Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Ji Huan got up and went to wash up. She saw smoke rising from the kitchen. Ji Qiao was coming out with a bowl. When she saw Ji Huan, she smiled and called out, “Sister, Yubai made breakfast. Come eat.”

Ji Huan nodded. Since leaving the Ji family, Ji Qiao had become much livelier. Ji Huan walked toward the kitchen and saw Little White Rabbit already busy inside. When Ji Huan approached, Jiang Yubai scooped out some sweet potato porridge from the pot and handed it to her without saying a word.

Ji Huan stared at the little bad rabbit with a bit of grievance. Since Ji Qiao was there, she didn’t say anything. She took the porridge to the dining room and started eating.

“Sister, this sweet potato is really sweet today, and the porridge is thick. Yubai must have woken up early to make it, right?” Ji Qiao said happily. Since leaving the Ji family, even meals tasted better to her.

Ji Huan gave a faint hum. How would she know when the little rabbit woke up? Last night, the little rabbit had pushed her to sleep in the guest room, and this morning, she still ignored her.

Ji Huan bit hard into the sweet potato in her spoon, as if it were the little bad rabbit.

After breakfast, Ji Huan had to go to the mountains to gather yellow clay, sticky soil, red soil, glaze stone, plant ash, and pine firewood. These materials were essential, and the mountain path was far. Even after finding them, it was hard for one person to carry everything back. Ji Huan decided to visit a nearby village to buy a mule.

Mules were much cheaper than horses, bigger than donkeys, and could carry more, making them the best value for transport. With a mule, fetching water from the river would be easier too. Just hitch a wooden cart to the mule and let it pull.

With her mind made up, Ji Huan hurried out of the courtyard. In their village, donkeys and mules were raised by families and not for sale. So, she went to Xiniu Village, the closest one.

At the fork in the road, Ji Huan saw Xiniu Village buzzing with joy, as if celebrating a big event.

At the village entrance, she asked a female Qianyuan, “Big sister, does anyone here sell mules? I want to buy one. Why is it so lively here? Is there some happy occasion?”

The female Qianyuan, who was watching the excitement, replied, “Oh, my family has two mules and a donkey. We’re looking to sell one. If you want, come with me later to take a look. The price will be fair, and you can buy if it suits you.”

She pointed at some servants in red clothes. “See those? They’re here with good news. Our village’s Li Yunzheng passed the child scholar exam. He’s now a scholar with a title. It’s been years since our village had a scholar. Even the village head is thrilled.”

“Li Yunzheng?” Ji Huan murmured. The name sounded familiar, but she didn’t dwell on it. Buying a mule was her priority.

“Big sister, can we go now? I have things to do later,” Ji Huan said, seeing the woman still caught up in the excitement.

“Sure, sure, sorry. It’s rare to have such a lively event, and I got carried away,” the talkative woman said, leading Ji Huan into the village.

Ji Huan saw a courtyard nearby with firecrackers set up outside. It must be the scholar’s home. A crowd gathered at the gate, and the family was handing out candies to celebrating children. Soon, the firecrackers went off with a loud crackle, filling the village with cheer.

As Ji Huan followed the woman, she ran into Zhang Liangcai and his parents.

Zhang Liangcai saw Ji Huan and felt a wave of fear, hiding behind his father.

Zhang Fugui spotted Ji Huan too and thought she was there to cause trouble. He pointed at her. “You, what do you want? My son already divorced your sister. What more do you want?”

Ji Huan shook her head with a laugh. “Are you okay? I’m here to buy a mule with this big sister. It has nothing to do with you. Don’t flatter yourself. Take a good look at your own character.”

She glanced lightly at Zhang Liangcai hiding behind his father and continued walking with the woman.

Zhang Liangcai, angered by her look, couldn’t hold back. “Ji Huan, why are you acting so high and mighty? Your wife’s old flame became a scholar. Maybe he’ll put a green hat on you soon, and you’re still acting tough with me?”

Ji Huan’s face darkened. She looked at Zhang Liangcai. “Say that again.”

Zhang Liangcai, scared, hobbled away on his crutch, shouting, “Father, stop Ji Huan! Don’t let her come near me. I’m scared.”

His parents quickly followed him as they fled. Ji Huan turned to the woman leading her. “Let’s go.”

