My classmate Zhu Houzhao

Chapter 10 Entering Beijing

When Fang Heng left Liangxiang, not a single member of the Fang family came out to see him off. Instead, many of the Fang family's servants secretly gave Fang Heng some things.

"Young master, this is some savings I've accumulated over the years. You can have it all. When you're traveling, you can't do without money."

Xiao Tao looked at Fang Heng with a face full of reluctance, then took out a few banknotes from her purse. The face value was not large, but it was all of Xiao Tao's savings.

Fang Heng stared at the money note in his hand for a moment, then handed it back to Xiao Tao.

"I have already taken your indenture. You can keep this money. If you want to stay in the Fang family, then stay. If you don't want to stay, then start your own small business, or find a good family to marry into."

Fang Heng patted Xiao Tao's head and smiled. After saying this, Fang Heng took out Xiao Tao's contract from his pocket and handed it to her.

Xiao Tao took the indenture, her eyes instantly reddening. Even at this point, the young master was still thinking of her.

"This servant will not stay in the Fang family, nor will I get married. This servant will follow the young master wherever he goes. I have been serving the young master all these years."

Xiao Tao said somewhat stubbornly.

"Come along if you want."

Fang Heng did not refuse Xiao Tao's suggestion. Over the years, Xiao Tao had indeed been serving him in the Fang family. If Xiao Tao asked him to leave, Fang Heng would feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao immediately stopped crying and started laughing.

"Young Master, please wait for me."

As Xiao Tao spoke, she turned and went back to the Fang residence. In less than an hour, Xiao Tao came to Fang Heng with a package on her back. It was clear that this little girl had already packed her things and seemed to be ready to go to the capital with Fang Heng.

"You were prepared all along."

Seeing Xiao Tao's appearance, Fang Heng couldn't help but tease her.

Xiao Tao blushed instantly upon hearing this.

"Last night, I kept thinking how wonderful it would be if I could go to the capital with you, young master. As I was thinking about it, I couldn't help but pack my things. I thought it would be best if I could go with you today, and if I couldn't, I would just put my things back."

"Go back now. I don't need your things. I can't take that much. Fang Xu will be going to the capital soon, so he won't make things difficult for you. If he does, just write to me, and I'll teach that kid a lesson in the capital."

Fang Heng looked at the Fang family servants who were filled with reluctance and said.

"Young master, please take care on your journey. The capital is not like a peaceful village; please be careful."

The gatekeeper of the Fang family looked at Fang Heng, wiped away his tears, and said...

"Go back, it's not like I'm never coming back. I'll come back every now and then and bring you some delicious food from the capital."

Fang Heng turned around and waved behind him, then, afraid of becoming too sentimental, he didn't look back.

Fang Heng, along with Xiao Tao and Lao Wang, walked for about fifteen minutes and arrived at the east gate of Liangxiang County. At this time, Gou Dan and the others had been waiting for Fang Heng for a long time with their luggage. Not only Gou Dan and his group, but also their parents had come.

"The capital is not a safe place. You should be careful and avoid being the first to intervene in any trouble."

Dog Egg's father looked at the teenagers in front of him with some worry in his eyes.

"Father, don't worry. Isn't Second Brother here? He's always been steady and reliable."

Dog Egg couldn't help but say.

"That's true, that kid has always been steady and reliable."

Dog Egg's father nodded when he heard this.

As everyone was talking, two donkey carts arrived in front of Fang Heng and the others. The drivers were none other than the two henchmen who had followed Wang Mazi a few days ago.

"Our elder brother heard that Young Master Fang was going to the capital, so he asked us to see him off."

One of the drivers got off the donkey cart, and Chong Fangheng clasped his hands in a salute.

Wang Mazi was a smart man. Although he hadn't read many books, he was very good at judging people. From his first contact with Fang Heng a few days ago, Wang Mazi understood that this young man would definitely be extraordinary in the future. In addition, Wang Mazi admired Fang Heng's character. People like him, who were hooligans, valued loyalty and brotherhood the most, and Fang Heng was the most generous of them all.

When Wang Mazi learned that this young master Fang was going to the capital, whether out of consideration for the future or for other reasons, he sent two of his underlings in a donkey cart to send Fang Heng and his party off, leaving a good impression.

"Please thank Boss Wang for me. I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Fang Heng returned the greeting.

"Of course, Young Master Fang, please get in the car."

The driver then sat on the handlebars.

"Get in the car."

Fang Heng gave a call, and everyone got into the car.

