Chapter 1, The truth comes to light

In his previous life, Xu Qian was tasked with restoring a rare book on remedies for difficult ailments from the Qing Dynasty while at a museum. He remembers the contents clearly, so every day he diligently recalls and writes down those remedies to package and sell them.

Xu Qian did not shy away: "A small beast, and there is an old one too!"

However, Old Xu is clearly not one to engage in literary pursuits; he is a straightforward and rough man. In his hand, he holds a ruler, the kind used in official offices, measuring about 2 feet in length, quite heavy, and entirely black.

Xu Qian said with grief and indignation: "This damned eunuch!"

Xu Qian believed that the other party was frightened, and quickly added: "Are you scared? Never mind, I won't hold it against you. Who am I, Xu Qian? Who in this street doesn't know? I am the one known as the loyal, righteous, and benevolent young lord. You merely bumped into me by accident. You may leave now, but if we meet again, I won't be so easy to talk to."

Xu Qian could not afford to hesitate much; he went to open the window and climbed out. However, he soon realized that he had forgotten to bring his money pouch, so he had to go back to retrieve it. The Xu family had only three tiled houses, and in front of them was a courtyard. What made Xu Qian feel tragic was that not only had the old man locked the door to the house, but he had also closed the gate to the courtyard.

Which ... ... dares to attack me?

Xu Qian rolled his eyes. He had just been negotiating with the old man and was now out of breath. However, he dared not let his guard down for even a moment. He was afraid; the old man was like a dog, one moment wagging his tail at you, and the next moment, he might bare his teeth. He watched Xu Chang warily and said, "The prescriptions... those prescriptions... I only care about selling them; I don't care who the buyer is. Should I ask the buyer for their name, their age, and whether they have any unmarried daughters at home when they come to buy a prescription?" He watched Xu Chang warily and said, "The prescriptions... those prescriptions... I only care about selling them; I don't care who the buyer is. Should I ask the buyer for their name, their age, and whether they have any unmarried daughters at home when they come to buy a prescription?"

Xu Chang coldly snorted: "What use is there in saying so much? You wretched creature! When someone comes looking for you, do you think they will consider all this? Do you not know who Lord Wang is? Even if no one provokes him, he will still skin people alive. Now that he has found a reason, do you still think you have a life left?"

The steel knife was quite heavy, its blade sharp as a thorn. Under the moonlight, a chill enveloped him entirely. Xu Qian dared not move, suddenly realizing that his luck was indeed rather unfortunate

"No way." Xu Qian was momentarily taken aback. Seeing Xu Chang showing signs of erupting again, faced with such a violent man, Xu Qian naturally did not dare to be distracted. He said, "Although my prescription cannot guarantee a complete cure, it certainly won't cause any fatalities. There must have been some mistake, or perhaps that person was already suffering from a terminal illness, which led to the misunderstanding."

Xu Qian felt a secret joy; it seemed that he had escaped this beating. He had been with Xu Chang for a year and was thoroughly familiar with Xu Chang's temperament. The old man was prone to anger, and when he got angry, it was enough to shake the heavens and make the ghosts weep. Under the threat of the stick, Xu Qian had long since developed a tough exterior and a cunning nature.

At first, he was still able to sit still, as he was well aware that he had caused trouble and was determined to be law-abiding and to be a good citizen

Dong ... ...

Thus, Xu Qian found himself in a lamentable situation. Although he inherited the vast knowledge of the original Xu Qian, it was all of no practical use. His status prevented him from achieving any official rank, rendering it meaningless. Since he could not become an official, Xu Qian thought it would be better to seek wealth for himself. Although the status of merchants in the Ming Dynasty was lowly, with money one could still have multiple wives and a multitude of beautiful concubines. Therefore, he decided to venture into selling medicinal prescriptions, as this line of work had low costs and considerable profits.

If such a ruler were to strike Xu Qian on the head, it would surely cause his head to burst open. At this moment, his father was in a fit of rage. To use Xu Qian's own words, if he were to actually go over there, he would truly be a fool.

You... Xu Chang went to pour water from the teapot on the table, saying fiercely: "I only ask you, answer me honestly now, have any of the guards from the eunuch's office come to buy the prescriptions you usually sell on the street?"

Unfortunately, Xu Qian does not yet have a wife, and it is not that no one has tried to introduce him to potential matches. However, the candidates have either been Ma Dajiao or Wang Jinlian. Not only does Xu Qian look down on them, but even his father, Xu Chang, who is currently frowning at him, also finds them unworthy.

It seems that not only do we need to climb through the window, but we also have to scale the wall

After Xu Qian arrived here, he initially brimmed with ambition and lofty aspirations, constantly pondering that as a man of great stature in this era, he naturally ought to achieve some accomplishments. However, once he became integrated into the environment, he was suddenly left dumbfounded.

While Xu Qian was lost in thought, he did not expect the old man to silently appear behind him and directly deliver a sharp blow to his head. Xu Qian winced in pain and exclaimed in anger: "Father, you ambushed me!"

