FOD Chap 5.6

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Chapter 5.6

Zhang Shu Lin waited in the mountains for a bitterly long three days and nights. His eyes were hollowed out, his two dark eye circles very obvious. On the fourth day, he really couldn’t endure it any longer, he grabbed a machete to go down the mountain, but was firmly dissuaded by the Zhang family.

“Landlord, you have a lot of staff, can you send a few people to help find Little Black? Someday, I’ll definitely do my best to repay this kindness.” Zhang Jia Rui walked up to Zhou Yun Sheng and bowed politely.

He had been extremely clever since childhood, he was only fifteen years old but had already passed the county level imperial exam. He had self-proclaimed superb abilities; he was confident that he would become famous one day. So, although he was asking for a favor, his attitude wasn’t very humble.

Moreover, because of the series of misunderstandings, he felt that he’d lost a lot of face, so he had a very difficult to get rid of grudge against Zhu Zi Yu. Not only had his previous malice not decreased, he secretly viewed Zhu Zi Yu as his sworn enemy. So, he gave off a ‘honeyed words, a sword in the belly’ feel.

Zhou Yun Sheng usually wouldn’t bother acknowledging such a person. But, if he allowed Zhang Shu Lin to set off down the mountain to find him alone like in the original plot, he would certainly get himself lost in the mountains, then have a long-awaited reunion with the chowhound loyal dog gong. Then, like dry firewood next to a fire, their desires would ignite fiercely, and they’ll spend the night in a random cave.

The loyal dog gong was deeply moved by his act of ignoring his own safety to go down the mountain to look for him. After that, he devoted himself to Zhang Shu Lin and obeyed his every word, becoming just like a henpecked husband.

Zhou Yun Sheng had no intention of breaking them up, but he didn’t want their feelings to become more stable either. After thinking a bit, he agreed to the request. This was also an opportunity to ingratiate himself to the loyal dog gong.

He took several guards and used the cover of night to hurry down the mountain. The mountain road was rugged, there were thistles and thorns covering the whole area, so it was not long before his hair and clothes were disheveled, forget about his elegant noble image.

The night road was difficult to navigate. Since they had no torches for fear of attracting bandits, they had no choice but to travel by weak moonlight. Even if Zhou Yun Sheng was very physically fit, he hadn’t reached the point of gaining night vision, so he tumbled down the mountain after accidentally stepping on a smooth, loose stone.

The guards desperately chased after him while cautiously shouting ‘young master’.

Qin Ce was walking through the forest when he saw a figure leap towards him. He reflexively stretched out his arm to catch it. The moon shone through the gaps in the branches to reveal a face as beautiful as the jade ornament of a cap.

“Zi Yu?” He was startled, but also pleasantly surprised. His heart kicked into overdrive, the arm that was already wrapped around the other man’s waist tightened even more, and he asked breathlessly, “How did you get here?”

“Oh, it’s you?” Zhou Yun Sheng’s head was spinning, after he slowly gathered his wits with great difficulty, he found himself in the loyal dog gong’s embrace. He pushed against the other man’s broad chest and said, “You didn’t return after a long time, so I took some guards down the mountain to find you.”

“I’m fine.” Qin Ce’s thin lips rose imperceptibly, he helped stand the young man up, then looked him up and down, “Were you hurt anywhere?”

“My ankle is sprained.” Zhou Yun Sheng moved his ankle, then sucked in a breath of cold air. At that moment, the guards finally caught up and surrounded him in non-stop questions of concern.

Qin Ce was squeezed out from the crowd. His mood that was still floating in the clouds just a moment ago crashed down.

“I’ll carry Zhu Gongzi back. I’m a country man, I’m more used to the mountain roads, I’ll be more surefooted than you guys.” Qin Ce, who had already recovered his memories, boasted shamelessly.

The guards were also worried about not being able to carry the young master well and dropping him again, so they helped hoist him onto his back. The Zhang family were overjoyed to see Zhu Zi Yu come back with Little Black after leaving less than 2 hours ago.

“Brother Little Black, where have you been these past few days?” Zhang Shu Lin threw himself into Qin Ce’s arms, making him stagger, almost dropping the man on his back. When he had amnesia, Qin Ce had felt that Zhang Shu Lin was very gentle and good at managing the household, so it wouldn’t be bad to spend a lifetime with him. But now, for no reason at all, he felt annoyed, and he even felt some inexplicable guilt.

