CHAPTER 1770: CHAPTER 1770: THE UNEXPECTED TURN

Chang Zhi held a list, he was clear that the Ding family’s Scholar title was gone, but the list didn’t mention the debt with interest. Hearing another cry, Chang Zhi felt heavy-hearted as he walked over.

The young servant blocked the way, "Danger ahead."

The guard disguised as a house servant also whispered, "It’s better to be cautious."

Chang Zhi waved his hand, "It’s nothing, let’s go and see."

Arriving at the Ding family door, an old woman lay in a pool of blood in the courtyard. Next to the woman knelt a couple and several children, while five debt collectors were dumbfounded.

One of the men said, "What bad luck."

The kneeling man grabbed a knife from the ground, eyes red, "Say that again?"

The man’s eyes were full of sarcasm, "A Scholar master, no, not a Scholar anymore. Do you dare to threaten me with a knife? Hmph, the old woman committed suicide, if you want to hate, don’t blame me, blame your big brother who died early."

The man seemed drained of energy, letting the knife fall to the ground, while two older children were frozen in fear and confusion.

Chang Zhi also gathered the entire story from the villagers’ conversations; the kneeling man was the one he was looking for. It was Ding Jue’s big brother who borrowed the interest money, initially borrowing some silver to participate in Qiu Wei, which seemed promising. However, he failed, the family’s old mother became seriously ill, and the big brother, cornered at home, was deceived into borrowing money with interest.

The rest of the story was predictable: failing the exam, he returned to repay both the borrowed silver and the interest. Selling off the last family land repaid the borrowed silver, but the interest, once borrowed, seemed impossible to clear. Adding to the woes, Ding Jue’s title was stripped, and in repaying the silver, his big brother died unexpectedly, leaving behind a wife and two children who left.

The Ding family hadn’t known a day of peace in these years.

Chang Zhi looked up at the sky, feeling the anger in his heart would not dissipate until this sky cleared.

The young servant lowered his voice, "The one responsible for the interest money is An family’s Third Master."

Chang Zhi responded with a murmur, knowing that if the Emperor had people investigate someone, even if they hid in the shadows, they couldn’t escape notice, especially since the An family wasn’t low-profile.

At noon in the capital, Zhou Shuren left the Ministry of Revenue for a teahouse. Wong Ju had arrived early, savoring tea while listening to a storyteller downstairs.

Zhou Shuren entered, "You finally stepped outside."

Since the old master’s passing, it was the first time Wong Ju left the residence, showing how deeply saddened he was by the old master’s death.

Wong Ju gestured for the young servant to close the private room’s door, personally pouring tea, "If I don’t go out, you won’t visit me."

He hoped to receive comfort from Zhou Shuren, but this man didn’t even return his notes in person!

Zhou Shuren shivered slightly, "Speak properly."

Wong Ju cleared his throat, "Staying at home, I’m out of the loop with the news. I wanted to come to you for peace of mind."

Zhou Shuren glanced sideways, "It has nothing to do with the Wong family."

Wong Ju understood, "Regardless, I’m afraid of stepping into unnecessary pitfalls."

Zhou Shuren, "With me keeping an eye out, what are you afraid of?"

Wong Ju finally relaxed, "Then I’ll continue staying at home."

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "It’s only been a short while since we last met, but you’ve lost weight beyond recognition."

Wong Ju pointed at his belly, "It’s already gone, and all my clothes have been altered."

Zhou Shuren earnestly said, "Keep it up, you seem healthier now."

Wong Ju chuckled dryly, "The doctor said the same."

The two chatted about other matters, when Wong Ju suddenly said, "The Zhou family’s trial has ended, aren’t you concerned?"

"I have faith in him."

Wong Ju laughed, "I’m also waiting for your family to produce a top scorer."

He, too, had confidence in Chang Zhong. When visiting the Hou Residence, he always tested Chang Zhong, believing this child might fulfill the Zhou family’s dreams.

In Pingzhou, Chang Zhong and Ming Hui attended an appointment, Cheng Xiang noticing them from a distance, stood up to greet them when they arrived, "Gentlemen, please come inside."

Chang Zhong glanced up, seeing others in the private room, he nodded slightly and entered.

Cheng Xiang introduced them, "These are sons of official families in the prefecture city, knowing you were invited, they all thickened their skin to come."

Chang Zhong, "A pleasure to meet you."

Cheng Xiang breathed a slight sigh of relief and continued enthusiastically hosting everyone to sit. Then he said, "These two need no introduction, as everyone knows them. You should introduce yourselves."

Subsequently, everyone introduced themselves, indeed all sons of official families in the prefecture city.

Chang Zhong and Ming Hui were the center of attention at today’s banquet. For them, this was a minor scene; Chang Zhong’s social circle was quite elite, and Ming Hui’s was also not lowly, so the two were very composed.

Cheng Xiang observed for a while, realizing the reputation of a Hou Residence child was well-earned, "Come, everyone, don’t just talk, let’s drink tea."

Chang Zhong raised an eyebrow slightly, finding this Magistrate’s son rather interesting, skillfully guiding the banquet’s rhythm without being displeasing at all.

Seeing Zhou Gongzi looking at him, Cheng Xiang smiled, "Yesterday, my father mentioned you."

"What did the Magistrate say?"

Cheng Xiang, "Told me to study your articles more."

Yesterday during the day, he fled, and in the evening was summoned by his father to the study. He ended up reading Zhou Changzhong’s articles, feeling flushed.

The banquet ended quickly. Knowing Chang Zhong returned to take the Scholar exam, nobody dared to lead him to questionable places, and soon only Cheng Xiang remained as the others dispersed.

Chang Zhong, "Do you want to escort us home?"

Glancing at the guard beside the carriage, Cheng Xiang joked, "I wish I could, but it seems unnecessary."

Ming Hui playfully said, "Then we’ll be off."

Cheng Xiang moved his lips slightly, but said nothing. Watching them leave, he sighed, pondering that his father’s hopes to leverage Zhou Gongzi to get involved with Hou Residence were slim!

In Xiaoxi Village, Chuanzhou Province, Chang Zhi returned once more. The Ding family already had white mourning cloths hanging, with borrowed coffins in the courtyard, scant help from the villagers, making the scene especially desolate.

The young servant had a document in his chest, "Sir, should we send it now?"

Chang Zhi, "Yes, don’t let the elder pass away without peace."

He sent someone to repay the silver coin and retrieve the document. Over the years, the Ding family had gradually repaid more than twenty taels, while the borrowed silver was less than one tael. If there hadn’t been a death, retrieving this document would’ve been difficult.

The Emperor’s appointed people had their own avenues. Chang Zhi didn’t need to leave the house, and got hold of the document by afternoon.

The young servant entered the courtyard where cries erupted again. Following this, Ding Jue stumbled out, eventually kneeling before Chang Zhi.

Chang Zhi looked down at Ding Jue, "What are you doing?"

Ding Jue found his life utterly laughable. Smoothly becoming a Scholar, the second Qiu Wei marked a life’s turning point. In recent years, he had seen much change. When he was most hopeless, light reappeared, "Sir, please let my mother pass peacefully. I lack skills and am unable to repay you, what do you think of me?"

Chang Zhi frowned, "You want to sell yourself?"

Ding Jue smiled bitterly, "My family really can’t produce the silver to repay the gentleman."

He didn’t want to sell himself either. He still had a family to support, but truly couldn’t gather the silver to repay the gentleman!