Chapter 139 Apologizing in Person
In Cheng Wanwan's yard.
Wu Huiniang kept her head down and worked silently, trying to avoid attracting the attention of the young master in the courtyard... Although she was a woman, she was only seventeen years old and had no idea how to deal with this young master.
Cheng Zhao was drying rice. The grains harvested last night needed to be dried, and the rice collected today also needed to be spread out to dry. He was threshing the rice while drying it, and he couldn't stop for a moment.
Afu was threshing rice while holding a flail, crying and looking at his young master with a very resentful gaze.
Shen Zheng was sitting on a chair with a bowl of water at his side, taking a sip from time to time.
He was thinking about what method could be used to thresh the grains faster. Whether it was tapping the wooden basin with rice stalks or threshing the rice with a flail, it was all about using external force to make the rice fall off. Wouldn't it be faster and easier to roll it over with a wheel?
However, the carriage wheels were too narrow, and even if they went back and forth ten times, they might not be able to crush all the rice.
As he was thinking about the carriages, they suddenly appeared in his field of vision—not just one, but three carriages, coming in a grand procession from the main road of Dahe Village.
The carriage stopped briefly along the way, and the driver jumped off, seemingly asking a farmer by the roadside for directions. Then the carriage drew closer and closer to the small courtyard.
Shen Zheng stood up suddenly. He initially thought that his father had sent someone to pick him up, but the county government only had one carriage, and his father would definitely not be able to make such a grand scene when picking him up.
He stared at the carriage, and soon it stopped in the courtyard in front of Cheng Wanwan's house.
Of the four people in the courtyard, only Wu Huiniang could be considered the hostess. She quickly wiped her hands, stood up, and came out to greet them, her face full of trepidation.
The carriage stopped, and two people stepped out of the first carriage. Both were dressed in fine clothes, with feathered headdresses and jade pendants hanging from their waists. They stood on the carriage, completely out of place in this village.
Cheng Zhao recognized them as Zheng Wangfeng, the son of the Fenghuang Town magistrate, and Qian Hui, the brother-in-law of a wealthy businessman in Baiyun Town.
He was forced to hide in the village, and these two still don't intend to let him go?
People emerged from the two carriages behind, and Cheng Zhao recognized them all as students from the Southern Academy.
Wu Huiniang was completely stunned and had no idea how to react.
Cheng Zhao walked to the front, looking indifferently at the large group of people in front of him: "What are you doing here?"
"Zheng Wangfeng, Qian Hui, you two have truly taken the term 'bullying with your power' to the extreme." Shen Zheng scoffed. "Wasn't it enough that you kicked Cheng Zhao out of Nanfu Academy? Now you're coming here to wipe him out completely?"
When Shen Zheng wasn't speaking, no one would notice him at all. He was dressed in patched clothes, looking much like a farmer in the village. How could he possibly catch the eye of these young noblemen?
The moment he opened his mouth, all eyes turned to him.
Qian Hui burst out laughing: "Brother Shen, your clothes are quite nice, they suit your temperament very well."
A group of students followed suit and laughed.
Adults from several nearby counties and towns sent their children to study at Nanfu Academy. Shen Zheng's status was not particularly outstanding, and Ping'an Town was the poorest. Moreover, Magistrate Shen had a good temper, so Shen Zheng was not pampered or spoiled by many people at the academy. Furthermore, these people were Zheng Wangfeng's followers. Phoenix Town was more prosperous than Ping'an Town, and the status of the son of the magistrate of Phoenix Town was more noble in the eyes of the students.
These people followed Zheng Wangfeng, and with Zheng Wangfeng backing them up, they naturally dared to mock Shen Zheng.
"Shut up." Zheng Wangfeng glanced at Qian Hui. "Don't forget why we're here today. Don't cause trouble."
Qian Hui immediately stopped smiling and looked at Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao had been away from Nanfu Academy for so long, and he thought he would see a down-on-his-luck scholar, and that Cheng Zhao would be tormented by life. Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhao looked very healthy. Although he was dressed in tattered clothes, he was dignified and stood out even more than Shen Zheng, who was a carefree and irresponsible man.
Qian Hui whispered, "No wonder Magistrate Shen personally stood up for Cheng Zhao. It turns out he's currying favor with Shen Zheng. He puts on a high-minded act of not associating with us, but in reality, he looks down on us."
Zheng Wangfeng didn't reply. He jumped down from the carriage, walked up to Cheng Zhao, and cupped his hands, saying, "Brother Cheng, I've come today specifically to apologize to you. The matter at Nanfu Academy was a misunderstanding. I've already clarified it with the teacher and the headmaster. You can return to Nanfu Academy to continue your studies at any time. The people behind me who publicly humiliated you that day have also come with me to apologize."
Qian Hui stepped forward and said, "Brother Cheng, we were wrong in this matter. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against us."
The people behind him came forward one after another to apologize.
Zheng Wangfeng also offered an apology gift, a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, while Qian Hui presented a paper fan.
Cheng Zhao's expression remained calm throughout. He did not feel proud because so many people came to apologize. He knew very well that all this was because of County Magistrate Shen.
In the past, Magistrate Shen's words wouldn't have been so effective.
However, during this period, Magistrate Shen gained the trust of the Prefect. Since Magistrate Shen brought up this matter, Magistrate Zheng had to give an explanation.
"Cheng Zhao didn't take this matter to heart either. Brother Zheng and Brother Qian, please take these things back," Cheng Zhao said calmly. "I still have things to do, so I won't chat with you all any longer."
Qian Hui's expression changed: "You don't know what's good for you..."
"What? You apologized and he has already forgiven you, yet you still insist on forcing him to accept the apology gifts? What kind of logic is that?" Shen Zheng sneered. "It can only be said that your apologies did not reach Brother Cheng's heart. How about this, you help Cheng Zhao with his work, and if you do a good job, Cheng Zhao will naturally forgive you."
Qian Hui stared wide-eyed. Shen Zheng was shameless; he really dared to speak up.
How could a dignified young master like him possibly do farm work!
“Then I can only tell my father about what happened today. My father has been going to Huzhou to see the prefect every day these days. If he accidentally tells the prefect about the magistrate’s son’s bullying of others, then…” Shen Zheng changed the subject, “Brother Zheng, don’t change your expression. I was just joking, just a joke, hehehe.”
Zheng Wangfeng was very angry.
He and Shen Zheng were both sons of county magistrates, but his father had better political achievements, so he always had a head start over Shen Zheng.
But recently, for some unknown reason, Shen Zheng's father suddenly gained the favor of the prefect. His father repeatedly instructed him to apologize to Cheng Zhao and then befriend Shen Zheng.
Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng are here, so let’s do this together.
Zheng Wangfeng tucked the paper fan into his robes and said calmly, "Brother Chen, what do you want us to do?"
The smile on Shen Zheng's face widened.
Just when I was figuring out how to finish the job, these free laborers came knocking on my door. Why not take advantage of them?
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