The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Looking at the passionate yet over-forty-year-old man before him, Zhou Chu couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Is this really the same Grand Secretary Yan from later generations?

Perhaps he was never a person of strong will.

Or perhaps the changes and corruption that officialdom can bring to people are not something that ordinary people can resist.

I wonder how long this person can hold on in the officialdom.

However, at least in recent years, he has been a completely capable and virtuous minister.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chu couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

I've definitely been worrying about too much.

Whether to use it or not is not up to you to decide at the last minute.

At most, he could only recommend Zhu Houcong.

That night, Zhou Chu got drunk.

This was the first time he had gotten drunk since arriving in the Ming Dynasty.

I wonder if I'll ever have such leisurely and joyful days, drinking and chatting with others again.

The next morning, there was a knock on the door of Zhou Chu's guest room.

Zhou Chu rubbed his dazed head, put on his clothes, and opened the door.

It was none other than Yan Song.

Yan Song invited Zhou Chu to ride in a carriage to the capital.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Jiexi, but I would like to take a walk. I used to be busy with business all day long, and now I have finally managed to steal half a day of leisure. I am not in a hurry to return to Beijing."

Zhou Chu politely declined.

When Yan Song heard this, he was not angry at all; in fact, his eyes lit up.

"Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life, what a fine line! The weighing instrument is indeed extraordinary. In that case, I will take my leave first, and we will meet again in the capital in the future."

Yan Song was different from Zhou Chu; he had been idle for over a decade and had had enough.

I can't wait to get to the capital.

"Let's meet again sometime."

Zhou Chu smiled.

After Yan Song left, Zhou Chu began his daily martial arts practice.

After finishing their training and having breakfast, they left the post station and continued along the official road towards the capital.

Zhou Chu walked and observed along the way, occasionally encountering one or two people with whom he could have a pleasant conversation at a tea stall.

The gloom that had been lingering in my heart was gradually swept away.

With only a few dozen miles left to go before reaching the capital, Zhou Chu encountered a strange young man on the road.

The boy was dressed in rags, but he was dragging a straw mat. Something was tied up in the mat with hemp rope, but it was wrapped in hemp cloth and could not be seen clearly.

Judging from his appearance, he must be dead.

Passersby avoided him, feeling it was bad luck.

Land consolidation is rampant in the world today.

The saying "selling oneself to bury one's father" is not a joke.

Without money or land, there might not even be a place to bury someone who dies in the family.

All land has an owner.

Clearly, this boy was the same.

The boy walked on, expressionless, and did not give up despite the disdain of passersby.

Zhou Chu followed him all the way for most of the day.

The boy had been walking for almost a day, and was both hungry and thirsty. With Zhou Chu following him the whole time, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Why are you following me?"

Zhou Chu took out food and a water bottle from the package.

"I'm afraid you'll die of thirst on the way."

The boy fell silent upon hearing this.

He carefully took Zhou Chu's water bottle, took two sips from a distance, and didn't touch the spout.

He then took the dry rations and began to wolf them down.

"Where are you planning to take it? It's so hot now, it'll probably start to stink by tomorrow."

Zhou Chu asked in confusion.

The boy froze upon hearing this.

"I don't know either, I just want to find a place to bury my dad."

The boy looked helpless and bewildered when he said this.

He didn't know where there was land where his father could be buried.

For the next two days, Zhou Chu helped the boy with his father's funeral arrangements.

Hire people, buy land.

It didn't cost much money, but it was very time-consuming and laborious.

"I'm leaving. Are you coming with me or..."

Zhou Chu looked at the boy and said.

Upon hearing this, the boy knelt down without saying a word.

"Young Master has gone to so much trouble for my father, I should serve you with utmost loyalty."

Zhou Chu was somewhat surprised to hear this.

"Have you read the book?"

This is not something a peasant would say.

The boy felt a little embarrassed after hearing this.