Chapter 1, A Young Scholar

The second young lady's expression changed abruptly, her nose wrinkling in anger as she spat, "Nonsense, this is written for a dog."

The girl known as the Second Miss was unresponsive to persuasion; she actually clutched a long stick hidden in her sleeve and emerged from the sedan chair with an innocent expression, bouncing towards the stall selling characters. Upon seeing this, the two burly bearers immediately followed suit. Then, another maid, also around thirteen or fourteen years old, emerged from the sedan chair. She had a fairly delicate appearance and couldn't help but gasp, whispering, "It's over, I'm going to get beaten when we return." The two burly bearers, upon seeing this, immediately followed suit. Then, another maid, also around thirteen or fourteen years old, emerged from the sedan chair. She had a fairly delicate appearance and couldn't help but gasp, whispering, "It's over, I'm going to get beaten when we return."

Miss Er gritted her silver teeth and decisively instructed the two bearers following her: "Quick, catch him, let me strike him once more"

Dong ... ...

Liu Chengfeng thought for a moment, and his anger dissipated. The daughters of wealthy families often have peculiar tempers. I will earn my own money, so he spread out the paper and asked, "What would the young lady like to write?"

Upon hearing the term "fool," Liu Chengfeng's facial muscles involuntarily twitched slightly. Since arriving in this era, he has detested being called a fool by others, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly: "You are the fool; your entire family is made up of fools."

The young lady listened to the explanation, lowered the curtain, and said: "You are not wrong. Very well, I shall first test him. If I am satisfied, I will give him a little knock."

Liu Chengfeng was deeply concerned that they might not pay, and he watched them with great vigilance. In this day and age, there are too many bad people; one can never be sure they wouldn't take the letter and run away. If they dared to flee later, he would have to deal with them severely.

The young maid leaned in to take a look for a while and said, "This handwriting is truly beautiful, far more pleasing than that of Mr. Wang from the academy in the manor. Second Miss, this must be the one; he is certainly well-educated and sensible."

The second young lady was also stunned, murmuring in disbelief: "Not dizzy?" https://www.hetushu.com

"Nonsense," the second young lady furrowed her brows and said through gritted teeth, "If you are truly dizzy, how can you still speak with such vigor?"

"Don't hit... don't hit, I'm really dizzy now..." Liu Chengfeng finally managed to break free from the grip of the burly man covering his mouth, shouting loudly.

Two burly porters pounced like wolves and tigers, firmly grabbing Liu Chengfeng and covering his mouth. The second young lady leisurely raised her club and delivered another heavy blow to Liu Chengfeng's head. Despite still struggling, Liu Chengfeng showed no signs of losing consciousness, causing the second young lady to panic and exclaim, "Why isn't he unconscious yet? Didn't Master Liu say that a blow to the head would make him faint? Could it be that the force wasn't enough"

He couldn't help but chuckle self-deprecatingly, shaking his head with a light sigh

As Liu Chengfeng wrote, his body leaned slightly forward, his face turned to the side, perfectly illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun. The sunlight cast upon his somewhat pale skin, and the curve of his profile made the second young lady involuntarily captivated. In her heart, she couldn't help but think: "This person is quite good-looking, though a bit dull."

As the second young lady was lost in thought, Liu Chengfeng began to write, exhaling softly. On the white paper, he had already inscribed a few hundred characters. He straightened his back, placed the brush into the pen holder, and said to the second young lady: "Alright, Miss, please see if you are satisfied"

The young man's sword-like eyebrows raised slightly as he spoke kindly: "Auntie, 'thrift' means being frugal, and 'your son' implies that he has saved some money over in Suzhou, telling you not to be frugal. You should spend as needed; taking care of your health is what matters most."

Miss Er noticed that Liu Chengfeng's expression was not good, and immediately said: "You just write, I will pay you double, who is here to make fun of you?"

Dong ... ...

Liu Chengfeng had no choice but to put the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone back, and said: "I wonder who the young lady intends to send a letter to?"

Liu Chengfeng's eyes involuntarily dimmed, as he surmised that this young lady had secretly come to write letters to her lover without her family's knowledge. He thought to himself: A beautiful flower is unknowingly being trampled by someone else's pig.

Liu Chengfeng, with a stern expression, said: "There is no need for double the payment in gold characters; a letter costs three wen. Hurry and bring it to me, for I am about to close up shop."

"Mr. Liu, please read slowly. What does the word 'stingy' mean?" An elderly woman leaning against the young man's calligraphy stall asked, looking completely puzzled.

Liu Chengfeng began to shout: "Someone come, it's a robbery, how utterly inhumane..."

Liu Chengfeng could not help but laugh; it turned out she had come to disrupt the event. Where did this impudent girl come from, daring to stir up trouble in such a place? Does she not know that I am someone who has kicked down kindergartens and punched old age homes, a hero who specializes in dealing with all forms of defiance?

The young man is named Liu Chengfeng. In his previous life, he was a clinic doctor, but upon waking up, he found himself in this era, having become a down-and-out scholar who had lost his official title.

The girl's lips slightly pouted, and she said somewhat angrily: "Why do I see him looking dazed, like a silly goose? Moreover, if one is looking for scholars, there are plenty in the academy; why must we search in this marketplace?"

"Hey... you fool..." The second young lady walked up to the calligraphy stall and called out to Liu Chengfeng without any hesitation.

Fortunately, Liu Chengfeng inherited the scholar's talent and wrote beautifully. Thus, he set up a calligraphy stall at the street corner, where he wrote letters and wedding invitations for people, earning a few coins for his meals each day

The person inside said: "Second Miss, the Master has instructed that you are not to cause a commotion on the street. Such matters should naturally be handled by the servants; there is no need for you to exert yourself."

