At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 198 Entering the game with one's own body is the best way to win.

Lujiang County, Shu County.

At the gate of the city, a woman in rags was kneeling on the roadside with a child under two years old in her arms.

Next to the woman, there was a sign with neat handwriting: The child is seriously ill and is in urgent need of money to save his life. I hope that kind people can give some charity.

Although there are many passers-by who show kindness, at most they just throw down a few five-baht coins, which is like a drop in the bucket for the child's condition.

Not far away, a young man aged 25 or [-] came here with a heavy workload.

When he looked at the Shuxian city wall that came into view, a smile finally appeared on his tired face.

"Even if Lujiang County was harmed by Lu Bu, its prosperity is still far from what Nan County can match. It seems that I did not make a mistake in coming to Lujiang from Xiangyang."

He quickened his pace and was about to enter the city, but he faintly heard a woman crying on the roadside.

The man stopped and walked to the woman kneeling on the roadside. After seeing what was written on the sign, he asked: "What disease does your child have and how much does it cost?"

The woman looked up and found that although the man was plainly dressed, he also carried a sword. His eyes were very bright, and he seemed to be full of wisdom. She immediately knew that the man was not an ordinary person.

She hurriedly said: "The child suffers from wheezing, and the long-term medication has made the family completely destitute. Xiu asked a lot to find a good doctor, but it took half a year to treat the disease, and he had to take expensive medicinal materials every day, which cost at least 20 Thousands of dollars.”

"I really can't take it out, and I can't just watch the child die, so I'm begging on the roadside. Please don't blame me if I disturb you."

After saying this, the woman immediately covered her face and cried bitterly.

Hearing this, the man frowned slightly and turned away without saying anything more.

Since Zhou Qi began to establish academies in the territory, the Lujiang Academy in Shu County, founded by major aristocratic families in conjunction with local scholars and celebrities, has become a place that many students dream of studying.

However, Lujiang Academy has very strict requirements for recruiting students.

Students who can enter Lujiang Academy must either come from a well-known family and be recommended by highly respected people, or they must pass five levels and kill six generals and pass extremely strict assessments in the academy before they can be admitted.

Most of those who come from well-known families are well-educated, and are recommended by people of high moral standing and respect, who can also help check.

Those who are highly virtuous and respected all cherish their feathers, and the number of places they can recommend is very limited, and they will not recommend mediocre people indiscriminately.

Otherwise, these people will have the lowest grades after entering the academy, or they will be kicked out because they repeatedly failed to complete their studies, which will also bring disgrace to the recommenders.

In this way, the quality of students studying at Lujiang Academy is greatly ensured. Students studying there, even if they have not graduated, have been booked in advance by county magistrates from various places.

It is conceivable that students who can enter Lujiang Academy will have unlimited future prospects.

This system is obviously extremely disadvantageous to students from poor families. Unless they are the kind of students from poor families who have real talents and excellent academic performance, it will be extremely difficult to enter Lujiang Academy without anyone recommending them.

But on this day, Lujiang Academy accepted a disciple from a poor family from afar.

Although this man was not necessarily better than the disciples of the aristocratic family in terms of Confucian classics, his skills in war and strategy shocked the gentlemen in the academy.

It was precisely for this reason that Lujiang Academy made an exception and recruited this person.

The person who was recruited into Lujiang Academy was a young man from Xiangyang who had traveled a lot.

only.

Although the young man was admitted to Lujiang Academy by virtue of his true ability, he was still ostracized by the children of the aristocratic families.

There is no other reason, just because the man's background is out of tune with everyone.

After listening to a few classes, the young man felt the deliberate alienation and isolation of his classmates, but he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

On this day, a woman holding a child begging suddenly came to the gate of Lujiang Academy. She was the same woman who was crying at the gate of the city.

When school was over, many people saw the woman kneeling and crying for help. Although some people felt sympathy, many people shook their heads after learning that it would cost at least 20 yuan to save her child.

Most of those who can enter Lujiang Academy are children from aristocratic families who are both good in character and academics.

If it was just a small amount of money, they would not hesitate to lend a helping hand. However, 20 yuan was not a small amount after all, and these people did not have the heart of the Holy Mother to spend this unjust money to help a stranger.

It's not that they don't have sympathy, it's just because these are troubled times. Even if Lujiang County is relatively stable, it still can't change this fact.

