Chapter 248

It's not a big deal; I just want you to help steal a child out...

Fan Hongwei hadn't finished speaking when Ni Qiu exclaimed in surprise, cutting him off: "Steal a child? Sir Fan, you're not asking me to steal the Wang family's child, are we? We're from the same village after all."

Fan Hongwei sneered: "How could it be? Aren't you the type who'd sell even your parents for money?"

Sir Fan...

Ni Qiu's face flushed red as he tried to speak toughly, but before he could utter a word, seeing Fan Hongwei's sinister look, the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back, and he gave a fawning smile, changing his tone to say:

Sir, what you said is correct, you really know people; for money I could even sell my parents.

But the problem is, that family produced a Top Scholar, and that child is precisely the Top Scholar's child.

If I dared to steal that child, once caught by the authorities I'd very likely be flayed and have my tendons pulled out!

For now it's still a peaceful era; although there may be some injustices, things are still tolerable, the law isn't utterly corrupt, and even genuine evildoers, not to mention kidnappers who traffic in people, face severe punishment.

Once arrested, eight or nine times out of ten they'd be dragged to the market and beheaded.

Even those with parental or familial connections, without needing a hint, officials and even prison guards will look for an opportunity to deal with traffickers.

If he dared to steal the Top Scholar's child, not to mention the prison guards, even the county magistrate wouldn't let him off easily.

He'd likely be tortured from time to time even before execution.

You think I don't know about your village producing a Top Scholar!

Fan Hongwei gave a cold snort, his face full of envy.

A cultivator's status isn't actually inferior to that of a scholar, but he's just a low‑rank cultivator who can't even compare to ordinary scholars, let alone a Top Scholar—how could he not envy Wang Ruhai High School Top Scholar?

Not just him—anyone who knows that Wang Ruhai is a High School Top Scholar hardly fails to envy him.

Who doesn't know that Wang Ruhai is merely a farmer's son, yet he managed to place on the golden list, becoming a High School Top Scholar, and even married the Prime Minister's Daughter?

Although.

Many noteworthy stories happened among them!

He divorced his first wife, married the Prime Minister's Daughter as a second wife, and they have children...

Although many people openly despise Wang Ruhai's actions, if they were in his position they'd surely act even more decisively than he did.

Fan Hongwei is a cultivator, but also an ordinary person; he sneered: "Just look at that Wang Top Scholar from Hutou Gou—do you think he'd care about the life or death of the child of the wife he already divorced, given the beastly things he's done?"

His mocking of Wang Ruhai isn't due to high moral standards or disapproval of his conduct; it's simply jealousy of Wang Ruhai.

He envies Wang Ruhai's status as High School Top Scholar, his beautiful wife—the Prime Minister's Daughter—and having the Prime Minister as a backer.

Of course.

There's also something he didn't say out loud: that the Prime Minister's Daughter remarried bringing her child, perhaps hoping her own child would later inherit Wang Ruhai's estate, so naturally she'd wish the child of Wang Ruhai's first wife were dead.

That way, no one would compete with her child for the inheritance!

Sir Fan, you're right—the Wang Top Scholar from our village is unlikely to care about the livelihood of the Wang family child from Hutou Gou!

Ni Qiu let out a faint sigh, his expression complex.

Wang Ruhai can be said to be the pride of Hutou Gou; they've had little contact, just a nodding acquaintance, after all he's a scholar, and even before placing on the golden list his reputation was already known.

He has achieved fame and rank!

However.

Whenever they meet, he greets him warmly, and Wang Ruhai usually responds in kind; he still feels fondness for Wang Ruhai, and his initial foothold in Qingyang County Seat was largely thanks to Wang Ruhai's reputation.

Others don't dare to bully him casually, for fear of his connection to Wang Ruhai; he also regards Wang Ruhai as his pride, often bragging about Wang Ruhai's deeds—some he knows, many more he fabricates.

He never imagined...

That Wang Ruhai would divorce his first wife and take up with the Prime Minister's Daughter—such beastly conduct.

Of course.

He actually can understand Wang Ruhai's actions, but he feels somewhat disillusioned, as if his illusions have shattered.

For a moment, he felt quite uneasy inside.

At this moment.

Having him steal Liu Dongzhu and Wang Ruhai's child, he is unwilling.

Liu Dongzhu is already in a terrible state, just divorced by Wang Ruhai; if she lost her child, her sole reliance would be gone, and he dare not imagine what she would do.

She would either drown herself or hang herself!

This novel you to

This is the only thing he can think of—what Liu Dongzhu would do without her child.

Fan Hongwei gave a cold snort: "If that's the case, why aren't you willing to help me steal that child?"

Ni Qiu opened his mouth to describe Liu Dongzhu's misery, but seeing Fan Hongwei's sinister look, he shuddered and suddenly realized.

Someone like Fan Hongwei wouldn't care about Liu Dongzhu's misery—who let him bully the most? It's precisely people like Liu Dongzhu, the pitiful ones.

Even if Fan Hongwei didn't know, if Liu Dongzhu lost her child she'd drown or hang herself; even if he knew, he'd still do this.

Saying such things to him would surely earn his sneering ridicule.

Ni Qiu changed his tone: "Sir Fan, I just said that the Luo magistrate of Qingyang County Seat has taken a liking to that child, wanting him as a son‑in‑law; if the Luo magistrate finds out, not only me, but even you, Sir Fan, might not get off lightly!"

You don't think you still have a way back, do you?

Fan Hongwei gave Ni Qiu a mocking glance, and of course he could see it clearly—he was obviously feeling sympathy, otherwise he wouldn't have said those things; too lazy to lecture him, seeing Ni Qiu's face full of confusion, he jeered:

Don't forget, this spirit cat in my hand is exactly the Wang Family you mentioned; if your Luo magistrate learns that you tipped me off, do you think he'll let you off?

Ni Qiu's face turned pale, and he said: "Sir Fan, you said you'd keep it secret, didn't you?"

I'd say, might as well go all the way—just steal that child outright!

Fan Hongwei didn't respond to Ni Qiu's words, then spoke again temptingly: "Rest assured, as long as you steal that child, you'll certainly get your share—I'll give you another ten taels of silver, enough to settle you in Fengyin Prefecture City!"

Sir Fan...

Ni Qiu hadn't finished speaking when Fan Hongwei cut him off: "Fifteen taels!"

"Lord Fan..."

"Twenty taels!"

"Lord Fan..."

"Ni Qiu hadn't finished speaking when he saw Fan Hongwei open his mouth, obviously preparing to raise the price, and hurriedly interjected: 'Lord Fan, don't raise it—twenty taels is enough. I'm just curious; that Wang Family child, though Old Master Luo values him, is merely a child. Lord Fan, I recall you don't trade in children, do you?'"

"He wasn't unwilling to take more silver; he feared that while he might live to hear Fan Hongwei raise the price, he might not live to actually receive the silver."

"Final chapter, ten chapters done; no more words, kneeling to ask for support."

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(End of chapter)