Chapter 100 (1/2)

Pus.h.i.+ng open the red-painted door and lifting the bead curtains, Ning Que stepped into the dim Quiet Room. He had drunk out two big bowls of sober soup and took a hot bath to his heart's content, which, compounded by the torment from that big master on the bamboo bed on which somebody had died, had relieved most of his tipsy feeling that was about to spurt out. As a result, he felt much more clear-headed now.

Looking at that lady with her delicate figure hidden in ordinary cloth, and her wide and smooth forehead as well as her crow's feet, Ning Que would rather he never become sober, because he realized what he must face next. Although he felt that it was totally unreasonable for the lady to be so strict with him, he had to admit that there was care in the strictness. As a result, he had no other choice but to painfully accept it.

”Long time no see! I thought you began to cultivate yourself in the Academy, and knew the importance of seeking knowledge. But unexpectedly, I see little progress in your knowledge. Instead, you have made large strides in the art of drinking.”

Mistress Jian looked at him with calmness, no hint of bitter hatred could be traced from her simple and amicable look. However, it was just that ordinariness of her tone that gave Ning Que a lot of stress. He hemmed and hawed but could not utter a word. He tried to disguise his embarra.s.sment by self-imposed composedness. However, all his efforts were destroyed by an unexpected hiccup, which smelt rather unpleasant.

Mistress Jian frowned slightly at the sourness that filled the room. She glared at him, and then smiled with self-mockery. She thought that her anger completely unreasonable. How could she make this lad a scapegoat of that guy? So she asked Ning Que as coolly as possible, ”Tell me, what do you learn in the Academy these days?”

Taking over that cup of strong tea handed by Xiaocao, Ning Que drank some to recollect himself. He thanked her with great sincerity and then cleared his throat to describe his life in the Academy to her seriously.

”You sound as if you have been diligent. Since you know little about calligraphy and rite, you need to put in more effort in these two courses instead of giving them up. Mind you, when you graduate from the Academy, you have to live on those skills, no matter whether you will become an official or just a shepherd.”

Upon hearing that Ning Que entered the old library everyday, Mistress Jian showed a relieved smile, making her crow's feet more obvious. She continued to ask, ”Now that you enter the old library everyday, do you know the mystery of the Second floor?”

”I do.” Ning Que answered politely.

After a short while of pondering, Mistress Jian said earnestly, ”In your opinion, when can you go to the Second floor?”

Ning Que covered his mouth with sleeves, striving to hold back a hiccup or even the feeling of vomiting. He then answered, ”Only those genius can enter such places. As for me, my physical condition is totally not qualified for cultivation, so I dare not have such daydreams at all.”

”Can you grow to be a bit promising? How difficult it is to be accepted by such a good place? You must seize the opportunity, instead of spouting off those nonsenses... ”

Mistress Jian shook her head with brows knitted and was slightly sorrowful. That year, she witnessed how that guy swaggered into the Second floor on a donkey. At present, she had faintly seen some trace of that guy in Ning Que and aspired to make up for her regret in the past, so she continued to persuade him, ”The Academy is in itself a birthplace of miracles. Yet if you deny it, no others can help you.”

Ning Que had no idea that the person who had adventured in Chang'an City on a little black donkey ended up with a great reputation but finally disappeared like a duckweed under rainstorms. As such he couldn't understand why Mistress Jian paid so much attention to a poor guy like him. He was clear there must be reasons for it, but decided not to bother about it. But still, he was sincerely grateful to this kind lady's ardent teachings.

For that was what he lacked in his life. What he had experienced at the backseat of bicycle in the previous life was another form of care which yet he wasn't fond of. In the current life, he also had enjoyed such love, which, however, was eventually devoured by b.l.o.o.d.y affairs. Because he was truly thankful or even moved, he was comparatively prudent and careful when answering her questions, which unavoidably would slow down his speed. This, however, made him careless in Mistress Jian's eyes which thus enraged her.

”We are neither intimate relatives nor friends. I won't have the mood to tell you these but for an impulse. so don't be emotional. All I want for you is to cherish the chance in the Academy. I won't do harm to you.”

Then she continued in a rather serious tone, ”Last time, I told you, those rich boys like Zhu Youxian can have fun here, but you can't. Those n.o.ble girls like Ms. Situ and the sisters from Jin Family can play here, but you are not qualified. They played with a poor boy like you just out of curiosity because you look funny and different. They don't mean ill with their interest but it is not real respect.”

”If you want to be true friends with them, you need to foster an ability and charisma that can win their respect. If you can step into the Second floor of the Academy, I believe, all those in this world want to be friends with you.”