Jiang Luokui, a mere D-rank, dared to claim rice seeds—so the others couldn’t very well chicken out. The remaining four portions of rice seeds were quickly snatched up.
Likewise, Old Qian allowed them to take two portions like Jiang Luokui, but the base bonus points were canceled, and only one could count toward their final exam grade.
As soon as Old Qian left, Lin Zihan grabbed Jiang Luokui by the shoulders and shook her hard. “Are you crazy? What happened to you? Why would you go and take rice seeds of all things?!”
Jiang Luokui blinked. “Why not?”
You couldn’t even buy rice seeds on the market. Since the school was being so generous to hand them out to freshmen, why wouldn’t she take them?
If she cultivated them well, maybe next semester she’d even get to eat rice she grew herself.
Lin Zihan: “……”
She wanted to say something, but couldn’t.
For the first time, she realized Jiang Luokui might be a bit… slow.
With a sigh, Lin Zihan comforted herself. “Fine, fine. At least you’re smart enough to grab an extra bag of tomato seeds. You can still use tomatoes for your grade.”
Jiang Luokui chuckled, offering no further explanation.
Outside the classroom
The blond, chubby guy clicked his tongue and looked at the strikingly handsome junior leaning against the railing. “So the person you’re looking for is Jiang Luokui? A D-rank daring to grow rice—now that’s something new.”
Li Jueyan stood with his hands in his pockets. A trace of mockery flashed through his dark eyes as he sneered. “Exactly.”
As expected of someone from a charity institute—utterly embarrassing.
“Anyway, bro, the person I’m waiting for is out.”
The blond chubby guy was named Chen Pan, a third-year civil engineering student. He was also the one who had been paid to smear Jiang Luokui on the forum for half a month. While doing so, he suddenly got the idea to start a betting pool.
Before he could put the idea into action, someone else beat him to it.
Fortunately, he had good sources and quickly found out that the user “Mengmeng Rabbit” was Lin Zihan from Class 2, Year 1 of the agriculture department.
As soon as class ended, Chen Pan marched over to confront Lin Zihan—only to spot Jiang Luokui beside her.
His heart skipped a beat, guilt rising instantly. Just as he got close, he chickened out and pretended nothing had happened, walking right past them.
Coward. Li Jueyan sneered, then called out to the two girls.
“Jiang Luokui?”
Lin Zihan turned, eyes wide. “Who’s this handsome guy?”
“Li Jueming’s cousin.”
A passing student from Class 1 turned back. “That’s Li Jueming’s cousin? Damn, he’s even more handsome than me?”
Li Jueming stood at the main entrance, frowning as he watched Li Jueyan talking to Jiang Luokui.
Why was he here?
“Li Jueming’s cousin, huh…” Lin Zihan’s impression instantly plummeted. “What does this guy want with you?”
What else? To persuade her to switch departments. Jiang Luokui clicked her tongue and waited for him to come over.
“Hello, I’m Li Jueyan from the Li family.” He gave a perfect smile.
Jiang Luokui smiled back. “Oh, I know you—the one ranked right behind me overall.”
Whoa, that’s sharp.
Chen Pan, who had been about to leave, casually leaned against the railing, sneaking glances over while listening closely.
Li Jueyan’s smile faded slightly. “Since you know, you can probably guess why I’m here.”
“Transfer departments. The Li family can arrange any other department in the Third Academy for you. And we’ll give you 50,000 yuan.”
What was with Li Jueming’s cousin?
Acting all high and mighty, yet only offering fifty thousand?
Sure, that was a huge sum for her current self—but she had been reborn!
Who was he looking down on?!
Jiang Luokui sized him up. Big talk, but stingy.
“Is fifty thousand a lot?”
“If you like the agriculture department so much, why not drop out and repeat a year? With your confidence—and your obscure Li family connections—I’m sure you’ll get into agriculture next year. Good luck!”
She had already toned down her sarcasm as much as possible, yet Li Jueyan still couldn’t take it.
He clicked his tongue impatiently and reached out to grab her, but Jiang Luokui stepped back in sync with Lin Zihan.
At the same moment, Li Jueming grabbed Li Jueyan’s shoulder.
He didn’t seem to like this cousin much, his expression turning cold. “What are you doing? This is school.”
Li Jueyan shot him a glance and sneered. “Get lost! This is none of your business!”
Li Jueming replied calmly, “Don’t disgrace the Li family.”
Like a child, Li Jueyan couldn’t tolerate the slightest displeasure—let alone that remark. Jiang Luokui immediately pulled Lin Zihan back further.
Meanwhile, the cousins escalated from arguing to physical scuffling. In the end, Li Jueyan, furious and agitated, struck first.
Lin Zihan was stunned. “How can he be so heartless? He even hits his own cousin?”
Fortunately, not everyone had left yet. A few guys from Class 1 rushed over to break it up. It took a full five minutes—and the bias in their “mediation” was obvious.
Once separated, Li Jueyan spat out a mouthful of blood and shot a dark glare at Jiang Luokui, who was watching with great interest, before storming off.
“Li Jueming hits hard,” Lin Zihan remarked. “And he aimed straight for the face.”
