Chapter Seventy-Six: The Gift

“How dare a commoner insult us scholars?”
The scholar in green was so furious his face turned pale.
“How audacious! You dare call us beasts in robes? You must have a death wish!”
The scholar in white glared fiercely.
In these times, scholars held privileged status; ordinary people could not afford to study. Those who could were either from impoverished noble families or the gentry.
Here, “impoverished families” did not refer to commoners but to those lesser or fallen gentry.
There was a clear hierarchy; their status far exceeded that of ordinary folk.
Even scholars who failed the imperial examination would still be treated with respect by county magistrates.
Qin Zhen once thought that, armed with his insight and advanced knowledge, he could easily rise to the ranks of the scholars upon arriving in this ancient world. Reality, however, struck him hard—he, born of humble origins, was truly unworthy!
If not for the small fishing village, Qin Zhen’s family would likely have already fallen prey to mountain bandits or greedy landlords, forced into slavery!
“Do you think you represent all scholars? Don’t flatter yourselves. You represent only yourselves,” Qin Zhen retorted, leaving the two men at a loss. “My words were not for all scholars under heaven, only for you two!”
“You—!” The scholar in white clenched his teeth.
At that moment, Chen Kuai approached.
He cast a cold glance at the two and spoke in a low voice to Qin Zhen.
“The Lord of the City wishes to see you.”
Qin Zhen rose at once and followed Chen Kuai away.
“Humph! Bumpkin from the countryside! A disgrace to scholarship!” The scholar in white seethed with anger. He was, after all, a renowned scholar in the region, yet had been soundly rebuked by Qin Zhen in public, losing face. “Tang, we can’t let this go!”
The scholar in green, called Tang, frowned slightly.
He too found it hard to swallow.
“We must find a way to make Qin Zhen a laughingstock!”
Unaware he had already become the target of their resentment, Qin Zhen was nervously preparing for his audience with the Lord of the Coastal City.
“Qin Zhen, a humble subject, pays respects to the Lord of the City!”
He had been too far to see clearly before, but now, as Qin Zhen stood before him, the Lord of the Coastal City, seasoned in judging character, was struck by Qin Zhen’s unusual presence.
That fair and handsome face showed neither dull naïveté nor self-important ignorance; there was only a natural composure, burying all traces of emotion.
At first glance, he seemed an ordinary son of the people, but the faint cold certainty between his brows set him apart from the common crowd.

Especially those jet-black eyes.
They concealed a sharpness honed by hardship.
The Lord of the Coastal City recognized that edge—an aura possessed only by those who had seen bloodshed and taken lives.
With a single glance, he found himself intrigued by Qin Zhen, and the rumors he had heard gained greater credibility.
Miss Ying’er, his daughter, lacked her father’s discerning eye. She simply thought this poor youth from the countryside was rather good-looking.
The Lord of the City asked carelessly,
“What were you arguing about just now?”
Qin Zhen replied honestly,
“Some felt our manner of eating lacked decorum and etiquette. This humble subject could not help but argue a few words.”
He paused, as if explaining or clarifying.
“Not everyone in this world is free from want. We are humble folk, raised scraping for vegetables and earth to fill our bellies, never seeing such abundance as today’s feast. It is natural to forget ourselves—please forgive us, my lord.”
Qin Zhen spoke obliquely.
He did not directly state that times were hard and that people like him suffered hunger and poverty.
Such was the truth, but to say it outright would be wrong! The gentry endlessly extolled the golden age, painting a false peace, living in drunken luxury! If you lament the people’s misery now, are you not implying the Lord of the City lacks compassion or has failed his duty?
“Scraping for vegetables and earth?” Before the Lord could reply, Miss Ying’er spoke first, puzzled. “Why not eat rice? Or meat?”
Why not eat cakes and broth?
Qin Zhen smiled,
“Years of drought have left the fields barren. Where is there rice to eat? Thanks to the Lord’s benevolence, we are permitted to fish the sea, and only thus do we fill our stomachs!” He turned and bowed to the Lord of the City, “The elders of our coastal county all praise your lordship’s kindness!”
The Lord of the City was surprised,
“Is this true?”
“If you do not believe it, you may visit the fishing village,” Qin Zhen replied earnestly. “The spirit of the countryside now far surpasses before.”
People love to hear good things.
Especially officials like the Lord of the City, born of the gentry, who always harbored ambitions of governing well.
To hear the people grateful for his rule, the long-lost integrity of the scholar within him surged anew—even if he had done nothing, imposed harsh taxes, and allowed the local clans to exploit the people.
Still, it did not prevent him from believing, deep down, that he was a great and virtuous official.
Chen Kuai chimed in,
“All thanks to the Lord of the City’s tireless devotion to the people. We now enjoy prosperity along the coast, and the Golden Sands victory that shocked the realm!”
“Ah, ah, ah! That’s enough!”

This flattery embarrassed even the Lord of the City.
He waved his hand in mock modesty, though his heart swelled with pride.
“These are the achievements of the Governor of Jiangnan, not mine. If you wish to thank someone, thank Governor Jiangnan for his compassion and wise governance!”
Though Qin Zhen felt nauseated, he shamelessly echoed the praise.
He had no choice; in this world, his words carried little weight. If he wanted to survive in this circle, he had to flatter those in power.
For a moment, the Lord of the City viewed Qin Zhen most favorably.
In his eyes, Qin Zhen was just the sort of grateful simpleton described in books—a model citizen!
At that moment, Huang Dalang bowed and approached, reminding,
“My lord, the auspicious hour has arrived. We may begin.”
Seeing the Lord of the City so pleased, Huang Dalang glanced surreptitiously at Qin Zhen, growing wary.
He wondered how this young Qin Zhen, so skilled at pleasing the Lord, was even better at it than himself.
Now that the Lord was happy, how could he suppress Qin Zhen and scheme for the loom in his hands?
Impossible!
He must slander the boy, make the Lord despise him!
“Let us begin, then!” the Lord of the City said with a smile.
Huang Dalang straightened and called out loudly,
“The hour is here! In honor of Miss Ying’er’s birthday, let us present our treasures!”
A jade sculpture twenty centimeters tall was brought in, lifelike and priceless, eliciting gasps of admiration.
The herald’s clear voice echoed through the corridors,
“From the Huang family, Huang Dalang presents a rare jade sculpture to celebrate Miss’s birthday!”