I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 11 Food Box

After Steward Wu left, the atmosphere between the three became awkward. Gao Yuan turned his face away from Zheng Fa, his right hand clutching his clothes tightly, his posture tense. Although Zheng Fa maintained a calm expression, he couldn't help feeling uneasy. On the other hand, Han Cheng, who had been the most dejected earlier, now seemed to have given up entirely, his gaze flitting between Gao Yuan and Zheng Fa with a look of amusement, as if anticipating drama.

No one spoke.

The silence was unbearable, and Zheng Fa couldn't tell how much time had passed before Steward Wu finally returned in a hurry.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zheng Fa noticed Gao Yuan's throat moving as he swallowed nervously.

"I have reported to Madam," Steward Wu began as soon as he arrived. "She has decided on the candidates for the Seventh Young Master's study attendants."

He glanced at the three of them, pausing slightly before announcing:

"Gao Yuan."

Beside him, Gao Yuan swayed slightly.

"Two?" Xu Zheng asked, somewhat surprised.

"Two," Steward Wu confirmed.

Even he found it odd. Originally, Madam only intended to select one new study attendant for the Seventh Young Master, likely leaning toward Gao Yuan from the start. However, after Steward Wu reported on Zheng Fa’s exceptional aptitude, Madam surprisingly changed her mind.

He still remembered hearing her voice faintly through the curtain as he left earlier:

"Interesting!"

Zheng Fa couldn't help glancing at Han Cheng’s expression. Sure enough, it was indescribable.

Of the three of them, two had been chosen. Naturally, the one left out was in an awkward position.

Zheng Fa could imagine how furious Han Cheng must be.

"You two, go home and prepare today. Report to the estate tomorrow," Steward Wu instructed, motioning for the three to leave.

Han Cheng walked away briskly, clearly upset. Gao Yuan, however, intentionally stayed close to Zheng Fa, as if he had something to say.

Sure enough, once Han Cheng was far enough away that he couldn’t overhear, Gao Yuan spoke up:

"Brother Zheng, from now on, let’s work together in harmony."

The tone of his words carried a deep meaning.

Zheng Fa turned to look at Gao Yuan and saw nothing but sincerity on his face—none of the earlier suspicion or guardedness remained.

This change in attitude felt too abrupt.

Though being a study attendant to the Seventh Young Master was indeed a special position within the Zhao Estate, now that Gao Yuan had also been selected, why was he suddenly so deferential?

"Brother Zheng, you may not know this, but we’re not the Seventh Young Master’s first study attendants."

"I know. The son of Steward Wang from our estate was his previous study attendant. He got beaten up and sent back."

"No, not just him." Gao Yuan raised his hand, spreading out five fingers. "Since the Seventh Young Master began his elementary studies, five people have served as his study attendants. All were dismissed by Madam. The unlucky ones, like Steward Wang’s son, were even punished."

Zheng Fa winced.

Now he understood why Gao Yuan wanted to ally with him. In the face of a difficult person like the Seventh Young Master, their roles had shifted from rivals to comrades-in-arms.

As for internal disputes between colleagues?

They hadn’t even secured their positions yet—what was the point of scheming against each other?

With that in mind, Zheng Fa asked something that had been on his mind:

"Brother Gao, I heard you’ve passed the scholar exam?"

"By luck. I became a 'tongsheng' three years ago."

"Scholar titles can lead to government positions, right?" Zheng Fa, recalling his history lessons, found it puzzling that someone like Gao Yuan would compete for a mere study attendant role.

"Government positions?" Gao Yuan seemed baffled by the question. "Who told you that? A 'tongsheng' must pass the 'xiucai' exam, and a 'xiucai' must pass the 'jinshi' exam. Only then can one be appointed as a clerk, and even that’s not a proper official."

"A clerk?"

"Brother Zheng, do you really not know? In our government, from the county governors to the prefects, all officials must be disciples of the Immortal Sect. They only require us scholars to serve as clerks for mundane tasks. That’s all we’re good for."

