Chapter 36

PS: Thank you to the generous supporter "Lao Yu Mi" for the 588起点币 reward, "Shezou Taxyang" for the 100起点币 reward, and "Tian Xi Lu Xia" for the two 10起点币 red packets! Thank you to all the brothers and sisters who have collected and recommended this story. I bow in gratitude for your support!

Zhao Chen could not remember when the banquet had ended. All he remembered was that later on, Cheng Yaojin was shouting and arm wrestling with Li Shentong, while everyone else was cheering them on.

He was so tired that he dozed off in the corner, but Cheng Yaojin kicked him awake, saying that he had used too much force and needed to eat something.

Zhao Chen was so angry he wanted to curse, but seeing everyone in the room looking at him, he had no choice but to run to the kitchen, cook a pot of beef porridge, and bring it back. To avoid being kicked awake again, he had the steward take him to a side room, thus escaping the fate of being kicked awake.

In the morning, still half-asleep, he heard Qin Haidao's rhythmic voice outside the door.

"1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4..."

Zhao Chen turned over, confirming that it was indeed Qin Haidao's voice and not a neighbor's child from the future, and then pulled the blanket from Cheng Chumo, who was curled up like a shrimp, over his head, planning to sleep a bit more.

However, Qin Haidao's rhythmic voice kept coming, like a spell in his ears, echoing repeatedly. This was already the third round of calisthenics, and the kid was still doing it.

Zhao Chen sat up with a jolt, threw the blanket over his shoulders, and rushed to the door, opening it with a bang and glaring angrily at Qin Haidao, who was half-heartedly doing calisthenics outside. He said coldly, "Speak! What is it?"

Qin Haidao, who had been half-heartedly doing calisthenics and secretly observing the room, jumped in surprise when he saw Zhao Chen's angry face. After hearing Zhao Chen's question, his face turned red, and he lowered his head, stammering, "Brother Chen, it's already the hour of the Snake!"

"Uh!" Zhao Chen looked up at the sky, which was dark and gloomy, with the sun hanging weakly. Indeed, it was the hour of the Snake, as Qin Haidao had said. However, he was puzzled by Qin Haidao's abrupt statement.

"Brother Chen, shouldn't we go back to the College of Natural Philosophy?" Qin Haidao, seeing Zhao Chen's inquiring gaze, blushed and said hesitantly.

Zhao Chen was speechless and covered his forehead with his hand. The kid was obsessed with revenge. Fooled by Liu Huer, he had come to disturb his sleep early in the morning. Without him, Qin Haidao would have no reason to return to the College of Natural Philosophy early.

Well, he was planning to go back to discuss buying a house with Hu Lu today, so it was better to return early!

"Fine! I'll get dressed and go with you!" Zhao Chen said irritably, turned around, and went back into the room. Seeing Cheng Chumo still sleeping like a pig, he kicked him hard on the buttocks.

The bastard had overeaten last night and had been running to the toilet all night, preventing him from getting a good night's sleep!

"What's wrong, Brother Chen?" Cheng Chumo, who had been sleeping soundly, opened his eyes groggily when he felt a kick on his buttocks. Seeing Zhao Chen, he slumped back onto the bed and mumbled, "What's the matter?"

"Get up, we're going back to the College of Natural Philosophy!" Zhao Chen, still irritated, put on his robe and said.

"What for!" Cheng Chumo buried his head in the blanket and said grumpily, "It's so early, can't I even get some sleep? What's the rush?"

"If you want to sleep, sleep. I'm going back!" Zhao Chen, dressed, gave Cheng Chumo another hard kick on the buttocks before leaving the room.

Qin Haidao had already had the servants bring in water for washing. Knowing that Zhao Chen preferred cold water, he had just drawn it from the well.

Zhao Chen buried his head in the basin, took a big mouthful of water, and rinsed his mouth, spitting it out with a "puff" and feeling refreshed.

In the distance, Qin Yuyan saw this and was surprised, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had seen her younger brother do this in the morning, and now she understood where he had learned this "bad habit" from!

Cheng Chumo finally got up, yawning and walking out of the room. He glared at Zhao Chen with a resentful look, then came to the basin and, imitating Zhao Chen, buried his head in the cold water, took a mouthful, rinsed his mouth, and spat it out.

The old generals were still sleeping soundly after the night's commotion. Zhao Chen didn't dare to disturb them. After Cheng Chumo finished washing, the three of them quietly left for the College of Natural Philosophy.

The weather had suddenly turned cold overnight. In the Qin family courtyard, it wasn't noticeable, but once they stepped onto the streets of Chang'an, they felt the cold wind, causing them to huddle together.

