Chapter 45
While they were talking, several students who were close to Fang Liang spotted them and waved.
"Over here! This way!"
It looked like they had already collected meals for Fang Liang and Gang Gye.
Fang Liang led Gang Gye over.
There were six people in the group, and they had already prepared food and saved seats.
Thanks to Fang Liang's position in the group, Gang Gye was able to sit comfortably in the middle.
Once the two sat down, Fang Liang looked at the two meat dishes on the table.
"Which one do you want? Pick whichever you like."
One plate clearly had less food on it.
Gang Gye guessed that smaller portion had probably been set aside for him.
So he chose that one.
"I'm not picky. I like everything."
At the same time, he thanked everyone else.
Several hands immediately reached over and patted his head.
After being fussed over for quite a while, Gang Gye finally started eating.
The group's attention didn't remain on him forever.
Soon they began chatting among themselves, mostly about what they planned to do that afternoon.
After a while, Fang Liang finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Why does it feel like everyone keeps staring at us?"
A four-year-old entering the academy was certainly unusual.
Until now, the youngest student in the entire academy had probably been around eight or nine.
Most children only entered after learning quite a few characters at home first.
But even so, did people really need to stare this long?
One student in the group said,
"You still don't know?"
"Our little guy here can supposedly remember anything after seeing it once."
"The rumor has already spread through the whole academy."
"Especially after what happened in class this morning."
"They're saying Teacher Lin taught him for almost two shichen, and he memorized everything right away."
"At this point, I doubt there's anyone in the academy who doesn't know Gang Gye's name."
The student said it with a grin.
The others laughed too.
They seemed to find it extremely amusing that a four-year-old had caused such a stir on his very first day.
But Fang Liang frowned.
The smiles on the others' faces slowly faded.
"What's wrong?"
Fang Liang shook his head.
"This might not actually be a good thing for Gang Gye."
The others exchanged glances.
"He's this young. What problem could there be?"
Who would possibly lay a hand on such a small child?
Especially one as quiet and adorable as Gang Gye.
"That's not necessarily true."
Fang Liang lowered his voice.
"You haven't forgotten about that person, have you?"
Fang Liang hadn't forgotten the malicious gaze the spoiled young master from the marquis household had given Gang Gye when they entered the dining hall.
The moment he said "that person," everyone fell silent.
They clearly knew exactly who he meant.
Chen Weiping.
The troublemaking young master from the marquis household had been sent here after causing trouble in the capital.
Chen Weiping was the son of the marquis's original wife.
But his mother died when he was eight years old.
One year later, the marquis remarried.
The second wife was around the same age as the first and was even related to her.
She was the first wife's younger cousin.
The second wife had also been married before.
Unfortunately, her husband died only a few years into the marriage, leaving her pregnant.
When she later married the marquis, she brought that posthumous son with her.
That boy was two years older than Chen Weiping.
Only two years.
Yet he was far more outstanding in every way.
Perhaps because he had lost his father so young, he was mature beyond his years.
His manners were always proper.
And he showed exceptional talent in his studies.
The marquis praised him constantly and favored him greatly.
He even ordered everyone in the household to call that stepson the Eldest Young Master.
Naturally, Chen Weiping was pushed down to Second Young Master.
The marquis repeatedly compared the two.
And the more he compared them, the more dissatisfied he became with his own biological son.
As a result, the relationship between father and son deteriorated badly.
Even the servants in the marquis household preferred the Eldest Young Master over Chen Weiping.
A few years after remarrying, the second wife gave birth to another son.
After that, the marquis became even more devoted to her.
The second wife was no ordinary woman either.
As Chen Weiping grew older, his personality became increasingly twisted.
Meanwhile, the second wife's two sons continued producing better and better results.
And now...
The marquis had even begun considering passing the heir position to his youngest son instead.
When Chen Weiping caused trouble, he was immediately sent all the way out here.
Chen Weiping had already had a bad temper in the capital.
And because of his stepbrother, he had developed an intense hatred for scholars.
That meant a child like Gang Gye was exactly the kind of person he would despise.
The example of the student whose hand had been broken was still fresh in everyone's mind.
The group fell silent.
Still, none of them showed any obvious fear.
They didn't want to attract Chen Weiping's attention.
Their families couldn't possibly stand against a marquis household.
Fang Liang turned to Gang Gye.
"Anyway, don't go anywhere alone."
"No matter where you're going, stay with us."
"Understand?"
"Mm! I understand!"
Gang Gye nodded immediately.
"But you don't have to be too scared."
Fang Liang added,
"Headmaster Liu specially invited you here."
"He definitely won't let anyone bully you."
Fortunately, the meal passed without incident.
After leaving the dining hall, Fang Liang said,
"Come on. We still have plenty of time before afternoon lessons."
"Want to rest in the dormitory?"
"You can do Teacher Lin's homework there too."
Gang Gye thought for a moment.
"Then I'll go to the dormitory and do my homework too."
He had learned so much that morning.
He needed to organize everything properly.
He should also write down some simple notes so that his later review connected smoothly.
He would only learn more and more from now on.
If too much time passed, even he might forget certain details.
"Sounds good."
