That day, Zhang Zhouyang silently recited the poem that Fan Yang had taught him as he walked home.

Unfortunately, as soon as he got home, he saw hair clips and headbands all over the yard, all of which were given to him by Pan Yang.

He kept it carefully under his pillow, reluctant to take it out, also afraid of being discovered.

Zhang Jianguo stood smugly next to Wang Cuihua, who was holding a stick. Upon seeing Zhang Zhouyang, she spoke directly.

"You little brat, you've been stealing money from home to buy these things, haven't you! I think you're a worthless bastard. We didn't raise you to steal. We should have just let you freeze to death out there!"

"I didn't steal any money." Zhang Zhouyang looked at the hair clip mixed with dust on the ground and hurriedly tried to pick it up.

Just as his hand was about to touch it, Zhang Jianguo stomped on the hair clip and headband several times: "Tsk, that's disgusting. People like you should die out there."

Zhang Zhouyang looked at the hair clips on the ground, some of which had been stepped on and broken in half by Zhang Jianguo, but he still silently picked them up: "I didn't steal any money."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuihua immediately raised a stick and struck him, demanding, "Where did you get all this from?!"

"Given by Bai Panyang."

"Young Master Bai, I think you're just a liar. You really think that Young Master Bai would be interested in you? I was wondering why you've been coming home so late these past few days. Looks like you've been hooking up with men, haven't you?"

Wang Cuihua sneered, feigning sudden realization, her eyes filled with disdain.

Zhang Zhouyang finally finished picking up the hair clips from the ground, the spot where he had been hit by the stick still stinging: "I didn't seduce any men."

"Hey, so you've learned to talk back now, huh?" Wang Cuihua was clearly angered by Zhang Zhouyang and raised her stick to strike him again.

Zhang Jianguo, standing to the side, mocked, "Ha, do you really think Young Master Bai would be interested in you? You'd be better off just playing around."

Zhang Zhouyang was suddenly hit by a stick and couldn't hold on, falling directly to the ground. He did not refute Zhang Jianguo's words.

To be honest, even he himself didn't understand why Bai Panyang kept chasing him. Perhaps it really was as Shao Qin and Zhang Jianguo had said.

"Looks like you know it all along. Ugh, that's disgusting." Seeing his silence, Zhang Jianguo continued, "I bet not everyone would call you a bitch if they saw you."

"..." Zhang Zhouyang lay on the ground, silent.

Then Zhang Jianguo saw something and suddenly stepped forward, pulling a handkerchief from his arms: "Hey, such good material, which customer gave it to you?"

Zhang Zhouyang saw the handkerchief and, despite the pain, struggled to his feet, trying to snatch it back, but he was no match for Zhang Jianguo.

He was knocked to the ground by Zhang Jianguo in just a few moves.

Wang Cuihua rolled her eyes and pointed at Zhang Zhouyang: "I think you're all brats out there! You'll be kneeling in the yard tonight!"

“If you don’t kneel, I’m not giving this handkerchief back to you,” Zhang Jianguo said, shaking the handkerchief in his hand.

It was summer, but the night was still quite cold, and soon the sky was filled with dark clouds.

The next morning, Zhang Jianguo was somewhat surprised to see Zhang Zhouyang kneeling in the courtyard. He chuckled and said, "Tsk, here you go, you slut." He threw the handkerchief directly into the dirt, where it became stained.

Zhang Zhouyang felt a little dizzy, but still grabbed the handkerchief and stuffed it into his arms.

When Wang Cuihua came out and saw his appearance, she rolled her eyes and said, "Stop pretending. Go down to the fields and see for yourself. The wheat harvest is in a few days. Don't let it be all weeds."

Zhang Zhouyang stood up unsteadily and walked out with difficulty. The road in front of him became blurry, and he suddenly fainted.

When I opened my eyes again, that familiar face appeared before me.

Pan Yang sat down next to him, patted his head, and said, "You have a fever. Did Wang Cuihua bully you?"

At that moment, Zhang Zhouyang couldn't hold back anymore, and tears welled up in his eyes: "Panyang, I don't want to grow my hair long, and I don't want to wear girls' clothes."

"Okay, I'll cut your hair after your fever breaks. The clothes I ordered earlier are ready but I haven't given them to you yet." Pan Yang nodded without asking him why.

Zhang Zhouyang sniffed and fell asleep again. When he woke up, it was already evening.

He opened his eyes and only then could he see where he was. It was a clean room with a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe next to it.

Before he could react, the door opened and Pan Yang walked in carrying a bowl of porridge: "You're awake, let's eat."

Zhang Zhouyang looked at him blankly and took the bowl of porridge.

"Gou Dan and the others were looking for you. They found you unconscious on the roadside and brought you here. This is my room," Pan Yang explained.

"Thank you, I'll be leaving soon." Zhang Zhouyang lowered his head, looking at the slightly warm bowl of porridge in his hand.

"Mm." Pan Yang nodded.

001 was somewhat surprised: Host, you just let the hidden character leave so easily?

Pan Yang: Who said that? I just knew he would leave, but I didn't let him leave.

001:6.

Zhang Zhouyang stayed at Pan Yang's house for two days, and his fever had almost subsided.

He went into the courtyard, looked at Pan Yang sitting in the rocking chair, took a deep breath and walked over: "Thank you, I'm all better now, I should go."

Bai Bai came back from outside with several different pairs of scissors in his hand: "Why are you in such a hurry? You haven't even had your hair cut yet."

As he spoke, he pulled Zhang Zhouyang to another chair: "Yesterday, Pan Yang asked me to buy some hair-cutting scissors for you to cut your hair. Don't move around, okay? Uncle is very good at cutting hair."

Zhang Zhouyang was somewhat taken aback and looked at Pan Yang, only to find that Pan Yang was looking at him. For some reason, he felt his heart skip a beat.

Bai Bai cuts hair very quickly, in about ten minutes, and a simple short haircut is done.

“When I was young, I cut all the hair in the entire army.” Bai Bai proudly raised his head and pulled out a mirror, placing it in front of Zhang Zhouyang.

"How about it? Not bad, right?"

Looking at her familiar yet unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, Zhang Zhouyang felt a lump in her throat and tears welled in her eyes: "Beautiful."

"Oh dear, don't cry! You're so handsome! Uncle will make you braised pork!" Bai Bai said, hurriedly packing up his hair-cutting tools.

Pan Yang stood up, walked up to him, took out the men's clothing he had prepared, and stuffed it into his hand: "I bought a few extra pieces, but I can't wear them, so I'll give them to you."

"Thank you." Zhang Zhouyang looked at the white shirt in his hand, which was similar to the one worn by Pan Yang, both clean and tidy.

“I’ve found you a job in town. The boss provides food and lodging, so you don’t need to rush back,” Pan Yang said.

"No, that's too much trouble." Zhang Zhouyang quickly shook his head: "I can't accept these clothes either."

"Then consider it as you working to pay off the clothes." Pan Yang didn't give him a chance to refuse.

After a long silence, Zhang Zhouyang finally gave in and nodded.