Chapter 78: Triumph

  When Chen Jiong got this money, he first sighed.

  120,000 taels, his pharmacy has finally found a footing!

  Look back at the county, choose a good day, find two doctors who understand medicine and medical skills in the cabinet, find a few partners, buy a shop, and the pharmacy can be opened.

  His wish has taken a small step towards realization.

  This money, its origin is a bit...

  It was Yang Zhi's plan to let the officials of Liangzhe Road misunderstand Chen Jing, thinking that Chen Jing was a big man in the capital, so they came to pay their respects and fawn on Chen Jing.

  But Chen Jiong is a person from Liang Zhe Road, and he will eventually be exposed.

  When the time comes, Yang Zhiou will bear the consequences.

  "Old master..." Chen Jiong's tone was slightly subdued, and he slowly opened his mouth, carefully considering how to phrase it. He should be thanking him, rather than analyzing the various consequences, because from the start, he had seen through this situation, didn't oppose it, and even helped complete it.

  If he's worried about any consequences, then he's got a good deal and is still selling his cleverness. Apart from gratitude, anything else would be inappropriate for Chen Xiang to say.

  So he deliberated repeatedly.

  "No need to say more!" Yang Zhi Chou guessed what Chen Jing was going to say and waved his hand, "A total of 75 households sent gifts, including imperial merchants and officials. I calculated that the gifts received this time are approximately 180,000 taels. With 75 households, averaging it out, each household is only about 2,400 taels, which is not a heavy gift at all, no need to be nervous."

  These things were secretly taken by my nephews and nieces. Don't blame them, giving them benefits is equivalent to sealing their mouths, so they don't dare speak ill of you. If not given, they will be jealous and create trouble out of nothing."

  "It doesn't matter," said Chen Jiong, "this was never mine to begin with."

  "It's all yours now!" Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "Don't worry about me either. I returned to my hometown without a big fanfare or grand construction projects, this is my frugality. If the officials knew, they would certainly think well of me in their hearts. However, even if I received several thousand taels as gifts, it would be useless to report it to the officials."

  Chen Jiong suddenly remembered that Yang Zhiou said his son was a red person in front of the emperor.

  Yang Zhi had also had influence in the capital before.

  This time he resigned from office, the officials thought he knew when to advance and retreat, and valued his students and sons even more. This was a reward for Yang Zhihou. In the capital, Yang's reputation did not fade with his departure.

  He has the nerve to set up this scheme. Moreover, it's just a small trap, no harm done. If people in the capital were to find out, they would probably think it's amusing rather than be outraged by his bribery.

  "...This time, nothing has entered the Yang family's door, not a single poster with my name on it. Even if you go to report, it's all fabricated." Yang Zhi continued, "Don't be afraid!"

  Those people will come to realize that they misunderstood you and won't dare to trouble you again. Being an official is like this, sometimes it's a gamble; if you win, you'll rise to prominence, but if you lose, you'll have to swallow your pride. Those who can't afford to lose can't last long!

  Don't just look at the heavy taxes on the two Zhejiang roads in these two years, but officials haven't made less profit. The ones who are suffering are only the common people, while the officials still enjoy luxurious food and clothing. More than 2,000 taels of silver is just what they lose from their fingers, the cost of a banquet. They dare not confirm your identity, and giving you gifts also fears that it's too expensive to be worthwhile.

  Look, everyone has left a backhand. If your identity is confirmed, what you receive this time will not be tens of thousands of taels, but hundreds of thousands of taels. Even if they find out later that you are not some big shot, they won't be too disappointed. Among the gift-givers, there are several with good political achievements, considered personal talents, but unfortunately, no one in the capital knows them, and there is no way to promote them.

  I'll write a letter to Jingli, mentioning those with better political achievements, and that will be an explanation for them. Don't worry, this time there won't be any unexpected events, nor will anyone bear a grudge against you or look for trouble with you."

  So many officials come to bribe, it's impossible for everyone to have a chance to get favor, they all know it in their hearts.

  So, some people got the opportunity and also gave a signal to others: since someone succeeded, it means that the money was well spent. This time I didn't have good luck, but next time I still have a chance.

  So they have achieved their goal.

  "Thank you so much, sir! You've really helped me out of a big trouble this time!" Chen Jing said gratefully.

