Chapter 19: The threshold is about to be trampled flat.
Life returned to normal after returning from the prefecture.
Gu Yu still stayed at home, studying medical scriptures and tinkering with small gadgets. His life was very ordinary, a simple routine between the town’s academy and home, extremely regular.
However, while Gu Yu was quiet, Qingshan Academy was not.
Since Gu Qingheng won the final victory in the Academy Competition, many people from the prefecture came to enroll their children in Qingshan Academy, hoping they could pass the imperial examinations and enter the government as officials.
Even if they didn’t ask their children to be as smart as Gu Qingheng, the parents would be satisfied if they could achieve even half of that.
Or, they could build a good relationship with Gu Qingheng, and when he became an official in the future, they could rely on this connection.
Therefore, Qingshan Academy welcomed a large wave of new students, keeping Director Qingshan extremely busy. In the end, he had to select several older students from the academy to help, which finally resolved the enrollment issue.
After that, it was time to assess whether these applicants were suitable for Qingshan Academy.
“Qingheng, hasn’t Director Qingshan finished yet? It’s been several days, and people are still coming to enroll. It’s terrifying!”
“No! Director Qingshan has been worried lately. When he’s not teaching, he sits aside and sighs, which is extremely amusing to us students. Other academies are almost out of students, but Director Qingshan is worried because there are too many applicants.”
While eating dinner, Gu Yu suddenly remembered the scene he saw at the academy entrance that morning when he sent Gu Qingheng to school, where a group of people were gathered.
If he didn’t know these people were prospective students and their parents, Gu Yu would have thought Director Qingshan owed money and was being cornered by creditors.
When Gu Qingheng heard Gu Yu’s question, his little face immediately broke into a smile, and the words he spoke made Gu Yu imagine Director Qingshan’s sighing appearance.
Speaking of which, Director Qingshan was truly happy and pained at the same time.
Since the Academy Competition ended, students had been enrolling in an endless stream, almost pushing down the gates of Qingshan Academy. Lian Town had also become lively, with even street vendors earning several times more than usual.
“Why are so many students enrolling? Is it just because of the Academy Competition? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”
“Actually, before the Academy Competition, Director Qingshan told us that this competition was not practical.”
“Not practical?”
“Yes, due to time constraints, it was destined not to be too demanding. Also, competing in front of everyone had a performative aspect… This competition was merely to showcase the academies and let the onlookers know about them, so they could consider which academy to send their children to.”
“So that’s how it is. No wonder, after Qingshan Academy won, the threshold was almost trampled flat by the enrolling students.”
After learning the reason for the sudden increase in applicants from Gu Qingheng, Gu Yu finally nodded.
No wonder Magistrate Bai Wangzhi of Lian Town sat in his seat looking smug, while the officials sitting next to him had dark faces, clearly displeased.
It turned out that after Qingshan Academy won, and with the influx of students, the academies in the prefecture suffered a severe blow.
Perhaps, even students from some academies were now enrolling in Qingshan Academy.
“By the way, brother-in-law, something truly peculiar happened!”
“What?”
“Do you remember that cool student during the Academy Competition, whom I almost made cry by pushing him, and I ended up going easy on him for one question he answered correctly… That student is Tao Lin Leng, and he also came to enroll in Qingshan Academy.”
“Pft.”
Just as Gu Yu was thinking about Magistrate Bai’s smug look, Gu Qingheng took a bite of his meal and suddenly remembered something, then quickly spoke about the peculiar event at the academy.
When Gu Qingheng said that Tao Lin Leng had also enrolled in Qingshan Academy, Gu Yu almost spat out the food in his mouth, but managed to hold it back in time.
After swallowing the food with great difficulty, Gu Yu looked at him with a bewildered expression, wondering why this problematic youth, Tao Lin Leng, would come to Qingshan Academy.
Could it be that he was angered by being defeated by Gu Qingheng in the Academy Competition… However, after the competition ended, Tao Lin Leng didn’t look like he wanted revenge.
“What is he doing at Qingshan Academy?”
“I don’t know! Because Tao Lin Leng is indeed very intelligent, Director Qingshan directly interviewed him alone when he came to enroll. After the interview, he was admitted on the spot.”
“Did Tao Lin Leng do anything to you?”
“Not really, but we’re in the same class now. He often buys me small snacks, which makes me a bit embarrassed.”
“…”
Later, when Gu Yu heard Gu Qingheng’s explanation and realized it was not what he had imagined, Gu Yu couldn’t help but twitch his lips, wondering what Tao Lin Leng was up to.
And buying him snacks…
Could it be that he fell in love with Gu Qingheng at first sight during the competition…
Just as he imagined it, Gu Yu immediately shivered, clearly unable to think about it further.
