Chapter 51 Senior Brother, The Plot Succeeded
"Ruyan greets Teacher respectfully," Chu Junhan said, pressing his palms together and lowering his head until his forehead almost touched the ground.
Cen Song sat in the courtyard, engrossed in a scroll he held in his hand. Without looking up, he asked, "Do you realize your mistake?"
"Yesterday I hurried along the mountain paths all day, and after being punished by Teacher, I was so tired that I overslept and lost track of time. I admit my fault." The little one remained in a bow, head lowered, for she could think of no better reason for Cen Song's anger than her own laziness.
"So you mean, my punishment was undeserved?" Cen Song did not lift his eyes, turning a page with his weathered fingers as he continued to read.
Chu Junhan bit her lip, her brow furrowing as she considered her words. "Teacher's punishment was not wrong."
"Then why did you not accept it?" Cen Song set the book aside, his sunken eyes sharp as a hawk's, fixing Chu Junhan so sternly she could barely breathe.
She lowered her head even further. "Yesterday, Teacher said that if we admitted our mistake, we might return to our rooms and rest."
"Zimo, you speak."
The small boy standing nearby brushed his sleeves and coughed lightly before saying, "Teacher, please do not make yourself ill with anger. My junior is still young; it is of little consequence if I alone take the punishment for a night. I ask Teacher to be appeased."
Chu Junhan suddenly looked up and stared at the boy, narrowing her eyes. Was she being tricked? Tricked by a mere child?
"Ruyan, have you anything more to say?"
Chu Junhan understood that since Cen Song had seen only Zimo taking the punishment that morning, nothing she said would matter. She could only lower her head and reply, "It was my carelessness, but I did not do wrong."
Cen Song stroked his goatee and laughed heartily, his eyes squinting into slits. "Ruyan, remember this: never be careless in anything. Today's mistake costs you a meal, but next time, it could cost lives."
"Thank you for your lesson, Teacher." Chu Junhan felt a pang of grievance—so the teacher knew the truth and still chose to accuse her.
The old man took Chu Junhan's hand. "Thank your senior brother. This was all his scheme; I am but the judge. You have lost."
He? That child not yet seven years old? Such cunning and calculation!
Sensing Chu Junhan's astonished gaze, Zimo grinned in satisfaction. "No need to thank me, Junior. Go take your punishment."
With unwilling resolve, Chu Junhan returned to the spot where she had squatted in horse stance the previous night, legs apart, glaring fiercely at the little boy. The days are long, she thought; just you wait.
She remained perfectly still, squatting, until mealtime. Staring at the dishes set upon the stone table not far away, she could only swallow her saliva over and over.
"Teacher, your cooking is getting worse and worse," Zimo complained, stuffing braised pork into his mouth as he spoke.
"No talking at the table," Cen Song scolded, rapping the boy on the forehead before resuming his meal.
Zimo pouted, then glanced at the little one still stubbornly squatting and drooling. He picked up a fragrant bowl of rice and meat and sauntered over, flaunting the contents. "Junior, do you want some?"
"No."
"Truly don't want any?"
"No," Chu Junhan replied, swallowing hard, her vision swimming with hunger, feeling the saliva almost drip from her mouth, yet resolutely shaking her head.
"If you don't want it, I’ll just take it back," Zimo sniffed, turning away.
"Come back," Chu Junhan called, biting her lip and unable to muster any more resolve against the boy.
"Call me Senior Brother."
"Senior Brother," she muttered, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, barely audible.
"What? I didn't hear you," the boy teased, cupping his ear and leaning closer.
"Senior Brother," Chu Junhan took a deep breath. For the sake of a bite of meat, she was willing to swallow her pride. If Han Xin could endure humiliation beneath another’s knee, what was this? It was nothing, nothing at all…