“It’s actually… black.”

Ding Hao looked in astonishment at the color of the light flowing from Zheng Fan’s body.

“Black, is it very special, very rare?” Zheng Fan asked.

“Actually… it’s quite common.”

“Then why are you so shocked?”

“You’re joking. You’ve already entered the ranks. My role as your teacher has come to an end. From now on, we no longer have a teacher-student relationship. Naturally, I have to be more polite to you so this useless person can continue to freeload.”

“Oh, I forgot if you didn’t remind me. You’re useless now, Si Niang!”

“At your service.”

“Drag him down and use him as fertilizer to grow flowers.”

“…” Ding Hao.

Shouldn’t you say that a teacher for a day is a father for life?

“This… this…”

Ding Hao was obviously caught off guard. This time, the shock was genuine, not feigned.

If it were someone else, he might have laughed it off, not taking it seriously, thinking the other party was joking. But with this group, Ding Hao had no confidence at all.

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

Zheng Fan reached out and patted Ding Hao’s shoulder.

At that moment, Ding Hao actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Even a tough guy like him, after experiencing so much, was fortunate to be rescued before his death and become a teacher for nearly a month, served every day with good food and drink.

A month ago, Ding Hao could have faced death calmly, but now, he suddenly felt that the attraction of living was greater.

Most importantly, he remembered that these people had promised him that when this “master” entered the ranks, it would be the day of his recovery!

Regardless of how many times he told himself that this was basically impossible, how could there not be a glimmer of expectation in his subconscious?

“Si Niang, come here.”

Zheng Fan turned around, sat down in the armchair behind him, reached for the teacup beside him, and began to drink tea.

Si Niang walked to Ding Hao, bringing a fragrant breeze.

Ding Hao was a knowledgeable man, so he naturally knew that the woman in front of him was a true beauty.

But he didn’t have the slightest desire to亵渎（xiè dú - desecrate); he hadn’t forgotten the description of the torture where the “upper and lower brains” were the same.

“Old Ding, our master is the most benevolent and emphasizes democracy;

Now, there are two paths for you to choose.”

“Please speak.”

“The first path is to be used as fertilizer.”

“Gulp…” Ding Hao couldn’t help but swallow. Weren’t there two paths?

“The second path is to recognize my master as your master. From now on, you will be a servant of our Zheng family. Tsk, the word ‘servant’ doesn’t sound very good. Let’s call you a hound.”

“…” Ding Hao.

“House slave,” Zheng Fan reminded.

“Master, I still think hound sounds more domineering.”

Si Niang coquettishly said to Zheng Fan.

Just as a handsome man who speaks straightforwardly is called forthright, while an ugly man who speaks straightforwardly is called a chauvinist,

When a beautiful woman acts coquettishly towards you, you will enjoy it and can’t help but want to spend money to buy her a bag.

Especially after experiencing that time with the hand,

Zheng Fan had more tolerance for Si Niang in his attitude.

“Okay, whatever you want.”

Si Niang was satisfied. No matter how old a woman is, she will like this feeling of being pampered. Si Niang was no exception.

“Old Ding, it’s your turn to choose. Pick one of the two. Which one do you choose?”

Ding Hao’s lips were a little bitter. What kind of two-choice was this?

“I’m a useless person. Even if I become your family’s lackey, what can I do besides waste food?”

“Heh, you don’t have to worry about that. My Zheng family’s dogs are naturally different from other people’s dogs. For example, if another family’s dog breaks its leg, it will probably be killed and eaten in a dog meat hot pot. But my Zheng family will help it reattach its dog leg.”

Hearing this, Ding Hao’s face showed an excited flush, and he immediately asked:

“I… can I recover?”

Si Niang spread her hands,

Ten silver needles rapidly circled between her fingertips.

At this moment,

Her aura underwent a tremendous change.

“I couldn’t do it before, but now, I can.”

“I’m willing, I’m willing.”

Saying that,

Ding Hao didn’t hesitate to fall off the chair,

Because his hand and foot tendons were broken, he couldn’t stand up, and it was difficult to clasp his hands in greeting,

But he still shouted at Zheng Fan in this way:

“Master, Master, Master!”

It seemed very lowly, but when Ding Hao was in this situation, he really had no choice.

Zheng Fan put down his teacup, stood up, walked to Ding Hao, bent down, looked at his face, and said:

“Actually, I’m not very good at winning people’s hearts.”

Because I came with seven dogs from the start.

“After you’re healed, just do your job in peace. If you want to seek revenge from the Liu family of Beifeng in the future, tell us first. If it’s convenient, we’ll help you get revenge.”

If he wanted to gain a foothold in Beifeng County, it would be almost impossible not to confront the Liu family of Beifeng in the future;

Therefore, Zheng Fan didn’t consider this an empty promise.

Ding Hao took a deep breath,

This time, he was obviously more sincere than before:

“Your subordinate obeys!”

“Alright, Si Niang, you can begin.”

After saying that,

Zheng Fan walked out.

Resewing the hand and foot tendons was a delicate operation, but watching those needles shuttle back and forth in the flesh was still very uncomfortable.

