sjar Chapter 357 Would you be willing to be recognized as my godbrother?
Chapter 357 Would you be willing to be recognized as my godbrother?
At the dinner table, the three of them kept putting food into Zhou Miao's bowl.
After finishing the meal, Zhou Miao's belly was round from being fed so much.
Gao Mengli thought about Jiang Bei's studies, so she turned to him and arranged, "Cousin Jiang, take Zhou Miao down to rest for a while. We'll go to Naxian Academy to register and send you in to study."
After speaking, Lin Xi and Gao Mengli carefully observed Zhou Miao's expression.
Seeing that his eyes held excitement, agitation, and envy, but no other jealousy, Zhou Miao's liking for him increased even more.
Defenses can not do without.
Friends worry that you're doing poorly, but they also worry that you'll suddenly become rich. Maintaining a friendship that stays true to its original purpose is very difficult.
However, Zhou Miao has a good character, so it's worth getting to know him.
After making arrangements for the two people.
Gao Mengli pulled Lin Xi upstairs.
After looking around, Lin Xi quickly closed the door and sat down next to Gao Meng. "Mengli, Zhou Miao is the top scholar in the imperial examination. Do you think we should make a move?"
Gao Mengli poured a cup of tea for the two of them, rubbing her chin.
Logically speaking, someone of such great talent should have been recruited by various forces long ago, so there's no reason for him to be living in such poverty.
However, the old emperor had been obsessed with alchemy and neglected state affairs for a long time, and various forces were eager to make their move.
The current calm is merely the calm before the storm, but undercurrents are surging.
Since various factions don't have time to befriend students preparing for the imperial examinations, it's possible for them to gain some advantages.
“What you said makes some sense. If Da Niu takes the imperial examination, relying solely on Jiang Bei's help won't be enough in the future…”
There are children in the village who are going to school, but whether they will be successful or not is still unknown. It's like a blind box – you don't know what's inside.
Zhou Miao, on the other hand, is in a state where the blind box has already been opened, and they see the contents and know exactly what they are.
Lin Xi rested her chin on her hands: "So what do you mean?"
Gao Mengli put her hand down and picked up her teacup: "Just like we sponsored Jiangbei before, let's sponsor Zhou Miao too!"
If you want to strengthen the relationship, it's not out of the question to have a godbrother.
So, Gao Mengli took a sip of tea, feeling great, and placed the teacup on the table. She then called out to the air, "Hei Yi, go and find out who else is in Zhou Miao's family!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Lin Xi was startled by Hei Yi's sudden voice, followed by the sound of footsteps landing, indicating that Hei Yi had gone out to run errands.
Lin Xi stood up, completely bewildered, and searched the room but couldn't find the dark figures.
She stuck her butt out and even glanced under the bed, but there was no one there. "Mengli, do you think Hei Yi and the others are sick? Since they came to the inn, only Mengze has come out; the others have disappeared somewhere!"
But whenever they call out, they always hear a reply.
My hometown of Mengze is truly full of hidden talents; do all pig butchers have some kind of shady hobby...?
Gao Mengli turned to look at Lin Xi's protruding buttocks, her eyelids drooping: "Who knows..."
This group of people seems to particularly like staying in the shadows, like... bodyguards.
She hadn't noticed it while she was in the village, but she did when she came to the prefectural city.
She felt like these people were like fish returning to the sea, able to handle things and hide with ease.
Are they really butchers?
It's not that simple, is it...?
Sure enough, Hei Yi returned half an hour later.
Instead of using the main door, he used his light-footed skills to leap in through the window. "Madam, I've found out!"
Investigating matters is their area of expertise, so it couldn't be easier for them.
"Oh, tell me!"
Hei Yi found out everything about himself and told the two of them.
After speaking, Gao Mengli waved to Hei Yi.
Lin Xi kept a close eye on Hei Yi, trying to see where he was hiding.
Who knew that as soon as the upper eyelid touched the lower eyelid, Hei Yi disappeared without a trace.
