Chapter 004: Unforeseen Calamity

A clever man with a thick skin will never go hungry, no matter where he is

I see that you are truly quite ill; can't you see that I am catching a thief? The beautiful woman's delicate face drew very close, and the anger erupting in her eyes was also very clear

A young person with the soul of a modern individual steps into an ancient and unfamiliar era. What will the future hold? What kind of ambition should be realized, and what kind of values should be embodied to make the extraordinary experiences of two lifetimes worthwhile?

I am not ill

Unfortunately, Qin Kan's evasive actions towards the woman were slightly flawed, thus fate compelled him to intersect with this trivial matter

No matter what words are used to describe it, the posture is not very appealing, and the outcome is quite tragic, as the woman falls heavily to the ground... her face hitting the ground

The Qin Zhuang, where Qin Kan is located, is situated to the west and is under the jurisdiction of Shanyin County

Nephew ... ... I am ashamed

The woman's angry expression suddenly became somewhat strange, her eyes wide open as she stared at Qin Kan for a long time, as if suppressing a smile, she tried to maintain a serious face and said: "You really are something else; even now, you still can't figure out who is helping whom to catch the thief"

After encouraging himself, Qin Kan stood tall with great ambition, and a faint smile even appeared on his face

A sense of ominous premonition suddenly swept through Qin Kan's mind

The injured beauty unexpectedly smiled at this moment, yet there was not a trace of joy in her beautiful eyes; instead, they glimmered with a cold light

The fall just now was quite severe

After sending off the villagers from Qin Zhuang who were driving the ox cart, Qin Kan stood alone under the city wall, holding a small bundle. He looked up at the majestic ancient city before him, and a surge of indescribable emotions welled up in his heart

Now you understand what it means to harm others ultimately harms oneself, right? Young man, please share your current feelings...

With limited funds, five taels of silver are allocated for rent, while the remaining seven taels are designated for purchasing items and meals. With the wisdom and means of a modern individual, it is surely not a problem to become a wealthy household with ten thousand taels before the silver runs out

Old Qin sighed softly: "The meaning of 'Hmm' is that if I don't let you go out soon, I fear that in the future, there won't even be a crowing rooster left in the village..."

As he reached into his bosom, Qin Kan felt the warmth and solidity of the twelve taels of silver within, which inexplicably instilled a sense of confidence in his heart

The faint tone continued: "That was the last rooster in the entire village that crowed..."

Fortunately, Qin Kan's procedures are very legitimate. Although he no longer holds an official title, he has merely moved from the countryside to the county town, which does not meet the conditions of "leaving home and seeking books within a hundred miles." Therefore, he does not need a travel permit.

Qin Kan wiped the cold sweat from his brow and hoarsely said: "My feelings right now can be summed up in just two words... Catch the thief!"

Qin Kan was greatly surprised and couldn't help but look up at him with curiosity

The ancients described a beautiful woman as: "The pearls of her brows remain unmoved, the makeup has faded, revealing her natural beauty." The woman before me truly embodies the term "beauty." With almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, brows resembling dark mountains, lips like red berries, and a melon-seed face accentuating her pointed chin, she is as poetic and picturesque as a work of art, pleasing to the eye.

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Old man Qin looked up at the beams of the ceiling, remaining silent for a long time

Qin Kan stepped forward cautiously, his face filled with anxiety, as if he were carefully feeding a lion at the zoo

Indeed, the fire of anger in the woman's eyes grew even more intense

After speaking, Qin Kan lifted the hem of his long robe and was about to chase after her, but unexpectedly, he was grabbed by the sleeve by a tall, beautiful woman

Old Qin appeared quite composed this time, and his gaze towards Qin Kan was much more complex than before

The surrounding crowd let out a gasp, yet the woman lay motionless on the ground, causing an overwhelming sense of guilt to surge within Qin Kan.

