Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 26: Retreat First, This Place Is Not Worth Staying For Long

Warm sunlight dispelled the chill in the County School office, yet Zhao Rui felt cold all over, as if he had just been fished out of an icy cavern.

He clutched the smooth wooden examination plaque, his palm drenched in cold sweat.

"Su Ming... that... that Qian fellow... how did he just..." Zhao Rui stammered, his mind tangled like a mess of thread that couldn't be straightened out.

One moment he was throwing his weight around, shooing them away like flies; the next he was bowing and scraping, practically kneeling to call them father. The change happened faster than mountain weather.

Su Ming tucked his own examination plaque into his chest, his movements neither hurried nor slow.

"Because of that box." His voice was calm, as if discussing something unrelated to himself.

"The box?" Zhao Rui lowered his head, glanced at the rosewood box Su Ming was holding again, his eyes filled with confusion and awe.

"He recognized it belonged to the Zhou family's eldest young master." Su Ming explained concisely.

Zhao Rui's mouth formed an "O" shape. He seemed to understand, yet felt even more confused.

"Disciple, don't explain too much to him, let him figure it out himself." Lin Yu's voice sounded in Su Ming's mind, carrying a tone of cunning calculation. "The person who gave us trouble earlier was almost certainly acting under the instructions of Zhao Rui's uncle-by-marriage, Zhou Kang.""Since Zhou Kang would resort to such despicable methods, we can't rule out follow-up moves." Lin Yu's analysis continued. "The minor official in the government office was intimidated by us using Zhou Yulin's name, and Zhou Kang will soon know about it. A cornered dog will jump over the wall. If he becomes enraged and secretly hires some thugs to give us an 'accidental death,' that wouldn't be fun at all."

"Disciple, my advice is to immediately initiate 'strategic retreat.' This place is enemy territory, not suitable for staying long. First go to the medicine shop to inquire about the spirit grass source, then go to the book stall to buy some books."

Su Ming replied silently in

said, "Zhao Rui, we won't go to the Zhou Residence first. After finishing our business, we'll

going?" Zhao Rui

do there? Wait for your uncle to

unable to utter a single word. The humiliation on

care of some proper business." Su Ming didn't look at him

and, relying on memory, accurately found

quiet, with only a young clerk wearing a gray short jacket dozing off at the counter, drool nearly dripping

Ming gently

"Tap, tap."

head and

medicine?" When he saw Su Ming and Zhao Rui's shabby attire, the enthusiasm in his eyes quickly

chest, subtly pushing them toward the clerk's hand. "I want to buy some hei jie cao, do you

was completely that

the two copper coins, his eyes lighting up slightly. He inconspicuously swept them with his

the money, his attitude improved

pulling open the bottom drawer of a row

would specifically remember where it came from?" The clerk casually grabbed a handful and threw it on the counter. "It was all collected years ago when the shopkeeper followed traveling merchants to villages, gathered here and there. It's

you want to cut it yourself, just go to any hillside outside the city, why

heart sank. The lead was