"It's probably going to snow soon!" Zhao Chen squatted down, picked up the shivering Qin Haidao, and put him on his back, sniffing and said to Cheng Chumo.

"Indeed!" Cheng Chumo, with a red nose, sniffed and agreed, "It usually snows around this time of year!"

The three of them braved the cold wind towards the imperial city. By the time they reached the College of Natural Philosophy, they were all shivering and their noses were running.

The College of Natural Philosophy was quiet, with only the sound of the dining hall. It was breakfast time, and the three of them, who hadn't eaten, were planning to have breakfast there.

They ran into the warm dining hall and saw it filled with people. A quick glance revealed that all the wealthy young men were there, sitting orderly and enjoying their breakfast.

"Brothers, I, Zhao Chen, am back!" Seeing this, Zhao Chen was delighted, thinking that during his illness, these rascals would have gone wild without him, their "housekeeper."

It was good to see that his nagging had some effect!

However, he was a bit disappointed when he didn't receive the enthusiastic welcome he expected. Most people reacted indifferently, with only a few, like Changsun Chong, nodding in greeting.

Zhao Chen awkwardly lowered his raised hand, feeling a bit hurt, and went to the serving window, where he asked the cook for a bowl of sour soup and a large piece of steamed bread. He sat down at a table and ate quietly.

Something felt off, but Zhao Chen couldn't pinpoint what. When had the wealthy young men become so well-behaved? Li Yuanjing, who was usually the most unruly in the dining hall, was now the most orderly.

He tore off a piece of bread and chewed it slowly, looking around the dining hall. He was surprised to see several unfamiliar faces. Connecting this with the unusual behavior of the wealthy young men, he finally understood.

These new faces must be the craftsmen sent by Empress Changsun to the College of Natural Philosophy!

Moreover, Zhao Chen guessed that these people were not just there to learn glassmaking but also to supervise the wealthy young men. No wonder they were so well-behaved; it was as if a few "watchdogs" had been brought in!

"Are you the ones sent by Her Majesty?" Since he had figured out their identities, he couldn't pretend to be unaware. He put down his chopsticks and went over to greet them.

"Yes, we are!" To Zhao Chen's surprise, these people didn't even look at him, continuing to eat their bread and soup. Only one of them looked up, glanced at Zhao Chen, and asked arrogantly, "We have been ordered by Her Majesty to learn the method of glassmaking. When do you plan to start?"

They were extremely arrogant, looking down on everyone, as if they were above everything. That was the attitude of the person speaking!

"Since it's Her Majesty's order, I think we should start immediately!" Zhao Chen, not bothered by their arrogance, smiled humbly, showing a willingness to do anything for Changsun.

The eunuch was clearly taken aback, probably not expecting Zhao Chen to agree so readily. He paused, finished his food quickly, and then stood up, leading his companions to a large room in the College of Natural Philosophy.

"Let me explain the method of glassmaking in detail!" Once in the room, Zhao Chen took a piece of paper, laid it on the table, and began drawing diagrams, explaining with the seriousness and rigor of a modern university professor.

However, his audience was a group of illiterate people who had never even been to kindergarten. As he threw out a bunch of technical terms, he saw the eunuchs' eyes fill with confusion and sweat trickle down their foreheads.

"Are you mocking us?" Finally, one of them couldn't hold back, glaring at Zhao Chen and interrupting him coldly.

"Uh!" Zhao Chen, whose lecture had been rudely interrupted, was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "I don't understand what you mean. I've been explaining the method of glassmaking since I entered the room. How could I be mocking you?"

"Since we arrived, you've been saying things we can't understand. Isn't that mocking us?" The eunuch who had spoken earlier said coldly, "Haha, do you think you're so important with Qin Shubao's protection that you don't even respect Her Majesty?"

"Slap!" Zhao Chen slammed his pen on the table, angry, and said, "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I've been explaining the method of glassmaking seriously since you arrived. How could I be mocking you?"

"Haha!" The eunuch couldn't help but laugh coldly and said, "You're just spouting nonsense that we can't understand. How can you deny it?"

"You don't understand?" Zhao Chen was taken aback, then looked at the diagram seriously and said, puzzled, "What I'm saying is simple enough for a child to understand. How could you not understand it?"

At that moment, he saw Qin Haidao passing by the door with a mischievous smile. Zhao Chen waved him over. Once Qin Haidao entered, Zhao Chen asked him a few questions about Celsius, which Qin Haidao had mentioned a few days ago while drinking hot water.

Sure enough, Qin Haidao, after a brief pause, began to explain fluently.

Listening to Qin Haidao's fluent explanation, the previously arrogant eunuchs turned green with embarrassment.