My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 253

Uh……

Seemingly sensing Lin Ziping's embarrassment, Fang Qingmiao came to his rescue, saying, "Father, don't you often say that books are as vast as the mountains and as numerous as an ox, and that we know less than a tenth or a twelfth of them? There are things he knows that I don't, isn't that perfectly normal?"

“Ah Miao is right, I was confused.” Fang Zhen stroked his beard and laughed. “Young friend Lin, I have a few articles here for you to take a look at. Share your thoughts and we can discuss them together.”

Lin Ziping waved his hands repeatedly, declining, "Master Fang overestimates me. My knowledge is nothing more than a amateur in front of you."

Fang Zhen said, "We'll just discuss this amongst ourselves. Youwei, Zhili, and Amiao, you should also come and take a look."

"This……"

“This… is illogical.” Fang Zhili interrupted Lin Ziping. “What’s illogical about this? Shaoying, it’s been so many years, how come you’ve become more and more pedantic? Come and look at this.”

Fang Zhili picked up the paper on the table and shoved it into Lin Ziping's hand.

Seeing this, Lin Ziping had no choice but to flatten the paper in his hand. What came into view was neat handwriting, with a hint of unyielding spirit between the strokes.

Looking at the content of the article, it is an argumentative essay that happens to be about the Fuchun people's riot.

Using specific examples to illustrate broader points, and drawing on classical texts, the author analyzes the causes of popular uprisings throughout history.

It was written about a popular uprising, but Lin Ziping saw it as a peasant rebellion. He was surprised that someone in this dynasty would pay attention to this, and the viewpoints were very novel. Lin Ziping couldn't help but marvel and admire it.

Lin Ziping read it over and over again, from top to bottom, three times. He had no opinion on it, but if asked to write it down, he simply couldn't.

Suddenly, Lin Ziping noticed ink spots on the edge of the paper. He had a sudden inspiration and aligned the ink spots on several sheets of paper, then staggered them to form a small character "义" (righteousness).

"What does young friend Lin think of this article?" Fang Zhen asked.

“Very good.” After thinking for a moment, Lin Ziping added, “Very pragmatic.”

"What does it say?" Fang Zhili asked, leaning closer. "Let me see it."

Lin Ziping neatly arranged the papers and handed them to Fang Zhili.

Fang Zhili read it very quickly, and after finishing, he frowned slightly and asked, "Who wrote this and why was it submitted?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zhen and the others put down the papers they were holding and looked at Fang Zhili.

Fang Youwei spoke first: "What's wrong?"

Fang Qingmiao said, "Knows etiquette?"

"Aunt, please forgive me." Fang Zhili stood up, cupped his hands in apology, "I don't know who sent this article to Grandfather. Lin Ziping even said it made sense, but I think it's utter nonsense. I don't know who wrote it!"

"Bring it here so I can take a look," Fang Zhen said.

“Grandfather, don’t let this article offend your eyes,” Fang Zhili said.

"Zhili, how far have you learned all these years?" Fang Zhen said, his smile fading. "Give it to me!"

"Yes."

Fang Zhili presented the paper in his hand.

Fang Zhen quickly finished reading and said, "I thought it was something serious that caused such a panic and secrecy, but it's just the Fuchun riots. Young friend Lin is from Fuchun, right? No wonder you think this is written so realistically."

Lin Ziping nodded and cupped his hands, saying, "Before coming to the capital, I did indeed work in Fuchun."

“Young friend, please don’t be offended. This is only because it involves the Fourth Prince. Zhili was afraid that I would worry, so he reacted this way. Your assessment is quite correct,” Fang Zhen said. “However, this article is written with great certainty, but it is somewhat exaggerated. Is this popular riot due to the inaction of local officials? Is it due to exorbitant taxes? As far as I know, Fuchun had a drought and an epidemic not long ago.”

“That’s right. Fuchun was hit by drought and an epidemic a while ago, but they have been brought under control,” Lin Ziping replied.

Fang Zhen nodded: "Focusing on man-made disasters while ignoring natural disasters is biased. What do you think, young friend Lin?"

Everyone in the room looked at Lin Ziping.

“What Master Fang says is true,” Lin Ziping said, forcing himself to speak.

Lin Ziping thought to himself: Have you forgotten that the Fang family is the maternal family of the Fourth Prince? The people in this room are all his close relatives. How can you speak ill of the child in front of the parents?

After reading the article on the table, Fang Qingmiao said, "So this is what happened when Yun'er went on his study tour. He didn't tell me the details when he came back. Luckily, there was the Sixth Prince, otherwise I don't know how the situation would have developed."

"This can't really be considered Fourth Cousin's responsibility, can it...?"

"Father, why is it so lively here?"

Before Fang Zhili could finish speaking, a deep male voice came from outside.

Everyone turned their attention to the doorway, and soon several middle-aged men walked in.

The group first bowed to Fang Zhen, and then bowed to Fang Qingmiao as well.

Fang Qingmiao stood up and moved away, saying, "Brothers, why are you being so formal?"

Fang Youwei and Fang Zhili stood up and bowed.

Lin Ziping noticed that the group bore a resemblance to Fang Zhen and, judging from their behavior, assumed they were the current head of the Fang family and core members of the family.

After the servants served tea and tidied the table, the head of the Fang family and the others took their seats.

The middle-aged man sitting to Fang Zhen's left said, "Father, this is tiger meat sent by His Majesty."

"Did you hunt a tiger this autumn?" Fang Zhen asked.

"His Majesty sent it, so it shouldn't be wrong," said the middle-aged man, who was also the head of the Fang family. "I didn't go with His Majesty, so I really don't know the specifics. Did someone in A'miao really hunt a tiger during the autumn hunt?"

Fang Qingmiao smiled and said, "That's right, and the tiger hunter is both far away and right in front of us."

"Oh?" the Fang family patriarch asked. "Who is so brave?"

Fang Qingmiao looked at Lin Ziping.

Fang Zhen said, "Haha, so it's young friend Lin. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young, excelling in both literature and martial arts."

As Fang Zhen finished speaking, everyone in the room turned their attention to Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping smiled and chuckled, "There's really no need for such forced praise."

"This humble servant, Lin Ziping, accompanied the Imperial Concubine on her return home for a visit. I pay my respects to the Fang family head and all the gentlemen," Lin Ziping said, bowing with clasped hands.

"It's you, Lin Ziping," said the Fang family head. "We were waiting to see you, but we didn't expect you to be here."

Lin Ziping pursed his lips, unsure how to answer.

"Alright, alright, I had Zhili bring him here," Fang Zhen said. "Young friend Lin is also studying at Moshan Academy, and he's classmates with Youwei and Zhili. Zhili, you should take good care of young friend Lin, let him go to the Imperial Academy, take a walk around. Why is he staying with us?"

"Yes," Fang Zhili said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

“Master Fang, this is against etiquette. I am accompanying the Imperial Concubine on her visit to her family home…” Lin Ziping said.

Fang Qingmiao said, "It's alright. I rarely leave the palace. Why are you following me? My home is right here. Why are you worried that I'll run away?"

Lin Ziping quickly waved his hand and explained, "This humble servant had absolutely no such intention, I..."

"Alright, it's settled then. You can go with Zhili. Your followers can come with you too. Such bright kids shouldn't be left to languish in the palace," Fang Qingmiao said. "I have my own business to attend to."

Seeing that he could not refuse, Lin Ziping clasped his hands in agreement and then left with Fang Zhili.