Chapter 003: As beautiful as spring flowers, people are like grass
In the world he originally belonged to, some non-mainstream newspapers and magazines recorded the following: Following the mysterious disappearance of over 1,000 officers and soldiers from the First Norfolk Regiment in the UK, the collective disappearance of villagers in Anki Koning, Canada, the case of a Toyota car disappearing witnessed by Mr. Kinoshita in Japan, and the miraculous disappearance of passengers and train attendants in the Moscow subway, another bizarre disappearance occurred under the watchful eyes of many...
Lost in thought, the door creaked open with a sound. Ting Xiang's body shuddered, and only then did she see that the person who entered was Zhang Shisan
If it were not for the fact that Xia Xun woke up still wearing clothing completely different from that of the common people of the Ming Dynasty, he would almost believe that the past twenty years of his life had been nothing but a ridiculous dream. He found himself in Xiaoye'er Village, Nanxun, Huzhou, which is a village of fallen households, also known as a village of lowly people. In the Ming Dynasty, households were categorized based on their registration into military, civilian, artisan, and kitchen classes, while the lowly people were placed outside the four classes. Xia Xun had never heard of such a social class before.
At this point, Feng Jianxiao glanced at the comically naive statue of the "Buddha," his brow slightly furrowing. Had it not been for the decline of their power in recent years and the severe shortage of personnel, they would never have sent such a foolish individual to handle such a significant matter. This person is utterly useless and has instead become a burden. Feng Jianxiao, feeling uneasy, instructed, "An Litong, this matter concerns our lives and fortunes. If Shisanlang requires anything, you must cooperate fully, especially regarding your discretion; you must not reveal a word to anyone. Do you understand?"
Zhang Shisan felt her footsteps slow down. She stopped and turned back, just in time to see her raising her hand to gather her hair. He smiled at her, his smile warm and gentle. Upon being seen by him, Xiangxiang felt that he had discerned her feelings, which made her somewhat shy. Thus, she gently lowered her head, but the action of gathering her hair quickened.
Men typically lack patience; a good woman should not keep a man waiting. This is what her mother in the courtyard has repeatedly advised her since childhood
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Zhang Shisan nodded slightly, carefully observing the woman before him. Her long hair cascaded down, her wrists were as delicate as lotus roots, her eyebrows resembled distant mountains, and her eyes shone like polished lacquer. Sunlight filtered through the paper window, casting a glow upon her. Her figure was graceful, her skin as smooth as jade; she was indeed a rare beauty, especially with her pitifully gentle and submissive expression, which naturally evoked a sense of protectiveness in the bibliophile.
Tingxiang had never thought of reporting to the authorities; she was afraid. Zhang Shisan's words had been firmly etched in her mind. From childhood to adulthood, she had learned only the skills to please men, remaining ignorant of everything else. She had never considered escaping; she was merely a weak woman. She did not understand why she should escape, nor did she know where she could go after fleeing. Her life was like a fragile vine, utterly dependent on the tree of man.
In fact, the existence of the lowly class has been a historical constant, encompassing merchants, servants, entertainers, slaves, prostitutes, and beggars. However, the lowly class is further divided into various ranks. For instance, while merchants, servants, and entertainers are categorized as lowly, their status is quite comparable to that of ordinary citizens, and in some cases, their social standing, wealth, and connections may even surpass those of some common good citizens. Yet, among the lowly, the most degraded individuals truly struggle at the very bottom of society
Zhang Shisan felt a sudden stir in his heart, and could not help but nod, responding softly: "Although Shisan enjoys favor, if things go awry, it is likely that I cannot escape punishment. You and I should work together in this; Shisan will follow your instructions."
"Shisanlang..." Tingxiang quickly moved down to the ground, timidly calling out, her tone carrying a hint of servility
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Ah! It was merely a brief exclamation, and then the head of Qingxiang was submerged in the water
Beauty is like spring flowers, while people are as cheap as grass
Zhang Shisan's face remained devoid of any unusual expression; his cold and indifferent gaze quietly observed the life struggling beneath his hand. Water splashed onto his face, yet he remained motionless, his grip on Tingxiang's hair tightening increasingly, forcefully pressing it down into the water.
With her head lowered in shyness, Tingxiang did not see it; even if she had seen it, what difference would it make? Her life had never been in her own hands
Thinking of pleasing another man so quickly is not due to her indifference towards Young Master Yang; she simply understands very well that she is unworthy of love, and no one wishes to engage in romance with her. What men desire is merely her body; the notions of affection and love are nothing more than a luxury for someone of her status. She possesses only this alluring body and a beautiful face. She brings pleasure to men and, in return, gains the right to survive, and nothing more.
As she stepped out of the door, a gentle breeze stirred, lifting her flowing black hair
Only in such places, among the communities of the lowest strata of society, is there no one to question the identity and background of Xia He * Tu * Shu Xun, and no one to care whether he possesses a travel permit or household registration. Yet he does not wish to live such a lowly life; the outcasts may engage in the most degrading work, but he has no identity at all, and even to do the most menial jobs, he must do so furtively. Without a travel permit or household registration, he cannot go anywhere; inns do not allow him to stay, private homes do not offer him shelter, merchants do not accept him as an assistant, and craftsmen do not take him as an apprentice. The only way out is to become a beggar or a thief.
