Persimmons are poisonous.

Chapter 896 I Have a Son

After settling the gambling debts, Liu Dacheng prepared to take Zhou Zhubao and leave.

Fang Er didn't need to guess why they were accompanying Chai Shao in playing mahjong. These two unlucky fellows must have been roped in to make up the numbers. Having lost all their money for buying New Year's goods, they were likely bleeding tears inside. Superiority of rank often suppressed the lower, and one could only grit their teeth and accept their losses.

While they could accept it, Fang Er couldn't stand by and watch his father-in-law make a mistake. He walked over with a smile and collected all the bets on the table. "Come, come, the New Year is almost here. Take this money to get something for your families, lest your wives kick you out of bed." With that, he handed over the silver ingot that Duke Yingguo had just put down to Liu Dacheng, telling them to divide it among themselves.

Liu Dacheng was so touched he almost cried. He had always been honest, and the last time he spoke too much, the Emperor had ordered an investigation into his assets. Upon returning home, he was almost beaten to death by his wife. In her words: "If you had taken bribes, I could accept people turning our house upside down. But to be constantly poor to the point of jingling coins and still be accused of corruption by the Emperor? You might as well be dead!"

Zhou Zhubao wasn't any better off. They were like donkeys on the same millstone; who could claim to be better than the other? "Alright, Provincial Governor Liu, if you have nothing else, please return. This Duke and my father-in-law have some matters to discuss."

"Yes, yes, your subordinate takes his leave!" Liu Dacheng didn't feel at all like Fang Er was chasing him away; instead, he thought Fang Er was saving him. If they had continued playing, he would have lost his pants.

After the two of them left, Chai Shao smiled and had the mahjong set cleared away, while also bringing out tea. As soon as Fang Er sat down, he felt a chill run from his backside straight to the crown of his head, causing him to shiver involuntarily. "Hah~~" After exhaling some warm air onto his hands, he looked at Chai Shao and the others and complained, "You have warm rooms but you choose to play mahjong in the courtyard. You're really something!"

"Hahahaha, the rooms were too stuffy, so we moved outside. Duke An, if you feel cold, shall we talk back inside?" Duke Yingguo saw Fang Er's state and chuckled. Fang Er immediately got up and walked towards the house, "Let's go, let's go, it's too damn cold! You two are martial men, aren't you afraid of freezing Provincial Governor Liu and the others to death?"

"You brat, how did you become so delicate after just one trip out? I don't feel it's that cold~" Chai Shao, following behind him, couldn't help but roll his eyes. The truth was, Fang Er had his own issues. Before returning, he had been in Australia, which was experiencing summer, so the