strokinit Chapter 17 Unexpectedly, Old Fang had already curried favor with the master.
Chapter 17 Unexpectedly, Old Fang had already curried favor with the master.
After Chen Zhong left, the courtyard was quiet for a moment.
Hu Da poked half his body out of the kitchen doorway, his apron still covered in flour.
He stared in surprise at the backs of Fang Shuwen and his son as they walked out of the courtyard gate, and couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Old Fang has been honest and hardworking all these years, never arguing or fighting for anything. I never imagined that even though the master is far away in Shenghai, he still thinks of him."
Old Fang had been working for the Zhao family for a long time.
He worked as a stable boy in his youth, and was later assigned to the gatehouse when he got old.
Many of his contemporaries were promoted.
But Lao Fang did not.
Hu Da used to think that Lao Fang was too weak because he didn't fight or compete.
How can one get ahead like this?
Unexpectedly, Old Fang's appearance also caught the master's eye.
People should just stick to their principles.
If Xiao Fang gets a Parker pen this time and gets into the elite class, he'll really be successful.
But then I thought about it again and couldn't help but shake my head.
Xiao Fang is a nobody; he failed six out of seven subjects.
He is arrogant and haughty, looks down on others, and yet he doesn't know how to improve himself.
How could someone like that possibly pass the assessment!
In other words, Lao Fang always felt that Xiao Fang was capable and would definitely amount to something in the future.
These people usually just go along with Lao Fang and don't have the heart to expose him.
Survival is difficult in chaotic times; if people lose all hope and aspirations, they will perish.
That would have completely ruined it.
For Lao Fang, Xiao Fang was his only hope.
As Wang Ma was leading Cuicui towards the other end of the covered walkway, her ears were constantly perked up.
Upon hearing Hu Da's words,
She paused, unable to resist pursing her lips.
"Brother Hu, you're right. Old Fang is indeed hardworking, but who among us isn't? I've been doing all these years washing and cleaning at the Zhao residence, and my hands are covered in calluses."
"Master has no idea how hard my Cui Cui studies. She gets up before dawn to study and does her homework by the light of an oil lamp at night, almost ruining her eyes. If Master knew, he would definitely give Cui Cui a Parker pen."
As she spoke, she looked down at the Venus fountain pen in her hand.
Then, remembering the shiny black Parker pen in the velvet box, I felt even worse.
Five silver dollars versus fifteen silver dollars is a difference of three times.
Why did the master give such an expensive pen to that good-for-nothing Xiao Fang?
Unexpectedly, this old Fang, without making a sound, actually had a connection with the master!
"Cui Cui, you still suffer because your mother is incompetent."
Wang Ma sighed and reached out to touch Cuicui's hair.
"Your mother was just a maid who did laundry and cooked, unlike Old Fang who had a respectable position in front of the master. If you had been born into the wife's womb, you could have gotten not only Parker pens, but even gold pens."
Cui Cui blushed at her mother's words and tugged at Wang Ma's sleeve.
"Mom, why are you saying all this? This Gold Star pen is enough for me; I can still do well on the test."
Wang Ma snorted, said nothing more, and pulled Cuicui away.
Hu Da watched Wang Ma's retreating figure.
He shook his head and turned back to the kitchen.
…………
At the entrance of the alley, a blue-curtained carriage was already waiting.
The driver was Old Sun from the Zhao family. When he saw Fang Shuwen come out, he smiled and waved his whip.
"Xiao Fang, Butler Chen instructed me to take you to school today for the opening exam."
Fang Shuwen did not refuse, thanked Old Sun, and then lifted his robe to get into the carriage.
Old Fang stood at the entrance of the alley, watching the carriage turn the corner.
She raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, then turned and went back to the courtyard.
He wanted to go with them, but he was a little scared.
But he remembered what Xiao Fang had told him before: if he dressed poorly and his classmates saw him, it would embarrass him and make him look bad.
So, I wanted to go.
He didn't dare to go.
.......
The carriage traveled through the streets and alleys of Xikou County, and in about 15 minutes, it arrived at the gate of Xikou County Public Middle School.
Today is the day of the opening exam, and many students have already gathered at the school gate.
