Lin'an City, Xiuyifang, it's night, the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
It was about midnight in the evening that Zhang Er returned home. After a day of physical work, his legs were already shaking and he was exhausted.
Before entering the door, I habitually glanced at my brother's room in front of me, only to find that the light was still on. Apparently, my brother was at home and not asleep yet.
Zhang Er frowned, but finally took steps towards his brother's door.
"Third brother, why haven't you rested yet? Why haven't those little friends of yours come?"
Zhang Er pushed the door in and said to Zhang San who was lost in thought under the lamp.
The two brothers depended on each other for life. Although the younger brother failed to live up to his expectations, wandered around the streets, and did some shameful things, he raised his younger brother single-handedly and had a deep brotherly love. He still never forgot to give advice to his younger brother.
What's more, my younger brother is smart and capable in both civil and military affairs. If the family wants to turn over, it must fall on his younger brother.
Seeing his brother with a tired face coming in, Zhang San quickly stood up.
"Second brother, sit down quickly. Wang Gui and those guys came here, but I blasted them away!"
Zhang San glanced at his room, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Second brother, let me pour you some wine to quench your thirst."
Although his sister-in-law looks down on him and dislikes him, his elder brother has raised him since he was a child. He is like his father, and he has shown great kindness.
"No, you can keep it to yourself. By the way, why did you drive away those bad friends of yours and start a quarrel?"
Zhang Er sat down, looking tired and haggard, and yawned involuntarily.
With my brother's nature, if there was wine in the wine jar, he would have poured it out long ago.
"I feel depressed today and don't want to see those people!"
Looking carefully under the light, the second brother is young, has an old face, and seems to have gray hair on his temples. Zhang San feels uncomfortable and guilty, and his eyes are hot.
"Second brother, I'm sorry for you!"
He cheated and cheated outside, and he was brave and fierce. Many times, his brother stepped in to solve the problem. He asked for help, exhausted the family wealth, and finally married his sister-in-law, because he often quarreled.
"Family, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Seeing that his brother was in a good mood and not as irritable and impatient as before, Zhang Er was surprised and did not forget to give instructions.
"Third brother, you are a talented person. You know how to use swords, guns and sticks. You have also read books and have a smart mind. You must not make a fool of yourself. If our Zhang family wants to get ahead, it all depends on you!"
Zhang Er spoke with sincerity and earnest advice.
No matter how others view his younger brother, he believes in his younger brother and thinks that his younger brother is a talent and will one day succeed.
"Second brother, I'm sorry for you! I let you down!"
Zhang San's eyes were wet and he quickly turned his head to the side.
He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to control himself and would burst into tears.
He had high hopes, but failed to achieve anything. He cheated, was frightened, and harmed his family time and time again.
Struggling for survival should not be your life.
"Third brother, did you commit something again? Tell the second brother, is it serious or not?"
Seeing his brother's unusual expression, Zhang Er's heart immediately tightened.
Being on the street all year round, it is inevitable that you will do some illegal things. I just don’t know if this time I’ve made a big mistake?
"Second brother, I'm fine. It's just that something happened today that makes me unable to calm down."
Zhang San told what happened during the day when he bullied Tian Yi and was bumped into by Zhao Hong.
When a real man is born in this world, he should make contributions and do a good job, and he must not belittle himself.
Zhao Hong's words spoke to his heart and penetrated his defense.
Even his brother had never said such words before. It was an enlightenment that made the fire in his heart suddenly burn brightly.
"Third brother, you don't want to take revenge on someone else's prince, do you? The people don't fight with the officials, let alone the prince. Listen to the second brother, don't cause trouble anymore, and don't do those bad things again. Sooner or later, you will be caught by the government. !”
Zhang Er thought he understood and tried to persuade his younger brother.
Ordinary people, who have no power and no power, go to challenge the princes and nobles. Once they are caught, they will be imprisoned for assassinating their spouses, or even beheaded, and they will be finished for the rest of their lives.
"Second brother, that's not the case."
Seeing that his second brother had misinterpreted his meaning, Zhang San quickly shook his head and explained.
"Second brother, what the prince said today has touched my heart. You think I want to hang around outside, so I am always on tenterhooks and never finish my next meal. I also want to make great achievements and honor my ancestors. Those bastards are so lazy I will never touch it again. I feel sick even thinking about it now!"
Zhang San said, his eyes shining.
For a young man like him who is about twenty years old, who doesn’t want to start a career with great success, and who wants to be trampled on by others like a bed bug.
"Lao San, are you telling the truth? That's great!"
Zhang Er's face was flushed, and all the fatigue in his body was gone.
His younger brother can change his ways, but this is the best news he has ever heard.
Poor people cannot study and cannot take the imperial examination. If they are not appreciated by the powerful, how easy will it be to get ahead?
But at least his brother is willing to change his ways, and at least he won't be frightened anymore.
"The yamen guards dragged me with iron chains and insulted me like a grandson. My heart was like a knife, and I wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl in! I don't want to experience that kind of humiliation again in my life! I, Zhang Zhengsi, a seven-foot tall man, Why can't you do something good?"
Thinking of what happened during the day, Zhang San still couldn't let go.
Sometimes, the reason why we have to fight is not to be superior, but not to be stepped on by those who are arrogant.
Zhao Hong's words were like thunder, and he woke up the dreamer with one word!
"Third brother, what you are talking about is to make great achievements and honor the ancestors. If my parents could see it, I don't know how happy they would be. But, how do you plan to do it?"
Ordinary people, armed with brute strength, can't they join the army?
If you want to make a career in the military, life or death is another matter. It may not be easy without anyone to support you.
Seeing the second brother's doubts, Zhang San's expression immediately became excited.
