Chapter 68 Returning to Green Field, Prices and Aftermath

The cicadas chirped incessantly in the summer heat as the carriage slowly made its way along the official road, its interior filled with stifling heat.

Zong Suyi quietly leaned against Zhang Ting's lap for a nap, while she rested with her eyes closed against the car wall.

But she didn't fall asleep; the scene from earlier kept replaying in her mind.

After the group had eaten at the restaurant, the master and apprentice found a quiet place to digest their food.

Strolling along the riverbank, willows sway in the breeze, and gentle winds blow.

Zhang Shu lamented the events of the day: "Mi Fu has done all sorts of bad things. The old woman thought she would kneel down and beg for mercy, but she was unrepentant and died so fiercely."

Zhang Ting followed behind his teacher, stepping across a patch of grass, and said, "This disciple never expected this either."

Speaking of this, we can't help but mention Magistrate Song, one of the main figures in the incident. Zhang Shu told his apprentice about her, saying that she was from a branch of the Song family in the capital. And the head of the Song family had just been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel this year, enjoying immense prestige.

Zhang Shu plucked a willow leaf and played with it in his hand, saying, "High-ranking officials are corrupt, and low-ranking officials are corrupt. With just a few words, they can easily kill the common people below them."

Zhang Ting's gaze fell on her hand, where a willow leaf was gently torn open, then folded in half and torn into pieces, which were then scattered carelessly on the ground.

She lowered her eyelids and bowed deeply: "Master, you are so righteous. Please save the people of Lütian from their suffering. Your disciple will first express my gratitude on behalf of the tens of thousands of people in the county."

Zhang Shu turned her head and smiled at her apprentice, saying, "You." She was amused that Zhang Ting was flattering her and pressuring her to make a move.

However, although Zhang Shu did not serve as an official in the imperial court, she still had some reputation and connections. Although she could not eliminate the big corrupt officials, she was enough to punish the small corrupt officials.

Zhang Shu not only didn't dislike Zhang Ting's behavior, but also liked her even more because of her kind and gentle heart. The two continued walking, chatting about all sorts of cases.

One case in Huzhou Prefecture remains vivid in Zhang Shu's memory to this day.

"About nine years ago, a major murder occurred at the official residence in the north of the city. Bandits disguised themselves as servants and broke into the residence, killing the entire family of Prefect Luo. After this incident, Huzhou Prefecture was greatly shaken, and officials were on high alert, so they set up many more guards overnight."

"When the bandits were found again, she had been hanged for several days. The case then became an unsolved mystery."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes as she laughed, "Back then, many people privately said that it was Prefect Luo's re-investigation of the land that damaged the interests of the local powerful families, and that's why he got his comeuppance."

But what is the truth?

However, the entire Luo family was wiped out, and no one knew about it anymore.

“Heaven’s justice is clear, and nothing escapes its reach. The truth will eventually come to light,” Zhang Ting said firmly, nodding his head.

However, she held no hope. In her opinion, this was something no powerful family would dare to do, and it would inevitably involve a big fish; moreover, there have been countless wrongful convictions, tragedies, and unsolved cases throughout history, and the Luo family yesterday, the Li family tomorrow, is nothing unusual.

Zhang Shu breathed a sigh of relief: "I hope so."

"I hope that one day the truth will come to light, so that the wronged souls of the Luo family can rest in peace."

Thinking of this, Zhang Ting felt sleepy and fell into a deep sleep with her head tilted to the side.

...

After traveling for another five days, they arrived at Lütian County.

It was dusk, and the sun was setting in the west.

Zhang Ting got out of the car first, squinting as she admired the brilliant afterglow. Zong Suyi sniffed herself, feeling like a walking block of stinky tofu. She frowned irritably, walked straight to her side, pouted unhappily, and whispered, "I want to go back to my room to take a bath."

He was always very clean and changed his clothes every day during the journey, so Zhang Ting didn't notice any smell on him, but she didn't stop him. She simply picked up a strand of his black hair and fiddled with it, saying softly, "I'll wait for you, teacher. You go ahead. We'll have dinner soon."

