The rise of the poor

Chapter 2106 The Origin of the Token

"Master, none of us three can write, and I can only write my own name in a dog-like manner. However, we can dictate and ask you to have someone write a letter for us, and I can sign my name at the end. He will be able to tell at a glance that I am a rebellious son from my tone and speaking habits, as well as my handwritten name."

Wang Zhi's mother, Ms. Wang, volunteered.

"Please ask someone to write for you, sir. I will also dictate a letter to him. He was a notorious unruly person in the village back then. No one wanted to matchmake for him. He said that his family's ancestors were very successful. He has longed for me for many years. He knew that some of our conversations were from me as soon as he heard them. Also, although I can't write, I can draw. Every time I write him a letter, I will draw him an orchid. When he sees the orchid, he will know that it is me who is replying to him." Wang Zhi's wife, Wang Zhang, also said.

Both of them cherished the opportunity to ask Wang Zhi to come to the emperor for peace, fearing that Wang Zhi would not know Zhu Ping'an's goodwill and sincerity and make mistakes.

For women in the feudal era, their highest pursuit was to be honored as a mother by their sons and to be given a title to support their sons.

They couldn't refuse this opportunity. There might not be another opportunity like this in the future, so they had to seize it tightly.

"It's a good idea. With the handwritten letters from the old lady and Mrs. Wang, Wang Zhi will know my kindness and sincerity." After hearing this, Zhu Ping'an praised the suggestions of Wang Zhi's mother and wife.

"As long as it's useful, as long as it's useful." Wang Zhi's mother and wife couldn't help but smile.

"It's getting late, I won't bother you, old lady. After dinner, go to bed early. We will rush to southern Zhejiang early tomorrow morning. Old lady, don't worry. The reason I bring you to southern Zhejiang is not to put pressure on Wang Zhi, nor is it to sacrifice him. Instead, if the opportunity is right, I will arrange for you to meet with Wang Zhi. Of course, if the opportunity is not right, we can only wait for a chance to meet again in the future."

Zhu Ping'an stood up and said goodbye to Wang Zhi's mother and others, asking them to rest early as they had to set off early the next morning.

In order to prevent Wang Zhi's mother and others from having wild thoughts, Zhu Ping'an stopped before leaving and asked someone to bring them pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

Zhu Ping'an wrote a letter of amnesty quickly on the table.

"Residential Amnesty Order"

In order to commend the special contributions made by Wang Wang, Wang Zhang and Wang Qiong to Wang Zhi's surrender and to reflect the spirit of clear rewards and punishments, the three were granted the privilege of living outside the prison. During the period of living outside the prison, they were not allowed to leave the city without permission and had to report to the Zhejiang Governor's Office regularly in the middle and end of each month.

Zhu Ping'an, Right Vice Minister of the Yingtian Ministry of War and Governor of Zhejiang.

Finally, after signing the date, Zhu Ping'an stamped his bright red seal as the Governor of Zhejiang Province.

A special pardon for living outside prison has just been issued.

Zhu Ping'an read out the special pardon order for living outside prison, handed it to Wang Zhi's mother with both hands, and told her to keep it well.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."

Wang Zhi's mother and wife excitedly pulled little Wang Qiong to kneel down to express their gratitude. With this amnesty order, they felt relieved.

"Old ladies, please stand up quickly. When we return from southern Zhejiang, no matter how Wang Zhi responds, I will submit a memorial to the emperor to commend your contribution to persuade Wang Zhi to surrender, and grant you leniency and pardon your death penalty." Zhu Ping'an helped Wang Zhi's mother up and promised them.

"Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much, sir." Wang Zhi's mother and others expressed their gratitude again.

"Okay, old lady, I'm leaving now. You guys should have a good rest after dinner. Goodbye, little Wang Qiong, see you tomorrow."

Zhu Ping'an said goodbye to Wang Zhi's mother and little Wang Qiong and others, then turned and left.

"Master, please stay." When Zhu Ping'an was about to leave, Wang Zhi's mother called Zhu Ping'an again.

"Madam, do you have any other instructions?" Zhu Ping'an turned around and asked.

"Master, I was wondering if it would be better to add a token of our love in addition to our dictated handwritten letter?"

Wang Zhi's mother asked.

"It would be better to add a token, which would gain Wang Zhi's trust." Zhu Ping'an nodded and replied.

"It is like this, sir. We are imprisoned and have no tokens with us. However, there is a metal figurine hidden behind the plaque of the ancestral hall in our hometown. The words 'wealth can reach the sky' are engraved on the back of this metal figurine. When we deliver the letter, we will bring this metal figurine with us, and Wang Zhi will believe it without a doubt."

Wang Zhi's mother hugged little Wang Qiong and slowly spoke to Zhu Ping'an.

"Is there anything special about this little metal man?" Zhu Ping'an asked.

"It's a long story. Although this metal figurine is just a brass figurine, it is very special to Wang Zhi. It is a secret between us mother and son. When Wang Zhi was thirteen or fourteen years old, he was not honest when he was young. He didn't like reading and writing. He liked to wander around and do business. His father didn't agree with him being a businessman and forced him to study the Four Books and Five Classics and take the exam to become a scholar."

"But Wang Zhi was not a good student and often skipped classes. This metal figurine was bought when he skipped class once. He used the one or two taels of silver he stole from home to exchange for a basket of bacon from someone in the mountains, and then went to the county town to resell it and make a profit. A rich man bought his bacon and said that the quality of his bacon was very good. He was very satisfied. It happened that he was in urgent need of purchasing a batch of bacon to sell to sea merchants at a high price, so he gave him a small gold figurine and said that it was a pure gold figurine. He didn't need to change it. With the extra money, he could go to the mountains to purchase bacon of this quality. Ten days later, when he brought it to this place, the rich man would pay a 30% premium for it."

"Wang Zhi was so happy that he took the little golden man and patted his chest to promise that he would buy more and better quality bacon within ten days and would not let the rich man down. The rich man smiled and said, "You are a teachable kid," and left with the bacon."

"The back of the little golden man was engraved with the words 'wealth can reach the sky'. Wang Zhi liked it very much and it became his motto. However, in order to do business, he reluctantly gave it up and took it to a gold shop to exchange it for silver."

"However, when we got to the gold shop, we handed the little golden man to the clerk and asked him to exchange it for silver. The clerk shook his head and said that it was not gold, but bronze with a layer of brass plated on it. It was not worth silver at all, not to mention one or two taels of silver, not even ten cents. Wang Zhi was dumbfounded. He did not believe the clerk's words and thought that the clerk wanted to cheat him out of gold. He changed several gold shops in succession, and finally had to accept the truth. This metal man was indeed not made of gold, but bronze with a layer of brass plated on it."

"This was a huge blow to Wang Zhi. In addition, the teacher told his father about his truancy. If his father knew that he stole a tael of silver from home to learn how to do business, but was cheated out of everything, his father would definitely beat him to death."

"Wang Zhi was scared and angry, and cried for a long time at home. After I knew the truth, I used the silver hairpin I brought as a dowry to exchange for one tael of silver to help him make up for the loss. That's how his father didn't find out that he stole the silver from the family, and he escaped."

"Wang Zhi and I put the metal figurine behind the plaque of the ancestral hall in order to prevent his father from finding out and arousing suspicion. Every time Wang Zhi went to the ancestral hall to pay homage to his ancestors, he would play with the metal figurine for a while to remind himself and take it as a warning."

Wang Zhi's mother slowly explained the origin of the metal man. (End of this chapter)