Chapter Eleven: Strict Surveillance

  He patted the disappointing mount, Shen Chongming looked around and saw that there were no other animals except for himself and the mangy donkey. He flicked his sleeve, used his hands and feet to climb up the nearby locust tree, quickly broke off a few branches full of leaves, jumped down, and casually threw them in front of the mangy donkey.

  The scrawny donkey, who had gone almost a whole day without eating, didn't pick at its food and instead dug in with gusto. "Alas, little donkey, the places where people live are all so miserable, there really isn't anywhere suitable for you to live, or else we'll just have to sell you off," Shen Chongming said, speaking nonsense. The donkey, of course, didn't understand a word, but it kept on munching away at the branches, nodding its head bit by bit, as if in agreement with Shen Chongming's suggestion.

  "Hehe, as long as you don't complain, Master. I'm not a heartless person, I promise I won't sell you to the donkey meat shop." With that said, he climbed up the tree again and continued his destructive work.

  Although there were no street lamps in the evening, Beijing City was still brightly lit at this time. The wine shops and restaurants on both sides of the streets were crowded with people, making a deafening noise, several times more lively than during the day. The real rich men all came out to have fun at night.

  Shen Chongming, who had just sold his donkey to a small mill, walked alone on the street. As a stranger in a strange land, the prosperity of the capital was nothing more than a painting placed in front of him, something he could appreciate but never be a part of.

  He found a night stall, ate a bowl of wontons for five cents, and considered lunch and dinner solved. He patted his belly, Shen Chongming took out the silver from his perfume pouch and counted it. No choice, he originally thought that the ten taels his parents gave him when he left, plus the ten taels his sister's husband sent, would be enough for his own expenses until he graduated from Guozijian. He didn't expect to spend five taels of silver at Zhu Baozi's place when he reported today, and what specific fees it was for, Baozi didn't say, so he just considered it tuition. In this way, he had no choice but to plan carefully, lest he run out of food halfway through and repeat the same mistake.

  After paying five taels, the old donkey was sold for 500 wen. Subtracting the cost of the necessities and the five wen spent on a bowl of wontons earlier, there were exactly fifteen taels of silver left.

  However, it was found that reducing expenses after the day was still not enough. Once the Imperial Academy also had to collect silver, one would really have to run out and take on a part-time job as a waiter.

  He sighed, Shen Chongming got up and walked towards the Imperial Academy across the street. Although there were many ways to make money in his mind, it was not easy to turn them into reality in an unfamiliar place. He could only go back and think about it slowly, and see if there would be a suitable opportunity later.

  Unbeknownst to him, it was already late at night. At this time, the National Academy had long since closed its gates and gone to sleep with the lights out. However, such a small matter was not a problem for Shen Chongming, who often sneaked out of the campus in the middle of the night to go to an internet cafe all night. If he were to be stumped by this little thing, his reputation would be tarnished.

  After strolling around, Shen Chongming finally found a loophole in the courtyard wall. A not-too-thick locust tree was leaning against the courtyard wall, and as long as he climbed up the tree and stretched his leg lightly, he would be inside.

  Shen Chongming, who had become extremely bloated after putting on the things he bought, still moved nimbly and easily climbed over the wall by grasping the tree trunk.

  He took a glance around, didn't see anyone moving in the yard, Shen Chongming let out a low shout, and jumped in, the vertical distance of about two meters was not small, but for Shen Chongming who often did this kind of thing, it was within his tolerance.

  He stamped his numb feet and Shen Chongming tiptoed quickly towards the dormitory. Just as he ran to the third district, he found Zhu Baozi holding a torch with two tall servants standing there. Shen Chongming was startled, turned around and wanted to hide, but Zhu Baozi discovered him at this time, his eyes widened, and his sharp voice rang out: "Halt!"

  Shen Chongming had intended to slip away under the cover of night, but was afraid that things would get out of hand if he did. So he stopped in his tracks and turned around with a humble smile, "Lord Zhu, you're still not asleep at this late hour?"

  "Hum, you're quite bold, Shen Chongming! You dare to be late on your first day, thinking that the National Academy is some kind of tavern or teahouse!" Zhu Pangzi stormed up to Shen Chongming's face, glaring at him with wide eyes.

  "Although I'm not afraid, I'll pretend to be humble and say: 'Lord Zhu, as a newcomer, I don't fully understand the rules of the prison. Please forgive my mistakes.'"

