The most foolish in the world

Chapter 6

The scholar remembered something, took out some loose silver from his pocket, and smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Please trouble you, young man, to return this money to Miss Fan for me. Tell her that I cannot accept a gift without having done anything right, and that I cannot accept her hairpin for nothing."

Fan Bing's smug expression froze instantly, and he asked in a trembling voice, "You...you...you...you said that the hairpin in your hair was a gift from my master?"

The scholar nodded.

Fan Bing's voice trembled even more violently, "Then...you mustn't tell me that your master tied your hair up again!"

The scholar nodded, somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong!" Fan Bing paced excitedly around the room, clenching his fists and waving them in front of the scholar. "Back then, I only decided to follow my master because she gave me a hair ribbon and even helped me tie my hair! You still dare to say you didn't have any improper thoughts about my master! You treacherous wolf in sheep's clothing!"

The scholar finally understood what he was saying a little, but still couldn't understand why he was so agitated.

"I have not decided to follow your master, please rest assured."

He couldn't help but feel embarrassed saying he was with a woman. But why did Brother Fan's eyes widen, as if he were even angrier? Had he said something wrong again?

"What's wrong with my mistress! She even tied up your hair, and you still don't want to follow her? Being able to follow her is the greatest fortune you can have, and you still dare to complain? You are simply ungrateful, ignorant, indecent, and unhygienic!"

"Uh, Brother Fan, that's not how you use 'neither fish nor fowl,' 'indiscriminate,' 'unhygienic,' etc..."

Apart from the first two words being used correctly, the rest were complete rubbish. A bead of cold sweat trickled down the scholar's forehead.

"What's it to you how I use it! So what if you can read? Can you boil water and cook rice? Can you wash dishes and sweep the floor? Can you haggle over prices at the market? Can you beg for mercy and cry your way to a perfect union of strength and beauty?"

The last point is hardly a talent, yet Fan Bing spoke of it with the most pride.

Although he didn't know what there was to be ashamed of, the scholar still shook his head in a rather cooperative manner, saying, "I don't know any of these things."

Fan Bing was satisfied and concluded, "So you should just give up on that idea. I am the number one slave in the world, and my master would never even look at you. Humph."

The scholar opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately wisely kept quiet. Although he didn't know what kind of ranking this "Number One Slave Under Heaven" was, since Brother Fan seemed so eager to be one, let him be one. As for himself, he was already thoroughly tired of rankings.

Fan Bing left the scholar's house with a triumphant air, then entered the Fan family's house with a humble demeanor, eagerly seeking praise from Fan Qingbo.

Upon entering the hall, they found all the food on the table had been taken away, assuming the owner had gone back to her room. Walking into the inner room, they noticed a piece of paper pasted on her door. On the paper was a drawing of an egg, next to a large X.

Having been with her for three years, he naturally knew the implied meaning behind the picture: Go to hell, don't bother me.

Actually, what he didn't finish saying at the stinky scholar's house was: My master is a writer!

The world only knows that the master is the head manager of Huanxitian, but they don't know that she is also Huanxitian's writer, specializing in romance novels, and shares a territory with the master of erotic literature, Fengyan. Alas, the main reason is that the big boss behind Huanxitian is too stingy, and refuses to hire more people to run the shop. Previously, Master Fengyan served as the manager, but after the master left, Master Fengyan was happy to have some free time and pushed the responsibility of manager to her.

Fan Bing sometimes thought that since he knew so many secrets, if his master really didn't want him anymore one day, he could still go to the Xiaoyao Tea House to sell gossip... Pshaw! Children's words are innocent! He was skilled at washing, cooking, and cleaning, and he was clever, handsome, loyal, and hardworking. No wonder his master wouldn't abandon him!

Through the door, inside the room, Fan Qingbo was holding an eyebrow pencil, doing something that seemed to be a form of revenge against society.

