Chapter 293: Chapter 120: Asking for a Plan (Part 3)

Chu Xun took a deep breath. "He even specifically asked how to protect his family’s assets and heirs. It must have been him, no doubt."

Zhao Jing glanced sideways at Chu Xun, who quickly covered his mouth. "I won’t say it. I definitely won’t say what I’m not supposed to... But still, who would have thought we’d run into him just by going out for tea..."

"Silence!"

"Shut it, Chu Xun!"

"Damn it, I didn’t even get a chance to show off. Jing stole all the glory. Jing, oh Jing, from now on, don’t you dare speak when I’m around." De’an slumped onto the table, dejected. "If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been the one to steal the show today."

"Shut up. My brain is more useful than yours."

"My brain is obviously the most useful one."

Zhao Jing stood up, gently shaking his slightly numb legs. "Aren’t you guys hungry? Let’s go eat."

"Food, food! This one’s on me," Chu Xun said. "I’m so thrilled right now. Nobody argue with me. I’m treating today, and that’s final."

As promised, Chu Xun treated them, but the group only had two bowls of rice each and ordered four local specialty dishes.

After the meal, everyone started walking back. But instead of going to his own rented house, Chu Xun followed the others into the small courtyard they had rented.

Huang Chen tried to shoo him away. "You have everything you need at your place, even bedding. What are you following us for? We’ve only done a simple tidying up here. We haven’t even had time to clear the cobwebs from the corners."

Chu Xun was full of regret. ’Why did I ever think to rent a whole courtyard for myself? I should have just rented with you guys.’

He was all alone in that courtyard. He was worried someone might sneak in during the night, stab him, and drug him.

To make matters worse, right before he came to the Prefecture, his personal attendant had a sudden bout of dysentery and was too weak to get out of bed, so he had to travel north alone.

As a result, it was incredibly inconvenient, and he couldn’t even sleep peacefully at night.

Chu Xun tried to negotiate with the others. "How about I move in here? I won’t stay for free. I’ll pay. I’ll cover half the rent, and the three of you can split the money."

"Is there really such a good deal?"

"Then who would you room with? There are only three rooms here. The three of us each have one, so we’re full."

Chu Xun looked at Zhao Jing. Zhao Jing was a bit of a neat freak; his clothes were always immaculate, no matter the situation. Even while traveling, he would insist on washing up and changing. Compared to Zhao Jing, the other two were much sloppier.

But Zhao Jing didn’t respond, so Chu Xun could only turn his gaze to Huang Chen.

De’an immediately had a problem with that. "I can accept not being as good as Jing, but how am I any worse than Huang Chen? You’d rather choose Huang Chen over me? What kind of taste is that!"

Chu Xun said, "You’re too much of a smooth talker, and I’m quite a talker myself. I’m afraid if we roomed together, we’d end up gossiping until midnight. Then we could just forget about the exams and pack our bags and go home."

De’an: "...Fine, then. You might as well room with Huang Chen."

With things having come to this, could Huang Chen really disagree?

But he wasn’t going to get the short end of the stick. "If Chu Xun rooms with me, the silver he pays will be split into four shares. You two each get one share, and I get two."

De’an gave him a thumbs-up. "Spoken like a true merchant’s son. You’ve got those few taels of silver all figured out."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Huang Chen then asked Chu Xun, "That courtyard of yours..."

"I’ll find a property agent and sublet it."

"I suppose that’s the only option."

And so, the group, which had originally planned to spend the afternoon studying, ended up helping Chu Xun move instead.

Fortunately, Chu Xun didn’t have many belongings. With the four young men grabbing and carrying things, they finished moving everything in a single trip.

After getting Chu Xun settled in, the group shut their doors and began to study hard.

Social obligations were minor matters. The truly life-or-death challenges were the prefectural and college exams. They had to stay on their toes and couldn’t afford to mess up now.

During a break, Chu Xun remembered he hadn’t written a formal visiting card for the Wang Family. He quickly wrote one, took three copper coins, and paid someone to deliver it to the Wang Family’s residence.

The reply was delivered back to them within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The Wang brothers cordially invited their esteemed friends to a banquet at their home the next day.

Evening fell, and it was time for dinner, but today’s meal hadn’t been cooked yet.

Zhao Jing and the others had originally agreed that they would each take a day to cook. But since Chu Xun didn’t know his way around a kitchen, they discussed it and decided to just hire a cook.

With the time they’d save from cooking, they could read a few more pages.

’Can’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish. What’s a little silver, anyway...’

Amidst Chu Xun’s muttering, the matter of hiring a cook was finally settled. Of course, the cost of the food would be split evenly among them, but Chu Xun would be the one to pay the cook’s entire salary.

A cool breeze rustled through. The wind in the Prefecture seemed a bit harsher than in Qingshui County.

That shouldn’t be the case. It was already the middle of the third month, after all.

"Maybe it’s because my heart is cold," Chu Xun said. "I feel like a total sucker. Ever since I came to stay with you guys, all I’ve done is spend my money and my energy on you."

"The key thing is, you’re still grinning from ear to ear, as if you’re the one getting a great deal. Tell me, with a brain like yours, how on earth did you manage to survive in a wealthy household?"