Fang Heng, along with Gou Dan and others, as well as Xiao Tao and Lao Wang, made up a dozen or so people. Each donkey cart had to carry seven or eight people, making it extremely crowded. However, the teenagers were so excited at the moment that they didn't feel crowded at all.

In the end, Xiao Tao had to sit in Fang Heng's lap to squeeze in so many people.

"Guards, hold on tight."

After saying this, the driver lashed the donkey's rump with his whip. He didn't whip it hard, because donkeys are different from horses. If you whip a donkey too hard, it will get stubborn and refuse to move no matter what.

Liangxiang is not far from the capital. If you start from the east gate of Liangxiang and arrive at the west gate of the capital, it is only about sixty li.

The official roads near the capital were much better, but the donkey cart wheels were made of hard wood, so the ride was extremely bumpy. Before long, Xiao Tao's face was flushed from the bumps.

"Young Master, why are you hiding a stick on your person?"

Xiao Tao whispered, her voice so soft that only Fang Heng could hear her.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng's expression immediately turned strange.

"It's my first time going to the capital, so I need something for self-defense. What if I encounter bad guys on the way?"

Fang Heng was talking nonsense with a straight face.

"Young Master is very thoughtful."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao didn't ask any more questions. However, as the donkey cart bumped along, Xiao Tao's face became increasingly rosy.

The donkey cart was not fast, only slightly faster than walking, mainly because it saved effort. The group bumped along for more than two hours before finally seeing the city gate of the capital.

Most of the teenagers, including Fang Heng, were visiting the capital for the first time. Liangxiang was only sixty li away from the capital, but those sixty li became a formidable barrier between them and the capital. Gou Dan's father, on the other hand, had been to the capital many times, mostly accompanying his master to the capital to make purchases.

Compared to Liangxiang, prices in the capital were much cheaper. This was because the capital had a large population, which meant more food was consumed. Countless livestock were slaughtered every day. Meat products like mutton that weren't sold on the same day would fetch a lower price, so they were usually sold cheaply on the same day.

However, Liangxiang's population is far smaller than that of the capital, so butchers dare not slaughter too many animals, making prices naturally much higher.

Liangxiang was somewhat better, but in the countryside or more remote places, the disparity was even more pronounced. Many rural landlords could hardly afford to eat meat a few times a year. It wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but they had to slaughter livestock every time they ate it. If they couldn't finish the meat on the same day, even if they could keep it for a day or two, it wouldn't last long and would spoil.

The landlords in the countryside didn't even eat as well as the ordinary people in the capital.

Soon, the two donkey carts arrived at the city gate and were stopped by the soldiers guarding the city.

Fang Heng immediately got off the carriage and took out his travel permit, which was issued by the magistrate of Liangxiang County. The journey was exceptionally smooth, as if Uncle Jiang had given prior notice.

Not only Fang Heng, but also Gou Dan and the others took out their travel permits.

"Young Master Fang, we can only take you this far. We don't have a travel permit."

The driver of the donkey cart that Fang Heng had just ridden bowed to Fang Heng.

"Thank you both for your help."

As he spoke, Fang Heng took out a handful of copper coins from his pocket and placed them in the man's hand.

"What does Young Master Fang mean by this?"

The coachman looked at the copper coin in his hand, his face full of confusion.

"You two must be tired from your journey to see us off here. It's so hot outside. I see there's a teahouse over there. You can have some tea and rest your feet there."

Fang Heng smiled.

"Young Master Fang truly lives up to his name; there's nothing more to say!"

The coachman immediately gave a thumbs up, and he no longer refused the copper coins Fang Heng gave him.

"Why are so many of you coming to the capital together?"

After checking the travel permit, the city guards looked at Fang Hengdao.

"I've come to the capital to study. My family also has several shops in the capital that need to be managed, so I brought some people with me. I hope you will be lenient with me, sir."

As Fang Heng spoke, he took out another handful of copper coins and discreetly slipped them into the man's hand.

Fang Heng could invoke Uncle Jiang's name and get through without any hindrance, but he knew very well that this was the capital city. Unless absolutely necessary, he shouldn't mention Uncle Jiang's name carelessly, or it might cause him some trouble.

The reason Fang Heng and his group came to the capital was clearly stated on their travel permit. The city guards were only asking this because they saw that Fang Heng and his group were young and wanted to make some money off them.

Fang Heng naturally understood that troubles that could be solved with a little money were not really troubles.

The soldier took the copper coin, weighed it in his hand, and immediately smiled with satisfaction.

"You're pretty savvy, kid. Here's your travel permit, keep it safe."

