Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Isn't that suicide!

Even the common folk who work every day are being worked to the point of vomiting blood. With my frail body, wouldn't I just die there!

The scholars began to feel discontent.

Zhou Maoxue frowned, and said with displeasure, "Brother Tang, are you joking? Asking us to go to the factory to work?"

Just as Fang Zheng was about to speak, a servant dressed as a steward hurried over from around the corner.

He grabbed Fang Zheng's sleeve and whispered something in his ear.

Fang Zheng nodded with a serious expression, and said to everyone, "Please wait here for a moment. I will give everyone a satisfactory answer shortly."

With that, he turned and went back into the room, the steward following closely behind.

The door closed, and everyone waited anxiously outside.

"I think what the president said is a good idea. Wouldn't we have a clear view if we infiltrated that black factory? If we are mistreated, we can escape in time."

"Escape? You say escape, but can you just escape? They treat people like slaves!"

"We absolutely cannot go to the factory to work. Even if Tang Bohu is the president, we can't just do whatever he says, right? Isn't this a joke?"

"Exactly, why don't we just spend money to hire someone else to do this kind of rough work? Why do we have to do it ourselves?"

"Alas, I recently thought that the teachers from Dongjiao University were decent people, but I didn't expect them to be wolves in sheep's clothing."

The discussion outside was intense.

Inside the room, Fang Zheng and the 'steward' sat on chairs, the 'steward' crying out loudly and sadly, "Master, Master, you can't go on like this. The family is out of money."

"Giving so many people jobs through the back door at the same time, the brokers are going back on their word, raising the price from the original one thousand three hundred taels to two thousand taels!"

"Now the family really doesn't have a single tael of silver left. Where are you going to make up for this seven hundred tael deficit?"

Fang Zheng said, "How is that possible? I remember there were still several thousand taels of silver in the house. How could we be stumped by seven hundred taels?"

The scholars outside heard the conversation inside. The person in the front spread his arms and then made a shushing gesture towards the people behind him.

Everyone immediately quieted down, turned their heads to the door, and tried to hear more clearly.

The sound came clearly through the crack in the door: "Master, you forgot! So many scholars have come to the house, and you require us to buy the best food, clothing, and writing supplies for them all. You even bought each person a set of clothes, and hired many more servants to take care of them. All this money adds up to a huge sum. There's also the teacher from Dongda who we hired at great expense. Our family really doesn't have a penny left."

Then came a sigh: "Then... then let's dismiss the extra servants in the house. Doesn't my father still have a treasured painting? Let's pawn the painting... Forget it, I think there will be more places to spend money in the future. Next month, let's put the house up for sale."

"No! No! Master, this is all our family's ancestral property. The ancestors will blame us! We absolutely can't sell it. You can't be left homeless after the house is sold."

This voice sounded extremely mournful, "Master, I heard it all outside just now. They don't appreciate your kindness at all. They're eating and drinking for free in our house and still treating you like this. You don't need to be so sincere to them!"

The faces of the scholars outside instantly turned pale, and they felt their faces burning with shame, feeling utterly humiliated.

Only then did they suddenly realize that they had been spending the president's money all this time. Such a large group of several hundred people eating and drinking, with wine and meat at every meal!

There were also the teachers hired at great expense with a monthly income of one hundred taels, countless writing supplies, books, and teaching materials, all of which were expensive!

President Tang has been sacrificing so much for us behind the scenes!

Just as everyone was feeling heartbroken, a burst of furious shouting came again.

"Shut up! Have you not made any progress after being a servant in my Tang family for so many years? All you see is money! Money! Money!"

"I, Tang Bohu, have wandered for half my life, searching for like-minded people. Until today, after sifting through the yellow sand, I finally see real gold. Heaven has pity on me, sending talents from all over Dajing to my presence. What we seek is a great cause for the country and the people, how can we be bound by money?"

"You don't need to say anymore. Immediately take the painting and the deed to the pawnshop for me! Also, if I ever hear you say anything bad about my brothers again, from now on, the Tang family doesn't have you as a person, do you understand!"

With a 'pa' sound, it seemed like a teacup was broken in the room.

The scholars outside were already in tears, collectively silent.

There is true love in the world, there is justice in the world, you can see people's hearts even without a long time.

To be able to know a naive child like Brother Tang... even if it means going to the factory to work, I accept it!

Zhou Maoxue was also greatly touched, his pupils somewhat dilated.

It has to be said that, at this moment, Tang Bohu's personality really conquered him.

They haven't known each other for long, but just for the sake of a 'common ideal,' he can give up everything for others.

He believes he has countless friends, but he has never met anyone as open and sincere as Tang Bohu...

To have such a confidant in life is far better than countless fair-weather friends!

Looking back at himself, it seems that everything he does is for personal gain. His realm is more than a notch below him....

But at this moment, the door was slammed open with a bang.

The steward darted out from the door, ignoring everyone, and ran away, holding something that looked like a 'deed' in his hand, and a scroll of painting under his arm.

Immediately afterward, Fang Zheng walked slowly out of the door.

Everyone turned their gaze from the steward to Fang Zheng.

They saw that his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.

The original suave and otherworldly demeanor had also lost most of its luster.

Upon seeing this, everyone couldn't help but feel sorry for him...

Fang Zheng took a deep breath, raised his hand, and smiled, "Ahem... I'm sorry, I've taken up everyone's time. Now, let me continue to explain to everyone."

"The reason why I want everyone to personally go to the factory, instead of hiring people to investigate, is mainly because Fang Zheng's power is great. The resources he can mobilize are far above ours. In case the hired people are discovered and bribed, and they turn around and bite us, that would be a big trouble."

"Therefore, the only thing I can rely on is everyone! I believe that with your uprightness, you will definitely not succumb to the evil forces!"

"Of course, I won't force anyone. The more evidence collected from working in the factory, the greater our chances of winning. I don't know how long it will take to discover and accumulate enough, and the process will definitely be difficult. So, everyone can volunteer to sign up. Those who are willing to go, please raise your hands and register your names, and I will arrange it with the employment agency."

"If you don't want to go, you can stay in my house and continue to study Dongda's theories. If you want to go home, then come to me to receive some travel expenses. It's not shameful to give up halfway. I am already grateful in my heart for being able to accompany you on this journey."

"Everyone, please accept Bohu's bow!" Fang Zheng looked solemn and bowed slowly.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands forcefully supported his arm.

Fang Zheng looked up, and what he saw was Zhou Maoxue's complicated face with shame, emotion, and solemnity.

He only heard Zhou Maoxue say in a deep voice, "Brother Tang! There's no need to say anything more. Isn't it just going to the factory! I, Zhou Maoxue, am willing to be the first to go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a cacophony of voices instantly rang out from behind.

"President, I'm also willing! The Prosperity Society shares honor and disgrace!"

"The president has already done enough for us. Going to the factory is just a small matter, it's nothing!"

"I want to go to the factory too!"

......