Good Man Operation Guide

Lin Shiheng’s words were unacceptable to Zhao He. He thought about it for three or four days, wondering if he had dreamt it and then involuntarily blamed Brother Lin. That’s why he mistook it for something that came out of Brother Lin’s mouth!

Don’t blame Zhao He for thinking like this. Lin Shiheng appeared and acted like a gentleman out of a classic book, the only exception was that his body was a bit weak.

So how could such a person have said that?

He struggled for a few days and was really too embarrassed to ask Lin Shiheng if he really said those words.

After all, that was really shameless.

He already had a hard time finding such a good friend who didn’t abandon him because of his status as a merchant’s son and still excelled in his studies. So how could he ask him such a question? And where would he be able to find such a good friend if he angered this one away?

What’s more, in the eyes of his friend, he was still a gentleman who was very willing to help others.

***

Today, Zhao He set foot on the deck and saw his beautiful-as-the-moon friend standing on the deck while chatting with several other scholars. He went up to him but before he could say anything, he heard Brother Lin say, “Brother Zhao is very knowledgeable. What I just mentioned to you brothers was what I discussed with Brother Zhao yesterday, but he is not a man ambitious for achievements and didn’t want me to publicize it.”

Zhao He blushed at that and was almost unable to maintain the unnatural look on his face.

He felt that his best friend was good in every way, but he was just a bit too sincere. Every time they discussed, it was always him that made Zhao He feel that this was how the book was supposed to be, but Brother Lin would always believe that if he hadn’t followed Zhao He, he wouldn’t have been able to figure it out and directly put the credit on him.

Zhao He liked to hear others praise himself, but he won’t accept the credit of others. He hurriedly stepped forward, saluted several people, and told the truth.

Lin Shiheng listened to him with a smile that remained unchanged. He then coughed softly, covered his lips with a smile in his eyes, and said to the several scholars, “That’s why I’m good friends with Brother Zhao.”

Zhao He watched with strange admiration as the scholars across the table looked at him with some inexplicable appreciation.

What’s with that look as if they were looking at a talent who didn’t admire fame?

“It turns out that Brother Zhao’s intellect was so outstanding. In the future, we’ll have to bother Brother Zhao more often.”

“Why don’t we meet here tomorrow and have a poetry meeting?”

Zhao He was praised again. He seldom attended such gatherings of scholars before, except for those held by his elders to which he could receive invitations as he was always regarded as a transparent person among his peers.

Although merchants were more or less looked down upon, for Zhao He who was outright rejected and had their talents denied as a whole, it was only thanks to those three Jurens. So at this moment, when he was invited by the other scholars who were going to the capital to take the exam, he was flattered and he hurriedly replied.

When the few scholars left, Lin Shiheng looked at Zhao He, who appeared very happy, and softly coughed, “When Brother Zhao attends the poetry meeting tomorrow, if there are any wonderful poems, please don’t forget to bring them to me.”

Zhao He was a little confused, “Brother Lin, aren’t you going?”

“By the way, the things you discussed earlier, clearly both of us studied them together, so why did you only mention my part in it?”

The scholar in green robes smiled faintly, “The original idea was based on what Brother Zhao said, not to mention that this is what they will be discussing tomorrow. Brother Zhao also knows that my health isn’t well and can’t stay in the wind for too long, so I won’t be going to the poetry meeting tomorrow.”

Zhao He really believed it.

“Brother Lin, you still have to wait until you get to the capital to find a doctor to properly diagnose and treat this body ah. Then you won’t attend the poetry meeting tomorrow but read books in your room?”

Lin Shiheng smiled shyly, “The poetry meeting will be held tomorrow morning, I should still be meeting with Duke Zhou at that time.”

[E/N: Duke of Zhou is a real person. But whenever it is mentioned, it tends to imply that the relevant person is sleeping. This usage is based on Confucius’ Analects.]

“I’m not well… For this kind of thing, I need to get up before dawn, so I’m not likely to be able to attend much later.”

Zhao He looked at him with a sudden increase in sympathy.

(TNote: Zhao He…. bruh…your naiveté is so cute. lol!)

As a scholar, he couldn’t even attend a gathering among scholars, even though he was obviously not excluded. What a sad thing…

Thinking about how uncomfortable he was when he was rejected, Zhao He suddenly felt that he could fully understand how frustrated his friend should be at this moment.

He was sympathetic and determined, “Brother Lin, don’t worry. I will attend the poetry meeting tomorrow and write down some good poems to bring to your room for you to read.”

Lin Shiheng’s handsome and innocent face really showed gratitude, and he slowly bowed, “Thank you, Brother Zhao.”

“It’s just that when the poetry meeting ends tomorrow, Brother Zhao doesn’t need to come to my room. I’m sure I wouldn’t be awake at that time; so when I am awakened, I’ll go and find Brother Zhao myself.”

Hearing these words, Brother Zhao felt more sympathy for his best friend.