Even in times of peace, there are already many people and things suffering. It is simply impossible to be kind and help people all over the world.

"I hate people begging most in my life. I have hands and feet, so why would I put down my dignity to do such a thing?"

At this moment, a voice came from behind.

Everyone turned around and saw that the person coming was the poor student who had entered Lujiang Academy not long ago.

When many students from aristocratic families heard this, they were all furious and accused the young man: "The sage taught us that scholars should have a benevolent heart. Even if we don't expect you to be kind-hearted to help others, you won't end up adding insult to injury like this!"

These people come from aristocratic families and have had enough food and clothing since childhood, just like canaries in a cage.

They read a lot of poetry and books, and felt that after learning the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, they should have a benevolent heart and help the world.

Even though they didn't help the woman, they couldn't see the young man behaving like this.

What's more, these people entered Lujiang Academy only after being recommended, and they were already very hostile to the young man, who was an outlier who relied on his own ability to get into the academy.

Although they had deliberately alienated young people before, they could not take the initiative to embarrass them. Now when they find the opportunity, they naturally turn into defenders and criticize young people with words and writings.

"Other people's mother and child are already suffering enough, why do you need to add salt to the wound?"

"With such a good character and temperament, how could the dean recruit you into the academy?"

"I am ashamed to associate with such cold-blooded people as you!"

……

In the face of everyone's verbal accusations, this year he didn't take it seriously at all. Instead, he looked at them with a smile.

It wasn't until everyone was thirsty and more and more people came to watch that the young man said calmly: "You label yourself as a moral guardian and stand here to accuse me, but no one I am willing to pay for her son’s medical treatment, how is my behavior different from mine?”

Having said this, the young man looked at everyone coldly and said: "I have heard about this disease all the time. It is basically impossible to cure, and the patient needs to take medicine for a long time. Even a relatively well-off family cannot afford it, let alone a woman." This kind of family.”

"He put down his dignity here and still begged when it was impossible to raise medical expenses. What's the point?"

"Since it's a dead end anyway, you can just return home quietly and wait. Why bother others?"

The young man's strong words instantly detonated everyone.

Not only the students from aristocratic families, but also the common people who were attracted to watch, also criticized the young man.

Although what the young man said is somewhat unreasonable, everyone is compassionate. In this case, there are naturally more people who sympathize with the weak.

Even if the disease is really difficult to cure, and even if the woman cannot raise the medical expenses, they don't want to see this miserable woman continue to be criticized.

Seeing that more and more people were denouncing the youth, many nearby people were attracted by the noise here and slowly gathered around.

When they learned the cause and effect of the incident, they were all filled with indignation and joined the crusade against the youth.

The young man was unhurried, still standing with his sword in hand, with a solemn look on his face, as if he had really killed someone.

This is why, although many people criticized him verbally, no one really dared to teach the young man a lesson.

Seeing that more and more people were gathering around him, the young man seemed unable to bear the criticism, and suddenly said loudly: "I have something to say, please listen!"

Although the young man's voice was not as thunderous as that of a fierce general, it was still sonorous and penetrating, causing everyone who was filled with indignation to temporarily shut their mouths.

The young man glanced at everyone, and finally focused on the woman, saying: "You said that this child has asthma and is begging here. Who can prove it?"

"There is no shortage of people in this world who are idle and use children to win sympathy."

"I hate these people who take advantage of the kindness of others for their own personal gain the most in my life!"

Everyone who was originally filled with indignation gradually calmed down after hearing what the young man said.

No matter in ancient times or in later generations, there are many people who take advantage of the kindness of others to defraud money.

Even this kind of behavior can form a huge chain of interests.

The most hateful thing in this world is having good intentions betrayed and taken advantage of.

Under the young man's reminder, everyone did not hide their suspicions and all looked at the woman.

In fact, before the young man opened his mouth, some people had doubts in their minds, but no one said it openly.

Not only the people who were watching, but also the students of Lujiang Academy were not stupid people and had doubts.

After all, wheezing syndrome usually has no symptoms except when it occurs, and it is difficult for everyone to judge whether the child really has this disease.

Otherwise, although they would not be taken advantage of and contribute 20 yuan in medical fees, they would not be lenient if they donated a few hundred dollars.

Seeing the doubtful expressions on everyone's faces, the young man raised the corner of his mouth slightly and continued to speak loudly: "And as far as I know, asthma is almost impossible to cure, but this woman is very confident that if she can get enough, With the medical expenses, the child can be cured.”

