What a lucky world!

Chapter 38 Pedantic Mr. Shi
The next day.

As usual, Zhang Mu finished his check-in at the escort hall and went out to ask around, but he didn't hear any news about Qu Pingqing's murder.

The death of a casino thug is like the wind blowing across the lake, leaving no trace.

For Zhang Mu, although he didn't know whether his brother Qu Pingqing's fate of death had changed because of his actions, at least he would not die at the hands of a heartless brother.

After returning to his residence, Zhang Mu took out the piece of animal skin he had obtained yesterday and tied it around his ankle.

This is indeed a talisman. When tied to the feet, it can make a person as light as a swallow and greatly increase the running speed.

It did make up for Zhang Mu's shortcomings in long-distance movement to a certain extent.

After practicing the Three Talents Sword Technique in the yard for half a day, Zhang Mu finished his lunch and slipped out of the escort agency.

Zhou Yuanguang's opportunity will have to wait until tomorrow, so he will try today to see if he can intercept Li Fang's eighth-grade opportunity.

The eighth-grade opportunity is the highest grade among the three opportunities this time, and no one knows what I can get.

After leaving the escort agency, Zhang Mu called a carriage to take him to the outer city.

If it were in the past, Zhang Mu would naturally be willing to go on foot, but he had just killed Qu Pingqing, and walking on the street in broad daylight made him feel a little guilty.

The carriage creaked along for half an hour before arriving at Tianma Lane, Anle Street, in the outer city. Zhang Mu paid a dozen or so coins for the fare and got off the carriage.

……

Zhang Mu knew the Shi family in Tianma Lane. The family consisted of a father and a son, the father Shi Yansheng and the son Shi Chunjie.

Shi Yansheng, now in his forties, was a scholar who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. He opened a private school in the outer city, where he taught children to read and write, relying on tuition fees to make a living. Although he was a bit pedantic, he had a kind heart. Even if children who wanted to learn to read and write could not afford the tuition fees, he would allow them to attend his classes as auditors.

His son, Shi Chunjie, was a completely different story. Seventeen or eighteen years old, he disliked reading and writing, preferring weapons and clubs. He often got into street fights, and whenever he got into trouble, his father would come to his house to apologize. He was a real worry.

About two years ago, before Zhang Mu crossed over, Shi Chunjie had tried to curry favor with the original owner, hoping that the original owner could help him find a job at the escort agency. However, the original owner was just an accountant and didn't have the ability, so the plan never came to fruition.

However, when Shi Chunjie talked to the original owner about their family, he mentioned that there had been some remarkable people in their family. The original owner thought it was just bragging, but now it seems that it might be true.

Entering Tianma Lane, Zhang Mu arrived at the door of the Shi family. Before he could open the door, he heard a hoarse voice from inside: "There are four ways to write the word 'hui'. Everyone, take a good look."

"Knock, knock, knock," Zhang Mu knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened from the inside, and a child of about six or seven looked at Zhang Mu and said, "It's a pleasure to have friends coming from afar. My dear, who are you looking for?"

Zhang Mu rubbed the man's head, looked at Shi Yansheng who was teaching in the courtyard, and bowed, "Mr. Shi."

Shi Yansheng was stunned, and subconsciously bowed in return, then asked doubtfully, "Looking for me?"

Zhang Mu nodded: "Excuse me."

Shi Yansheng bowed again and said, "Wait a moment."

Then, Shi Yansheng said to the dozen or so children in the yard, "That's all for today. You can go back now. Remember, reviewing the old is the way to learn the new. When you go back, review everything you learned today. I'll be checking on you tomorrow."

After Shi Yansheng finished speaking, the children in the yard cheered and jumped for joy. They did not listen to what he said next. Only the child who came to open the door bowed respectfully and replied, "I understand."

A group of children skipped past Zhang Mu. As he entered the dilapidated courtyard, he saw Shi Yansheng had already set out a teacup for him and retrieved a layered paper bag from a room. He carefully peeled back the layers, gently revealing a handful of tea leaves. Shi Yansheng took some out and added it to the cup.

Zhang Mu quickly said, "Mr. Shi, you're welcome."

"Guests are welcome, so how can we treat them with disrespect?" Shi Yansheng said in a firm tone.

After the tea was brewed, Shi Yansheng sat down and asked, "I wonder what you want to see me about?"

Zhang Mu smiled and said, "Mr. Shi, I'm Zhang Mu from Wuren Lane, and I currently work at Yuanwei Escort Agency..."

