Chapter 165

Chapter 165

The next day, Wang Ying decided not to open the shop, opting to wait until the commotion had subsided.

Chen Qingyan had originally scheduled to continue his lectures with the academy dean, but after yesterday’s events, he chose to stay home and keep Wang Ying company.

Wang Ying said, “You should attend to your duties; there’s no need to stay with me.”

“I’m worried.”

“What’s there to worry about? At worst, we’ll just earn a little less money.”

Chen Qingyan hesitated for a moment, then said, “Then I’ll go to the prefectural academy, pull some strings, and see if we can resolve this matter.”

“No, don’t. Focus on your studies; leave other matters to me.”

As they spoke, Lin Sui arrived, bringing back the money from yesterday’s vegetable sales.

The vegetables brought back yesterday were barely displayed before customers arrived. They sold out completely in just two hours—not a single chive was left—earning a total of thirteen strings of cash.

Hearing this, Wang Ying felt even more disheartened. Just a few days ago, to ensure the shop opened on time, he had even used accelerated growth on the crops for several hours.

But now they couldn’t sell. Although other vegetables could be temporarily stored in the experimental field, it was unclear when they could reopen. This felt like a blind man lighting a lamp—a total waste of effort.

Seeing his sister-in-law distressed about the shop, Lin Sui couldn’t help but say, “Should I go ask the Marquis for help again?”

“Don’t. You two aren’t married yet. Constantly troubling him might annoy the Marquis.”

“Then what should we do?”

Wang Ying was also troubled. “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Little Fang, the gatekeeper, rushed over. “Sir, a few people suddenly showed up outside, saying they want to apologize to you!”

“Apologize for what?”

The three of them stood up and went to the main gate, where they saw several people carrying a man on a stretcher outside.

Wang Ying had never met Xue Wang and asked, puzzled, “May I ask who you are?”

Xue Wang clutched his chest and said, “This humble one is surnamed Xue, the chief rider of the patrol guard. I’ve come today… specifically to offer my apologies.”

Before coming, Vice Prefect Zhao had instructed him to maintain a low profile. If he dared to act arrogantly as before, he shouldn’t blame him for disowning this brother-in-law.

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingyan’s expression immediately changed. He stepped in front of Wang Ying and said, “You beat our servant so badly, and you still dare to come here?!”

Xue Wang quickly replied, “This foolish one was blinded by greed and now realizes his mistake. Please be magnanimous and forgive me.”

Lin Sui snorted coldly, disbelieving his words.

Wang Ying also watched him warily. Logically, given his status, there was no need for him to humble himself like this. What was this man truly after?

Seeing that none of them seemed willing to forgive him, Xue Wang broke out in a nervous sweat and could only continue pleading, “This humble one is willing to offer two hundred strings of cash as compensation. Please, Scholar Chen and Sir Wang, forgive me!”

Wang Ying noticed how pale he looked; his injuries didn’t seem feigned. Could it be that he was beaten by the Marquis yesterday? Did the Marquis say something to him that scared him into coming to apologize? Otherwise, it made no sense.

Believing that it’s better to resolve enmities than to create them, Wang Ying didn’t want to escalate the situation. “Since you’ve come sincerely to apologize, let’s consider the matter closed. However, you must not detain our carts and horses again in the future.”

“Don’t worry, Sir, it will never happen again!”

“Since you’re injured, go back and rest. Let’s consider the matter settled.”

Xue Wang grinned, but the movement tugged at the wound in his chest, making him grimace in pain. “Quick, leave the money for Sir. Let’s go back.”

Two servants carried a load of cash and placed it at the entrance. Wang Ying said, “Forget about the money. Each of us can tend to our own injuries.”

“It’s just a small token of apology. Please accept it, Sir.” The money meant little to him. Over the years, Vice Prefect Zhao had amassed considerable wealth, and his sister had secretly funneled quite a bit to support her family, so Xue Wang never lacked money.

After they left, Chen Qingyan asked, “A Ying, are we really just going to forgive him like that?”

“What else can we do? We still have to do business in the prefecture. If we truly fall out with him, I’m afraid Vice Prefect Zhao will make things difficult for us in the future.”

