“You have to pay twenty taels of silver.” Zhang Fang, back when he was just Young Master Zhang, didn’t think much of twenty taels of silver and spent it carelessly. He didn’t realize that for the ordinary common people of today, twenty taels of silver was a huge sum.
Liu Mu was taken aback and exclaimed, “Twenty taels! I would have to sell tofu for ten years to save that much money! Little brother, if you can’t afford to pay, what will happen to you?”
Zhang Fang, somewhat absent-minded, replied, “I guess I’ll just have to stay in the jail, right?”
Liu Mu, lacking any experience with imprisonment, believed Zhang Fang’s words without question. He continued, “If staying in jail means you’ll have meals, that’s not so bad. What’s scary is if those jail guards are in a bad mood and take it out on the prisoners, beating them up at will. What if you die in there? Who would even be able to complain? Sigh! The county of Dou is so dark! I wonder when the heavens will open their eyes and strike Lin Zheng with a thunderbolt to take that dog’s life!”
Zhang Fang pondered, increasingly suspicious that the task at hand was related to the local magistrate. If it weren’t for someone shielding him, how could a mere magistrate behave so arrogantly, using his power to oppress the common people without fear? If this was Zhang Fang’s task, he would need to cling to someone more powerful than the magistrate or prefect to have a chance to deal with these corrupt officials. But the original character was just a lowly farmer; how could he latch onto the powerful?
After contemplating, Zhang Fang thought of the imperial examination route. It suddenly made sense to him. The Zhang family supported Zhang Silang’s education, hoping he would pass the examinations, become an official, and elevate their status. Thus, he needed to rely on studying to turn the original character’s dismal life around!
The next morning, the light came streaming through the ventilation window into the cell, while Zhang Fang remained lost in dreamland.
Zhao, the jailer, irritably brought an old farmer into the jail.
“Silang!” Old Zhang excitedly cried out for his youngest son.
Zhang Fang thought the voice sounded familiar and opened his eyes, bleary-eyed and squinting at the cell door. His gaze first landed on a pair of straw sandals, as he shifted his view upwards to the ragged, patched clothing, finally locking eyes with the old man’s face. Zhang Fang exclaimed in surprise, “Father!”
Isn’t this the Prime Minister’s father!
Zhao, the jailer, coldly told Old Zhang, “You have a stick’s length of time; say what you need to and then leave immediately!”
Old Zhang quickly nodded, appearing very humble.
Zhang Fang watched the jailer; he was a familiar face indeed.
Once Zhao left, Old Zhang eagerly asked, “Silang, are you hurt? I heard you got into a fight in the brothel over a woman and broke something. They’re demanding twenty taels of silver to let you go! Don’t worry, Father is already raising money! I will definitely get you out!”
Looking at the face that resembled the Prime Minister’s so closely, but with even more worry and concern, Zhang Fang felt a pang in his heart.
He got up and walked over to the cell door, reaching out to grasp Old Zhang’s hand. Holding that hand, he noticed it was rough and calloused, with some small wounds. Looking closer, he saw that dirt was lodged beneath his fingernails; it was quite filthy. Zhang Fang felt a deep ache in his heart.
Old Zhang had worked hard his whole life and had four sons and three daughters. His favorite was his youngest son, Silang, yet this Zhang Silang acted like a vampire, enjoying the finest food at home and squandering the money earned through his family’s hard labor in the city under the guise of studying. While the family struggled to fill their bellies, Zhang Silang was eating white rice in the city while complaining that the money sent by the family was too little to buy meat. He even followed others to the brothel to chase after girls; he was truly a scoundrel!
Tears streamed silently down his cheeks as Zhang Fang cried, “Father, I’m doing just fine in here. You don’t need to worry about me.”
This was his beloved youngest son! How could Old Zhang not care?
“Silang, your father will think of every possible way to gather twenty taels; I will definitely get you out!”
“But that’s twenty taels, Father! Where will you get the money from?” Zhang Fang tearfully asked Old Zhang.
Old Zhang thought his youngest son was doubting him and explained, “Your three older siblings have gathered four taels. I plan to sell all the maidservants we have. I’ve already found out that the eldest girl is thirteen; we can marry her off to someone in Shuidan Village, and that foolish mother is willing to pay five taels in bride price. The other three girls are younger and can’t be married off yet, but they can be sold to laborers, one can fetch a tael. That totals to twelve taels. I will sell some land we have, which should get us another tael. The remaining seven taels can be borrowed from someone.”
Zhang Fang was so shocked that his tears stopped instantly, and he immediately advised, “Father! No! I’ve already cost our family so much through my studies. How can we risk our family’s stability just to gather twenty taels? Father, I’ve decided—I’ll stay in jail. I can study quietly here, and I will definitely pass the examinations and bring honor to our family, allowing you to live a good life in the future!”
Old Zhang was taken aback by his youngest’s words. Looking at the jail environment with doubt, he asked, “Can you really study here in peace? Won’t the jailers bully you? And what about the other prisoners? Will they disturb your studies?”
Liu Mu, who had been quietly listening, suddenly felt the spotlight on him and awkwardly responded, “I-I won’t disturb Brother Zhang’s studies.”
Zhang Fang had already reached rock bottom; he felt indifferent to being mocked or looked down upon by Liu Mu. He continued to persuade Old Zhang, saying, “Father, go to the academy and bring all my books over. I can study here. If I don’t return to the academy soon, they might throw my things away.”
Hearing this, Old Zhang immediately agreed, “Alright! I will go to the academy and collect your things right away. But will the jailers let me bring them in?”
Old Zhang had spent twenty coins to buy a jar of good wine for the jailer today just so he could enter.
Zhang Fang replied, “Father, I will make sure the jailer agrees to let you bring the things in!”
With his son’s reassurance, Old Zhang felt relieved.
Just then, Zhao the jailer returned and shouted from the entrance, “Time’s up! You need to leave now!”