She wanted to teach Zhang Liangcai a lesson, but being in Xiniu Village, she worried she’d be at a disadvantage if a fight broke out.

Thanks to Zhang Liangcai’s crude remark, Ji Huan remembered who Li Yunzheng was.

The original story mentioned him. He and Jiang Yubai grew up in Xiniu Village and were close childhood friends. Li Yunzheng always had feelings for Jiang Yubai. Back then, she was young and didn’t understand love. He promised to marry her someday. But soon after, Jiang Yubai’s mother died, and rumors spread that she was a jinx. Li Yunzheng’s family refused to let him propose to her.

Later, Jiang Yubai was forced to marry Zhang Tiehu, who died during the wedding ceremony. Her family, fearing her bad luck, paid to marry her off to the Ji family. Then Ji Huan transmigrated into this world.

Realizing who Li Yunzheng was, Ji Huan felt uneasy. He had no backbone, liking Jiang Yubai but caving to rumors and family pressure. He didn’t deserve her little rabbit. Li Yunzheng should stay far away from her. Ji Huan wouldn’t let her little rabbit be with such a weakling.

Lost in thought, Ji Huan followed the woman to her courtyard to pick a mule. She didn’t dare be careless, carefully comparing and checking the two mules. Finally, she chose one, paid, and led it back to Dongniu Village.

At Dongniu Village, a young scholar ran excitedly into the village. He asked around for Jiang Yubai’s new home and eagerly knocked on her door.

“Yubai, Yubai, I’m here to see you. Open the door,” the man called, tapping the wooden gate.

Hearing the voice, someone opened the door. It was Jiang Yubai. She froze when she saw Li Yunzheng, then looked puzzled. They hadn’t spoken in a long time, and she didn’t know why he was here.

After her mother’s death, when her family forced her to marry Zhang Tiehu, Jiang Yubai had hoped Li Yunzheng would help her. He had promised to marry her, after all. She thought he might pull her out of that mess. But those hopes shattered. He never stood up for her, not even with a single word. She had long given up on him. Now, seeing him, she felt he was just someone unimportant.

“Something you need?” Jiang Yubai’s voice was calm, her face showing no joy, like a still lake without ripples.

Li Yunzheng was stunned by her coldness. His smile faded. He couldn’t even meet her eyes. He was the one who failed to keep their old promises. But today, he was too excited and couldn’t wait to share that he had passed the scholar exam.

“Well, it’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go outside,” Li Yunzheng said, sneaking a glance at her face, still as cool and beautiful as he remembered.

Jiang Yubai didn’t know what he wanted to say but nodded. They went to an open spot near the house.

Li Yunzheng couldn’t hold back his joy. “Yubai, you know what? I passed the child scholar exam. I’m a scholar with a title now.”

Jiang Yubai nodded calmly and said politely, “Congratulations.”

Seeing no joy on her face, Li Yunzheng’s pride faded. “Yubai, are you still mad at me? I really had no choice back then. My parents wouldn’t let me propose to you. It wasn’t me breaking our promise on purpose.”

Jiang Yubai glanced at him faintly. “It’s all in the past. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Hearing this, Li Yunzheng felt worse. She used to be warm and lively with him, not like this, so expressionless. It must be Ji Huan treating her poorly. He immediately blamed Ji Huan.

“Has Ji Huan been bullying you? Is she bad to you? I knew it. Yubai, don’t worry. Now that I’m a scholar, I have leverage to talk to my family. I’ll come for you soon, very soon,” Li Yunzheng said urgently, his eyes burning as he looked at her.

Jiang Yubai frowned, not understanding why he was talking like this. “No, Ji Huan is good to me. We have our own little home now. I won’t leave her. The past is over, and I don’t care about it. Don’t come looking for me anymore.”

“No, you’re lying, right? I heard you weren’t doing well at the Ji family. And Ji Huan, a dutiful fool, how could she give you a good life? Has she been harsh to you? It’s my fault. If I had convinced my family sooner, you wouldn’t have suffered so much,” Li Yunzheng said, ignoring her words.

Jiang Yubai stepped back, frowning at him. Before, she might have blamed him a little, but those things happened. Now she had Ji Huan. Li Yunzheng was just a passerby to her. She didn’t understand why he was saying these irrelevant things.