"Isn't that questionable?"

Many people didn't understand wheezing syndrome, but those who knew the inside story were awe-struck, and then looked at the woman with even more suspicion.

When the woman saw this, she was trembling with fear and hurriedly defended herself: "In order to treat the children at home, I have visited traditional Chinese medicine clinics all over the city. If you don't believe it, you can send people to various major medical clinics to inquire."

After finishing speaking, the woman also said her name, address, and the name of the child, all at once.

After everyone heard the words, they believed it a little.

Everything can be faked, but the condition cannot be faked. As long as you go to major medical clinics and inquire about this kind of thing, it is not difficult to find out the truth.

Seeing that the trend of public opinion was about to change again, the young man sneered: "Are you sure that none of us will go to the medical clinic for confirmation?"

After hearing this, a student from an aristocratic family couldn't stand it anymore. He stood out from the crowd and said, "I don't think this woman is lying. Why are you so aggressive here?"

But the young man looked at the student from an aristocratic family as if he were a fool, and said, "If you say something conclusively without asking for proof, and to protect this woman, have you read all these years in vain?"

The disciples from the aristocratic family were furious when they heard this. They pointed at the young man and shouted: "How can you not accuse someone's innocence here without asking for proof? How can you have the face to accuse me?"

The young man smiled and said: "I just had reasonable doubts, am I wrong?"

Seeing the young man's look of needing a beating, the student from the aristocratic family couldn't help but get angry.

The major aristocratic families in Lujiang County were already familiar with each other and were planning to marry each other. When they saw their companions being bullied, students from other aristocratic families also stepped forward one after another.

Another person shouted: "If you want to check whether the matter is true, you only need to send people to major medical clinics to verify it. Why show off your words here?"

When everyone heard the words, they all felt reasonable.

Immediately, several students from aristocratic families dispersed on horseback and went to the medical center to inquire about the details.

While they were running, they also alarmed many people in the city, and more and more people came to Lujiang Academy to watch, and finally even alarmed the county governor's office.

Even the dean and gentlemen in the academy came down the mountain one after another.

When they knew the cause and effect of the incident, they were all livid with anger and looked at the young man with very unkind expressions.

Once it can be proven that the woman did not lie, then the young man's move would be too much and would definitely damage the reputation of Lujiang Academy.

Although they were angry in their hearts, it was hard for them to stand up and speak before the matter was over.

Moreover, because of their special status, they did not stay at the foot of the mountain for a long time. They just learned about the situation and returned to the academy.

Not long after, several students who rode on horseback to inquire about the situation all returned.

They took the certificate letters issued by major medical clinics, pointed at the young man and shouted: "What else do you want to say?"

After reading the contents of the letters this year, he crumpled them into a ball and threw them on the ground. He spread his hands and said, "Although it can be proved that the child does suffer from asthma, the disease can be cured with 20 medical expenses." , aren’t you just lying to me?”

"Who knows if she is trying to gain sympathy and make money through her child's illness?"

After hearing the young man's slanderous words, the woman couldn't bear it anymore and started to cry heartbreakingly.

She sobbed and said, "There is indeed a strange man living in the valley twenty miles south of the city who can cure this disease in half a year."

"If you don't believe me, you can send someone to visit." As soon as the woman spoke, someone immediately said, "It is indeed true. My neighbor's child was cured by that miracle doctor!"

At this time, as more and more people gathered around, those who knew the reputation of the miracle doctor spoke out for the woman.

One of the students was so angry that his body trembled, and he pointed at the young man and cursed: "You are using such vicious thoughts to speculate on a mother who went bankrupt in order to save her children, gave up all dignity, and knelt on the roadside to beg."

"You have simply wasted your time studying the books of sages and being a student of Lujiang Academy!"

Immediately, he raised his arms and shouted: "These mothers deserve respect; this maternal love cannot be trampled on!"

The young man's words completely excited everyone.

After they learned the details of the woman, their hearts were full of sympathy, and they couldn't bear to see such maternal love being trampled on.

Being the target of so many people, the young man seemed a little angry.

He shouted sternly: "You all say that women are willing to sacrifice everything for their children, but I don't believe it."

He pointed at the crying woman kneeling on the ground and said: "If this woman is willing to hold her child and kneel on the ground to climb a circle around Lujiang Academy to clarify her ambition, then I will pay all the medical expenses needed for her child." Take the responsibility!"

