Chapter 140: Calculating the Scapegoat

Chapter 140: Calculating the Scapegoat

"Then we can only start anew."

Sun's reputation is in ruins; he cannot save the collapsing empire or reverse the tide.

Chuan Bai asked, "What does the Eldest Young Master mean?"

"Sell off Sun's shops and properties around Changhe, leave our ancestral home, start over to build wealth, and return in glory one day to erase the past shame," Sun Zhiye said somberly.

Chuan Bai paled.

At this moment, he felt that the strategy of 'burning the bridges' wasn't so unthinkable after all.

"Eldest Young Master, please think again."

Sun Zhiye: "This is one of the only two options after careful consideration."

"Otherwise, the Sun family will only be dragged into a dire situation, unable to escape being torn apart and trampled."

Chuan Bai was about to argue further when Tian Dong's voice called from outside: "Eldest Young Master, Mr. Zhang is here."

Sun Zhiye waved his hand: "Chuan Bai, you can go now. I will think it over again."

Watching Chuan Bai's departing figure, Sun Zhiye's eyes showed disappointment. If Du Zhong were here, he wouldn't hesitate or falter.

Tian Dong and Chuan Bai are loyal, but they lack the wisdom and courage.

Sun Zhiye rolled up the ink painting that had dried, put it in a bamboo box, then lightly patted his face to compose himself before rising to personally greet Zhang Cheng.

"Brother Zhang."

Zhang Cheng, filled with remorse, bowed deeply to Sun Zhiye: "Brother Sun, I have wronged you."

Zhang Cheng was stunned upon hearing of Cheng Zhi's exploits.

The daughter of a private school master, a well-educated lady in the eyes of the common folk of Lianhua Town, was actually more shameless and wanton than a prostitute from Fuxiang Lou.

"I never expected Cheng Zhi to be so outrageous."

"You and Cheng Zhi?" Sun Zhiye helped Zhang Cheng up, speaking with restraint.

After all, Zhang Cheng had personally claimed to have taken Cheng Zhi's virginity.

Zhang Cheng's face showed even more guilt: "To be honest with Brother Sun, I followed your instructions to pretend to meet by chance, fall in love at first sight, and get to know each other."

"But during our interactions, I realized that Cheng Zhi's purity and grace were fake, and she was actually greedy and clingy."

"Worried that I would be entangled with her after having a relationship and find it hard to break free later, I arranged for a traveling merchant staying at my home to take my place when Cheng Zhi offered herself half-heartedly. There was indeed blood on the handkerchief, so I thought..."

Suddenly, Sun Zhiye felt like cursing.

"What about the merchant?"

Zhang Cheng hurriedly said: "After I tricked and intimidated him, the merchant thought he had committed a grave mistake, feared punishment, and fled Changhe."

"Moreover, he was already a wanderer with no fixed abode, and he probably will never set foot here again in his lifetime."

Sun Zhiye's high-strung heart relaxed slightly.

"Brother Cheng."

Sun Zhiye and Zhang Cheng sat next to each other, with Sun personally pouring a steaming cup of tea for Zhang.

The steam curled up in a misty haze.

Through the mist, Sun's face looked even more troubled and heavy.

Already guilty, Zhang felt even more ashamed seeing Sun's expression.

Brother Sun had once saved his life.

Over the years, he had repeatedly supported Zhang and his family.

He rarely asked Zhang for anything, yet Zhang had messed it up.

"Cheng'er," Sun used this more affectionate term instead of "Brother Zhang."

"In the future, we might not have the chance to share tea, watch the snow, or listen to the wind."

Sun's voice was soft, reminiscent of an endless rainy day, making one's heart feel heavy and stifled.

Zhang's emotions surged, and he abruptly looked up, "Brother Sun, are you rejecting me as your brother?"

He accidentally bumped into the table between the wooden chairs.

The table wobbled, spilling tea and leaving a wet stain.

Sun raised an eyebrow and quickly replied, "How could I!"

"Cheng'er, though we're not blood brothers, to me, you're even closer. It's just that the Sun family is truly at its wit's end."

"After decades of building the family business, it's now declining under my watch. How can I stay in Changhe? The world is vast; maybe there's a place for me elsewhere."

Zhang grew anxious hearing this, "Brother Sun, with your skills, any difficulty is just temporary. It won't be long before Sun's business thrives again."

"Though the Zhang family is just an ordinary wealthy household in Lianhua Town, we still have some resources."

"If Brother Sun needs funds, I'll raise them quickly."

"If Brother Sun needs help, I'll send my servants."

"There's no need to leave town."

Sun shook his head, "The Sun family's business reputation is tarnished, and the financial chain is on the verge of breaking. It's like being stuck in quicksand. At such a critical time, how can I involve the Zhang family in this risk?"

"It's not appropriate, not appropriate."

Zhang blurted out, "It's not a risk. I believe in Brother Sun's abilities. When the east wind comes, Brother Sun will surely rise to great heights. Consider it my early investment."

"How much money does Brother Sun need to revitalize the accounts?"

In Zhang's heart, Sun had been winning for many years.

This recent setback was just a stroke of bad luck.

Once the bad luck passes, Sun will be the Jade String Gentleman who was once at ease again.

"Are you really willing to invest?" Sun still looked hesitant.

Zhang Cheng nodded emphatically, "Working with Eldest Young Master Sun in business, there are rarely losses. My grandfather often says the same thing."

"Eldest Young Master Sun, how much do you need?" Zhang Cheng asked again.

Sun Zhiye raised his voice, "Chuanbai."

Chuanbai, guarding the study door, entered upon hearing his name.

"Eldest Young Master."

"Master Zhang."

Sun Zhiye said, "Chuanbai, you’ve been in charge of the accounts. Fill Brother Cheng in on the Sun family's financial status."

He then shifted the topic, "Brother Cheng, don’t make a hasty decision."

"Hear Chuanbai out, think it over, and don’t worry about me."

After saying that, Sun Zhiye stood up and left the study.

Outside the study, under the eaves.

Sun Zhiye leisurely admired the withered branches and green bricks in the courtyard, not particularly paying attention to the situation in the study.

Chuanbai wasn’t the most talented or brave, but after all, he had been working for him for many years, and there was still a basic understanding between them.

Sun Zhiye walked further away, and Tiandong followed with his head bowed.

"Any updates from the county office?" Sun Zhiye lowered his voice, clearly tinged with a faint sense of pleasure.

"Constable Shi brought back a long-time pilgrim from Foning Temple. The pilgrim claimed to have seen Miss Cheng behaving intimately with a man in the peach grove at the back mountain."

"Upon checking, it wasn’t Lu Lei he saw."

"A lay disciple of Qingwang Temple often paints there. His sketchbook shows a man placing a flower in Miss Cheng's hair, her shy smile captured."

"The man in the painting is not the same person seen by the pilgrim from Foning Temple."

"This evidence backs the lawsuit by Chaofu Grain Shop's owner."

"However, the Cheng family's former servant denies buying abortion medicine that year."

"Despite the servant's defense, Miss Cheng's reputation is tarnished. This move is useless and won’t work."

"The crowd outside the county office is hurling insults at Miss Cheng, calling her a filthy, worthless woman who can’t live without a man. Hardly anyone thinks Lu Dalang tricked Miss Cheng."

"The crowd turned on Master Cheng too, but he fainted after spitting blood, escaping further abuse."

"And Lu Mingchao?" Sun Zhiye steadied his racing heart and asked, pretending to be impartial.

"The beauty of a woman is unmatched."