In her latest manuscript, she tortured every single one of the main characters, including the male lead, female lead, male supporting character, female supporting character, and extras. After the happy ending, she added an earthquake epilogue, wiping out all the characters who had appeared, leaving only the female lead's dog alive.

I poured all my bad emotions into my writing, venting them thoroughly until the eyebrow pencil lead was worn out.

In this timeline, the original method of drawing eyebrows was using graphite, and it was Fan Qingbo who suggested developing an eyebrow pencil.

Because she chose writing as her profession, there were no computers here, and she was never used to using a calligraphy brush. Inventing pencils, automatic pens, and ballpoint pens was beyond her capabilities. After thinking it over, only an eyebrow pencil came close to her needs and was the easiest to develop. After all, the graphite core was readily available, and the only thing to do was to make it into a pen shape.

The cost was too high, but fortunately she had plenty of savings. Although it hurt her wallet, she wasn't short of money.

I managed to write a few more lines, finally managing to tie up all the people who deserved to die and drag them out to die.

Having fulfilled one wish, Fan Qingbo stretched and rolled off into bed contentedly. He slept exceptionally well that night, even having a wonderful erotic dream—the details of which are unsuitable for children and will not be described here.

When I woke up the next day, I was in a particularly good mood, and I could even laugh and tolerate Fan Bing's relapse.

I ran into the scholar across the hall on my way to work. I greeted him and saw him blush and nod hurriedly before practically running away. He even staggered a bit, as if he was too nervous.

It's easy to guess that Fan Bing must have said something strange to him again yesterday; it's really impossible to guard against such things.

Reaching the alley entrance, I saw a person leaning against the wall, and his profile was clearly Zhou Zice. Usually so sunny and handsome, he seemed to be shrouded in shadow.

"Zi Ce?"

When Zhou Zice heard the voice, he looked up and Fan Qingbo saw a hint of gloom in his eyes, but it was replaced by a bright smile the moment he saw her. "Little Fan, good morning. I'll accompany you to work at Happy Heaven today."

Author's Note: This chapter is a bit short... so there should be another update tonight.

The next chapter is probably going to be a bit melodramatic...

5

5. What a ridiculous farce...

Fan Qingbo considered herself to have some ability to read people's expressions. Although Zhou Zice did not show it and even talked about his interesting stories in the army as usual, she knew that he must have something on his mind.

If he didn't expect it, the sign the general had erected when he got home meant he'd had a fight with the general. The fact that he came to see her today meant that his domineering general hadn't convinced him; at the very least, he was still resentful. She seized an opportunity to probe, casually asking, "Zi Ce, you've had a fight with your family?"

His radiant expression froze instantly. After a long while, he gave a resigned, bitter smile. "Xiao Fan, you're always too clever."

He admitted it, but didn't elaborate. He simply gripped her hand tightly and said firmly, "No matter what happens, I will marry you. I will light up the entire capital with colorful lanterns, and I will proclaim to the world that Fan Qingbo is my wife, Zhou Zice's wife!"

Fan Qingbo nearly fainted upon hearing this. How could she have overlooked the fact that this boy was going through a rebellious adolescence? She actually expected the pressure from the General's Mansion to make him back down? He could talk so easily, after all, he was the General's only son, and the General's Mansion would naturally not make things difficult for him. But what about her? She was probably already a thorn in the General's side, wasn't she?

Thinking this, she forcefully pulled her hand back, her face cold and solemn as she said, "I'm saying this for the last time, I will not marry you. I'm not joking, and this isn't a ploy to back down. If you still want to be friends with me, don't bring up marriage again!"

Zhou Zice was momentarily stunned by her cold expression and couldn't react until she was far away. He hurriedly chased after her, grabbed her arm, and said fiercely, "I don't believe you don't like me! Everyone in the city says you're a frivolous woman, but I know how guarded you are. You can allow me to get close to you like this, do you dare to say you don't have me in your heart?"