Going to the capital for the exam required taking the time to diligently study on the road, but Brother Lin must sleep in until late morning every day due to physical reasons.

It was really too pitiful…

***

Early the next morning, Zhao He took pen and ink to attend the poetry meeting, and while everyone discussed, he spent his time writing.

Someone, who was talking passionately, suddenly out of the corner of his eye, caught a glimpse of what Zhao He wrote on the paper, and his voice immediately fell a few degrees in fervor. After politely finishing, he went to Zhao He and asked him a little embarrassedly why he wanted to record all the words he said.

After hearing that Lin Shiheng was in poor health and couldn’t go out in the mornings, Zhao He specially helped him write down what everyone said so that he could bring it back to him. The scholars at the poetry meeting first sympathized with Lin Shiheng, who could only sleep in bed on such a good morning, then sighed at Zhao He’s strong friendship. Afterward, when discussing, everyone consciously slowed down their speech so that Zhao He could write it down.

Everyone was a scholar, and everyone wanted a good reputation. Regardless of their appearance and human behavior, Lin Shiheng, who made people feel like he was a gentle scholar, was very popular with everyone. Just for this matter alone, if word got out, it would only imply they were pure-hearted as well.

Therefore, Zhao He’s note-taking really went well.

He diligently recorded it with joy. By the time everyone had left, it was time for breakfast. Zhao He was walking on the deck on his way back to his room, when he was blown by a cool wind then he ran back to his room as fast as he could.

It wasn’t that early anymore. Brother Lin should be awake by now.

With this thought in mind, Zhao He went to Lin Shiheng’s window with the papers he had recorded. Originally, he just wanted to take a look, as a result, he happened to see the handsome scholar who was sleeping in bed while in a calm and comfortable sleep.

Zhao He, who got up with candlelight while it was cold, and braved the cold wind to attend the poetry meeting, suddenly felt envy in his heart.

In fact, he was still sleepy. If he could sleep like Brother Lin now, how comfortable would it be…

With this thought, Zhao He immediately realized and felt ashamed that he had such an idea.

It was bad enough that Brother Lin couldn’t go outside in this freezing cold weather to attend a freezing poetry session and had to sleep in a warm room. So how can he have such an idea?!

After thinking about it, Zhao He was startled.

When he thought about it, he felt that he was actually the more miserable one.

No! How could he think like this!? He was really sad for the frail Brother Lin!

Zhao He kept brainwashing himself in his mind.

While in the room behind him, Lin Shiheng turned over comfortably, yawned, then got up and looked at the sky outside.

Although it was time to eat breakfast, it looked like Zhao He was still attending the poetry meeting and hadn’t come back yet. If the lord wasn’t back, then how could he eat?

En, let’s sleep a little longer. The colder the weather, the more comfortable it was to sleep in…

Thinking like that, the scholar on the bed closed his eyes with ease and planned to have a good sleep.

Ah, Brother Zhao was really an excellent friend.

Not only was he good for freeloading food, but he also took notes.

He wanted to be friends with Brother Zhao for life.

***

When the ship slowly arrived at its destination, the relationship between the two men and Jurens on board was already quite good.

Originally Zhao He’s status as a merchant’s son was scandalous but after what Lin Shiheng said that time spread, even if one had any thoughts in their heart, they wouldn’t say it to anyone’s face or discuss it with others.

If they look down on people for their identity, what was the difference between them and the narrow-minded Hu Chuan?

Of course, no one would say the words ‘narrow-minded’ in front of Hu Chuan. At most, a few good friends would mention it in passing when they spent time together.

When they all got along, they also discovered that Zhao He was indeed an invaluable friend; for example, he was close friends with Lin Shiheng, Lin Qinzhi, who had been frail since childhood and was too frail to go out, so this Brother Zhao wrote down every discussion they had and gave it to Brother Lin to view.

It would be truly foolish for them to avoid such a passionate person or refused to interact with him just because of his status as a merchant’s son.

Besides, there was still Brother Lin, who these Jurens couldn’t stop praising.

Although he was in poor health and he seldom attended their gatherings, every time, he would ask Brother Zhao to bring his poems which were all very good. It was just a pity that he was always pale and weak, coughing every time they met. The examination was not a simple matter. Each Juren in the imperial examination would be given a small room, staying there for days through the wind and rain.

They already felt the cold when they were on the ship, but the capital city was many times colder than the ship. Furthermore, to prevent cheating, except for food and the clothes they wore during the exam, the rest of the things were from the court, and the braziers were never enough.

In the past, there have been cases where a Juren caught a cold during the exams and died before the results were released, which inevitably made the Jurens start to worry about the talented but physically weak Brother Lin, who was very poor in health despite his talent.

When he left, Lin Shiheng was wearing a thick cloak provided by Zhao He and held a copper handwarmer that was stuffed into his arms by another Juren. Lin Shiheng, who looked handsome but was still pale, had been advised by several Jurens to see a doctor and that if he felt that he couldn’t hold on during the exam, he shouldn’t force himself.