings haphazardly on the floor.
Liu Yimian rolled up his sleeves and tied his clothes around his waist, finding a broom and a dustpan to start cleaning the long-neglected floor.
As he swept behind the door, he overheard a few people in the courtyard discussing something. He hadn’t intended to listen, but their loud voices forced him to pay attention.
“I think this is not good!”
“Yeah, he’s a ge-er; how can he study in the same classroom as us men?”
“This is too chaotic!”
“Exactly! I feel the same way, but I didn’t dare to say it earlier.”
One of the boys who had been on the cart spoke, “He’s a ge-er coming to study with Ji Wei; will the two of them…”
He didn’t state it outright, but it was implied, and who wouldn’t understand? A ge-er appearing with an ordinary man must mean they were in a romantic relationship unless he was a brother or relative.
Everyone present shivered at the thought.
Another person said, “Ji Wei isn’t short on money; who knows if he’s gotten in through some backdoor? What would a ge-er like him know?”
Others chimed in agreement.
Ji Wei was moving the cabinet to avoid blocking the passage and the light. He had just placed the cabinet against the wall opposite the bed when he casually asked, “Haven’t you finished sweeping behind the door yet?”
Liu Yimian responded immediately, his nasal tone heavy, but Ji Wei quickly sensed that something was off.
Without asking further questions, he walked over to Liu Yimian, lifted his chin, and met his slightly reddened eyes.
Ji Wei furrowed his brow, puzzled by what had happened.
“Although he’s a young master, the people here seem quite nice,” Liu Yimian said.
“Mian Guang, you can’t say that. This is a school, and being nice doesn’t mean much; what’s most important is their knowledge. Otherwise, it’s all just talk,” Ji Wei replied.
“A young master can’t understand anything! I have a distant cousin who is a young master, and his status at home is even lower than that of his sister. She got married before turning sixteen.”
“But—”
Zhao Mian Guang fell silent. He was not a particularly articulate person, and with all his classmates in agreement, it was hard for him to get his point across. He decided to stop talking altogether.
“I’ll excuse myself for a moment,” he said.
Zhao Mian Guang waved goodbye to them, feeling somewhat downcast as he returned to his room. His room was next to Lin Tai’s, and upon finding him lying on the bed, he didn’t look like he was asleep, so he stepped in and called out to Lin Tai.
“What’s up?” Lin Tai turned over, propping his head up with one hand to look at Zhao Mian Guang.
“That new guy is… is actually…”
“He’s a young master,” Lin Tai nonchalantly finished Zhao Mian Guang’s unfinished sentence.
Zhao Mian Guang’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “How did you know?”
“I’m not blind. With that prominent red mole on his forehead, how could I not see it?” Lin Tai got up from the bed and sat cross-legged in the center, patting the bed to invite Zhao Mian Guang to sit down as well.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“A young master coming to study here, don’t you find it strange?” Lin Tai tilted his head and scrutinized Zhao Mian Guang, making him a bit anxious.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mian Guang, does the academy’s eight major prohibitions and sixteen restrictions state that young masters are not allowed to enroll?”
“…Not exactly.”
“Does it say anything about young masters not being allowed to take the imperial examinations?”
Zhao Mian Guang was at a loss for words and shook his head.
Feeling a bit hungry, Lin Tai rubbed his plump belly and climbed down from the bed to grab a box of cookies from the cabinet. The box was to prevent moisture so that the cookies wouldn’t go soft and lose their flavor.
“If one day he shows up in the same examination hall as us, I wouldn’t find it strange at all,” Lin Tai said, crunching on a cookie and passing the box to Zhao Mian Guang.
“Thank you.” Zhao Mian Guang took two cookies but couldn’t help adding, “But I’ve never heard of a young master passing the examinations and becoming an official.”
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
Lin Tai tilted his chin toward Zhao Mian Guang. “Where’s the farthest place you’ve been?”
Zhao Mian Guang pondered for a moment. “Qingcheng, I guess,” since they had gone there for an exam before.
“There are eighteen large prefectures in the Qi Dynasty, and places like Qingcheng number in the hundreds. You haven’t even ventured out of the Ming Prefecture, and you talk about ‘never hearing of’ such things?” Thanks to his father, who was in business, Lin Tai had experienced and heard much more than most of his peers.
Lin Yaozu often told him that the world is vast, and there are wonders everywhere. Just because one hasn’t seen or heard of something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
With this knowledge instilled in him, Lin Tai’s words lingered in his mind.
Zhao Mian Guang felt enlightened and gripped Lin Tai’s arm, a hint of excitement in his voice. “I always thought you only cared about eating. I didn’t realize you had such insights; perhaps I was too narrow-minded.”
“You’re the one being thick-headed,” Lin Tai mumbled, his mouth full of cookies.
“Trust in the academy head. Since he agreed, this new classmate must have something special about him,” Zhao Mian Guang clapped his hands together.
Lin Tai had a hard time swallowing the cookie. “Do you think the people in Ji Wei’s room have left yet?”
“Probably, I didn’t see anyone in there earlier.”
“Good, then let’s go!” Lin Tai placed the cookie box on the table, quickly jumped off the bed, and smoothly put on his shoes in one fluid motion.
Zhao Mian Guang was taken aback, staring in astonishment, and only reacted when Lin Tai reached the door.
“What are you going to do?”
“Go eat something delicious! You always say I only know how to eat, right?” Lin Tai chuckled as he turned to glance at Zhao Mian Guang, who was embarrassedly lowering his head, before happily rushing into the Green Bamboo room.
“This place is great! You’ve got a nice location.” The sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating the wall near the back bamboo forest, with bamboo leaves reaching up to the window, creating a charming, rustic atmosphere.
“What should I call you?” This was Ji Wei’s second time seeing Lin Tai. Earlier, he had enthusiastically run over to offer help with moving things, but after the task was done, Ji Wei did not see him again.
Seeing him again now, Lin Tai appeared just as enthusiastic.
This left Ji Wei feeling somewhat confused; they were practically strangers, so why was he being so warm?
“Lin Tai,” he replied, twitching his nose as if catching a whiff of something delicious, his face lighting up with delight. “You brought food!”
Ji Wei chuckled, finally understanding his excitement.
“Yes, I brought plenty of pastries I made. Come and try them.” As he pulled out the bag, Lin Tai cheered and rushed to Ji Wei’s side, his eyes shining as he gazed at the assorted pastries.
“They’re indeed as delicious as your father said!”
“Did my dad tell you that?” Lin Tai mumbled, his eyes glued to the donuts and croissants.
“Feel free to take as much as you want.”
Lin Tai cheered again, grabbing a donut in one hand and a croissant in the other. After taking a bite of the soft donut, his eyes squinted in satisfaction.
“They’re so good!”
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1