Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Zhang Shouren, sitting on the ground, had a sudden flash of inspiration upon hearing the words "a fortune of thousands of strings of cash," but his face darkened again, and he spat out a curse: "No wonder that bitch always tried to trick me into revealing where my father hid his money!"

"Luckily, Dad was on guard against her. If the money had been in my hands, she probably would have stolen it long ago! She even dared to harm my mother. Those adulterers deserve to die a horrible death!"

Zhang Shiqing rolled his eyes at him. "I'm afraid your wife's mind changed after your affair with Madam Pan came to light. Everything has a cause and effect. Don't just blame others; think about what kind of scoundrel you are!"

Zhang Shouren knelt on the ground, feeling extremely wronged. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, but in the end, he didn't dare to say anything more.

Zhang Silang glanced at his elder brother, then looked at Zhang Shiqing's face, which was half expressionless and half blank. The tightness in his throat slowly dissipated, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Xige'er's hoarse voice rang out in the courtyard, "Uncle, Fourth Uncle, the water's boiling on the stove, would you like some tea?"

Zhang Shouren wiped his face, got up from the ground, and replied, "Make it."

Zhang Silang looked down at the tear stains and dust on his clothes, then raised his hand and patted them off.

A moment later, Xige'er came in carrying a pot of tea. His narrow eyes squinted as he glanced at his kneeling uncle, then at his fourth uncle, whose eyes were red. "Fourth Uncle, your clothes are dirty. There are some old clothes in the cabinet in the back; would you like to change?"

Zhang Silang took the teacup, took a couple of sips, then spoke a few more words with his father before going back to his room to change his clothes.

At the same time, Zhang Sanlang also left the county government office and returned to Jinshi Lane.

As he turned into Shi Lane, he could see from afar that the faded old door next door was gone, replaced by a newly painted black door. The old plaque above the door had also been removed, and before the new one could be hung, two light-colored marks remained.

Zhang Sanlang thought for a moment, then returned to the alley entrance.

In the backyard of the incense and candle shop, a gaunt old man in his fifties sat by a stone table, holding a small carving knife in his hand, carving something on a piece of wood.

He heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Zhang Sanlang. He quickly put down his carving knife and stood up.

Old Feng, the paper craftsman, spoke with a heavy accent, and you could tell he was a reformed man the moment he opened his mouth. Every word seemed to be pushed out from the depths of his throat: "Zhang Yashi."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, "Has Fang Zhong'an sent any messages these past few days?"

Old Feng nodded, bent down and felt around on the belly of a paper ox that was half a person tall, then took out a letter and handed it to Zhang Sanlang.

Zhang Sanlang took it, glanced at it, and his lips twitched slightly.

Fang Zhong'an is verbose in speech, but his letters are very concise. He starts with "I bought the house next door," followed by a few important sentences, each one hitting the mark without a single superfluous word.

The young merchant from another county he mentioned last time did indeed come and buy the house, offering a price 20% higher than last time.

He then asked Fang Zhong'an to find people to renovate the house, replace the doors, lay the steps, and repair the roof. He also asked Fang to find a maid to sweep and clean.

The young official called himself Zhang Jin, and he was accompanied only by an old steward and a maidservant.

Zhang Sanlang folded the letter and glanced outside.

Dusk crept in from the alleyway, turning the flagstones outside the incense and candle shop a greyish-yellow. From afar, voices could be heard calling children home for dinner.

He nodded to Old Feng, then turned and left the incense and candle shop.

The newly painted black door next door was still closed, a sliver of dim light shining through the crack, indicating someone had lit a lamp. The door was thick, and the brass rings gleamed darkly in the twilight.

Zhang Sanlang paused for a moment at the gate of his courtyard. Lü Sanbao quickly stepped forward and pushed open the gate. "The head of the family is back."

happy Mei'er was just coming out of the main room when she saw him and smiled, "Father, you're back so late today? Everyone's been waiting for you to eat."

