Jiapingguan Chronicle

"Revenge? Isn't that only natural?" Hearing Chu Han's words, Jin Miaomiao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "We can't just let ourselves be bullied for nothing, right?"

"You're so self-righteous about it?"

“We are the victims, can’t we stand up for ourselves? Since we can’t get justice or find a fair chance by relying on the outside world, then we’ll rely on ourselves.” Jin Miaomiao spread her hands and looked at Third Grandfather. “My master said that this is a golden saying of the advisor, and I should remember it well.”

“That’s right.” Third Master nodded. “That’s the kind of person my master is. If he can’t get justice for himself by relying on others, then he’ll do it himself. Anyway, we’re not incapable of doing so. If someone can’t stand up for themselves and get justice for themselves, then we don’t want a disciple like that.” He smiled at Chu Han. “What do you think?”

“Very good!” Chu Han nodded, clapped his hands lightly, and said, “The reason I was able to become friends with your master is because we share the same interests and get along very well. Sometimes, we don’t need to say anything; we can know what the other is thinking with just a glance.”

“I’ve heard my master mention it.” The Third Grandfather looked at the still-young man before him, chuckled, and said, “I remember the first time I met you was at a restaurant. Someone was deliberately causing trouble for the owner, trying to eat for free. That person was a local bully, and everyone, including the owner, dared not speak out and wanted to settle things peacefully. But you stepped forward and gave that bully a good beating. My master heard the whole story and even added something to his tea, forcing him to drink it.”

"Beat him up?" Jin Miaomiao looked at Chu Han. "You're going to do it yourself?"

"Of course not, these are my fair and delicate hands." Chu Han stretched out his hands, showing them off proudly. "I can't let people like this sully them, right? It was my guards who did it. That bully also had thugs around him, and the two sides got into a fight, which attracted the attention of the government officials. Originally, such a thing happened in their jurisdiction, and they didn't do anything about it. I was already planning to cause them trouble, and since they came to me, I certainly wouldn't let them get away with it." He chuckled and looked at Third Master. "Actually, I'm different from your master. I originally had this responsibility, and I should intervene when I encounter such things. If I don't, I'm no different from those who bully others. But your master is different. He wants to eliminate all injustices in the world with his own strength."

"To sweep away all injustices in the world," Shen Cha silently repeated this phrase, sighed softly, and said, "What a magnificent idea."

“Great, but naive.” Chu Han sighed softly. “There are so many injustices in the world, and he’s just one person. How could he possibly manage them all? But I admire people like him very much.”

"Yes, although there are many injustices, with us here, these injustices will gradually decrease." Shen Cha smiled and looked at Jin Miaomiao, "What's wrong? Why are your eyes red?"

"I'm a little touched. My advisor wasn't a powerful person, nor did he come from a background like ours, yet he still had such ideals. We should inherit his aspirations and become like him." Jin Miaomiao wiped her eyes.

“That’s for sure.” Chu Han smiled at them. “You’re slowly getting on this path now, you just need to keep going.” He looked at Jin Miaomiao, who was still wiping her eyes, shook his head helplessly, and said, “Continue talking about his childhood. Although he was bullied, he was definitely not the kind of person who just stood by and did nothing.”

“That’s for sure. Such words would never be associated with my master.” Third Grandfather chuckled and tapped the table lightly. “Although my master is a kind person, if anyone touches on the people or things he cares about, or crosses his bottom line, he will retaliate without hesitation.”

"So, what happened when the advisor fainted?"

"At that time, he had already started reading some medical books and roughly knew how to make himself faint. So, the night before, he opened his window a crack and took a cold shower. As a result, he had symptoms of a cold the next day. He felt dizzy and lightheaded and had no energy at all."

"I understand!" Jin Miaomiao sighed. "Using this method to get revenge on others is a bit..."

"Because he was still young at the time, he couldn't use many of the methods available to him. Besides, he hadn't formally studied medicine yet, so he couldn't prescribe medicine for himself. That was all he could do. But it worked quite well. He was already dizzy, and with the strong sunlight and the shoving from those bullies, he collapsed, his face deathly pale." "And then?"

“The children who bullied him came to his home in person, accompanied by their parents, to apologize and make compensation. The whole process was witnessed.”

"It's a pretty good ending, isn't it?"

“Yes.” Chu Han nodded. “However, less than half a year later, he encountered the first betrayal in his life.”

"The first betrayal?" Shen Cha frowned slightly, looking at the Third Grandfather who was also frowning. "Uncle, you don't know either?"

"I don't know." The Third Master shook his head gently. "Since Master told the young master about all those past events, he must not remember them and wouldn't tell us. I don't know anything about what the young master just said."

“Yes, he told me about it, but then he forgot about it and definitely wouldn’t tell you.” Chu Han took a sip of tea and continued, “This betrayal came very suddenly and was very violent, so much so that Qingsong was depressed for a long time until he met your advisor.” He looked at the Third Grandfather, “and took him away from that environment, and he slowly got better.”

"Betrayal? Who is it?"

"Two of his childhood friends betrayed him one after the other. In fact, the reason for the betrayal was very simple: the imperial examination."

"The imperial examination?" Shen Cha frowned slightly. "Master Qingsong doesn't seem to have taken the imperial examination."

"Of course, Qingsong has always been devoted to medicine and has never wanted to participate in the imperial examinations or pursue any so-called fame or official rank. His parents knew this and did not force him. After all, the children in the family had all chosen different paths and were all doing very well. Success and fame are not just about passing the imperial examinations and becoming the top scholar. As long as you do what you love in a down-to-earth manner and keep doing it, that is good."

"The advisor's family is quite open-minded."

“That’s natural.” Chu Han nodded. “But outsiders don’t know that he has no interest in the imperial examinations, not even his two friends.”

"Are they worried that Master Qingsong's studies are so good that they won't even be able to pass the preliminary examinations?"

Chu Han didn't speak, but snapped his fingers and nodded at Shen Cha. (End of Chapter)