The city of Shaoxing was formed by the merger of the county towns of Kuaiji and Shanyin. The entire city of Shaoxing is divided by a river running north to south, with the west side of the river under the jurisdiction of Shanyin County and the east side under the jurisdiction of Kuaiji County

Feeling the mocking gazes of the onlookers, the woman bit her lower lip, her expression turning to one of shame and anger. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed Qin Kan's collar, roughly dragging him into a quiet, deserted alley, and then forcefully pressed him against the wall

The woman's expression became increasingly twisted, continuously sneering at him, her smile unable to conceal her glee in his misfortune

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Two chickens were lost from Qin Da's home, a watchdog was lost from Qin Er's home, and two ducks were lost from Qin San's home

Cough cough cough... Qin Kan had no choice but to bend down and cough

Qin Kan turned to look at the elders of the entire village, his eyes slightly moist.

Aspiration, ideal

Qin Kan let out a long sigh: "Moreover... you are injured."

Three acres of rice fields, each sold for four taels of silver, Qin Kan simply packed two sets of clean clothes, with twelve taels of silver tucked in his bosom, and on a clear morning with a gentle spring rain, he set off alone on the road to Shanyin County.

One cannot blame Qin Kan for his indifference; he is merely an ordinary person who does not wish to attract trouble and is not inclined to be altruistic, especially in this unfamiliar and strange era. Additionally, during his time in Qin Village, Qin Kan was not unfamiliar with petty thefts. Strictly speaking, he and the thief from www.hetushu.com were in the same line of work, and even if they did not collaborate, they at least should not harm one another.

You should take a look and see if your purse is still there

I will return it to you in the future

So close, yet so far away

At this moment, the thick-skinned Qin Kan could not help but feel a flush on his face: "This... ahem, my foolish nephew is ashamed."

Old man Qin approached unsteadily, patted Qin Kan on the shoulder, and said earnestly: "A hundred days at home are good, but every day away from home is difficult. Since you have decided to go out, you must make something of yourself and not bring shame to the Qin family."

Hello, you, I'm talking to you! ... ... Are you out of your mind?

It is done, the thief has vanished without a trace, do not forget that there is an even greater trouble awaiting you now

When a person suddenly becomes destitute, they often attain profound enlightenment; it is a curious law.

Isn't it just about making money? Isn't it just starting from scratch?

Besides feeling ashamed, can you say something else

Qin Kan is a clever person; not only is he intelligent, but he also has a thick skin.

The beautiful woman pointed to her face and said, "Take a look at my face, is there anything you would like to say?"

What does the young lady mean by this?

That is a smile filled with confidence in life

The beautiful woman nodded and said, "Why am I hurt?"

This is the rule of the Ming Dynasty, rigid and strict, yet Qin Kan had no choice but to comply; until he had the strength to change the rules of the game, he could only abide by them

Qin Kan's reaction appears quite normal in the eyes of modern people. He wisely stepped aside, clearing a path for the woman, who was enveloped in wind and thunder, to pursue the thief more freely and with greater enthusiasm

Qin Kan would certainly not confine himself to being a schoolteacher in this small village, and the negotiations ultimately broke down

All decisions are made by the clan uncle

Unfortunately, the beauty now appears somewhat disheveled, with her hair messily falling across her forehead, and two dirty smudges on her fair and delicate face, with even blood slowly trickling from her nostrils

First, one must find a place to live. Fortunately, before leaving, Qin Kan did some research. If one wishes to rent a house, they must seek out a yahang or yazi, commonly referred to as a "broker" in modern terms. Whether buying livestock, servants, or renting a house, as long as one can afford the brokerage fee, they will ensure customer satisfaction. However, there is a prerequisite: the customer must first possess legal documentation. According to Ming law, those who are more than one hundred miles away from their residence and have no official title must obtain a travel permit issued by the local county office before a yahang will dare to introduce a house. The "travel permit" is commonly known as a pass.

Suddenly, the conversation with the book came to an abrupt halt.