When the young man finished speaking, the whole audience was shocked.

20 yuan is definitely not a small amount.

Lujiang Academy occupies a large area. If you want to take your children and crawl around on their knees, you have to crawl at least two or three kilometers.

However, when the woman heard the young man's words, her eyes suddenly shone with light.

Without any hesitation, she directly tied the child to her chest, lay on the ground and began to crawl forward on her knees.

When the onlookers and students saw this, they all yelled at the young man, and many people tried to persuade the woman not to do this.

One of the students even said: "This man is dressed shabbily, and he doesn't look like someone who can afford 20 yuan. Don't be deceived."

The woman's answer was sonorous and powerful: "Even if there is only a glimmer of hope, I will work hard to save my child."

Seeing that they could not persuade the woman, the students from the aristocratic family accused the young man one after another, saying: "You can kill with just a nod, why do you humiliate a mother like this?"

The young man sneered and said, "I'm saving people, not humiliating them."

"If you think I'm humiliating her, why don't you pay 20 for medical expenses yourself?"

Many students were speechless and glared at the young man.

But 20 yuan is not a small amount. Although it is not impossible for the children of these aristocratic families to spend it, it is impossible for them to squander it on such a thing.

Not to mention everyone's accusations against the young man, it was said that it took the woman half a day to crawl around the Lujiang Academy until all the clothes on her knees were worn out and her knees were dripping with blood.

During this process, almost most of the people in Shu County got the news and came here to watch.

At this time, her clothes were completely soaked with sweat, and her face was as pale as paper.

However, the woman still looked at the young man expectantly, and said a little weakly: "Sir, can you honor your promise?"

The young man looked at the woman, sighed slightly, then spread his hands and said, "I have no money."

"boom!"

The young man's words exploded among the crowd like thunder.

"brute!"

"Not a human being!"

"It's really worse than a beast!"

The onlookers who were looking at the miserable appearance of the woman all had their eyes spitting fire, wishing they could tear the young man into pieces.

Even the officers sent by the county governor's office to maintain order couldn't help but cursed at the young man one after another.

The students from Lujiang Academy were trembling with anger, and some of them with hot tempers stepped forward and wanted to beat the young man.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

Unexpectedly, the young man was quite brave. Although he received a beating, he still knocked down the few students from the aristocratic family who rushed towards him.

He sneered again and again and shouted sternly: "You are also donating nothing, what is the difference between what I did?"

"If I don't donate a penny, I can at least admit it frankly. I don't consider myself a moral defender, let alone a moral gentleman!"

"You and I are studying in the same academy and doing the same thing, so what qualifications do you have to accuse me?"

A student who was knocked over by him got up, spit in the direction of the young man, then took out all the money he had on him and placed it in front of the woman.

He turned to look at the young man and shouted: "The difference between you and me is that we still have humanity and compassion."

"And you are not worthy of being a human being!"

Having said this, he suddenly turned to look at the students from various aristocratic families and said loudly: "This woman's act of saving her son deserves my respect."

"I only have more than a hundred dollars on me, but my family has saved more than four thousand dollars, and I plan to donate them all, just to show my modesty."

"My classmates, do you still want to sit idly by and ignore me?"

After the young man made such a fuss, everyone knew that it was true that the woman saved her son, and they also had respect in their hearts, and they were filled with righteous indignation at what the young man had done.

They heard someone speaking first, and without any hesitation, they took out all the money they had and donated it to the woman. They also promised that they would return home, save the money, and then give it to the woman.

The people who were watching also donated generously.

Although each of them donated a small amount, the amount added together was not a small amount.

By the time the donations ended, the woman had actually raised 22 yuan.

Most of them are from students of Lujiang Academy.

The woman received so many donations, her eyes were red with emotion, and she kowtowed to everyone present.

Her scalp was bruised and blood was flowing out, but it didn't stop.

It was not until students from Lujiang Academy forcibly pulled her up and sent her to the hospital to treat her wounds that the matter came to an end.

As for that young man, his reputation has become infamous and he has become the target of public criticism.

If the county guard's officer hadn't been nearby, he might have been beaten to death by the angry crowd in the street.

Rao is so.

The young man was also beaten until his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and his clothes were torn.