  "Don't you understand? Hmph, didn't I give you a copy of the school rules to memorize when you enrolled today?" Zhu Baozi sneered, he knew these newcomers wouldn't obediently memorize the rules, that's why they were sneaking out at midnight to grab benefits!

  He was busy sorting things out, where did he have time to recite the rules? And this bird didn't even hand them over at that time! Shen Chongming was disdainful in his heart, but still had a smile on his face: "Sir, don't make an example of it, haha."

  The two servants behind him were his trusted confidants. Zhu Baozi didn't pretend to be polite, and with a slight relaxation of his facial expression, he smiled and said: "Hmm, that makes some sense. However, the rules have been passed down for hundreds of years and are strict and unbreakable. We can't just break the rules because you're new here, it's really putting me in a difficult position." As he spoke, Zhu Baozi slowly rubbed his hands together.

  Shen Chongming was taken aback, and then he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that this fatty wanted to get some benefits out of him. Since he had just arrived, it was better to have one less trouble than one more, so he could only suffer a loss to avoid disaster.

  He nodded and reached into his bosom to grab the silver. One or two ingots would be enough, if this dead fatty didn't comply, he'd fight him till one of them was beaten to a pulp!

  "Who is making this noise?" The loud voice of High Daliang echoed, originally with a sly smile on his face and his eyes fixed on Zhu Baozi's right hand, he was startled, his expression changed instantly, and his voice became sharp again. "Shen Chongming, how dare you not return on time, and the gate is closed? How did you get in?" His expression was serious, as if he hadn't just tried to take advantage of the situation, nor had he heard High Daliang's voice.

  "What a commotion!" High's voice rose involuntarily, and only then did Zhu Baozi pretend to react, immediately rushing forward with his head bowed. "High sir, I've caught a student who has been absent without leave."

  Upon hearing this, Mr. Gao's eyebrows furrowed and his face fell. He was notorious for being strict in his studies, and now someone had broken the rules; how could he not be annoyed? "Who is so bold?"

  "In response to your question, sir, it is Shen Chongming, a new student from Shaoxing." Zhu Baozi hastily replied. Although the advantage was gone, he also wanted to show Mr. Gao his diligent and responsible side, which was also very important.

  Gao Da Ren let out a loud hum and walked over, but seeing Shen Chong Ming's timid appearance, his heart softened. He was still an inexperienced young student after all. His tone also softened as he asked: "Why did you break the rules?"

  Shen Chongming's heart was also raised at this time, these leaders all like to magnify a small matter, it seems that he himself will have to suffer some hardships.

  Nor dare to conceal, detailed and clearly stated the reasons for their own mistakes, emphasizing that they are a newcomer, and do not know the rules at all, otherwise they would not have made mistakes.

  Gao nodded and smiled lightly: "Ignorance is no excuse, but since you're a first-time offender, I'll let you off with copying the prison rules ten times. Are you willing?"

  Such a penalty was indeed beyond Shen Chongming's expectations, and it was too light. "I'm willing to, thank you, sir!" Shen Chongming almost thanked him thousands of times, and the one or two silver coins were thus saved.

  "Hehe, it's getting late, go back and rest early." Mr. Gao said kindly, Shen Chongming nodded repeatedly and walked towards the dormitory with three steps and one look back.

  "This punishment is too light, isn't it?" Zhu Baozi watched Shen Chongming walk away, and couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. He couldn't get the better of him, nor could he let him off so easily.

  "Does this official need to be taught by you?" Magistrate Gao glared at Zhu Baozi, turned and left. This Zhu Zhangsun was fat as a pig, looking like someone who often embezzled money!

  She saw Mr. Gao off in the distance, and Zhu Baozi was still seething with anger in her heart. However, Mr. Gao was an insurmountable mountain in front of her, and she didn't dare to harbor any thoughts of revenge. But with a broad mind and a stout body, Shen Chongming, the culprit, could bear his wrath. With a cold smile, Zhu Baozi led two trusted servants towards her residence.

  Having narrowly escaped, Shen Chongming hummed a tune and pushed open the door without ceremony. Although it was pitch black inside the dormitory, the murmurs outside the door were clearly audible, so these three guys definitely hadn't fallen asleep yet, and there was no need to tread lightly either.

  "Who?!" Song Qingyang's voice rang out, the three people were chatting excitedly when suddenly someone pushed open the door and entered, really giving Song Qingyang a fright.

  "I," Shen Chongming said, pulling out a lighter and blowing on it lightly, immediately illuminating the entire bedroom.