From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

The Jiangnan Zhechong Academy has two dining halls, A and B. Dining hall A offers more abundant food and also provides tonics, but these must be paid for by the diner itself. Dining hall B offers simpler, even coarser, food, but it is provided free of charge.

Originally intended for students from different institutions, giving them more options, the recruited students from privileged backgrounds disdained going to the No. 2 canteen. Even those whose families were not particularly wealthy gritted their teeth and spent extra money on food every month to avoid being ridiculed by other recruited students.

Correspondingly, most of the students who passed the imperial examinations came from commoner backgrounds, mainly because they couldn't afford the food, and also because they considered themselves superior and didn't go to the canteen.

So gradually, those who were recruited through the imperial examinations only went to the Class A dining hall, while those who were recommended through the civil service examinations all went to the Class B dining hall.

"The food at this cafeteria is pretty good too."

After getting his food—a bowl of steamed vegetables (half meat, half vegetables) and four large flatbreads—Chen Shi found a table to sit down and nodded with a smile.

At the Class A canteen, Xiao Yunhu and his gang were causing trouble, and Chen Shi, not wanting to lose these excellent sparring partners, had no choice but to back down. He was originally from a humble background, so the food at Class B canteen was perfectly acceptable to him.

"Um?"

Chen Shi rolled up a large pancake and was about to put it in his mouth when he paused.

Seven or eight students who had passed the imperial examinations stood up and surrounded him with gloomy faces.

"Oh."

Looking at his own clothes, Chen Shi chuckled helplessly.

As a student recruited through official channels, it was indeed too conspicuous to be in the No. 2 canteen.

Because of their different backgrounds, the resentment between those who were recommended for official positions and those who were recruited for official posts had accumulated over the years, making them irreconcilable enemies.

It seems that getting a meal at the No. 2 canteen isn't so easy.

Chen Shi took a big bite of the flatbread, his face expressionless.

With his strength, let alone these seven or eight people, even all the students in the Class B dining hall together might not be his match. But if he does this, his strength will be exposed, and those sparring partners will probably back down.

We've come back to the original question.

"Aren't recruited officials supposed to be high and mighty? Why are they eating such coarse food?"

With a bang, a dark-skinned scholar slammed his heavy hand on the table, staring at Chen Shi with a gloomy gaze.

The poor little bowl of steamed vegetables jumped up, and Chen Shi quickly reached out to support it, preventing it from tipping over and spilling.

"Who says this is coarse food? I think it's pretty good."

Chen Shi chewed vigorously while mumbling something indistinctly.

Several students who had passed the imperial examinations frowned. At the same time, the other people in the canteen were also watching this side, each with a hostile expression.

"Get out! Recruited employees are not welcome here!"

Seeing Chen Shi feigning ignorance, the other students exchanged glances and then shouted a rebuke.

Chen Shi ignored him and continued to eat his food heartily.

Even if I'm still going to be kicked out, I'll finish this meal first.

Although there are wild game in the mountains, they don't have much oil or fat, and the cooking is uneven. In addition, without seasoning, they are not as delicious as I imagined.

"Throw him out!"

Seeing that Chen Shi was sitting still, the students lost their patience, gave a soft shout, and directly pressed down on Chen Shi's shoulders.

Chen Shi remained expressionless, his feet firmly planted on the ground as if rooted to a rock.

Even if these few people used all their strength, they probably couldn't throw him out.

"Wait a minute."

Just as the students were about to make their move, a soft shout suddenly rang out.

A man and a woman walked this way.

Chen Shi looked up and was slightly surprised to see that it was someone he knew.

The woman was the same "plain-looking" one who had scolded him for starting a fire in the mountains yesterday.

As for the man, he was even more familiar: Feng Qi, the eldest son of the Marquis of Dingyuan!

Why is Feng Qi here at the Zhechong Academy? And why is he wearing the attire of a candidate for the imperial examination?