But he always had a poker face, and his mood was never shown easily. He simply made up a story about dodging roving bandits, then sent Zhang Shu Lin away, carefully placing Zhu Zi Yu onto a soft haystack.

“Where’s the sprain? I’ll take a look.” He sat next to the young man and took off his shoe without further words.

Lu-shi and Tweety wanted to stop him, but it was already too late. Unable to reveal their young master’s identity, they could only glare at him with fierce eyes. However, Qin Ce was so absorbed in checking the youth’s injuries that he didn’t even notice.

“Hissss, can’t you be gentler?” After he quit being the villain, Zhou Yun Sheng hadn’t been injured in a long time, so at this time, a mere sprained ankle felt unbearably painful.

Qin Ce stared blankly at the foot placed in his palm, slightly stunned. He’d never seen such a lustrous, white like jade and gracefully shaped foot before. The five, light pink, smooth and round toes, which were trembling and curled up because of the pain, looked so lovely. He gulped, while imagining what it would be like to suck and lick each one of the toes, he earnestly applied pressure with an expressionless face.

“It looks like the bone isn’t broken. Apply some medicine to melt away the swelling, then rest properly for two or three days and you’ll be fine.” He fished out a small medicine bottle from his bosom. He applied the fragrant ointment to the swollen area, pressing and rubbing.

Zhou Yun Sheng clenched his teeth and endured, but because it was too painful, his eyes were filled with reflexive tears. His dark pupils were soaked in clear tears, becoming more and more soul-stirring.

Qin Ce quickly glanced at him, barring his teeth as he lowered his head. He really wanted to eat this man; he’d surely be delicious!

In order to express their concern, everyone gathered around to look at the injury, so the foot was exposed to everyone’s gaze. Qin Ce was very irritated at this, so he involuntarily sped up his movements, only waiting for the ointment to penetrate in before helping the young man put on his sock and boot.

Afterwards, he said in a flat tone, “Alright, this injury should not hinder you too much. Keep this medical cream, it might be useful someday.”

Zhou Yun Sheng took the bottle and sniffed it briefly, then he snorted out a laugh, “Zijin Quyu cream, twenty silver taels per bottle. Such a good medicine, where’d you get it?”

Qin Ce’s expressionless face remained unchanged, replying, “I picked it up on the way.”

He didn’t expect this loyal dog gong to, besides the chowhound attribute, also have the ‘lie through one’s teeth’ skill. Zhou Yun Sheng was amused, squinting his eyes as he meaningfully sized up the other man.

“I’ve always been very lucky.” Qin Ce quickly glanced at him and calmly added.

The Zhang family, except for Zhang Jia Rui, all believed him.

“Since the bandits at the foot of the mountain have been annihilated by the army, when can we go home?” Zhang Shu Lin calmed his excitement and sat close to Little Black, his face full of anticipation.

Qin Ce finally met Zhu Zi Yu with great difficulty, he resented that he couldn’t hide with him in the cave for another 2 weeks. Hearing this question, he furrowed his brows and remained silent for a long while before muttering out, “We can leave tomorrow at dawn.”

The two young sisters of the Zhang family cried out in surprise.

The next day, at dawn, Qin Ce seized the task of carrying Zhu Zi Yu on his back, and the group walked into Zhang Jia Village, surveying the mess. The door of every household was wide open, the water jars in their yards were all smashed, and the plates and bowls in their kitchens laid in pieces on the ground. The grains and poultry were all gone, and everywhere was littered with broken tiles.

“Landlord, what’s wrong?” The village head led a group of people over, although there was grief on his face, there was even more joy for having survived the ordeal.

“I twisted my foot on the road, it’s not a big deal. How are you guys?” Zhou Yun Sheng patted Qin Ce’s shoulder, indicating that he should let him down.

Qin Ce didn’t move a muscle, standing in place like a wooden stake.

The village head sighed, “Thanks to the landlord’s warning, we survived alright. Fortunately, you made us leave some food behind, otherwise our whole village would’ve suffered a calamity. The neighbors, Yang Jia village, saw us taking refuge in the mountains and also hid in the mountain col at the back of their village. But they took all the food with them when they hid. Those bandits were so angry when they found nothing, they not only set fire to their village, they also combed the mountains and wantonly murdered anyone they met, what a tragedy oh! If the army dispatched by the imperial court hadn’t arrived in time, I’m afraid not a single villager would’ve survived.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the surviving villagers of Zhang Jia Village had a moment of sobbing. Especially the few households who had insisted on running back to get food, their faces were flushed red like a monkey’s butt. They’d trekked back to collect all the food and carried it away, but their small lives had actually been saved by the others choosing to abandon their food. After seeing the end of Yang Jia Village, they were naturally ashamed to death.