“I told you, Ji Huan and I are close. She treats me well. We won’t part. Young Master Li, please leave. I’m Ji Huan’s wife now. Don’t come back. It’s not proper.”

Saying this, Jiang Yubai walked toward her gate, ignoring him.

Li Yunzheng called after her. “Yubai, are you still mad at me? Don’t worry, I’ll make my family agree this time. Trust me again, give me another chance, okay?”

Jiang Yubai ignored him, finding him troublesome, and just wanted to get home.

From a distance, Ji Huan was leading her mule back. She saw a male Qianyuan following Jiang Yubai, talking endlessly. Too far to see her expression, Ji Huan worried Little White Rabbit was in trouble. She quickened her pace and shouted, “Yubai.”

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan nearby, heading toward her. Her heart lifted. She was tired of Li Yunzheng’s endless chatter. But then she remembered her relationship with Ji Huan had cooled since last night. If she ran to hug Ji Huan now, all her efforts would be wasted. So, she just looked at Ji Huan calmly and said, “I’m heading back.”

Li Yunzheng noticed she was just as cold with Ji Huan, which made him feel better. Ji Huan wasn’t getting any favor either. Look at Ji Huan’s worn clothes and the mule she was leading. Even if she was good-looking, what did it matter? She’d be a village bumpkin forever. How could she compare to him, a scholar with a title now, a thousand times better than Ji Huan?

The more Li Yunzheng thought, the more he looked down on Ji Huan. When they got closer, he deliberately asked, “Yubai, who’s this?”

“My husband, Ji Huan,” Jiang Yubai said, glancing at Ji Huan before quickly looking away.

Ji Huan’s heart stung when her little cat didn’t look at her or come to her. She found Li Yunzheng even more annoying.

Li Yunzheng was thrilled that Jiang Yubai didn’t go to Ji Huan’s side. He knew she couldn’t be happy with a dutiful fool like Ji Huan. Just thinking about it, he couldn’t hide his smile.

“So you’re Ji Huan. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Li Yunzheng said, his tone dripping with mockery.

“If there’s nothing else, we’re going back,” Ji Huan said, reaching the gate. She didn’t want to deal with him.

Li Yunzheng was surprised Ji Huan planned to leave without saying anything. How could he show off his scholar status then?

He adjusted his clothes and looked at Ji Huan. “I came to share the good news with Yubai. I passed the child scholar exam this year.”

“Congratulations. If there’s nothing else, I’m going back,” Ji Huan said, ignoring his expression and leading the mule into the courtyard.

Li Yunzheng was stunned that Ji Huan had no reaction to his news. He thought she’d be jealous, but she just left with a casual remark.

Jiang Yubai glanced at Ji Huan’s back as she entered the courtyard and started to follow, but Li Yunzheng stopped her.

Jiang Yubai frowned. “Anything else?”

Thinking she was upset because of Ji Huan, Li Yunzheng didn’t lower his voice. “Yubai, don’t worry. I’ll keep my word this time. I’ll convince my family to take you away. Wait for me.”

Ji Huan, leading the mule, heard this. She turned to look at Li Yunzheng, who, emboldened by his scholar status, stared back without fear.

Ji Huan glanced at Jiang Yubai, still standing by Li Yunzheng, and felt a strange irritation. Could Jiang Yubai still have hope for him? If he had any real courage, he wouldn’t have let her marry twice before. Did she not see that?

Seeing Jiang Yubai still standing there, Ji Huan felt a surge of frustration. She didn’t address Li Yunzheng but looked at Jiang Yubai. “Aren’t you coming in? Do you really want to go with him?”

With that, Ji Huan led the mule to the backyard, ignoring them. Lately, she’d been busy every day, first helping Ji Qiao with her divorce, then dealing with the family split, and now working for their new home and livelihood. She was truly tired. Some things she didn’t want to keep guessing about. Let it be.

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan leave without waiting. Her heart ached like it was pricked by a needle, and her eyes reddened. She stared at Ji Huan’s retreating figure. Was her sister angry with her?

Li Yunzheng saw her red eyes and got angrier. “Is this how she treats you? Yubai, don’t worry. I’ll go home now and talk about our marriage. I won’t let you down again…”

He kept talking, but Jiang Yubai had already entered the gate and closed it.

