Life in the academy was as boring as usual. In their spare time, the scholars would discuss Pei Che, who was at the center of the storm. Everyone felt that Pei Che was different in many ways after his return. They couldn't tell exactly where, but they felt that he was more sharp than before.
Pei Che himself didn't feel anything. He just didn't like hearing those people mention Jiang Miao or their marriage in a joking tone. Pei Che didn't just refute these gossipers in person. He would remember them one by one in his heart, and then take revenge on them openly in martial arts class.
After each martial arts lesson, the instructor would have them practice in pairs. Today, Pei Che had his eyes on another person. This person's surname was Gao, Gao Lide, and he was from the same family as Gao Shichang. It was said that most of the rumors about the Imperial College were spread from him.
"Brother Gao, please teach me." Pei Che walked to him with a sword in hand, smiled, and saluted with his fists clasped.
Gao Lide's face turned pale instantly. In the martial arts classes these days, many people had been killed by Pei Che. He would hit people where they felt the most pain, and there would be no trace left after the beating. Even if he told the coach that he was deliberately seeking revenge, the coach would not believe him. Instead, he would rebuke them for complaining because they were not as skilled as the others.
"I won't fight with you!" he shouted in a timid tone, his eyes constantly looking at the coach who was instructing the students.
"Why?" Pei Che looked puzzled, then acted as if he had suddenly realized something, "Could it be that Brother Gao felt that Pei Che's martial arts skills were too low to be your opponent? If so, how about letting A Jin be your opponent?"
Gao Lide turned his head stiffly and found that he had been surrounded by several people without realizing it. The evil spirit Su Jin was standing behind him with a sword in his arms, looking at him sinisterly.
He looked around and found that his two or three good friends were standing not far away and secretly observing. The moment their eyes met his, they immediately turned their eyes away and pretended to feed him moves.
Only then did he understand what it meant to be isolated and helpless. When his good friends were beaten a few days ago, he was standing far away and watching.
"Brother Gao, what are your thoughts? Do you want me or A-Jin to fight with you?" Pei Che asked. Under his gentle smile, there was malice that only Gao Lide could see.
As an adult, Gao Lide would naturally not choose either of the two. No one knew how many terrible things he had imagined in his mind in such a short period of time. He closed his eyes and fainted.
"Hey!" Han Qin called out, touched him with his foot, and found that he was really dizzy, so he shouted to the other side, "Coach Lin, come and see, Gao Lide has fainted! He was fine, no one touched him, and he suddenly fainted. Sigh, I don't know what he did when he asked for leave to go home yesterday to make himself so weak."
There was laughter all around. Everyone was an adult, so they could understand what Han Qin meant. Master Lin pushed aside the students who were watching the fun and checked Gao Lide. He found that his pulse was stable and his breathing was even. Knowing that he was fine, he pinched his philtrum with his thumb. Gao Lide screamed in pain and opened his eyes suddenly. His sight met Pei Che who was looking down at him. He was so scared that he waved his hands randomly and hit Master Lin who was squatting.
Instructor Lin's face darkened, and he lifted him up: "As a child of an aristocratic family, your body is so weak. You are simply destroying the legacy of your ancestors. I punish you to train here for another half an hour. The others can leave first!"
The students walked out of the martial arts arena in twos and threes. Before Gao Lide could breathe a sigh of relief, Pei Che, who had already walked out, suddenly turned around and walked back, and asked Master Lin if he needed someone to accompany Gao Lide to practice. Master Lin was gentle to the ambitious Pei Che, and told him to go back to read and not waste time on this person.
Before leaving, Pei Che looked at Gao Lide meaningfully and sighed faintly. Gao Lide escaped a disaster, but before he could be happy for long, his face drooped again. He escaped today, but what about the future
"Hahaha, Ache, you are really awesome. Recently, those villains no longer dare to get together and talk loudly." Han Qin thought of the expressions of those people and laughed so hard that his stomach hurt.
He Chen said: "Although this method can vent your anger, you must be moderate in your actions, so as not to be labeled as having a manic temper."
Pei Che smiled and said, "I know what's going on. As long as they stop being so arrogant, I won't bother to pay attention to them."
Su Jin sat opposite with a sword in his arms. As long as he wanted to fight, nothing else mattered to him.
Bai's Courtyard
After dinner, Jiang Miao took Pei Mu with him and sat in the study with Xiao Shitou, waiting for him to finish the calligraphy homework assigned by the teacher today.
"Mu'er, let's go see your brother tomorrow?" Jiang Miao suggested. He found that although Pei Mu was very well behaved, he often looked unhappy recently. His eyes would drift towards the door from time to time, as if waiting for someone. Jiang Miao guessed that he must be missing Pei Che. It had been seven or eight days since Pei Che left, and he had not come out during this period.
After hearing this, Pei Mu paused his hand that was stroking the kitten, frowned and thought for a while, then nodded.
"You're so good. Let's bring some food tomorrow. I heard that the food in the Imperial College doesn't taste very good." He said that in order to let them concentrate on their studies and not indulge in pleasure, their food, clothing, housing and transportation were all kept to the simplest standards.
At this time, Xiao Shitou, who was sitting at the table writing, couldn't help pouting and snorting.
