Chapter 23

The arrival at the street corner was none other than Shan Zhang and Mu Yunchuan.

Mu Er Pang’s apprenticeship was akin to gaining half a father. At present, with Mu Cheng nowhere to be seen, it was only proper to inform Mu Yunchuan, who was like an elder brother and father figure.

It was inconvenient for Shen Cui to go to the academy, so Shen Lao Ye went in her stead.

Mu Yunchuan didn’t like her as a stepmother, nor did he particularly like the Shen family. However, the men of the Shen family were generally honest and straightforward, without any malicious intentions. Especially Shen Lao Ye, whose temperament was even gentler; he greeted everyone with a friendly smile. It was precisely because of his mild and amiable nature that the Shen family held the reins.

Back when Mu Cheng was still around, they used to visit the Shen family during festivals and celebrations.

While Madam Zheng would naturally not treat Mu Yunchuan with favor, Shen Lao Ye did sometimes. He would sneakily slip Mu Yunchuan a piece of candy or some other treat, giving him a bit of face.

Therefore, when Shen Lao Ye personally informed Mu Yunchuan of this matter, Mu Yunchuan didn’t show any signs of displeasure. He simply asked which master Er Pang had apprenticed under.

Shen Lao Ye happily replied, “It’s Master Lao from the city. I heard he has some connections with your family’s Shan Zhang. Today, we’ve set up two tables at the academy street. If your mother thinks it’s convenient, she also wants to invite your Headmaster Shan Zhang to have a cup of wine.”

Mu Yunchuan’s expression subtly changed upon hearing this.

After escorting the old man out of the academy, Mu Yunchuan pondered over the matter for a long while.

Mu Er Pang studying was something he knew about and even welcomed. It was only natural for him to apprentice under a master when studying. This was completely within his expectations.

What he hadn’t expected was that Mu Er Pang’s master would be Lao Buyu.

The two brothers apprenticed under the same pair of senior brother and juinior brother, and if outsiders found out, they might add a layer of complexity to the relationship.

However, Mu Yunchuan knew about the deep-seated grievances between Headmaster Shan Zhang and Lao Buyu, so he couldn’t help but think about it more.

After all, Headmaster Shan Zhang was his benefactor who had taken care of him for many years. If others were to hear about this from someone else and think he deliberately kept it from them, they would probably be unhappy.

Moreover, the academy was full of people, and many had seen Shen Lao Ye come over. Even if he pretended not to know, he couldn’t avoid being involved.

After about half a cup of tea, Mu Yunchuan sorted out his thoughts and went to see Headmaster Shan Zhang.

As the head of the academy, Shan Zhang not only taught and educated but also managed the large institution. It wasn’t easy to see him casually.

But as an initiated disciple, Mu Yunchuan was not ordinary. It was straightforward for him to meet Headmaster Shan Zhang.

Headmaster Shan Zhang smiled when he finally emerged from the study hall. “I’ve always said that with your current level, as long as you perform normally, the first three rounds won’t be a problem. There’s no need to be so nervous. The weather is good today; it’s nice to come out for a walk.”

Mu Yunchuan thanked him for his concern and then truthfully relayed Shen Lao Ye’s words.

“Your family is making trouble,” Headmaster Shan Zhang, who had been calm and composed, immediately changed his expression. “My junior brother has always been reckless. The competition he organized in the city was not for the purpose of educating students. Your younger brother’s desire to learn is a good thing, but he shouldn’t resort to such desperate measures.”

Headmaster Shan Zhang was genuinely worried.

He naturally knew about the situation at Mu Yunchuan’s home. Several years ago, when Mu Er Pang reached the age to study,

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he had already considered this aspect and thought that with Mu Yunchuan’s exceptional talent, his younger brother shouldn’t be far behind.

At that time, he and Mu Cheng suggested that Mu Er Pang should also start studying.

While it’s difficult for a lone tree from a poor family to prosper, having the support of siblings is naturally excellent.

