Chapter 5

Ye Chunqiu let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed that the optical brain was still reliable. He looked at the floating ruler in the air with lingering fear, feeling as if he had been reborn after a great ordeal.

Zhou Fuzi, who had lost his previous confidence, still said with disgust, "You were sleeping just now, how could you know what I was teaching?"

Ye Chunqiu replied calmly and composedly, "Master, the student's body is a bit unwell, so I couldn't sit properly. However, I still listened to your lecture attentively."

This excuse even made Ye Chunqiu admire himself.

Zhou Fuzi, however, was still furious. He felt uncomfortable, his heart feeling blocked, as if he had lost his dignity in the eyes of the students. He continued, "But where did the snoring come from just now?"

Ah... So I snore in my sleep.

Ye Chunqiu remained calm and composed, slowly saying, "As I said just now, I caught a slight cold, so, Master, you understand."

"Understand? Understand what?"

Ye Chunqiu patiently explained, "Because of the cold, I couldn't help but have a stuffy nose. With a blocked nose, my breathing was not smooth, so it became heavy, thus..."

At this, Zhou Fuzi truly understood.

He found it hard to find any more excuses and could only glare at Ye Chunqiu fiercely, "Listen carefully to the lecture. If you dare to be inattentive again, I will..."

A master is a master. When he felt that verbal threats were not enough to intimidate a bad student, he used the most effective method. The ruler swung fiercely in the air, the sound of the air breaking coming with it. Then, with a practiced motion, the ruler paused in the air and was retracted, displaying the demeanor of a virtuous and talented old artist. Zhou Fuzi's eyes narrowed, and seeing the surprised students, he coldly said, "Ye Chunqiu, sit down."

Finally, the class was over. Zhou Fuzi repeated the matter of the county examination. In the Ningbo Prefecture's Fenghua County where the Ye family lived, many people participated in the child examination every year. However, not just anyone could participate. One had to gather signatures from other child candidates and also get a guarantee from a county scholar, ensuring that they were not impersonating someone, hiding a death, substituting, or using a fake name, and that their family background was clean, not being the descendants of entertainers, actors, or low-ranking officials, and that they themselves had not committed any crimes or engaged in despicable professions.

The former was to prevent cheating, with five child candidates signing a joint guarantee, and if one cheated, all five would be punished.

The latter, however, kept most people without connections out, as they couldn't find a county scholar to vouch for them, thus losing their eligibility to take the exam.

However, for the Ye family, this was a minor issue. Those who did not qualify for the child examination generally participated anyway, regardless of their academic ability or confidence. The key was to participate. Passing was the best, but failing would be considered a warm-up. For the Ye family, finding someone to vouch for them was a simple matter.

After finishing his speech, Zhou Fuzi's face turned cold, "That's all for today. You must complete my assignments as soon as possible."

Ye Chunqiu quickly put his writing materials back into his book box. After waking up, he felt refreshed and full of energy, eager to fly out of the school.

Ye Chunqiu stood up with his book box on his back. Behind him, Ye Chenliang, with a smiling face, said, "Chunqiu, the county examination is coming. You must work hard."

Seeing that face, which seemed to invite a beating, Ye Chunqiu felt uneasy.

Ye Chunqiu also smiled in response, "Thank you, Cousin. I will definitely strive. You must also strive and pass the county examination."

Ye Chenliang felt as if he had swallowed a fly. His studies had always been excellent, and he was deeply favored by the old master and Zhou Fuzi. For a small child examination, he was bound to pass. Did he need encouragement from this scum?

His face twitched, wanting to retort, but Ye Chunqiu had already run off with his book box, "Goodbye, Cousin."

Ye Chenliang, seeing Ye Chunqiu disappear, couldn't help but mutter, "Scum! Like father, like son."

After a day's work, Ye Chunqiu's stomach was a bit hungry. He hurried home, but at that moment, he heard a voice from behind, "Chunqiu, Chunqiu..."

Ye Chunqiu turned around and saw Ye Juncai from the second branch, carrying a bamboo basket with writing materials, who had just finished school and had been following him.

Ye Juncai was the second son of Uncle Three. Although he was younger than Ye Chunqiu, he seemed to have taken some growth hormone, with a broad back and a muscular build, standing half a head taller than Ye Chunqiu.

Ye Juncai and Ye Chunqiu were both unpopular in Zhou Fuzi's eyes. They should have been of the same kind, but it turned out that they were enemies. Ye Juncai had always looked at Ye Chunqiu unfavorably. Children tend to bully newcomers, and Ye Chunqiu suspected that his overly kind appearance made Ye Juncai want to pick on him.

Ye Chunqiu ignored him and continued walking with his book box.

Ye Juncai became angry and shouted, "Stop, Ye Chunqiu, I'm asking you a question, you big-footed woman's son."

When Ye Juncai got closer, Ye Chunqiu noticed his angry face and rolled up sleeves, as if he was about to hit someone.

Damn... What did I do to deserve this? I don't even know you. Can we still reason?

Ye Chunqiu found Ye Juncai to be unreasonable. It was too late to run, and Ye Juncai was already in front of him, waving his fist menacingly, "Ye Chunqiu, don't think that just because you're my elder brother, I won't hit you."

Ye Chunqiu, looking innocent, said, "Juncai, what's wrong?"

Ye Juncai said in a harsh voice, "You're asking me what's wrong? You dared to say I'm a disgrace to the Ye family and that I'm not even fit to carry your shoes, right?"

Ye Chunqiu was startled. Although he had thought this, he had never dared to say it. After half a month in the clan school, he knew that this muscular cousin was notorious for his unruly behavior, using his strength to bully others. Many Ye family children had been beaten by him.

Ye Chunqiu, with a pained expression, said, "Who said that?"

Ye Juncai sneered, looking down at Ye Chunqiu like a small bull, "Chenliang said it. Don't deny it. I won't listen to your excuses. I don't care if you're my elder brother; I'm going to beat you today."

Ye Chenliang...

That makes sense.

The second uncle and his son from the second branch had always looked at him unfavorably. Ye Chenliang often mocked him. Ha...

Having lived two lives, Ye Chunqiu knew that this father-son duo would be happy if he and his father never returned to the Ye family. If his father didn't return, the second uncle would be the heir to the Ye family, and Ye Chenliang would be the legitimate grandson of the main branch.

It was no surprise that he would play some tricks behind the scenes.

Seeing Ye Juncai's raised fist, Ye Chunqiu realized that he and this cousin could not communicate. This level of intelligence was only good for being used as a pawn.

"Ha ha... Here he comes... Here he comes..."

In the distance, there were faint sounds.

Ye Chunqiu looked and saw Ye Chenliang and a few other Ye family children watching from a distance by a rockery. Ye Chenliang was waving a fan, and although his face was unclear, it was certainly full of anticipation.

Ye Chunqiu didn't have time to curse these scoundrels because the impatient Ye Juncai was already rubbing his hands, ready to use his fists to spread the truth.

"Do you know everything?" Ye Chunqiu suddenly looked shocked.

"Know everything... That sounds strange," Ye Juncai said coldly, "Of course, I know everything."

"Juncai, cousin... then..."

Ye Juncai was taken aback. Hey, kid, be serious. I'm just beating you for my dignity. Why do you look like you have something to say but can't?

Ye Juncai's fist paused, and he said angrily, "What do you want to say?"