His brother-in-law liked summer and women!
“Brother-in-law, don’t misunderstand! Tao Lin Leng said he admires my talent and wants to be good friends with me, so he came to study at Qingshan Academy.”
“Is that so…”
“Tsk, adults have such wicked thoughts!!!”
Then, when Gu Qingheng saw the odd expression on Gu Yu’s face, he immediately knew Gu Yu had misunderstood, based on his understanding of Gu Yu!
So, Gu Qingheng quickly spoke to clarify, stating that his relationship with Tao Lin Leng was purely that of classmates.
When mentioning the wicked thoughts of adults, Gu Qingheng even wanted to spit on the ground, thinking his brother-in-law was too improper!
When his older sister returns, he must report this!
“I just had a momentary lapse in thought! Don’t be angry. Since you feel embarrassed to always receive things from Tao Lin Leng, I’ll make an extra one when I make small gadgets in the future.”
“Okay! But, brother-in-law, make three. I also want one for Zhuo Fei.”
“…”
Seeing the depressed look on Gu Qingheng’s face, Gu Yu quickly tried to placate his brother-in-law. Knowing that mere words wouldn’t work, Gu Yu had to promise to make an extra one when he made his small gadgets in the future.
Letting Gu Qingheng give it to Tao Lin Leng, so he wouldn’t always feel indebted.
However, Gu Qingheng pushed his luck and asked Gu Yu to make another one for his good friend Zhuo Fei!
This left Gu Yu speechless. Seeing the dejected look on his brother-in-law’s face again, he had to agree to Gu Qingheng’s request.
If it weren’t for broadening Gu Qingheng’s social circle, Gu Yu wouldn’t have gone to such trouble.
Tao Lin Leng came from a good family background, and now he was showing goodwill towards Gu Qingheng. Gu Yu thought it would be good for Gu Qingheng to try and befriend him and observe if they could develop a deep friendship.
As for Tao Lin Leng’s problematic youth status, Gu Yu didn’t see it as an issue.
It was said that a prodigal son who reformed was more precious than gold. If Tao Lin Leng could truly change his ways and study and serve as an official with Gu Qingheng, not only would Gu Qingheng benefit in the future, but Tao Lin Leng would too.
Social relationships were reciprocal, so it depended on how far Tao Lin Leng could go in the future.
And Zhuo Fei, although his family background and studies were average, had a decent personality. Gu Qingheng could talk to him, so it was worth investing long-term to see how he would develop.
Thinking about this, Gu Yu felt like a very hardworking brother-in-law, constantly worrying about his brother-in-law.
…
“Mengyao Eldest Sister! Are you alright? Oh my god, you’re injured.”
“It’s just a minor injury, only a scratch.”
“That won’t do! Mengyao Eldest Sister, you’re a girl. If your face is disfigured, Brother Gu might dislike you.”
“How dare he!”
Gu Mengyao returned to her residence with fatigue on her face after fighting with Fengming Kingdom. Just as she was about to collapse onto the bed to rest, Xia Tian also entered. Upon seeing the bloodstain on Gu Mengyao’s arm, she couldn’t help but exclaim.
This made Gu Mengyao show a helpless smile, and she then assured Xia Tian that she was fine.
The war between Linfeng Kingdom and Fengming Kingdom had been ongoing for a long time, with skirmishes every few days. Gu Mengyao had gone from initial nervousness and anxiety to calm and composed. After a battle, she could even fall asleep directly on the bed.
However, in this battle, Gu Mengyao exposed a weakness while covering a soldier’s retreat, and an enemy drew a sword directly towards her neck, almost slitting her throat.
Fortunately, her powerful lightness skill came into play, allowing Gu Mengyao to narrowly dodge the attack, but her arm was scratched.
Afterward, Gu Mengyao pierced the attacking enemy through with her spear, and the sound of retreat signaled the end of the battle. The armies of both countries immediately withdrew, and the war temporarily ceased.
Although Gu Mengyao was lectured by her father for a long time, seeing the grateful look from the soldier she saved made Gu Mengyao feel very satisfied.
She couldn’t bear to see soldiers die in front of her eyes.
It was precisely because of Gu Mengyao’s act of saving lives that the soldiers under her command were even more moved, thinking that they had such a good leader that they would not hesitate to die for her.
Gu Mengyao was worthy of them sacrificing their lives!
Just as the many soldiers were pledging their loyalty to Gu Mengyao, Gu Mengyao, upon hearing Xia Tian’s words, immediately sat up from the bed angrily.
If Gu Yu dared to dislike her for having a scar, she would never forgive him!
She would make mung bean congee for Gu Yu for a year!