Although Mu Cheng himself didn’t have much scholarly talent, he was foresighted enough to save money from every nook and cranny to support Mu Yunchuan, showing he was a visionary.

Upon returning home, he mentioned this matter to his family and faced strong opposition from the Shen family.

Later, when the Shen family wasn’t home, Mu Cheng still brought Mu Er Pang to Headmaster Shan Zhang.

However, to Headmaster Shan Zhang’s disappointment, Mu Er Pang was not even close to his elder brother, let alone other children of the same age.

Since then, Headmaster Shan Zhang knew about the situation in the Mu family – the stepmother, Mrs. Shen, was foolish, and the second son, Er Lang, was simple-minded.

Although disappointed, he also felt it wasn’t a big deal because such shallow individuals were easier to handle.

Even if Er Lang didn’t become a help to Mu Yunchuan in the future, it wouldn’t hinder his prospects.

But now, that foolish child wanted to apprentice under Lao Buyu. It wasn’t easy for him to learn the good things, but learning bad habits would be straightforward and easy, wouldn’t it?

What if he ended up learning the same way as Lao Buyu did back then?

The same recklessness, the same wildness, the same dragging others down.

Moreover, Headmaster Shan Zhang also had some understanding of Lao Buyu, his junior brother. Although he was unconventional, his vision was very high.

Why would he accept such an unremarkable Mu Er Pang? Could he have some ulterior motives?

He had truly stumbled upon Lao Buyu in this life, and his most valued student definitely couldn’t follow in his footsteps.

Therefore, after Headmaster Shan Zhang finished speaking, he immediately took Mu Yunchuan out of the academy and headed straight to the small restaurant on the academy street where the Shen family was hosting the banquet.

As soon as Headmaster Shan Zhang arrived, the lively atmosphere suddenly quieted down. Especially the scholars and literati, they all bowed and greeted respectfully.

Lao Buyu, who had just been like a quail being roasted over a fire, dejected and dispirited, suddenly lifted his head high and straightened his back when he caught sight of Headmaster Shan Zhang among the crowd. 

As soon as he saw Headmaster Shan Zhang, he immediately raised his chin, put one hand behind his back, and calmly asked, “Senior brother, what brings you here?”

Although these two senior brothers were in the same city, only a twenty-minute walk apart, they rarely interacted.

Headmaster Shan Zhang didn’t expect such a lively scene upon arrival. He valued his reputation and found it inconvenient to speak directly in front of others. He nodded slightly to Lao Buyu as a greeting and then scanned the crowd. He recognized Mu Er Pang, who had a rounder figure than his peers, and then looked at Shen Cui standing next to him. “Madam Mu, have you really decided to let your Er Lang apprentice under my junior brother?”

At this moment, Shen Cui pretended not to know about the past conflicts between the two men. She smiled and nodded at first, then cautiously observed Headmaster Shan Zhang’s solemn expression, wearing a puzzled look as she tentatively asked, “Yes, just now my Er Lang has already served tea to Master Lao. But what do you mean by this, Senior Zhang?”

Since they had just served the apprenticeship tea, it meant that the entire set of rituals hadn’t been completed yet. There was still some room for maneuver.

“My junior brother,” Headmaster Shan Zhang paused here, giving Lao Buyu some face, “is unrestrained and independent, unique.”

Mu Er Pang’s talent was definitely far from meeting the enrollment standards of Qingzhu Academy, but the current situation was special. After contemplating for a while, Headmaster Shan Zhang continued, “Why not let him become an student at our academy? Next year, he can participate in the academy’s unified assessment. If he passes, he can become a formal student of the academy.”

This was undoubtedly a huge temptation. Which family of scholars in the county, or even in the provincial capital, wouldn’t want their children to enter Qingzhu Academy?

Of course, Shen Cui definitely wouldn’t want it. She understood Headmaster Shan Zhang’s intentions very well. He was afraid that Mu Er Pang, as Mu Yunchuan’s own brother, would bring trouble to Mu Yunchuan in the future.

