Chapter 145: Good News Has Arrived

Chapter 145: Good News Has Arrived

Lu Mingchao glanced at Xie Yan with shimmering eyes, "A Yan wants to give me a boost to help me rise to the top. I really appreciate this gesture."

"Don’t push too hard for it. If it happens, great; if not, no big deal."

"In the world, among thousands of people and countless matters, whether it’s resentment or hatred, what’s most feared is when time keeps sharpening it instead of letting it fade."

This is the cinnabar mole, the unattainable ideal.

"The pain of losing a child or power, these are the grievances of Old Master Sun and Madam Sun. Once resentment takes root, it grows fast."

"Any rumor or hint of trouble fuels its growth."

"Even if an irresistible disaster is encountered, turning life into a lifeless stump, it will still cling to the person it resents with whatever’s left, dragging them deeper into the mire, until finally completely strangling them within."

"The second young master of the Sun family’s hidden gem is the best nourishment, but it does not mean that other nourishment is useless."

Lu Mingchao worried Xie Yan might take this too seriously, so she gave him some extra advice.

Xie Yan nodded, "Don’t worry, Mingchao, I’ve got this."

His Mingchao, she stands tall and unyielding, like a pine or bamboo in a storm.

Sun Zhiye is just a small hurdle for Mingchao to overcome, an insignificant storm to endure.

The cases of Lu Lei’s deceit and the Cheng family’s false accusations were merged, and the case has reached a stalemate. Everyone’s waiting for a breakthrough.

Xie Yan left home alone on horseback, digging into the second young master of the Sun family’s past romances.

Lu Mingchao temporarily resided in the small courtyard behind the Chaofu Grain Shop, no longer commuting daily between Changhe County and Changxi Village.

Yunniang, worried, had Lu Yao stay with her.

Lu Mingchao flipped through the ledger with one hand while working the abacus with the other.

Under the south window, the candle on the stand crackled now and then, the wick flared up, and the candlelight suddenly brightened, only to return to its original dimness shortly after, the wax dripped down, leaving a trail.

"Chaochao."

The door creaked softly, and Lu Yao’s calm voice called out.

Lu Mingchao gently put down the ledger in her hand, rubbed her tired brow, then drank the slightly cool tea on the table in one gulp before slowly standing up.

She needed to tally the accounts to take over more of Sun Zhiye’s shops.

"Second Brother."

Lu Yao’s gaze swept over the thick ledger on the desk, his face filled with concern, "Take a break if you’re tired; don’t overdo it."

Lu Mingchao closed her eyes slightly, and when she opened them again, the fatigue was gone, her eyes bright, "Second Brother, the candle in your room was also lit all night last night."

It is said that Lu Yao is a once-in-a-century prodigy in Changhe, but she knows that Lu Yao has never been arrogant or frivolous because of his talent.

Day after day of perseverance, night after night of hard study, is what keeps the name of a genius from falling.

Lu Yao smiled helplessly, "The daughter-in-law of Old Lady Yang is waiting outside, wanting to see you. Shall we meet her?"

Lu Mingchao’s eyes lit up, "We must meet her."

She had been staying at Chaofu Grain Shop these past few days, waiting for good news.

Outside the Chuihua Gate, a middle-aged woman brushed off her wrinkled coat, "Madam."

Her eyes involuntarily wandered over the faces of Lu Mingchao and Lu Yao.

The siblings' features were strikingly beautiful, pale and delicate, like characters from a painting, especially the young man in a green robe and white cloak, who looked like a deity from a temple painting.

Lu Yao, who had been falsely accused by the Cheng family father and daughter and imprisoned, must also have had a handsome appearance.

Cheng Zhi didn't realize how lucky she was; if she had married Lu Yao before winter, she would have been living a good life long ago.

Seeing such a face every day would surely lift one's spirits.

"Please, no need for such formalities. If you don't mind, you can call me Madam Xie or Mr. Lu."

The middle-aged woman smiled, quickly making her choice, "Mr. Lu."

"Please," Lu Mingchao slightly turned to welcome the middle-aged woman into the room, "Madam, it's bitterly cold, why did you think of coming over at night?"

The middle-aged woman didn't hide it, laughing heartily, "My mother-in-law keeps a tight leash on me, I only managed to come out under the pretext of visiting my parents."

"Mr. Lu," the middle-aged woman hesitated, "If my mother-in-law lies in court, could it implicate the whole family?"

"I heard from the storyteller in town that there's something called family punishment, where one person's lawsuit can bring disaster to the whole family."

Lu Mingchao poured a cup of hot tea for the middle-aged woman, smiling, "Madam, it's true that the laws of Daqian still enforce family punishment."

The middle-aged woman's face turned pale, fidgeting, her lips trembling as she thought about leaving.

"Madam, don't worry," Lu Mingchao gently patted the middle-aged woman's hand, her voice calm and reassuring, "The laws of Daqian mainly apply family punishment to the 'Ten Major Crimes' such as rebellion, treason, and major disrespect. Ordinary matters won't incur family punishment, so you have nothing to worry about."

The middle-aged woman slightly relaxed, her pounding heart gradually calming down, "Really?"

Lu Mingchao smiled, "Really, I wouldn't lie to you."

"That's good, that's good," the middle-aged woman picked up the teacup, blew on it, and took a sip.

The hot tea warmed her, making her feel alive again.

She pursed her lips, searched through her clothes, and pulled out a crumpled, yellowed paper, "Mr. Lu, this is a prescription I found in my mother-in-law's room. Do you think it could be useful?"

Lu Mingchao took the prescription, glancing over it, "Juren Clinic?"

The middle-aged woman quickly explained, "Juren Clinic is a small clinic north of Lianhua Town, without any staff or assistants. Dr. Chang handles everything from diagnosis to dispensing medicine."

Lu Mingchao frowned, "It's unclear if it's useful, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing it to me."

This wasn't a prescription for abortion medicine, but rather for post-miscarriage body recovery.

But it could still be useful.

Thinking of this, Lu Mingchao took out two taels of silver and handed it to the middle-aged woman.

This time, the middle-aged woman waved her hands repeatedly, refusing to take it.

If she could use this opportunity to get rid of her mother-in-law, she would owe Mr. Lu a favor.

Taking the silver would be too much to bear, both practically and morally.

"Mr. Lu, I can’t accept the silver. I have a request to make," the middle-aged woman said, her head lowered, nervously twisting the corner of her clothes.

Lu Mingchao gave a slight blink, already grasping the situation. "Madam, feel free to say what’s on your mind."

"I implore you, Mr. Lu, no matter what you discover, to keep my name out of it," the woman said quickly.

Lu Mingchao took the woman’s hand and pressed the silver into her palm. "Madam, rest assured. I understand your concerns and would never be the kind of person who repays kindness with betrayal."

"Once Madam steps out of this door today, it will be as if we never met."

"Please, you must accept this silver. You came here in the middle of the night, and if I didn’t show any gratitude, it would appear I’m being inconsiderate."

"Chen Si enters the game."