Zhou Yun Sheng said a few words to the village head, then said his farewells to everyone when he saw the Zhu family carriage arrive.

Only then did Qin Ce carry him to the carriage, very slowly. He stared after the carriage until it disappeared at the end of the road, then turned towards the Zhang house.

“Little Black, quickly come see, our family’s food wasn’t found by the bandits!” Zhang Shu Lin smashed the house’s brick bed, dragging out several bags of rice from the hole.

Qin Ce sat silently on a stool, quite uninterested.

Zhang Jia Rui gathered the broken porcelain into a pile, then loaded it into a dustpan while smiling in Schadenfreude, “You’re quite smart big brother, you knew we could hide the food in the brick bed. Our house is so shabby looking, the bandits never expected to find anything here, so they left after hurriedly turning it over once. Unlike the Zhu house, with its richly ornamented pavilions, so magnificent, the bandits probably took one look at it and started drooling. I don’t know what kind of mess they made out of his house. If they started a fire.… ”

“It’s not noble to draw pleasure from another’s disaster. If not for Zhu Gongzi’s timely warning, I’m afraid that not even one in ten people in your village would have survived, yet you don’t know how to be grateful……” Qin Ce opened, his expression dark.

Before, he’d felt that Zhang Jia Rui was tough and quite talented, he would be able to handle a position of great power. But now, after looking again, he saw his narrow-mindedness and subpar conduct, he was not worth cultivating.

Zhang Jia Rui was wrangled in by his majesty, while secretly guessing at his identity, he justified himself, “The Zhu family oppressed the villagers for so many years, I’m only speaking this way because I’ve held back my grievances for so long.”

“The one who oppressed the villagers was Zhu Gongzi’s father and his butler, what does that have to do with Zhu Gongzi?” Qin Ce glanced at him with a dull look.

“He said he had nothing to do with it, so he had nothing to do with it? Brother Little Black, you actually believed him?! Who doesn’t know that Zhu Zi Yu is even more tyrannical than his father….”

Before he could finish his sentence, someone outside shouted, “Zhu Lao Si has been escorted to the officials by the landlord, he says that he bullied the common people and tyrannized the villagers. This crime is unforgivable! The landlord also moved all the account books to the government office, he’s going to confront Zhu Lao Si on the spot! Come on, let’s go see ah!”

As soon as the thought entered his head, Qin Ce got up and went to the government office.

Zhang Jia Rui, who just spoke so confidently, now looked like he had been ruthlessly slapped several times, his cheeks were very red and stinging faintly.

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T/N:

Qin Ce always has a poker face and rarely speaks (unlike Cao Mo Kun who was very blunt and sleazy), so that’s why ZYS doesn’t notice his thirsting.

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Eueu
Eueu
2 years ago

Qin Ce before u covet our mc, settle ur engagement first ah

Plew
Plew
2 years ago

I don’t know if this is common in such novels but the fact that shame not only makes their cheeks redden but also sting is really funny. Does it happen in real life too?

WangXian
WangXian
2 years ago
Reply to  Plew

Honestly for me, yes, when I feel embarrassed my cheeks would feel like over hundreds of ants are walking all over lol

Nakia
Nakia
2 years ago
Reply to  WangXian

same lol

Nelcy
Nelcy
7 months ago
Reply to  Plew

For me.. I’ve never seen anyone blush irl. It’s just a word. And you say cheeks reddening from embarrassment?! What’s that lol. I’ve only ever felt my body heating up from nervousness that’s all. 乁⁠(⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠Ĺ̯⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠)⁠ ⁠ㄏ

Yunnie
Yunnie
5 months ago
Reply to  Nelcy

Some people with white skin will have some blush on their face or ears when they’re truly embarrassed bcs they’re holding their emotions, not like in manga/manhwa when they’re bright red just slight pinkish color, i’ve seen people who are like that irl so i’m positive 乁⁠(⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠Ĺ̯⁠ ⁠⁰͡⁠ ⁠)⁠ ⁠ㄏ

JadeO21
JadeO21
3 years ago

 unlike Cao Mo Kun who was very blunt and sleazy, so that’s why ZYS doesn’t notice his thirsting.

