Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

Upon arriving at the Li residence, Guo Wenshao was being lectured by Du Feng with a bitter expression:

"How come you've only improved so little after all this time? Your junior brother has already overtaken you and is almost catching up!"

"Senior Brother! You know me. I never intended to become a great pillar of society. As long as I have food and drink and don't bother others, that's enough. I've trained to this extent, and my eldest brother is still there to support us at home!"

Du Feng was helpless upon hearing this. Guo Wenshao was extremely talented, but he was too lazy and was always satisfied with just getting by in his training.

What an ordinary person can master in a month, he can master in six or seven days. He spends all the extra time sleeping and would rather die than take the initiative to learn a little more.

As they were talking, they both saw Deng Zechen. Du Feng finally stopped scolding them and led them to the study to prepare for the morning class.

Guo Wenshao and Deng Zechen followed behind their senior brother Du Feng, and Guo Wenshao quietly pulled Deng Zechen aside to whisper in his ear:

"You really practice your morning exercises at home every day? You haven't slacked off at all? Why is it that your senior brother allows you to practice at home, but I'm not allowed to practice at home!"

Deng Zechen looked at Guo Wenshao, surprised that Guo Wenshao would ask such a question:

"Why don't you know that yourself? If we really let you go back and no one's watching you, will you practice on your own? If your senior brother isn't watching you, you're always getting up before the sun is high in the sky!"

"If you worked as hard as Zechen, I naturally wouldn't be keeping such a close eye on you every day like I am now."

Du Feng sat down behind the long table, taking out the books he needed and putting them away while continuing the conversation without looking up.

Guo Wenshao dared not say anything more, pretending not to know that he was being talked about, and also lowered his head and got busy.

The morning passed quickly. Du Feng put down his book and announced that it was lunchtime, telling the two to rest first and come back in the afternoon.

Deng Zechen packed his things and asked Du Feng for leave:

"Senior Brother, I have some things to take care of today, so I'd like to ask for half a day off this afternoon."

"Okay, go ahead. Remember to bring your homework for me to see tomorrow."

After leaving the Li residence, Deng Zechen sat in the private room of Liuquanju, which he had reserved in advance, drank a couple of sips of tea served by the waiter, and waited for Feng Ziming to arrive.

The food at Liuquanju is indeed very good. Even after Deng Zechen became financially independent, he often came here to enjoy a good meal.

After a short while, the door to the private room opened, and after several months, Deng Zechen and Feng Ziming, two friends from the same hometown, finally met again.

Deng Zechen looked at Feng Ziming's once affectionate eyes, which now had a faint dark circle under them, making his once dashing demeanor seem somewhat dejected. It seemed to be caused by long-term sleep deprivation.

Feng Ziming looked at Deng Zechen, who seemed to have grown taller and looked much healthier, and felt somewhat relieved:

"It's a good thing you didn't get into the prefectural school that day, otherwise there would be two more unlucky souls here today. This prefectural school is truly a place no human being can stay!"

Deng Zechen didn't rush to speak after hearing this. Instead, he pulled Feng Ziming to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and told the waiter to start serving the dishes.

After the waiter left, Deng Zechen turned to Feng Ziming and asked:

"What happened? Tell me in detail. Didn't you say in your previous letter that the teachers at the prefectural school were all very learned?"

Feng Ziming slammed the empty teacup down on the table.

"The teacher is indeed excellent! But that's all that's excellent."

Deng Zechen was even more confused after hearing Feng Ziming's words. Since he didn't know what had happened, he could only pour him another cup of tea and signal him to speak slowly.

Feng Ziming gulped down the tea, then spoke again:

"When I first arrived at the prefectural school, I could barely keep up with the teacher's teaching. Later, after I found a method, my essay received a few good words from the teacher during a literary gathering, and from then on, I never had a peaceful day."

At this point, Feng Ziming shook his head, his voice sounding somewhat hoarse:

"Do you have any alcohol? I'd like to have a drink."

