Chapter 244: Hidden Worries

Chapter 244: Thoughts

"What government office? What slander? We didn't!"

"We were just chatting. What kind of place is your courier station? Can't people even chat a little?"

"This is utterly outrageous!"

The two maids of the Xu family started to quibble at first, but seeing Meng Wan completely ignored them and went in to discuss matters without looking back, and Xue Sheng was firm, they began to throw a tantrum.

"Let us go!"

"How dare you arrest us? Even if we said something, so what? Since when do a few insults lead to a lawsuit?"

"Young master, save us!"

Xu Wenjun watched coldly as they were taken away by Xue Sheng, a mocking smile curving at the corner of his mouth. Those women placed these two fools beside him, afraid he might achieve something—didn't they think it would backfire?

After the midday meeting at the courier station, all the managers filed out, and only then did Meng Wan's clear voice ring from inside: "Mr. Xu, sorry to keep you waiting. Please come in."

Yu Yandong stood at the door and reluctantly came to greet him: "Mr. Xu, this way, please."

Xu Wenjun smiled politely, earning a glare from Yu Yandong. After Xu entered, Yu Yandong hesitated, then followed him in.

Meng Wan didn't bother with him, allowing him, despite being a wealthy young master, to sneak peeks like a thief.

Xu Wenjun was used to scheming against others; that was how he survived the large Xu family. But meeting the Prefect's Lord for the second time in a short period, he suddenly realized that his clumsy schemes seemed like child's play in the other's eyes.

Meng Wan rested his cheek on his hand, leaning on the side table: "Purposely indulging your servants like this, Mr. Xu, aren't you going a bit too far by using me to deal with your two maids?"

His tone was relaxed, without the aloofness, restraint, and rigid etiquette of aristocratic families, nor did he put on the lofty airs of ordinary official spouses, with eyes full of contempt for merchants.

This Prefect's Lord was composed and confident. Xu Wenjun sat two seats away from him, in a lower position, and with a somewhat uneasy heart discovered another thing: Meng Wan was a rare beauty.

Xu Wenjun suddenly calmed down; so he probably hadn't guessed wrong—this might be a handsome young man, with a bit more ability than ordinary official spouses confined to the back courtyard.

He put on a restrained expression: "Please forgive me, Master Meng. These two maids were given by my mother…"

"Mr. Xu." Meng Wan interrupted him. "Stop putting on an act in front of me. I don't have time to play these childish tricks with you. You should have inquired that the owner of Zhen Guan Workshop is the West Wu Prefect's spouse. You know my identity. The contract you signed is irrevocable. I just want to know if you can pay the remaining balance."

Xu Wenjun was caught off guard by his words, and even his expression seemed exaggerated. Being bested again and again by Meng Wan in a short time, he could no longer maintain his calm scheming facade, and could only say with difficulty: "Our Xu family is the most prestigious merchant family in Huizhou. Ten thousand jars of preserves is nothing to us; naturally we can handle it."

Yu Yandong sneered at the door: "Who does he think he's fooling? Isn't every family the richest in their own area?"

Meng Wan picked up the teacup, in which the tea had already cooled. This was Liubao tea he had brought from home—deep red in color, mellow and smooth in taste, refreshing and sweet, with a special smoky flavor, his favorite tea in recent years.

"Zhen Guan Workshop offers the same price to customers from anywhere. Our local merchants buy goods at ten taels per jar of lychee fruit preserves. This year, Mr. Xu has ordered ten thousand jars of fruit preserves, which cost one hundred thousand taels of silver. The Xu family can certainly afford it, but…"

Meng Wan took a sip of tea before continuing under Xu Wenjun's feigned calm gaze: "After coming of age, the Xu family, aside from a monthly allowance and one shop, does not seem to offer much support. Also, although the shop you run has decent business, due to its small scale, your annual profit probably doesn't exceed ten thousand taels per year, right?"

Xu Wenjun's hands hanging at his sides trembled uncontrollably. In fact, Meng Wan had overestimated his profit.

Although his shop was doing relatively well among his brothers, it was just a small storefront. Compared to a large workshop like Meng Wan's, with daily turnover reaching millions of taels, it was like a dwarf next to a giant.

His annual profit was even less than a thousand taels. Over the years, he had only saved five thousand taels, which he had recently handed over to Manager Tang as a deposit.

Without waiting for Xu Wenjun's answer, Meng Wan could tell from his expression: "I guess you've put all your money into the deposit, hoping to use this batch of fruit preserves to recoup your investment and make a big profit. I can give you all these goods first, allowing you to sell the goods and collect payments and then pay the remaining balance."

