I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 12 Fear

In the dusky twilight, Zheng Fa clearly saw his little sister, Zheng Shan, standing under the big elm tree at the village entrance. 

Facing her were three boys, all taller than her by at least a head. It was evident that the boy in the middle led the group. Zheng Fa immediately recognized his face—a tall and thin figure with a hooked nose and sparse eyebrows, giving him an austere appearance. 

This was Wang Gui, the only son of Steward Wang from the estate, and the previous occupant of Zheng Fa's current role as a study attendant. Zheng Fa recalled hearing from his mother a few days ago that Wang Gui had been punished severely by Madam and sent back home. He was reportedly bedridden when he arrived, still unconscious. Yet here he was, already up and about, bullying his little sister.

Wang Gui’s complexion was paler than usual, his face nearly devoid of color, making his expression even darker. His posture appeared stiff and unsteady; one arm rested on the shoulder of a boy beside him, as though he lacked the strength to stand properly. 

Zheng Shan was speaking to them, her tone and stance suggesting a confrontation. She stood alone, her small frame tense, fists clenched tightly. In her right hand, she gripped half a flatbread, while the other half lay on the ground, torn and covered in dirt. 

Zheng Fa recognized the bread as something their mother had made, a rare treat she had reserved especially for his sister. While flatbread wasn’t expensive, for Zheng Shan, it was a rare and treasured snack—certainly not something she would have dropped unless there was a struggle. Zheng Fa could tell from her defiant posture that she was scared but trying hard to mask it.

Quickening his pace, Zheng Fa approached the group. 

“You think I’m scared of your brother?” Wang Gui rasped, his voice hoarse. He turned to the boy beside him. “Are you?”

“And you?” he asked another.

“I don’t even have a father. Who would I fear?” the boy jeered.

Their banter drew laughter from Wang Gui, though he clutched his neck mid-chuckle, clearly still recovering from his injuries. 

Zheng Shan couldn’t hold back any longer. “When my brother sees you stealing my food, Madam will beat you again!” she declared. To her, Madam’s punishment was the ultimate retribution.

“Pah! Who does your brother think he is? Ordering Madam around?” Wang Gui sneered. The mention of Madam stopped his laughter, but his anger flared. “Do you really think your brother can take my place as the young master’s study attendant? Your brother can barely read! You think Madam would choose him?”

It was clear from Wang Gui’s tone that he didn’t believe Zheng Fa could replace him, though his temper seemed unusually volatile today. Zheng Fa figured that Wang Gui, frustrated by losing any chance of returning to his former position, had directed his anger at him and his sister. 

As Zheng Fa approached, the sound of his footsteps caught their attention. Both groups turned to look at him. Zheng Shan had been glaring at Wang Gui and his companions with tight lips, refusing to back down, but the moment she saw Zheng Fa, tears streamed down her face. 

“Brother, they stole my bread!” she sobbed. 

A flicker of panic crossed the boys’ faces. Zheng Fa was taller and broader than all three, and his dark expression carried a subtle intimidation. 

Ignoring the boys, Zheng Fa pulled his tearful sister into his arms, his heart aching for her. He placed a food box, given by the cart driver, in front of her. “Look, Little Sister, guess what I brought for you?”

Zheng Shan sniffled, her teary eyes locking onto the unfamiliar food box. “It smells so good!” she exclaimed.

Zheng Fa smiled and opened the lid. The top layer held three plates of pastries: one shaped like flower petals, another like butterflies, and the last one round and plump. 

“Snacks!” 

“That’s right,” Zheng Fa said with a grin. “These are pastries from Juxing Tower in the city, brought just for you!” 

“For me?” Zheng Shan pointed at her nose in disbelief.

“All for you.” 

Her joy was so pure that she forgot to wipe her tear-streaked face, instead breaking into a silly grin. 

“What’s in the next layer?” she asked, leaning forward eagerly.

“Let’s take a look.” Zheng Fa encouraged her, lifting the second lid.@@novelbin@@

“Meat! So much meat!” she gasped. 

The second layer held a simple dish—piles of sliced meat stacked high. For Zheng Shan, it was the most meat she had ever seen at one time. She even rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.

When Zheng Fa unveiled the third layer, it revealed a large, glossy roasted chicken. Its tempting aroma made Zheng Shan’s eyes nearly pop out of her head.

“Brother, all of this is for me?” she asked, almost overwhelmed.

Zheng Fa chuckled. “Yes, but you’d better eat it quickly, or it’ll go bad.”

“Not just me—Mom and you too! We can eat it all together!” she said resolutely, pointing to the food box with delight. “I’ll eat, Mom will eat, and so will Brother. We’ll definitely finish it!”

She patted her stomach and suddenly frowned. “Brother, my tummy says it can eat half of it by itself!” she giggled.

Her earlier distress was entirely forgotten. 

Behind them, the three boys fidgeted uncomfortably. Wang Gui, though better off than the other two, couldn’t hide his annoyance. The other boys, coming from modest backgrounds, rarely saw such an abundance of good food and couldn’t help but stare.

“Wang Ge, have you ever had Juxing Tower’s pastries?” one of them asked, swallowing hard.

“Of course I have! They’re not even that expensive. I’ll bring you some next time!” Wang Gui snapped, though his irritation only deepened. 

What bothered him more than the food was Zheng Fa’s dismissive attitude. Zheng Fa hadn’t so much as acknowledged him, and it irked him deeply. Ever since they were children, Zheng Fa had always ignored him, which made Wang Gui inexplicably uneasy. Even after becoming the young master’s study attendant, he found himself unable to shake this feeling.

“Why should I be afraid? So what if I’m no longer a study attendant? I’m still better than someone who doesn’t even have a father!” Wang Gui consoled himself, stepping forward to say something.

Before he could speak, the sound of hooves and wheels reached them. 

A young man standing on a carriage waved excitedly in Zheng Fa’s direction. “Zheng Brother, I’m here to see you!” 

Zheng Fa turned to see Huang Yu beaming at him from the driver’s perch. Beside him stood a stout, well-dressed middle-aged man, who also greeted Zheng Fa with a polite smile.