CHAPTER 117: CHAPTER 117: DECADENCE

The classmates didn’t suspect anything, they had never seen Jiang Youzhi so plump, just felt it was very awkward.

On closer thought, oh, it turned out his face was swollen.

How pitiable.

Mrs. Chen brought the guests in, was rather startled seeing Jiang Youzhi like this, this child was clearly quite cheerful recently, what’s happened suddenly?

With guests around, she couldn’t say much, hurried to the kitchen to pour tea.

When she reached the kitchen, Yun Jiao had already prepared the tea.

Mrs. Chen brought the tea in, returned to the kitchen and saw Yun Jiao had filled a plate with red dates and sent Ah Tie to deliver them.

Red dates were used by Yun Jiao every day to stew with angelica and astragalus, there wasn’t any prepared snacks at home for guests, so she could only use this as a substitute.

Zheng Juren and the others sat down in the room, seeing Ah Tie bring in a plate of red dates, a trace of contempt flashed in Zheng Juren’s eyes.

It was his first time visiting Jiang Youzhi’s home, he didn’t expect it to be so poor.

The tables and chairs were old and chipped, the tea cups were coarse porcelain, and for guests, couldn’t even serve decent snacks, just a plate of red dates.

In the past, Jiang Youzhi dressed simply, yet he always carried an undeniable air of a noble young master, he thought Jiang Youzhi’s family was well-off, just didn’t like to show off.

Now it seemed, truly poor!

Even the quilt was patched in several places!

Zheng Juren moved his gaze from the quilt, chuckled, "I should have come to visit Brother Jiang earlier."

"Just been so busy lately, haven’t found the time."

"Brother Jiang, your leg—is it getting better?"

Jiang Youzhi shook his head sadly, "Brother Zheng hasn’t heard? My leg can’t be saved, even Doctor Li in the county said it’s very likely to be crippled."

"It seems, my path to fame ends here."

Lying in bed for a month, Jiang Youzhi had figured it out, he met this calamity because of others’ envy.

In his youth, he didn’t know to restrain himself, consistently topping every monthly exam at the academy, the scholars there favored him.

When the education inspector came to inspect, several scholars intentionally wanted him to impress the inspector, so he could build connections for the future.

He went with the flow, indeed earned the inspector’s appreciation.

But, the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled.

It seems his prominence irritated some, leading them to strike twice, intending to completely ruin his future.

Henceforth, he must keep a low profile, be humble.

He purposely put on a dispirited appearance, claiming his leg was beyond rescue, to reassure those who harmed him.

Zheng Juren laughed, "No need for that, Brother Jiang relax and recover well."

Jiang Youzhi smiled desolately, "Brother Zheng needn’t comfort me, at this point, I accept my fate, once I can walk in a few months, I’ll give up thoughts of the imperial exams and find a place to tutor, to support my family."

Xu Zhizhong and Zhou Jing both offered comforting words to Jiang Youzhi.

Then Zheng Juren said with some pride, "I’m about to set off to the Capital City to participate in the spring examinations."

"Before leaving, concerned about Brother Jiang’s condition, I especially came to see you and say goodbye."

Jiang Youzhi hurriedly clasped his hands, "No need, no need."

"As Brother Zheng goes, you will surely achieve high honors, I congratulate Brother Zheng on a glorious future."

Xu Zhizhong and Zhou Jing also congratulated Zheng Juren, as if he had already passed the Jinshi exam.

Zheng Juren spoke humbly, but his expression was triumphant.