The officer imprisoned him and couldn't help but spit and cursed: "Does a person like you deserve to study in Lujiang Academy?"

Another officer sneered: "He has now been expelled from Lujiang Academy."

"It's just a pity that although what this man did was despised by thousands of people, it did not violate the law. It is difficult to convict him."

The officer who spoke at the beginning sighed: "But after he made such a fuss, the woman was able to raise enough medical expenses, which can be regarded as a good thing in disguise."

When the young man with a bruised nose and face heard this, a smile appeared in his eyes.

He stood up and said to the two officers: "The sword you confiscated should be worth two thousand dollars. Can you sell it for me and give it to the woman?"

When the two officers heard this, they were full of surprise and said, "Have you discovered your conscience?"

The young man did not reply, but asked the two guards to help him sell his sword and give the money to the woman.

But it is said that after Zhou Yu received Zhou Qi's appointment, he immediately returned to Lujiang County day and night with the appointment documents and Chen Wu, planning to establish Lujiang Shangjia here.

As soon as he returned to Shu County, he learned about the latest incident that caused a lot of fuss.

When Zhou Yu and Chen Wu knew the cause and effect of the incident, Chen Wu couldn't help but became furious and shouted: "That guy is not worthy of being a human being!"

Zhou Yu, however, was not as angry as Chen Wu. Instead, he frowned slightly and asked the servant: "You mean, this person was admitted to Lujiang Academy because of his poor family background?"

The servant nodded hurriedly.

Chen Wu said: "No matter how talented this person is, he is not worthy of being a human being with such a moral character!"

Chen Wu also knew how difficult it was for a poor family to enter Lujiang Academy. The fact that the other party could enter with strength already explained a lot of problems.

Zhou Yu continued to ask: "Are you saying that after that man made such a fuss, the woman has raised enough medical expenses?"

The servant nodded again.

Zhou Yu asked again: "When he entered prison, he asked the police officer to help him sell his sword and donate the money to the woman?"

The servant nodded again.

When Zhou Yu heard this, he stood up suddenly and said to Chen Wu, "Zi Lie, come with me to see that woman."

The two came to the woman's home with gifts, and happened to see the woman boiling medicine.

When the woman saw the two well-dressed people, she couldn't help but feel frightened and hurriedly came out to see the ceremony.

Zhou Yu first revealed his identity to let the woman lower her guard, and then began to ask for details.

The woman said: "The gentleman and I first met outside the West City Gate. He just casually asked about the situation and then left on his own."

"It wasn't until two days later that my husband found me again and asked me to beg at the gate of Lujiang Academy. He also said to me: If you are determined to save your son, I can help you raise the medical expenses."

"Everyone in Shu County knows what happened after that."

When Zhou Yu heard this, he understood completely and couldn't help but said to the woman: "You should thank him properly."

The woman looked hesitant and said, "Although I did raise enough medical expenses according to what my husband said, why did my husband make things difficult for me at the gate of Lujiang Academy?"

Zhou Yu sighed softly: "What he said and did may seem to be making things difficult, but in fact he is attracting people to come and watch, and prove to others that you are indeed dedicated to saving your son, not a fraud."

"What he says and does, every move he makes may seem cold-blooded and inhumane, but in fact he is constantly inciting people's sympathy and motivating them to donate money to you."

"For you, a stranger, he would rather bear the infamy and give up his future, fame and wealth."

"It's better for me to stay away from such righteous men!"

Chen Wu came back to his senses and couldn't help but be stunned.

The woman seemed to have understood everything, and her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

Zhou Yu stood up, looked at the crying woman, and said, "After that man was imprisoned, he still entrusted the officers to sell his sword and asked them to transfer the money sold to you."

The woman suddenly woke up and said: "When the officer came to deliver the money, he did not say that it was the benefactor's income from selling the sword."

She wiped the tears from her eyes, then bowed deeply to Zhou Yu and said, "Thank you for your advice, Master."

Then, she said with firm eyes: "No matter what, I can't let my benefactor suffer this injustice."

Zhou Yu smiled happily, and then said: "Since he didn't tell you the truth, it means that you are not suitable to speak out about this matter, otherwise it may make people think that you are cheating."

"You don't need to worry, I will take care of it myself."

After speaking, Zhou Yu said goodbye and left.

　The prototype of this thing happened in Guangzhou. Have you ever heard of it?

　　Everyone should be able to guess the identity of this young man.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)