"Caleb, you stay behind and watch the cart!" Brandon made a decisive call.
Caleb didn't think much of it and agreed right away, reminding Rosie to stick close to Uncle and Aunt Clara.
Deb grabbed Rosie's hand. The two girls already looked ready.
Clara told Adam and Ben to remain behind as well. Then, at her command, two adults took four children and broke into a run down the road.
Onlookers frowned as they passed, turning their heads with curiosity—what on earth were they rushing off to do?
The group sprinted straight to the very front of the crowd. They were lucky: behind the carriages of the noble families there happened to be a wide, empty stretch. Clara and her group strode directly into it.
Deb and Chad, small and spry, ran like the wind. Ryder and Rosie, though older, were panting heavily, nearly collapsing to the ground when they stopped.
Deb quickly yanked her sister back up, scolding with all the gravity of a little adult, "You can't flop down right after running hard! You'll get dizzy!"
Ryder waved weakly to show he was already dizzy.
Brandon hoisted him up, telling him to breathe slowly and evenly, or he really would faint—and that would be trouble.
Deb then taught Rosie how to control her breathing. Once they'd steadied themselves, she pulled open the little gourd flask hanging at her side and let them both take a few sips of water.
By then, the people standing farther back, who had avoided the nobles' carriages, began voicing their displeasure at Clara's group.
Brandon's face burned with shame, but he kept silent.
A few attendants stepped down from the noble carriages to check, but seeing that they weren't delayed, they returned to their seats.
This only fueled the anger of those behind. Shouts rose, demanding Clara's group give up their spot and go to the back.
Clara stood motionless, telling the four children to cover their ears and ignore the noise.
To ease their anxiety, she said with a straight face, "This spot was empty. They didn't dare claim it themselves, yet they won't allow anyone else to take it. That's unreasonable, isn't it?"
Deb asked seriously, "So because we dared to stand here, that makes it ours, right?"
Clara patted the neat bun she'd tied for the girl that morning and smiled. "Exactly."
After all, those at the front had kept silent—only when Clara tested the ground first did the ones behind suddenly protest.
They'd waited for her to check whether it was safe, then tried to snatch the spot. Utter nonsense.
The road was only so wide. The nobles' carriages deliberately blocked the main path. For ordinary folk, the closest position to the academy gates was exactly where Clara's group now stood.
This wasn't a modern society with abundant resources. Here, everything was scarce. Clara would have to be out of her mind to give it up.
No matter how loud the crowd grew, she ignored them all.
Brandon was nearly overwhelmed, but with Clara beside him, he felt reassured. She had the skill and daring to back it up.
Ryder even started bickering with a few children. They couldn't out-argue him and were nearly in tears, tugging at their parents for help.
Seeing their children wronged, several adults got enraged. They had never met people so shameless!
Rosie, sensing the rising fury, grew frightened and ducked between Deb and Clara.
Deb patted her sister's hand with full confidence. "Don't be afraid. We're in the right."
Rosie nodded hard. "We're in the right~!"
Brandon's stomach dropped. These sisters—one dared to teach, the other dared to believe.
Sure enough, the crowd's anger exploded. They surged forward, waving arms and fists, surrounding Brandon—the only grown man in the group.
His face went pale. He shouted desperately, "Clara!"
Laughter erupted from the crowd. A man calling for his sister-in-law for help? How ridiculous!
But the laugh died in their throats.
A blur of blue swept down like a gale. A flurry of palm strikes cracked the air, and in an instant, the men encircling Brandon were hurled back three to four meters, leaving a clear space around him.
Clara planted herself in front of Brandon, hands on her hips, and roared, "If you're not convinced, then fight! If you don't want a fight, line up properly and stop meddling in other people's business!"
Her voice silenced the street. For two heartbeats, there was nothing but stunned quiet—then gasps rippled through the crowd.
Clara took one heavy step forward, and the mass fell back in unison, retreating three more meters. Their shoving crushed those behind, raising more grumbles.
Clara sneered, turned her back, and calmly gathered the children into line.
The rest of the crowd lined up three meters away from her group. No one dared approach. Those who were accidentally shoved too close stumbled forward in terror, scolding those behind them while dragging their children farther away. No one wanted to be near that woman.
In Willowridge, Clara was already somewhat well-known. Word spread quickly—people recognized her as the proprietress of the Liew Clan Village watermill. They also knew she was frighteningly strong. Curious eyes studied her, whispering in shock.
Some hot-headed fellow muttered complaints, only to be tugged back by a wiser companion. "Don't. That woman isn't to be trifled with."
And of course, the wild tales came spilling out—Clara splitting mountains with one hand, holding up a thousand catties with two fingers. Gossip traveled faster than truth.
When Clara turned her head again, she realized the space behind them had somehow widened further—from three meters to five.
Finally, the sun crested the sky, and the gates of the Ding Clan Academy creaked open.
A steward of the Ding household stepped forward. Behind him, neat rows of desks could be seen, each set with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Three scholars—men in their forties or fifties dressed as learned tutors—sat solemnly in armchairs at the front.
A line of Ding family retainers and guards stood outside the gate, maintaining order.
But no Ding clansmen showed their faces. Likely they wished to avoid the awkwardness of meeting acquaintances here.
The Ding Clan Academy wasn't easy to enter. Aside from Ding family children, every other student was here because their parents had traded favors with the clan.
As for the truly wealthy or powerful, they would never send their children here. They had private tutors at home.
Today, those who stood before Clara's family were the minor clans of the nearby towns—families with some means, though insignificant before the truly great households.
To ordinary folk, however, they were nobles not to be offended.
The steward announced the rules. This imperial edict had come too suddenly, and the clan's own facilities could not house so many. This year, the Ding Clan Academy would admit only thirty additional students.
Registration would close at noon. Those who signed up before then could take the examination that very afternoon. The top thirty scorers would be admitted.
Hearing this, Brandon broke into a cold sweat. Thank goodness they'd come today. If they'd waited until tomorrow, the chance would have been lost.
Rosie and Ryder shifted nervously. Seeing the rows of ink and paper within the academy filled them with dread.
Chad, timid as ever, shrank against his mother like a squirrel, wide eyes darting at the crowd. Uneasy and frightened.
But Deb was different. She clenched her fists, eyes shining, eager for the challenge.
(End of Chapter)
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