108: Goodbye Han Tan

The next day at noon, Lin Yue woke up in bed, his throat feeling as if it were on fire.

Zhou Yang was sitting at a table, reading a book. Seeing Lin Yue wake up, he poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"Gulp, gulp," Lin Yue finished the tea and asked Zhou Yang, "What time is it now?"

"It's already a quarter past noon," Zhou Yang replied, then thought for a moment and added, "You drank very late last night. Uncle She Jian was the one who carried you back."

Fake medicine!

Lin Yue cursed inwardly. He only remembered drinking a lot of alcohol last night, then blacking out. Now his mind was a mess.

"Was General She Jian not drunk?" Lin Yue asked.

"Uncle She Jian didn't look drunk to me, but you, on the other hand, kept talking nonsense," Zhou Yang said, covering his mouth to stifle a laugh.

"What nonsense?" Lin Yue's heart tightened. He hadn't revealed his true identity, had he?

"I'll tell you if you promise to let Wu De and Ma Baoguo come to Xianyang to see me once every six months," Zhou Yang said with a smile.

"But, the Great Wall Legion's discipline..."

"Once a year is fine too!" Zhou Yang said anxiously.

"Deal!" Lin Yue said readily. When dealing with these half-grown children, you shouldn't agree to anything too quickly, otherwise, you can't imagine how much they'll push their luck!

"Why do I feel like you're tricking me?" Zhou Yang stared at Lin Yue suspiciously.

"Just tell me," Lin Yue urged.

"Alright, you were saying something about loving your mom and dad. Uncle She Jian sighed repeatedly when he saw you like that," Zhou Yang leaned closer and asked Lin Yue, "Are your parents also gone?"

"Your parents are the ones who are gone!" Lin Yue said with a laugh and a scolding tone. Why was this child suddenly cursing?

But the next moment, he suddenly remembered that the real Lin Yue in the game indeed had no parents, and the Zhou Yang in front of him truly had no parents.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Yang, I got a bit emotional," Lin Yue said.

"It's okay, I understand you.

Besides, I still have my grandfather. Uncle She Jian said you don't have any relatives left.

Even the dogs in your village were skinned and eaten by the foreigners. Compared to that, you're much worse off," Zhou Yang looked at Lin Yue, with a hint of pity in his eyes.

"I..." Lin Yue was speechless at this moment, realizing that whatever he said seemed somewhat hollow.

"If you don't mind, then I'll be your younger brother from now on.

Of course, Wu De and Ma Baoguo are also my older brothers, so shouldn't you..." Zhou Yang asked, blinking his big eyes.

"Stop, by seniority, you should be calling me 'uncle'!" Lin Yue said. How could someone be even more eager to claim relatives than he was?

"How old are you anyway!" Zhou Yang pouted, then smiled and said, "Do you know what else you said?"

"What?" Lin Yue asked. Why did he talk so much nonsense?

"You kept calling out 'Ban Xia, Ban Xia.' Is that a girl's name?" Zhou Yang said with a smile.

"No," Lin Yue said, his words belying his true feelings. After a moment of thought, he spoke, "

Oh, by the way, did you know that General She Jian has entrusted you to one of his comrades? You're going to school soon."

"I know. I met him yesterday. After you all leave Xianyang, I'll enter the academy and study with the officials," Zhou Yang's tender face even showed a hint of melancholy.

Speaking of the Great Qin education system's academies, Lin Yue had a lot of complaints. The emergence of academies created a situation where there was no learning outside the law and no teachers outside the officials, entirely preparing people to become officials.

But this also aligned with She Jian and the old man's expectations for Zhou Yang, making it very suitable for Zhou Yang to return to Liaoxi Commandery and become an official.

"My humble opinion is that in addition to your daily studies, you should also learn from various sources. You should dabble in other schools of thought and use the best knowledge from them for yourself," Lin Yue said softly.

"I will," Zhou Yang nodded, though it was unclear if he truly took it to heart.

"Alright, then I'm going to eat. Are you coming?" Lin Yue asked.

Zhou Yang shook his head and said, "I've already eaten."

"Then I'm going out. Don't run off!" Lin Yue said.

Seeing Zhou Yang nod, Lin Yue stepped out of the room and headed to the East City Rice Shop to find Han Tan.

Lin Yue entered the rice shop, and the same plump boss from yesterday was inside.

The plump boss looked up, saw Lin Yue, and quickly smiled, leading him to the back hall. There was a man sitting there, whom the plump boss shooed away, inviting Lin Yue to sit down: "My son is ignorant, please don't mind him, esteemed guest. Please wait a moment, Eunuch Han will be here shortly. Please have a cup of cool tea to quench your thirst first."

"Thank you," Lin Yue said with a smile. He took a sip and indeed felt better. Seeing a book on the table, Lin Yue picked it up and looked at it.

"The Su Nü Jing?"

Lin Yue remembered the man who had just left. This book must be his, so he closed it and placed it on the table.

But after a moment, he opened it again and muttered to himself:

"Will this game get banned for being explicit?

I should just examine it with an academic and critical eye for the sake of other players."

Just as Lin Yue opened the flyleaf, Han Tan arrived in the back hall, shouting as he entered, "Elder Brother!"

The sharp voice startled Lin Yue, and he quickly flipped the "Su Nü Jing" face down on the table.

"Elder Brother! You've finally come to see me!" Han Tan rushed up and hugged Lin Yue!

"Wait, Virtuous Brother, quickly get up. Didn't you use the fertility pill I gave you?" Lin Yue asked.

"I gave it to my godfather. When my godfather leaves the palace, he'll be able to display his virility!"

I've also fulfilled my filial duty," Han Tan said.

"How old is your godfather?" Lin Yue asked.

"Godfather is sixty-five this year. In two more years, he'll be able to leave the palace," Han Tan said.

Lin Yue felt a pang of regret. He had hoped Han Tan would use it and give him feedback, but who knew he'd give it to his godfather?

And his godfather was so old, what good would that thing do him!

What a waste of good stuff!

"Oh, Elder Brother, what is this?" Han Tan noticed the inverted book on the table and picked it up, asking.

"Uh... that's the plump boss's son's," Lin Yue explained.

Han Tan opened the first page, saw the three large characters that met his eye, and looked at Lin Yue suspiciously.

Lin Yue felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and continued, "I haven't read it yet. If you don't believe me, open it and see."

Han Tan shook his head and said:

"No need. I read the Spring and Autumn Annals.

As for such books, if Elder Brother wishes to read them, I can send someone to buy a few copies for you. For someone like me, reading them is useless."

"No need," Lin Yue was a bit speechless. He actually let Han Tan see this kind of book. What was he thinking?

"Virtuous Brother, I came here today mainly to discuss something important with you," Lin Yue quickly changed the subject. He had actually forgotten the important matter!

"Elder Brother, please speak," Han Tan said.

"It's just, it's just that Auntie, she might be in a situation," Lin Yue stammered.

In front of Han Tan, he really didn't know how to describe the matter.

"What situation is Mother in? Is Mother sick or something?" Han Tan asked anxiously.

"No, no, it's just, it's just that Auntie has someone she likes!"