This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

At this moment, two constables, hands on the hilts of their knives, swaggered into the noodle shop.

He slammed the knife down on the table with a loud bang.

"Boss, bring two bowls of noodles, hurry up, I have official business to attend to!" one of the constables, whose face was gloomy and who looked unapproachable, shouted.

"Yes, yes, almost done, officer, please wait a moment."

Upon seeing the two men, the old man's face immediately showed a hint of distress, but he still forced a smile and went about his work.

The old man walked over to Zhang Ping'an and his group's table, looking apologetic: "Excuse me, gentlemen, I'll serve the two officers first. You'll have to wait your turn."

Wu Yuan was somewhat angry, but looking at the other party's swaggering official robes, he ultimately remained silent.

Hao Shuwen, needless to say, didn't even have the courage to glance at the two constables.

Zhang Ping'an smiled and said, "Alright, we're not in a hurry. The old man can go ahead and get busy!"

"Oh, thank you for being so understanding, young master!" The old man's expression relaxed, and he turned to go to the kitchen to get busy.

Chen Zhishi suddenly sneered and said, "See? This is why I want to be an official."

Zhang Ping'an frowned secretly. He felt that Chen Zhishi was too ambitious and that he should not be associated with him.

Wu Yuan snorted coldly, speechless.

Soon, all the noodles were served.

Zhang Pingan took a couple of slurps and thought the taste was pretty good.

However, the two constables had already gotten up and left, having eaten less than a third of the two large bowls of noodles.

The old man sighed, smiled bitterly, and walked over to share the leftover noodles with his daughter.

Looking at this scene, Zhang Ping'an suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

"Shopkeeper, it seems they didn't pay, did they?" Zhang Ping'an asked.

The old man glanced back at Zhang Ping'an and quickly raised his index finger to make a shushing gesture.

"Young master, keep your voice down, or you'll be in big trouble if they hear you."

"Ah, it's an honor for these officers to come to my little shop for a bowl of noodles while they're on duty. How could I dare to charge them?"

Chen Zhishi gave Zhang Ping'an a strange look and sneered, "Brother Zhang, did you just come from some remote mountain village? How could you ask such a stupid question?"

"When have these police officers ever paid for meals at restaurants run by ordinary people?"

After speaking, he paused for a moment and looked at Wu Yuan, who had a cold face.

"If someone in the shopkeeper's family is an official, those two constables will definitely not dare to come, and even if they do, they will surely pay obediently."

"That's why I'm determined to become an official."

Zhang Ping'an and the other two remained silent.

Suddenly, Zhang Ping'an lowered his head, quickly finished the noodles in his bowl, and called out, "Shopkeeper, the bill is due."

"Ah... twelve coins in total." The old man bent over and smiled.

Zhang Ping'an took out one tael of silver and placed it on the table: "Consider the extra as payment for the noodles those two were eating earlier."

The old man was startled and hurriedly said, "That still doesn't need that much, young master..."

In the Great Wu Dynasty, one tael of silver was equal to one hundred coins, and a bowl of noodles cost three coins. Zhang Ping'an's donation was quite generous.

"Consider the extra as a reward from me. Alright, I'm heading back now, so don't block my way."

Zhang Ping put on a spoiled, arrogant act, which frightened the old man so much that he didn't know what to do.

The young girl secretly peeked at Zhang Ping'an from behind, her clear eyes revealing a hint of curiosity.

As they left the noodle shop, Wu Yuan suddenly punched Zhang Ping'an: "Ping'an, well done! I'm definitely going to be your friend."

"This is what we scholars should do. Unlike some people, who only think about becoming officials all day long."

Chen Zhishi sneered, glancing sideways at Zhang Ping'an: "Young Master Zhang, did you feel very powerful and prestigious just now?"

"Damn it, you'll die if you don't make sarcastic remarks..." Zhang Ping'an frowned and said, "What do you mean by that, Brother Chen?"

Chen Zhishi looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle: "In the Great Wu Dynasty, there are 100,000 such servants, eating three meals a day, day after day, year after year. Even in the capital, it's like this, and it's only worse in the provinces."

