Chapter 56

Listen, listen, listen (Dear, who still has votes? We're about to be second, please give us your recommendation votes, dear!)

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Every day, the energetic young men naturally had no problem with the thirty-mile round trip. But for the frail little girls, it was too much to bear.

The next day, Su Xun and Lady Cheng were worrying when they suddenly heard a "oink oink..." sound in the courtyard. Going out to check, they saw Chen Jialang leading in a creature that looked like a horse but wasn't, with a large head, long ears, short legs, and a thin body. This also drew Su's sister and brother out of the house.

"This is a donkey..." Su Shi exclaimed.

"Aren't you being redundant," In recent times, in Chen Ke's heart, the grand image of Su Xian had already vanished: "Is it a donkey or a cow?"

"Hey," Su Shi, caught between laughter and tears, said: "I mean, why did you bring a donkey?" He then said with a look of anticipation: "I know, you want to make donkey meat火烧 (burning fire)." What made Chen Ke even more depressed was that this guy was a genuine foodie.

"You only think about eating." Chen Ke rolled his eyes: "This is a 'Little Mulan' prepared for the little sister." In his view, if a horse is a small car, then a donkey is a 'Little Mulan'.

"Little Mulan, what an interesting name," the little sister, with her black eyes sparkling, asked curiously: "Is it a girl?"

"It's a female." Chen Ke stroked the smooth, silk-like neck of the little female donkey: "Although it's not as impressive as a horse, it's gentle, easy to raise, and obedient, making it perfect for girls."

"Third Brother, you are truly a timely rain. I was just worrying with Auntie about how the little sister would go to the academy." Su Xun appeared in the courtyard, patting Chen Ke's back: "How much did it cost? Let Auntie pay you."

"If you're talking about money." Chen Ke said seriously: "I should pay Uncle Su."

"How so?" Everyone was curious.

"I went to Lai Fu Building today to talk with my senior apprentice and saw this pitiful little donkey tied to a pot in the open air. The pot was boiling with hot water, and an apprentice was sharpening a knife..."

"Just say 'kill the donkey' and be done with it." Su Shi retaliated.

"Descriptive details can make you feel the donkey's despair as if you were there." Chen Ke lectured him seriously: "Opposing the Western Kun style doesn't mean going to extremes."

"You have a point." Su Shi was still in the era of being influenced.

"About the donkey..." Su Xun was speechless with these two kids.

"Alright, about the donkey. This donkey's eyes were filled with tears, looking at me in despair." Chen Ke described vividly: "At that moment, even a heart of stone would feel compassion, so I saved it. But saving it was just the first step. What about its future? If it doesn't have a good home, it might be sold again or work to death, which would be even more harmful. After much thought, I decided to let it be the little sister's mount. The workload is small, the rest time is plenty, and there's no worry about abuse, making it the best home for it."

"Little Mulan is only two years old, with nearly thirty years of life ahead. To see it through, I am willing to pay for Uncle Su's family to raise it..." Chen Ke said seriously, but it made the whole Su family laugh. Su Shi held his belly laughing, the little sister laughed like a blooming flower, and even Su Xun laughed until tears streamed down his face, pointing at him: "You little rascal, you could be a纵横家 (strategist) in the future, your mouth can turn the dead into the living."

Though so, later that evening, Su Xun still went to give Chen Xiliang the money for the donkey. But Chen Xiliang refused: "As the ancients said, friends share their wealth. I am now more comfortable, and it doesn't matter whether I have this money or not. But you are different. You will leave Sichuan for the imperial exams in the fall, and you have children studying at home. Can you rely on your sister-in-law selling her dowry forever?"

"Alas..." Su Xun felt his heroism wane: "I am useless..."

"I am the same. Three years ago, you saw the life I lived." Chen Xiliang comforted him: "It was just a stroke of luck to have a good son, which made things better. But every time I think about it, I feel bad that I am so incapable and have to rely on my son." He paused and smiled: "Do you know how Third Brother enlightened me?"

"How did he enlighten you?" Su Xun asked: "Heaven will bestow a great mission?"

"No," Chen Xiliang smiled bitterly: "As long as I can pass this exam and make him a government official, that will be the best reward."

"Phew..." Su Xun almost sprayed his tea, coughing and saying: "This kid, sigh, truly extraordinary..."

"Doesn't your Hezhong always want to become an immortal?" Chen Xiliang was unhappy.

"Perhaps all prodigies have unusual traits." Su Xun shook his head and smiled: "Well, I understand your meaning. When my family becomes prosperous, I will repay the Chen family's kindness."

"I hope your family prospers." Chen Xiliang was very straightforward: "But I don't hope for the day when you repay my family."

"Oh..." Su Xun was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "Indeed, being close to the virtuous makes one virtuous, you are becoming more and more like your Third Brother!"

"It should be that he is like me!" Chen Xiliang corrected.

