Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 141: A Father Comes from Afar
The uncles and others were feeling both frustrated and melancholic, unable to express their bitterness. However, when they heard a loud cry coming from afar, they felt a slight sense of balance. Look, that chubby guy is crying too—our misery is not solitary after all.
The chubby man, Xue Chi, with his loud voice and plump body, pushed his way through the crowd like a tidal wave, crying in a heartbroken manner.
The uncles and others made room in the crowd for the chubby man who was suffering a similarly miserable fate as theirs.
“Waaah! My first-place spot was snatched away by some fellow named Zhang Jing from who knows where! Waaah!”
As soon as the chubby man arrived, he let out a loud wail, crying in utter despair.
But hearing that only annoyed the uncles more. Damn it, he was crying just because he had lost first place? What was there to cry about? They had not even made the list!
“It’s only first place. Is that worth all this fuss? So what rank did you get?” Zhu Shouren asked sourly.
The chubby man’s cry became even louder at this question. “I don’t know what rank I am! I’m not even on the list!”
Not on the list! Why didn’t you say so earlier? The uncles’ expressions of frustration finally relaxed a little. They quickly pulled the chubby man into their circle to chat—after all, they were all fellow outcasts from the ranking list.
Zhu Ping’an was speechless. When Xue Chi first wailed that some Zhang Jing had taken first place in Fengyang Prefecture, Zhu Ping’an naturally assumed he must have come second. Only after hearing that Xue Chi had not made the list at all did he understand. Could this fatty not say things in a less misleading way?
The uncles struggled to accept the reality of the exam results, standing silently before the list for a long time. Only when the crowd had mostly dispersed did they turn away, full of sorrow, ready to leave this painful place.
At that moment, an unexpected event occurred. Two voices called out from a distance:
“Xiao Chi!”
“Who told you to call him Xiao Chi? Call him Fanshen!”
Hearing the voices, the chubby man, who had just calmed down, shuddered violently. He turned and tried to flee but was stopped by the callers.
“You rascal, stop right there!” A man’s commanding voice rang out, shattering the chubby man’s escape plan.
Zhu Ping’an and the others looked up to see a middle-aged couple in their forties approaching, surrounded by several maids and servants.
The man, dressed in a round-collared, wide-sleeved robe made of fine jade-colored silk, bore a seven-to-eight resemblance to the chubby man but was much slimmer. The woman wore a moonlight-colored skirt with gold embroidery and was adorned with accessories of gold and jade. She looked well-maintained.
It seemed this was Xue Chi’s father and mother. His father looked stern, while his mother appeared to be doting and indulgent.
“You brat, how did you do in the academy examination this time?” Xue Chi’s father asked, pulling him forward.
Though phrased as a question, the stormy expression on his face made it clear he had already seen the results.
Faced with his father, Xue Chi looked as frightened as a mouse before a cat. He lowered his head in fear, his chubby body trembling.
“Dad, Mom, this time… this time…” Xue Chi stammered.
“Hmm, failed, didn’t you?” his father asked in an unusually calm tone.
“Yeah…” Xue Chi hung his head even lower, his body trembling even more.
His father patted Xue Chi’s head and, in a particularly calm tone, said, “Son, you’ve grown up. I’ll never scold you again for making mistakes or failing to accomplish something.”
Hearing this, Xue Chi’s head shot up in surprise, tears of gratitude almost welling up in his eyes. My father has finally come around! He’s so understanding and reasonable now. It’s so moving—I’ll definitely turn over a new leaf and work hard in the future…
Before Xue Chi could finish being moved, his father continued slowly and calmly:
“You’ve grown up. It’s time you got used to the feeling of being beaten more often!”
Xue Chi was still deeply moved, but before the feeling could fully bloom, his father’s next words frightened his soul half out of his body. With a loud cry, he turned and ran.
The moment he finished speaking, Xue Chi’s father snatched a thick stick from a servant behind him and raised it to strike.
“Master, what are you doing? My little Chi has already been working hard. Look, he’s even lost weight!” Xue Chi’s mother hurried forward to stop him.
“A loving mother spoils her son. This time it’s my turn to discipline him.” Holding the thick stick, Xue Chi’s father ignored his wife’s objections and insisted on teaching his unfilial son a lesson.
“Master, you wouldn’t let him use servants or bring maidservants with him, all so he could concentrate on his studies. Just look how thin our son has become!” Xue Chi’s mother protested. Xue Chi’s father only grew angrier. He tucked the corner of his robe into his belt and chased after his son with the stick.
“Master, what are you doing? Don’t hurt my little Chi!” The fat man’s mother chased after them, trying to stop the beating.
Thus, in front of the Confucius Temple’s announcement area, a farce unfolded.
A fat man was shouting and running in all directions, while behind him, a middle-aged man in a scholar’s robe tucked the corner of his robe into his belt and chased after him, holding a stick. Behind him, a noblewoman shouted and tried to intervene, and a group of maidservants and servants followed suit.
Zhu Ping’an, watching the chaotic scene with the fat man’s family, felt a bit annoyed.
Uncle Zhu Shouren and others were clearly disheartened. After standing for a while, they seemed ready to leave. From their conversation, it seemed they were heading to the opposite bank of the Qinhuai River. It was probably only certain women who could soothe their hurt feelings, or perhaps they hoped to regain confidence and satisfaction there.
This behavior was no different from an ostrich burying its head in the sand. They failed to reflect on the reasons for their failure, avoided taking responsibility, and didn’t strive to improve. How could there be any success under such circumstances?
“Uncle, and all the other uncles, when will we return?” Zhu Ping’an, though disappointed in his uncles, still had to maintain the appearance of respect.
“Return? Three days from now. An-ge’er, rest for a few days, and we’ll call you when it’s time.” Before his uncle could speak, one of the villagers answered for him, sounding noticeably more familiar than before.
“Then I’ll trouble you all, uncles.” Zhu Ping’an cupped his hands in thanks.
“Not at all, Ping’an-lang. You’re too polite,” the villager said, shaking his head with a deep sigh.
Uncle Zhu Shouren seemed still caught up in the loss and hadn’t recovered yet. He simply nodded, not saying a word, and followed the other villagers toward the opposite bank of the Qinhuai River.
After the departure of his uncle and the others, the conflict within the fat man’s family finally died down. The fat man, holding his backside, limped over to Zhu Ping’an.
“Father, Mother, let me introduce you. This is my good friend Zhu Ping’an of Xiahe Village in Anqing Prefecture. We met during the academy examination.” Xue Chi introduced Zhu Ping’an to his parents.
“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Aunt.” Zhu Ping’an clasped his hands together, bowing deeply.
“Good boy.” The fat man’s mother was very polite.
“I don’t deserve that greeting. And you—don’t bring your gambling, drinking, pleasure-seeking friends to meet me and your mother again. What sort of company have you been keeping?!”
However, the fat man’s father wasn’t as kind. He stepped aside, avoiding Zhu Ping’an’s bow and adjusting his beard, his face full of displeasure.
“Father, Brother Zhu isn’t that kind of person. He’s this year’s first-place academy-examination candidate for Anqing Prefecture,” Xue Chi protested.
Hearing that, Xue Chi’s father, who had been stroking his beard, accidentally plucked out several strands. He glanced toward the Anqing Prefecture list and immediately changed his attitude toward Zhu Ping’an.
“Ah, good, it looks like my son has finally made a good friend. Good, good, good.” The fat man’s father, greatly relieved, kept repeating “good” while looking at Zhu Ping’an.