Li Yunzheng pushed at the door. “Yubai, hear me out. Ji Huan isn’t good to you. Don’t stay with her. Wait for me.”

Ji Qiao, hearing the noise, came out and helped Jiang Yubai shut the gate firmly.

Li Yunzheng knocked a bit longer, but with no response, he left. He thought since Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai had been married so long without Ji Huan dying, the jinx rumors weren’t true. So, marrying Jiang Yubai wouldn’t risk his life. Ji Huan was just a stepping stone. If Ji Huan had died, it would prove Jiang Yubai was bad luck. Since she didn’t, he could marry Jiang Yubai with his scholar status.

In the end, Ji Huan was just a useless village girl. From their interaction, Jiang Yubai had little affection for her. If he pursued her, Jiang Yubai would be his easily.

With that thought, Li Yunzheng walked with bigger strides, eager to confront his family. With his scholar title, even if he didn’t pass the provincial exam, he could get a job in the county. His family would rely on him and wouldn’t oppose him marrying Jiang Yubai.

After closing the gate, Jiang Yubai stood there, at a loss. She wanted to explain to Ji Huan, but Ji Huan was clearly upset with her.

Her heart ached, unsure how to talk to Ji Huan. Even if she explained, she’d still have to keep her distance, which would upset Ji Huan more. Why bother getting closer then? It would only make Ji Huan angrier.

Jiang Yubai’s face paled, the light in her eyes dimming. Maybe it was good if her sister hated her a bit. That way, she wouldn’t get too close and wouldn’t jinx her.

She gave a sad smile, her cheeks already wet with tears. She wiped them with her sleeve and hurried back to her room.

In the backyard, Ji Huan felt bad too. It had been so long, and her little rabbit hadn’t come to explain at all. Were they going to be strangers now?

Ji Huan stood up and took a few deep breaths. Life was getting better, but her relationship with Jiang Yubai was worsening. She shook her head, not wanting to think about it. Building the new home and kiln had cost a lot. She only had the money from selling the fields and Ji Qiao’s thirty taels, which she couldn’t touch. The field money wasn’t small, but they couldn’t just live off it.

Ji Huan thought she needed to start firing Jianzhan cups soon. As for her and her little rabbit, maybe letting her cool off for a few days was best. If Jiang Yubai really had someone else in her heart, Ji Huan’s fists clenched at the thought, making a cracking sound. She couldn’t stand the idea of her little rabbit caring for someone else.

She shook her head to stop thinking about it, hitched the mule to the wooden cart, and pulled it out from the backyard gate. Firing Jianzhan cups required firewood. In modern times, electric kilns could be used, but in ancient times, Ji Huan had to use wood firing, which needed a lot of firewood.

Luckily, Dongniu Village had plenty of trees. Ji Huan took the mule cart to a clearing in the woods and started chopping firewood. One firing took about thirty hours. She needed to raise the kiln’s temperature to 1300 degrees, then let it cool slowly. From preparation to unloading the kiln, it took about seven days. During firing, she had to keep adding wood to maintain the heat. If the fire went out, all the work would be wasted.

The Jianzhan wood-firing process was complex and time-consuming, which made wood-fired Jianzhan cups expensive. The backyard’s limited space meant the villagers built a smaller dragon kiln, but it still needed a lot of firewood.

Ji Huan swung her axe at a tree, thinking of Li Yunzheng’s annoying face. Her little rabbit liking someone else was bad enough, but it couldn’t be him. He didn’t deserve her.

The angrier she got, the harder she chopped, imagining the tree as Li Yunzheng. She found she chopped faster this way. Soon, the cart was piled high with wood.

Ji Huan climbed onto the cart and drove the mule back to her courtyard.

She stacked the firewood in the yard and unhitched the cart. The mountain paths were narrow, so she’d use four wooden baskets on the mule’s back to carry clay and glaze materials.

Ji Qiao looked around the front yard for Ji Huan but couldn’t find her. In the backyard, she saw Ji Huan preparing to go up the mountain with the mule. “Sister, where are you going? I’ll come with you.”

Ji Huan nodded. “Alright, grab that shovel. We need to move fast.”

“Okay, but what about Yubai?” Ji Qiao asked quickly. If she and her sister left, would it be okay to leave Yubai alone?

