Five days later, when Shen Zhao and the other two arrived in Yangzhou, they found the disaster situation was even more severe than in Yunzhou.
All along the way, they saw refugees and bandits everywhere. Even human markets were openly selling people on the streets.
Su Yunying dealt with several groups of bandits and human traffickers, but still couldn't change the local order.
"Master Shen, it seems even worse here. There are so many ruffians everywhere, not a decent person in sight."
"Boss Shen, who are we planning to deal with this time? Who's the richest in Yangzhou? This is endless, wave after wave. Though, the Paiyun Palm has improved quite a bit."
Facing their questions, Shen Zhao only replied calmly, "The city lord of Yangzhou is a relative of Grand Tutor Pang, named Pang Hu. Our target this time is Pang Hu's residence."
Su Yunying: "Is Pang Hu similar to the Shi family?"
"Except for the money, they're not alike at all. Corruption, bribery, bullying, forcing women into prostitution, seizing private farmland, colluding with foreign enemies... the Pang family wouldn't do any of that."
Ding Buer immediately chimed in: "What Master Shen said is spot on. This Pang fellow is really not a good person. I heard that the Pang family once had a son-in-law, a man surnamed He, who embezzled over nine hundred million spirit stones in his lifetime. The money was over ten times more than the national treasury at the time?"
Shen Zhao perked up at the mention: "You mean that official who said the disaster victims weren't human, swapped relief grain for bran, and even put sand in the porridge?"
Ding Buer: "That's the one! He said he swapped one jin of relief grain for three jin of bran, but in reality, he was just fooling the emperor and those who didn't know better. The relief grain was all fine rice.
If he really wanted to swap, one jin of fine rice could be exchanged for five jin of coarse grain, and one jin of coarse grain could be exchanged for five jin of bran. That official, He, made a killing from it.
And yet, there were still a bunch of people saying that Official He was a good and capable official. Ugh, it's so embarrassing I want to bang my head against the wall! They even claimed that he put sand in the porridge to prevent the relief grain from falling into the hands of the wealthy?
Give me a break! He said that, and people actually believed him. It was purely to cover up his embezzlement of the relief grain."
"The fact that they mixed sand into the remaining grain to deceive the Emperor... that kind of trick only works on those who don't know anything, the illiterate who believe whatever clickbait articles tell them.
Go ask anyone with a bit of common sense, would they believe it?"
"Master Ding, we see eye to eye."
"Young Master Shen isn't an ordinary person, of course he wouldn't believe that nonsense."
"That's right. After all, even the officials don't treat the disaster victims as human beings. They wouldn't really think they'd speak up for the people, would they?"
"If they really cared about the people, why would the Emperor have beheaded them and confiscated their property? The Pang family at the time went to great lengths to disassociate themselves, looking just like dogs."
"So, the Pang family is just…"
The two men exchanged a look and smiled, then shouted in unison:
"Just despicable!"
"Hahahaha!"
Listening to their inexplicable conversation and the equally inexplicable laughter, Su Yunying felt like she couldn't keep up with the thought processes of these two old foxes.
"Shen, Ding, what exactly are you two talking about?"
Shen Zhao glanced at Su Yunying and then asked, "When we enter Jinling City, I'll take you to see a good show. The roles we need to play are… bright and cheerful big boys."
"Bright and cheerful big boys?"
Su Yunying was even more confused, not understanding what Shen Zhao was saying at all.
But Ding Buer directly interrupted her thoughts: "Miss Su, don't overthink it. Just remember one thing: no one in the Pang family is good. Just listen to Shen's orders."
"Oh…"
Su Yunying responded blankly, clearly unsure what plan Shen Zhao and Ding Buer were concocting in their minds.
"Tang Ran, hurry up and pour out the foot bath water, what are you spacing out for?"
"Tang Ran, you useless piece of trash, why haven't you washed your mother-in-law's underpants yet? Go fetch some water quickly!"
"Tang Ran! Where did you run off to? My period has started, hurry up and get me some cotton balls."
In Jinling City, inside the Pang Manor, a group of Pang family members were constantly yelling, ordering a young man in his early twenties to do all sorts of chores.
The young man was named Tang Ran, a discarded son of the Tang Clan, the third child in his family, also known as Tang Thirteen.
Following his mother's dying wish, and to repay the Pang family's life-saving grace from back then, Tang Ran had no choice but to marry into the Pang family and become the husband of the Pang family's eldest daughter, Pang Feiyan.
For three years, Tang Ran's life in the Pang family was worse than that of a house servant. Not only was he bullied, but he hadn't even shared a bed with Pang Feiyan. He also had to endure Pang Feiyan seeking out other men and even making intimate gestures in front of him.
In fact, after being abandoned by his family as a child, Tang Ran had secretly joined the Dragon King Hall, which his mother founded, and had his own forces.
But for the sake of his mother's dying wish, and fearing harm from the Tang Clan, he could only choose to endure everything he experienced in the Pang family.
"Child, endure!"
These were the words his mother had repeatedly instructed him before she died, which he had firmly engraved in his heart.
For three years, Tang Ran worked diligently and silently, hiding his identity while also playing the part of a son-in-law.
However, looking at the dozen or so buckets of clothes, dozens of buckets of dishes and chopsticks, and some filthy things that needed to be cleaned in front of him, Tang Ran's heart was filled with resentment and anger.
The surrounding servants saw Tang Ran silently washing his mother-in-law's undergarments and couldn't help but snicker.
"Our son-in-law is really diligent. We've been a lot more relaxed since he came."
