My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 72: Look at Your Mother [Thanks to alliance leader "Lemon Lemon 213"]

Li Nuo woke up the next morning to find that his wife was still not by his side, only a faint, lingering scent remained.

After washing up and having breakfast, he exercised a bit in the yard. Then he took a book from his room and sat down in the yard to read.

After a while, Song Jiaren entered the yard, looked at him in surprise, and asked, "Aren't you going to the County Magistrate's Office today?"

Lately, he had gone to the County Magistrate's Office every day, regardless of the weather. Seeing him at home at this time was surprising to her.

Li Nuo put down his book and said, "I'm not going to the County Magistrate's Office for the next couple of days."

Ordinary cases no longer added to his lifespan. Before breaking through his bottleneck, it was better to stay home and read.

At the County Magistrate's Office, Li Nuo had asked them to keep an eye out for him—if any major cases arose, they would come to the Song Residence to notify him.

In the small courtyard, Song Jiaren was teaching Mumu the Martial Path, and Li Nuo was reading in a pavilion nearby.

He flipped through several Legalism Classics. The books stated, after one to two years of cultivation, disciples of Legalism would face their first bottleneck. Breaking through this bottleneck would truly open the doors to Legalism.

Normally, without having to deliberately judge those with status and power, another one or two years of accumulation could lead to a qualitative change and smooth entry into the path.

After all, disciples of Legalism usually started as a ninth-grade County Magistrate and at most as a seventh-rank County Magistrate. They were inherently at the lowest level of Daxia's officialdom. Starting by targeting the nobles was simply too unrealistic.

Unfortunately, Li Nuo didn't have that much time.

If there continued to be no opportunities, he could only turn to his father for help.

At noon, when Song Yu learned that Li Nuo was at home, he personally invited him over for a drink, and Li Nuo did not refuse.

Song Yu was studying at Yunmeng Academy and occasionally returned to the Song Family. It was rare to meet, and he had something to discuss with him.

Although Li Nuo also belonged to the circle of Chang'an's nobility, he had stayed at home for eighteen years and didn't know anyone in that circle. It was a good opportunity to ask Song Yu which of the official's sons were always causing trouble and misconduct, so he could identify his targets.

Li Nuo entered Song Yu's room, and a figure immediately stood up and saluted with a bow, saying, "Brother Li, good to see you!"

It was Zhou Yu, who had been caught by Li Nuo at the Chang'an County Government during a previous scuffle arranged by Song Yu, sentenced to several dozen strokes of the cane, and then brought by his father to apologize to the Song Family.

The two had formed an acquaintance through conflict, and surprisingly, friendship had blossomed.

Li Nuo greeted him, and Zhou Yu, flattered, quickly filled Li Nuo's cup with wine. Song Yu said, "Brother-in-law's tolerance for alcohol isn't good; last time you got drunk, it was Jiaren who carried you back to your room. This time, just stick to fruit wine..."

Li Nuo was slightly startled.

So it was his wife who had carried him back to the room last time?

No wonder he woke up feeling so fragrant, he had thought it was just the blankets...

But... his wife carrying him?

How did she manage that?

Li Nuo imagined a certain scene, and something about it felt odd.

The fruit wine Song Yu had specially prepared for him tasted really good; it was sweet with only a very faint hint of alcohol and had a lingering aftertaste. Li Nuo liked it very much.

Seeing that Li Nuo had downed several cups, Song Yu asked, "How is it, the taste is good, isn't it? I prepared this especially for you, my brother-in-law."

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Li Nuo nodded and said, "It is good. Do you have any more? I'd like to take some home later."

Such a fine drink, of course, he wanted to take some home for his wife to try.

Song Yu shook his head, "This is fruit wine brewed by the Agricultural School and there's only this small jar. It took me three whole days of pestering Zhao Meng, agreeing to let him copy my answers in the military strategy class before he sneaked it out from his home..."

No wonder the wine tasted so good—it was from the Agricultural School.

The fruits used to brew this wine must have been specially cultivated by the Agricultural School, whose products weren't easy to obtain without special connections.

Song Yu might lack other virtues, but this perseverance and patience were something even Li Nuo had to respect.

The last time, for two Longevity Peaches, he had spent a month going to the home of a strong Agricultural School practitioner to serve tea and pour water, and he actually managed to get them.

Most people probably would have given up after just a few days.

Knowing that the wine had been specially obtained for him, Li Nuo toasted Song Yu with a drink, saying, "Thank you."

Song Yu waved his hand, generously saying, "No need for thanks among family. If you like it, next time I'll ask him to sneak out another jar..."

After a few drinks, Song Yu suddenly remembered something and said to Zhou Yu, "I remember that you used to be ranked last in the tests on Daxia Law, but this time you somehow scored first. Tell me the truth—did you sneak a peek at the teacher's exam in advance? To have such a good secret and not share it with me, that's really too mean..."

Zhou Yu shook his head, "How could I? You know the rules at the academy. Ordinary cheating might just get you a few days of confinement, but stealing test questions could get you expelled from the academy."

Song Yu asked again, "So, did you cheat?"

Zhou Yu shook his head again, "No."

Song Yu, disbelieving, said, "You never pay attention during the law class and you didn't cheat, so how could you possibly do so well on the test?"

Zhou Yu took a bite of his food and said leisurely, "The exam was all about the content in the 'Daxia Law', and as long as you're familiar with the 'Daxia Law', the questions aren't difficult..."

