Chapter 6

In the blink of an eye, a transaction was completed in the county office. Using the incident where Gao Yuan nearly lost his life, all parties involved benefited. Apart from Gao Yuan, who lost a lot of blood and almost lost his life, and the He family, who paid 1,600 strings of coins, everyone else was pleased. A major case that shocked Fufeng City was thus quietly resolved.

However, besides Gao Yuan, there was one more person who suffered a great loss, and that was He Tianliang. He Zhuzi was heartbroken over the 1,600 strings of coins and, behind closed doors, severely punished this unworthy son. He beat him so badly that he couldn't get out of bed for half a month. It was said that even while lying in bed, He Tianliang was still roaring that he wouldn't let Gao Yuan off, almost provoking He Zhuzi to take the leather whip and beat him again, but he was stopped by Lady He.

Gao Yuan, of course, did not know what happened behind the scenes. A few days later, Zhang Yi carried a hundred strings of coins in a sack and brought them back, dropping them in front of Gao Yuan, which startled him.

A hundred strings of coins were a large sum for someone who owned a hundred acres of land. His land didn't yield that much in a year.

"Lord Lu said that this money is compensation for the medicine for Young Master. This matter is now over. Lord Lu will be going to the county city for a while because the governor's birthday is coming up. He will go to celebrate the governor's birthday. Young Master should rest well at home. By the time Lord Lu returns, Young Master's injuries should be almost healed, and he will find a good position for Young Master in the county. With this incident, neither the county magistrate nor the postal inspector will oppose it," Zhang Yi stood in front of Gao Yuan and relayed Lu Hong's words.

"What kind of position is Uncle Lu planning to arrange for me?" Gao Yuan asked with interest.

Zhang Yi smiled, "Lord said that Young Master has always liked wielding weapons and dislikes reading. He plans to have you serve as a military officer. In the past, the county magistrate and the postal inspector opposed it because you were too young and inexperienced. After the 15th of August, you will be eighteen, and with this incident as a foundation, it will definitely work out."

A military officer, in other words, would be a position leading troops in the county. Lu Hong himself was the county military officer, in charge of the county's military affairs, and a military officer would be a specialized military official under him.

Gao Yuan couldn't help but smile, "This beating was truly worth it. Not only did I get a hundred strings of coins, but I also got a position. Not bad, leading troops, I like it."

Zhang Yi chuckled, "There's another thing that will surely make Young Master even happier. He Tianliang was beaten severely by his father with a leather whip and couldn't get out of bed for half a month."

"This isn't over!" Gao Yuan said coldly, "But since Uncle Lu said this time it's over, I'll temporarily hold my breath. A dog can't change its nature; this bastard will eventually fall into my hands, and then he'll know my power."

"Young Master should rest well first. To deal with him, you need to be fully recovered," Zhang Yi said, "Young Master, I'll leave the money here. I bought a sheep's leg at noon and will stew it for you."

"Alright, Zhang Yi, take five strings of coins," Gao Yuan, unable to get out of bed, nodded and indicated.

"What do you need five strings of coins for?" Zhang Yi took out five strings of coins from his pocket and asked.

"For you," Gao Yuan said, "You've been taking care of me these days, and you've worked hard."

Ah! Zhang Yi was momentarily stunned. Five strings of coins were half a year's salary for him, a significant amount. "I can't accept this, Young Master," Zhang Yi waved his hands.

"If I say it's for you, it's for you!" Gao Yuan said unhappily, "Once I've said it, do you think I'll take it back? If you think it's too little, forget it."

Gao Yuan's anger made Zhang Yi immediately soften. He looked at Gao Yuan and said gratefully, "Thank you, Young Master."

"What are you thanking me for? You've been taking care of me early and late; this is what you deserve. Zhang Yi, have you found a wife yet?" Gao Yuan smiled.

Zhang Yi blushed, "To be honest, Young Master, I have my eye on someone. She's also from the household, and she's willing. I'm just thinking about how to approach Lord."

"Good, good, Uncle Lu is always generous. Once you ask, he will definitely agree. When the time comes, I'll give you a big red envelope!" Gao Yuan smiled, then suddenly remembered something, "Take ten strings of coins and give them to the Ye family next door. If they don't accept it, tell them it's the payment for washing my clothes. Say I think you didn't wash them clean enough, understand?"

