Chapter 2: Before the mission succeeds, watch a play first!

Under the quiet night sky, the bright moonlight spilled over the earth.

Miao Prefecture, Tongbao Bank.

In a remote alley,

Two figures in night-traveling clothes were moving forward cautiously.

"Cousin, this is too dangerous, why don't we forget it!"

Stopping Zhang Cheng, Situ Yaozu's face was full of worried expressions.

Because robbing a bank is a major crime!

Once caught, it's all over. Forget about the imperial exam; tattooing and exile for three thousand miles would be the least of it!

"Cousin, you have to believe me, there's nothing faster than robbing a bank!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu seriously, Zhang Cheng's eyes were full of excitement.

Because the career he didn't finish in Florida was now about to set sail again in the Northern Song!

Just as Zhang Cheng and Situ Yaozu arrived at the designated spot, waiting for the patrolling soldiers to leave, a quarrel suddenly came from not far away.

"Mother, why do you have to do this? You know clearly that I am willing to marry Li Lang, but now you have torn up the marriage contract..."

"I am your mother, you must listen to me. The Li family has already fallen, I absolutely will not allow you to marry Li Zhaoting..."

Under the night sky, the intense quarrel sounded very harsh.

Stopping his steps, Zhang Cheng and Situ Yaozu behind him looked at each other, both stunned in place.

Because compared to the bank, they seemed to want to go back and listen to this family's gossip more!

"Cousin? Why don't we go take a look?"

Asking Zhang Cheng, Situ Yaozu pointed to the wall not far away.

"I think we can!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu seriously, Zhang Cheng also hurriedly turned back.

It must be said that when it comes to listening to gossip, Far Easterners definitely have a persistence carved into their bones!

Arriving at the Feng family's wall,

Zhang Cheng and Situ Yaozu climbed up cautiously and then observed carefully.

In the courtyard, a mother and daughter were arguing.

"Wow, cousin, that woman is so beautiful!"

Exclaiming in surprise, Situ Yaozu was almost stunned in place.

But hearing Situ Yaozu's words, Zhang Cheng widened his eyes and said, "Feng... Feng Suzhen?"

【Female Imperial Son-in-Law?】

"Cousin, do you know her?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng curiously, Situ Yaozu asked.

"Of course! This is the rare female top scholar! Much smarter than us!"

Looking at Feng Suzhen, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but get excited.

Because he didn't expect that just by watching a bit of excitement, he would encounter the legendary female top scholar, Feng Suzhen!

Feng Suzhen and Li Zhaoting had set a marriage engagement while studying together.

Not long after, the Li family suffered a disaster and was left penniless.

One day, Li Zhaoting came to the Feng family to borrow money.

Feng Suzhen's stepmother, despising the poor and fawning over the rich, actually forced him to break the engagement. Feng Suzhen was steadfast and deeply loved Li Zhaoting.

She secretly arranged to meet Li Zhaoting in the back garden and privately gifted him 100 taels of silver to help him go to the capital for the imperial exam.

Unexpectedly, Feng Suzhen's stepmother heard the news and rushed over, framing Li Zhaoting as a thief, sending him to the officials for investigation, and matching Feng Suzhen with someone else.

Feng Suzhen swore she would not comply and escaped in the crisis, entering the capital disguised as a man to find her brother, Feng Shaoying. She searched all over the capital but couldn't find her brother's whereabouts.

By chance, she saw the imperial recruitment notice and had a flash of inspiration, taking Li Zhaoting's name to take the exam, hoping to gain fame to save Zhaoting, never expecting to actually rank as the top scholar.

And this is the famous Huangmei Opera, "The Female Imperial Son-in-Law"!

"Cousin, what do you think this girl will do next?"

Looking at this scene curiously, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but ask.

"What she does is her business, we'll just watch the play!"

Dragging his chin, Zhang Cheng suddenly felt something was missing and couldn't help but reach out his hand: "Cousin, give me a tael of silver!"

"What, a tael of silver?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in astonishment, Situ Yaozu was almost stunned in place.

