Zhao Dahe nodded, "Yes, I’ve always thought so."
"You think too much. Our family just looks wealthy in the town. In the Qin family, we’re nothing." Qin Zheng said.
Zhao Dahe thought to himself, he really hasn’t seen much of the world.
"So, you mean your family didn’t benefit, but got unlucky and got implicated?" Zhao Dahe asked.
Qin Zheng nodded, "My father never used Prime Minister Qin’s name for business. If he mentioned it rashly, not only would it not bring any benefits, but he would also be considered a fraud."
Zhao Dahe thought it made sense.
"Then your family is really unfortunate!" Zhao Dahe sighed.
Qin Zheng’s face was full of bitterness, "Who says it isn’t?"
"So what are you going to do?" Zhao Dahe asked.
Qin Zheng explained his plan, Zhao Dahe exploded in anger, "Qin Zheng, what do you mean? Do you look down on me?"
"How could I? I’ve always been grateful to you." Qin Zheng explained.
"You said you’ll be my servant; that’s looking down on me. I consider you a classmate, a brother. How would it look if you became my servant?" Zhao Dahe said angrily.
"Fine, let’s not do that. Think of something else, how else can I obtain a reasonable new identity?" Qin Zheng asked.
"We’ll come up with something!" Zhao Dahe stubbornly insisted.
Anyway, he couldn’t accept his good brother becoming his servant.
From an equal relationship to an unequal one.
"When can you come up with a plan? If you give me a deadline, even if it’s one or two years, I won’t bring up selling myself into servitude again." Qin Zheng said.
Zhao Dahe stayed silent.
"I can wait a long time, but my parents can’t afford to wait!" Qin Zheng’s eyes filled with tears, "Dahe, I want to save my parents. All along, my parents have tried their best to provide me a comfortable life, sheltering me from hardships. Now that something has happened, how can I live on carelessly?"
"I also want to save Uncle and Aunt, but what’s the relation between saving them and you selling yourself into servitude?" Zhao Dahe was puzzled.
"Dahe, I want to go to the Capital City." Qin Zheng said.
"I have no way to create a flawless new identity. But selling myself into servitude is different. As long as there’s no flaw in your identity, then mine won’t have any flaw either." Qin Zheng replied.
Qin Zheng simply laid out his entire plan.
Zhao Dahe tried hard to digest Qin Zheng’s words.
"So, I need to study hard, take the imperial exams, and bring you to the Capital City. Going there still isn’t enough, I have to make a name for myself in the Capital City." Zhao Dahe said with difficulty, "I need to network with many fellow candidates and attract the attention of high-ranking officials, build relationships, and help you uncover the truth behind Prime Minister Qin’s fall from grace."
Qin Zheng responded, "After all, Prime Minister Qin’s reputation for wisdom is well-known. I don’t believe he could do something that implicates his entire family. If Prime Minister Qin was wronged, clearing his name would naturally mean my parents won’t be implicated."
Zhao Dahe gave Qin Zheng a strange look.
Qin Zheng looked back at him.
The two didn’t say anything more.
After a while, Zhao Dahe wailed, "Qin Zheng, are you misunderstanding something about me? I just want to earn the three taels of silver reward from the tutor’s monthly exams, I never thought about taking the imperial exams! Yes, I’m somewhat smart, but there are countless smart scholars out there. Among all the scholars in Zhou Country, I’m nothing!"
"No, I believe as long as you’re willing, you’ll be the best." Qin Zheng said.
The problem is, I’m not willing.
My life’s goal is to marry a wealthy wife, have a few kids, and enjoy a warm family life.
"What if I can’t go to the Capital City?" Zhao Dahe asked.
"Then, it’ll mean I was mistaken. I’ll serve you as a servant all my life, and as for repaying my parents’ kindness, I can only do that in the next life." Qin Zheng sighed.
Going to the Capital City?
That person has a Capital City accent.
Even though his mother said it was impossible, he still felt that person might be his father.
So, going to the Capital City might not be a bad idea?
Zhao Dahe shared his suspicion that his father might still be alive with Qin Zheng, who urged him, "That means you should study hard and succeed. If you shine as a candidate in the Capital City, he might not need you to find him, he might come find you!"
Zhao Dahe spat, "If he only acknowledges me because I’ve made a name for myself, then I won’t acknowledge him."
"Perhaps, there’s some hidden truth we don’t know? But no matter what, to confirm, you need to go to the Capital City." Qin Zheng replied, "Anyway, once you have status and position, everything becomes easier."
"So study hard, pass the exams, and become an official?" Zhao Dahe asked.
Qin Zheng straightened his clothes and gave a deep bow to Zhao Dahe, "Dahe, there’s no way to repay your life-saving grace."
Zhao Dahe jumped back a step, "You better not say you’ll offer yourself, I have no interest in that."
Qin Zheng punched him, "What are you dreaming about! I’m for pretty girls!"
The two exchanged glances and laughed heartily.
After laughing, Zhao Dahe spoke, "But let’s make it clear, it’s just a nominal master-servant relationship. In private, we’re still brothers."
"Of course! Once the truth comes out in the future, you must restore my status! I still want to marry, have kids, and raise beautiful children! My aunt said every overweight person has potential, once I slim down, I’ll amaze everyone! Can’t waste my good looks!" Qin Zheng said.
"Sure!" Zhao Dahe agreed resolutely.
That night, the two brothers slept with their feet touching, each with their own thoughts, and fell into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning.
After hearing their decision, Meng Yao felt both relieved and uneasy.
Relieved that without her encouragement, Zhao Dahe decided to follow the path of the imperial exams.
Uneasy because she could feel that what prompted Zhao Dahe’s decision was not only his desire to help Qin Zheng but also his inner belief that the person he saw might be his father.
With a Capital City accent, he wanted to go to the Capital City to find out the truth.
Besides using coincidence to numb herself, Meng Yao couldn’t do anything.
Just hoping that the person is truly gone.
If she’s unlucky and the person is still alive, she hopes he has a new future, accompanied by a beauty.
That way, she can rightfully dissolve the marriage.
Meng Yao’s eyes lit up, indeed, what was she afraid of? Though the original surname given to the children was Zhao, the marriage book clearly stated Zhao Ting was an adopted son-in-law!
By then, the initiative would be in her hands.
"Since you’ve made up your mind, you can’t neglect your studies in the future!" Meng Yao advised earnestly, "I hope the decisions you make are well-considered and not just impulses."
"Mom, don’t worry, I will tie my hair to the roof beam and jab my thigh with an awl, putting all my energy into studying. In the future, I will even earn you a title of honor." Zhao Dahe vowed, "No matter what happens in the future, your son will be your support. I swear, I won’t let anyone bully you."
The words "anyone" Zhao Dahe emphasized heavily.
Meng Yao pondered, this boy must also be thinking if Zhao Ting is alive, there’s a chance he betrayed the original. Otherwise, he wouldn’t emphasize it so much.