NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 5 - Being too smart doesn't seem to be all good.
Chapter 5: Being too smart doesn’t seem to be all good.
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a prosperous personality. He was dressed in fine clothing, adorned with a jade bracelet, sitting alone at a table filled with exquisite food and wine. He disdainfully glanced at a nearby scholar who was bragging.
“How do you talk?” He questions.
“Isn’t the world managed by scholars for our leader?” Defend the businessman.
“Eldest brother, don’t talk about the second brother. As a merchant, you have little affection but a lot of profit. What qualifications do you have to criticise us?”
“It’s because of people like you that the world is in decline,” retorts the scholar.
“Is having two rotten dollars in your pocket a big deal?” Mocked the businessman.
In terms of verbal skills, the bookish brothers were quite formidable.
Bai Yu, silent until now, witnessed the scholars exchanging words. Mocking words persisted, and the disgruntled businessman angrily left. Thinking he might get violent, the onlookers were surprised by his abrupt departure.
“Guest officer, you haven’t settled the bill yet!” The waiter called after him.
Realising the man’s intention to escape, the waiter hurried to report.
“He wanted to escape the bill!” They exclaim.
“This is a businessman, cunning and cunning! Bad luck!”
“He looks like a rat, not a good guy!”
“He has fat arms and legs but runs pretty fast!”
“Report to the officer. The food isn’t cheap!”
The remaining people mock the departing businessman. Bai Yu, mostly an invisible presence, finished his meal and declared his departure.
“I have to go first!” He said, settling the bill and bidding farewell.
The diners, mere acquaintances, wished him a safe journey and suggested a future meeting in the capital for a joyful drink.
……
Several boasting scholars bowed farewell to Bai Yu, expressing reluctance.
“Sure,” Bai Yu replied, waving as he left.
However, as soon as Bai Yu departed:
“Hey, these days, anyone can take the exams.”
“What’s the use of a handsome face?”
“With such dissolute behaviour, only focused on eating, how can one serve as an official?”
“No matter, more people like this are good! They can complement our knowledge.”
The atmosphere turned sour, and the ones who were just joking now had disdainful expressions. Perhaps they envied Bai Yu’s looks or were displeased with his lack of conformity, absence of flattery, and refusal to associate with them.
Anyway, they didn’t hold him in high regard. While Bai Yu was present, he was the class underdog, often close to others. After he left, he became the subject of their mockery.
In the world of mortals, hearts are often fickle, and alliances are rare.
“Just a commoner, why bother discussing him!”
“Li, if you have information about this year’s exam questions. Can you share?”
“Liu, a talented person like you with exceptional thinking, do you need to know this useless skill?”
“I want it!”
“Haha… let me tell you…”
“Tsk~.”
“Well, having sharp ears and clear eyes doesn’t seem all advantages.”
A few steps away from the shop’s door, Bai Yu paused as if he heard something. Shaking his head, he sighed and muttered in apparent distress.
“It’s quite difficult to make friends. Even if appearances are deceiving, and we’re not plotting together, there’s no need to rush to say it out loud. I can hear, you know! People’s hearts are regrettable.”
Since these people didn’t like him, he figured they wouldn’t believe him. There was no need to tell them that this shop was untrustworthy.