"Young Master, I washed them very clean!" Zhang Yi said indignantly.

"Are you stupid?" Gao Yuan said irritably, "That brother and sister, I see they don't even get enough to eat, they look so skinny. I haven't seen much of Lady Ye, but she seems to be a proud person. If you give her the money outright, she won't accept it."

"I understand!" Zhang Yi finally got it and said with a grin, "Young Master, are you interested in the Ye family's young lady? But in my opinion, she's so thin that a gust of wind could blow her away. She's probably infertile. Our Lord said that a woman should have big breasts and a big bottom to be good at bearing children."

"Get out!" Gao Yuan said angrily, "What makes you think I'm interested in the Ye family's young lady? She's so small, I'll beat you if you keep talking nonsense."

Zhang Yi laughed and ran out. He knew Gao Yuan couldn't beat him, as Gao Yuan was still in bed. He also mentioned that the Ye family's young lady was supposed to be sixteen, and sixteen was the age for marriage. Gao Yuan would soon be eighteen, also the age for marriage. Before, he couldn't tell what Gao Yuan was thinking, but after this incident, Gao Yuan seemed to have grown up and was thinking about women.

With these dirty thoughts, Zhang Yi took ten strings of coins and walked into the Ye family's house next door.

Lady Ye looked at the ten strings of shiny copper coins on the table, speechless. Zhang Yi had run in, said a few incoherent words, and then left. Ten strings of coins were more than she could earn in a year. Ye Jing and Ye Feng also stared at the pile of copper coins, their mouths agape, unable to speak.

"Mother, with this much money, can I buy a chicken to eat?" Ye Feng, drooling, looked at Lady Ye pitifully.

Hearing Ye Feng's words, Lady Ye felt a pang of sadness and looked at Ye Jing, "Jing, although Gao Yuan used to have a chivalrous spirit, he was just a spoiled son. Although we have been taken care of by him, he has never really considered us. This time, after his near-death experience, he seems to have changed. He said he wants me to wash his clothes, but why would he need so much money? He's just afraid I'll accept a favor without a reason."

"Mother is right," Ye Jing, sitting upright in front of her mother, said, "These days, whenever I bring him food, I don't talk much with him, but I feel he has changed. Before, he would say crazy things to me, but now he is very polite. I can't figure out why. Could it be that a person changes after a near-death experience?"

"What do you think, Jing?" Lady Ye sighed and asked.

Ye Jing looked at the pitiful Ye Feng and said, "Since he said it, let's do it. It's just a few pieces of clothing to wash."

"I'm worried," Lady Ye said anxiously, "I'm afraid he has ulterior motives and is using small favors to win us over, then forcing us later."

"Mother, if Gao Yuan had ulterior motives, he wouldn't be lying in bed now. Before, he was just a bit loose with his mouth, but he didn't have any bad intentions," Ye Jing said.

"I know, this child isn't bad. If you were from a common family, finding such a person would make me happy. But Gao Yuan's background is too low. Even our former servants were more noble than him!" Lady Ye sighed.

"Mother, why talk about the past? Now we are far behind them," Ye Jing lowered her head.

"In my opinion, Gao Yuan might really have some feelings for you. Jing, you will be sixteen next year. We have waited for nine years. Next year will be ten years. If your father is still missing, our family will have no chance of turning things around. I will marry you to Gao Yuan. At least you will have food and clothes, and Feng will have someone to take care of him."

Hearing Lady Ye's words, Ye Jing was both embarrassed and angry. She stood up, her face red, "Mother, what are you saying? You want to marry me, but others might not want to!" She stomped her foot and ran to the back hall.

Lady Ye, hearing Ye Jing's words, felt a deep sadness. She never thought that the Ye family's daughter would have to worry about not finding a husband. If this had been said ten years ago, no one would have believed it. But in ten years, the world had changed. The Ye family, except in Jicheng, was almost forgotten everywhere else.

Gao Yuan didn't know that Lady Ye and Ye Jing had seriously discussed the possibility of him becoming their son-in-law. He gave the money to Lady Ye simply because he saw that Ye Jing and Ye Feng were too thin, so thin that it made him worried. He didn't have any ulterior motives toward Ye Jing. Perhaps his predecessor had, but he hadn't thought about it that way. He just wanted to help them.