Even if Mu Er Pang became a student of Qingzhu Academy, as long as his brilliance couldn’t surpass Mu Yunchuan’s, Shan Zhang and the people in the academy wouldn’t pay him much attention. They would only treat him as an appendage.

Shen Cui wouldn’t just watch Mu Er Pang always living in his elder brother’s shadow. But what she thought and what she showed on her face were two different things.

There was a burst of surprise in her eyes, as if she couldn’t imagine such a good thing falling into their laps. Her lips trembled slightly, and it seemed like she was about to agree immediately.

Lao Buyu had just been reluctant, but now he stepped forward and stood in front of Mu Er Pang, while speaking up, “Today is the day I accept students. This Mu…”

As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the notice posted at the door, and he finally remembered Mu Er Pang’s name. “This Mu Hanshan is almost my formal student with half of the ceremony completed. How can the senior brother snatch people away? Besides, doesn’t the senior brother already have a talented disciple? Why are you still trying to snatch others?”

Lao Buyu looked at Mu Yunchuan standing behind Headmaster Shan Zhang, and his words couldn’t help but sound a bit sour.

To be honest, Lao Buyu wasn’t like the Lao Buyu who showed no respect for the old in the past.

Earlier, he had indeed thought about recruiting a disciple, nurturing him carefully, and then surpassing the disciples taught by his senior brother, those students of Qingzhu Academy.

But when he arrived here, he found out that his senior brother had already recruited a genius like Mu Yunchuan.

Some of Mu Yunchuan’s poems and articles occasionally circulated from the academy, and Lao Buyu managed to get a look at them.

Not to mention comparing with others, even compared to what they, the senior brothers, had written when they were young, Mu Yunchuan’s works were not inferior.

With such a gem in front of him, Lao Buyu, who was competing with Shan Zhang, naturally looked down on others. As the competition for recruiting students continued, he didn’t know when it would go wrong and become a means for him to accumulate wealth.

Before Shan Zhang could answer, Lao Buyu suddenly realized, “These two are from the same family.”

There was nothing to hide about this. Shen Cui continued, “Yes, Yunchuan is indeed our Er Lang’s elder brother.”

With this said, Lao Buyu became even more enthusiastic.

He originally felt that he was unjustly planted here, but it turned out that the one who surpassed him was from the Mu family.

Just like what Shan Zhang had thought, Lao Buyu suddenly felt that his brother was such a genius, so his younger brother definitely couldn’t be inferior. No wonder his senior brother eagerly came out of the academy to meet him.

Thinking this, Lao Buyu looked at Mu Er Pang, who stood respectfully with his head bowed on the other side, becoming more satisfied the longer he looked at him.

Although the little guy was a bit chubby, his complexion was fair, and his eyes were bright. He was the most proper-looking chubby kid Lao Buyu had ever seen.

Headmaster Shan Zhang didn’t know what had gotten into his junior brother. He was accepting students here without even recognizing them properly. However, knowing his junior brother’s usual unreliable nature, Headmaster Shan Zhang didn’t say what he was thinking. Instead, he looked at Shen Cui and asked with his eyes what she thought.

Just as before, Mu Yunchuan hoped that Mu Er Pang would study. As for his stepmother Shen Cui, as he had expected, she no longer showed her previous blatant stupidity and greed but had started to consider her reputation.

As the master and disciple were silently competing with each other, Lao Buyu didn’t care about them. He pulled Mu Er Pang over, had him kneel in front of the portrait of the holy teacher, and then put a red dot on his forehead with the brush on the table. In the blink of an eye, the final part of the ceremony was completed, and no one else had any say in it.

“You… you…” Headmaster Shan Zhang pointed at Lao Buyu, but couldn’t say a complete sentence.

Lao Buyu laughed heartily, as if he had gained a great advantage.