Zong Suyi's brows relaxed as he grasped the hand that was holding his hair; her slender, white fingers shimmered softly in the afterglow. He looked at her with gentle eyes and said, "Okay."

"I'm waiting for you."

"Go ahead." Zhang Ting smiled and patted his head, then gently patted his head twice with the same motion as patting a watermelon.

Yes, it's a smart brain!

Zong Suyi wrinkled her nose slightly, vaguely feeling something was off, but couldn't figure out why. But it wasn't anything good anyway, so she just stared at her with wide eyes, then raised her chin, snorted softly, turned around and strode away.

He had to think of a way to teach Zhang Ting a lesson that night! He had to let her know that he wasn't a helpless man who could only cry and beg for mercy!

His lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Zhang Shu was helped down from the carriage by Zhang Ting. She held her waist with one hand, her face full of pain, and wailed, "Oh dear, this old woman is getting old and useless. My waist and legs are going to break!"

Zhang Ting looked embarrassed and forced a smile: "This disciple is unfilial, causing my esteemed master to suffer."

Zhang Shu straightened his back instantly, his legs also straightening, and he grabbed her hand with his back, saying with satisfaction, "It's good that Xiao Ting knows. Remember to make it up to your teacher in the future."

Upon hearing about the compensation, Zhang Ting realized that her teacher was just putting on an act and trying to get the wine. She smiled slightly and pried the shameless old man's hand away.

"It is my fault for causing my esteemed teacher to suffer. I will surely pay my respects to him morning and evening and serve him by his side in the future to repay his kindness."

"But my esteemed teacher is now old and unwell. Alcohol is harmful to his health, so he should abstain from it completely in the future."

Zhang Shu suddenly shuddered, his face changed drastically, and his eyes widened in disbelief, "Not a single drop?!"

“Exactly.” Zhang Ting smiled and nodded, his words and actions revealing an unwavering determination. “Before leaving, my eldest sister, second sister, and third sister specifically instructed me to remember to take good care of our master and be wary of her drinking alcohol.”

Zhang Shu, with a mournful face, grabbed her clothes and said, "Xiao Ting, I am in good health. How could mere wine harm me?"

She raised her index finger and pleaded, "Just one gourdful a month, just one gourdful, it definitely won't harm my health!"

Zhang Ting coldly brushed her hand away and said in a chilling tone, "Don't even mention a gourd, not even half a mouthful or a drop is acceptable."

The teacher felt despair, but she considerately helped him up again, saying with great filial piety, "Teacher, you've worked hard. Let your disciple help you inside."

Zhang Shu shook his head with a bitter face and slapped her hand away. Despite the sweltering heat, her hand was clearly burning hot, yet it felt icy cold to him.

As the two were arguing, someone asked, "Is this Zhang Xianshi's house?"

The master and his apprentice both turned to look.

A few men and women carrying bamboo baskets and carrying bamboo hampers walked over from the bamboo grove not far ahead and greeted the two.

Zhang Ting exchanged a glance with his teacher, then stepped forward and bowed to the group, saying with a smile, "My name is Zhang Ting, and I am the owner of this residence. Are you looking for me?"

Upon hearing that she was Zhang Ting, the men beamed with joy, and the leader even bowed to her excitedly, exclaiming, "That's right, that's right!"

She straightened up, quickly wiped away her sweat, and stared intently at Zhang Ting with eyes full of respect. She said, "We came from the county and inquired about your residence along the way before we found it."

Zhang Ting was puzzled. She didn't recognize these people, so why did they come looking for her out of the blue?

"What brings you here, gentlemen?"

The leader cursed himself for not explaining his purpose; he had been too hasty!

She bowed respectfully to Zhang Ting again, then rose and looked at her, saying, "Wise one... no, benefactor! We were refugees who nearly starved to death due to the high prices. Perhaps it is because of your kindness that we have all perished!"

