“Brother Zhang.”
Inside the side courtyard of the Zhang family, a man put his arm around Zhang Zhuan’s shoulder, “Let’s go, I’m upset today, brother Zhang will accompany me to have a drink.”
It was already past the time of the Zhang family’s lunch, and if it were normal, Zhang Zhuan would not have followed the man out, lest his eldest brother see him and wait for an opportunity to humiliate him.
But he had been angry at lunch today, and was sulking, “Wait a moment, I’ll go back to the house and get the silver.”
The man tugged at him, “Forget it, you should save that silver for when it’s important, I’ve got some recently, I’ll treat you.”
When the carriage stopped, the man lifted the curtain and when he saw that it was Yue Hak Lai Restaurant, he immediately shouted, “Are you crazy, where can we come?”
Both of them were concubine sons, and Zhou Geng was no better off than him, otherwise they wouldn’t have become good friends. Their monthly regular money isn’t enough for a meal at Yue Hak Loi Restaurant.”
Zhou Geng took out a silver ticket from his pocket and waved it in front of his eyes, “This is twenty taels, enough for us to have a meal.”
Zhang Zhuan’s eyes widened, “Where did you get the silver from.”
Zhou Geng put the silver ticket away, “Don’t worry about that, just follow me in for a meal.”
Although he was the son of a commoner in the Zhang family, he was worse off than the sons of ordinary families, and Zhang Zhuan had never been to Yue Hak Loi before.
At that moment, he gritted his teeth, got down from the carriage and followed Zhou Geng up to the first floor of Yue Hak Loi.
It was worthy of being the best restaurant in the county, even the decoration and the house furnishings were different from other restaurants.
When the waiter came in with the menu, Zhou Geng ordered four dishes in one breath, but Zhang Zhuan’s heart felt weak when he looked at him and saw his tendency to order more, so he hurriedly stopped him, “That’s enough!
If there were more, they wouldn’t have the silver to pay.
Zhou Geng ordered another pot of wine.
The servant retreated and quickly brought up the wine and food, Zhou Geng raised his cup, “Come, Brother Zhang, drink.”
Zhang Zhuan drank it all, put the glass down, picked up the wine jug and filled it up for Zhou Geng, “Brother Zhou, tell me, where did you get this silver from, if there is anything good, give my brother a hand.”
“I don’t have anything good, it’s just a coincidence.”
“What coincidence?”
Zhou Geng smiled mysteriously and didn’t answer the question.
Having lived under Zhang Huai’s oppression for a long time, Zhang Zhuan had long practiced the skill of reading people’s expressions, seeing that he didn’t say anything, he didn’t pursue the matter much and poured himself a cup as well, “Here, drink.”
“Actually, you can also get more silver than me.”
Zhou Geng drained his wine, leaned forward and said in a small voice.
Zhang Zhuan paused, put his wine glass down and lowered his voice similarly, “Tell me.”
Zhou Geng did not go on, but asked rhetorically, “Do you know that a great event happened at Renhe Academy today.”
His words were so abrupt that Zhang Zhuan did not react for a moment, “What?”
“Your first-born brother invited a scholar from the academy to copy books yesterday, but this morning he falsely accused him of stealing your Zhang family’s heirloom jade pendant, and that scholar was expelled from the academy because of this, and that scholar is the most promising person in Renhe Academy.”
Zhang Zhuan narrowed his eyes, shifted his body back and leaned against the back of his chair, his mind recalling Zhang Huai’s open-mindedness during lunch today, what did he say then?
“Father, don’t worry, I will definitely win this year and become the top student at Renhe Academy.”
Master Zhang laughed happily and gave him a thousand taels of silver at that moment.
Seeing him like this, Zhou Geng lifted his glass of wine and took a nourishing sip as Zhang Zhuan looked at him with the ruthlessness of a broken heart, “What good can I get?”
The servant hurriedly came down from upstairs and whispered a few words in the ear of the shopkeeper, who came out from behind the counter and went to the backyard, “Young master, Miss Song, Zhang Zhuan’s heart is moved.”
“You go and talk to him.”
The shopkeeper responded and went up to the elegant room on the first floor.
Zhou Geng got up in a hurry, “Boss.”
Zhang Zhuan also stood up with him, he had just swept through the door and saw the shopkeeper standing behind the counter.
“Please have a seat, two gentlemen.”
The three of them took their seats.
The shopkeeper looked at Zhang Zhuan, “I’m not going to hide it from you, Mr. Zhang, but I’m related to the Song family, and I know what kind of character that boy has. He would never have stolen it. What’s more, the family jade pendant is so important, how could it be left lying around? It seems that someone has set him up, bullying my relative, who is an honest countryman. I couldn’t bear it, so I asked Sir Zhou to help me.”
“What’s in it for me?”
This was what Zhang Zhuan was most concerned about.
“Finding out the truth of the matter and putting what Zhang Huai has done into the public domain will be a great blessing to Lord Zhang. Of course, we won’t let you help for nothing.”
Speaking of this, the shopkeeper held out five fingers, “After the deed is done, we will give you these rewards.”
“Fifty taels?”
The shopkeeper shook his head, “Five hundred taels.”
“Sizzle!”
Zhang Zhuan drew a cold breath backwards, and even Zhou Geng’s eyes widened for a moment. Five hundred taels?
“Brother Zhang, what are you hesitating for, just say yes.”
Zhang Zhuan did not hesitate in the slightest, “I promise, I will give you news in two days.”
……
The Song family was dead, and the old man Song sat in the house, sighing.
Grandma Song plucked at him several times, “The child is having a hard enough time, don’t add to his burden.”
Elder Song sighed again, “Isn’t it true that I didn’t dare to show it in front of him?”
“Not in front of me either, the whole thing bothers me.”
“That Zhang Huai is simply not human, how can he falsely accuse Si’er?”
“Since you know it’s a false accusation, you’ll definitely investigate it that day, you’re sitting here sighing and sighing and that’s all that matters?”
“I, I ……”
“All right, let’s go do what we need to do, don’t all stay at home and make Si’er feel bad instead.”
Master Song stood up listlessly and went out of the house.
Song Shu and Liu Cui Lan had also returned early with Song Shen, and they all came out of the house when they heard the commotion.
“Come on, let’s all go to the field and let Si’er rest at home.”
Liu Cui Lan sniffed a little and went to carry the hoe, Song Si also came out of the house, ready to follow.
Grandma Song waved her hand, “You stay home and read, don’t delay the science exams.”
“I’m fine ……”
Grandma Song glared at him, “Who said you were fine, I told you to go and study, why, don’t you even listen to grandma?”
“Fu Zi always said to combine work and rest ……”
“Don’t talk to me about your husband, go back inside and study.”
“Si’er, listen to Grandma.”
Liu Cui Lan advised with a nasal voice.
Song Si silently turned around and went back inside.
The Song family, carrying hoes and carrying backpacks, were about to go out when a sound of horses’ hooves arrived at the door from afar, the faces of all of them changed, and Song Shu hurriedly threw away his hoes and ran to the door to look.
Qi Ying had just come from his horse and saw him, smiling faintly, “I’m here to look for little girl, is she here?”
