Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 101 - 26: A gentleman is broad-minded, a petty person is full of worries.

Wang Qikai was biting into a bun, feeling indignant.

"Ah! What’s there to say? Some people are just so shameless; if it were me, I would have dropped out long ago." Another student picked up the topic and continued to mock.

Ye Zhiqiu looked dejected, got up holding his bowl and chopsticks, and was about to leave. Since no names were mentioned, he felt it wasn’t suitable to argue. Besides, what they said was true.

Wang Qikai couldn’t hold back any longer. As soon as he swallowed his bun, he started yelling, "Some people are just jealous of others’ talents, always envious, and go around slandering others."

Gu Chengyu thought it wasn’t good as soon as he heard Wang Qikai say this. Wasn’t he asking for trouble? He hurriedly looked over at that table and noticed that the students at that table had all turned their heads to look this way, with obvious anger in their eyes.

The student stood up with a "whoosh" and said, "Who are you talking about?"

"Whoever responds to it, that’s who I’m talking about!" Wang Qikai put down the bun in his hand and retorted with his neck stiffened.

Gu Chengyu just wanted to facepalm. Brother! Do you think the situation isn’t chaotic enough?

Sure enough, all the students at that table stood up and walked over. "Just now, did you say we like to be envious and slander others?" The initial student looked at the sitting Wang Qikai, and Gu Chengyu could only feel that the student’s eyes were practically emitting a fierce light.

"Yes, yes, so what?" Seeing the intimidating presence of the people, Wang Qikai had already lost his initial indignation, and now spoke with some hesitation.

"Hmph! Who did I think it was, turns out it’s you, little fatty. Every time you cause trouble, you have to ask your father to clean up after you. You can’t even do well on the tasks assigned by the teacher, yet you have time to meddle in others’ affairs? I’ve seen you struggling in Class C for nearly three years! Really a shame to the teacher’s guidance!"

Wang Qikai was stumped by this student’s words, unable to say a word back, and his face flushed with shame and anger.

Gu Chengyu noticed that Ye Zhiqiu, who initially planned to leave, stayed back and was looking and walking over here. He sighed; one was zero combat value, and the other was a paper tiger, not useful at all!

"This senior brother, if I may, could I say a word?" Gu Chengyu stood up, gave a bow to the students gathered around the table, and then spoke.

"Oh? What’s this? You also have something to say?" The student saw it was a child and knew he must be a new student in Class C. The private school was so small that even minor events would be widely spread. He had heard this morning there was a new student in Class C. He was curious to hear how he would stand up for his companion.

"All senior brothers present entered the school earlier than I did, especially those from Class B and Class A who have already thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics. I registered with the teacher yesterday and heard the senior brothers reading a sentence: ’The superior man is at peace with himself; the inferior man is always full of distress.’ I wonder where this sentence comes from?"

"You just joined, no wonder you don’t know yet. This is from the seventh Chapter of the ’Analects,’ which speaks of how a superior man should have a broad heart and be tolerant of others, while the inferior man means the opposite." Among the other students, there were also those who enjoyed flaunting their knowledge, and someone immediately explained to Gu Chengyu.

"Thank you for the information, senior brother. So it is the words of the sage. Then how can speaking ill of people, whether to their face or behind their backs, be the act of a superior man? Senior brothers have thoroughly read the words of the sages and learned the ways of the superior man. As seniors, you should serve as a model for us juniors." You have read the Holy Books a few more years than us, yet you still bicker with us newbies; isn’t that against the way of the superior man?

He Shunian gave Gu Chengyu a deep look; the words of the sage indeed cannot be refuted. If they keep arguing, wouldn’t they be admitting themselves as inferior men?

"This junior brother truly has insight! What the junior brother said is right, the words of the sage must not be violated, otherwise, we are no different from inferior men! Earlier, it was just a misunderstanding, speaking out of feeling, it was indeed my fault as a senior!" He Shunian said meaningfully.

Those who were either heckling or observing on the side also realized this little junior brother was not simple, and they all started discussing it.

"What’s this talk? Senior brother was just considering others’ urgency! It’s good that the misunderstanding is resolved; better to untie a knot than to tie one. If senior brother enters officialdom in the future, these are the friendships worth remembering from our school days!"

This was truly a moment of awakening! He Shunian suddenly realized, what good does it do to indulge in a verbal dispute for the moment? If Ye Zhiqiu enters officialdom in the future, wouldn’t it be easy for him to deal with him? If he enters officialdom, building good relations with schoolmates now would mean ample connections in the future.

At this moment, he genuinely wanted to thank this little junior brother. His vision was limited to this private school; how many talented people are there in the world? Without Ye Zhiqiu, there would still be others, isn’t there one right in front of him?

He Shunian looked at Gu Chengyu in front of him, only to see him smiling, speaking calmly and slowly, turning hostility into friendship in just a few words.

"May I ask your name, junior brother? I am called He Shunian."

"I am Gu Chengyu, and I ask for your guidance in the future, senior brother!" Gu Chengyu cupped his hands towards He Shunian, thinking that this matter should be considered resolved?

"Guidance is too much; I’m afraid it won’t be long before Junior Brother Gu and the senior brothers will be encouraging each other. We’ve taken up your meal time; we shall take our leave first; may you two enjoy your meal slowly." After today, I’m afraid there will be no one in the private school who doesn’t know Gu Chengyu.

"Senior brothers, please go ahead!" Gu Chengyu watched He Shunian and the others leave the dining hall before sitting down to prepare for his meal. Ah! It’s really impossible to have a peaceful meal; who would’ve thought that on his first day at the private school, there would be so much commotion?

Just as he wanted to tell Wang Qikai opposite him to hurry up and eat, he found that at some point, Ye Zhiqiu had walked over and both he and Wang Qikai were looking at him in amazement.

"Wow! Chengyu, you’re so amazing! How did you get them to leave with just a few words? And they were so polite to you?" Wang Qikai looked at Gu Chengyu with admiration, as if he were an incredibly formidable figure, and even Ye Zhiqiu nodded in agreement.

"Alright! Hurry and eat! If you don’t eat now, you’ll miss the hour for class." It was partly due to Wang Qikai’s sake that he spoke up in retaliation; he had no particular connection with Ye Zhiqiu. Moreover, regarding Ye Zhiqiu, he still felt some frustration at his lack of resolve. As for the others, this was their first meeting, and he didn’t know them well yet.

"Thank you both for your generosity in resolving today’s matter. Zhiqiu is deeply grateful." Ye Zhiqiu sincerely bowed to the two now that the matter was settled.

"What are you doing? After all, we’ve spent some time together in Class C! Don’t take it to heart!" Wang Qikai had apparently forgotten the situation that almost got out of hand just now.

Gu Chengyu quickly pulled Wang Qikai to stand up and returned a bow, saying, "Brother Ye, there’s no need for such courtesy, it was just a trivial matter, no need to take it to heart. Besides, those senior brothers are also reasonable people; it’s good that the misunderstanding is resolved!" At this point, there were still people in the dining hall, should they start speaking ill of people just after they left?

Ye Zhiqiu noticed that Gu Chengyu didn’t show friendliness towards him, which made him feel a bit downhearted.