Because a tael of silver is a thousand coins!

If this were used to buy steamed buns, it would be enough for them to go to Bianliang!

"Don't fuss over this little bit of silver, trust your cousin!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu seriously, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but become solemn.

"Alright then, but cousin, don't spend it recklessly, this money is my entire fortune..."

Reaching out cautiously, Situ Yaozu fumbled for a long time before taking out a tael of silver.

And just as he got the silver, Zhang Cheng exchanged it directly.

After all, he still had a temporary exchange system, and he didn't know what good things were in the daily necessities!

But just as Zhang Cheng was searching, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Aha, found it!"

Before long, Zhang Cheng took a bag of peanuts and melon seeds from his pocket and handed them to Situ Yaozu: "Here, cousin, eat this!"

"What is this, cousin?"

Looking at the peanuts and melon seeds curiously, Situ Yaozu's face showed a puzzled expression.

"Just learn from me!"

Cracking peanuts and melon seeds, Zhang Cheng spat out the shells casually.

Watching Zhang Cheng's actions, Situ Yaozu immediately understood and learned to do the same.

"Hey, cousin, this stuff is pretty good! Really fragrant..."

Looking at Zhang Cheng happily, Situ Yaozu's eyes couldn't help but shine.

And just as the two heads poked out from the wall, eating seeds and watching the play, the quarrel in the courtyard became more and more intense.

Wang Shi looked at Feng Suzhen, who wouldn't listen to her reprimands, and immediately shouted angrily: "I am your mother, you must listen to me. The words of parents, the orders of matchmakers, you'd better take care of yourself!"

After saying this, Wang Shi waved her sleeves and turned to leave.

Watching her mother leave with the support of a maid, Feng Suzhen only felt her whole body go weak.

"Wow, her mother is too fierce! Clearly they are in love, why can't they be together!"

"Pah!"

Spitting out a melon seed shell, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but grumble.

And hearing Situ Yaozu's words, Zhang Cheng also crushed a peanut and threw it into his mouth, saying: "I actually think love isn't important. After all, women only affect the frequency of my going to the brothel to listen to music!"

"Hmm?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng suspiciously, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but be stunned.

And just after that, they saw Feng Suzhen have her maid call Li Zhaoting over.

Taking 100 taels from her private savings and handing them to Li Zhaoting, Feng Suzhen just wanted him to go take the imperial exam as soon as possible so he could rank high.

But all of this had already been known to Wang Shi.

Just as Wang Shi had the constables called over, Li Zhaoting was caught on the spot.

Facing the scene where he couldn't defend himself, even if Li Zhaoting wanted to explain, he had no way to make it clear.

"Cousin, I think what they are doing is wrong!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng seriously, the flame of justice in Situ Yaozu's heart began to bloom.

But looking at Situ Yaozu beside him, Zhang Cheng was dumbfounded.

Because they were wearing night-traveling clothes now; even if you wanted to help, you couldn't go out!

"Calm down, cousin, did you forget what we were going to do tonight?"

Pulling Situ Yaozu, Zhang Cheng was afraid this silly kid would rush out.

After all, if you go out to explain, you have to explain why you were squatting on someone's wall in the middle of the night wearing night-traveling clothes!

Situ Yaozu: I'm here eating seeds and watching a play, do you believe me?

Constable: You guess!

Zhang Cheng:...

The subsequent events unfolded just as Wang Shi had calculated: Li Zhaoting was arrested and thrown into the big prison.

Facing her lover being arrested, Feng Suzhen cried with tears streaming down her face, but it was of no use.

"Cousin, this is too unfair, what do you think?"

Looking at Feng Suzhen in the courtyard, who looked like a tearful person, Situ Yaozu became solemn.

"What do I think? Of course, I'm squatting here watching!"

Turning his head to look at Situ Yaozu, Zhang Cheng spat out a melon seed shell in annoyance.

This cousin is indeed too young. After all, in this world, where is there anything that goes exactly as one wishes?

Thinking of this, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but want to cry, because his AK and shotgun hadn't been used yet!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 3 =====