"As for this 'lowly' study attendant position, the Zhao family has close ties with the Immortal Sect. What’s more, the Seventh Young Master’s elder sister is an Immortal Sect disciple. How could someone like me dare look down on this role?"

Watching Gao Yuan’s retreating figure, Zheng Fa mulled over his words.

Even passing the 'jinshi' exam only made one a clerk? And that was because the Immortal Sect disciples, being above worldly concerns, didn’t bother with mundane governance.

For the first time, Zheng Fa grasped the difference between the Xuanyi Realm and the ancient societies he’d read about.

In history books, ancient power structures were described as pyramids: the emperor at the top, officials below, and citizens at the base, with power flowing downward.

In the Xuanyi Realm, however, everything revolved around the Immortal Sect. It was like a series of concentric circles.

The Immortal Sect formed the largest circle, its disciples ruling territories as feudal lords with almost absolute power. They answered only to the Immortal Sect itself, not to higher-level lords.

Their families formed smaller circles, which in turn encompassed clerks and household servants as even smaller circles.

It was more akin to the feudal lord system from his textbooks on Western history.

For scholars like Gao Yuan, serving a prestigious family like the Zhao Estate was already an excellent opportunity.

At that moment, Zheng Fa fully appreciated the significance of his new role as a study attendant.

Still, his understanding of this world remained shallow, and he wasn’t sure if his observations were entirely accurate. But one thing was clear: in the Xuanyi Realm, the Immortal Sect reigned supreme, leaving no room for royal authority.

Exiting through the back door, he found the old coachman still waiting for him. Huang Yu, however, was nowhere in sight.

"You’re back, Young Master?" The coachman jumped down as soon as he spotted Zheng Fa, pulled out a low stool from behind, and extended a hand to help him into the cart.

It was obvious the man had heard about Zheng Fa’s new role as the Seventh Young Master’s study attendant.

The Zhao family had existed for a thousand years, and even the servants’ relationships were deeply intertwined. Such news might be hidden from the masters but not from the likes of coachmen.

Hurriedly, Zheng Fa waved him off and climbed into the cart on his own.

Even the ox cart felt different now. On the way there, it had been lined with a simple wooden board still bearing traces of vegetable leaves. Now, a thick black blanket covered the wood.

The coachman, meanwhile, was smiling deferentially at him.

"Young Master, shall we head off?" the old man asked, awaiting instructions with a respectful tone.

"Uncle, just call me by my old name, Xiao Zheng," Zheng Fa finally said, unable to hold back. "Let’s go."

The return trip was quick. As the wind whistled past, the coachman suddenly spoke:

"Young Master... Xiao Zheng, the food box next to you is a little treat I bought in town from Juxing Tower. Please take it home."

Zheng Fa had noticed the box earlier. It was lacquered in black and tightly sealed, looking quite valuable.

"Uncle, I can’t accept this—"

"Oh, nonsense! Didn’t your mother just give me some cured meat and flatbreads earlier? I’m telling you, her cooking is so good, even better than the chefs at Juxing Tower! Giving you this is the least I can do—it’s me who’s taking advantage!"

Zheng Fa could swear the coachman hadn’t seemed particularly interested in his mother’s cured meat earlier.

"That’s just something we make at home," he tried to demur.

"Come on, Xiao Zheng! Don’t refuse! Going all the way to Jingzhou City, you have to bring back something for your little sister, right?"

Remembering Zheng Shan’s reluctant face when he left, Zheng Fa decided not to argue further.

By dusk, as smoke rose from the cooking fires in the roadside houses, they finally returned to the estate.

Even before dismounting, Zheng Fa heard the voice of his little sister, Zheng Shan, coming from under the big elm tree at the village entrance:

"Just wait till my brother gets back! Let’s see if you dare bully me again!"

His heart tightened. While his sister Zheng Shan was a crybaby at home, she rarely cried outside. Yet now, her voice carried a hint of sobbing.

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