Chapter 46: Magistrate Guo 2/3

In fact, he had been trembling the whole time. Going to court was a terrifying experience for a child.

However, Li Qingzhi had spoken to him for a while before, even mentioning Zhao Xiaodou… Since Zhao Mancang knew Zhao Xiaodou, he trusted Li Qingzhi even more.

Li Qingzhi held Zhao Mancang’s hand to comfort him.

He liked children, and seeing Zhao Mancang in such a pitiful state couldn’t help but make him feel distressed. Fortunately, Hong Hui didn’t say much more. After looking at Zhao Mancang next to Li Qingzhi, he left.

As soon as Li Qingzhi left, Zhu Qian immediately called the Zhu family’s servants to carry the injured back to the Zhu family.

They met many people on the way, and each time they met someone, Zhu Qian would briefly explain today’s events: “My son went to the Hong family to participate in a poetry gathering, but when he saw the young master of the Hong family beating someone, he and his friends stepped forward to stop it. Unexpectedly, they were all injured by the young master of the Hong family…”

As they walked and talked, they quickly arrived at the Zhu family.

Zhu Qian asked the servants to take Zhao Mancang to eat something and rest. Seeing that only Zhu Xunmiao, Li Qingzhi, and Xu Qifei were left, he said, “That Hong Hui is not a good person. You must be careful in the future!”

“Dad?” Zhu Xunmiao was a bit confused. After being bitten, he did feel that there was something wrong with the Hong family and Hong Hui, but Hong Hui had behaved gracefully in court and admitted his mistake quickly. He thought that the incident of the young master of the Hong family injuring someone might not be related to Hong Hui. Hong Hui was busy studying and might not even know that his younger brother liked to beat people up.

Zhu Qian said, “Hong Hui is extremely crafty, but having traveled far and wide for so many years, I can still see through his superficial intentions. Such people are best not to be offended. Since we’ve already offended him, we must be on guard!”

Finishing, he looked at Zhu Xunmiao and continued, “In fact, he approached you without any sincerity, just wanting to extort money from you!”

People like Zhu Qian, who had climbed up from the bottom, had a keen eye for judging others.

After getting to know Hong Hui, Zhu Xunmiao helped him find chrysanthemums, bought wine and snacks… Although Hong Hui had offered to pay, Zhu Xunmiao declined. But could a wealthy family like the Hongs not procure chrysanthemums and wine? 

Wasn’t Hong Hui trying to get money from Zhu Xunmiao?

Moreover, Zhu Qian was aware of the Hongs’ habit of maintaining their dignity by pawning their belongings. Although the Hongs always went to the capital to pawn things, people like him, as businessmen, were well-informed.

However, although Zhu Qian saw through it at the time, he didn’t say anything. He didn’t care about the money or Hong Hui’s scheming. As long as his son could enter the literary circle of Chongcheng County through Hong Hui, it was fine.

But what Zhu Qian didn’t expect was that his son would get into trouble just by attending a poetry gathering!

The Hong family actually let their young master beat up a child who wasn’t even ten years old!

Zhu Qian had been a servant in a wealthy family since he was young, so he knew how difficult it was to be a servant.

The master’s family he had served before was relatively kind, but even so, he had suffered a lot after leaving his parents so suddenly.

For Zhao Mancang to be beaten like this and have nowhere to turn to… Zhu Qian felt truly distressed just thinking about it.

As for the Hong family… a family that looked down on their servants like this wasn’t worth befriending.

Zhu Qian didn’t dare to call himself a good person. After living for so many years, he had done his fair share of immoral things, but he would never ignore someone’s life or death.

After briefly analyzing Hong Hui’s character, Zhu Xunmiao was shocked.

He had never thought about what his father had said before!

Zhu Qian allowed his son to ponder this and then thanked Li Qingzhi again.

Zhu Xunmiao said, “It was thanks to you that I wasn’t bitten. If it weren’t for you, my face might have been bitten.”

If he really had bite marks on his face, Zhu Xunmiao wouldn’t know how people would talk about him in the future. Even if he passed the imperial examination smoothly, his career path wouldn’t be smooth.

“You don’t need to thank me. You were also there to help save someone, which led to this unfortunate incident,” Li Qingzhi said.

“How can you say it’s an unfortunate incident? You saved a child!” Zhu Qian sighed. “You are both good people.”

“When it comes to that child… Uncle Zhu, can you let him work at the Zhu family?” Li Qingzhi said, “This child’s father… isn’t very reliable.”

If Zhao Mancang’s father were like Zhao Laosan… the child, having survived a deadly situation and receiving ten taels of silver as compensation, the father would definitely care for the child in every way, making sure the child is well taken care of at home.

But Zhao Mancang’s alcoholic father… who knows, he might even think about selling Zhao Mancang again!

Even if he doesn’t sell Zhao Mancang again… he is someone who would resort to violence!

In this world, there are many people living in miserable conditions. During the great flood in the Yaohe River, we witnessed all sorts of tragedies.

I can’t save everyone, but since I’ve encountered Zhao Mancang, I should at least give him a hand.

Li Qingzhi briefly explained the situation at Zhao Mancang’s home.

Zhu Qian also wanted to help this child: “My youngest son just needs a personal assistant, so let him serve as my youngest son’s personal assistant.”

Zhu Qian has two sons and a daughter, and Li Qingzhi has met his youngest son.

This child isn’t in the best health; he seems to be overprotected, but he isn’t spoiled, just genuinely talented.

It would be good if Zhao Mancang could serve as his personal assistant!

“I’ll talk to Mancang later. As for his father… Uncle Zhu, I’ll trouble you with that,” Li Qingzhi said.

After chatting with Zhu Qian, Li Qingzhi held Jin Xiaoye’s hand, and they both went to see Zhao Mancang.

Zhao Mancang had already eaten but hadn’t slept.

After experiencing so much in one day, he simply couldn’t fall asleep.

“Mancang,” Li Qingzhi sat beside Zhao Mancang, handed him the ten taels of silver given by Hong Hui, held Zhao Mancang’s hand, and spoke to him.

He didn’t say much; he just asked Zhao Mancang to hide the money, preferably not giving it to his father, and mentioned that Zhu Xunmiao, who helped save Zhao Mancang, felt sorry for him and was willing to let him stay at the Zhu family.

“You must be scared after being beaten and might not want to be a servant anymore. But if you go back home, your father might sell you again,” Li Qingzhi said slowly, while his ability circulated within Zhao Mancang’s body.

Zhao Mancang had many hidden injuries, and if not properly cared for, his life might be shortened. If he continued to be beaten like this, it would be an even more certain death.

But he was still young, with a strong ability to recover. As long as he was well taken care of at the Zhu family, avoiding heavy labor and eating well, he would eventually recover.

Zhao Mancang was still young, but he had experienced a lot: “Uncle Li, I, I’m willing to be a servant again. Young Master Zhu and Master Zhu are both good people!”

“Yes, they are both good people. Master Zhu used to be a servant too, so he treats servants well…” Li Qingzhi spoke to Zhao Mancang, while using his remaining ability to soothe Zhao Mancang.

Zhao Mancang finally calmed down and smiled at Li Qingzhi.

At the same time, Zhao Mancang’s father was also brought to the Zhu family.

The servant who went to pick up Zhao Mancang’s father settled him in a side room and then went to find Zhu Qian.