"Just a live-in son-in-law. Does he really think marrying into a wealthy family can change his fate?"
"Exactly. It's just that he's a bit handsome, otherwise, how would our young lady have taken a liking to him?"
Listening to the whispers around him, Tang Ran acted as if he didn't hear them, only silently admonishing himself in his heart: "Tang Ran, you must endure!"
Just then, the maid beside Pang Feiyan came to find Tang Ran: "Tang Ran, are you done? The young lady wants you to go over quickly, she has something to say!"
"Alright, I'll go right away!"
Even a maid looked down on him, and Tang Ran felt aggrieved and uncomfortable.
But he'd endured for three years, so why let this moment bother him?
\n\n
Arriving in Pang Feiyan's room, Tang Ran swallowed hard, watching his wife meticulously primp at the dressing table.
\n\n
It had to be said, Pang Feiyan was quite attractive and knew how to make the most of herself. It was a lie to say Tang Ran wasn't affected.
\n\n
"What are you staring at? I'll dig your eyeballs out if you keep looking!"
\n\n
Seeing Tang Ran's gaze fixed on her, Pang Feiyan threw a box of foundation at him, which landed squarely on his face.
\n\n
Endure!
\n\n
Tang Ran suppressed his anger, forcing a humble demeanor. He lowered his head and asked, "What does my wife require of me?"
\n\n
Pang Feiyan said, "In a few days, it will be Old Madam's eightieth birthday. I've arranged to go with Young Master Wang from the Wang family in the west of the city to choose a birthday gift for Old Madam. I won't be returning tonight."
Tang Ran clenched his fists upon hearing this, suppressing the green light that was rising above his head. He spoke, trying to control his emotions, "Feiyan, that Young Master Wang is not a good person. He has repeatedly schemed against you. How can you be with him?"
Pang Feiyan said angrily, "Tang Ran! I'm informing you, not discussing it with you! Know your place!
Who do you think you are, to criticize Young Master Wang? Don't you even look at yourself to see how you compare to him!"
Tang Ran trembled with rage: "Feiyan, I am your husband! Can you consider how I feel? Don't you remember? If I hadn't arrived in time last time, you would have already been..."
"Shut up!" Pang Feiyan said angrily, "If you hadn't interfered last time, I would have already been in good graces with Young Master Wang. I haven't even held it against you, and you actually bring it up yourself?"
"What! Feiyan, do you know what you're doing? I've sacrificed so much for you and the Pang family these past three years, and you're just ignoring it?"
"Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that you're still somewhat obedient, you would have been expelled from the Pang family long ago and left to wander the streets. Be grateful, Tang Ran. You and we are not from the same world. The Pang family taking you in, you should be thankful."
Tang Ran was about to explode with anger. He never expected that after all his compromises and silent efforts for the Pang family over the years, he would receive such a result.
"Feiyan, are you really going with that Wang today?"
"Heh, Tang Ran, who do you think you are? How dare you interfere in my affairs!"
"I…"
As they spoke, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a fat, big-eared young master strode in: "Sister, are you ready? Young Master Wang has already had a carriage prepared, waiting outside."
As he spoke, he glanced at Tang Ran and said sarcastically, "Oh, brother-in-law, you're here too? Sorry, I didn't notice you just now, please forgive me."
"Brother, why bother with a useless person like him?" The plump Feiyan said, getting up and glaring at Tang Ran with a look of disdain. Then, she said to Pang Yang, "Let's go, Brother."
Watching the two of them walk past him, Tang Ran felt increasingly displeased.
Just you wait, one day, I will pin you down on the table and rub you hard, to wash away the humiliation I have suffered all these years!
After speaking, he went to the mirror and stood there for a long time. Suddenly, the corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a " ?" shaped smile.
This was the smile he considered the most charming. To perfect it for attracting women in the future, he had spent a lot of spiritual energy practicing in front of the mirror for many years.
"At the Old Madam's birthday banquet in three days, I will make you all pay for what you did to me in the past!"
Just as he was lost in his fantasies, the butler suddenly rushed to the door and shouted at him angrily, "What are you spacing out for? Have you finished washing the clothes and dishes?
If you haven't, hurry up and go. Remember to fill the water tank in the backyard. If I don't see it done tonight, I'll tell the master and madam."
Tang Ran's expression turned gloomy, glaring fiercely at the butler.
"When I return as a king, the first person I will deal with is you, you arrogant dog servant!"
Suppressing his anger, Tang Ran lowered his head and continued to wash the clothes and dishes.
"Also, remember to scrub those chamber pots clean!"
The butler left the command, his face filled with disdain.
On the other side, Shen Zhao finished recounting the events involving the Pang family to Ding Buer and Su Yunying, leaving Su Yunying utterly shocked.
"Shen-laoda, are you serious? That Tang fellow is just too pitiful. What man could bear such humiliation? Isn't this even more wretched than that person from the Shi family?"
Shen Zhao's heart skipped a beat at her words.
Yes, what man could endure such an insult?
What Tang Ran was experiencing now was strikingly similar to his own past life.
But he was ultimately different from Tang Ran.
"Give it up. You think Tang Ran is any better? The Pangs are a bunch of vile people, and he's no different. Anyway, we're taking the Pangs down this time."
Shen Zhao knew Tang Ran's character inside and out. This guy also had the blessing of the heavens, but he was definitely not a good person.
In his previous life, when he took down the Pangs, Tang Ran's psychological distortion was appalling, second only to Lin Feng.
What Tang Ran did was no less than Lin Feng's, a complete animal. His hypocrisy was even a step above Lin Feng's.
-----------------------
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