Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 35: Encountering The Foe

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

"What is going on here?"

Everyone turned their heads in union to the back of the room. Standing in the doorway was Jiang Shi Fu. He strode into the room while repeating, "What is going on?"

Li Jue, seeing his chance, leaped at it. Approaching the teacher, he bowed and said, "Jiang Shi Fu, Han Jun said that I purposely spilled food on Ping Xi's clothing. Although I apologized and offered to wipe his clothing, Han Jun threatened me and wanted to fight me."

"È rén xiān gào zhuàng! Evil people complain first. Jiang Shi Fu! Be the judge between us!"

Jiang Shi Fu looked between Han Jun and Li Ju. "You two! What do you think this place is? Do you think this is a fighting rink? No! This is the Guo Jian! If you two want to fight, go to the fighting rink. Don't fight here!"

There was a pause and then he said, "Go!"

Confusion was on the faces of each student.

"Huh?" Han Jun asked, scratching the back of his head.

"Didn't you two want to fight? Fine! I'll let you fight! Let's go to the fighting rink!" Jiang Shi Fu moved to the door.

"I'm sorry, what? Did I hear incorrectly?" asked Li Jue.

"You didn't hear wrong, come!" Jiang Shi Fu barked.

"But–"

"Am I the teacher or are you?" Jiang Shi Fu whipped around to face Li Jue, who looked at the ground, red faced. "Y-you," he mumbled.

"Louder!"

"You," he repeated louder.

"Since that's the case, let's go!"

"Oh," Li Jue said as he followed Jiang Shi Fu. The rest of the class followed suit.

Xiao Zhao shoved Han Jun in the side. "Let's go."

"What a great idea!" Han Jun said as he headed to the door. Xiao Zhao walked beside Han Jun. Soon, they were on the bustling streets. They walked past carts of goods and Han Jun stopped once in a while to buy things. Han Jun saw a stand that sold bread and stopped, saying, "Can I get two?"

The owner smiled and said, "Sure!" Handing Han Jun two steamed buns, Han Jun gave a piece of paper and on it was written 一百两. The owner's eyes flew open. "This..." he started to say.

"Keep the change," Han Jun said as he smiled.

The owner gaped and then said, "Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Thank you! Thank you!" The man bowed a couple times to show gratitude. Han Jun turned away and Xiao Zhao followed him. Catching Han Jun's sleeve, he pulled him to a stop.

"Why did you give that owner so much money?"

Instead of answering right away, Han Jun handed Xiao Zhao the second bun. "Eat."

Xiao Zhao took it without thinking and Han Jun resumed his walk. "Life is hard for the commoners. The money I have is because of their hard work. I just want to make their lives better."

Xiao Zhao listened and he felt enormous respect for Han Jun.

"Hey, why aren't you eating your bun?"

"Huh what?"

Han Jun rolled his eyes and grabbed Xiao Zhao's hand that held the bun. "Oh," Xiao Zhao said and then he took a big bite. The sweetness in the bun brought him a feeling of homesickness before...It was so good. He took another bite and then another until he was finished.