The young boy picked up the copper coins from the stall and placed them into a money-saving pen holder. He glanced at the sky, and his expression had already turned somber.

Liu Chengfeng raised his head, unable to help but feel a bit dazed. In this era, it was common to see women walking on two legs in the streets, but a girl as graceful and extraordinary as this was indeed rare. His mind couldn't help but be a bit confused, but upon hearing the other party call him a fool, his expression darkened slightly, and he replied irritably, "What? Does the young lady want the student to write a letter for her?"

The young man nodded, pondered for a moment to find the right words, then spread out a sheet of snow-white paper on the stall. He focused intently, dipped his brush in ink, and with swift strokes, he wrote with complete concentration. After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the young man lifted his brush, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. He blew dry the ink on the letter, folded it neatly, and handed it to the old woman, saying, "The letter is ready, it costs a total of three wen."

Liu Chengfeng, the great scholar, found it surprising that this young lady belonged to the rose family; she appeared stunning, yet was covered in thorns. He nodded, picked up a brush, and after a moment of contemplation, began to write. Having practiced for several months, he not only inherited the scholar's literary talent but was also exceptionally intelligent. His cursive script had reached a certain level of proficiency. As he wrote, his wrist moved gracefully like a long snake, and his pair of bright, piercing eyes focused intently on the paper, exuding the demeanor of a master.

It seems there is still someone sitting in the sedan chair, who crisply replied to her: "The young lady said she wants to find someone knowledgeable and sensible; otherwise, she absolutely will not marry. I think this person is quite good, and their writing is also nice."

The second young lady was once again in a predicament, and she said carelessly: "Just ask him how he has been lately. If he does not behave, I will knock him out in one blow, skin him, and cook dog meat with it www.hetushu.com.com"

He could only smile wryly; he did not know when others had started calling him by this nickname. In any case, everyone he had met since his arrival had referred to him this way, and there was no way to change it.

With a thud, Liu Chengfeng felt a sharp pain and covered his head

Just as the words were spoken, the wooden stick in the second young lady's hand traced a half-arc in the air and struck fiercely towards Liu Chengfeng's head

However, business still needs to be conducted. He gathered his spirits and asked, "Is it written for a lover?"

The old woman immediately smiled, her wrinkled skin involuntarily smoothing out as she said: "Oh, I know, I understand now. Mr. Liu will write a letter on behalf of the old woman, telling him that I am doing well and that he need not worry. I have received the money he sent."

The second young lady hesitated for a moment, then nodded in a quirky manner and said, "Alright, you write."

The young boy smiled gently, revealing a harmonious smile. The afterglow of the setting sun complemented his smiling face, and in that dim twilight on the ancient street, everything suddenly became radiant.

A scholar without a title inevitably faces disdain from others. Liu Chengfeng barely had time to replan his future after starting anew, and he began to hustle just to fill his stomach.

Liu Chengfeng raised his face and said: "Miss, are you here to amuse the students?"

The sky is dimming, the setting sun is slanting down, casting a patch of afterglow. The ancient marketplace has gradually become desolate; the peddlers have packed up their stalls and dispersed, while a few passersby hurry by, their footsteps quick and fleeting.

The person inside said: "Second Miss, that is not how one should speak. The scholars in the Taixue are all accomplished individuals. If we were to bind him... No, it is our Wen family that has acted rashly in inviting him. At that time, it might bring about legal troubles. This sour scholar is quite suitable; it is said that he has offended the Xuezheng and lost his title. He has no relatives at home, and being all alone, if we bind him, no one will come to his aid. Moreover, he is quite handsome; isn't he a perfect match for the eldest young lady?"

Liu Chengfeng was preparing to close his stall. He first covered the ink box and then brought a bucket of water to wash his brushes, completely unaware that not far away, at the street corner, a small sedan chair had come to a steady stop. The curtain of the sedan chair was gently lifted, revealing a stunningly beautiful and charming face. The girl appeared to be only about thirteen or fourteen years old, with tender skin and wide-open eyes, curiously watching Liu Chengfeng. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, saying, "Xiang'er, is this him?"

Not far away, a peddler finished packing up his stall and walked over to Liu Chengfeng's calligraphy stand, smiling at Liu Chengfeng and saying: "At this time, where is there any business? Liu the fool, why haven't you closed up yet?"

Oh heavens, oh earth, just let the students be confused... Liu Chengfeng's heart is bleeding

The second young lady listened to the maid's words, smiling gently as she looked at Liu Chengfeng. Her charming face was like a breath of spring, and as she spoke softly, she said: "Your handwriting is truly beautiful"

The silver coins are also entrusted to Yi. How are they to be used at home? If it can be saved, then save it; if it cannot be saved, there is no need to be overly frugal... At the street corner, a young man is holding a letter and reading it aloud, his voice deep and each word pronounced clearly.

The second young lady pondered for a moment and said: "Written for a fool"

The second young lady carefully opened the letter, completely unfamiliar with the running script. She had no choice but to ask the maid beside her, saying: "Come and take a look, is this handwriting good?"

Miss Er extended her hand from the sleeve, and Liu Chengfeng thought she was reaching for money. To his surprise, what emerged from the long sleeve was actually a wooden stick. Liu Chengfeng was instantly stunned, wondering what was happening... Could it be a robbery?

The old woman received a letter, carefully tucked it into her bosom, took out three coins and placed them on the table, and joyfully walked away

At that moment, the wooden stick struck down again, hitting Liu Chengfeng squarely on the back of his head. Liu Chengfeng rolled his eyes and finally fainted.