As he spoke, he returned Fang Heng and the others' travel permits.

Fang Heng and the others took the travel permits and headed straight for the capital.

Dog Egg and the others were dazzled by the bustling streets and roadside stalls of the capital, while Xiao Tao, on the other hand, was still feeling a bit weak in the legs after the bumpy ride.

As for Old Wang, he showed a long-lost expression.

"Second brother, where are we going?"

Gou Dan looked at Fang Heng and couldn't help but ask.

"Go to my shop, you'll live there from now on."

As Fang Heng spoke, he surveyed the layout of the capital city, quickly found his way, and headed straight east.

The others hurriedly followed.

Soon, the group arrived at the entrance of a clothing store.

"Please feel free to contact us."

When the waiter in the clothing store saw Fang Heng and his group, he immediately came to the door and greeted them warmly.

"Where is your manager?"

Fang Heng looked around the clothing store but couldn't find the shopkeeper anywhere.

"What business do you have with our manager?"

The waiter probed.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng did not reply. Instead, he calmly took out the shop's red contract and Fang Hongli's written agreement from his bag and laid them on the counter.

"Can you read?"

Fang Heng looked at the waiter and asked.

The waiter picked up the red contract and the written agreement and looked at them. He didn't recognize many of the words, but he understood the general meaning.

"This humble servant, Wang Xiao'er, greets the master."

Wang Xiaoer hurriedly bowed and greeted them.

"No need for formalities. Where is the shopkeeper?"

Fang Heng frowned as he said this, having been in the shop for so long without seeing the shopkeeper anywhere.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoer sighed.

"The shopkeeper was poached, but it's not his fault. He's been running this shop all by himself for three years. Three years, and you, the owner, haven't come. He couldn't take it anymore. The Feng family shop sent someone to invite him a year ago, but he finally couldn't hold on any longer."

"It's alright. You take them to prepare a few rooms; we'll stay there."

Fang Heng glanced at Gou Dan and the others behind him and said.

"Okay."

As Wang Xiaoer spoke, he walked towards the back of the shop.

This clothing store is the largest shop under Fang Heng's control, with seven or eight storefronts alone and six or seven side rooms in the backyard, enough for Fang Heng and his group to live in.

Fang Heng had heard his mother mention the shopkeeper, Chen Si. He came from a humble background and didn't have a proper name. Fang Heng's maternal grandfather took pity on him and gave him a job. He was only average in skills, but good enough to keep the business afloat.

Fang Heng originally thought that this person should be the last one to be poached. If it weren't for the Shen family back then, Chen Si might have starved to death on the streets long ago. But he was poached by someone else.

Fang Heng didn't believe that the people who poached him valued Chen Si's abilities.

That leaves only one possibility: someone has their eye on my shop.

That makes sense. The shop is in an excellent location and has a large enough storefront. If a typical shop in the capital could sell for twenty or thirty taels, this shop would be worth at least forty or fifty taels, or even more.

The main issue is that the location premium will be very high.

If it were a clothing business, the value of this shop would be even greater.

No wonder the shop was deserted at this time; this was the reason.

Fang Heng looked around the shop and found that there were very few ready-made clothes and fabrics in the shop, which was abnormal. Logically speaking, the shop should have been profitable in the past three years. Although the profit was not much, it should not be that there was no money to purchase goods.

"Chen Si!"

Fang Heng muttered Chen Si's name, unable to suppress a cold laugh.

"Master, the side room is ready."

Not long after, Wang Xiaoer came to Fang Heng and said.

Go buy some food.

As Fang Heng spoke, he handed Wang Xiaoer several dozen coins.

Wang Xiaoer took the copper coins and his eyes lit up when he heard that he was to buy some food. Ever since Chen Si was poached, there had been no money in the shop, and he had been eating very little these past few days.

Soon, Wang Xiaoer bought twenty or thirty steamed buns, along with a lot of braised pork offal.

When Gou Dan and the others saw these things, their mouths watered.

"Prices in the capital are so cheap! How much are these pig offal?"

Fang Heng looked at Wang Xiaoer and asked.

"It won't cost much, two coins a pound."

As Wang Xiaoer spoke, he spread out the food and placed it on the table.

Fang Heng handed two steamed buns to Lao Wang, who accepted them without hesitation and began to eat.

Fang Heng then gave two more to Xiao Tao.

"Eat up, don't strain yourselves."

After saying this, Fang Heng picked up a steamed bun and started eating.

Upon hearing this, Gou Dan and the others pounced on their prey like hungry tigers, leaving no trace.