C5 Perfect Resolution

Zhao Zhengkun was momentarily taken aback, his scalp tingling with a buzzing sensation.

Instead of suspecting a setup, his mind raced... When had this occurred?

His past was littered with instances of starting things he didn't finish. Nightly wanderings often led to ghostly encounters, leaving him in a state of panic and confusion. It seemed there really might have been such an incident.

The problem was, he couldn't remember it clearly!

The phrase "blood paternity" sent a shiver down his spine. Instinctively, his gaze shifted to the infant, and a surprisingly vivid thought emerged—he bore a striking resemblance to the child.

Naturally, caught off guard by the situation, Zhao Zhengkun had not anticipated it, leaving him with a buzzing head and temporarily unable to gather his thoughts.

"Lord Zhao, is this matter true?" Lord He narrowed his eyes with a hint of mockery. "I've long heard of your libertine ways, Lord Zhao. Seeing it now, it certainly seems to be the case. I must say, I'm impressed."

"Zhao Zhengkun, you've been seeing other women behind my back? And fathered a child?!"

A shrill, piercing voice erupted from outside.

A woman weighing at least 200 pounds barged in and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on Zhao Zhengkun. Meanwhile, the crowd outside the Liu residence swelled in number, stirring up a raucous commotion.

…

Shortly after the incident involving Zhao Zhengkun, he was seen having a lengthy, secretive conversation with Master He. The content of their discussion was unknown, but for Lau Mingzhu, the specifics had become irrelevant...

What mattered most was Lau Ming's return.

It was an unavoidable outcome. In this strange world, Lin Han, unfamiliar with his surroundings and without the Lau family's support, would undoubtedly struggle. A mere teenager had managed to knock him out; he shuddered to think what bandits could do to him. His slight frame wouldn't stand a chance. For the sake of a few peaceful days to recover, he had no choice but to resort to desperate measures.

Nothing could be more serious than a fire in the backyard, and Zhao Zhengkun, who was notably henpecked, knew the situation could damage his reputation as County Magistrate. If Liu Yong were to expose him, his career would be over. Moreover, now that Liu Yong had leverage over him, Zhao Zhengkun couldn't afford to be as wary of Liu Yong as before. With so many witnesses around, who could doubt the evidence?

Having such a hold over Zhao Zhengkun, Liu Yong had the upper hand. It seemed Liu Yong had previously interceded on behalf of Lau Ming, which meant that Lau Ming's issue was also a vulnerability for Liu Yong. Lau Ming had become a hot potato for Zhao Zhengkun.

Zhao Zhengkun, who preferred to avoid trouble, had no choice but to act. After some deliberation, he released Lau Ming. Lau Ming and his problems could wait until Zhao Zhengkun had the time to deal with them; for now, he needed to lay low.

As for Liu Yong's child, Lau Mingzhu had naturally let him go. Throughout the ordeal, Lau Mingzhu hadn't harmed the child. Liu Yong's only action was to lure Zhao Zhengkun out, which was crucial since ordinary people couldn't access the County Hall or Zhao Zhengkun's residence. Every move had been carefully orchestrated by Lin Han.

Lau Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief when her father was released from prison. As she exhaled, her thoughts turned to Lin Han, the scholar she had knocked out twice. How had he devised such a plan? Lau Mingzhu was awash with mixed emotions. Should she thank him? She was torn.

For Lin Han, the means were inconsequential compared to the outcome. In addition to gaining his freedom, he had also acquired eighty taels of silver. Lin Han had no intention of giving it to Lau Mingzhu; he had other plans for the money. Without it, he would be utterly immobilized.

The first issues he wanted to address were the lack of toilet paper and a toothbrush. Toilet paper proved challenging, but he managed to create a toothbrush using some animal hair after much effort. Looking at the makeshift, yet functional, toothbrush, Lin Han sighed in relief. He certainly didn't want to resort to using willow leaves for dental hygiene!

Having just fashioned a toothbrush, Lin Han's next quest was to find some salt for a proper cleaning.

He decided to remain with the Lau family for the time being. Apart from them, he was unaware of his own background and had nowhere else to go. Staying with the Lau family seemed like the best option for now.

He decided to stay with the Lau family for the time being. After all, apart from them, he had no knowledge of his own background, and he truly had no idea where else he could go. It seemed better to stay put for now. If he ventured out carelessly and fell victim to bandits or pirates, to whom could he possibly turn?

While Lin Han was brushing his teeth, Lau Mingzhu quickly found him. Just as she was about to speak, she caught sight of Lin Han moving a stick-like object back and forth in his mouth and asked with a puzzled look, "What are you doing?" Could he be contemplating suicide? Lau Mingzhu was startled.

"Brushing my teeth!" Lin Han spat out a mouthful of water, then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Brushing teeth? Lau Mingzhu's mind struggled to grasp the concept for a moment. Watching Lin Han calmly remove the stick from his mouth and speak to her with a hint of annoyance, her initial gratitude quickly dissipated.

"It's nothing. I saw you with the stick and thought maybe you were... troubled by something," Lau Mingzhu said, not knowing why she felt such a surge of irritation upon seeing Lin Han's unfamiliar face. She turned on her heel and headed back inside as if in a huff.

"This woman is so unreasonable. I mean, I am the Lau family's lifesaver. Weren't we just fine a moment ago?" Lin Han scratched his head, not used to such treatment, and found himself confused. Watching Lau Mingzhu's retreating figure, he couldn't help but sigh. He'd be lying if he said he had no thoughts about his makeshift wife, but her temperament seemed excessively aloof. In all fairness, he had thought Lau Mingzhu looked interested in the concept of toothbrushes, and he had hoped to discuss a potential business venture with her.

Toothbrushes were a promising avenue for profit, yet this beauty had turned cold so abruptly. Meanwhile, Xiaoqin gazed at him with wide, innocent eyes brimming with curiosity. With time on his hands, Lin Han had found his first client in this world.

Xiaoqin gazed at Lin Han with stars in her eyes, reluctant to leave, but ultimately she went to serve tea to her mistress, leaving Lin Han alone in the courtyard, sighing to himself. Xiaoqin was just a maidservant, a young girl of merely eleven or twelve—what could she possibly possess of value? This deal not only failed to earn Lin Han a single copper coin, but it also cost him a toothbrush. After all, he didn’t want to be greeted every morning by a young girl flashing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

The journey to wealth was indeed long and arduous...

"In a few days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Meet will be held at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, next to West Lake in Shuixiu County. Prepare well in these coming days. If you can secure a good ranking, it could also earn you some renown..."

As Lin Han was lost in his own musings, a cool voice emanated from the room. It was Lau Mingzhu speaking. Setting aside the fact that Lin Han was her husband in name, he had saved her father—a favor that demanded repayment. A destitute scholar like Lin Han valued fame above all else, and under normal circumstances, he would have had no chance to attend such a prestigious event as the Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Meet...

She decided to bring him along as a way to repay the debt for saving her father. Lau Mingzhu couldn't help but feel resigned as she thought about it. For some reason, since Lin Han had awakened, he seemed to have changed a great deal. Even the way he looked at her no longer carried that blatant lust.

"Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Meet? I hadn't realized how quickly time has passed... What are the benefits of achieving a good ranking? How much does it pay?"

Lin Han was initially taken aback, then a hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes, but he quickly masked it. His mind raced to another consideration—he didn't care about fame; he was interested in the tangible benefits it could bring.

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