On the bustling street, as Qin Kan took his first step, he felt himself being violently bumped by someone. The impact caused his frail body to stagger a few steps. Before he could even reflect on the misfortune of his first step in life, he heard a delicate yet sharp voice shout from behind: "Catch the thief!"

Qin Kan smiled slightly; the profession of a thief has existed since ancient times. Naturally, the act of catching thieves is also a traditional folk activity.

Did not the clan uncle disagree a few days ago with the foolish nephew leaving the village

Qin Kan was taken aback: "What trouble?"

The woman, with a face as cold as frost, glared at Qin Kan after patting the blue men's long shirt, her almond-shaped eyes seemingly shooting out flames

The next day, a piece of news circulated in Qin Village.

A person with only twelve taels of silver in hand finds the concept of "ideal" truly distant from him

Talent shines brightly and stands out like gold, no matter where it is found

At present, Qin Kan seems to lack the qualifications to mention "ambition" and "ideal," for before addressing these matters, he must first resolve a more practical and urgent issue: survival

At the west gate of the city, pedestrians come and go like a shuttle, with ox carts and horse-drawn carriages laden with raw silk, satin, tea, and porcelain mingling in the densely packed crowd, slowly entering and exiting the city gate. Outside the city moat, various makeshift food stalls are filled with merchants and laborers from different regions, holding bowls and eating haphazardly, yet they do not forget to pause and raise their heads to exchange information about goods with unfamiliar dining companions. Along the banks of the gently flowing moat, a scene of vibrant prosperity unfolds.

... was tripped by me

After all, it is quite difficult to find another sanctuary that would tacitly allow him to engage in petty theft and misconduct

What does 'Hmm' mean

Qin Kan forced a smile and sighed, saying, "Even if I didn't help you catch the thief, you shouldn't scold me for being sick, right? I just don't want to get into trouble"

The following days would prove increasingly tumultuous for Qin Zhuang

Old man Qin waved his hand grandly, pointing into the distance, his tone both bold and somewhat relieved: "... go to the county town and wreak havoc on others!"

Old man Qin sat in the main room, stroking his beard and pondering: "Hmm..."

Although their time together was not long, Qin Kan still developed a subtle attachment to Qin Zhuang. The warmth and sincerity of the villagers, both young and old, deeply moved him

Qin Kan rose and respectfully performed a bow, saying, "My foolish nephew is present."

In the old house of Erjin, Qin Kan had searched through it again and again. The rice jar was empty, and there was nothing edible. He was troubled, wondering what he would eat for his next meal without leaving Qin Village.

Why are you hindering me when I am not ill

Old man Qin instructed the young men in the village to harness an ox cart, which carried Qin Kan as it wobbled away from Qin Village

It was not until this moment that Qin Kan finally saw the appearance of the woman before him

It must be said that Qin Kan's understanding of the term "class" in this era is still quite insufficient; he does not realize how significant the difference is between scholars and ordinary people

Shaoxing Prefecture, located in the Jiangnan region, is a place of remarkable individuals and natural beauty. It has often been praised by literati, with one saying: "In Kuaiji Mountain's shadow, the world is vibrant with drama." A Song dynasty poet, Wei Liaoweng, wrote: "All the talented and elegant are gathered in Shanyin, while many beautiful women are found by the waters of Chang'an"

It is strange how women in ancient times could possibly possess such towering height. It is simply extraordinary. With the face of an angel and a tall figure, they would undoubtedly have been born to excel in the modeling profession in a past life

The reasons for opposition are quite laughable, yet in this era, they are not amusing at all, for they result in a loss of dignity and a disgrace to the scholarly demeanor of educated individuals

Originally intending to clear a path, Qin Kan's movements were somewhat hesitant; although he stepped aside, his foot could not move in time, resulting in a tragic outcome for the woman pursuing the thief

What pleased Qin Kan the most was the woman's height, which was around 1.7 meters. Standing opposite each other, she was only slightly shorter than Qin Kan.

