[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world":3,"chapter-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Cultivation: I Studied Abroad in the Modern World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263740,4418,"Chapter 14: A Good Father","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Before Zheng Fa could respond, a middle-aged man walked out of the estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huang Guanshi, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was also a tall, thin man, his features seven-tenths like Wang Gui’s—this was Wang Gui’s father, the estate’s Wang Guanshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was now staring intently at the fat middle-aged man beside Huang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat middle-aged man helped Huang Yu down from the carriage, gave him only a faint, cold nod, and offered no further pleasantries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu pulled him to Zheng Fa’s side and introduced: “This is my father. I told him about you, said I wanted to come see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat middle-aged man—Huang Yu’s father—smiled more broadly at Zheng Fa, his gaze gentle: “Young Zheng, since Huang Yu and you are old friends, I’ll presume on our kinship and call you my nephew?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded, looking at the father and son, unsure of their purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy of mine is useless; I’ve always worried how he’d ever stand on his own. But with a friend like you, I’m at ease.” Huang Yu’s father gestured to the carriage behind him: “He wanted to visit a friend, and since this is our first visit, I brought some humble gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Huang Guanshi treat him with cold indifference but excessive warmth toward Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Guanshi’s expression naturally darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could only endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though both were estate managers under the Zhao family, he had only held his position five years, while Huang Guanshi—so it was said—had held the post for over three generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, even among estates, Huang Guanshi’s managed lands produced more and covered far greater area than his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their status within the Zhao family was clearly unequal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they gave him the cold shoulder, he could only swallow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gui, standing nearby, sensed his father’s displeasure and resented all the more the man’s warmth toward Zheng Fa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Huang Guanshi lead Zheng Fa toward the carriage, he couldn’t help craning his neck, peering inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the carriage curtain was pulled back, two large chests appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa’s mother, hearing the commotion, stepped beside him, holding Zheng Shan’s hand as she watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu’s father smiled broadly and opened one chest: inside were several bolts of cloth, mediocre in quality, but new nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These were woven by my late wife; I once dreamed that if this boy became Seventh Young Master’s servant, I’d make him a few decent new clothes.” He shot Huang Yu a look of frustrated disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu shrank his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that my nephew serves Seventh Young Master, these bolts are my congratulations—don’t think them too humble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa glanced at his mother; she gave him a slight shake of her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Huang, it’s not that I’m refusing out of disdain—it’s that I’ve done nothing to deserve this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bah, what are a few bolts of cloth?” Huang Guanshi laughed, cutting him off: “I’ve only one son; him making a friend like you is his fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa glanced at Huang Yu beside him; the boy’s face was flushed, eyes lowered, avoiding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huang brother and I hit it off at first sight—these gifts aren’t needed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say that, then you’re my junior. Isn’t it only right I give my junior a token of welcome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zheng Fa still about to speak, he waved his hand and opened the second chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside lay a full set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ll be accompanying Seventh Young Master in his studies, you need a proper set of writing tools. My household has extras—worthless, really—I brought them for you… again, don’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Huang, you…” Zheng Fa couldn’t help smiling wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu’s father kept saying “don’t refuse,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>yet every item—brush, ink, paper, stone, even the cloth—was precisely what Zheng Fa needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d anticipated Zheng Fa’s needs even before he’d thought of them himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sincerity and thoughtfulness were undeniable; Zheng Fa wanted to refuse, but couldn’t find the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Zheng Fa’s hesitation, Huang Yu’s father laughed heartily, had Huang Yu carry the two chests down from the carriage, and said outright: “Nephew, I’ve matters to attend to on my estate—I’ll take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for either to respond, he whipped his horse and galloped off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made it clear: no chance for Zheng Fa to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu, carrying the chests, stared blankly at his father’s retreating back, mouth agape: “Father! What about me? I didn’t even get on the carriage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You stay here—I’ll come back tomorrow to fetch you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa: “…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Huang Yu, then at the two chests, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t very well leave him here; the two of them picked up one chest each and headed toward the Zheng household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little sister followed behind, clutching the food box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Wang Gui and the others…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said nothing. Didn’t want to say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the driver had brought the food box—otherwise, they’d have had nothing to offer Huang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for sleeping, Huang Yu and Zheng Fa would have to share a room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Huang Yu sat in Zheng Fa’s room, lips pressed tight, silent for a long while, then suddenly said: “Actually, my father sent me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My father always says I’m immature.” Huang Yu didn’t look at Zheng Fa, just kept talking: “He fears that when he dies, no one will protect me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu was clearly not a smooth-talking type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could see it in the pavilion—he wanted to flatter Gao Yuan, but one word from someone made him give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He first told me to compete for Seventh Young Master’s servant position, then later said he only wanted me to befriend people like you. He said, if I became Seventh Young Master’s servant, I might drag the whole family down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Huang Yu flopped backward, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling, sounding weary: “Adults are so annoying. They think too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa sat beside him and suddenly said: “You have a good father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your father must have some standing in the Zhao household.” Zheng Fa could tell from Wang Guanshi’s attitude toward Huang Yu’s father: “I’m just a servant. I don’t even know if I can ever help you. Why would he go out of his way to send me these gifts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…For me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, don’t you think he’s…” Huang Yu’s face flushed: “Opportunistic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who in this world isn’t opportunistic?” Zheng Fa smiled: “Aren’t we being opportunistic by competing for that servant position? Who’s born wanting to serve others? Are we born with lowly bones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say that…” Huang Yu stared at Zheng Fa in shock: “That’s disrespectful! We’ve served the Zhao family for generations—isn’t it our duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Fa fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yu, after a pause, suddenly said: “I’m starting to think… befriending you might actually drag my whole family down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the estate, the Wang household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Gui still seethed: “When I was the servant, why didn’t anyone come fawning over me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course they did—plenty sent silver.” Wang Guanshi pulled a bundle from the bedroom: “But I borrowed money to bribe people so you could become Seventh Young Master’s servant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So all the silver others sent went to pay off debts?” Wang Gui thought he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not all—there’s still this.” Wang Guanshi patted the bundle in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s still a lot.” Wang Gui glanced at the bundle’s size, feeling satisfied—then suddenly frowned: “Father, where are you taking that bundle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To Zheng Fa’s house, of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1267,"2026-06-19T19:16:02.864Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c76f2416d2c66d9dc8dff009898bf7a567a94e059acfad56bdd243883aa1f018","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-15","cultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-chapter-13",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-i-studied-abroad-in-the-modern-world-cover.jpg"]