  He was truly speechless.

  What he wanted to say, Yang Zhi Zhou had all thought of and said.

  Yang Zhihou was more familiar with officialdom and knew what was important. Since he said it was nothing, Chen Jing was certain that there was indeed nothing to worry about.

  Yang Zhi Zhou is a very meticulous person.

  "No need to." Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "You saved my third brother, this is a favor to me, I said I would repay it. Originally, this money should have been paid by me and the Yang family. It's just that on this trip south, I only brought a few tens of thousands of taels of silver, and then bought a house in Wang County, and there were expenses along the way, so there's not much left."

  The Yang family has been basking in my glory and making a fortune over the years. However, if you look at them, they live extravagantly and spend lavishly every day, throwing money around like water. If you ask them to put up some cash, the most they can come up with is 700,000 or 800,000 taels; more than that, they don't have the ready cash, and besides, they may not be willing to part with it anyway.

  "Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law used to support me in my studies, exhausting their family's wealth. Now that their children and grandchildren are enjoying some good fortune, it is only right, so I haven't mentioned this."

  "I understand." Chen Jiong said.

  Yang Zhi Zhou spoke very politely.

  In fact, these tens of thousands of taels of gifts were also Yang Zhiyou's money.

  This is what his reputation has earned him.

  No matter who replaces him, even if he does it more carefully, there won't be such deterrent power. Without enough deterrent power, those cunning officials will not hand over the money.

  After all, it's about consuming Yang Zijiang.

  Yang Zhi Chou is still so modest.

  "Old master, I, Chen Zhong, am a person who knows what's good and bad. This time, you don't have to say it, but I can see it clearly. You're telling me this because you consider me as a close friend. I'll remember your kindness." Chen Jing said cautiously.

  "What nonsense!" Yang Zhi Zhou laughed, "I said this is the diagnostic fee for you, it doesn't count as a favor. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to repay the kindness of saving my third brother. At my age, if I owe someone a debt of gratitude, I may not have time to repay it in this lifetime. It's better not to owe debts."

  Chen Jiong smiled and didn't make any more polite remarks.

  He picked up the silver ticket Yang Zhi Zhou gave him.

  The day before returning to Lin's hometown, Chen Jing went to Yang Dazhou for pulse diagnosis again.

  These days, Yang Dazhou is still recuperating and doesn't manage any household affairs, leaving everything to his children and grandchildren. His complexion has improved a lot.

  Yang Dazhou couldn't stop praising Chen Jing.

  "This time, it's you who saved my life. If I had died, it wouldn't have mattered, but what I feared was being paralyzed by a stroke, unable to live or die, and suffering as a result." Yang Daizhou smiled.

  This old man has no taboos, dead or alive, he talks about them all.

  "Father, don't say such things." Yang Yun said from the side, "You will live a long life of one hundred years yet."

  "It's all good fortune! I've met Master Physician Chen, and that means living a hundred years!" Yang Daizhou laughed.

  Everyone in the house burst out laughing.

  Chen Jiong smiled along with him.

  Yang Dazhou's cerebral hemorrhage has basically stabilized and will not relapse within one to two years. Chen Jing reminded him that in daily life, he should pay attention to his diet, walk more in the morning and evening, not drink alcohol, and eat less meat.

  Yang Dazhou agreed.

  Yang Zhi Zhou sat on one side and didn't say much.

  Chen Jiong finished feeling the pulse, and Yang Daizhou asked Yang Zhi Zhou: "Don't stay here?"

  "It can't be done." Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and said, "There are people coming and going at home, it's not quiet. Besides, this time I came back, apart from seeing you, I also wanted to pay respects to my parents. You're already much better, so I'll head back to Wang County instead."

  Yang Zhi Chou followed his parents to Wang County since he was a child and spent his childhood there.

  That was probably the most carefree period of his life.

  Later, his father passed away, the family declined sharply, and he lived in Yang Dazhou's home, never having a sense of belonging. Even though his parents were buried in Mingzhou, he still felt that Wangxian was his hometown.

  Yang Dizhou's family is rich and luxurious, with many children and grandchildren. Yang Zhi thought he had repaid the kindness of his upbringing in Mingzhou, so he didn't want to stay for long.

  "Alright." Yang Dai Zhou understood his brother's thoughts best and didn't force him.