She patted her chest, her face beaming with joy. "These days the market is booming. I earned some money working at the docks. I heard you're a scholar," she said, scratching her head sheepishly. She put down her basket, carefully lifted the leaves on top, and pulled out a stack of paper and a writing brush. She handed it to Zhang Ting, her eyes shining brightly. "I specially used my wages to buy you paper and brushes. I hope they will be helpful to you! May you achieve great success in your studies and become the top scholar!" If only... she could also govern the prefecture and county smoothly and protect their safety.

She must have been illiterate to be unable to accurately describe passing the imperial examinations, nor did she know how difficult it was to become the top scholar.

Zhang Ting looked up, her eyelashes trembling. The paper was rough and of poor quality, with coarse and brittle bristles. Even when she first came to this other world, the paper and pens she used were not of such inferior quality.

However, labor costs are low. How much money can a dock worker earn in a month? And for the cheapest paper and pens, even all the wages of a woman working hard wouldn't be enough.

She lowered her eyelids to hide the strangeness in her eyes, took the paper and pen with both hands, and when she raised her head again, a gentle smile appeared on her lips. She said, "Thank you for your kindness. This paper and pen will be of great use to me!"

The woman in the lead smiled excitedly. She hadn't received enough money for unloading the goods, so she borrowed some from her colleagues. But since she was helping her benefactor, it was definitely worth it!

The others lifted the bamboo basket and said with smiles, "Our benefactor, the vegetables we planted at home recently have sprouted, so we brought them here for you to try!"

"We don't have much money to buy things, but the vegetables are all very fresh. Please, please don't look down on them!"

Zhang Ting looked at each basket. Some of them contained tiny bok choy, about the length of a finger, which were indeed very fresh. They had been picked by their owners before they were fully grown, but the baskets were already full. They were washed very clean, and even on this hot day, glistening water droplets still clung to the vegetables. Other baskets were filled with green beans, which were thin and short, and looked very green. Some of them contained amaranth and garland chrysanthemum.

Zhang Ting looked up at the sky; the blazing sun seemed determined to bake the ground dry. In this sweltering heat, cultivating these vegetables was no easy task, and judging by their pale and thin faces, their lives were clearly difficult.

She took a little from each bamboo basket, held it in her hand, and thanked them gently: "Zhang Ting thanks you all, but I have plenty of vegetables and fruits at home and can't use them all. I'll take a little from each one as a token of my appreciation for your kindness."

They still refused, saying, "Our benefactors! We have come sincerely to express our gratitude; how can we take these things and go back?"

Zhang Ting replied, "Your presence here is already a token of your kindness, and I have already received it, so there is no need for further thanks. However, these days are difficult, and you all have parents and children to support. This is also a token of my goodwill!"

Seeing Zhang Ting's resolute attitude and realizing her family's genuinely difficult situation, they had no choice but to give up. They praised her character and thought they would repay her when things improved in the future.

At this moment, the woman in the lead suddenly remembered something, went around to the back of the crowd, pulled out a dusty little girl, and pushed her in front of Zhang Ting.

"Nannan, quickly kowtow to your benefactor!"

The little girl obediently and quickly knelt down on the ground, as if she had rehearsed it countless times in her mind, and skillfully kowtowed to Zhang Ting, saying in a childish voice, "Thank you for saving my life!"

"This is absolutely unacceptable!" Zhang Ting quickly pulled her up and carefully brushed the dust off her body.

The little girl tugged at her patched sleeve, looked up at the giant in front of her, and stared straight at her with her big, dark eyes, her gaze so focused that it seemed she wanted to etch her image into her heart forever.

The woman at the head of the group squatted on the ground, stroking her daughter's withered hair. Her expression was desolate, and she numbly said to Zhang Ting, "This is what my daughter should do. If it weren't for our benefactor, she would have gone with her father long ago." After saying this, she could no longer suppress her inner pain, and she pounded her fist on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

The men and women traveling with them covered their mouths tightly, remembering the gradual disappearance of their loved ones' breath. No matter how much they pleaded with God, it was all in vain. They could only watch as their loved ones' withered bodies grew cold and hard little by little, and finally they couldn't help but burst into tears.

They have lost their parents and children forever!