Song Yu was even more surprised and asked, "Why on earth would you diligently study the 'Daxia Law'? Are you planning to practice Legalism?"

Zhou Yu glanced at Li Nuo subtly. He wasn't practicing Legalism—it was too dangerous and often lethal.

He just felt that, sometimes, knowing a bit about Legalism was not a bad thing…

During the meal, Li Nuo put down his chopsticks, looked at Song Yu, and seemingly casually asked, "Are you doing well at the academy? Has anyone been bullying you recently?"

Song Yu was taken aback, not expecting his brother-in-law to care so much about him. Touched, he replied, "No, since the last time my father scolded me, I've been holding back a lot. I haven't caused any trouble recently…"

In Yunmeng Academy, the majority were sons from a General's family, naturally prone to cause trouble—fighting and brawling as regular as eating and drinking. Song Yu was one among them.

But after the last incident, he had restrained himself quite a bit; despite several challenges to fights, he had turned them all down.

Li Nuo then looked toward Zhou Yu and said, "What about you, Zhou Yu? The friends of Song Yu are my friends. If anyone bullies you, just tell me. Everyone in the government office of Chang'an County is my person; I'll stand up for you…"

Song Yu and Zhou Yu, both being officials' sons, certainly, no ordinary people would dare to bully them.

Li Nuo wanted to try sentencing some children of the nobles, to see if his life could be extended.

Unexpectedly receiving such treatment, Zhou Yu felt immensely flattered and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Brother Li. I am also doing well at the academy, no trouble for me..."

Song Yu was even more elated, feeling that his brother-in-law had given him great face in front of his friend. He secretly decided to steal a few more jars of his favorite fruit wine for Zhao next time.

Although politeness was customary, in this case, Li Nuo sincerely did not want them to be curt, insisting, "What trouble? Being so polite, you're really not treating me as one of your own..."

Song Yu quickly responded, "It's really not out of politeness. It's true that some people want to cause trouble for me, but I never accepted their challenges for a fight, and they didn't dare to mess around in the academy, at most they just said some unpleasant words which I tolerated..."

"That's unacceptable!"

School bullying couldn't be tolerated. Li Nuo slammed the table and said, "When others bully you so openly, you might bear it, but I cannot bear it. We, the Song family, don't provoke trouble, but we are also not afraid of trouble. If they dare to provoke you again, just accept the challenge, and leave the rest to me!"

"Brother-in-law..."

Song Yu stood up, his face full of gratitude, raising his wine glass he earnestly said, "We are all family; I won't say more, it's all in the wine!"

He drained the glass in one go, moved by the gesture, and feeling a sense of relief and pride.

The Song family was no longer as glorious as it had once been; his uncle was a fifth-rank commander of the palace guards, who usually couldn't support the Song family disciples.

His own father, a sixth-rank Assistant Minister of Rites, had limited influence in the court. His fourth uncle was not an official, handling family business, and his third uncle, a Minister of Personnel, did have some real power but was always unapproachable and would never take their side in such issues...

It was only his brother-in-law, who could roughly be considered part of the Song family, who kept him constantly in his heart.

His father just told him not to cause trouble, while his brother-in-law told him not to be afraid of trouble and would stand in front to support him when things arose, making him feel his brother-in-law was more like his father…

His past actions towards him were truly regrettable!

Being challenged continuously and unable to fight back was suffocating for him.

Now with his brother-in-law's support, Song Yu hurriedly finished his meal and returned to the academy with Zhou Yu, prepared to restore his honor. Li Nuo was also heading to the government office to make some preparations.

...

Yunmeng Academy.

A certain classroom.

In the corner, several figures were seated together, chatting idly. One of them glanced at a spot in the front and said, "That Song Yu guy hasn't arrived yet..."

Another laughed, "That boy must have been scared witless by Pei Jun, not even daring to attend class."

Yet another said, "I heard that last time he and Zhou Yu arranged a fight, just in time for a government officer from Chang'an County to inspect, and both groups were caught and taken to the government office; I heard they were even punished, tsk tsk, those guys were really unlucky..."

"We better be careful not to get caught like them."

"Hey, what's there to fear, Pei Jun's uncle is the County Magistrate of Chang'an, isn't it the same as being at home when you're at the government office?"

"Hey, Pei Jun, what grudge do you actually hold against Song Yu? Did he steal an Oiran you fancied?"

...

Among the crowd, a young master glanced at Song Yu's seat but did not speak.

His issue wasn't actually with Song Yu.

His grievance was with Song Yu's sister.

When they were kids, he simply tugged at her braid, and she kicked him three meters away, breaking two of his ribs. He was bedridden for a whole month to recover.

Since then, he and the Song family had been at odds.

But, there was nothing he could do about the primary cause of his troubles.

With the fourth realm cultivation in the Martial Path, in all of Chang'an, among the younger generation, she was unique.

Provoking her was simply courting death.

Though he couldn't bully Song Jiaren, couldn't he still bully Song Yu?

However, Song Yu was a complete coward, no matter how he provoked, the other party simply wouldn't respond directly; on regular days, he wouldn't leave the academy, and he couldn't do anything about him.

Thinking thus, a figure walked in through the back door of the classroom, passing right by them.

Pei Jun looked up and saw that it was Song Yu; he was momentarily stunned before snorting coldly, his look full of challenge.

Song Yu stopped, looking down at him from above and coolly said, "You look at your mother…"