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The next day, before dawn, the young men were already on their way with their book boxes.

Su's little sister, with her hair in two small braids, wore a fresh white and green dress and a blue silk skirt, sitting sideways on 'Little Mulan'. With the donkey's steps, her small feet in red embroidered shoes swayed, like a happy little bird.

Knowing it was her first time riding a donkey, Chen Ke held the reins. To avoid accidents, he kept an eye on her while joking with his brothers.

The more careful he was, the slower they went, and the two gradually fell behind. Just as Chen Ke was about to shout, "Slow down!" he heard the little sister say brightly: "Third Brother."

"Ah." Chen Ke looked at her.

"My mother said that if you hadn't saved me that time, I wouldn't be here." The little sister put her fingers together, lowered her head, and spoke softly.

"It wouldn't be like that." Chen Ke shook his head and smiled: "You have great fortune. Even without me, you would have gotten better."

"It wouldn't be like that." The little sister was very sure: "Besides Third Brother, who else in the world has read the Medical Sage's 'Treatise on Cold Damage'?"

"That's not necessarily true."

"Even if there were, it wouldn't be so coincidental to appear in our home." The little sister's logic was sound, leaving Chen Ke no room to dodge. She nodded firmly: "So you are my savior. But I've thought for a long time and don't know how to repay Third Brother."

"Repay..." Chen Ke pinched his chin, thinking: 'Raising a little girl could be a good thing.' He squinted and smiled: "You could offer yourself to me!"

"Um, good idea!" The little sister said innocently: "I'll be Third Brother's little sister!" She clapped her hands, relieved: "Thinking that my big brother saved me, being a sister is no burden..."

"Hey, didn't you already consider me your brother?" Chen Ke was taken aback: "I consider you my sister!"

"Big brother, really." The little sister waved her small fist, emphasizing: "Really! Family is priceless!"

"Ha ha ha..." Chen Ke was amused by her innocent appearance: "You little rascal!" He almost forgot that this little sister was surnamed Su!

"Not stinky, very fragrant, don't believe me, smell it." The little sister gently rolled up her sleeve, showing her white, slender arm, bringing it to his nose, then quickly pulling it back, proudly saying: "No sweat smell!"

"Who said that?" Chen Ke shook his head: "This season is humid and sticky, you get sticky as soon as you go out..."

"Ah..." The little sister quickly sniffed herself, finding no sweat smell, and pouted: "Third Brother, you are the worst!"

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After rushing, they finally arrived at the Zhong Temple just before the hour of Mao.

Su Shi took the little sister to find Wang Fang. Chen Ke and the others went to the stream outside the temple to wash their feet and change into new shoes and socks. Young men have a lot of energy, and their feet smelled after the long run.

Chen Ke was laughing and chatting with Su Zhe when he was poked by Song Duanping. Following his gaze, he saw Cheng Zhicai, wearing a white gauze robe and a gold-embroidered belt, also walking to the stream.

"This guy is really handsome..." Song Duanping whispered: "If it weren't for the Adam's apple, I would have thought he was another Zhu Yingtai."

"Keep it down, don't let him hear." Chen Ke, though not a good person, never joked about someone's physical defects... in his view, having a pretty face was a man's defect.

When Cheng Zhicai reached the stream, he saw these guys washing their feet in the water, frowned, and was about to turn away. But after climbing a few miles of mountain road, he felt sticky and uncomfortable. So he endured the disgust, went to the upstream away from them, unbuttoned his shirt, and wet a purple handkerchief to wipe himself.

"Seems he's not a girl..." Song Duanping, fantasizing about transforming into Liang Shanbo for a touching love story, felt infinitely disappointed.

"Gender is not the issue," Chen Ke chuckled: "I support homosexuality!"

"Go to hell." Song Duanping jumped up: "I am a pure man!"

"Purple handkerchiefs are rare..." Fourth Brother, who had been quiet, suddenly said.

"He has a strong taste, what can you do about it." Chen Ke put on his shoes: "Don't miss the roll call, let's go in."

As soon as they entered the courtyard, everyone quieted down and walked into the classroom, which was shaded by bamboo. They took off their shoes at the eaves, put on white socks, and knelt at their seats.

Su Shi was the last to enter. As soon as he sat down, he heard a clear chime outside.

Yuan, the supervisor, began to call the roll. After confirming that all twenty students were present, he ordered the assistant to distribute the daily record books, daily lesson books, and other items. Then he said solemnly: "Your studies will be divided into ten-day periods. On the 1st and 6th, we will discuss the meanings of the classics, break down the topics, and write one verse of poetry. On the 2nd and 7th, we will discuss the meanings of the classics, small meanings, and write provincial examination poems. On the 3rd and 8th, we will study the classics, write one poem, and one regulated verse. On the 4th and 9th, we will study the classics, write one poem, and one ancient poem. On the 5th and 10th, we will write one poem and discuss the meanings of the Analects and Mencius."

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