  The next day at noon, Chen Jiong and Yang Zhi Zhou got up, packed up properly and prepared to return.

  At dawn, went to the Flower Hall for breakfast.

  Everyone said goodbye and chatted for a while.

  Yang Zhi Zhou reminded the children to take good care of Yang Dai Zhou, and didn't mention anything else.

  The Yang family nodded in agreement.

  Yang Shaoze walked up to Chen Jing, handed him a long box and smiled: "Brother Zhong, there are several folding fans in here. I happened to get them by chance. They're just trinkets, not worth much, so I'll give them to you to play with."

  "Thank you." Chen Jiong accepted it generously.

  He didn't bring a servant, so Yang Zhi's servant Ming Feng took it for him and delivered it to the carriage.

  At dawn, Chen Jing and Yang Zhi Zhou boarded a horse-drawn carriage and left Mingzhou.

  The Yang family saw them off at the city gate before returning.

  Yang Zhi Zhou's carriage was a dark green oilcloth carriage, which was not as spacious as the Yang family's carriage.

  "...I miscalculated." After walking for half a time, Chen Jiong's waist and back were sore, thinking that his judgment was wrong, he sighed.

  "What's wrong?" Yang Zhi asked him.

  Chen Jing said, "Last time I thought for sure that I would follow you back in your luxurious and stable carriage. Who knew it was this broken-down vehicle? My bones are all loose now."

  Yang Zhi Zhou burst out laughing.

  Nature is reluctant to be without, and then laughs at Chen Jinnan's uselessness.

  "Or would you like to guess?" Yang Zhi asked him.

  Guessing can transfer the dullness of horse carriage galloping.

  "Alright." Chen Jing said.

  "Guess odd or even, or guess a number?" Yang Zhi Zhou asked.

  "Guess a number." Chen Jing said. Guessing odd or even is no fun at all, it's either one or the other, purely blind guessing.

  Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and took out a chess box from behind him, placing it in front of him.

  He let Chen Jiong guess first.

  Chen Jie didn't have much insight into guessing Mian's moves, it was just a mess of random collisions.

  So I guessed five times and got them all wrong.

  Then it was Yang Zhi's turn.

  "It's a number that is a multiple of 3 and 7..." Chen Jiong made the first guess, letting Yang Zhi Zhou try. Yang Zhi Zhou thought for a moment, then said.

  Chen Jiong spread out his palm and took a look, and indeed there were ten grains.

  "A number of fifteen." The second guess, Yang Zhi Zhou guessed again.

  Chen Jiong spread out his palm and counted them. There were indeed six grains.

  Chen Jiong felt something was off, by the third time, he grabbed a few more, and in one breath, he grabbed fourteen grains.

  "Give up, it's not going to be easy this time." Yang Zhi Zhou said with a smile.

  Chen Jiong burst out laughing: "You're at your wit's end, aren't you?"

  Yang Zhi Zhou also smiled slightly.

  He looked at the chess pieces Chen Jiong had put down and thought: It's a nine-five number...

  They guess the number of beans, sometimes also with a hint of fortune-telling, so those who know will not pick fourteen. There are many sayings about fourteen grains, but what if someone picks a quarrel and says it's a taboo number?

  It will be impossible to explain at that time and would be unrighteous instead.

  Chen Jiong seems not to understand this.

  Yang Zhi Zhou smiled and mixed those chess pieces with other pieces, pretending he didn't see them. He grabbed a handful and gave them to Chen Jing to guess.

  As expected, Chen Jiong guessed wrong again. He's completely clueless and just making wild guesses. His luck isn't great today either.

  All the way, Yang Zhi Zhou bullied Chen Jing thoroughly. Yang Zhi Zhou was a master and could guess correctly about 80% of the time. As for Chen Jing, he didn't even get 10%, and the few times he did win were all just luck.

  "Is there really a rule in this?" Chen Jiong scratched his head and asked Yang Zhi Zhou, "I've always thought it was just a blind collision."

  Yang Zhi Zhou burst out laughing and said: "So you can't!"

  He refused to tell Chen Xiang his skills and insisted that Chen Xiang beg him.

  Chen Jiong asked him, but he still refused to teach.

  An old man and a young boy played tricks on each other, laughing and scolding, and soon they arrived at Wangxian County.