Chapter 692: January 29th: I have some good news to report to you

January 29th: I have some good news to report to you.

January 29th: I have some good news to report to you.

Speaking of Yucun, his fortunes turned. That Yucun, because of "greed and cruelty" and "relying on his talent to insult superiors," had a sly disposition, arbitrarily altered rites, outwardly claimed the name of honesty and integrity, secretly allied with black‑path ruffians, fabricated charges and collected fees indiscriminately, causing local public order to fall into chaos; the common people's complaints filled the roads, he was reported, the emperor's anger flared, and he was dismissed from office.

Having lost his office, Yucun felt as if he had lost his soul. He had no skill for manual labor, could not bear hard work, and doing business would lose face. Still, before the authorities raided his home, he had taken steps, moving some illicit funds, barely scraping by. To pass the time, ease his worries, and look for a chance to make a comeback, he again became a private tutor for the Lin Ruhai household, teaching Lin Daiyu to read and write.

One day, Yucun was chatting with his old friend Leng Zixing in a bar when he happened to meet Zhang Rugui, who had been dismissed from office together with him. Zhang Rugui said: "Buddy, I never dreamed I'd run into you here—what a coincidence, I could use your help too. I've been asking around everywhere trying to find your whereabouts."

Yucun turned his head and looked: "Hey, isn't that Xiao Zhang? What are you doing here?"

Xiao Zhang's face was full of joy, his tone bubbling with delight, he exclaimed excitedly: "Buddy, your luck has turned, the chance for office and wealth is back. I've come especially to bring you this good news—congratulations, your opportunity for wealth has returned."

Yucun was bewildered and asked: "Where does the joy come from?"

Zhang Rugui said: "Since your dismissal, the buddies who worked with you have felt deeply uneasy on your behalf, spending money everywhere to buy connections, hoping you'd make a comeback. After various efforts, the joints finally opened. Your case has been pushed for retrial, and I hear the higher-ups are preparing to re‑employ you. Hurry go find connections."

Yucun replied, both happy and worried: "This is indeed good news; thank you, buddies, for your strong behind‑the‑scenes help. If I ever get a chance to rise, I will surely repay you with peaches and plums. But where am I to find connections?"

Zhang Rugui said: "That matter is settled; people are alive. Can a decent person even be pissed off to death? Among your seventh aunt, eighth great uncle, your cousins, your maternal uncles, your classmates and friends, isn't there anyone who holds an office? Now doing things without money or connections—isn't that just empty talk?"

Yucun heard Zhang Rugui's words and took them to heart. He pondered: "At this moment, I'm a scholar with nothing, utterly destitute—where am I to find connections?"

Leng Zixing, standing nearby, saw Yucun's thoughts and hurriedly offered him a plan, laughing…