The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 839 - 180

Chapter 839: 180

Fang Li asked him, "Do you have any money? Lend me some first."

Fang Zhi’s eyes darted quickly, "I do! I wouldn’t dare lend to others, but for Brother Fang, not just a few taels, I would even dare to find dozens of taels of silver for you!"

Fang Li didn’t believe he had dozens of taels of silver, "Just lend me two taels for now!"

Fang Zhi hurried back home, got him the two taels of silver, and a chicken leg, "Brother Fang! You look like you haven’t eaten, this chicken leg is still warm, have it to fill your stomach! I’ll accompany Brother Fang to get some food! You’ve got a head wound and lost blood, you need to eat something nutritious to recover!"

Fang Li looked at the steaming chicken leg and suddenly felt Fang Zhi wasn’t so bad after all. He pocketed the silver and sat down at the base of the hill to gnaw on the chicken leg.

Fang Zhi sighed, looking at the scratches on his face, "Brother Fang has raised a son who has become an officer and is now in Capital Jingcheng, yet he still can’t avoid being crossed by women! My wife thinks herself capable, never pays me any mind, and criticizes everything I do as not good enough. When she tries and fails, she blames me for being useless. The whole village says I’m living off a woman, yet as a man of ambition, I have no place to stretch my capabilities!"

Fang Li suddenly thought of himself. Before, the Pickled Bamboo Workshop was managed by Lady Yu and his mother, with Lady Yu hovering over every time they received an order. The Sweet Potato Flour Workshop, besides being headed by his father, was also under Lady Yu’s control. She was everywhere, always saying he was no good, bound to bankrupt the family. He gritted his teeth, veins throbbing with rage.

The two of them felt a bond of shared misfortune in their conversation, but deep down, Fang Li still looked down on Fang Zhi. What was he compared to himself? His son was an officer! Nevertheless, he complained about Fang Liuming being sent away, "...Dalang is now in a pit, and no one really has his best interests at heart, only I, his father, am worried, and no one trusts me!"

"Oh my! Being an officer in Capital Jingcheng is so good, why was he sent away! Even if he was sent out, it should have been to the affluent lands of Jiangnan which have plenty of perks, but to some remote and poor corner? If he stays there for ten or eight years without a change, his career is over!" Fang Zhi exclaimed in shock, "Lady Mo is already a Third Rank Enjoin, and she knows Young Master Shen from the Shen family, how can she just watch Liuming’s bright future go down the drain!?"

Fang Li had a dark expression, filled with hatred and anger.

Fang Zhi appeared worried, "Since they won’t tell you, Brother Fang, you have to think of something! Liuming’s bright future can’t just be ruined like this! Brother Fang, don’t worry, I’ll think of a way to help you with this!"

"What can you possibly think of!" Fang Li was not very impressed.

Fang Zhi laughed, "Brother Fang, you shouldn’t underestimate my ability. Three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang – with more brains, we can always come up with a solution!"

Afterward, Fang Zhi took Fang Li to the county town. The goods sent by Fang Liuming had come through the courier station, and with a few bucks, Fang Zhi inquired and found that the goods from Fang Liuming had been sent from Baoning County.

Fang Li’s face turned a little unsightly – he hadn’t even thought of that.

Fang Zhi, thinking he was dismayed by how far and out of the way Baoning County was, urged him to think quickly of a way to get Fang Liuming reassigned back to Capital Jingcheng, "...There’s not much benefit or dignity there, better to be in the capital!"

As they were thinking of solutions, they ran head-on into Shen Songming’s personal servant. Fang Li recognized him, "Shuang Xi!?"

When Shuang Xi heard someone calling him, he turned his head, "Old Master Fang!"

Seeing it was really him, Fang Li’s eyes lit up, "Shuang Xi! Has Young Master Shen arrived!? Where is he?"

"In a different residence." Shuang Xi replied.

Fang Li immediately followed him to find Shen Songming.

Fang Zhi followed along.

Shen Songming stayed in a small separate residence in Pei Qin’s county town. Mo Heng told him to buy his own house in Yuanyang County, but Shen Songming didn’t want to, had nowhere else to stay, and upon arriving in Yuanyang County, just moved in with Pei Qin, annoying that blind man. He didn’t dare to make a scene, as throwing a tantrum wouldn’t have kept him at bay!

When Shen Songming heard that Fang Li had come, knowing it was about Fang Liuming being assigned away, he said, "Let him in."

Upon seeing Shen Songming, Fang Li immediately started complaining and lamenting that Fang Liuming’s assignment was a result of someone’s manipulation, and that his future had become complicated and difficult, asking Shen Songming for help to have Fang Liuming reassigned back to Capital Jingcheng.

After listening to all he had to say, which amounted to complaining that Pei Qin was plotting behind the scenes and sending Fang Liuming to some poor ravine, Shen Songming laughed softly, "Then let me think of a way to have him reassigned to the affluent Jiangnan, shall I?"