Lin Sui nodded in agreement. “True. Once I marry into the Marquis’s household, it’ll be better. I’ll back you up then!”

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan were amused by her. “Alright, we’ll rely on you then~”

“You don’t have to wait until marriage to back them up.” Coincidentally, just as Xue Wang left, Li Mu arrived on horseback with Qing Er and happened to overhear Lin Sui’s words.

This embarrassed Lin Sui immensely. Her face flushed as if on fire, and she wished she could find a hole to hide in.

Seeing her shyness, Li Mu didn’t tease her further. He dismounted with his daughter in his arms and asked, “Was that Xue Wang who just left?”

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan stepped forward to bow and pointed to the load of cash at the entrance. “He also sent two hundred strings as compensation.”

Li Mu snorted coldly. “He’s quite generous. Since the money is offered freely, you should take it. Otherwise, they’ll just squander ill-gotten gains.”

Reassured by the Marquis’s words, Wang Ying quickly called Little Fang and Tian Ju to carry the money into the courtyard.

As soon as Qing Er dismounted, she ran to Lin Sui, tugging at her own clothes and pointing at Li Mu.

Lin Sui understood—the Marquis must have told her that she had made new clothes for her.

“The new clothes are in my room. Come with me later to try them on.”

Chen Qingyan invited the Marquis inside for tea.

Li Mu waved his hand. “There’s still some business to attend to at the military camp, so I won’t stay for tea. I’ll leave Qing Er here and come back to pick her up tonight.”

Qing Er jumped for joy—she loved spending time with Lin Sui the most!

After seeing off Marquis Wuping, the group returned to the courtyard in high spirits. Lin Sui took Qing Er to the backyard to try on the clothes, Wang Ying put away the money Xue Wang had just delivered, and Chen Qingyan could finally go to the prefectural school to lecture with peace of mind.

Er Shun’s injuries couldn’t go uncompensated. Wang Ying decided to give him thirty strings of cash as compensation.

As for the remaining silver, Wang Ying planned to use it to prepare a dowry for Lin Sui. After all, Marquis Wuping had been instrumental in resolving the matter from start to finish. Without him, not only would Er Shun have been lost, but his shop would also have been unable to continue operating. Giving the money to Lin Sui was indirectly giving it to Marquis Wuping.

He hadn’t expected the matter to be resolved so quickly. With the weight off his mind, he felt much more at ease.

Meanwhile, Lin Sui took Qing Er to the bedroom, where Chen Rong happened to be. The two had met once before at a restaurant.

Chen Rong teased her playfully, “Whose child is this? How did she grow up so pretty!”

Qing Er, embarrassed by the praise, hid behind Lin Sui, peeking out with just her head to sneak a glance at Chen Rong.

Lin Sui said, “This is my mother. Go on, don’t be shy.”

Little Qing Er stepped forward and bowed slightly. Chen Rong liked her more and more the longer she looked. She reached out and pulled the child into her arms, saying, “What a sweet child. I’ll call Little Mai and Yuanbao over to play with you later.”

Lin Sui found the clothes she had made and helped Little Qing Er try them on. The sleeves were a bit long, but they could be easily altered.

Before long, Lin Qiu arrived carrying Second Baby and leading Wheat, while Yuanbao ran over on his own after hearing the news.

This was Qing Er’s first time playing with so many children. At first, she was a bit reserved, but as she grew more familiar with them, she relaxed and started running around the room with the two boys until she was working up a sweat.

Chen Rong looked at her son and said, "Apart from not being able to speak, this child is just like any other. Since she’s so fond of you, you must take good care of her."

Lin Sui glanced up at the happily playing children and smiled warmly. "I understand."

*

The vegetable shop reopened, and this time, with Marquis Wuping backing them, no one dared to block their delivery carts anymore.

Business this year was even better than the last. In addition to regular customers, many new ones came, likely because Chen Qingyan’s passing the provincial exam had elevated the family’s status. Everyone was especially courteous, and even those customers who used to take advantage now behaved properly and never took extra vegetables.

Wang Ying noticed that not only were the customers more polite, but even the neighbors had changed their attitudes.

