Fang Zichen was such a proud person, always swearing confidently and acting boastful. Zhao Ger worried that if he failed, he would be deeply affected and might become discouraged and give up.
However, on second thought, Fang Zichen was easy-going and thick-skinned. Although he cared about face, his skin was as thick as a pot bottom used for decades. His emotions came and went quickly, like a child's. So, Zhao Ger felt relieved again.
A general does not fight a battle unprepared—Fang Zichen was currently looking at a book containing past Academy Exam papers. He had heard it included annotations and analysis by the renowned Instructor Chen from the Imperial College.
What did this mean?
This meant the standard answers.
This book had just arrived from the capital the day before yesterday. As soon as it reached the bookstore, before it could even be placed on the shelves, it was snapped up by scholars who had received the news in advance.
The remaining copy was only because it had been damaged during transport, with a torn cover. When unpacking the crate that day, Gu Daji had first set it aside. Later, seeing they were selling well, he thought those scholars who hadn't managed to buy a copy probably wouldn't mind the damage, so he put it out for sale.
Just as Fang Zichen finished turning the last page, a hand reached over from his left side, snatched the book from his hand, and turned to walk directly towards Gu Daji, intending to purchase it immediately.
Sun Shangcheng had barely taken two steps when someone grabbed the back of his neck and yanked him backward. He staggered, almost falling, then felt someone pressing against his back.
The grip on his neck tightened, and Sun Shangcheng instantly found himself unable to move. It felt like his neck bones were about to be crushed. Then a voice came from above, its tone indifferent.
"Did I say you could leave?"
The voice sounded strangely familiar. Sun Shangcheng frowned, turned his head, and then froze completely.
Fang Zichen was also stunned for a moment, then narrowed his eyes.
Enemies are bound to meet
He had searched for Sun Shangcheng for over half a month back then but never found him. He heard the man had gone to Yuanzhou to study and had felt regretful for a while. Now, just when he had finally forgotten about this person, this bastard showed up on his own.
This Sun Shangcheng dared to whistle at his son, even asked Wang Xiaohu about his son, wanting to buy him for four taels of silver to take back as a plaything. He was truly tired of living.
Initially, he didn't know. Wang Xiaohu told Shopkeeper Yang, who then informed Fang Zichen.
Sun Shangcheng was the only son of Sun Zongze, who owned a cloth business. He was extremely spoiled at home. In previous dynasties, the sons of merchants were not allowed to become officials, but in Da Xia, it was permitted.
Probably because there were too many impoverished commoners. If they still imposed such restrictions, they were afraid hardly anyone would study.
After studying for several years, Sun Shangcheng appeared quite presentable on the surface—refined and elegant in public, but a beast beneath.
This person not only enjoyed visiting prostitutes but also had a severe deviant inclination. It was said he had several outer residences in the countryside. Under the pretext of purchasing servants, he had his steward send many people to these residences, all children between four and eight years old. These children, once inside, would die mysteriously within as little as half a month, or up to two years.
But when they said "died," no bodies could ever be found.
The children's corpses were all covered in burn marks, whip marks, pinch marks, and ligature marks—too obvious. If discovered, it would be impossible to cover up. Sun Shangcheng still had to take the imperial exams, so his reputation naturally couldn't be tarnished. Every time a child died, the steward would take people and secretly burn the child's body.
In Fu'an Town, the Sun family was powerful. The children they bought were mostly from poor families with no power or influence. When the children were handed over, it was a straightforward transaction with a signed deed of sale. If the children disappeared or died, the parents didn't dare cause trouble at their door.
Initially, no one had discovered this matter. But just as one who often walked by the river would eventually get wet shoes, the truth eventually came out. Later, this matter spread among the 'upper class' in Fu'an Town.
[常在河边走哪有不湿鞋 (cháng zài hé biān zǒu nǎ yǒu bù shī xié): lit. If you often walk by the river, your shoes will eventually get wet.; fig. If you consistently engage in risky behavior, you will eventually get into trouble or be exposed.]
The mere thought that someone had designs on his short, stumpy, soft, and adorable son made Fang Zichen charge out furiously before even hearing the whole story. It was just a pity that Sun Shangcheng had left quickly, and Fang Zichen, chasing after him, failed to catch up. Otherwise, by now, the grass on Sun Shangcheng's grave would likely be two meters high.
Sun Shangcheng had previously been beaten up by Fang Zichen in front of so many people at the dock. Feeling he had lost face, he initially wanted to find people to get back at him, but couldn't find Fang Zichen. When he did find him, his father told him not to provoke the man.
Sun Shangcheng made some inquiries, got scared, and didn't dare to make any underhanded moves.
With no outlet for his anger, in a fit of pique, he returned to the academy.
Now, being grabbed by the neck and lifted by Fang Zichen in front of his classmates and friends again, he was so angry his face turned red and his neck thick.
"Are you fucking sick or what?"
Fang Zichen's face was dark. He didn't speak. The several scholars who had come with Sun Shangcheng hesitated, about to step forward. Seeing Sun Shangcheng struggling violently, Fang Zichen simply let go.
After being released, Sun Shangcheng gasped for breath twice, then turned and threw a punch at Fang Zichen.
Fang Zichen neither dodged nor avoided it, catching the fist with one hand.
His strength was astonishing. Sun Shangcheng's fist was firmly gripped, unable to break free.
"Brother Sun..." one scholar frowned, attempting to mediate, "Who are you? There are rules in the bookstore. No loud noises are permitted here, no fighting, no causing trouble..."
Before the scholar finished speaking, Fang Zichen withdrew his hand.
Sun Shangcheng thought he had taken the warning to heart. But in the next moment, Fang Zichen suddenly dragged him to a bookshelf, grabbed his hair with one hand, pressed the back of his head with the other, and began slamming his head against the bookshelf, once, twice.
Sun Shangcheng was stunned. The others nearby were dumbfounded.
They seemingly hadn't expected that even after such a warning, Fang Zichen would still dare to start a fight.
If it were anywhere else, even if he couldn't win a fight, Sun Shangcheng would have cursed vehemently. But inside the bookstore, he didn't dare to brawl with Fang Zichen.
The owner of the academy, Master Wu (Yang Mingyi's grandfather), was the Dean of the academy he attended, a man of immense prestige. No one dared to cause trouble on his premises.
"Thud... Thud..."
The bookshelf was made of hard, dense wood. Each impact produced a dull, heavy sound.
By the time Sun Shangcheng reacted, he had already been slammed several times. A sharp pain assaulted him, and a warm liquid slowly trickled down. He wiped it and saw a smear of bright red.
Sun Shangcheng's pupils constricted slightly.
"You... you..."
The bookstore fell into silence for a moment. Everyone gathered around.
Fang Zichen released his grip, acting as if touching Sun Shangcheng had dirtied his hand. He wiped his hand on Sun Shangcheng's chest, then bent down, snatched the book from Sun Shangcheng's hand, and smiled mockingly:
"Where are your manners? Did I agree to you taking it?"
Sun Shangcheng was already injured, his head spinning from the impacts. Now he was utterly furious.
Fang Zichen didn't dare hit him anymore either.
He had the Prefectural Exam tomorrow. If he seriously injured Sun Shangcheng, he'd probably end up sitting in the magistrate's court.
He stared at Sun Shangcheng, blinked, thought for a moment, his eyebrows twitching, and suddenly laughed.
Hearing his low, strange chuckle, Sun Shangcheng covered his nose and involuntarily took two steps back.
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