Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Shen Huaizhi was his wife's elder brother and stood wholeheartedly on his side, so Han Zhang naturally spared no effort or expense to bail him out.

But Pan Taining and the other two were different—they weren't that close, and once they entered officialdom in the future, there was no guarantee they'd be on the same side as him.

A few heavy gifts and a bit of personal favor were hardly enough to make him act. Han Zhang wasn't about to make a losing proposition.

After all, with Shen Huaizhi as an example, he figured that if Pan Taining and the others wanted to make real progress in their studies, they'd likely need his special ability to straighten out their thinking and boost their memory.

The cost was simply too high. His ability's energy wasn't unlimited—there were many places it needed to be used, so he had to be frugal and stretch it.

Therefore, if the Pan, Zhao, and Wu families wanted him to act, they'd have to demonstrate sufficient value.

And the plan he gave the mothers was simple.

That was—have the three families join forces with Emperor Taixuan to put on an act, throwing Pan Taining and the others out to learn a lesson the hard way.

"As Mencius said: 'One thrives in adversity and perishes in comfort.' The reason Brother Pan and the others became idle wastrels is simply that their days were too smooth, their leisure too abundant, and their families shielded them too completely."

"A thousand lectures don't teach as much as one real-life lesson. If a child won't listen, throw him out to taste hardship, and he'll naturally learn what's good for him. And human potential is often forced out by desperate circumstances..."

Han Zhang wasn't just saying this because it was easy for him to talk.

Though his mind was indeed sharper than most, all his achievements in his past life—clawing his way from an orphan to the top—had cost him unimaginable sweat and effort.

Reading around the clock, working around the clock, and later in the apocalypse, killing zombies around the clock.

Didn't he want to rest then? Didn't he want to play, to enjoy himself?

Of course he did! But he understood even better that with no one to give him a leg up, if he wanted to live better, he could only fight tooth and nail on his own. Even if struggling didn't guarantee results, that path was the only one to take.

Circumstances make the man.

Han Zhang said: "Only by letting Brother Pan and the others temporarily leave their current status and wealth, and experience the ups and downs of life, will they understand how precious their current position and rank truly are."

The mothers nodded in agreement, deeply convinced: "Young Nephew Han, you're right, absolutely right."

But the problem was...

The moment hardship for their children was mentioned, these parents couldn't bear it.

The mothers who had just been so adamant immediately began to worry.

Mother Pan said anxiously: "But suddenly losing everything, falling from the clouds into the mire—if such a tremendous blow comes, what if my son can't bear it?"

Mother Zhao nodded: "Yes, yes, isn't this too extreme? As the saying goes: 'The stiffest tree is most easily cracked.'"

Mother Wu said tearfully: "My son has been pampered and coddled since childhood—how could he endure the hardships of the mortal world? What if his health breaks down from the strain..."

Han Zhang: "..."

This just proved that spoiled kids have spoiled parents—that saying wasn't without reason.

Han Zhang took two sips of tea to cool his temper before staying calm:

"Aunts, do you think a person who can shamelessly mooch off his parents and bleed his kids dry, only caring about his own good time and not his descendants' future—do you think his willpower is fragile?"

"Aunts, do you also think a person who can throw fits at home, argue with people outside, and pick fights with anyone who rubs him the wrong way—do you think his temper is so easily broken?"

Did they really think being a spoiled rich kid was easy?

A true wastrel was someone who, aside from doing nothing productive, had sharp minds, high EQ, and political savvy all in top form.

"In any case, this is my only plan. If you aunts can't bear to do it, then I'm afraid I can't do anything for you."

Han Zhang shrugged with a smile.

He naturally had other methods, but this one was the most effective and the fastest.

He didn't have the patience or time to burn on Pan Taining and the others. The only person in this world he would treat with gentle patience was his dear husband.

"This... let us think it over."

The mothers found it hard to decide on the spot—such a major matter required discussion with their husbands at home.

The three ladies hurriedly departed, heavy-hearted.

After they had gone far away.

Shen Qinglan asked worriedly: "Husband, isn't this plan too extreme? What if something goes wrong? Suddenly losing everything—ordinary people would find it hard to bear such a heavy blow."

"That's true in principle, but Brother Pan and the others aren't exactly ordinary folks. My dear, don't sell your second brother and his crew short—those four brothers are not easy to mess with..."

Han Zhang had some confidence in his judgment of people.

After all, birds of a feather flock together. Since Pan Taining and the others could get along with Shen Huaizhi, those little terrors were definitely just like that son of a bitch Shen Huaizhi—people who drove everyone else crazy while never stressing themselves out. There was no way they couldn't handle a setback.

And speaking of his brother-in-law, a wary look involuntarily crossed Han Zhang's face.

That student had been a nightmare to teach.

Shen Qinglan saw his expression and couldn't help laughing: "Husband, is my second brother really that terrifying? Just mentioning him makes you look like that?"

