Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 137: That Year I Was Thirteen
After a day’s torment from the trumpet sounds, it was rare to see a smile. In the end, Zhu Ping’an couldn’t bring himself to tell the fatty the truth about the chrysanthemums.
It was not just Xue Chi. Zhu Ping’an glanced around and saw several small groups gathered at the entrance of the Jiangnan Gongyuan, exchanging poems they had written about chrysanthemums and autumn. Many were extremely confident about that day’s re-examination, believing it had been much easier than the main session.
The fatty stood about two meters away from Zhu Ping’an, chanting his extraordinary chrysanthemums poem with rising and falling tones.
At that moment, a man emerged from the Jiangnan Gongyuan with an imposing air. Hearing the surrounding talk of chrysanthemums and autumn, he showed a trace of disdain. When his gaze fell on Zhu Ping’an, it lingered two seconds longer than usual.
So this was the Zhu Ping’an whom Xia Luoming had mentioned several times. His honest-looking face closely resembled the portrait. The man studied him for a few moments, then heard Xue Chi reciting his chrysanthemum poem. After listening, Zhu Ping’an made a constipated expression and muttered, “Mm, not bad.”
Hearing that, the man’s disdain deepened. He muttered to himself, “This year’s prefectural first-place candidate is no better than this. Chrysanthemums… heh.”
After murmuring to himself, the person walked away, leaving behind a lonely back, as if everyone else was intoxicated while he alone was sober.
“Hey, Brother Zhu, what’s wrong with you?” Fatty Xue Chi asked when he saw Zhu Ping’an’s constipated expression after the critique.
“Oh, your poem is excellent…” Zhu Ping’an answered with a constipated look. “It’s just that the scent on you is too overpowering!”
“Oh, so that’s it. I thought my poem hadn’t caught your eye.” Xue Chi suddenly understood. Then he felt around his clothes, pulled out a wad of cotton, and asked, “I’ve still got some cotton here. Want it?”
“Keep it for yourself,” Zhu Ping’an said, keeping his distance. The cotton had endured the day’s torment from the trumpet sounds too. Who would dare use it?
When they returned to the inn, many scholars were discussing chrysanthemums in the lobby. If the fatty hadn’t known that he smelled bad, he would have surely rushed over to share his chrysanthemums poem with everyone.
The fatty went upstairs to wash up, while Zhu Ping’an also changed clothes at the inn. The dormitory was damp and humid, and the autumn heat made the clothes smell of sweat. After taking off the dirty clothes, Zhu Ping’an soaked them in a basin of water and sat on a low stool, scrubbing with soap provided by the inn. The inn also provided wood ash along with the soap, and mixing the two made washing clothes more effective. However, Zhu Ping’an just couldn’t accept the wood ash.
Just as Zhu Ping’an finished washing and hanging up the clothes to dry, the fatty came downstairs looking refreshed.
“Brother Zhu, it’s rare to feel so relaxed after the exam. Today, we’re going to drink and not stop until we’re drunk. You promised me!” Fatty Xue Chi had put on his signature gold lock and jade ring, and was holding a folding fan in a show of elegance.
“Can you still eat?” Zhu Ping’an asked indifferently.
“I couldn’t, but who told us today that our chrysanthemums poems were so extraordinary? I’m not bragging, but no one can write a better chrysanthemums poem than mine. When one is happy, the spirit is refreshed. Today, I could eat a whole pig,” Fatty Xue Chi waved his chubby hands, his confidence through the roof.
I really hope you’re still this happy when the results are announced!
“Just so you know, I’m not going across the Qinhuai River,” Zhu Ping’an emphasized.
“Why not? I’ll treat you, and we can open your eyes. Besides, I’ve finally written a good poem today. Who knows, maybe I’ll catch the eye of some female scholar and be invited to become a guest,” Fatty Xue Chi pounded his chest, the gold lock around his neck jangling with a loud noise, his excitement evident.
“Then you go by yourself. I’m not interested,” Zhu Ping’an remained unmoved.
“Not interested? You… You don’t have some peculiar hobby, do you?” Fatty Xue Chi sized up Zhu Ping’an, then shivered all over. He took several steps back.
Are you shivering, you idiot? Haven’t you looked in the mirror?
“Go to hell!” Zhu Ping’an finally snapped. “My tastes are perfectly normal. I’m only thirteen. I haven’t even fully grown yet! I’m not going to ruin myself!”
If you’re thinking about that at such a young age, you’re going to regret it when you grow up. You haven’t even developed properly! Once it’s ruined, there’s no fixing it! When you grow up, you’ll be the one crying on the battlefield.
“What’s wrong with thirteen…” The chubby guy smirked, then suddenly got serious, his face full of wistfulness…
“When I was thirteen, my old man always forced me to study. Every day, he’d make me read for four hours. If I didn’t, he’d scold me like a dog, so later on, when he got busy with work and didn’t have time to manage me, he’d lock me in the study and have two maids, seven or eight years older than me, supervise me with big wooden sticks. They’d leave me harsh words, ordering me to study for four hours a day. If I didn’t pass my homework check when he came back, he’d beat me to death… Every day, he’d come back from outside, unlock the study door, and drag me out after I’d been locked up for a whole day… After that, I just started liking women…”
You’re really a freak! And your father is a freak too! Why let those two young maids supervise your studies? No wonder your father had to drag you out every day! You’re only thirteen! Two women, four hours, it’s a miracle you’re still alive!
Zhu Ping’an was speechless and at his wit’s end with the chubby guy!
“Hey, Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, don’t go…” The chubby guy, Xue Chi, snapped out of his memories and noticed Zhu Ping’an was already heading out the door, quickly chasing after him.
As a foodie, after finishing an exam, it was essential to reward himself with some good food. He usually ate snacks, but today he decided to go for a feast. His pockets were full, so he wouldn’t deny himself.
Thus, Zhu Ping’an left the inn and headed toward the Confucius Temple. He had heard scholars talking about the lion’s-head meatballs at Zhuangyuan Tower near the temple, which were said to be excellent.
“Brother Zhu, slow down.” Xue Chi, panting behind him, said, “A promise is as good as gold, you did say before the exam that you’d only return when drunk.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Zhu Ping’an responded casually and continued walking.
“Then let’s go across the river. I’m telling you, the Zhuangyuan Red at Lanyue Tower is excellent…” Xue Chi still could not forget the other bank of the Qinhuai River.
“I did say we wouldn’t stop until we were drunk, but I never said we had to go to the other side.” Zhu Ping’an kept walking. “Do you want to go to Zhuangyuan Tower by the Confucius Temple?”
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Xue Chi gritted his teeth.
Although Xue Chi compromised and followed Zhu Ping’an to Zhuangyuan Tower, he spent the entire walk trying to tempt him with talk of pleasures between men and women, hoping to persuade him to cross the Qinhuai River instead.
On that point, ancient and modern ideas of close friendship did not seem so different: drinking together, studying together, carrying guns together, and sleeping by the Qinhuai River together…
The Confucius Temple was not far from the inn, and they arrived in about a quarter of an hour. Zhuangyuan Tower, however, took some finding. With so many restaurants around the temple, Zhu Ping’an and Xue Chi searched for a while before finally locating it.