Before going to the hall, he went to kowtow to Fang Hongyuan. Fang Hongyuan was discussing business with his two legitimate sons. He didn't even raise his head, but just waved his hand and told him to leave quickly, as if he was just an eyesore.
But no one expected that this "bastard" who was trampled under their feet would make it through all the tests, first taking first place in the children's examination, then passing the academy examination and the provincial examination, and finally reaching Jinling with the list of Gongshi in his hands.
Fang Hongyuan finally took a good look at his son. He looked at Fang Zhiyi's washed-out blue shirt, his eyes gleaming with calculation. He quickly had the best of the East Wing packed out and personally took him to buy silk clothes. He even pulled him to his seat at dinner, showering him with warm regards.
The usually mean Liu changed her cold attitude and sent stewed tonics to his room every day. His two legitimate brothers kept calling him "third brother" and pulled him to the restaurant in the city to try some delicious food.
Fang Zhiyi had never experienced such "family love" in his life. He thought that his hard days were finally over, but he didn't see Fang Hongyuan's meaningful look. The Fang family has been manipulated by officials in all these years of doing business. If they had a son who became an official, who would they be afraid of in the future?
Not long after, Fang Zhiyi was about to travel to the capital to take the imperial examination. This time, Fang Hongyuan was exceptionally generous, filling a chest with silver for him and repeatedly admonishing him, "Zhiyi, don't skimp on your money when you get to the capital. Spend it wisely. Dad hopes you'll become an official and bring honor to our Fang family."
Fang Zhiyi felt warm in his heart, thinking that his father finally recognized him, but he did not think much about how much filth was hidden behind the word "arrange".
On the day of the palace examination, Fang Zhiyi, relying on his solid academic record, unexpectedly placed seventh in the second class and was appointed a deputy clerk. When the news reached Nanjing, Fang Hongyuan was overjoyed. That same day, he took a chest of gold to the capital and sought out officials from the Ministry of Personnel to arrange for him.
Money makes the world go round. Within half a month, Fang Zhiyi received an appointment to be the county magistrate of Yunhe County, Qingzhou. He thought his talent was appreciated, but he didn't know that it was just an official title bought by Fang Hongyuan with money.
As soon as he arrived in Yunhe, Fang Hongyuan, who couldn't wait, brought the owner of the silk shop to him and asked him to give the "green light" to Fang's silk business, not only to exempt some taxes, but also to let the county government give priority to purchasing Fang's silk.
Fang Zhiyi was a little hesitant. He wanted to be a good official. After thinking for a while, he hesitated and rejected Fang Hongyuan. He also brought up the court's laws. It was at this time that Fang Hongyuan, the old fox, immediately understood Fang Zhiyi's thoughts. However, he did not show any displeasure. He just smiled and said, "My son is very ambitious!"
Fang Zhiyi felt a little embarrassed by the praise.
But he didn't know that his father turned around and used the title of "County Magistrate's father" to start his own plan. As for the people around him, Fang Zhiyi had only known how to study since he was a child, and had no idea about human relationships. These people had long been bribed by Fang's father to help hide the truth from Fang Zhiyi. He didn't realize that there was anything wrong. Even when the lawyer offered to help him try the case so that he could concentrate on studying, Fang Zhiyi only declined twice and happily agreed the third time.
So when the Fang family grain store was discovered to have shortchanged people, they beat the people. When the people came to complain, they were beaten even more fiercely by the yamen runners.
After this, the local people did not dare to complain anymore, and every time Fang Zhiyi went on patrol, someone would make arrangements in advance to drive away beggars, threaten the people, and so on.
What he saw was a peaceful Yunhe County, and he was even a little complacent about his own abilities. He was completely unaware of the resentful eyes of the local people.
Within two years, Fang Zhiyi was promoted to the position of prefect of Qingzhou. He was even happier, feeling that his abilities were recognized, but he didn't know that this was the result of Fang Hongyuan paying a large bribe.
After becoming the prefect, he had more power and the Fang family's business went more smoothly. Not only did they monopolize Qingzhou's silk and grain business, they also opened a salt shop. Fang's father used his name to allow a steady flow of private salt into Qingzhou. At the same time, he also began to build connections in Qingzhou and win over wealthy families and merchants. With his brain, he quickly took control of the situation in Qingzhou.
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