Chapter 832: Fiery Blue Academy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yang Xiao’s eyes lit up as he spoke, putting Su Wenxiu in a daze. At that moment, he could not help but think of Zi Die. He remembered how bright and sincere her eyes were.

Su Wenxiu’s eyes were just as bright as Zi Die’s when he was younger. However, he experienced hardships and heartbreak and became much calmer as a result. However, Zi Die’s words made him think of her from time to time.

He felt helpless and sighed discretely.

The trio talked briefly, and someone soon called their number. Yang Xiao hurriedly stood up to collect the food, so Su Wenxiu said, “I’ll come with you.”

The two then brought three large bowls of mala hotpot to the table. The bowls were full of seasonings. Yang Xiao could smell the fragrance coming from the bowls, which whetted his appetite significantly.

He had only eaten cornbread and drank some wild vegetable soup in the morning. As he smelled the food, his stomach began to rumble. He felt he could finish the big serving of good.

Yang Xiao could not wait to eat, but he looked at Su Binglan and Su Wenxiu first. Since they had not started eating, he would wait for them to start first. It was a habit he had developed since childhood.

Whenever he ate with people older than him, he would wait for them to eat first. In ancient cultures, the younger generation could not touch their chopsticks until their elders ate first.

Su Wenxiu smiled at Yang Xiao, and the latter said, “After you, Brother

Wenxiu and Sister Binglan.”

Su Wenxiu then picked up a meatball with his chopsticks and took a bite. It had been a while since he ate mala hotpot. The spiciness filled his mouth when he bit into the meatball. It reminded him of Su Teng Village and made him miss Su Wenwu.

Yang Xiao only started eating when the Su siblings ate. He chose to eat the vermicelli first, which tasted like sesame sauce. It was smooth with a hint of numbness from the Sichuan peppercorns, or mala.

He thought it was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten. Yang Xiao took one bite after another and ate very quickly. Everything in his bowl, including the meat and vegetables, was tasty.

He then scooped the broth and drank it.

“Phew!” Yang Xiao was delighted with the food. He exhaled, feeling the warmth in his belly. He then smacked his lips as the spiciness and numbness from the broth filled his mouth.

“It’s simply too delicious.” He was so satisfied that he almost cried.

Su Wenxiu felt his appetite grow when he saw how much Yang Xiao enjoyed the food. He said, “Take your time. There’s still more if you want.”

“Oh, I think I’ve had my fill,” Yang Xiao said, “This bowl was enough to fill me up.”

Although he felt full, it was so tasty that he could finish another bowl. Before he could even finish, he slowed down a little because he could not bear to eat anymore.

“Have you eaten your fill?” Su Binglan asked.

Yang Xiao nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, I am, Sister Binglan.”

At that moment, he knew he would work hard to earn as much as possible so that he could bring his family to the spicy hotpot restaurant. After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, he rested for a while.

Su Binglan and Su Wenxiu continued to stroll around town. When they arrived at the administration office, they saw a poster outside. Many people surrounded the area at that moment. “What’s happening here?”

“I heard they’re recruiting soldiers.”

“The prefecture has opened an academy called the Fiery Blue Academy to train soldiers. That’s what the poster says.”

“An academy for soldiers?”

“Yeah, you can even enter the academy for free if you pass the assessment. If you perform well, you can even get a bonus or something. They even include food and accommodations.’

“Wow, you can eat, live, and learn there for free?”

Everyone knew how expensive it was to send their children to school. They never thought there would ever be a free academy. Moreover, it was different from private schools.

The academy did not seem to be preparing candidates for the Imperial Exams, but it was training soldiers instead.

“Is it true that you’ll get bonuses for performing well?”

“It’s right there on the notice, so it must be real. Also, the administrator posted it on the wall.”

“The notices from all administrators around the world are true, but it’s different in Yang County. Everyone knows how terrible our magistrate is for colluding with those merchants.”

“Shhh, we’re at the administrator’s office. You can’t say such things.

Yang Xiao looked over curiously while Su Binglan raised her brows. It seemed Lan Ruozhu had finished building the academy. The construction would have finished quickly with her design and her brother’s team of contractors.

Soon, Lan Ruozhu could transfer the teachers directly to the military camp. His most trusted aides could soon teach at the academy. Su Binglan could then visit the academy and check on it.

Lan Ruozhu would nurture those who performed exceptionally well.

Su Binglan explained the situation to Yang Xiao, ‘Prince Ruozhu established the Fiery Blue Academy. It specializes in nurturing military talents, and the outstanding ones would take on essential positions and gain his trust.”

Instead of pushing his way through the crowd, Yang Xiao looked at Su Binglan and said, “Is it true that the food and accommodation are free?” He asked about it because he was worried about the tuition fees.

“Are you interested in attending?” Su Binglan smiled at Yang Xiao.

The latter scratched his head and said, “I want to, but I also want to work at the factory and earn money. I have a nephew who will turn thirteen this year. He attended a private school for a few years and knows how to hunt.

“In fact, he’s better than me. He should be interested in attending Fiery Blue Academy.”

Although Yang Xiao wanted to attend the academy, he preferred to stay close to him. Since his eldest brother had two sons, the eldest one could attend the academy.

Su Binglan nodded, thinking she should first assess his nephew’s physical and mental condition. If the boy were of good character, she would write a recommendation letter and send it to the academy.

Then, the boy would not have to take the entrance exams. The academy would choose its candidates wisely, so not all applicants could qualify to attend. After registering, the applicants had to go through a test and a physical examination. They also had to go through a background check.

They could only attend the academy after these tests. Of course, the academy would expel those who violated the rules during the enrollment period. Since the academy aimed to nurture soldiers, their requirements were rigorous..