Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

“Please, young master, please do me justice!! Coming to the young master's residence today is truly because this humble one has nowhere else to turn and dares to trouble you, young master.”

“Recently, there was a death in my family, and feeling that the house was unlucky, I had the idea of selling the property.”

“Who knew that in the past two days, a fellow named Fang Zheng-yi forcibly occupied my house, insisting on buying a house originally worth two thousand taels for only five hundred taels.”

“When I refused, he threatened me, saying he would ruin the business of the Fulai Restaurant... I was afraid of affecting the young master, so I had no choice but to give in. Please, young master, do me justice!” As he spoke, Jia Liang's crying became even more miserable.

Fang Zheng-yi? Zhang Chang's spirit was shaken. “What is the background of this Fang Zheng-yi? Why does he think he can ruin the business of the Fulai Restaurant?”

“This person once showed me an imperial decree, saying that he was about to be received by the Emperor and appointed as the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Because my lowly concubine committed suicide by jumping into a well, Fang Zheng-yi wanted to frame me for it and slander me before His Majesty...”

“At the time, I mentioned the young master, but that Fang Zheng-yi didn't care at all, and even said that the young master was just a dog in his eyes. I couldn't bear it and wanted to fight him, but... the guard beside him was too strong...”

Sure enough, it was him! Hearing this, anger flickered between Zhang Chang's eyebrows; “That house... in the end, it was sold for five hundred taels?”

“It was sold... I really had no choice. Even if I were to lose everything, I couldn't let it affect the business of the Fulai Restaurant.” Jia Liang looked utterly loyal.

Zhang Chang nodded expressionlessly upon hearing this: “Okay, I understand. You can leave.”

“Ah? Then young master... Fang Zheng-yi, he... what should be done...” Jia Liang was stunned. Why was he suddenly being told to leave?

Zhang Chang said impatiently: “What 'what should be done'? What does the sale of your house have to do with this young master? You've already sold it, didn't you? Didn't it not affect the Fulai Restaurant?!”

“But he insulted you! I can't swallow this!” Jia Liang was about to lose his mind. This wasn't quite what he had imagined when he came!!

Zhang Chang sneered: “Heh heh, whether he insulted this young master or not, I will investigate myself. It seems more like you are exaggerating things! Did Fang Zheng-yi's brain get filled with lard? He dares to insult the son of an official before even entering the capital to take office?”

“I have heard that he is a reckless person, but I think he wouldn't be this far gone even without brains!”

“Jia Liang, let me be honest with you, I've long wanted to replace you, and today you've delivered yourself to my door! Look at the negligible income of the Fulai Restaurant year after year, what kind of manager are you! Useless trash! Serves you right for having your house snatched away!” After saying that, he turned and left.

Double blow!

Jia Liang collapsed miserably on the ground, his heart completely cold.

What is happening to this world... What did I do wrong.....

Zhang Chang returned to the table, and Zhang Shi said, “Chang'er, what was all the commotion outside?”

“It's nothing. Jia Liang of the Fulai Restaurant was bullied by Fang Zheng-yi, who forcibly bought his house and wants me to help him get it back.”

“Hmm!? How did it involve Fang Zheng-yi? What are you thinking of doing?” Zhang Shi stared at Zhang Chang.

Zhang Chang pondered for a moment and said: “Jia Liang must have been trying to instigate me to find trouble with Fang Zheng-yi.”

“However, if Fang Zheng-yi really forcibly bought Jia Liang's house, wouldn't that be violating the laws of our Great Jing? Then this matter...”

Zhang Shi shook his head and said: “The money and goods have been exchanged, and there were no third parties present. Even if you go to court, how can you win a lawsuit with just empty words?”

Zhang Chang pondered: “Indeed, but... Jia Liang must have mentioned Father when negotiating with Fang Zheng-yi, but Fang Zheng-yi still forcibly bought the house, which shows that he doesn't take us seriously at all. I would like to meet him...”

“What will you do?”

“I haven't decided yet. If we're talking about timing, three days later is the day off. There will be a poetry competition on a pleasure boat on Lake Quzuo. At that time, prostitutes and nobles will gather, and inviting Fang Zheng-yi there would be a good opportunity to verify what kind of person he is.”

“Heh heh, but Fang Zheng-yi's reputation seems to be ruined already. He will surely make a fool of himself at that time. If he holds a grudge, I'm afraid it will cause trouble for Father.”

Zhang Shi couldn't help but pat his shoulder, comforted: “Chang'er has grown up, able to distinguish the words of villains and considerate of his father, very good!”

“However, those who achieve great things must have courage! Fang Zheng-yi is about the same age as you, and you are far behind him in this regard. If you really want to meet him, just go directly! Although Fang Zheng-yi is currently favored by the Emperor, he will not amount to much! With Father here, you can do whatever you want.”

I'm not as good as Fang Zheng-yi? Zhang Chang smiled disdainfully and said: “With Father's words, I can rest assured. I will immediately write a letter inviting Fang Zheng-yi!”