Upon approaching Chen Shi, Feng Qi's eyes widened instantly.

Clearly, he also recognized Chen Shi.

Chen Shi smiled slightly. Feng Qi really had a good eye; he could recognize him at a glance even with a mask on.

Then he smiled at Feng Qi and winked at him.

Feng Qi stood beside the woman, constantly giving Chen Shi meaningful glances.

"Senior Sister Nangong."

Upon seeing the newcomers, the several students who had been fierce just moments before instantly became respectful and greeted them politely.

Senior sister?

They were all from the same cohort, yet they addressed her as "senior sister," which shows her status among the recommended students.

Chen Shi was taken aback again; he had underestimated this plain-looking man.

"Let go."

Nangong Caiyun glanced at Chen Shi and gave a brief instruction.

The students were slightly taken aback, but they didn't say anything. They immediately let go of Chen Shi's shoulders and stood aside.

"Thank you, Miss Nangong."

Chen Shi smiled and bowed slightly to Nangong Caiyun.

But he remained seated and did not get up.

Consider this a thank you for treating me to rabbit legs last time.

Nangong Caiyun smiled, his face kind.

"Rabbit legs?"

Feng Qi, standing nearby, widened his eyes instantly and looked at Chen Shi with a worried expression.

"When did you treat her to rabbit legs?!"

"Yesterday."

"Why did you treat her to rabbit legs? Why did you treat her to rabbit legs?"

Feng Qi looked nervous and kept asking questions.

Chen Shi did not answer, but looked at Feng Qi and couldn't help but smile.

He was so anxious and concerned about this plain-looking girl.

Feng Qi's feelings were probably written all over his face.

However, Chen Shi really couldn't understand it. This girl, Nangong, was plain-looking, and compared to Shen Bi, they were worlds apart.

It's understandable that Feng Qi was in love with Shen Bi, but why would he take a fancy to this Nangong girl?

"You two know each other."

Seeing the two of them, Nangong Caiyun asked a question.

"know."

"I don't know him!"

Chen Shi and Feng Qi spoke at the same time, but in different voices.

Feng Qi glared at Chen Shi, annoyed.

"Do you know them or not?"

Nangong Caiyun looked at Feng Qi and asked again.

"We know each other, but we're not close."

Feng Qi scratched his head and reluctantly said something.

"We are from the same hometown, Yongqiu City."

Chen Shi spoke up, essentially explaining on Feng Qi's behalf.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Feng Qi nodded quickly, his face full of certainty.

"So we're from the same hometown. We should get to know each other better."

Nangong Caiyun nodded slightly, then spoke to Chen Shi.

"If you don't like the food at the Jiazi canteen, you can come here."

"Thank you, Miss Nangong."

Chen Shi smiled and immediately thanked him.

Looks like I can finally eat in peace.

Upon hearing Nangong Caiyun's words, the other students in the dining hall all changed their expressions and frowned, but no one raised any objections.

Chen Shi continued eating, while Nangong Caiyun and Feng Qi got their food and ate at another table.

"Nangong, what are you doing? Why are you taking such good care of that Chen fellow!"

Looking at Chen Shi, who was enjoying his meal, Feng Qi lowered his head and asked Nangong Caiyun in a low voice, his tone tinged with sourness.

"Because I need to use him."

Nangong Caiyun ate his food slowly and calmly, his face expressionless, as if it were just ordinary conversation.

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. I need someone to act as an inside man during the spring examinations."

"You mean...?"

Feng Qi paused for a moment, then frowned again.

"With our abilities, why would we need to go to such lengths? Dealing with those good-for-nothing vagrants would be a piece of cake."

"No! I don't just want to win, I want to utterly defeat Zheng Bisheng!"

Nangong Caiyun suddenly gritted his teeth, his gaze becoming exceptionally gloomy.

Feng Qi paused for a moment, sighed inwardly, and said nothing more.