Meng Wan himself had many schemes, but he disliked dealing with people who were constantly scheming and calculating. However, Xu Wenjun had helped him open a breakthrough in the Huizhou area, so he didn't mind giving him some help and benefits. But…

"My favor is not so easily used. Using my status as an official's spouse to pressure your stepmother—if my husband finds out about this, I guarantee you won't leave West Wu Prefecture alive. Understand?"

"I… I understand. I overstepped my bounds. Thank you for your magnanimity, Lord." Xu Wenjun's forehead glistened with cold sweat, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Although he had achieved all his goals—the two maids were detained in West Wu Prefecture; unless the Xu family was out of their minds, they would never offend the Prefect over two maids. Even though the Prefect's Lord had seen through his lack of capital, Lord Meng was willing to let him take the goods first and pay later.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but the hidden turmoil under the calm left him exhausted. Even in front of his father, he had never been seen through so thoroughly. Lord Meng was indeed beautiful, but his methods were as top-notch as his looks.

Xu Wenjun stood up and bowed respectfully to Meng Wan. Amid his mixed feelings, he couldn't help asking: "Aren't you afraid that I'll take the goods and never return to West Wu Prefecture?"

Meng Wan chuckled: "Do you think I have no way to deal with you if you don't return to West Wu? Did you think my courier station in Huizhou was just for show?"

He drained the tea from his cup, picked up his account book, and stood up from his chair: "Mr. Xu, my manager at Zhen Guan Workshop did business with you in good faith, but he was plotted against and insulted for no reason. I hope you will apologize to him before you leave."

Xu Wenjun's heart raced. In just these few words, during the short time Meng Wan drank a cup of tea, he had been manipulated into being unable to say a single "no". Following Meng Wan anxiously, Xu Wenjun said with an unprecedented obsequious attitude: "Forgive me, Lord Meng. I was wrong in this matter. I will go and apologize to Manager Tang immediately."

Xue Sheng had already returned from the yamen and was waiting for Meng Wan in the courtyard: "Lord, the magistrate has taken them into custody."

"Mm, let's go." The account book in Meng Wan's hand was thicker than when he came, and Xue Sheng placed it into the carriage.

Yu Yandong watched Meng Wan's carriage leave, then turned and punched the unprepared Xu Wenjun.

"Have you gone mad?" Xu Wenjun was already on edge, and being punched for no reason made his anger flare up. The two started brawling and were forcibly separated by the station staff.

Yu Yandong's expression was extremely ugly, breathing heavily: "What did the master mean by that earlier? You insulted our Shuang!"

At the mention of Tang Jinshuang, Xu Wenjun frowned, exacerbating the pain on his face. He had used countless people; if not for Meng Wan's status and methods, he would never have cared about a mere manager.

"My maid gossiped about Manager Tang behind his back. I am about to go and apologize to him, but it seems that has nothing to do with Manager Yu, does it?"

Yu Yandong had seen plenty of his father's deceptive smiles in business dealings. He had felt from the start that this Xu was no good. Convinced it was not as simple as he said, Yu Yandong sneered: "Apologize? Fine. Then go now."

Xu Wenjun gave him a deep look, then turned and left the courier station.

The next afternoon, Tang Jinshuang came to find Yu Yandong. Yu Yandong was flattered: "Shuang, are you here for me?"

Tang Jinshuang called him aside to speak, his expression very neutral: "Second Young Master Yu, don't come looking for me at Zhen Guan Workshop anymore."

The smile that had just appeared on Yu Yandong's face vanished instantly: "Did that bastard Xu Wenjun say something to you?"

Tang Jinshuang looked at the bruises on his face, his heart aching bitterly, but his face remained cold: "It has nothing to do with anyone else. Do you know what I was before Lord Meng saved me, Second Young Master Yu?"

Yu Yandong asked blankly: "What… kind of person?"

Tang Jinshuang closed his eyes and said word by word: "I am the son of a disgraced official, and was later sold as… an unlicensed prostitute."

He closed his eyes, afraid to see Yu Yandong's expression, and even more afraid to hear any harsh words.

But he couldn't escape. Yu Yandong was a good man; he didn't deserve him, and he shouldn't hold him back from a better future.

Slowly opening his eyes, Yu Yandong's gaze indeed changed from confusion to disbelief. Tang Jinshuang suddenly broke down emotionally beyond control. With his last shred of reason, he ran back from the courier station to Zhen Guan Workshop and locked himself in his room.

The broken heart he had painstakingly pieced together was torn apart again. Tang Jinshuang was just an ordinary person; he couldn't bear such a devastating blow, so naturally he fell sick.

He was sick for one night.