LOL, Cao Ge is OP

Kawaii Panda
Kawaii Panda
3 years ago

*sigh* these fella are too judgemental (・_・;)

Xian Yi Xi
Xian Yi Xi
3 years ago

Why ? Why making me feel bad for Protagonist. I just hope he too will find someone nice good person.

Erin
Erin
4 years ago

You know, if you think about it, Zhang Shu Lin is actually pretty messed up. You don’t look at a passed out man with Amnesia and help him out so that you could make him marry you in the future. Morally, the guy is a bit fucked up.

Xian Yi Xi
Xian Yi Xi
3 years ago
Reply to  Erin

But If you think about it in another way, it’s different. He Probably just end up falling for him in the process of taking care which is pretty common plus it’s not like he was forcefully making him to marry him. Qin ce agreed to marry him although it might have been seen as the sign of repayment but his behavior pretty much shows that he did have feeling for Shu Lin and their feelings were mutual but that was until out MC made appearance.

if it he was MC then he might not have been seen as messed up or fucked up …… just saying.

Last edited 3 years ago by Xian Yi Xi
Skitbge
Skitbge
3 years ago
Reply to  Xian Yi Xi

I get what you mean but who would make a promise to marry when one of them is an amnesiac and the other had picked up said amnesiac. At that point in time both of them don’t know the amnesiac’s background and what kind of trouble it can bring.
Sure they may develop feelings but what would happen when they regain their memories. They might have been an asshole or would have heavy responsibilities. What if there was a lover/fiancee waiting for them.
In such uncertain circumstances it’s pretty impulsive to make such a promise

Verdandi
Verdandi
3 years ago
Reply to  Skitbge

I agree making some promise something when they have amnesia is despicable, and expecting them to keep it once they regained their memories is ridiculous.

But there is a chance that they would never regain their memories or find anyone they previously knew. Are they supposed to be forever alone looking for people they once knew? When is it okay to give up and move on with life? Falling in love doesn’t exactly wait until there is a opportune time.

Granted, making an effort to help the amnesiac find their memories should be priority over trying to tie them down when they’re vulnerable.

Shaynduccs
Shaynduccs
1 year ago
Reply to  Verdandi

Right this literally. And I read a book a few years ago, it made me too mad to continue but there was a part where the guy lost his memories and agreed to marry this girl that “saved his life” when he was already married. Like which part of marrying someone with amnesia as a lifesaving grace is smart please I’m actually

loquentes ineptias
loquentes ineptias
2 years ago
Reply to  Skitbge

And you know what makes this worse? That protagonist supposedly is a transmigrator (aka raised in modern times) which means he should’ve understood how wrong such an idea is. But, persisted because he’s greedy for him (looks? Body? Power? Wait… maybe, it’s Everything).

Zhou Yun Sheng ❤
Zhou Yun Sheng ❤
2 years ago

He’s a pure gay so probably it’s his looks bcs ML is too outstanding even when he’s a nobody lmao

LingMomo
LingMomo
2 years ago
Reply to  Xian Yi Xi

I’m quite sure ML was controlled by a system of sort or the world’s data in general..therefore erasing all his memory…one comment mentioned this before, he’s likely being following a script as if he was a puppet. and as soon as MC arrives, he awakens..

Navleu
Navleu
5 years ago

ZYS replaced Shiliu in the tearful reunion and he didn’t even notice it. Ha ha

Thanks for the chapter!

alexiachan
alexiachan
5 years ago

ML has such serious feet festish ?

Zezeze
Zezeze
3 years ago
Reply to  alexiachan

Ah, a man of culture.

Beshiiie
Beshiiie
5 years ago

This arc is funny with MC not noticing since ML’s face is too stoic ?

Littlelier
Littlelier
6 years ago

He might not notice him right now, but it’s so cute that they make the ML a food addict, cause that’s usually for the uke.

jo12kspj
jo12kspj
6 years ago

the poker face is another level that even yunsheng can’t see through it :O
and the protagonist may be smart, but his brother is one of those that would be destroyed by yunsheng tacts

Vein
Vein
6 years ago

thanksgiving -> gratitude?

heshekell
heshekell
6 years ago

“thirsting”- that’s definitely the right term for him. As always, the ML is like a dying man in the desert and the MC is his oasis.

August
August
6 years ago

“Blunt and sleazy” ? I couldn’t agree more. But he was still sweet and cuddly so I can totally deal with his sleaziness

Also, I find it hilarious that Yunsheng doesn’t notice his “thirsting” right in front of his eyes LOL