"Second brother, you don't know something. I asked around today. The Zhao Hong I met today is the only prince in the official family today, and he is named Duke of Ji. Maybe it won't be long before he will ascend the throne. I Is following him a way out?"
Sure enough, Zhang San already had his own ideas.
Being at the bottom, if you want to soar to the sky, it is absolutely impossible without a chance. For Zhang San at this moment, Zhao Hong is the only opportunity he must seize.
"Ji Guo Gong Zhao Hong?"
Zhang Er frowned slightly, as if he remembered something.
"Third son, I seem to have heard someone say today that a prince owed a lot of money to a prostitute in Wasi and refused to pay it back, so he was chased to collect the debt. Could this prince you are talking about be Zhao Hong?"
"Second brother, I also read it. It was news from the tabloid. Do you believe it?"
Zhang San pointed to the tabloid on the table, shook his head and smiled.
"This prince is not at odds with Shi Miyuan and Queen Yang. This must have been done by Shi Miyuan's group. The purpose is to throw dirt on him and slander others. The second brother should know about Shi Miyuan's treacherous character."
"This thief Shi Miyuan is greedy, perverts the law, preys on the common people, and begs for mercy from the golden man. He is just like a mangy dog with no bones. In this way, this prince is a good man. But..."
Zhang Er stared at his younger brother with a sad expression on his face again.
"The third child, Shi Miyuan is the prime minister and the privy councillor. He is extremely powerful, and everyone in the government and the public belongs to him. It will not be easy for the prince to fight with him. Besides, if you want to join the prince, others will You have to be the one."
It seems that even the common people know that Zhao Hong and Shi Miyuan are not willing to deal with them. As the people of Lin'an City, living at the feet of the emperor, they were also familiar with the details of Shi Miyuan, who had been prime minister for more than ten years.
"Second brother, it seems that you know everything. I have thought about it. When the time comes, I will ask Tian Yi to take me there. Tian Yi has a relationship with Zhao Hong, and he has a good heart. I will ask him, but it won't work. Just kowtow and confess. He probably won’t refuse.”
Zhang San smiled awkwardly, and it seemed that he had already made a plan.
As long as he could see Zhao Hong, he would not hesitate even if he kowtowed to Tian Yi to plead guilty.
He must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"If you vote for the prince, will you be fine? Shi Miyuan is a great villain. What if he also deals with you..."
Zhang Er began to worry about his brother's choice.
"Second brother, don't worry. The prince and Shi Miyuan are at odds, so what? Shi Miyuan can't depose the prince and establish a new king, right? Shi Miyuan is a minister after all, so he will not rebel. Follow the prince Zhao Hong, I will definitely be able to do something and make great achievements in the future!"
My younger brother is ambitious and his goals in life are indeed extraordinary. Zhang Er was stunned for a moment and then said:
"Third brother, didn't you just bring someone to beat Tian Yi? Can he take you there? Tell me what you did, beat someone else, and then beg someone else. It's really yours!"
Zhang Er shook his head, paused for a moment, and then spoke.
"You are too stubborn. You can't do this kind of thing. Tomorrow morning, I will take you to apologize to Tian Yi. I am familiar with his father and son, and we get along well with Tian Yi. Tian Yi may give his second brother a Save face. This matter is settled like this!"
Zhang Er made a decisive decision.
He had many opportunities to talk to Tian Yi and Tian Yi's parents. It was better for him to ask for help than for his younger brother, who had a straight temper and had to do so.
"Second brother, I've made you worry so much!"
Zhang San looked miserable and felt something.
He said this, but if he really wanted to be humble and kowtow to Tian Yi and confess his crime, he might not be able to do it.
"Third brother, don't talk nonsense! The second brother is old, has no ability, and has no hope in his life. Whether the Zhang family can turn around and whether it can honor its ancestors depends on you! You have to remember that no matter what you do in the future, you can We all have to be serious and can no longer fool around like before!"
"Second brother, don't worry. I've remembered it, and I will never follow the same old path again!"
Zhang San said solemnly, looking excited.
Once people have hope, their eyes look different.
"Zhang Er, are you going to sleep or not? You have to work tomorrow morning, are you..."
The voice of Zhang Er's daughter-in-law came from the next room, and she sounded strange and angry. Before she could finish her words, Zhang Er's face darkened and she pushed her back.
"Why are you yelling, aren't you afraid of disturbing the neighbors? If you yell again, I will divorce you!"
Knowing that his wife was sharp-tongued and never-ending, Zhang Er sternly spoke harshly.
Sure enough, there was no more sound in the next room.
"Second brother, it's getting late, you should go back and rest quickly. I went to visit this prince years ago, so don't worry!"
Zhang San quickly urged his brother.
Poor and humble couples suffer from everything. I didn’t make any progress, and my brother and sister-in-law had more than one quarrel. He didn't want the two of them to have another conflict over him.
"Your sister-in-law is a woman, and she is used to living a hard life. It is inevitable that she will...hey...don't be the same as her."
Zhang Er shook his head, this shitty world will never happen again in the next life.
He stood up, took out the money bag from his arms, and placed it on the table.
"When you go to the prince's house, you can't go empty-handed. It's not much money. If you want to buy some snacks and tea, don't lose your etiquette."
Zhang San wanted to refuse, but Zhang Er had already stood up, with a relaxed look on his face, waved to his brother, and walked out of the room briskly.
Zhang San closed the door, sat down at the table, and murmured to himself under the lamp.
"God, please bless me, Zhang Zhengsi, and give me a chance to get ahead! I want a chance! Just a chance!"
He was fascinated by the light until it was late at night, then he turned off the light. He lay down with his clothes on without taking off his clothes, but he kept tossing and turning until dawn.