Thirteen Lang is naturally not as charming and dashing as Young Master Yang, nor does he possess the wealth of a myriad of treasures or the scholarly reputation of a talented scholar. However... if he were to treat me kindly, it might not be a bad choice after all... I am merely a concubine; if the young master dies, even if I do not end up imprisoned due to this lawsuit, the only outcome for me would be to be sold off. Who knows to whom I would belong then
So, I will become the woman of Shisanlang from now on
However, at the moment she lowered her head, Zhang Shisan's gaze suddenly changed, becoming as cold-blooded and cruel as the eyes of a snake
Why?
After a long time, the struggle of Xu Xiang finally ceased, lying softly at the edge of the tank, motionless
Feng Jianjiao said: "This is good. Shisanlang has always been by Yang Xu's side, and he is well aware of his temperament, character, mannerisms, preferences, and social interactions. Who else but Shisanlang could transform himself into Yang Xu, a person capable of turning iron into gold?"
The beggar returned to the temporary shelter of the Dragon King Temple, casually hanging the fish he had caught in a shaded area, and wearily sat down on a patch of weeds. Sunlight streamed through the hole in the temple roof, illuminating his tattered clothing. Looking around, he noticed the half-collapsed temple door, the defaced deity statues, and cobwebs everywhere; this was his lodging for the day. With a soft sigh, he lay back, resting his head on his arms.
Hearing the fragrance, she suddenly realized that she was still in a disheveled state, which was rather unappealing. She hurriedly slowed her pace and gently gathered her hair, hoping to make herself look more beautiful, so that her man would find her pleasing to the eye
In the gaze of the crowd, his body was struck and vanished into the air. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in Xiaoye Village, Nanxun, Huzhou, during the twenty-eighth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. To this day, he still does not understand what exactly happened.
His name is Xia Xun. He originally did not belong to this world, and in the summer a year ago, to be precise, it should be a summer more than six hundred years later, he was still a carefree police academy student
Such lowly people are mostly those who have been degraded to the status of commoners due to war. The individuals in this village are the lowest among the lowly, all of whom were subordinates of Zhang Shicheng, a leader of the righteous army during the late Yuan dynasty. Zhang Shicheng is considered one of the better figures among the warlords of the late Yuan; he is not treacherous and is capable of tolerance. He cultivated wasteland, improved water conservancy, and reduced taxes, earning the support of ordinary people, scholars, and even wealthy merchants in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.
"It is!" The fragrance responded softly. Upon hearing Zhang Shisan's words, she became even more certain of her previous judgment. Her heart inevitably calmed slightly as she lifted the hem of her skirt and gently followed behind Zhang Shisan, submissive as if she were trailing behind a young master.
Feng Jianxiao sighed, "Even if you do not mention it, how could I be unaware? However, apart from this, do we have any other paths to take? A dead horse can be treated as a live one; we must at least give it a try. Shisanlang, when it comes to the closeness or distance in our relationship with the esteemed one, I am not your match. If the esteemed one were to pursue the matter, he might give you some leniency, while we... we all have parents, wives, and children. Yet, with a glimmer of hope, we certainly do not wish to let it slip away. Having worked together, I hope, Shisanlang, that you will remember our brotherly bond and generously extend your assistance."
She had only been bought back by the young master for less than half a month, and she thought she would have someone to rely on for life, but who would have known...
Xia Xun's experience in handling cases is still too limited; he failed to realize that the other party was merely deceiving him. In a moment of impatience, he reacted with resistance, ultimately leading to his identity being exposed. After a fierce battle, he escaped to the street, where a kind-hearted person called 120. The ambulance rushed over, but in the end, Xia Xun was struck and thrown away.
The police academy does not guarantee job placement. If this undercover mission is executed successfully, he will become a genuine police officer, an opportunity that is hard to come by for someone without a family background. In preparation for this operation, he reviewed a vast amount of materials and even went to prison to learn the speech and jargon of arrested drug dealers, as well as to understand their lifestyle habits. The police also brought in a hypnotist to teach him "self-hypnosis," allowing him to "brainwash" himself and accept, from the bottom of his heart, the role of a drug dealer he was about to portray. With everything ready, the southern drug dealer arrived
Zhang Shisan displayed a hint of hesitation. Feng Jianxiao leaned closer to his ear and whispered: "The real Yang Wenxuan has already died. If this person can truly take his place, he will be a puppet in our hands. At that time, the vast fortune of the Yang family..."
Thus... Thirteen Lang concealed the message, perhaps intending to abscond with a sum of wealth to a distant land. Therefore, his reasons for leaving become apparent; Tingxiang knows how beautiful she is and the immense allure she holds for men.
Zhang Shisan's gaze flickered as he said softly, "My lord, besides the four of us, there is one more person who knows the truth"
Is there a third way
Feng Jianxiao naturally knew who he was referring to. He paused silently for a moment and said淡淡地道: "Then let her die!"
