Chapter 209: Chapter 149: Dawn (2)

Mr. Liu was, after all, a man of letters, and Chu Lingguang was a Martial Scholar who had even taken first place in South City. It was a foregone conclusion that he would pass the examination to become a Martial Arts Scholar, serve as an official in the imperial court, and become a Military General.

Furthermore, Chu Lingguang had spoken politely, brought a gift, and hadn’t used his status to pressure him. He had even made Gui apologize and admit his mistake. How could Mr. Liu possibly refuse? He immediately agreed to let Gui return to his studies the next day.

Chu Lingguang was overjoyed. He said to Mr. Liu, “Ever since I was young, I’ve heard that studying can change one’s destiny. It’s just a shame that while my name is Lin Guang, my mind isn’t quite as bright. I can’t help you with teaching and educating, Mr. Liu, but if there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask for my help.”

Giving a gift was only the first step.

Remembering this favor and finding a way to repay it was what Chu Lingguang ought to do.

“This… Alright.”

Mr. Liu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

Chu Lingguang caught his unusual expression and quickly said, “Mr. Liu, you are a man of noble character and high prestige, with students all over the world. I sincerely wish to help you with your troubles.”

“This… Sigh. I hope you won’t laugh at me, Scholar Chu, but I do indeed have a favor to ask.”

Seeing that Chu Lingguang was sincere, Mr. Liu slowly began to speak. “I have an illegitimate daughter named Zhang Jiatting. She was taken away by Landlord Zhang of Zhang Family Gully. All these years, I’ve wanted to acknowledge her as my own, but Landlord Zhang has stopped me multiple times. He told me that he would only let me see my daughter if I gave him all my savings. I know he just covets my silver taels, and I can’t just let him have his way for free.”

Chu Lingguang was rather surprised.

He never would have expected it to be something like this.

“If this is too difficult for you, Scholar Chu, I understand. However, please do not speak of this matter to anyone else.”

Mr. Liu didn’t dare to put Chu Lingguang in a difficult position.

“Please don’t be offended, Mr. Liu, but I must venture to ask… is Zhang Jiatting’s birth mother Landlord Zhang’s…?”

“You misunderstand, Scholar Chu,” Mr. Liu interrupted. “Jiatting was sold to Landlord Zhang by her birth mother. Her mother has long since passed away.”

He knew what Chu Lingguang was about to say.

Chu Lingguang cupped his hands. “I was being presumptuous. Please don’t be offended, sir.”

He realized he hadn’t thought things through properly. If Mr. Liu had been involved with Landlord Zhang’s wife, how would he dare try to acknowledge Zhang Jiatting as his daughter? And why would Landlord Zhang have spared Mr. Liu?

Mr. Liu was an outsider to the nearby villages, having a different surname.

He had come to the Liu Family Gully area to teach over a decade ago. Thinking about it now, he must have come here for the sole purpose of acknowledging his daughter, Zhang Jiatting.

“It’s fine. Just please, Scholar Chu, keep what we discussed today a secret for me.”

Mr. Liu felt a little regretful for having said something he shouldn’t have.

“I will do my best. I can go have a word with Landlord Zhang on your behalf,” Chu Lingguang said, rising and cupping his hands.

“Truly?” Mr. Liu said excitedly.

After all, acknowledging an illegitimate daughter was an embarrassing affair. If Chu Lingguang mishandled it, he could easily find himself in a lot of trouble.

“I would not dare deceive you, sir. Please just give me some time.”

Chu Lingguang respected Mr. Liu as a man of letters. He had also nurtured many people from Liu Family Gully and the other nearby villages, including Zhang Family Gully, enabling them to make a living through their learning.

Although most could only become accountants at best, it was still far better than doing hard labor at the tile factory.

“Good. I thank you, Scholar Chu.”

Mr. Liu was extremely emotional. He stood up and was about to kneel before Chu Lingguang, but Chu Lingguang quickly caught him, repeating, “You mustn’t, you mustn’t!”

After bidding farewell to Mr. Liu, Chu Lingguang recalled the goat belonging to Mr. Niu at the village entrance, which had been taken by Landlord Zhang. Mr. Niu had asked him for help getting it back.

It was only a goat. If a Martial Scholar like himself had to intervene personally, it would be a bit beneath his station. So, he had given Mr. Niu a note. It contained just a single line: “I am Chu Lingguang. Please return the goat to Mr. Niu.”

BAA!

As luck would have it, just after leaving Mr. Liu’s house and returning to Liu Family Gully, Chu Lingguang saw Mr. Niu leading a goat home. Upon seeing him, Mr. Niu grinned and said, “Lin Guang, your note really did the trick! When Landlord Zhang saw it, not only did he not dare to say anything, but he also gave me the fattest, best goat from his pen. Look, its udders are full! Wait a moment, I’ll milk a bowl for you.”

Mr. Niu ran into his house.

In the dim evening light, he milked a full bowl of goat’s milk and brought it to Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang took the bowl of goat’s milk.

A line of text appeared before his eyes.

(Helped Mr. Niu retrieve his goat. Gained 9 Favor Points.)

“Thank you, Mr. Niu.”

Chu Lingguang drank it all in one gulp.

The goat’s milk had a strong, gamy taste, but it was indeed good for replenishing one’s Qi Blood. Normally, only the children of wealthy families could afford to drink it.

“From now on, I’ll bring you a bowl every day when there’s milk,” Mr. Niu said with a laugh.

“That’s not necessary, Mr. Niu. I eat my fill at my master’s place every day. I’ll be going now.”

Chu Lingguang waved goodbye.

’It seems Landlord Zhang is still afraid of me. After all, I’m a Martial Scholar, the top-ranked in South City, and in many people’s eyes, a future Martial Arts Scholar.

One day, I could even become a Military General.

If I go to Landlord Zhang directly and tell him to allow Zhang Jiatting and Mr. Liu to reunite, he definitely wouldn’t dare refuse. But doing it that way would mean he loses a daughter for nothing. And while he couldn’t do anything to me, he would certainly harbor resentment.

So, if I want to navigate these social dynamics skillfully, I can’t just use brute force.

I need to help Mr. Liu fulfill his long-cherished wish and earn Favor Points from him, but I also have to make Landlord Zhang do it willingly so that he doesn’t hold a grudge against me.

Thinking it over, Landlord Zhang is a greedy man who loves to take advantage of others. That much is clear from how he demanded all of Mr. Liu’s savings and took Mr. Niu’s goat.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep