Before Ou Qinghai could unleash another angry tirade, Zhang Baosheng lowered his head and pressed down on his arm.
"Brother Ou, don't let me spoil your enjoyment. Let's find another place to continue our academic discussion."
He lowered his head and rushed out.
Zhang Baosheng wanted to leave quickly, but how could Zhang Cuicui and Liu Xiaohua let him?
They were running a perfectly good shop, but people were criticizing them for making money unscrupulously. They said it was a small matter, but it affected the shop's reputation.
We must make this clear.
"Wait a minute, sir."
Since you all have complaints about our shop, let's have a proper discussion. What have we done to you?
Zhang Baosheng was sitting with his head down, so his two sisters-in-law couldn't see his face clearly.
After all, he was a man, and even with his head down, he could be clearly seen once he stood up.
In order to avoid being recognized, he had to cover his face with his sleeve and try to escape by going around the area.
Because I was covering my face and moving quickly, I didn't notice what was in front of me.
Because all the men in the Zhao family were tall and strong, Zhao Qingshan was at least half a head taller than Zhang Baosheng, who was of average height.
Zhang Baosheng nearly buried his head in Zhao Qingshan's arms as he entered from outside.
On instinct, Zhao Qingshan pushed away the unidentified object that appeared in front of him.
With a "plop," Zhang Baosheng's buttocks made solid contact with the ground.
In the instant he fell, Zhang Baosheng no longer cared about covering his face.
As a result, the four members of the Zhao family who entered, along with their sisters-in-law in the shop, all saw Zhang Baosheng's face clearly.
"Hey, isn't this Zhang Tongsheng who was driven out of the village?"
Those who are expelled should live among the refugees. What incredible luck Zhang Tongsheng has had to even make friends through literature?
Zhao Qingshan said in a sarcastic tone.
The students stood up abruptly, some helping others up, others banging on the tables.
"Don't push your luck. Brother Zhang has already left your Zhao Family Village. What more do you want?"
If there are unmarried women in the family, don't blame them on scholars without considering whether you are even a suitable match.
Li Qunshan said with great disdain.
"Oh ho." Zhao Qingshan started rolling up his sleeves.
Huang blocked Zhao Qingshan's path.
“Zhang Baosheng, if you come to our shop for a meal today, and there’s nothing else going on, this old woman of mine will not pay any attention to you.”
You're really like a toad on your foot—it doesn't bite, but it's still disgusting!
Judging from your attitude, it's as if it was all the Zhao family's fault that your family was driven out of the village.
Do you dare to tell the truth from back then?
"I consider myself a magnanimous old woman and won't stoop to your level. Where did you get the audacity to come to my door and act so arrogantly? Are you some kind of useless, lowly servant?"
As he spoke, he pointed to his classmates.
The students, who have always been the most valued students in their families, could not bear being called "white-skinned chickens" (meaning incompetent or weak). They could not tolerate it.
"Where did this uncouth woman come from? We are all scholars; it's an honor for you to dine at your restaurant."
As for how many despicable things your Zhao family has done, only you yourselves know.
Isn't it you who are forcing Brother Zhang to marry into the family?
Isn't it you who are trying to blackmail us by threatening to expel us from the village?
If it weren't for Brother Zhang's unwavering will, he might already be a handful of dust by now.
Your Zhao family has committed numerous evils and is morally corrupt. What's wrong with saying a few words to you?
Are you afraid to admit your mistakes? Don't think that just because you're an old woman, we won't dare to do anything to you.
"We will definitely join forces with all the students to petition the county magistrate and demand that you give Brother Zhang justice."
Ou Qinghai delivered a very eloquent speech.
Huang was in a good mood today, so she listened patiently to the rambling of the little fool across from her.
After listening, I roughly understood that the whole thing was Zhang Baosheng smearing the Zhao family to gain sympathy from the public.
Such a blatant disparagement of the Zhao family is intolerable.
"Hehe, everything you're saying is what Zhang Baosheng told you?"
You call yourselves scholars, yet you are so unable to distinguish right from wrong, drawing conclusions based on only one side of the story.
If you become local officials in the future, how many wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice will you create?
"No investigation, no right to speak. Why don't you ask him what Zhang Baosheng and his family have been doing?"
Huang said calmly.
"What he did is up to you Zhao family members to decide."
They're just outsiders, how could they possibly withstand the bullying of such a large clan like yours? The Zhao family is right in every way, inside and out.
Ou Qinghai was very indignant.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong, little friend, you're wrong."
Our Zhao Family Village isn't just home to the Zhang family; they're the only outsider family in all these years since the village was established. There must be a reason.
Huang shook her finger as she spoke.
"That's because they succumbed to the tyranny of your Zhao clan, daring not to speak out against their anger."
Ou Qinghai shouted loudly.
"Haha, little boy, I never lie, because there's no need to."
If you don't believe me, you can send someone to our Zhao Family Village to inquire about the reasons why Zhang Baosheng's family was driven out of the village.
My Zhao family is upright and honorable, and we would never stoop to kicking someone when they're down.
When the Zhang family was expelled from the village, our village chief discovered during the registration process that the Zhang family had moved their household registration.
They didn't completely wipe out the Zhang family, out of consideration for the kinship they had built up over the years.
It seems that if we don't clarify things today, my Zhao family will suffer an unjust accusation.
"Oh well, this old woman will tell you what happened that day," Huang sighed.
"No, please, Grandma Zhao, don't say it, please don't say it."
It's all my fault. I didn't know this was a shop owned by your family, so I came to eat with my classmates.
I never expected that so much unpleasantness would occur. It's all my fault, and I apologize to you.
Brother Ou, Brother Li, Brother Wang, Brother Ji... fellow classmates, let's go, and let's not lose our harmony because of me.
I heard that Ruyilou recently launched a new tofu dish.
"Why don't we go to Ruyi Restaurant for a meal? It'll be my treat, as an apology."
Zhang Baosheng would rather suffer financially than let Huang say another word.
If the specific reasons why his family was driven out of the village were to become known, his future would be ruined.
Although everyone usually has access to the most resources at home, no one dares to casually spend money at Ruyi Tower.
After all, these days, making friends is also about social standing; rich kids hang out together...
If one of them comes from a poor family, there are only two reasons.
One possibility is that the person from a poor family has special talents or knowledge; another is that the person from a poor family is a sycophant.
They use flattery and sycophancy as their main means to obtain small tips.
They're all scholars, all have passed the imperial examinations; who knows, they might soar to great heights in the future.
Therefore, anyone who is doing alright will not really want to be a sycophant.
Opportunities to eat a free meal are rare.
When someone's treating, who cares about justice or not? It's none of my business. All I care about is "eating".
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