Zhang Fang shook his head without explaining. He crouched down and started organizing the books.
There were writing materials available, but there was no desk in the prison, so Zhang Fang could only write on the ground.
In the past two days, Zhang Fang had not been idle. Although it seemed he was merely napping in the cell, he was actually deep in thought, crafting stories behind closed eyes.
The original character had indeed read many tales and was aware of the popular themes at the time. However, Zhang Fang chose not to write a love story about a poor scholar and a wealthy heiress. Instead, he opted to craft a tale about a main character who was an ordinary person cultivating immortality. This theme had not yet appeared in the market, and Zhang Fang felt it had potential.
Once he wrote down the story he had long envisioned, he poured out a thousand words effortlessly.
Although Liu Mu wanted to chat with Zhang Fang, he felt hesitant to interrupt him while he was writing and could only continue to snooze.
During this time, the jailer Zhao came by to take a look. Seeing Zhang Fang writing diligently, with an appearance of earnest study, he became even more convinced that Zhang Fang was a promising scholar!
It wasn’t until the light outside disappeared that Zhang Fang finally stopped writing.
Before leaving for the day, Zhao the jailer approached Zhang Fang with a lantern and greeted him, “Brother Zhang, would you like me to leave a light for you?”
Zhang Fang hurriedly smiled and replied, “Thank you, Brother Zhao! I am very grateful!”
Zhao opened the prison door and handed the lantern to Zhang Fang. He then suggested, “Shall I lend you the tables and chairs from outside?”
He had seen Zhang Fang on the ground studying in the afternoon, which seemed quite difficult.
Zhang Fang felt even more thankful. Grabbing Zhao the jailer’s hand, he said, “Brother Zhao, you are truly a good person! Once I succeed, I must repay you properly!”
Hearing this, Zhao the jailer smiled happily and quickly went to move the tables and chairs to Zhang Fang’s cell.
Liu Mu felt uncomfortable and, once Zhao left, spoke sarcastically to Zhang Fang, “Brother Zhang, everyone from the yamen is a bad person. Are you befriending Zhao the jailer with the intention of becoming a corrupt official like him and oppressing the common people once you pass the exam?”
Zhang Fang ignored Liu Mu’s sarcasm and continued writing the story.
Seeing that Zhang Fang remained silent, Liu Mu assumed he had acquiesced and noticed Zhang Fang’s expression darkening.
It was not until the ink ran out that Zhang Fang stopped writing. The candle in the lantern was nearly burned out as well.
He stood up to stretch a bit and then lay down, speaking to Liu Mu, “Brother Liu, your sister will be visiting you in prison soon, right?”
Upon hearing about his sister, who he relied on, Liu Mu suddenly opened his eyes, glaring at Zhang Fang with hostility and asking displeased, “What does that have to do with you?”
Zhang Fang reminded him, “Seeing you all battered, your sister is sure to be heartbroken. She will definitely agree to be a concubine.”
Liu Mu’s expression turned grim. He pounded the ground with his fist, gritting his teeth as he cursed, “I would rather die than let my sister be a concubine!”
“What will happen to your sister if you die?”
Zhang Fang’s words were calm, yet they sent a chill down Liu Mu’s spine.
As long as he was alive, the county magistrate could threaten his sister into submission. If he were dead, wouldn’t that embolden the magistrate even more to abduct her and lock her away?
Dejectedly loosening his fist, Liu Mu mournfully cursed, “Corrupt officials! If I ever get out, I will find a way to kill him!”
Zhang Fang spoke slowly, “You might get killed by someone before even meeting him.”
After being pushed down repeatedly by Zhang Fang’s words, Liu Mu released his pent-up anger on him, raising his fist once more to hit Zhang Fang.
“I have a way for your sister to escape this disaster.”
As Liu Mu’s fist was about to connect with Zhang Fang’s face, he stopped abruptly, wide-eyed and hurriedly asking, “What method does Brother Zhang have to save my sister?”
Zhang Fang explained, “When your sister comes to visit you in prison, the two of you can put on an act. After you get out, take her to my home to hide for a while.” For now, this was the only option.
Liu Mu’s expression turned to one of surprise as he thought for a moment before hesitantly asking, “What if the authorities find your home? What if it implicates your family? Shouldn’t I just take my sister to a relative’s house for refuge?”
“If you go to a relative’s house, it would be easy for you to be found. Conversely, if you maintain a bad relationship with me in prison, no one would think you would hide at my home after you get out.”
Liu Mu was bewildered by Zhang Fang’s words and questioned, “But I get along decently with you.”
“You just need to hit me once, and I’ll ask Zhao the jailer to separate us,” Zhang Fang instructed him.
Liu Mu showed an astonished expression. Truly, a scholar’s mind is sharp! He gratefully knelt before Zhang Fang, saying, “Thank you, Brother Zhang! I wonder if the others in your family will be unhappy…”
Liu Mu trusted Zhang Fang but felt uneasy about Zhang Fang’s family.
“I won’t do this for free. If you stay at my house, you’ll need to pay rent,” Zhang Fang stated. Given Zhang family’s financial troubles, Grandpa Zhang, for the sake of money, would definitely agree to help.
Liu Mu understood. He knew about Zhang’s family’s need for money but didn’t have much himself. With a bitter expression, he said, “Brother Zhang, I don’t have that much silver. At most, I can only give you three taels…”
In truth, Liu Mu had saved ten taels over the years selling tofu. When his sister was to marry, he had originally planned to give her five taels as part of her dowry. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, they caught the attention of the county magistrate, a snake who would bite. As long as the Zhang family was willing to help, even if he had to give all his savings, he would. But initially, he didn’t dare to disclose his entire savings, fearing that once they got the money, the Zhang family would go back on their word and turn him and his sister over to the magistrate! So Liu Mu kept his guard up.
Zhang Fang nodded and advised Liu Mu, “You only need to provide two taels. You can give one tael when you move into my house, and another when you leave after the trouble passes.”
Liu Mu did not expect Zhang Fang to consider things for him so thoroughly. He lowered his guard against Zhang Fang and expressed his gratitude with a simple ‘thank you.’
The next day, Zhao the jailer came to the cell and noticed a purplish bruise on Zhang Fang’s face, obviously a sign of a beating. His expression changed immediately, and he asked with concern, “Did he hit you?”
Zhang Fang offered a bitter smile, timidly glancing at Liu Mu’s direction, and replied quietly to Zhao, “Brother Zhao, last night I was studying hard, and perhaps I disturbed him while he was sleeping. He hit me a bit…”