"How much money do you think you have to help?"

Wu Yuan retorted angrily, "That's still better than you doing nothing!"

"Why are you so eager to become an official? Isn't it just to have those same privileges? Ping An's actions may not save all the exploited people in the world, but he is more worthy of the identity of a scholar than you are!"

Chen Zhishi shook his head, gave a cold smile, and walked away.

"This brat is not capable of any strategy!"

Zhang Ping'an twitched his lips, feeling utterly disgusted with this guy.

"Ping An, that's just how he is, don't pay him any attention," Wu Yuan said, walking over and patting Zhang Ping An on the shoulder.

"I'll share my insights from studying military strategy over the past few years with you later. You can also study military affairs, and in the future, we can go to the battlefield together to kill enemies and make meritorious contributions. Isn't that much better than him becoming an official?"

"Are you sure you can teach me military strategy?" Zhang Ping'an gave him a strange look.

"Go back!" Zhang Ping'an naturally didn't take it to heart, he just thought Chen Zhishi was a very annoying person.

In the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an went to the Hall of Learning again and brought back the book "The True Explanation of the Master of Horizontal Training".

While learning breathing techniques today, he had a bold idea.

Although breathing exercises can improve physical health, they are clearly a method used by scholars to cultivate a righteous spirit.

It's simply impossible to improve one's physical condition and become a martial arts master in a short period of time.

But what effect would occur if breathing exercises were combined with external martial arts training?

Zhang Ping'an acted immediately, learning both breathing techniques and external martial arts.

He found that combining the two worked very well.

Just as Zhang Ping'an was preparing to practice properly, Yang Tai sent someone to call him over.

They said the dean had returned and they wanted to see him.

It was the same courtyard that Zhang Ping'an had visited before.

When Zhang Ping'an arrived, Yang Tai, dressed in a black long robe, was playing chess with a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe.

The middle-aged man looked to be in his forties, with a gourd hanging from his waist, and he looked somewhat unkempt.

This is Zhao Kongcheng, the headmaster of the academy.

"Mr. Yang!" Zhang Ping'an called out from outside the courtyard gate.

Yang Tai and Zhao Kongcheng exchanged a smile: "They're here."

The two stood up and looked at Zhang Ping'an together.

"Young Master Li, this is Zhao Kongcheng, the Dean of my academy."

Zhang Ping'an bowed respectfully: "This student greets Dean Zhao!"

Zhao Kongcheng picked up the gourd, took a sip, and looked at Zhang Ping'an with a smile. His words were so natural and friendly that it was as if he were an old friend who hadn't seen Zhang Ping'an for many years.

"Young Master Li, your poem 'Exhortation to Study' is very popular with the students!"

"Dean, you flatter me. It's the excellent learning atmosphere at the academy that makes the poem 'Exhortation to Study' so special." Zhang Ping'an smiled modestly, maintaining a low profile.

"Haha, Yang Tai, you're right. This kid is not only talented, but also has high emotional intelligence!"

Zhang Ping'an bowed again: "Dean, you flatter me. I heard you summoned me; is there anything you need?"

"Sit down first, let's talk while seated," Zhao Kongcheng said, pointing to the stone bench, and sat down first.

Yang Tai and Zhang Ping'an then took their seats.

Zhao Kongcheng stared at Zhang Ping'an with a smile: "Should I call you Li Du, or should I call you Ping'an?"

Zhang Ping'an was stunned. Oh no, he'd been exposed.

However, considering that the other party was the headmaster of the academy, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find out his identity.

Zhang Ping'an smiled awkwardly: "Dean Zhao, you can just call me Zhang Ping'an."

"Ping An, have you read the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage? What are your thoughts?" Zhao Kongcheng narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at Zhang Ping An.

As expected, it was for the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage... Zhang Ping'an said with a serious expression: "The inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage is unprecedented and serves as a guiding light for us scholars."

"fart!"

Zhao Kongcheng suddenly swore: "Speak like a human being."