Chapter 138: Watch Him Study Closely

Chapter 138: Watch Him Study Closely

"The door is cracked, truly ominous. Let's go, let's go. The Lu family still dares to call Miss Su of the Su family a star of misfortune. I say their whole family is cursed!"

A bystander's outburst had others immediately backing away from the Kang Ji shop as if they had encountered a plague god.

"It's the New Year, what bad luck. It's much more festive and lively in the Su Ji pastry shop. Come on, let's head over there!"

Soon, most of the crowd, except for a few who enjoyed the spectacle, dispersed to attend to their own affairs.

Lu Song and Yun Niang were infuriated by the crowd's comments but quickly retreated to the back hall. No matter how thick-skinned they were, they couldn't bear the public ridicule.

"Good pastries, no one else had any issues after eating them. Why did the Prince of Dongrong suffer from stomach pain? If he really was in pain, why would he be willing to let it go so easily? Boss, I think these people are here to cause trouble intentionally."

Shopkeeper Zhang shared his thoughts, recognizing that an issue with the shop's products was no small matter. He immediately identified the crux of the problem.

Although his son's goods were ordinary, the person they targeted indeed had some skill.

"Even if the people of Dongrong are causing trouble deliberately, we can only swallow this silent loss. But why target us without reason?" Lu Song found the situation increasingly perplexing.

He hadn't heard of the Prince of Dongrong being particularly arrogant in Yanjing recently, so why the sudden focus on their family?

After sending someone to inquire, they soon learned that Prince Bei of Dongrong was currently enjoying a meal at the Su Ji restaurant, showing no signs of a stomachache. Moreover, rumors suggested he was having a delightful conversation with Miss Su of the Su family.

Upon hearing this, Lu Song instantly suspected that Su Youyue had orchestrated today's incident through Prince Bei!

It was her again!

They had already terminated their engagement, so why was she still pestering him?

As Lu Song's hatred for Su Youyue deepened, he was soon overwhelmed by the financial reports brought by several shopkeepers.

Seeing his boss's dark expression, Shopkeeper Zhang dared not speak and retreated behind him.

In his opinion, the boss's business had been doomed from the start. How could one survive when opposing the powerful?

Unfortunately, their boss, a former official turned merchant, had yet to adapt to his new identity or realize the harsh reality.

This business likely wouldn't last!

Lu Song also sensed that his dream of wealth was about to shatter. After finishing the accounts, he turned around and saw his son Lu Wen still lost in thought, feeling annoyed. "Wen'er, how long have you been back? Why aren't you reviewing your studies!"

Awakened by his father, Lu Wen felt an immediate aversion upon hearing about his studies. "Father, I want to observe the business matters a bit more..."

"Business matters are none of your concern. You'd waste your talents on business. Go study. Later, I'll test you on today's lessons." Remembering the tutor's praise of Lu Wen's extraordinary talent, Lu Song regained confidence.

Even if the business failed, it wasn't the end of the world. As long as he nurtured his son well, he could still hold his head high in the future.

Before Lu Wen could recover from the realization that all the formulas were originally Su Youyue's, he was forced to study.

Back in his room, faced with stacks of books, he felt a surge of anger, wishing he could tear them all to shreds.

"Study! Study! What's the point of reading these rotten books! They're just stale rhetoric written by pedantic scholars!"

After barely managing to read a page, Lu Wen couldn't continue. He was reborn with knowledge of many events, why waste time studying when he could seize opportunities instead!

Su Youyue, that wicked woman, used her knowledge from her previous life to help the deposed crown prince harm the second and third princes, ingratiating herself with the future emperor. Why couldn't he do the same?

If he informed the deposed crown prince of certain information, he wouldn't have to worry about climbing up to the future emperor and achieving the pinnacle of life.

With this thought, Lu Wen jumped off his chair, planning to sneak out.

However, just a few steps away, Yun Niang entered with tea and snacks. "Wen'er, where are you going? You must study diligently; don't run around."

The tutor mentioned that the child had talent but lacked focus in his studies, urging her to watch him closely.

Seeing her son acting exactly as described, Yun Niang resolved to closely monitor his studies starting today.

If her son, born from her womb, became the future top scholar, who would dare criticize her? Everyone would surely praise her abilities!

Left with no choice, Lu Wen sat down again, planning to find another opportunity to escape in a couple of days.

To his surprise, the following days unfolded completely differently than expected. Lu Song and Yun Niang took turns watching him study, day and night, almost obsessively, giving him little rest. They even hired two book boys to ensure he studied diligently.

Any momentary distraction would be reported by the book boys, leaving no chance for Lu Wen to slip away from their watchful eyes.

Under such suffocating conditions, Lu Wen fell ill soon.

Yet, even while resting in bed, Lu Song and Yun Niang didn't forget to urge him to study. He suffered in silence, growing increasingly ill. Eventually, the sight of words on a page triggered headaches and nausea, prompting them to finally allow him proper rest.

Since the day the Dongrong people destroyed their shop, the Lu family's business had dwindled, becoming increasingly unprofitable.

Meanwhile, the Su Ji shop was virtually raking in gold daily. Even the small shop managed by Su Rong, under Su Youyue's guidance, was thriving.

Within a couple of days, Su Rong returned the damaged headdress she had repaired to Su Youyue, even gifting her an additional set.

"Elder Sister, I heard that Su Qian actually called the Third Princess 'Mother'? How shameless!"

Su Youyue smiled. "Returning the original is enough. There's no need for extra expense."

Indeed, Su Qian's audacity in calling the Third Princess 'Mother' was shameful. Grandmother was furious upon learning about it, and it took considerable effort to calm her down.

However, this incident allowed Grandmother and the residents of Fushou Garden to see Su Qian's true colors, leaving them disillusioned with her.

Su Rong beamed. "My shop has earned quite a bit of silver now. Of course, I must thank Elder Sister!"

Then, she remembered something and sobered slightly, expressing disdain. "Elder Sister, yesterday when I went out to check on the shop, I ran into Lu Cheng. He seemed to be heading to a gambling den with a group of hooligans. Just looking at his face makes me dislike him!"