Deng Zechen called over a waiter and brought a pot of wine. When Feng Ziming saw the wine, he didn't care about anything else and grabbed it, gulping it down his throat.

The wine spilled, soaking his shirt. Deng Zechen snatched the wine pot and put it down, slamming his hand on the table and shouting:

"What do you mean?! I invited you to dinner here and you just left me aside and drank alone? You don't consider me a brother anymore?"

Feng Ziming seemed to have regained some of his senses, repeatedly bowing and begging for forgiveness:

"It was my fault, brother. Let's drink together, and I'll explain things to you slowly."

After hearing this, Deng Zechen took the wine glass, and the two began to drink together.

"Many of the students in that academy are children of officials, who think highly of themselves. It's none of my business anyway. They're all sticking together and doing their own thing, not paying any attention to me. I'm happy to have some peace and quiet. I'll just focus on my studies and make my own way in the future when I pass the imperial examinations."

As Feng Ziming spoke, whether it was the effects of the alcohol or the thought of the even more infuriating things he was about to say, the red stain on his neck gradually spread to behind his ears.

Deng Zechen had no choice but to continue pouring him wine and urging him to eat some food so that he wouldn't get too drunk and have trouble getting home.

"The Mr. He who took me under his wing that day only said a few nice words after reading my article, but those people treated me like a public enemy. The small groups that were originally together suddenly united and started making fun of me."

I made a mistake in my studies, and everyone made fun of it, saying it to my face.

They're all grown up and still doing this. I didn't take it to heart at first, but then their jokes changed!

One of the most outrageous among them was said to be the second son of the Marquis of Xiangyang, named Nie Bai.

He actually pointed at my face with a folding fan and said something like, "With a face like yours, why are you still suffering here studying the classics? Go for a stroll in a brothel and you'll be pampered by high-ranking officials and noble families. What wouldn't you want in the future?"

Forget about the future; if you're willing to humble yourself, I can treat you well right now.

Perhaps feeling too humiliated, Feng Ziming's eyes turned bloodshot just from recalling the memory.

After drinking several glasses of wine, Feng Ziming, panting, continued to talk about the teachers at the prefectural school:

"Upon hearing this, I immediately got into a fight with that person. Seeing how fiercely we were fighting, no one dared to intervene. However, someone did go and call the 'master' (a local official)."

When the teacher arrived, he locked us both up without asking any questions, suspended our classes, and said that if it happened again, we would all be kicked out.

Not only that, Mr. He forced us to shake hands and promise never to do it again, otherwise he would keep us locked up until the prefectural examination.

After listening to what Feng Ziming said, Deng Zechen ate several mouthfuls of cold dishes, chewing them dryly to distract himself, and only asked after swallowing the dishes:

"So now that you've come out, does that mean you've agreed to the gentleman's conditions? Why didn't you mention this in your letter to me?"

"I had no choice but to agree. My family sent me all the money my cousin had saved for his wedding so that my studies in the capital would go more smoothly. My mother, despite her advanced age, was still washing clothes for others to earn money. My only sister gave me the six taels of silver she had received for her wedding."

After finishing the wine, the bitterness could no longer be suppressed by external factors and surged out all at once, almost drowning Feng Ziming.

"Why didn't you mention this to me at all? I have connections, and I've made some money, you know that. How could I just stand by and do nothing!"

Feng Ziming shook his head, his eyes filled with pain, gratitude, but mostly resentment as he looked at Deng Zechen.

"It's not about the money. My family is supporting me with all their might, hoping I'll succeed and improve our lives. The teachers here are truly excellent; it's the best place I've ever been to. I can't let my own little grievance ruin my whole family's future!"

Feng Ziming stood up, leaning on the table, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity that seemed to consume everything. He gritted his teeth and said resolutely:

I must achieve top marks in the exam!

I must seize power!

I must change my allegiance!

I will remember this humiliation, and in the future I will repay it a thousandfold! A thousandfold!