Startled, he rushed to the window and leaned halfway out to look outside, only to find that he hadn't seen a single hair.
Gao Mengli chuckled, "Stop looking, your eyes can't keep up with Hei Yi's lightness skill."
With Lin Xi's blank stare, it's unlikely he could challenge someone else's livelihood.
Hei Yi is now a servant of the Lin family, and Gao Mengli trusts them completely.
Lin Xi shrank back awkwardly and reluctantly sat down next to Gao Mengli. "Mengli, Zhou Miao is all alone. Why don't we recognize him as our younger brother and support his education?"
Gao Mengli nodded. "Yes, I think it's feasible."
Grasshoppers on the same boat have to be linked together!
So Lin Xi ran out and called Zhou Miao and Jiang Bei over.
Gao Mengli pointed to the stool next to her: "Sit down, there's something I want to discuss with you."
Gao Mengli's gaze lingered on Zhou Miao's face for a moment: "I heard that your parents passed away early, and it is not easy for you to study alone."
She paused for a moment, then said, "If you don't mind, Lin Xi and I would like to recognize you as our sworn brother and support your studies. From now on, the Lin family will be your support."
The air solidified instantly.
Zhou Miao looked at her friend Jiang Bei, who was standing next to her, at a loss.
Jiang Bei was also momentarily stunned.
Back when he was struggling to study in the prefectural city, he received twenty taels of silver from his cousin and his wife, which were sent to him to help him go to school.
Few offer help in times of need, but many offer comfort and support when things are going well.
His cousin and his wife were the ones who offered help in this difficult time.
Those days of copying books by the light of an oil lamp in the cold night, swallowing cold steamed buns with pickled vegetables, suddenly surged back. The twenty taels of silver were not just money, but also the rope that allowed him to break free from the mire.
Now that the two of them are going to sponsor his good friend and classmate, he naturally supports them wholeheartedly, as no one knows better than him how difficult Zhou Miao's life is.
Then he realized what was happening and looked at Zhou Miao with a smile: "Zhou Miao, this is a rare opportunity."
Jiang Bei held Zhou Miao's hand tightly, his gaze intense. "Have you forgotten the vow we made when we were studying hard, that we would definitely pass the imperial examinations and become officials who serve the people?"
This will also ensure that our children will not have to face the same difficulties they did with their education.
"But times are tough. No matter how hard we tried, we still had far fewer resources than the children of wealthy families."
Money is also a necessary condition for studying.
If no one supports my studies, I won't even have the travel expenses to go to the capital for the examinations, so how can I realize my ambitions?
Zhou Miao recalled his school days, and suddenly stood up, kneeling before Gao Mengli and Lin Xi: "Brother and sister-in-law, from this day forward, I, Miao, will acknowledge this debt of gratitude!"
After saying that, Zhou Miao slammed his forehead heavily against the blue brick floor.
Seeing this, Gao Mengli's eyes flashed with satisfaction.
She liked it!
Lin Xi stepped forward and helped Zhou Miao up from the ground: "Miao, we will support your studies from now on. Get ready, your sister-in-law and I will send you to Naxian Academy in a little while!"
Zhou Miao was helped to his feet. Upon hearing the name "Naxian Academy," he instinctively took a half-step back, his eyes reddening. "No! Providing me with the means to study is already a great kindness. Naxian Academy's tuition is exorbitant."
There are also expenses for writing materials, banquets, and social gatherings... How can I let my brother and sister-in-law spend even more money!
Moreover, admission to the Naxian Academy requires a letter of recommendation from the prefect, which would require my brother and sister-in-law to pay for it—that's unacceptable!
He never even dared to dream of studying at Naxian Academy.
To join the class midway, one needs the recommendation of the prefect.
When dealing with officials, it's inevitable to give them money.
He had already shamelessly accepted the great favor of the Lin family's support in his studies, so how could he dare to even dream of entering the Naxian Academy?
Gao Mengli chuckled, "Don't worry, if I say you can go in, you can go in. Other things are not your concern."