Some were wearing school uniforms, and some were wearing casual clothes.
Some walked, some took rickshaws.
Occasionally, a few black cars would be parked on the side of the road; those were only owned by the truly wealthy families in Xikou.
For example, Guo Ziming, whom the original owner once fawned over, had a father who was the vice president of the Xikou Chamber of Commerce.
The Guo family was one of the most prominent and wealthy merchants in Xikou County.
Not to mention cars, the Guo family also owns a textile factory.
Fang Shuwen jumped down from the carriage and bowed to Old Sun.
"Uncle Sun, you go back first. I'll go back by myself after the exam."
Old Sun responded and drove the carriage away.
Fang Shuwen straightened his school uniform collar and was about to walk into the school gate.
At this moment,
Beep! Beep!
A piercing car horn blared from behind.
Fang Shuwen looked back and saw a black four-wheeled car turning from the street corner, its streamlined body gleaming in the morning light.
It is an imported Ford car.
Fang Shuwen recognized it as Guo Ziming's car.
The car came to a stop at the school gate, and the passenger door opened first, from which a follower in a black short-sleeved jacket jumped out.
He jogged around to the back seat, bent down, and opened the car door.
As soon as the car door opened, a pair of shiny black leather shoes emerged.
Then Guo Ziming, dressed in a brand-new gray Pyramid suit, got out of the car in a flamboyant manner.
A gold pen was clipped to his shirt pocket, the gold on the cap so bright it hurt the eyes in the sunlight.
Guo Ziming.
The original owner had been with this person for two years.
Guo Ziming got out of the car and glanced at the crowd, immediately spotting Fang Shuwen standing at the school gate.
He smirked slightly, then tossed the leather satchel in his hand toward Fang Shuwen.
"Take it."
Two words, spoken lightly, as if instructing one's own servant.
Fang Shuwen did not move.
The schoolbag flew past him and landed on the ground with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Guo Ziming's smile froze.
He frowned, stepped up to Fang Shuwen, and looked him down at him.
"What happened?"
The voice turned cold.
Fang Shuwen looked at the face in front of him.
Guo Ziming is good-looking, with thick eyebrows, a high nose, and regular features.
Coupled with her sophisticated attire, she certainly stood out from the crowd.
But Fang Shuwen knew all too well what was in those eyes.
That's the look you give a dog.
In the original owner's memory, Guo Ziming never considered him a classmate.
It's common for him to be ordered around to buy things, and to be kicked a couple of times when he's in a bad mood.
And what about the original owner?
Not only did they not feel humiliated, but they also felt it was a great honor to be able to curry favor with Young Master Guo.
Fang Shuwen sighed inwardly.
That was the original owner, not him.
"Have you gone deaf after not seeing me all summer?"
"It's a good thing I had someone bring you fifty silver dollars for medical treatment; you're so ungrateful!"
Guo Ziming's ear-piercing voice came again.
Fang Shuwen couldn't help but touch his nose. What? Fifty silver dollars?
But then again, it seems that the money probably ended up in Liu Mang's hands.
No wonder.
However, this favor, which was clearly a form of charity, had nothing to do with him.
After all, the original owner's injury was ultimately due to Guo Ziming.
Besides, he didn't receive any money.
"Guo, classmate."
"Take your own bag. The exam is about to start, I'm going in first!"
After saying that, Fang Shuwen turned and left without any hesitation.
Several students nearby had noticed the commotion and began whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Fang Shuwen? Wasn't he Guo Ziming's henchman before?"
"Yes, how dare you talk back to Young Master Guo today?"
"Tsk tsk, this is going to be good."
Guo Ziming's face darkened further as he listened to these comments.
"Fang Shuwen!"
"You've really grown quite capable!"
He reached out and took the schoolbag from his follower, staring at Fang Shuwen's receding figure, his eyes so gloomy they seemed to drip water.
"Young Master, should I find a chance to teach him a lesson...?"
The henchman next to him leaned over and asked in a low voice.
"Need not."
Guo Ziming raised his hand to interrupt him.
"This assessment is crucial to his continued education. Unless this idiot doesn't want to go to school anymore, I'll see how he stays in school without my help!"
finished,
He started walking slowly towards the school gate.