Shi Yansheng was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, and said, "I heard Chunjie mention you."

Then, Shi Yansheng's expression changed: "Did Chunjie get into trouble again?"

"No, no, no..." Zhang Mu quickly shook his head and said, "It's like this. You know, our escort agency travels all over the country, so it's inevitable that we will have some personal connections."

"A nobleman in the capital is celebrating his birthday these past two days, and the escort agency is considering what gift to send." "I heard that nobleman is a lover of books, especially ancient books."

"I once heard Chunjie mention that there's an ancient family book at home, so I came here..."

Hearing this, Shi Yansheng raised his hand and interrupted Zhang Mu.

"Those are just some strange stories recorded by our ancestors in the family. They are not ancient books," said Shi Yansheng.

Zhang Mu's face lit up when he heard this. "That's quite a coincidence. That gentleman loves to collect old anecdotes and strange stories. I wonder if I can give him some?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yansheng waved his hand and said, "Although the book contains only some strange stories, it is a legacy to me. If I sell it, I would be doing them a disservice. Besides, my family has a tradition that this book must be passed down to future generations and must not be lent out, let alone sold."

"Although I am not talented, I dare not disobey the order of my ancestors."

"Ten taels!" Zhang Mu offered. He thought that even if they couldn't pay Li Fang back, the price shouldn't be more than ten taels.

But Shi Yansheng's face was firm: "Please go back, my friend."

"Twenty taels?" Zhang Mu tried to save the situation.

Shi Yansheng stretched out his hand, wanting to offer tea to the guest, but he found that the only cup of tea was next to Zhang Mu. He could only shake his hand and said, "Sir, please don't insult me like this!"

"Thirty taels!" Zhang Mu raised his offer again.

"Let's go!" Shi Yansheng stood up and poured the cup of tea next to Zhang Mu onto the ground. "Not for sale! Not for sale!"

"Mr. Shi, please think about it again." Zhang Mu advised.

"Confucius said: Poverty and humbleness cannot change! If you say you won't sell it, then don't sell it!" Shi Yansheng pushed Zhang Mu directly, "Go, go, go..."

Seeing this, Zhang Mu could only sigh in his heart, knowing that there was nothing he could do and he could only take a long-term view. He walked out, and when he reached the door, he suddenly had an idea and took a half step to the side. Then he saw a shadow rushing in and falling to the ground.

"Chunjie?" Shi Yansheng recognized at a glance that the person who fell to the ground was his son Shi Chunjie.

However, at this moment, three more thugs rushed in, holding sticks in their hands and were about to hit Shi Chunjie. Shi Yansheng shouted, "Don't hurt my son," and then pounced on him, hugged Shi Chunjie and protected him with his body.

Zhang Mu stepped forward, grabbed the stick thrown by the thug, and kicked the leading thug out of the door with a light kick.

The gang leader screamed "Ah", and the other two gangsters saw this and attacked Zhang Mu directly. Zhang Mu knocked the two gangsters down with two easy punches.

Seeing Zhang Mu's great skills, the gang leader pointed at Zhang Mu and was about to say something harsh, but was frightened by Zhang Mu's forward movement. He quickly pulled up his two men and ran away in shame.

"Don't run!" At this time, Shi Chunjie jumped out from under Shi Yansheng's body and wanted to chase him out, but was held tightly by Shi Yansheng.

"What's going on?" Zhang Mu asked when he saw this.

Hearing Zhang Mu's question, Shi Chunjie took a look and said in surprise: "Brother Mu! That's great, Brother Mu, help me quickly..."

"What help!" Shi Yansheng roared, "Are you still trying to stir up trouble? Do you think I've lived too long?"

Shi Chunjie immediately felt wronged after Shi Yansheng yelled at him, "Dad, I didn't cause any trouble. They stole my wages. I earned them by carrying goods for a month at the carriage and horse shop!"

"I ordered a knife from Blacksmith Li. If I don't get my wages back, I won't have any money to pay him!"

"Ah?" Shi Yansheng was stunned.

After hearing this, Zhang Mu finally understood why the Tianji List said Shi Yansheng was unable to pay the fees.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Mu said, "Don't go. I'll go get it back for you."

If he wanted to get the money back, Shi Yansheng would not have mortgaged the ancient books to Li Fang, and he would have had time to slowly find a solution.

"Don't go either!" Zhang Mu had just taken a step when Shi Yansheng stopped him, "We don't want this silver."

Ok?
Zhang Mu looked at Shi Yansheng in confusion.

(End of this chapter)