Zhang Fang didn’t go to Meixian but had the money divided into several portions and sent to Lin Zheng and the Lin sisters. After that, he didn’t concern himself with the Lin family any longer.
The hundred thousand taels of gold from Meixian eventually ended up in the national treasury. After Zhang Fang refused the gold mine, it was rewarded by the new emperor to the empress.
Many people said Zhang Fang was foolish, but Prime Minister Zhang believed his son was quite clever. They already had so much; having more power and wealth would only bring trouble.
“Alright, I have to leave now.”
Before leaving, Zhang Fang finally managed to talk to the original character.
The original character, also named Zhang Fang, had always been trapped in his own body but couldn’t control it. He had watched all of Zhang Fang’s actions, feeling a deep sense of inferiority. He felt he was no match for this Zhang Fang and even wished he could give up his body to the one who traveled here.
“Don’t you dare! I still have other places to go! It’s my duty to respect my father! You just be a good son!” Zhang Fang finished speaking and then vanished.
This left the original character Zhang Fang standing there, dazed, reaching out to grasp at empty air.
When Prime Minister Zhang came home from work that day, he was surprised not to see his son coming out to greet him.
Hearing footsteps, the original character Zhang Fang came to his senses and hurriedly stepped outside.
The two fathers and sons locked eyes, causing Prime Minister Zhang’s heart to tremble slightly. This uncomfortable gaze and awkward expression belonged to his son! No! It was his former son! His old son had returned!
“Son, you’re back.” Prime Minister Zhang rushed over and hugged him tightly.
The original character Zhang Fang cried bitterly, holding onto Prime Minister Zhang tightly, sobbing as he spoke, “Father, I was wrong! I will listen to you from now on! I will be a good son to you!”
With tears in his eyes, Prime Minister Zhang nodded, smiling, and didn’t inquire further.
The original character Zhang Fang, anxious, asked, “Father, I’m so stupid and foolish; I only made you angry and was a wastrel. Do you prefer him more?”
Prime Minister Zhang, smiling, gently patted his son’s head and said softly, “Silly son, no matter what you become, you will always be the best son in my eyes.”
The original character Zhang Fang felt completely relieved.
From that moment on, Zhang Fang changed his ways, dedicated himself to studying, and became the obedient son of Prime Minister Zhang.
Chapter 21: The Vanity of a Farmer’s Son
“Dog official! You won’t have a good death!”
“Hiss—”
“If you curse again, I’ll pull out your teeth!”
The noisy commotion woke Zhang Fang from his sleep. This familiar environment left him slightly startled.
Could it be? Even after entering the next world, why was he starting off in prison again?
A piece of text appeared in front of him, detailing the background of the original character.
The original character was a scholar whose entire family supported him to go to the city for his studies, but he didn’t focus on his studies. Instead, he was infatuated with a courtesan, imitating others by visiting brothels. He ended up fighting with others over the courtesan’s virginity and was ultimately imprisoned.
Zhang Fang was speechless over the original character’s actions. However, compared to the previous world, this task seemed much easier. As long as he resolved the current issues, it would count as turning the character’s life around.
As Zhang Fang pondered, two jailers dragged a young man to the cell door. They opened the cell and threw him inside. The two jailers locked the door behind them and left without looking back.
Zhang Fang got up and helped the young man sit up, asking, “Are you alright?”
Liu Mu looked up at Zhang Fang and quietly thanked him, “Thank you.”
After guiding him to the corner, Zhang Fang curiously asked, “What did you end up in jail for?”
Speaking of this, Liu Mu’s face twisted with hatred as he cursed, “That dog official, Lin Zheng! He has his eyes on my sister and wants her to be his concubine. My sister is already promised to someone else. When I found out, I prepared her dowry and wanted her to marry quickly. But Lin Zheng accused me of maliciously selling poisonous tofu and had me arrested! He’s trying to force my sister into being his concubine!”
With a bruised face, Liu Mu clenched his fists and, disregarding the pain, hit the wall a few times, treating it like the person he despised.
Lin Zheng? Zhang Fang felt astonished and asked, “So has your sister gotten married yet?”
Liu Mu shook his head, sadly stating, “Originally, there was a good date set for the fifth of next month, but now this marriage is likely ruined! Why is heaven so blind to let a scoundrel like him hold power and oppress the people! My poor sister! As her brother, I couldn’t protect her; I truly feel unworthy to our deceased parents!”
As he spoke, Liu Mu became enraged and shed tears, hitting the wall several more times.
Zhang Fang fell silent, not expecting the local official to be so despicable. It seems this task won’t be so simple. He initially thought that helping the original character resolve his troubles and getting out of prison would turn his life around, but now he had a pivotal NPC beside him, clearly indicating vital information.
Especially since the name of the local magistrate was the same as a character from the previous world; could this be the task in this world? To bring down the local magistrate? That would not be an easy feat. With the original character’s current status as a humble scholar without any official title, taking on a powerful local official would be difficult!
Liu Mu had calmed down from his anger and, seeing Zhang Fang in a daze, asked curiously, “How did you end up in prison, brother?”
Seeing Zhang Fang dressed like a respectable scholar with handsome looks, refined bearing, and an air of elegance, Liu Mu couldn’t help but feel curious.
When it came to explaining how he ended up in jail, Zhang Fang found it hard to speak. Because— it was embarrassing!
Zhang Fang remained silent, prompting Liu Mu to speculate wildly. Suddenly, Liu Mu’s expression changed, swallowing hard and subtly shifting away.
Seeing this, Zhang Fang immediately said, “It’s an economic dispute! It has nothing to do with human lives!”
Upon hearing this, Liu Mu sighed in relief, fearing that his cellmate might be a murderer. He then inquired, “Did you owe someone money?”
“Sort of. I broke someone else’s things and couldn’t afford to compensate, so I ended up here,” Zhang Fang didn’t disclose the specific details.
Liu Mu then asked, “What exactly did you break that was so expensive?”
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