Chapter 405: Zhang Xiaosan, what

"Zhang Xiaosan, what's wrong with your face?" Kang Wen saw Zhang Xiaosan, instantly saw his flushed face and the obvious signs of crying.

"Zhang Cunwen, what's wrong? Who bullied you? Let's go fight back." Han Wen Jun had just finished speaking when Ning Qiancheng patted him on the back of the head.

"Just fighting all day, that's all you know—use your brain." Ning Qiancheng sighed; even the Yong Bo Marquis Manor isn't peaceful.

This time they were given two days off; the Dean sent the consent forms to each household, but only the Yong Bo Marquis Manor didn't send theirs back. Seeing Zhang Xiaosan's state, it's likely…

"The Dean said that no matter what you choose, you'll always be a student of Chun Hua Xue Yuan; don't burden yourself, don't feel like you've let anyone down."

"You're young and can't decide anything; this trip is full of danger, and your parents are worried too." Ning Hanmo walked over, looking at his face with heartache.

Kang Zhiqiu had already brought over cold water; Ning Hanmo took it, quickly soaked a cloth in the cold water, and then applied it to Zhang Cunwen's face.

Zhang Cunwen just stared blankly, saying nothing; everything around him felt far away.

"What's wrong with him? He looks like he might get into trouble." Jia Chuan was a little worried; Zhang Xiaosan, who was always carefree, had never been this silent before.

He's the morale booster of the Unit, and they all know how hard it's been for him.

Kang Nai Xin and Kang Zhiqiu exchanged a glance, then nodded; Kang Nai Xin slowly left the room.

He rushed to the Rhyme Courtyard, "Why are you running so fast?"

Jiang Yunchu had just returned, having gone to the palace and agreed with His Majesty on temporary provisions and guessed where the grain was going; returning too late, he had just entered the Courtyard when he saw Kang Nai Xin running over.

"Zhang Cunwen is back, but something's off—we're really worried about him." Kang Nai Xin's voice sounded urgent as she ran over, a little out of breath.

Jiang Yunchu frowned, looked at the Zi Su in the Courtyard, and said, "I'll come back to eat later; let the kitchen keep it warm."

He rubbed his slightly hungry stomach; he hadn't eaten at noon or night, and indeed he was a bit hungry.

He'd gotten used to good days, but now he was about to face hardship, and he didn't know if his body could endure it.

"Dean, Zhang Cunwen's face was hit—both cheeks are swollen." After thinking, Kang Nai Xin still explained Zhang Cunwen's current situation clearly so the Dean would know what to expect.

Jiang Yunchu's steps paused, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Yong Bo Marquis Manor—awesome!

"You, come with me; you guys, do what you're supposed to do." Arriving at the Courtyard, Jiang Yunchu pointed at Zhang Cunwen.

Zhang Cunwen heard Jiang Yunchu's voice and immediately stood up, his eye sockets reddening further—as if he'd seen a relative, all his grievances spilling out in tears.

"Don't cry, it's ugly." At that moment, a clear, cold voice came from ahead.

Zhang Cunwen lifted his head, following the light to see that slender figure—not broad, yet seeming able to block everything.

"Dean, I have no home."

Zhang Cunwen sighed, his voice small like a discarded little beast, eyes wet, his whole body feeling dejected and with a sense of helplessness about what to do next.

"Master, you're back already?" Zi Su heard the movement, came out of the room, and asked in surprise.

But upon seeing Zhang Cunwen behind her, she immediately went to the kitchen to have an extra set of utensils prepared.

"Have a seat." Jiang Yunchu sat down, looking at Zhang Cunwen, and said, "Let's talk after we eat."

"Remember, heaven and earth are big, but eating is the biggest."

"So many people can't fill their stomachs, yet we waste grain—that's a major taboo."

She smiled lightly, unusually not so stern, and her aura gradually calmed Zhang Cunwen.

"Yes!"

Zi Su had already brought the utensils over, then walked to the side; Jiang Yunchu looked at her and said, "I can tell you haven't eaten yet—come over and eat together."

Zi Su smiled and said, "You guys have things to say; I'll just go eat at the kitchen later."

Jiang Yunchu looked at her and didn't insist, "Then go now; don't wait—it's getting late, and you won't need to wait for me from now on."

"Yes." Zi Su left.

The Courtyard grew quiet, leaving only Jiang Yunchu and Zhang Cunwen.

"Who hit your face?" Jiang Yunchu asked casually, though a flash of coldness flickered in the depths of his eyes.

"The face is just the face; when a child grows up, no matter how angry you get, you can still educate them."

And all the children she's raised are reasonable—why beat them like this?

"This side is my dad, this side is my mom." Zhang Cunwen sighed, pointing to his two cheeks and even adding a comment.

Jiang Yunchu looked at him and asked helplessly, "Won't you dodge?"

Zhang Cunwen shook his head: "I don't want to dodge anymore."

"Use these two slaps to exchange for future freedom."

Freedom…

Jiang Yunchu frowned, "What on earth is going on?"

"I've cut ties with my family and even wrote a severance letter." At that moment, Zhang Cunwen pulled that letter from his pocket; even after all this time, that thin sheet of paper still felt like a thousand weights, making his hand tremble unsteadily.

Jiang Yunchu took it, glanced at the handwriting and content, and let out a soft sigh.

"Why? Because of this battlefield mission?" She looked at Zhang Cunwen, having considered the Yong Bo Marquis Manor's attitude but not expecting it to be this awful: "I had anticipated this and made plans for you to stay in Jingdu; I'll directly recommend you to Qing feng Institute, and Mister Qing feng will take good care of you."

These children, and the families behind them—she had actually anticipated all of this and made arrangements for their futures.

But unfortunately…

I don't know if it was the Yong Bo Marquis Manor being too eager or Zhang Cunwen being too eager, but they never waited even a day.

"Dean, it's not just this incident; when I was good for nothing, they didn't see me, overlooked me—although they never deprived me of food or drink, in their eyes I was never there."

"My father and my aunt were childhood sweethearts, but the Yong Bo Marquis Manor needed my mother's clan's power to steady the wavering manor, so they married my mother; although they treated each other with respect, my father's heart always remained with my aunt."

He's young, but he sees things more clearly than adults—at least much more clearly than his mother.

"Whatever good things my father got, he always gave them to my aunt; he wanted to have his second son raised by my mother, but despite the difference in status, my mother refused, using the excuse of taking care of me."

"Haha——"

That child with red eyes, who never dared to shed a tear, can now cry out freely here, voice his years of grievance; he no longer fears that his pretended strength will be seen through, nor does he need to bristle with spikes to protect himself.