GBP Chapter 258 Do you envy or admire?
Chapter 258 Do you envy or admire?
Chen Zhao was no match for Lin Chang'er and could only accept his fate.
Finally, she gave Gu Ziyan a resentful look and said with a wronged expression, "He was the one who looked down on me first."
Gu Ziyan: "..."
Li Xun: "..."
Liu Zi: "..."
The henchmen: "..."
Lin Chang'er: "..."
Lin Chang'er was bewildered, and said fiercely, "How did he look down on you? Just because he looks down on you, does that give you the right to hit him?"
Although Chen Zhao was under someone else's control, he still had a temper. He snorted and said, "I usually befriend him and invite him for tea and meals, but he ignores me."
"Mid-Autumn Festival is my father's birthday. Today, I asked him to write a beautiful essay for me to entertain my father. Not only did he refuse, but he also called me a shameless scoundrel."
"I didn't break his arms and legs, but... ah..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a loud bang as a bowl was slammed down.
Lin Chang'er scolded, "Just say what you need to say, why are you putting on airs?"
Chen Zhao was indignant and glared at Gu Ziyan, complaining, "Why don't you scold him?"
Gu Ziyan couldn't help but defend himself, saying, "Young Master Chen, I have already explained the matter of drinking tea and eating. My parents died early, and I was raised by my elder brother and sister-in-law. My elder brother was conscripted and his fate is unknown."
“My sister-in-law pitied my loneliness and never remarried. Ziyan was deeply grateful to my sister-in-law. Whenever he had free time, apart from studying and copying books, he dared not and could not spend time on socializing.”
"As for what you said about helping you write articles, please explain in more detail. Using your name to write articles, is that helping? That's cheating!"
Chen Zhao didn't care. "That's my business. I just want my father to be happy on his birthday."
Gu Ziyan insisted, "That's not helping you, that's harming you."
Li Xun also said, "Young Master Chen, no one knows a son better than his father. Does your father not know his son's capabilities?"
"Even if Brother Gu is forced to comply today, can't your father tell the difference?"
"Young Master Chen believes that your father would truly be happy that way."
Chen Zhao looked at the two of them strangely, thinking they were simply idiots. Why would they not make money? What else was it for them to worry about?
Chen Zhao turned his face away, with an expression that said, "I won't argue with idiots."
Lin Chang'er: "..."
Lin Chang'er said, "Is it polite of you not to look at me when you talk to me? Your uncle is Prefect Chen Yu!"
Chen Zhao paused, inexplicably finding it reasonable, and turned around.
Lin Chang'er continued, "You, the nephew of a prefect, even have to rely on others to write your own articles. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Chen Zhao's gaze lingered for a moment.
Lin Chang'er continued, "Furthermore, on your father's birthday, you find someone to write beautiful articles and dress him in colorful clothes to entertain him. What will you do on the Double Ninth Festival, Winter Solstice, Lunar New Year, Lunar New Year, and your father's birthday next year?"
"What will you do about the academy's examinations?"
"You can't expect your talent to fluctuate so much that it can only be displayed during holidays and family birthdays, can you? Do you even believe that yourself?"
Chen Zhao was a little confused. "What can I do? I just don't know how to write an article!"
Lin Chang'er was furious. "If you don't know how, then learn! You think you're right?"
"If you can't do it, you force and threaten your classmates to cheat. If you're so capable, why don't you just fly to the moon!"
Chen Zhao was scolded until he cried. Such a big young man, he sobbed, "Why are you so fierce? They all say that I have more money in my family than I could spend in several lifetimes. They say that my father sent me to the academy to find someone to watch me and prevent me from being idle and causing trouble."
“My father himself told the teacher that as long as I don’t cause trouble at the academy, I can do whatever I want. The teacher doesn’t care about me anymore, so what can I do?”
Lin Chang'er: "..."
Lin Chang'er clicked her tongue in amazement. Are parents these days really that undemanding?
However, she raised her voice, "You know you are worthless and repulsive, why don't you reflect on yourself?"
If others say you're a piece of shit, do you really want to be a piece of shit?
Chen Zhao cried even louder, "What can I do? My father already said I'm a good-for-nothing!"
Lin Chang'er rubbed her forehead, while Li Xun and Gu Ziyan each sighed and shook their heads.
Lin Chang'er was about to be driven crazy by Chen Zhao's nagging. "I don't think you're stupid. How come you can't learn? Have you really put all your energy into studying?"
Chen Zhao didn't know how to respond to this. Of course, he wasn't stupid. His family had always said that as long as he could recognize a few words and wasn't completely illiterate, that would be fine. Little did he know that adults' expectations would change as he grew older.
Later, when they entered the academy, they had to compete even more in writing.
Lin Chang'er knew, of course, that he wasn't stupid, and didn't seem particularly dumb.
With a quick glance, he slammed his hand on the table and said, "Gu Ziyan writes excellent articles. Don't you envy him? Don't you admire him?"
Chen Zhao: "I'm envious, I'm always envious."
"Do you want to be able to write articles like him?"
Chen Zhao nodded frantically. Of course he wanted to, he dreamed about it.
Lin Chang'er looked at Gu Ziyan, "Gu, how much time do you usually spend copying books each day?"
“Well,” Gu Ziyan hesitated for a moment, then said after seeing Li Xun nod at him, “Normally it’s one hour, but Brother Li and I will spend an extra hour copying at night.”
Lin Chang'er nodded, "Scholar Gu, I can tell that this Young Master Chen truly admires your talent. As the saying goes, a gentleman helps others achieve their goals..."
“No, Cousin Li Xun, I absolutely cannot do something like forging documents for someone else. How could I face my sister-in-law who has worked so hard to support my studies?”
Lin Chang'er gestured with her hand, "Student Gu, don't get excited. What I mean is, it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Why not use the time spent copying books to give Young Master Chen some pointers on his writing?"
"Of course, this guidance can't be given for nothing; after all, everyone's time is valuable."
"For a student like Gu who excels in both academics and character, time is even more precious."
Turning to Chen Zhao, he said, "You tell me, how much silver are you willing to pay to have Scholar Gu guide you in writing your essay?"
Fearing that Gu Ziyan would try to lower the price, he deliberately said, "Don't take advantage of Gu's high status and treat money like dirt. This is an equal exchange. If the price is unfair, we will not accept it."
Chen Zhao's focus was clearly not on the price. He looked at Gu Ziyan, then at Lin Chang'er, and asked, "Is he really willing to teach me how to write?"
Lin Chang'er nodded, "If you show sincerity, I can help you persuade him."
Chen Zhao thought for a moment, then interlaced his fingers. "Do you think this number is acceptable?"
"Ten taels a month?"
"Ten taels?" Chen Zhao was a little uncertain, because he had originally said 100 taels.
Lin Chang'er did the math in her head and thought the price was fair.
He looked at Gu Ziyan and asked, "Student Gu, what do you think?"
Gu Ziyan was still somewhat hesitant. If he could earn ten taels of silver a month, his sister-in-law wouldn't have to get up early every day to make dough and steamed buns. Although, according to his sister-in-law, since meeting that young lady from the Gu family and partnering with the Gu family to run a stall, making a living had become much easier, it was still hard work after all.
But can he really do it?
"Cousin Li Xun is joking. I am still a student myself, how could I possibly teach my fellow students how to write essays?"