Before a winner could be decided between the two, someone shouted, “The teacher is coming!” The crowd instantly dispersed; fearing punishment, they abandoned the spectacle and hurried home with their book boxes.
Wei Zijing was equally startled. He retracted his strike and, without even sparing a glance at Pei Qingyu, prepared to flee the scene immediately. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg, and his knee buckled, forcing him to the ground.
It was that cursed black Go stone again!
He glared venomously at Pei Qingyu, only to meet a pair of clear, serene eyes that left him momentarily speechless.
“What are you all doing?” Even the usually good-tempered Su Chenyan couldn’t help but frown, his gaze sweeping between Wei Zijing and Pei Qingyu.
Wei Zijing gnashed his teeth in silence, cursing his terrible luck. Before he could finish grumbling, he saw Su Chenyan walk over to Pei Qingyu, take his pulse, and gently advise him to go home and rest properly, warning him to avoid losing his temper and fighting in the future.
Wei Zijing’s eyes widened, his teeth nearly shattering from how hard he clenched them. Pei Qingyu gave him a chilling look and a cold huff before turning to look for the worried Yu Tingzheng among the remaining crowd.
Receiving his gaze, Yu Tingzheng seemed to snap back to reality. He dashed over, nearly throwing himself into Pei Qingyu’s arms, only stopping just in time once he reached him.
Pei Qingyu’s hand, which had half-risen, paused for a beat before he silently retracted it. At least he’s showing some manners this time, he thought.
Nearby, Su Chenyan turned his attention to Wei Zijing. Seeing the teacher look over, the youth’s resentment faded slightly until he heard the man say: “Zijing, go back and transcribe the academy rules.”
“On what grounds?” Wei Zijing looked at him in disbelief. “He was fighting too! Why am I the only one being punished with transcription?”
“You were the one who struck first, so naturally, you are the one who must transcribe them.” Su Chenyan sighed helplessly. “You are always causing trouble. No matter how many times you copy the rules, you never learn them. If this happens again, I fear this academy will no longer be able to accommodate you.”
“Are you threatening me?” Wei Zijing snapped.
The students who hadn’t yet left watched with their hearts in their throats. While Wei Zijing had talked back to the teacher before, he had never acted like this; it looked as if he might actually strike the man. Worried, they crowded forward to intervene. Wei Zijing was tall, strong, and a capable fighter, whereas the teacher was delicate and refined; if a punch landed, it would surely end badly for him.
“Wei Zijing.” Su Chenyan suddenly used the boy’s full name. Since becoming their teacher, he had only ever addressed them by their given names.
Wei Zijing’s eyes suddenly turned red. An inexplicable sense of grievance flooded his heart. He turned his head away sharply, refusing to acknowledge the man any further.
Despite being only five years apart in age, Su Chenyan felt the exhaustion of raising a child. He sighed once more and reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Why are you still acting like a child?”
The breath Wei Zijing was holding caught in his chest. He turned back to stare at him, stunned. Su Chenyan’s eyes remained as clear and gentle as ever as he said, “Zijing, let’s go home.”
How could Wei Zijing hold onto his temper after that?
Su Chenyan had arrived in Yanti Village after the New Year. At that time, winter snow had blocked the roads, and few villagers traveled to the town. Amidst the vast world of white, a single carriage had slowly wound its way through the mountains and entered the village.
Wei Zijing didn’t know how his father knew the man; he only knew that from that day forward, the man had taken up residence in the Wei household. His father introduced him as the new village teacher, but no matter how much Zijing pried, he couldn’t discover the man’s background only that he had come from the Capital.
Could anyone coming out of the Capital truly be an ordinary commoner?
Wei Zijing watched him daily, determined to uncover his secrets. Yet, regarding the Capital or his past, Su Chenyan never uttered a single word. He spent his days reading, truly embodying the image of a teacher, though he would occasionally stare into space as if lost in thought.