However, Si Niang’s speed was much faster than expected. Zheng Fan squatted at the door and only smoked three cigarettes before Si Niang came out.

“How is it?”

“Reporting to Master, it’s done.”

“What about him?”

“He fainted from the pain, but he’s indeed a tough guy. He endured it without uttering a sound.”

“How much of his strength can he recover?”

“Don’t you trust my skills?”

Saying that, Si Niang wiggled her fingers at Zheng Fan.

“His strength can recover?”

“After two days of rest, he should be able to recover to a ninth-rank martial artist. It’s even possible that because of the successive disasters, he may advance further in martial arts.”

“Is that so? Wait, Si Niang, I remember you seemed to say before that you didn’t have the ability to help him recover temporarily.”

Si Niang’s beautiful eyes rolled, and she immediately said:

“Didn’t I just practice recently and find the feeling of the basics again?”

Blind and the others weren’t here, so Si Niang didn’t dare to tell Zheng Fan that her strength had recovered a lot without permission.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Master, this servant wants to practice again tonight, in case my hands become unfamiliar again. So, I have to trouble Master again. Please grant this servant’s unreasonable request.”

“It’s only right, it’s only right.”

Just as Zheng Fan’s face was slightly flushed under Si Niang’s gaze, Fang Cao walked over from the rear.

Zheng Fan immediately coughed and turned to face Fang Cao, asking:

“What’s wrong?”

“Master, someone has come to the front hall. They’re from the yamen (government office) and want to see Master.”

“Okay, I’ll go take a look.”

Zheng Fan nodded to Si Niang, and Si Niang gave Zheng Fan a slight bow.

…………

Zheng Fan hadn’t been to the yamen for almost a month. After staging a play with Comrade Shen Hai outside the hall, he stayed at home to practice martial arts in peace, too lazy to even go for the daily roll call.

Originally, he thought that the yamen had something to notify him, but when Zheng Fan walked into the living room, he found that the person who came was the clerk from Zhao Tao Shi (Pacification Commissioner) Xu Wenzu’s side.

The identity of this clerk was naturally unusual. He should be Xu Wenzu’s confidant. His personal visit here must be to bring a message from Xu Wenzu.

“Commandant Zheng, your mansion is quite impressive. It must have cost a lot of money?”

“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it. A haunted house, cheap.”

“…” The clerk.

The two sat down again,

And both tacitly skipped the opening formalities.

“Commandant Zheng, this time, it was my master who asked me to come find you.”

“What does the Pacification Commissioner want from me?”

“It’s like this. The day after tomorrow, a batch of birthday tribute is to be sent from Tiger Head City to the Marquis’s mansion. My master’s intention is to have Commandant Zheng take charge of escorting this birthday tribute.”

Birthday tribute?

Seeing the puzzled look on Zheng Fan’s face,

The clerk immediately asked curiously:

“The day after tomorrow is the fiftieth birthday of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s wife. Commandant Zheng doesn’t remember?”

Zheng Fan immediately said sternly:

“The Madam has a great favor to my family, how could I not remember!”

“That’s right, then this escort will be entrusted to Commandant Zheng.”

“This is what I should do.”

Birthday tribute refers to batches of gifts transported in a formation. When important figures have birthdays, officials of all sizes throughout the country must prepare gifts. Of course, it is impossible for everyone to be present to celebrate, and of course, not everyone is qualified to be present. But even if the person doesn’t arrive, the gifts must.

Therefore, this batch of birthday tribute should be the gifts from Tiger Head City and the surrounding forces to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion.

Escorting them seemed like nothing much. Zheng Fan didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

Comrade Shen Hai couldn’t possibly not know that he was a lone commander. He would definitely send troops to escort him.

“Sir, you could have just sent someone from the yamen to inform me. Why did you have to make a special trip yourself?”

“There’s another matter,” the clerk said.

“What is it?”

“My master will be leaving Tiger Head City tomorrow to patrol the border. The official explanation is that there will be officials, merchants, and large families in Tiger Head City holding theatrical performances and banquets as usual the day after tomorrow, and my master doesn’t want to associate with them, so he chose to leave Tiger Head City to patrol the border at this time.”

This activity is a bit like holding a celebration party in later generations. In fact, the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion probably wouldn’t care how the celebration here is, but the people below have to manage it. After all, as long as the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion hasn’t fallen, it is the top dog in this Beifeng County. As long as it is there, everyone has to lick it every day.

And the Pacification Commissioner is a regional defense concept official position, not permanently stationed in Tiger Head City. Choosing to go out to patrol the border at this time can also be regarded as showing his consistent political attitude and position of supporting the weakening of the feudal lords.

Hearing this, Zheng Fan still didn’t think there was anything wrong.

But the clerk added:

“At that time, I will pretend to be my master and go to patrol the border, while my master himself will mix into your escort team, Commandant Zheng. After arriving at the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion, rely on your established connections in the Marquis’s mansion to secretly take my master to see the County Princess and the Old Madam without alarming outsiders.”

“…” Zheng Fan!