“Let her rest. We’ll go first,” Ji Huan said, leading the mule out the back gate. Ji Qiao glanced at her, hurrying to follow. She felt her two sisters had fought.

But Ji Qiao didn’t dare ask more and followed Ji Huan up the mountain.

Using her memory from last time, Ji Huan quickly found the spot she and Jiang Yubai had visited. The glaze and clay here had high iron content, perfect for Jianzhan cups. She tied the mule to a tree and said to Ji Qiao, “See this soil? Shovel it into the baskets. Two baskets will do.”

“Okay,” Ji Qiao said, obediently shoveling soil.

Ji Huan went to some large rocks. They were too big, but she had bought a pickaxe. With her strength, she struck the rocks, breaking them into smaller pieces. She carried the fragments to the other two baskets, soon filling them.

Ji Qiao finished with the soil. They drove the mule back to the courtyard, stacked the rocks and soil, and repeated the trip five times before returning.

Both were exhausted and covered in dirt, but Jiang Yubai had cooked and was waiting for them.

Seeing them return, Jiang Yubai said flatly, “Go wash your hands. Food’s almost ready.”

“Great, Yubai, you’re the best. I’m starving,” Ji Qiao said happily, going to wash.

Ji Huan looked at Jiang Yubai, still busy in the kitchen, not paying her any attention. She sighed quietly, went to the water tank, and washed her hands.

When Ji Huan left, Jiang Yubai dared to glance at her from the kitchen. When Ji Huan looked back, she quickly lowered her head to her work.

Ji Huan sighed and walked to the kitchen. Seeing Jiang Yubai avoid her gaze, she said, “What’s ready? I’ll take it to the dining room.”

Jiang Yubai’s ears twitched. She handed Ji Huan a large bowl of food. “This is done. I’ll bring the steamed buns later.”

Ji Huan took the bowl, looked at her little rabbit, and saw she didn’t want to talk more. Tired from the afternoon’s work, Ji Huan gave her another faint glance and carried the bowl to the dining room.

After Ji Huan left, Jiang Yubai’s eyes reddened. She had upset Ji Huan last night and today, yet Ji Huan still spoke to her so gently. She wanted to get closer to her.

She bit her lip, held back, took a few deep breaths, and waited until her expression was normal before carrying a plate to the dining room.

Dinner was oddly quiet. Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai barely spoke. Ji Qiao said a few words now and then. Eating her bun, she glanced at Ji Huan, then at Jiang Yubai, and stayed quiet.

Though Ji Huan ate, she noticed Jiang Yubai was distracted and ate only half her usual amount.

Ji Huan thought for a while but said nothing. When they were nearly done, she said, “I’ll wash the pots. You two rest.”

She started cleaning up, but Jiang Yubai stood. “No, I’ll do it. You and Qiaoqiao worked hard. Let me.”

Jiang Yubai glanced at Ji Huan, took the bowls from her, and started tidying up.

Ji Huan was truly tired, physically and mentally. She didn’t want to guess what her little rabbit was thinking anymore. She nodded, went to heat water, and cleaned up the dirt from her and Ji Qiao’s work.

Ji Qiao brought out a basin, watching her silent sisters. She didn’t dare speak.

When the water was ready, Ji Huan gave some to Ji Qiao, took a basin for herself, and left the rest for her little rabbit washing dishes. She didn’t say more, just lowered the kitchen fire so the water wouldn’t cool.

After that, Ji Huan took her basin to the guest room.

Ji Qiao noticed Ji Huan went to the wrong room, confirming her sisters were fighting. Anxious, she didn’t know what to do and took her basin back to her room.

Meanwhile, at the Ji family, the dining room was tense. Ji Mantun smoked his pipe, his gaze sweeping over everyone before landing on Ji Yuan.

“Ji Yuan, I heard someone in Xiniu Village passed the scholar exam, and people went to their home with good news. I waited from morning to night, but no one came here. Does that mean you failed again?” Ji Mantun asked coldly.

Ji Yuan panicked. He knew he hadn’t passed. The questions looked familiar, but he couldn’t answer them. He filled the paper, but whether it was right was beyond him.

“Father, I was too shaken these past few days. The Yu family got my classmates to shun me. I couldn’t focus. Give me one more chance. Next year, I’ll work hard and pass the scholar exam. Father, Mother, trust me again,” Ji Yuan said quickly, still hoping to snag a rich Kunze.

