Facing Grace's eyes, he explained, "Here's the thing: the other students are four to a room, but mine is two to a room, and there just happens to be no other place to stay, so you'll stay with me! That way, I can also look after you a bit..."

Grace Foster was silent for a moment, then asked, "Mr. Lane said something happened outside the city earlier?"

"Yes, but that's a county office secret, it can't be told to outsiders."

"Then never mind."

"Ah... well, it's fine! I'll tell you, but you mustn't spread it!"

"This matter, it's a long story! It's all related to the Duke of Pengcheng, Yuan Shao!"

"This man is a member of the Later Wei imperial clan. I heard His Majesty summoned him and asked: Why was Liu Xiu able to restore the Han dynasty?"

"He actually replied: Because Wang Mang didn't manage to wipe out the Liu clan completely."

"After that, His Majesty ordered the arrest of the Yuan clan relatives, from old to young, not sparing a single one. They were taken to the banks of the Zhang River, stabbed to death with long spears, and their bodies thrown into the water to feed the fish..."

"I heard that when some tried to escape by jumping into the water, over a hundred cavalry were sent to hunt them down, but three of the riders lost contact here in our area..."

"I heard His Majesty was furious, the county magistrate has already gone to confess his guilt, and all the county officials have gone out to search..."

Thomas Lane was getting into the story, but snoring sounds came from the side.

Thomas Lane hesitated for a moment, then could only obediently close his eyes.

Though he was lying down, he was still muttering something in a low voice.

ps: Thomas Lane, a native of Yangping, was open and handsome, with an extraordinary appearance. — "Northern History · Biographies of Honest Officials"

Chapter 11 Frank Foster

"Grace bro!!"

Grace Foster had just opened his eyes when he saw Thomas Lane standing in front of him, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"They're about to distribute food! If you don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Grace got up, dressed, and followed Thomas Lane outside.

Thomas Lane once again brought up the story he hadn't finished last night.

A huge wooden barrel sat in the middle of the courtyard, who knows how long it had gone without being cleaned, and the smell inside was certainly unpleasant.

The old clerk guarding the gate stood by the barrel, ladling out food for everyone.

Everyone lined up, and those from yesterday stood at the very front, strutting arrogantly.

The rest tried to stay as far away from them as possible, standing at the back.

These people were all very thin, their eyes dull and lifeless, standing quietly as if in a daze.

As soon as Grace Foster came out, those people noticed the newcomer.

Grace Foster stood coldly behind them, with Thomas Lane at his side, chattering away.

The leader from yesterday glanced at him and said with a laugh, "I thought this guy was something, turns out he's just a cowardly chicken!"

"To avoid us, he'd rather live with Lucy Lane!"

A lackey nearby scoffed, "How could there be any heroes among these head-tax men? Sooner or later, he'll be caught alone!"

Finally, it was Grace Foster's turn. He took a bowl and chopsticks from the side. The barrel contained rice soup... Grace Foster could even see bits of leaves floating on top.

Expressionless, Grace Foster asked for a bowl of soup, but Thomas Lane didn't take any.

He seemed to have his own separate food.

Many people ate right there, not caring about manners, squatting on the ground to eat.

After finishing, they returned the bowls and chopsticks and could go back inside.

"Do we have classes?"

When Grace asked, Thomas Lane remembered the books he had brought yesterday and handed them to Grace Foster.

"Look, 'New Statutes of Linzhi', that's what we need to study... This book was compiled back in the Tianping era by Emperor Xiaojing of Later Wei..."

"Is it self-study?"

Grace Foster interrupted him.

"Yes, it's self-study. We don't have lecturers here. Of course, if there's something you don't understand, you can ask me..."

Grace Foster was silent for a long time.

So paying tuition just gets you a book, and then you're locked in the courtyard to study on your own for forty days?

"If I finish reading in a few days, can I take the exam with the previous group?"

"How could that be? Even if you finish reading, it's impossible to do it in just a few days, and passing the exam is no easy feat..."

"What if I can do it?"

"Still not allowed, there's a rule: you have to study the statutes for at least a full month before you can participate."

Grace Foster asked no more, picked up the book, and sat on the bed to read.

He read very intently, while Thomas Lane kept boasting about the advanced features of this code of law.

He seemed to know a lot.

He could even comment on each of the people who participated in compiling the book.

Grace Foster read until the next mealtime, and Thomas Lane talked until the next mealtime.

In the county school, they ate twice a day.

What they ate was probably leftovers; Grace even saw gnawed meat in the barrel, with clear bite marks on it.

But this didn't dampen anyone's appetite. Those few Qihu even fought over the pieces of meat.

They argued over the chewed meat, almost coming to blows.

Watching the way they ate, even the old clerk looked on with disdain.