Zhang Sanlang stepped forward and playfully flicked her nose. "It's not the first time you've been late. Your father is a clerk, he has to manage the affairs of both families, how can he be as punctual as he used to be when he was a clerk?"

happy Mei nudged his hand with her little head, "Father, you didn't bring any documents back today. Are you perhaps on leave tomorrow?"

"Hmm. After finishing this case, Magistrate Li told me to rest for two days. It's a good opportunity to spend more time with you, little girl. Tomorrow I plan to take you all out to play."

happy Mei'er's eyes lit up. "Great! Dad, where should we go?"

Zhang Sanlang thought about it seriously for a moment, "It's not suitable for sightseeing in this hot weather. I heard from your Uncle Fang that there's a women's bath at Xiangshuitang in the west of the city. Tomorrow I'll take you girls to have a good bath, and we can stroll around the west of the city while we're at it."

happy Mei'er's smile faltered for a moment. "Dad, isn't it the same to wash at home? Why spend the money?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at her. "Washing at home? You just scoop two ladles of water from a wooden basin and splash it on yourself. Is that what you call taking a bath? The Xiangshuitang in the west of the city has running water. You'll feel refreshed after a soak. I've also heard they have some unusual food and drinks."

Before Xi Mei could say anything more, voices came from the courtyard gate. Lü Sanbao's voice was muffled, as if he were talking to someone.

A moment later, Lü Sanbao walked to the door of the main room and bowed. "Master, the young master who recently moved in next door has arrived and says he wants to pay his respects. He came by during the day."

Zhang Sanlang thought for a moment, then smiled slightly, "Please come in."

Lu Sanbao responded and turned to let the person in.

Two figures walked into the courtyard, one after the other.

The person walking in front was a boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a moon-white linen long robe, with a dark green silk sash tied around his waist, and his hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin. He had fair skin, handsome features, and slightly pursed lips.

A beautiful maid followed behind him.

He was half a head taller than the boy, wearing an indigo-blue, narrow-sleeved short brown jacket, with a wide black leather belt around his waist, from which a dagger was tucked. His hair was neatly tied in a bun, secured with an ebony hairpin.

He held a staff that reached his eyebrows in his left hand, its silvery sheen gleaming in the lamplight and moonlight. His right hand hung by his side, his fingers naturally curved, as if ready to grasp something at any moment.

As the maid stepped into the courtyard, her gaze swept over the corridor, the east and west wing rooms, the kitchen, and the back gate, lingering on Zhang Sanlang for a moment before looking away.

Zhang Sanlang stood at the entrance of the main room, met the maid's gaze, and his eyelids twitched.

He turned his head and glanced towards the east wing. Lu Qiucheng stood under the east wing's veranda, leaning against a pillar, his hands hanging at his sides, his face turned towards the courtyard, as if looking at the old locust tree in the yard.

Zhang Sanlang withdrew his gaze and breathed a sigh of relief.

The young man had already reached the bottom of the steps and stood there, bowing with his hands clasped. "My name is Zhang Jin, and I recently moved in next door. I came by during the day, but upon learning that Clerk Zhang was not home, I waited until evening to pay my respects. I apologize for disturbing you."

Zhang Sanlang walked down two steps and stood in the courtyard. He also cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "We live next door, so there's no need to be so polite."

He glanced at the maidservant. "And who is this?"

Zhang Jin turned to the side and nodded to the maid.

The maid leaned the staff against the stone table, took half a step forward, clasped her hands in a salute, but did not speak.

Zhang Sanlang's eyelids twitched again.

She did not perform the curtsy, but rather the cupped-hand salute like an ordinary man.

"This is a tutor hired by my family. His surname is Wan, and his given name is Qing. He is not good with words, so please forgive him, Zhang Yashi."

Wan Qing stepped back, standing half a step behind Zhang Jin, and picked up his staff, which he used to support himself on the ground.

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the large silver rod, and his eyelids twitched again. "Come in and talk."