When the shop first opened last year, the owners of the neighboring stores had often been dismissive, speaking to him with an air of condescension.

Since the shop reopened this year, their attitudes had shifted completely—they now used respectful language when speaking to him. Such is the way of the world: people tend to flatter the successful and look down on the struggling.

But Wang Ying paid it no mind. Making money was what truly mattered. With over ten strings of coins coming in daily, they had earned more than 350 strings of coins in just one month. Business like this could continue until February of the following year!

Once they had saved enough, Wang Ying exchanged the cash for silver and stored it in the experimental field, setting it aside for Qing Yan’s expenses when he went to the capital for the exams.

In the blink of an eye, the year was drawing to a close, and it was time to prepare New Year’s gifts for relatives in various places.

This year, with more money to spare, they prepared more generous gifts. For Tianyang County, they prepared five bolts of assorted fabrics, two bolts of silk, two baskets of dried fruits and seafood, fifty catties of wild boar meat, thirty catties of venison, and a jar of grape wine that Wang Ying had brewed himself.

Similar gifts were prepared for Shanzhou. Wang Ying also specially made some soy-braised meat and pickled garlic, both favorites of Old Liang, though he wasn’t sure if Old Liang was still in Shanzhou.

Given the cold weather, the gifts would remain fresh during the journey.

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the New Year’s gifts from Tianyang County arrived, along with a letter from Eldest Uncle Li Shen. The letter mainly expressed gratitude for the care given to his two nephews during this time, though it also mentioned that Bingchen had unfortunately not passed the exams.

As Bingchen was already older, it was unlikely he would continue pursuing the imperial examinations. Eldest Uncle Li had used his connections to secure him a clerical position as a registrar.

The letter also read: "In the year of Jiachen, as our father celebrates his 66th birthday, we have prepared a lavish banquet and invited all our relatives. Uncles, brothers, and kin have gathered, filling the hall with joy. Only my younger sister, far away, could not attend. Whenever I think of this, I am filled with regret. Gazing north upon the wind, I wish you good health and await our reunion."

After reading the letter, Li Shi couldn’t help but shed tears. Wang Ying comforted her, saying, "After Qing Yan finishes the Metropolitan Examination next year, we’ll return to our hometown and visit all our relatives."

"Can we really go back?"

"Of course. We must return to show off this glorious achievement and let everyone know!"

Li Shi smiled through her tears. "Good!"

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, accompanied by heavy snow, the New Year’s gifts from Shanzhou also arrived.

Along with the gifts came two letters—one from Old Liang and the other from Qing Huai.

Old Liang’s letter mainly expressed his pride in Chen Qingyan for placing third in the provincial exams, bringing honor to the family. He encouraged Qing Song to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps and aim for success in the exams three years later.

The letter also inquired about Yuanbao. Since he couldn’t celebrate Yuanbao’s birthday next year, Old Liang had asked a friend to paint a picture titled "Toddlers Playing with a Kitten" and added a poem beside it: "Pure snow greets the new year, orchid sprouts bloom in the spring courtyard. With ritual wine and reddened lips, generations cherish the hall's warmth. Henceforth, may misfortune avoid us, and our scholarly lineage be treasured."

Wang Ying showed the painting to Yuanbao, who was instantly taken with it and insisted on hanging it next to his bed in the bedroom.

Qing Huai’s letter was much longer. In the beginning, he described the local customs of Shanzhou. It was his first time there since his father had been demoted and assigned to Shanzhou, and the father and son had not seen each other for over three years.

When they met, Chen Jing held his son’s hand and said, "When you left, you were only as tall as my nose. Now, you’ve surpassed your father in height."

His younger sister’s cough had healed, thanks to a prescription Chen Guang brought from Laizhou, which worked wonders.

His sister still recognized him, but his younger brother did not. It took Qing Huai several days with them to warm up to each other. Such is the bond of blood—no matter how much time passes, family ties can never be broken.

The letter also mentioned that he would leave for the capital after the New Year. The Metropolitan Examination was in March, and he feared delays if he left too late. He promised to meet them again once he arrived in the capital.