Chapter 71 Counterfeits
It was not yet dinnertime, the sky was overcast, and the cold wind was almost everywhere, making one's feet feel cold.
To appear refined and scholarly, He Xing wore only a thin jacket, and was now shivering uncontrollably.
Fortunately, the He family's house was not far from the Jiang family's house, and He Xing finally stepped into the house before his body stiffened.
"Mom, pour me a cup of hot water."
As the room warmed up, He Xing's ashen complexion began to improve. He kept rubbing his hands together, trying to warm them up.
"Son, there's no hot water at home."
He Xingniang went to the kitchen and came back looking unwell.
The mother and son went to the Jiang family's house to send their helpers back. In the past, the Jiang family would have definitely invited them to stay for dinner, but they hadn't prepared any dinner at all.
This time, they only stayed for a short while. Xu seemed preoccupied and spoke very perfunctorily. He Xingniang tried to find topics to talk about for a long time, but Xu didn't respond, creating an awkward atmosphere.
"Mother, the Jiang family has really taken a liking to Zhang Jing. They've even prepared a house for him and gone to great lengths to do so."
He Xing thought of what he had seen and heard about the Jiang family and wished he could grind his teeth to dust.
When he usually visited the Jiang residence, Jiang Baozhu would always be by his side. This time, he didn't see a single person. It's because she's taken a fancy to that pretty boy Zhang Jing, so she's deliberately avoiding him!
"What should we do then?"
He Xingniang sensed something was wrong, but couldn't figure out what her family had done to offend the Jiang family.
“Mother, don’t worry. Zhang Jing is in mourning, and three years is enough time for many things to happen.”
He Xing was anxious, as Jiang Huai hadn't sent any money for a while, and he wasn't exactly flush with cash.
During holidays and festivals, he would always send gifts to the stewards of noblemen's mansions, but as the year drew to a close, he still hadn't received his generous gifts.
"Mother, here's ten taels of silver. Take it and spend it."
He Xingniang learned that scholars not only buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, but also engage in social interactions. If they could gain the favor of a noble person, they might be able to marry into a higher social class.
The steward of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, though a servant, is quite capable. If he were to say a few good words to his master, He Xing might just rise to prominence.
Gifts are a must!
"Mother, ten taels of silver is not enough!"
He Xing was very worried. He looked down on the Jiang family, but he needed their money. Now, under the current circumstances, it would be even more difficult to get money from the Jiang family.
Ten taels of silver is a huge sum of money for ordinary people. The head steward of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion has seen all kinds of good things. He wouldn't even glance at a mere ten taels of silver.
"But our family..."
He Xingniang was in dire straits. She was a widow and her son, and had no ability to earn money. The money was her husband's pension, and there wasn't much left.
"Mom, go cook. I have a plan."
Almost instantly, He Xingji came up with a plan.
He Xingniang always trusted her son, so she didn't ask any questions and went to the kitchen after lifting the curtain.
Inside the room, all was silent. He Xing's mind was racing. He came up with a good idea that would both swindle some things and teach the Jiang family a lesson.
Thinking of this, He Xing couldn't sit still any longer. Before it got dark, he hurriedly went out and headed straight for the Xuan family.
Ever since he was covered in a sack, Zhu Tou Xuan Paper, the folding fan, has stayed home all day, wondering who dared to beat him up.
He was usually domineering in school and had offended many people. However, he was the kind of person who knew how to treat people differently. Xuanzhi always tried to please those he couldn't afford to offend.
"Brother Xuan, I've come to see you!"
He Xing never came empty-handed; he brought a box of dried fruit.
Xuanzhi is a fool with lots of money, a real easy target, and he loves to fleece such a fat sheep.
"Didn't you go to see the teacher today?"
Xuanzhi raised his eyelids slightly and said dismissively.
"I came to see you because I know something."
He Xing lowered his eyes, his tone hesitant for a moment, and after he finished speaking, he waited for Xuanzhi to ask further questions.
Xuanzhi was too lazy to speak, leaning back on the small couch cracking melon seeds, not even glancing at He Xing. People are divided into different classes, and He Xing had always been his lackey.
"It's about you being beaten..."
Seeing that Xuan Zhutou wasn't taking the bait, He Xing had no choice but to throw out the bait himself.
Do you know who put the sack on it?
Upon hearing this, Xuanzhi immediately sat up, then cried out "Ouch, ouch!" twice. Not only was his face swollen like a pig's head, but that despicable bastard had also kicked his butt, making it very inconvenient for him to use the toilet now.
"I know, but it's not easy for me to say."
He Xing's hesitant manner made Xuanzhi seem even more suspicious.
"He Xing, I know you're in trouble. Here's what I'll do: I'm a very generous person. Just tell me who the bastard who put the sack in is, and my painting of the Dwelling in the Mountains of Akina is yours!"
The painting "Autumn Mountain Dwelling" was a masterpiece by a great calligrapher and painter, but it was discovered and collected by Xuanzhi, who kept it hidden away.
If I hadn't been so eager to know who was behind this, I would never have taken out the Xuan paper.
"Good, Brother Xuan is the most straightforward!"
Xuanzhi's willingness to give him the "Autumn Mountain Dwelling" painting was an unexpected delight. He Xing was overjoyed and cursed Xuanzhi for getting beaten up, saying he'd gone mad and turned into a pig's head.
"Who is it? Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!"
The goods were promised out, and Xuan paper was in a hurry.
He Xing is a man who always tries to take advantage of others. This time, he came to my door simply to extort some money from me.
Xuanzhi is neither a fool nor a sucker. His father had already given the painting of Qiuming Mountain Dwelling to the steward of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, while the other painting in his hand was a fake, though it looked very real.
I received a tip, and they gave me a fake painting. I didn't care about the cost of the Xuan paper.
"It's the Jiang family."
Once He Xing received the painting, he didn't keep Xuan Zhi in suspense and explained the whole story before Xuan Zhi could even ask.
"You mean the Jiang family has taken a liking to Zhang Jing and wants him to be their son-in-law, because I bullied Zhang Jing, so..."
Xuanzhi was surprised. Indeed, he despised Zhang Jing's poor and shabby appearance the most. Selling a pair of Spring Festival couplets for five copper coins was a disgrace to scholars!
The Jiang family felt indignant on behalf of Zhang Jing, so they hired someone to beat him up.
The Jiang family, the Jiang family that runs a fur shop, they're really something!
"He Xing, thanks to you this time. Don't worry, I won't reveal a single word and will put you in the bag."
Xuanzhi gritted his teeth, realizing that going against the Jiang family was not something he could handle on his own; he would have to ask his father for help.
He Xing stayed for a while, making sure the Xuan paper was genuine, before happily leaving with the fake.
He met Xiao Qi on his way home.
"Tingyun, what's wrong?"
In He Xing's mind, Xiao Qi was definitely the number one idiot; no one could be a good person to that extent.
Do you remember a while ago, the old woman in town who was good at faking accidents fell in front of Xiao Qi and insisted that he had hit her? This simpleton not only didn't go to the authorities, but also took the initiative to compensate the old woman with money, and he himself ate coarse flour buns for three days.
"I just came back from the Zhang family."
Xiao Qi was not surprised to run into He Xing. In fact, when he saw He Xing looking for Xuan paper, he felt something was amiss, so he secretly sneaked into the Xuan family's house to eavesdrop and overheard a fascinating scene.
He Xing is a vicious snake, much more ruthless than a treacherous wolf.
Lin Yuesha mentioned He Xing with great disgust, so let him, as the older brother, teach him a good lesson and vent his anger for his younger sister.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