Then early the next morning, Huang Ye pulled him out from under the covers: "Shuang, the Yu family has proposed marriage to the Lord. The Lord wants you to decide your own marriage. Decide now whether you want to accept or not."

Tang Jinshuang, who had slept in bed for a whole day and night: "…"

"What marriage are you talking about?"

Huang Ye's eyes widened. "What's wrong with your eyes? Why do you look so haggard? What happened?"

Jinshuang's eyes were red and swollen, her long hair a complete mess, and her head throbbed. She was in no fit state to visit anyone.

Huang Ye couldn't bring her back to the Song residence; instead, he whispered a few words in Meng Wan's ear.

Meng Wan almost choked on his tea. After a moment's deliberation, he said to the Yu father and son, "Shuang Geer is ill today and has asked for three days off. I'm afraid she can't see visitors. Let's postpone discussing the marriage."

"She was fine yesterday! How is she ill today?" Yu Yandong jumped up anxiously from his chair.

Yu Pin shot his son a glare, then said to Meng Wan with a smile, "Yandong was rash, but his sincerity toward Manager Tang is clear to Meng *Fulang*. It's only worry that made him act this way. I hope the old lady and Meng *Fulang* won't hold it against him. Since Shuang Geer is ill, we'll visit another day."

"You're too kind. I think both children are fine. Shuang Geer has known hardship, and Xiao Yu knows how to care for someone." Chang Jinhua, who was also home today, would have preferred to keep Jinshuang for Xue Sheng if she had her way, but seeing no spark between them, she had to let it go.

Jinshuang stayed cooped up in Zhen Guan Workshop for three days. Afterward, she met Yu Yandong in private. No one knew what they discussed, but in the end, she relented.

The Yu family moved quickly. For the second son's marriage, three matchmakers and six betrothal rites were all arranged. The process would proceed slowly, with the wedding set for the earliest next summer.

Yu Yandong was the second son, ten years younger than his eldest brother. He showed no interest in taking over the family business, but under Meng Wan's guidance, he ran the post station with great success.

His father, Yu Pin, was sharp and shrewd. The eldest son would inherit the family business, while the second son had established connections with the government. Manager Tang might have a humble background, but her brother-in-law was a proper *juren* and a county official. She herself was capable and valued by Meng Wan. The eldest daughter-in-law was already a top-notch matriarch, and the younger one could earn money. Many of Yu Pin's contemporaries still called her "Manager Tang" out of respect—what more could he ask for?

"Jinshuang's marriage came about so smoothly. I thought it would take years," Meng Wan remarked.

Still, that young wolf—with his persistent pestering, Jinshuang never said it, but she must have softened ages ago.

Song Tingzhou replied in the intervals between writing, "True lovers finally get together. Not bad."

Meng Wan moved his chair next to Song Tingzhou and sat beside him, watching him write. "How is the county school doing? Are any of the teachers competent?"

At the mention of the county school, Song Tingzhou frowned. "None. I thought the prefectural school was bad enough, but at least Professor Shan had a proper degree. The county school only has two *tongsheng* as teachers, which is not much."

"Ah!" Meng Wan was equally astonished. "So the village private schools must be even worse?"

Song Tingzhou sighed. "There are few private schools in the towns."

Back then, their town's private school had an old *xiucai* as the teacher. How could West Wu Prefecture be so lacking?

Meng Wan patted his shoulder. "Every beginning is hard. Let's see who finishes building their academy first."

Song Tingzhou reached out and pulled Meng Wan closer, teasing him, "Won't *Fulang* wait for me?"

Meng Wan smiled confidently. "My strength is right here. I'm already halfway done building in Hexian County."

The academy he was building wasn't a men's academy for studying the classics, but a "Songyun College" for women and *xiaoge*.

Meng Wan planned to build six in total: one in each of the four counties, one in the prefectural city, and one for the Zhuang people due to their large population. The Yao people could attend the academy in Heiye County, and the Miao people directly attend the prefectural school.

The college was divided into two categories: Wisdom and Talent, simple and direct. After all, they couldn't send women and *xiaoge* into officialdom—that was too far off, like slowly boiling a frog in warm water, to change the mindset of the people of Yu slowly over time.

What Meng Wan could do now was equip the women and *xiaoge* of West Wu with survival skills and raise their social status.

The Wisdom Class was the beginner class, mainly to find someone to teach everyone literacy. They didn't need to learn too much, but they had to master the basics—no fewer than two thousand characters, or they couldn't graduate.

The Talent Class had more variety. Meng Wan had initially set several types: Talent Class 1: arithmetic, Talent Class 2: embroidery, Talent Class 3: weaving, Talent Class 4: cooking, and Talent Class 5: pharmacology. He could add more later if he thought of anything else.