"Don't even mention it—Second Brother isn't just terrifying, he's the bane of my teaching career! Running into him, I must have been cursed in a past life."

Han Zhang waved his hand dramatically, looking like life isn't worth living.

Making Shen Qinglan burst out laughing: "Hahaha, husband, no wonder they say everyone has their match. I never thought my second brother would be the one to tame you—my second brother is truly amazing..."

"Yes, your second brother is truly amazing. I'm scared to death of him."

Han Zhang chuckled in agreement.

Then, he gently took his young husband's hand—who was doubled over with laughter—and led him to the table, saying softly: "This coral bead crown is indeed beautiful. Put it on and let me take a closer look. When Aunt Wu placed it in your hair earlier, it was love at first sight for me—I couldn't take my eyes off you..."

"Really? Is it really that pretty?"

Though he was used to Han Zhang's sweet words, Shen Qinglan still couldn't help feeling shy and bashful.

The way he lowered his head was charming, like a water lily too shy for the breeze—concealing the most moving grace in all the world.

And it made Han Zhang's heart turn to putty in his hands every time.

He pulled the young man into his arms, kissing his earlobe with a smile: "Truly beautiful. Your beauty could topple cities—you deserve the most brilliant ornaments in all the world to adorn you."

"In a few days, the Cloud Crane Teahouse will also hold a literary gathering, and the prize on offer is a bolt of Shu brocade. Its colors are bright and resplendent, matching this coral crown perfectly. I'll go win it and have it tailored into robes for you to pair with it—how about that?"

"Mm! I'll wear it for you first thing!"

Qinglan nestled in Han Zhang's arms, coaxed into a happy pout, his eyes and brows all but sparkling with sweetness.

He didn't think it was cheap at all that Han Zhang had to compete for a bolt of fabric at a literary gathering—he just felt his heart brimming with joy and sweetness.

It didn't matter that his husband was a little strapped for cash, as long as he was willing to put thought into him!

Shen, the hopeless romantic, was that easy to win over.

...

Meanwhile, Han Zhang had thrown the question back at them.

Back at the Pan residence, Lady Pan and the others returned home and gathered the husbands and elders of the household to talk about how to discipline their kids.

Sure enough.

After hearing Han Zhang's plan, Master Pan and the others were a bit reluctant to see their kids go through hardship.

But after going back and forth for a while, they truly couldn't come up with a better solution.

"Han's nephew makes a good point—hardship breeds resilience, while comfort breeds ruin. Taining and the others have had it too comfortable; we've spoiled them rotten. To turn them around, we have to be tough!"

"Jade needs carving to become a vessel. If they face setbacks now, even if they trip up, there's still room to bounce back. But if we're gone one day and they end up in the gutter, then there'll truly be no turning back..."

After much deliberation, the three families gritted their teeth and went with Han Zhang's plan.

They pleaded their case before Emperor Taixuan, who was more than happy to play along.

And so, soon—

When they woke up, Pan Taining and the others' world came crashing down around them.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor hereby decrees: Pan Taining, Zhao Yongchang, and Wu Xuelin, being shiftless and unlettered, did, two days ago, in their carelessness, kick down the 'Dragon-Scale Green Pine' personally planted by His Majesty! This tree commemorates His Majesty's rise to the throne and is of great significance!

This act is utterly audacious and unworthy of the sons of officials! To punish their crime and serve as a warning to all, it is hereby decreed:

From this day forth, all their wealth, ranks, and privileges are stripped away, and they are cast out of their households, reduced to commoners! They must fend for themselves! Taste the hardships of the common folk! Reflect on their misdeeds!

May they turn over a new leaf and start fresh. Let them no longer have eyes but no sense, nor look at a tree and fail to recognize it! By imperial order!"

The imperial eunuch finished reading the decree.

The family members of the Pan, Zhao, and Wu households, who were in on the scheme, unlike in the past, made no attempt to defend or make excuses for their little darlings—instead, they all wore faces ashen with despair.

As for Pan Taining and the others, they were thunderstruck, utterly in disbelief.

What 'Dragon-Scale Green Pine'?!

A few days ago, they had indeed kicked down a tree, but it was just an ordinary pine in the academy's grove—when had it become an imperial hand-planted dragon-scale pine?

If it was such a valuable tree, why didn't the academy put up a warning sign?

This was really going to be the death of them!

"Your Majesty, please be clear—we're innocent! It's a misunderstanding! We had no idea it was Your Majesty's tree..."

The three of them sobbed and wailed, crying out that they were wronged, unable to accept this reality.

Though they were young masters raised in silk and satin, never having known hardship since birth, they weren't completely clueless about the world's struggles, since they often wandered outside.

They'd seen how common folks lived.

Setting aside everything else, just the rough cloth and straw sandals chafing their feet was something they couldn't handle.

This was truly—trouble raining down from the sky while they were just sitting at home!