After the trial, Zhou Dinghai paid the ransom and was released from the county jail on the same day.
The group returned home, and at dinner time, Luo Sanniang prepared a table of sumptuous food and wine.
Zhou Dinghai looked at the delicacies on the table and recalled the panic he had experienced in prison these past few days. He felt as if he had lived in another world and was filled with emotions.
After drinking all the wine in the cup, Zhou Dinghai sighed: "I always thought I wouldn't be able to get out this time."
Luo Sanniang brought a bowl of meat soup to her husband and said warmly: "Don't think about it anymore after the matter is over. We and I will go to Xingshan Temple to burn incense some other day and thank the Buddha for his blessing."
Zhou Dinghai shook his head and said: "What a blessing from the Buddha, I survived the disaster this time, thanks to Jun'er."
Luo Sanniang looked at Zhou Jun who was engrossed in eating vegetables fondly, and said softly: "Who says it's not the case? Jun'er is usually the most filial, but you always punish him."
Zhou Dinghai: "Weren't the things he did in the past ridiculous enough? But fortunately, people will grow up, and Jun'er may have enlightened himself."
The eldest brother Zhou Ze also said: "Erlang has been smart since he was a child. In the past, he was just playful by nature. In the future, he will become a blockbuster if he doesn't make a sound."
Zhou Dinghai looked at Zhou Jun who was silent there, suddenly put down his chopsticks, and said: "Jun'er, come with me."
Luo Sanniang was stunned, frowned and asked, "What's the matter? We can't talk about it after dinner?"
Zhou Dinghai: "After returning from the county government, there is a big thing that has been lingering in my mind. If I don't finish it now, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep well."
Zhou Jun dropped his bowl and chopsticks and followed Zhou Dinghai confused, wondering what the big deal the latter was talking about was?
The father and son walked out of the back hall and came to the corridor.
Zhou Dinghai, who was walking on the corridor, stopped and looked at the bright moon in the night sky, and suddenly asked Zhou Jun: "Jun'er, have you ever blamed your father?"
Zhou Jun was a little confused and didn't know why Zhou Dinghai suddenly asked this.
Without waiting for Zhou Jun's answer, Zhou Dinghai sighed: "When you were young, the scholar you invited to your family once told me that the first man is diligent and motivated, and the second man is intelligent and has spiritual roots."
"And I can only choose one of you two to send to a private school."
"In the end, I chose Ze'er, but gave up on you."
After hearing this, Zhou Jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing how serious Zhou Dinghai said at the beginning, he thought that the latter was going to reveal some shocking news like "I picked you up from the trash heap".
Zhou Jun said to Zhou Dinghai: "My eldest brother is diligent and studious, so he is the best candidate to enter the school. I have never had any resentment."
Zhou Dinghai turned his head to look at Zhou Jun and said softly: "Hey, come with me."
Zhou Dinghai walked into the study and pressed a hidden compartment on the bookcase. There was an unusual sound from behind the wall.
The bookcase in the middle sunk back a few inches, revealing a three-foot-square secret door.
Zhou Jun suddenly became excited when he saw all this.
Is it possible that the Zhou family has any other treasures this week?
Stretching out his hand, Zhou Dinghai pushed open the secret door behind the bookcase. There were some coins, silk, and a rather old wooden box inside.
Under Zhou Jun's excited gaze, Zhou Dinghai opened the wooden box, which contained several strange-shaped jewelry and... a piece of paper.
Zhou Dinghai picked up the piece of paper and asked Zhou Jun: "Do you know what is the most important thing among the wealth of my Zhou family?"
Zhou Jun looked at the old piece of paper and tentatively replied: "Land deed?"
Zhou Dinghai glared at Zhou Jun: "Official stickers! The most important thing in my Zhou family is official stickers!"
Zhou Jun asked: "Official sticker?"
Zhou Dinghai said angrily: "Nu Yalang is engaged in the business of raw mouth. If there is no official post issued by the Tang Dynasty, then it is a private tooth. Once caught, he will be sentenced to exile!"
Zhou Jun finally figured out that this piece of paper was originally the employment qualification certificate issued by the government to Nu Yalang.
Zhou Dinghai held this official post and said with emotion: "I am getting older and I have become duller."
"This time, if it had been ten years ago, I would have been able to see the doubts. However, now that I am old, I actually capsized and got killed by these little thieves."
Zhou Jun looked at the official notice and asked: "Father, are you planning to let me become a slave tooth man?"
Zhou Dinghai: "What's wrong with a son inheriting his father's legacy?"
"What's more, my Zhou family's ancestors have been doing this business for so many generations. It's only natural that you take over."
Zhou Jun looked depressed. In his previous life, he was a policeman and it was absolutely his duty to catch human traffickers. However, as a human trafficker, he just couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart.
Zhou Jun said: "Father, this slave's business is dangerous and unpredictable, and it will harm the world. Can't we try other ways to make money?"
Zhou Dinghai: "Other ways to make money? Under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, no matter what business you do, you must have a guarantor, a market leader, and an official post. Without these, if you operate privately, it will be a private business. Once you are caught, the whole family will be destroyed."
They will all be in bad luck!"
"Stop all your other worries as soon as possible and do your job well as a slave."
"Tomorrow at 2:00, you go out with me, and I will personally take you to familiarize yourself with Nuyakou City."
At night, Zhou Jun returned to his room, lay on the bed, and recalled Zhou Dinghai's words, feeling depressed.
The policeman actually traveled through time and became a slave trader.
Such a bloody thing actually happened to me.
What can I do?
Is it possible that when we go to the slave market tomorrow, we shout "Long live freedom" three times and then let all the slaves go?
If he really did this, Zhou Jun would probably be killed on the spot, and his family would also be implicated.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jun climbed out of bed and paced back and forth in the room.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.
His father, Zhou Dinghai, asked him to be a slave tooth man at this time, fearing that it was not just because he wanted to wash his hands in a golden basin and retreat bravely.
In Jiang Yu's case, Zhou Dinghai violated several tooth market regulations because of his carelessness, and also involved the buyer Xu's family. His reputation as a slave tooth man may have plummeted in the industry.
Even if Zhou Dinghai wanted to continue making a living, I am afraid that his original customers would stay away from him and no longer trust him.
At this time, it was Zhou Dinghai's helpless move to pass Nu Yalang to himself.
After thinking about this, Zhou Jun was so angry at this cheap old man.
No matter what the Zhou family's most important property is, or what the ancestors have managed for generations, it turns out that they are left to shoulder the responsibility.
Zhou Jun suddenly stopped and his face changed slightly.
In this way, if dad doesn't work like this slave, wouldn't he have to work and earn all the living expenses, consumption expenses of the entire family, and the tuition fees for his eldest brother Zhou Zeshang's private school, etc. in the future?
Zhou Jun suddenly felt dizzy and lay down on the bed, sighing.