However, Xu Qianjiu, having spent so much time in the marketplace, especially mingling daily with rough characters like the old man, had mastered the art of bluster. Even when he was in the wrong, he could never show weakness. At times, when conflicts arose, it was all about who could seize the initiative first and whose tone was more imposing.

Fortunately, although his physique in this life was somewhat frail, he was quite agile; after all, he was still a child. Climbing over walls and similar tasks posed no difficulty for him. He turned and climbed onto the wall, and by this time, the sky was growing darker, making it hard to see outside the wall. Xu Qian took a deep breath and jumped down towards the outer wall

It seems that something has been bumped into

Although the father and son often bicker and have serious disagreements, they are in agreement regarding their impression of Old Wang. Xu Chang even nodded and said: "A worthless eunuch."

You..." Xu Chang gasped for breath, unable to restrain himself from shouting, "You beast!"

Xu Qian rubbed his sore arms and then shouted loudly: "Who is it? Who bumped into me? Are you blind? Do you not know the status of the young master of the Xu family? If I just say a word, all the neighbors here are my people, and when the time comes, you will come in standing and go out lying down? Want to sue? Ha, am I afraid of you? My father works in the government office; have you heard of Xu, the head of the county office? The office has a rule: if you have a case but no money, don't bother coming in, young master..."

Someone is shouting in the darkness

He was halfway through his words when he suddenly wanted to strike. Little did he know that Xu Qian had already slipped away to a distance of ten feet while he was speaking. Xu Chang could only shake his head and then glared at Xu Qian fiercely, saying: "You stay at home and behave yourself. I still need to go to the yamen. As for this matter, I will find a way to handle it. However, you must not cause any trouble in the next few days, do you understand? Whether we can get through this hurdle or not, we can only leave it to fate."

In Xu Chang's eyes, over the past year, his son has undergone a significant change in temperament. However, Xu Qian is aware that it is not his temperament that has changed, but rather the original Xu Qian has been replaced by the current Xu Qian. In his previous life, he was a curator at a museum, and he does not know which deity he offended in the heavens. One day, he woke up to find himself in the body of this Xu Qian, which is also the reason why Xu Chang perceives such a drastic change in his child's temperament.

Only a fool would go over there

Come here

Xu Qian's attitude has deteriorated, saying: "What do you want?" https://www.hetushu.com

... ...

I will not go over there

At that moment, Xu Qian realized that things were not looking good. He had not jumped onto a leather sofa, but rather onto a person; more precisely, a man. The man was furious, stumbling to his feet and cursing loudly. Even more terrifying was the fact that this guy was armed. Xu Qian distinctly heard the sound of a weapon being drawn in the darkness, the metallic scrape of metal against metal. Xu Qian thought to himself, he never expected this person to be trouble.

So it turns out to be Lord Wang's person, my apologies, my apologies! Sir, I have always held Lord Wang in high regard, that... that... could you possibly make an exception...

The master of the steel knife let out a cold laugh, a sound that seemed even more terrifying in the darkness. He said: "I can be lenient with you, but the Duke may not be able to show me the same courtesy. Kid, you have bad luck; the Duke is in a foul mood, and you deserve your misfortune."

Bang ... ...

At this moment, Xu Chang was at a loss for words. He was both angry and furious, and he forcefully struck the desk with the ruler in his hand, producing a sharp sound. He then sat heavily on the stool.

Xu Chang is precisely the kind of person who has fallen into the trap of money

In the words of Xu Chang, as for the daughter-in-law of the Lao Xu family, regardless of her appearance or her gentle and kind temperament, she must at least come from a family with some wealth; after all, a substantial dowry is absolutely essential.

Are you coming or not

The other party was momentarily taken aback and remained silent

"A sneak attack?" Xu Chang sneered, lifting the petite Xu Qian with one hand, and said fiercely, "After committing such a grave act, do you not deserve to be punished? Truly a scourge, I, Xu Chang, have lived a life of propriety, yet I never expected to give birth to something like you"

Xu Chang snorted coldly and walked out. After a while, he surprisingly returned, took out a lock, and intended to lock the door of the hall. Xu Qian naturally knew what Xu Chang was trying to do and hurriedly shouted, "Father... why are you locking the door? I said I wouldn't go out, so I won't go out."

In a moment of desperation, his gaze fell upon the paper window in the room

Immediately following

Oh... ? ... How strange, could it be that I jumped onto a genuine leather sofa? Why is it so smooth and delicate in a place that is within reach

He is the son of a clerk, and the laws of the Ming Dynasty stipulate that the descendants of clerks are prohibited from taking the imperial examination for three generations. Yet, the previous Xu Qian was a bookworm, and having a passion for reading was quite unusual. In this world, some are obsessed with women and gambling, while others are fond of money. Xu Qian had truly never seen anyone who was as devoted to books as he was. Ironically, his previous identity was that of such a simpleton. This fellow not only loved reading, but it is said that his knowledge was quite impressive; he could recite the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as various historical texts, all from memory.