"Xiao Shitou, what's wrong?" Jiang Miao felt strange. "Did you get criticized by the teacher in the private school today? Or did you have a conflict with your classmates?"
Little Stone said sullenly, "Neither."
"What's that?"
Little Stone didn't say anything. After a long silence, he suddenly said, "Brother, when will Brother Che come to pick up Mu'er and take her back to their own home?"
"No... I feel that since Mu'er came, brother seems to only like Mu'er." Little Stone lowered his head, his eyes a little red.
Jiang Miao sat down next to him and stroked his head: "How could that be? Did I do something wrong that made you think I only like Mu'er?" Did he neglect Xiao Shitou in some way
Little Stone said in a crying voice: "You always call him Mu'er, but call me Little Stone, which is almost the same as calling me Little White Dot!" These few days, he paid special attention to the way the elders around him called their children, and found that he was the only one whose name was similar to the name of the kitten.
Uh... Jiang Miao was embarrassed. Are all children's focus points so confusing? In this comparison, Mu'er seems to be better.
"Lei'er?" Jiang Miao realized his mistake and called out tentatively, then he and Xiao Shitou both shuddered.
Little Stone wiped his tears and looked up and said, "Brother, I was wrong. Just call me Little Stone."
Jiang Miao nodded and said earnestly: "Little Shitou, the name is just a code name. No matter what I call you, I love you the same way. I won't dislike you less just because there is a Mu'er. You will always be my brother." He knew that the name was just a fuse. The real reason was that Little Shitou felt a sense of crisis because of Pei Mu's arrival.
Xiao Shitou indeed thought so. He went to school early and came back late every day, but Pei Mu could stay with her brother all day long. Pei Mu was also beautiful. He was afraid that his brother would not like him in the future.
"Yeah!" Little Stone nodded vigorously. After getting Jiang Miao's confirmation, he felt much more at ease. His brother had never lied to him, so he would definitely not only like Mu'er and not him!
Looking at the two brothers talking, Pei Mu's eyes showed a hint of confusion. He looked at the cat on the ground, then at the little stone, and his expression gradually became serious.
After comforting Little Stone, Jiang Miao turned to look at Pei Mu again. Seeing Pei Mu staring at him blankly, he explained, "Mu'er, Little Stone doesn't dislike you. He said that because he's afraid. Don't take it to heart."
Pei Mu didn't nod. Jiang Miao called him again, but he didn't respond. He thought the kid was just being suspicious, so he explained to him again. Xiao Shitou also stood up and apologized to Pei Mu. He liked Pei Mu very much. Although Pei Mu didn't like to talk, he listened to him very much.
Pei Mu listened to them quietly, raised his hand and pointed at the kitten, then at the small stone, and finally at himself. Jiang Miao looked confused and said he didn't quite understand, so Pei Mu gestured again, this time focusing on the kitten and the small stone.
What is the relationship between the kitten and the little stone? Jiang Miao racked his brains, but he still didn't know what Pei Mu was struggling with. In the end, it was Little Stone who guessed: "Does Muer think that Xiao Baidian and I have the same name, but his is different?"
"Mu'er, is that so?" Jiang Miao asked. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Pei Mu nodded slightly.
Really! You both had a fight over names today, right? One of you is annoyed that your name is the same as the kitten, and the other is worried that your name is different from the kitten. It's so difficult!
"Then from now on, can we call you Little Wood? I am Little Stone, you are Little Wood, and it is Little White Dot. From now on, we will be the same!" Little Stone's eyes lit up. The more he thought about it, the better he thought it was. This way, when they go out, others will know that they are a family.
Pei Mu nodded, turned his gaze back to the cat, and curled the corners of his mouth almost imperceptibly.
After helping the two children wash and brush their teeth, Jiang Miao asked them to go to bed. Once they went up, they skillfully positioned themselves and left the middle position empty for Jiang Miao to lie down. Pei Che changed a large bed for them, so even if four people slept together, it wouldn't feel crowded.
Pei Mu had never slept with others before. He was a little uncomfortable in the first two days and always squeezed against the wall. Later, he got used to it and started to squeeze in the middle like a small stone. Although it is spring now, it is still very cold at night. Jiang Miao is warm, and the two children like to lean on him for warmth.
This was a tough time for Jiang Miao. Every night, the two octopuses entangled him and he was so hot that he almost sweated.
The next day, Jiang Miao got up before dawn. He tucked in the quilt for both of them and went to the kitchen.
Wash the pot and boil water, add rice and cook porridge. While waiting for the porridge to cook, Jiang Miao was not idle. He quickly fried two side dishes and picked out some pickled radish to eat with the porridge.
The two little ones also got up at this time. Little Shitou could dress himself. Pei Mu couldn't do it at first, but after being taught by Little Shitou for a few days, he could also dress himself.
After breakfast, Jiang Miao and Pei Mu sent Xiao Shitou to school. After returning, Jiang Miao carried a jar of dried radish and a jar of meat sauce, and took Pei Mu out the door.
The carriage was waiting on the street outside the side door. When Jiang Miao had just sent Xiao Shitou to school, he told the driver that he wanted to go see Pei Che.
"Young Master, Mr. Jiang, sit tight!" the driver shouted, whipped the horse in the air, and the horse started running.
(End of this chapter)