I'm the Farmgirl You Can't Mess With

Chapter 1389: Side Story: Fan Zijin (5)

Editor: Atlas Studios

Fan Zijin wiped his tears and dragged Qi Haoran home to look for his mother. He wanted to start schooling, and he was confident of surpassing his big brother. He said confidently, “I can already recognize all the words in the ’Thousand Character Classic’ and ’Three Character Classic’. I’ll definitely be more impressive than Fan Zixiao.”

With a bitter expression, Qi Haoran said softly, “I actually wanted to start schooling two years later…”

“No, you have to go to school with me. I’m going to impress my father and you should impress Uncle, too.”

There was no one in the main room, and he could hear his mother’s cries come from inside her room. His expression changed and he hurriedly shook off Qi Haoran’s hand and ran over.

Fan Siwen said to Xia Tong helplessly, “Didn’t I already promise to let you raise Haoran? Why are you still crying?”

The two children who were about to run into the house were stunned and stood rooted to the ground.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle Qi Feng. I mean what I say. As long as Haoran doesn’t want to go back, I won’t let Qi Feng take him away.”

Not touched by his words, Xia Tong wiped her tears and sneered. “This is our deal. You only agreed to it in exchange for your eldest son’s reputation and future.”

Seeing Fan Siwen’s expression turn ugly again, Xia Tong shook off his hand and turned around. “Get out. Let me tell you something. Not only is Fan Zixiao your son, but Zijin is also your son. Don’t be too biased.”

Fan Zixiao’s face was ashen. He couldn’t help but say, “How many times do you want me to say it? My feelings for the two children are the same, but Zixiao is a concubine’s son. He doesn’t have a mother, so I naturally have to dote on him more…”

“Am I not his mother?” Xia Tong couldn’t help but get angry again. She turned around and snapped angrily, “Am I dead?”

“You’re his legitimate mother, not his biological mother. Can you treat Zixiao and Zijin exactly the same? And Madam Liu is only a concubine who doesn’t have any say at home. I’m just taking care of him a little more, and you’re already so mad…”

Fan Zijin’s entire body emitted a cold aura. After casting one last cold glance at his parents, who started arguing again, he pulled Qi Haoran away.

Neither of the couple in the room realized that the two children had appeared and left.

Confused, Qi Haoran asked, “What were Aunt and Uncle talking about? I didn’t understand a word of it.”

Fan Zijin’s expression darkened. “Father is using you to threaten Mother for the benefit of his beloved son.” His eyes flashed coldly. “I’ll become even more brilliant than Fan Zixiao!”

He held Qi Haoran’s hand and said, “Don’t go back to the Qi family, or you’ll be bullied to death. Isn’t it just Fan Zixiao? I’ll tolerate it.”

Qi Haoran didn’t understand those words, but Fan Zijin did. In order to stop his mother from mentioning yesterday’s incident, his father agreed to stop Qi Feng and let Qi Haoran stay in the Fan Residence until he reached adulthood.

Fan Zijin knew that since Qi Haoran was not his biological brother but his cousin, the Qi family could not let Qi Haoran stay in the Fan Residence forever. When he started schooling, they would definitely bring him back. More than once, he had heard his mother and eldest cousin discuss sending Qi Haoran to Uncle Zhu’s house. This way, even if the Qi family wanted to forcefully bring him back, they would not be able to do anything.

However, it’d naturally be better if he could stay here, right by his and Eldest Cousin’s side.

At night, when the two children returned, Xia Tong held their hands and instructed, “Don’t tell anyone about what happened yesterday and today. Forget about these two incidents, understand?”

The two children lowered their heads and nodded. They felt that although revenge was important, it was obviously more important for them to stay together.

Seeing that they were obedient, Xia Tong couldn’t help but sigh. She rubbed the two children’s heads and said, “You’re too unyielding. Although Zixiao was in the wrong, you shouldn’t have pushed him into the water just because of this…”

Although Xia Tong hated Fan Zixiao, she didn’t want her son and nephew to become vengeful people, so she pulled them aside and lectured them.

The little Qi Haoran sat on the chair and listened attentively. Fan Zijin, on the other hand, was a little distracted. Too many things had happened in the past two days, so much so that his little head could not think at all. However, he vaguely learned that benefits could be exchanged, even love.

Regardless of whether the love they exchanged was real or fake, it made one feel better, right?

Fan Zijin realized that it was impossible for his father to dote on him more than his big brother, because it was impossible for him to become a bastard son who only had his father. It seemed like it was a mistake for him to be born a legitimate son.

Fan Zijin, who had yet to grasp the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, did not understand the complexity of this matter. When he gradually grew up and interacted with outsiders, he realized that most families were biased towards their legitimate children. There were very few families like his that were biased towards the illegitimate child instead. It was actually quite a bizarre situation.

However, at this moment, he did not know that. All he knew was that he had to study hard and fight for more leverage for himself so that he could use it to “make deals” with his father in the future.

Fan Zijin was literate at the age of three and officially started learning at the age of five. By the time he was nine, he had already far surpassed the 12-year-old Fan Zixiao. This was because he had participated in the tongsheng examination this year under his teacher’s suggestion and obtained the qualifications to be a tongsheng in one shot. In fact, he even ranked first in the prefecture and became an influential figure in the academy for a while.

The 12-year-old Fan Zixiao also took the exam, but unfortunately, he did not pass. After seeing his transcribed answers, his teacher only told him to continue working hard. Then, he turned around and grabbed the complacent Fan Zijin and lectured, “How could you forget the example of Shang Zhongyong? I think you shouldn’t take the academy examination next year. You’re better off studying hard behind closed doors.” Get full chapters from novelꜰire.net

Fan Zijin widened his eyes and pouted in dissatisfaction. “Why? A nine-year-old xiucai sounds so good.”

His teacher knocked him on the head and said, “You were ranked in the top three in the county and prefectural examinations, and you even took the top spot in the prefectural examination. If you perform poorly in the provincial-level exam, wouldn’t you have gotten good results in the first two rounds for nothing?”

His teacher stroked his beard and said, “Considering what you’re currently capable of, it’s clearly impossible for you to get into the top three of the provincial-level exam next spring. Therefore, you should calm down and read more books.”

Fan Zijin could only lower his head and go out to look for Qi Haoran. Unconvinced, he said, “I’ve seen the papers for the provincial-level exams over the past years. I don’t think it’s very difficult.”

“Then will you be ranked in the top three?”

Fan Zijin tilted his head and thought for a moment before shaking his head. “It’s difficult.”

“Then just wait another two years. You’re still young anyway.”

Fan Zijin rolled his eyes at him and said, “To think that you even took the county examination with me. You don’t even know this—If I miss the court exam next year, I’ll have to wait until the year after next.”

The county and prefectural exams were held every year, but the provincial-level exams only took place twice every three years—divided into the annual exam and the triennial national exam. As it happened, the annual exam was scheduled for the following year. If he didn’t take part then, he’d have to wait another two years for the next national exam—and by that time, he’d already be 12.

Fan Zijin sighed sadly and said, “I originally wanted to create the legend of a genius so that Father would know just how brilliant I am. However, in order to let me get a good ranking, my teacher raised such strong objections, so I can only comply.”

Qi Haoran could tell that although Fan Zijin was lamenting, he was actually showing off. It was really hateful, so he jumped up to tickle him.

In order to encourage Fan Zijin, Qi Haoran also participated in the county examination with him. In the end, he almost handed in a blank paper, merely answering three questions. And that was only because he happened to come across those three questions when he was revising with Fan Zijin.