At this moment, the father and son were staring at each other across a table in the living room, their eyes locked as if they were cross-eyed, each refusing to back down. Xu Laodad's expression was even more animated; his eyes bulged like copper bells, and his mouth twisted in anger. Xu Qian was absolutely convinced that if he had a pen in hand and placed a sheet of white paper on the table, his father would surely be able to eloquently compose a poem filled with grief and indignation, such as 'Man Jiang Hong'.

Xu Chang was indeed caught in a trap. He sighed deeply; after all, it was his own bloodline, and hitting them would be of no use. It was better to think of a solution. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "The county magistrate is urging for someone to be handed over, and he is also unwilling to cause trouble, wanting to provide an explanation to that Lord Wang as soon as possible. Therefore, we must first hand someone over to the county magistrate for an explanation. This matter needs to be dealt with promptly. You, this wretched child..."

Xu Qian was immediately startled and turned to flee, only to find a gleaming steel knife pressed against his neck

Xu Qian played a little trick, and now there is no way to escape. Either he will face a beating, or he will change the subject, at least he can share some of the old man's spirit.

Criticism aside, Xu Qian is now in a difficult position. His intention in selling the prescription was merely to make money, and he never considered that it would lead to any trouble. It is no wonder that today the old man is clinging to him as if he has taken gunpowder.

Xu Qian, who is about twelve or thirteen years old, is just a small child. Even if he were to go out and commit murder, it would still fall under the protection of juvenile laws. However, in this context, being twelve or thirteen is not considered young; this is the Ming Dynasty, and he should be of an age to marry.

Having said that, Xu Chang picked up the ruler and was about to leave. Xu Qian let out a sigh of relief, grateful that he had finally escaped this beating. He quickly waved his hand at Xu Chang, saying, "Goodbye, Father. Safe travels, no need to see you off."

The person in the darkness fell into a brief silence, then said: "Your father is the head of the county office, and you, being idle, often sell prescriptions in the county, right?"

Can I trust you? Just stay honest! Xu Chang has already closed the door, locking Xu Qian inside the room. Sounds of knocking on the door can be heard from within, but Xu Chang pays no attention and promptly leaves.

It is not feasible; the master of hetushucom.com has not yet returned, so it is wise to first fill one's stomach.

Xu Qian hurriedly asked, "What should we do now?"

Xu Chang was furious, almost ready to erupt. Xu Qian's legs were tensed, prepared to engage with him at any moment. The father and son had turned into fighting cocks again. Xu Chang pointed at Xu Qian and scolded, "Good, good, even now you still stubbornly refuse to admit your fault. Do you know that your prescription was bought by someone from the eunuch's office, and now it has caused a death? Lord Wang is furious and has already informed the county office. The county magistrate has issued a warrant for your arrest as the murderer. What have I always said? I wanted you to live a peaceful life. In the past, you were just studying at home, and studying was nothing to be ashamed of. Although our Xu family cannot achieve fame, at least you could live in peace. What have I always said? I wanted you to live a peaceful life. In the past, you were just studying at home, and studying was nothing to be ashamed of. Although our Xu family cannot achieve fame, at least you could live in peace. But recently, you have become increasingly restless, and now look what you've gotten yourself into! Let's see how you will resolve this matter!"

Xu Qian could not help but think, what if ...? After saying so much, could it be that a familiar face has arrived? A familiar face would be fine, so he leaned in a bit closer and said, "So what if it is?"

At this moment, Xu Qian was somewhat taken aback; with the door locked, he had no idea when it would be opened again

Xu Qian wants to cry. What is wrong with selling prescriptions? Selling prescriptions is also a promising career, isn't it? How can it be considered doing nothing? This person clearly has a relatively low level of education

"I don't want to do anything." The man in the darkness laughed and then said, "It truly is a case of searching high and low without success, only to find it effortlessly. Lord Wang sent me to find you, and I didn't expect to encounter you here. Come along with me obediently; Lord Wang has requested your presence."

He spat wildly, exhibiting a certain swagger reminiscent of A Fei, just short of declaring to this person that his father was Li... No, it was Xu Chang!

The old gentleman let out a rare sigh, clearly finding the situation quite troublesome

A voice suddenly asked in the darkness: "Are you Xu Qian? Is your father Xu Chang?"

Little did he know that the old gentleman had not returned even as dusk fell. Xu Qian was hungry; he and the old gentleman relied on each other, and with no woman in the household to take care of them, they had not prepared any food in the morning. In the past, they would buy a scallion pancake or a steamed bun at the street corner to tide them over. However, today, due to the commotion over the medicine sale, they ended up skipping breakfast. From early morning until now, Xu Qian had not consumed a single grain of rice or a drop of water, and now his stomach was growling. Xu Qian thought to himself that this was a critical stage for growth, and how could he afford to go hungry? The door was locked, and Xu Qian tried to open it, but no matter what he did, he could not get it open.