The butler immediately prepared the brush and ink, and Zhang Chang quickly wrote a letter of invitation with flowing strokes, sealed it, and put it in an envelope.

Turning to the butler, he said: “Has that Jia Liang left? He knows the way, so let him deliver it!”

“No, young master, he's still outside.”

Zhang Chang walked to the courtyard and found Jia Liang sitting on the ground, crying his eyes out, his voice hoarse as if he had just come out of the eunuch's chamber.

Zhang Chang kicked him and said impatiently: “Alright! Stop wailing here!”

“Take this letter and send it to Fang Zheng-yi's residence, telling him to go to Lake Quzuo in three days to participate in the poetry competition. Many celebrities and upper classes are waiting to make his acquaintance, so please make sure he attends.”

“This time, this young master will help you! Also, I'll give you three more months. If the Fulai Restaurant still hasn't improved, go back to where you came from!”

Jia Liang's duck-like cries stopped abruptly, and a burst of ecstasy surged into his heart. This time, it was the same as he had imagined!

After receiving the letter, he kowtowed like a pestle: “Thank you, young master! I will do my best to make the Fulai Restaurant better! Whether or not my house can be returned depends entirely on you!”

Zhang Chang frowned and didn't say anything.

House? What house? It has nothing to do with me.

“Hurry up and leave, seeing you makes me upset!”

Jia Liang held the letter and said timidly: “Young master... what if he doesn't go?”

“Doesn't go? No one has ever refused an invitation from the Zhang family! As long as he is a normal person, he will definitely go. Don't think about these things!” Zhang Chang looked arrogant.

“Okay! I'll go now!”

.........

Jia Liang ran all the way to Fang Zheng-yi's residence.

At this moment, the sky was dim, and the gate of Fang's residence was wide open. Jia Liang saw that there seemed to be a piece of torn clothing hanging on the screen wall, and he couldn't help but feel sad.

His house was being ruined like this... It was really a bit painful.....

But when he thought that Zhang Chang could stand up for him, he became happy again and strode into the familiar gate without hesitation.

At this time, Fang Zheng-yi and Xiao Tao and others were sitting around a table eating.

Jia Liang barged in and saw that Zhang Biao was also present, so he didn't dare to approach, standing far away and shouting: “Lord Fang!”

Everyone looked sideways and realized that there was an extra person in the residence.

Fang Zheng-yi pulled a long face and looked at Bai Yi, who was busy eating: “Why didn't you close the door! Stop eating and stand in the corner!”

Bai Yi: “......”

Then Fang Zheng-yi turned his head and said in surprise: “Oh, Old Jia! How did you get in!? Do you have another cheap house to sell?!”

Damn it!

Jia Liang was instantly broken when he heard this! His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands and feet were cold.

He glanced at the letter in his hand and said coldly to Fang Zheng-yi: “Lord Fang! You have offended someone you shouldn't have! I'm afraid a great disaster is about to...”

“Zhang Biao! Go, give him two slaps!”

Before Jia Liang could finish speaking, his spell was interrupted. Zhang Biao strode forward, grabbed his collar, and slapped Jia Liang twice, causing his entire face to swell up quickly.

Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped twice. Jia Liang looked at the gloomy sky with a heart as dead as ashes.

Fang Zheng-yi sneered: “You son of a bitch, you broke into my young master's private residence and dare to speak rudely!”

“See if he has any money on him! Take it all out!”

Zhang Biao skillfully began to search Jia Liang's body. At this time, Jia Liang also came back to his senses and struggled hard, but under Zhang Biao's monstrous strength, he looked like a small chicken.

Soon, the originally intact clothes were turned into pieces of shredded cloth under Zhang Biao's violent search.

Finally, an inner pocket was found in the lining. Zhang Biao flipped through it and held up the contents and said: “Young master! There are five hundred taels of silver notes here!”

Jia Liang screamed with tears in his eyes: “You can't take it! You can't take it! This is robbery! You gang of robbers! I'm going to sue the officials! I'm going to sue the Emperor!!!”

Fang Zheng-yi said with a sullen face: “Robbery!? I, Fang Zheng-yi, have always acted with integrity, how can I allow you to slander me! Bring him over!”

After saying that, Fang Zheng-yi walked towards the screen wall in anger, and Zhang Biao followed with Jia Liang.

Fang Zheng-yi pointed at the screen wall with one hand and said loudly: “Open your dog eyes and see clearly what is written on it!”

Jia Liang tried hard to open his increasingly swollen eyes and carefully identified the information in front of him, slowly reading out: “His... Majesty... Splashed... Ink... Place?”

Fang Zheng-yi folded his arms and sneered: “It seems that you dog thing can still read!”

“This! Is! What! You! Can! See! For! Free!”

“Only five hundred taels! You got a bargain, you dog thing! Get out of here!”

Jia Liang looked at the screen wall, then at Fang Zheng-yi, and a trace of clear tears suddenly slid down his cheek.....

Then he was thrown out of the door like a sandbag..... falling on the ground, motionless....

......