Qin Kan hurriedly reached into his bosom, and then... Cold sweat poured down as he understood everything

The three acres of paddy fields left to you by your deceased father must not be neglected. Since you intend to leave, you might as well sell them. However, you are only permitted to sell them to the people of Qin Village and must not sell them to outsiders; otherwise, the ancestors of the Qin family will not forgive you.

The woman remained motionless on the ground, and Qin Kanyu felt increasingly uneasy. Just as he was contemplating slipping away quietly, the woman lying on the ground suddenly sighed softly while facing the yellow earth, then slowly stood up and turned to face Qin Kanyu.

The act of stealing and being stolen from is merely a trivial matter; there are countless such trivialities in life, each with its own joys and sorrows, but they are of no concern to Qin Kan, the outsider

Similar cases unfold daily in Qin Zhuang, transforming the once peaceful village into one of unrest

Old man Qin smiled with satisfaction, then straightened his face and sighed softly: "... last night, a chicken went missing from my home"

After about ten days of such days, the clan leader of Qin Zhuang, Old Man Qin, finally visited the Qin Kan family once again

Qin Kan nodded with emotion: "I thank my clan uncle and the elders for their care. I will surely live up to the elders' high expectations. One day, I will return home in glory and pay my respects at the ancestral hall."

Qin Kan escorted him to the door, and only after the figure of the old man Qin disappeared into the moonlight did he gently close the wooden door, then let out a sigh

Certainly, the expression on the beautiful woman's face is absolutely unrelated to "pleasing to the eye"

A once-respected and admired former scholar has transformed into a petty thief. Old Qin is still in the adjustment phase, as the contrast is too great for him to accept.

At sunset, the ancient and towering city walls of Shaoxing Prefecture are visible in the distance

Qin Kan was taken aback as he saw a flustered figure weaving through the bustling crowd, rushing away like the wind. Behind her, a woman dressed in a blue long gown, with a beautiful face and clearly disguised as a man, bore an expression of righteous indignation, pursuing with an imposing aura that seemed to carry the force of thunder and wind.

Old man Qin led the entire village, young and old, to the village entrance to bid him farewell, and everyone's expressions were somewhat complex

This statement seems to be insulting someone, and at the same time, it insults two individuals.

Very well, it seems that although you are ill, your condition is not too severe. Not only have you failed to act justly, but you have also harmed others. Let us go to the magistrate's office to see the official.

The woman only felt something trip her feet, and then her body involuntarily soared into the air, followed by a fierce lion pouncing on a rabbit... Of course, some people also refer to this action as "a hungry dog snatching food"

Qin Kan ah

Pack up and let's go to the county, I have approved it

Qin Kan, carrying a bundle, found himself swept along in the crowd, like a small boat adrift in the sea, inevitably making his way into the city

The thief ran very quickly, and the woman chasing the thief also ran very fast. As she passed by Qin Kan, she did not forget to give him a fierce glare with her large apricot-shaped eyes, and then swept forward like a gust of wind

In Qin Village, a model of Ming Dynasty civilization where the public order is good and doors are left unlocked at night, there surprisingly occurred a theft.

Qin sighed, "Humans may make mistakes, and horses may stumble..."

Aside from being widely appreciated, there is really nothing more to say

Old man Qin left in a huff under the moonlight

Just now, Qin Kan vaguely expressed his desire to leave Qin Village to seek work outside for a living, but he was met with strong opposition from Old Man Qin

Hello... Are you okay

Qin Kan felt very frustrated; working to make a living has nothing to do with the elegance of scholars. Do scholars not need to eat?

What else is there

When I graduated from university in my past life, I was just as broke as I am now, yet later I still managed to acquire a house and a car

Under the dim and yellow light of the oil lamp, Qin Kan sat at the table, staring blankly at the twenty-eight wen on the table, lost in thought. After an unknown period of time, he let out a bitter laugh