Chapter Fifteen: I Really Am a Good Person

Not long ago, Tian Yachun had been watching the commotion behind the folding screen in their living room before joining the literary gathering. Just now, she had seen Xu Zihan.

Xu Zize’s illness had not worsened, and he had not asked anyone to borrow money from the Tian family. Today, Zhang Chen killed two people in Zhang Village, and by noon, the news had spread to the county town.

Upon hearing this, Tian Yachun suddenly recalled that last night Zhang Chen had killed three bandits, and today he had slain Wang Laoda and Wang Laowu, the notorious leaders of Zhang Village. In less than a day, Zhang Chen had killed five people; the malevolent aura surrounding him must be extraordinarily strong! It would be strange if Xu Xin, who looked remarkably like Zhang Chen, was not actually him in disguise.

Tian Yachun was a woman of extraordinary talent and beauty—skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and versed in poetry and prose. Her delicate eyebrows resembled distant mountains; her slender waist swayed like willows; after finishing her makeup, she stood like a breath of spring breeze, her smile worth a fortune, sharp and intelligent. She was certain that Xu Xin was Zhang Chen in disguise. She cursed him, “Zhang Chen, you scoundrel who defrauded sixty thousand taels of silver—you will rot in jail.”

“Xiao Tian, familiarity aside, we are not that close. Yet you openly accuse me of embezzling sixty thousand taels, Tian Yachun. Watch out, or I’ll sue you for slander,” Zhang Chen retorted.

In his heart, Zhang Chen cursed Tian Yachun: “Who is Xu Xin? Who is the real Xu Xin? Your family should all know who I am. If I were impersonating Xu Xin to swindle sixty thousand taels from your family, you must all be fools. Xiao Tian, please, if you want to frame me, at least come up with a better reason!”

“Zhang Chen, how dare you mock Miss!” Dong Mei, Tian Yachun’s personal maid, scolded Zhang Chen in her heart.

Zhang Chen seemed like a different person—killing five people in succession over last night and today, he was no longer the dull-witted man everyone knew. The wicked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth was, well, strikingly handsome.

“Tian Miss, uh, Sister-in-law, if you two want to play the game of real and fake fraud, take it home,” Zhang Erchen chided Zhang Chen. “Boss, hurry and toss the copper coins; I’m eager to win!”

“That jade pendant hanging from your waist is truly exquisite. Zhang Chen, you also wore that same pendant when impersonating Xu Xin,” Tian Yachun accused.

“That’s impossible. When I went to the county office, I deliberately took off the pendant and left it at the inn. That…” Zhang Chen cursed Tian Yachun: “You’re cheating me! Your conscience is rotten, Tian Yachun, you sly woman!”

“Really, Boss? You actually did swindle sixty thousand taels from the Tian family!” Zhang Erchen gave Zhang Chen a thumbs-up. “You truly are my brother.”

“I came to your family as a son-in-law with over fifty-seven thousand taels in promissory notes. With interest, it adds up to exactly sixty thousand taels,” Zhang Chen laid his cards on the table, glancing at Tian Yachun.

“You drove me to Zhang Village, Tian Yachun. You want a divorce, right? Well, so do I. Consider this my advance dowry withdrawal. Now we’re even—no financial entanglements, no children. We can divorce anytime and go our separate ways.”

“Zhang Chen, you actually want a divorce from Miss!” Dong Mei scolded him fiercely. “The bandits from Cishan will surely retaliate against Zhang Village. Miss was preparing for your return, but you’re hoping to leave her? Zhang Chen, you have no conscience!”

“You want me to come back? Xiao Tian, you want to consummate our marriage, right?” Zhang Chen wore a foolish grin and stepped closer to Tian Yachun. “Yachun, my wife, I’ll come back tonight for that.”

“No, stay away from me!” Tian Yachun instinctively stepped back, barely concealing her disgust.

“I was just being foolish. Xiao Tian, our fate is broken beyond repair. Our first encounter was so beautiful, but life rarely stays as perfect as the first meeting. If life were only as it was then, why would the autumn wind mourn the painted fan? Why do old friends’ hearts so easily change?” Zhang Chen smiled bitterly.

“Tian Yachun, let’s divorce now. Love at first sight? I’ve set my sights on Miss Xu of Jinan City. After she passes the imperial examination next autumn, I’ll seek her hand.”

“That fleeting glimpse—the clear, bright eyes of Miss Xu, her graceful brows, long lashes, flawless fair skin, and those tender, petal-thin lips—everything about her captivated me utterly. I adore her!” He acted dreamy and foolish.

“Lord Zhang, you speak so lightly of me in public. I—I am just a humble servant, but, if only life were as it was at first sight, why would the autumn wind mourn the painted fan? Why do old friends’ hearts so easily change?” a young girl appeared from the rear garden.

About 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a superb figure and long legs, she glared at Zhang Chen. A gentle autumn breeze lifted her soft, pale yellow dress, clinging to her form. Bathed in the golden afternoon sunlight, she looked like a fairy about to take flight—exquisitely beautiful.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Miss Xu. It’s not as you think. Please let me explain.” Zhang Chen removed the jade pendant from his waist and tossed it to Zhang Erchen. “Second brother, send someone to deliver wintergrass to Zhang Village tomorrow. When nature calls, I must leave first.”

He had never met Xu Zihan before and had only mentioned her casually to tease Tian Yachun. The girl in the pale yellow dress must be Xu Zihan herself. Now that she had appeared, Zhang Chen naturally wanted to slip away.

At that moment, a girl in purple rushed over to Xu Zihan, her face full of panic. “Just now, the young master’s condition suddenly worsened. He’s unconscious. Doctor Ma said there’s a high chance the young master will never wake up.”

The girl in purple was Xu Zihan’s personal maid, Xu Xuejing. As she spoke, tears began to fall. Her elder brother’s toxic infection had suddenly worsened; he was unlikely to survive. Xu Zihan cried as well.

Zhang Chen smiled. Business was coming—a lucrative deal worth tens of thousands of taels!

Shaking his head helplessly, Zhang Chen said, “Lacking silver to train soldiers, I can only use the inner strength I have cultivated over more than ten years to heal and earn money. Toxic infections—fifty thousand taels for a guaranteed cure. Anyone want treatment?”

A toxic infection is a localized abscess. In ancient times, without antibiotics, such infections often rapidly progressed to sepsis and death.

In the twenty-first century, many antibiotics exist, and even street doctors can treat abscesses.

Zhang Chen had developed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory pills, giving him confidence to cure toxic infections among the people of the Ming dynasty.

“We’ll treat it! We will!” Xu Zihan rushed to Zhang Chen’s side, sweating nervously. “Guaranteed cure, right? You promise to save my brother?”

“As long as your brother’s illness is a toxic infection, I can cure him. Fifty thousand taels for a guaranteed cure—no deception, fair to all ages.”

Xu Zihan was stunningly beautiful, and Zhang Chen felt a sudden urge. He couldn’t help but say, “You’re truly beautiful, Miss Xu. I like you!”

“Ah!” Zhang Chen had openly confessed his feelings, causing Xu Zihan to stagger in surprise, nearly falling.

“Just joking. I’m a good man, don’t be afraid.” Zhang Chen steadied her. “Madam, when one lends a hand, it means authority. Though we are not physically close, I’m helping you because I want to save you. Miss Xu, I really am a good man. Let’s go to the clinic and treat your brother.”