He agreed
In a room within the courtyard of the hotel, Miss Tingxiang huddled on the kang, her body stiff with fear, not daring to move even slightly. Inside the kang lay the corpse of Yang Wenxuan, and she did not dare to shift her position. ... Last night, that man was still a charming and gentle figure, rowing on the water, playing the flute among the lotus, fishing beneath the willows, entwined with her in love under the starry sky and moonlight ...
Zhang Shisan swiftly stepped in front of Tingxiang and forcefully grasped the hair she had just tied up. ... Under the eaves, there was a large water tank, and Zhang Shisan pressed the handful of dark hair into the tank ...
She certainly did not understand why Zhang Shisan wanted to conceal the news of their master's assassination and secretly brought her to this small shop outside the city, where it seemed he was quite familiar with the shopkeeper. ... She could only speculate ... Perhaps Shisan was worried that with Young Master Yang's death, his position as a companion would also be at risk. The person in charge of the Yang residence had always been Steward Xiao, and Shisan and Steward Xiao had never been on good terms. His only reliance was his sole support—Yang Wenxuan.
Filled with confusion and terror, she wanted to scream, to plead for mercy, to ask for clarity, but she had no opportunity to utter a single word; as soon as she opened her mouth, water would rush in.
For this reason, after Zhang Shicheng suffered defeat in battle against Zhu Yuanzhang and was trapped in a solitary city, despite the city being out of food and even a single mouse fetching a high price of over a hundred wen, with leather boots and saddles being boiled for sustenance, the citizens still chose to live and die together with him. In this isolated city, enduring for ten months, with no provisions inside and no reinforcements outside, the military and civilians united as one, resolutely defending, which inflicted significant losses on Zhu Yuanzhang's army. Therefore, after Zhu Yuanzhang breached the city, he furiously demoted all the military and civilians within to the status of lowly commoners. In this isolated city, enduring for ten months, with no provisions inside and no reinforcements outside, the military and civilians united as one, resolutely defending, which inflicted significant losses on Zhu Yuanzhang's army. Therefore, after Zhu Yuanzhang breached the city, he furiously demoted all the military and civilians within to the status of lowly commoners
Mr. An nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "I understand, I understand."
The two parties began a prolonged game of wits lasting over half a month at https://mhetushu.com. Every day, Xia Xun had to find ways to earn their trust. He negotiated and bargained with them, accompanied them in extravagant outings, and frequented entertainment venues with them, gradually gaining their confidence. Unfortunately, during the final test, he failed. On that occasion, the drug dealers suddenly turned hostile, threatening him with knives, claiming they had discovered his true identity. Gradually gaining their confidence. Unfortunately, during the final test, he failed. On that occasion, the drug dealers suddenly turned hostile, threatening him with knives, claiming they had discovered his true identity.
It was originally nonexistent
The untouchables are not allowed to read or write, nor are they permitted to engage in agriculture or labor, and naturally, they cannot hold official positions. Even more terrifying is the fact that, even with a change of dynasty, the status of the untouchables remains unchanged. Throughout history, every founding emperor who has taken the throne has never pardoned the untouchables left over from the previous dynasty, for they are considered tainted.
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She is at the age as beautiful as a flower; who is the one to protect this flower?
Zhang Shisan pondered for a moment, then expressed his concern: "My lord, Yang Xu is a person of wide social connections and has many friends; he is a wealthy gentry from Qingzhou, and there are many servants and staff in his household. Many people in the Qi Wang's residence also know him, and even the Qi Wang has met him. If he were to act as a stand-in for Yang Wenxuan, it would not be difficult for him to appear in certain situations and say a few words. However, having a beggar impersonate a wealthy young master like Yang Wenxuan for a duration of six months, a year, or even longer, would likely lead to the maid becoming the lady, which would never be the same as the real thing."
Zhang Shisan smiled gently and said, "You need not worry; I have already devised a perfect plan. Come, let us go to the shop and have something to eat, and I will explain it to you in detail."
However, Xia Xun thought of ... ...
Zhang Shisan slowly released his hand, watching Xiang Qianrou's slender waist bend halfway over the edge of the vat. Her upper body was completely submerged in the vat, her head buried in the water, occasionally releasing a few bubbles that floated to the surface. The water's surface was covered with her long, dark hair, resembling a lush patch of aquatic plants
Mr. An's face turned as red as pig's blood due to the humiliation inflicted by Zhang Shisan, yet he could not retaliate and could only remain silent.
Mr. An listened, nervously swallowed, and began to wipe his sweat incessantly
On that day, the police found him and hoped he could go undercover for them. The police had captured a drug dealer who had just contacted a group of individuals from the south through an intermediary. The latter had agreed to help him procure a batch of drugs, and the two parties had not yet met, only having exchanged some information about each other through the intermediary. Therefore, the police wanted to find someone with a similar physique, appearance, and age to the drug dealer to impersonate him, in order to facilitate a joint operation.
Hmm!