Su Chenyan had previously mentioned moving out, but he hadn’t brought it up again. Wei Zijing suspected the man would leave one day, which was why he didn’t seek a permanent residence. Let him go, Zijing thought. Ever since Su Chenyan entered their home, his father nagged him about his studies every day it was infuriating. If the man left, he would finally be at peace.
And yet, now, he found himself increasingly afraid to think about it.
After the two left, Yu Tingzheng pulled Pei Qingyu out of the academy. Patting his chest, he stammered that he had been “scared to death.”
“How can you be so cowardly?” Pei Qingyu asked. “If he wants to hit you, you should hit him back. Why fear him?”
“I… I don’t know… martial arts.” Yu Tingzheng scratched his face awkwardly, then hurried to reclaim his dignity. “I was only… worried Yu’er… would get hurt. I’m not afraid of him.”
Pei Qingyu’s footsteps faltered. The tips of his ears turned inexplicably warm, and he immediately curled his lip. “Who asked for your worry? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have bothered dealing with someone who has the intellect of a three-year-old.”
“Yu’er… is so good.” Yu Tingzheng huddled closer. “Thank you… Yu’er.”
Pei Qingyu had intended to be brusque, but since the boy had used it as an excuse to get closer, he shut his mouth in frustration and looked away with a cold, lofty air.
Yu Tingzheng, however, lacked any sense of social cues. He kept pressing forward, his body swaying as he walked, constantly bumping into the other. The rustling friction of their clothing was louder than the chirping of insects in the fields.
Pei Qingyu wanted to push him away, but the path was narrow. Worried he might knock the boy into the fields and leave him in a wretched state, he suppressed the urge. He cursed inwardly, Yu Tingzheng insisted on crowding him on this small path, refusing to fall behind or move ahead. It was truly annoying. Despite his warning yesterday about not touching him, the boy clearly hadn’t listened to a single word.
Pei Qingyu could tell the boy was holding something back, as he had been mumbling to himself for a long time without speaking up. Using his peripheral vision, Pei Qingyu felt a strange sense of anticipation for whatever he was about to say.
Yet, they were almost home, and Yu Tingzheng still hadn’t spoken. Pei Qingyu grew even more frustrated.
Finally, as they neared the courtyard gate, the hesitating boy spoke: “Yu’er… is not in good health. In the future… don’t stand up… for me anymore. If you… get sick again… it wouldn’t be good.”
So, it was about that. He had thought it was something significant.
The corners of Pei Qingyu’s mouth lifted involuntarily. “I had no intention of standing up for you; it was simply that the man was too arrogant and loathsome.”
Yu Tingzheng froze. So, it wasn’t because of me. He felt he had been overthinking things.
Seeing the boy’s head drop like a discarded puppy, Pei Qingyu suddenly felt a heavy sense of guilt. He scrambled to compensate: “Of course, not just anyone can be ‘loathsome’ to me. Seeing him treat you that way naturally, I couldn’t stand by.”
As the words fell, the little stutterer abruptly looked up, his eyes as bright as a starry night.
Pei Qingyu’s heart skipped a beat. He dithered for a moment, and once he regained his composure, he quickly raised his hand to push the boy’s face away. He coughed and said, “What are you staring at? Hurry up and go inside. Who wants to stand here in the cold with you?”
Remembering the boy was an invalid, Yu Tingzheng cried out “Oh!” and reached out to pull him into the courtyard. “Yu’er… should go back… and sit down.”
He touched me again.
Pei Qingyu looked at the hand gripping his wrist and curled his lip in feigned displeasure. However, thinking of how sensitive and fragile Yu Tingzheng was, he could only let himself be led.
How did that charlatan find me a wife who is so full of problems?
The thought that this person would one day be his “Madam” made Pei Qingyu restless. He had told the boy to practice speaking days ago, yet there had been no progress.
Tsk. It seemed he would have to take matters into his own hands.