At the gate of the academy, Jiang Yihuan was stopped. No matter how much she pleaded, the gatekeeper, an old man, still wouldn't let her in.
She rummaged through her belongings and pulled out two cents, saying to the old man, "Sir, please do me a favor. I have something important to discuss with Xiao Ci. You know Xiao Ci, don't you? Your academy didn't even charge him tuition just to let him study here. Now that he's inside, treating his family like this is really discouraging."
The old man didn't take the money Jiang Yihuan offered. Upon hearing the name Xiao Ci, his tone became even more solemn.
"This is a new rule of the academy, and it was Xiao Ci himself who insisted on it. He can't just break a rule he set himself, can he?"
Jiang Yihuan's expression changed slightly, a hint of irritation flickering across her eyes, but she quickly resumed her gentle demeanor, saying, "Then please pass a message for me. I won't go inside. I'll just wait for him here. A few words will do."
