Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Amidst the buzz of discussion and admiring glances, Huangfu Ling, who had been sitting by the window in front of her embroidery frame, had already stood up in delight. A smile instantly blossomed on her face, and she didn't even bother to put down the frame. Like a lithe butterfly, she quickly "flew" to the door and, naturally and affectionately, took Zhang Jingwei's arm.

"Husband!" She spoke in a clear and joyful voice, "Why are you here? Did Douya tell you I was here?" She turned her head to look at the confused little maid following behind her.

Douya immediately shook his head like a rattle and hastily clarified: "No! Madam, I didn't say that!"

Zhang Jingwei's initial shock was soothed by Huangfu Ling's unabashed intimacy and dependence. A warm feeling filled his heart, and his tense nerves relaxed a bit. He subconsciously tightened his grip on his wife's arm, feeling the genuine warmth. Then he gently explained, "It wasn't Douya. It was Ergou. He was patrolling the streets today and saw you all coming down this alley from afar. I... I happened to be on errands nearby, and since I was on my way, I decided to stop by and see you."

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Ling's eyes brightened even more, as if filled with stars: "Auntie Sun doesn't let me practice martial arts, and it's so boring for me to stay at home." She pouted slightly, and then became happy again, "Yesterday I happened to meet the daughter of a wealthy man in the west of the city. She said that there is an excellent girls' school here, and the things taught are fresh and interesting, so I followed her to take a look. My husband, this place is really interesting!" She shook Zhang Jingwei's arm with a bit of coquettishness.

He couldn't help but raise his hand and gently brushed a strand of messy hair on her temples with his fingertips. His tone was gentle and doting: "If you like it, come every day in the future. As long as Ling'er is happy, that's all."

"Really?" Huangfu Ling's eyes widened in surprise, but then she remembered something, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and her voice lowered. "But...husband, this is a membership-based club. You have to pay a hundred guan in joining fee first." She stretched out her slender fingers and made the shape of "one". "And, this is just the entrance fee. There's also the tuition fee every six months...I calculated it, it's not a small amount."

"One hundred guan? Membership fee?" Zhang Jingwei's brows furrowed subconsciously upon hearing this. He wasn't being stingy, but the figure was truly beyond his ordinary understanding. He quickly calculated it in a low voice, then shook his head with a wry smile, a hint of helpless self-deprecation in his voice: "This... is indeed expensive. Ling'er, do you know that my annual salary plus all subsidies only amount to a little over two hundred guan? This membership fee alone is equivalent to almost half a year's salary... not to mention the tuition fees later."

The light on Huangfu Ling's face dimmed for a moment, and she immediately said obediently: "Is that so... then... then forget it. If my husband thinks it's not worth it, then I won't go. It's also good to practice martial arts and read books at home." Although she said this, she could not completely hide the yearning for "new and interesting" things in her eyes.

Zhang Jingwei saw it clearly. His heart softened, and the annoyance caused by Wei Jiajia and the doubts about this place were instantly suppressed by the determination to "make his wife happy even if it means selling everything he has." He took Huangfu Ling's slightly cold hand in his backhand, squeezed it hard, and said firmly, his voice not loud but unusually firm: "Of course not! Go! You must go! Whatever my Ling'er wants to learn, whatever she likes to learn, then go and learn it! I will support you even if it means selling everything I have!" He spoke with such lofty confidence, as if he was really going to pawn his belongings. The doting and determination in his voice made the ladies around him, who were listening attentively, sigh with envy again.

Huangfu Ling looked at him, his face deliberately stern, yet the tenderness in his eyes could not be concealed, and she burst out laughing. The little disappointment she had just felt had long since vanished. She gently punched his arm in a coquettish tone, her voice sweet as honey: "Hehe, husband, you only know how to cry poor!"

Even though Zhang Jingwei has become a wealthy man, he has no problem playing the role of a poor man. He does not show off his wealth or status in front of others. This is the quality that a seventh-rank official should have. Huangfu Ling is not stupid. Since Zhang Jingwei wants to play the role, he will play along with him.

……

Zhang Jingwei had just stepped out of the "matchmaker's house" that exuded a sweet fragrance and made people uneasy. The doubts in his heart had not yet dissipated when an extremely crisp and loud sound, like a firecracker exploding, suddenly erupted behind him!

"Snapped--!"

Zhang Jingwei turned around abruptly. He saw Wang Ergou slowly flicking his wrist, a smirk on his face that was a mixture of pride, revenge, and relief. He deliberately spread his palm in front of Liang Dahai's eyes, as if admiring a work of art. "Ten slaps, young master, as your witness. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll only charge you one interest. The remaining nine..." He stretched out his tone, revealing a wicked smile, "You owe it to me for now! I have a good memory, I'll pay you whenever I remember!"

Liang Dahai covered his rapidly swollen cheek, his eyes wide open, filled with incredible shock and humiliation, his lips trembling, "You...you actually hit me?! And with such heavy hands?!"

Wang Ergou frowned and asked, "What's the matter? Are you trying to shirk your responsibility? Just because you're short, you don't consider yourself a man?"

Liang Dahai was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at Wang Ergou and said, "You...you just said something that offended all the short men in the world! Be careful of your mouth sores and rotten tongue!"

"Oh?" Wang Ergou exaggeratedly scratched his ear, then deliberately raised the hand that had just done the crime high up again, pretending to hit, "Mouth sores? That won't happen until tomorrow at least. But I can make your mouth swell up bigger than your butt right now! Do you want to try again? It's worth nine slaps in your face?"

Seeing the two men about to fight again, Zhang Jingwei shouted in a deep voice, "Alright!" He stepped forward, placing himself between the two men, and sternly glanced at Wang Ergou, "Gouzi, stop it. Save some face for Dahai out there."

Then he turned to the aggrieved and resentful Liang Dahai, and softened his tone, saying, "Dahai, let your merits atone for your sins. Help me build a hand-cranked grinder. I'll give you the detailed drawings before tonight."

Liang Dahai's eyes lit up, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw, and asked anxiously: "Master! Can this job... be worth the remaining nine slaps?" He looked at Zhang Jingwei with hope.

Zhang Jingwei's lips curled up into a barely perceptible, mischievous smile. "I can handle it. But... if you don't do well, you'll get double the slaps."

The hope on Liang Dahai's face collapsed instantly, like a punctured ball, and he cried sadly: "Double it?! Forget it. Master, just give me the drawings, and I'll do it."

Zhang Jingwei ignored Liang Dahai's complaints and turned to look at Wang Ergou, his eyes becoming sharp. "Gouzi, your professional skills have been declining recently. You were completely unaware that someone was following you."

Wang Ergou's smirk faded, betraying a hint of embarrassment and annoyance. Rubbing his nose, he defended himself, "Master, it's mainly because 'Tail' isn't here! He's been assigned to watch Gaoyang Tower! I'm missing the pair of eyes dedicated to 'covering the rear' and 'biting back,' and now, I've been bitten in the ass!" He used the code name "Tail," his organization's code for counter-reconnaissance and elimination of stalkers, as an analogy.

"'Tail'..." Zhang Jingwei repeated the code name, a strange yet somewhat admiring expression on his face. "You guys, your code names are quite unique."

Seeing that Zhang Jingwei didn't seem angry, Wang Ergou got a little bolder and laughed, "Master, if you don't like it, we can change it anytime! We'll change whatever you say!"

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand, a rare, relaxed smile playing on his lips. "No need to change it. This is good. It sounds cool and a bit sinister. It suits you guys very well."