“Jueming’s worked in the fields with his elders since childhood,” Chen Pan chimed in eagerly. “He looks lean, but he’s actually all muscle—very strong.”
The two girls looked at him. “You know him?”
Jiang Luokui studied Chen Pan carefully—he looked familiar.
“Not him, but I know his cousin.”
Chen Pan hadn’t known before, but after hearing the offer made to Jiang Luokui, he guessed Li Jueyan must’ve been his former client.
What an idiot with too much money.
Who tries to buy a spot in the agriculture department in front of so many people? If Old Qian hadn’t left earlier, that guy would never get in for life.
Jiang Luokui suddenly smiled. “You’re Senior Chen Pan, right?”
Chen Pan whipped his head around in shock. How did she know?
“Chen Pan? Who’s that?” Lin Zihan asked.
“The one who’s been trash-talking me on the forum and planning a betting pool. But since you already started one, he came to cause trouble.” Jiang Luokui smiled sweetly.
Chen Pan shuddered. Did this girl have clairvoyance?! How did she know everything so clearly?!
This made no sense!
They shouldn’t even know each other!
He forced a laugh and edged away. “You’ve got the wrong person, junior. I’m not Chen Pan…”
Damn it—“Mengmeng Rabbit” wasn’t Lin Zihan at all, it was Jiang Luokui herself.
That betting pool must’ve been her idea!
Before he could escape, Jiang Luokui grabbed his arm and smiled. “Don’t go, senior. I won’t eat you. Let’s add each other as friends.”
Chen Pan was wary. “Promise you won’t hit me!”
“…I want to discuss a business deal.”
As for what deal, she didn’t say even after adding him. Chen Pan didn’t dare ask, only warning her, “The Li family is currently run by Li Jueyan’s father. His mother dotes on him a lot—she’s not easy to deal with. She’ll definitely cause you trouble.”
Consider it compensation—some inside info.
He added, “Both his parents used to be in exploration teams, and they have good relations with many teachers here.”
Before universities were established ten years ago, survival was the priority. Those selected for exploration teams had real ability.
The Li family truly had influence.
After saying this, Chen Pan finally escaped Jiang Luokui’s iron grip and ran off.
Lin Zihan thought for a moment. “People nearly twenty still run home to complain to their parents?”
“Probably not…” Jiang Luokui wasn’t sure. Li Jueyan did seem rather immature.
Oh well. Whatever comes, comes. She’d deal with it when it happened.
Happiness Charity Institute
An old man with a scar, wearing an apron, handed out steamed buns to the children. His rough voice warned, “These buns are a bit coarse today—chew carefully.”
After feeding the children, only portions for him and Jiang’s mother remained.
He stepped outside, handed her a bun, and sat beside her on the steps.
“Why aren’t you inside?”
Jiang’s mother gazed toward the Third Academy. “It’s the weekend, and she hasn’t even called. That child always keeps her troubles to herself.”
“You already heard?”
“I’m better informed than you.” She took a bite, a trace of mockery in her eyes. “Once something happens once, it’ll happen again—and again.”
Some people get arrogant before they’ve even built a foundation.
Uncle Li nodded with a smile, the scar across his face making him look even fiercer. “You’re right. I’ll go see Xiaokui this afternoon.”
Jiang’s mother sighed. “That child was brought back by you. You should look after her.”
After the children fell asleep and the kitchen was cleaned, Uncle Li changed into clean clothes and boarded a bus from the outer wall district to the inner wall district.
The inner district housed officials and the wealthy, while the Third Academy lay between the two zones.
As the bus passed a luxury car, Uncle Li glanced over. Inside sat a refined woman with a grim expression, heading in the direction of the Third Academy.
He noted the license plate, then closed his eyes.
Knock, knock.
A study door was tapped.
“Jueyan?” Li Xianhua rubbed his temples. “If you’ve thought it through, good. I’ve prepared a gift. You’ll come with me to apologize to your third uncle.”
The door opened.
A stooped figure stood there with hands behind his back.
Not Jueyan—this was…
Seeing his face, Li Xianhua froze and immediately stood. “You—”
“Xianhua, your wife and child are quite foolish. As an elder, I won’t bully women and children. So tell me—how should this be handled?”
Li Xianhua never expected that after twenty years—this man who had refused to return, except once ten years ago during the succession—would come back now to stand up for an outsider.
Questions flooded his mind as he ushered him inside. “What happened? Uncle, come in and tell me.”
…
Tea fragrance filled the room as a cup was set before the guest.
Li Xianhua gave a wry smile. “Since you’ve spoken, I’ll handle it personally. But Uncle… what is Jiang Luokui to you, that you’re protecting her like this?”
“I raised her. By seniority, she’s your younger sister. Anyway, that’s the situation. As for your boy… heh. Which of you brothers didn’t grow up under my discipline? Don’t go easy on him—if he deserves a beating, beat him.”
Uncle Li drained the tea in one gulp and stood. “I’m leaving.”
Even Li Xianhua couldn’t hide his astonishment.
At his age, he suddenly had a younger “sister” younger than his own son…
What had his uncle been doing all these years?
Raising an illegitimate daughter?
But her surname was Jiang, not Li…
Did he marry into another family?!