Ji Mantun exhaled a smoke ring and sighed heavily. “Third son, you know our family’s situation. We gave ten mu of land to Ji Huan and them. We’re left with twenty mu. With Ji Huan gone, we’re short a worker. We can’t afford to send you to study in the county anymore. You’ve failed for five years. Let it go.”

“Father, then all my studying was for nothing? And the money we spent? Father, give me one more chance. Mother, please convince Father,” Ji Yuan said in a panic.

“Forget it. Five years, and you couldn’t even pass the scholar exam. Father and Mother won’t see you become a juren in their lifetime. Stop wasting money and come back to farm,” Ji Sen said, rolling his eyes at Ji Yuan.

Ji Ming chimed in, “Exactly. Your studying costs money, and we’re short a worker. Before, with Ji Huan, our old ox, it wasn’t so bad. But now she’s gone, Ji Sen and I can’t handle all the land. Come back and farm.”

Ji Yuan looked at Ji Ming and Ji Sen. “You’re all jealous of me. Ji Ming, Ji Sen, listen up. If I make it big in the county, don’t expect to share my success.”

With that, Ji Yuan left the dining room. His boarding fees at the academy weren’t used up, so he could stay there another month. He packed and left the Ji family.

At the academy, his classmates were drunk, having celebrated passing the scholar exam at Qingfeng Tower.

Ji Yuan saw Sun Tiancheng and others reeking of alcohol and frowned. Then he thought of Qingfeng Tower and headed there.

Since the exam results were just announced, Qingfeng Tower was lively. Students from county academies were celebrating. Ji Yuan had little money but often came with Yu Bin and others, so he was familiar enough that the staff didn’t stop him.

Looking to the second floor, he saw Kunze from merchant families dining, some looking for suitors.

His heart raced with excitement. As he started upstairs, he saw a familiar figure.

Yu Bin and his cronies were coming down from a private room and ran into Ji Yuan.

Seeing Ji Yuan, Yu Bin sneered. “Oh, isn’t this Ji Yuan, aiming high? Fifth year taking the child scholar exam, right? Failed again? Such a pity. Let me help you.”

Yu Bin shouted in the first-floor hall, “Come look! Any family with a Kunze looking for a son-in-law? My classmate Ji Yuan is perfect. He doesn’t ask for much, just a Kunze to give him a soft meal.”

“Hahaha, soft meal man.”

“Right, Ji Yuan can’t handle anything tough. If any family has a soft meal to spare, don’t forget my classmate, hahaha.”

“He’s our academy’s great talent, Ji Yuan, who failed the scholar exam for five years. Quite a catch.”

With Yu Bin’s lead, his lackeys mocked Ji Yuan, and laughter filled Qingfeng Tower.

Ji Yuan’s face paled, and the voices around him blurred.

Two servants eventually led him away. Yu Bin recognized them as servants from a certain family, his smile unstoppable.

Ji Yuan, dazed, was taken to a third-floor room. He’d met the person inside before—Liu Shaonan, the second son of the wealthy Liu family in the county, a notorious playboy who liked male Qianyuan.

Ji Yuan sat on a stool, snapping awake. He wanted to leave, but the servants blocked the door.

Liu Shaonan smiled at him casually. “Your reputation’s ruined. Marrying a rich Kunze in the city is impossible now. Why not follow me? I can give you just as much. Ji Yuan, I heard you’re smart. You offended the Yu family and failed the exam. Your situation’s bad. Only I can help you. Think about it.”

Ji Yuan swallowed hard, his legs trembling. “Thanks for your kindness, Young Master Liu, but I have things at home. I’ll go back.”

He stood to leave, but the servants didn’t budge.

Liu Shaonan wasn’t in a hurry, lounging lazily. “Ji Yuan, think carefully. Once you leave, there’s no coming back. I don’t force people. If you’re not willing, go. But don’t regret it later.”

He signaled the servants to open the door, but Ji Yuan stood still. The past few days replayed in his mind. His family no longer supported his studies, and Yu Bin had ruined his name. By tomorrow, everyone would know. What then? Go back to Dongniu Village to farm?

On impulse, Ji Yuan returned to Liu Shaonan. By noon the next day, when he left Qingfeng Tower, he could barely walk.