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Chapter 97
These things were simple to say but took a long time to scheme and maneuver.
Not to mention anything else, just selecting the right person caused the six siblings to argue endlessly.
Xu Mo thought they should hire someone, and after the deal was done they'd have no further ties and wouldn't harm their own.
Fang Heng thought it improper; someone who could be bought with silver could also be bought away with silver. He wanted to select a clever servant from among the household help.
Because of his outstanding performance last time, Jiang San had garnered the young masters' favor.
But after all he was just a child from a poor family, only able to practice martial arts and with some cleverness. If he really had to hobnob with noble lords, he showed his timidity.
After deliberating again and again, it turned out only Zheng Ruqian had the thickest skin and the most glib tongue.
Dealing with Pang Magistrate for years erased his fear of high officials and nobility. Plus his relationship with the owner of You Ran House allowed him to come and go there freely and familiarly.
He was the right man for the job, but who was willing to let silly second brother take such a risk?
Jiang Sheng was the first to jump up. "No, second brother still has to do business in the city. What if the Sun and Wang families suppress him? What then?"
Xu Mo also frowned. "To risk oneself like this is unacceptable."
Fang Heng was even more direct. "It'd be better if I went. At least I can fight back."
Then he received the unanimous disdain of the whole family.
The Wangs' target was Fang Heng. If someone recognized him and killed him on the spot...
It was still better not to stir up such trouble.
Wen Zhiyun, who spoke gently even to his own people, definitely wouldn't work.
Chang Yan was too young. Calling Wang Mingyu "brother" would make the other look down to find him.
After eliminating all the unsuitable choices, only the one suitable one remained.
Zheng Ruqian spoke broadly, "Leave this kind of thing to me. I'll take care of it. Incidentally, the owner of You Ran House asked me for a month's worth of dry green beans. I was planning to give it to him all at once."
Truth be told, second brother Zheng's heart had grown crooked too.
Initially when he brought two cartloads of dry green beans to You Ran House in the city, the owner flat out rejected him, greatly injuring his heart.
As a result, he went so far as to take Zhang Xianglian and Liu Cui to Anyang County over the Lunar New Year to learn the true art of stewing red braised pork. On New Year's Day he delivered it to the owner of You Ran House, who ate it voraciously, loudly exclaiming it was delicious.
After the owner of You Ran House finished it, even licking up the soup with buns, when he went to buy beans from Zheng Ruqian, he pushed away the offer.
No need to ask why. He harbored a grudge, and used it as an opportunity to raise the price.
But Zheng Ruqian didn't completely dismiss the owner's face. He pulled two handfuls of beans from the donkey carts and ceremoniously gave them to the owner, only saying, "Sir, eat as much as you want. We have plenty here."
As for wanting more from You Ran House, that would have to wait.
This wait lasted until after Lantern Festival, until the owner of You Ran House was anxiously waiting, until this perfectly opportune time.
But everyone fell silent.
Xu Mo felt the most guilty. As the eldest brother he couldn't protect his younger brother, but instead sent his younger brother into danger in his place.
Fang Heng regretted it. He blamed himself for bringing all this storm and stress. If not for him, there wouldn't be so much trouble.
Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan clenched their fists, angry at themselves for being too young to help.
Jiang Sheng dazedly looked at Zheng Ruqian for a long time before asking, "Second brother, aren't you afraid?"
Acting, facing the two great families, possibly questioned and hunted afterwards.
That timid little young master who wailed when abandoned by his mother, how did he become so strong?
Zheng Ruqian was startled for a moment.
After a long pause, he bent down and stroked Jiang Sheng's head, saying gently, "Jiang Sheng, weren't you afraid wandering all those years?
The hardships we've endured aren't one tenth of yours.
If even a little girl isn't afraid, what do they, fully grown men, have to fear?"
They had fought bailiffs and magistrates. They weren't the weak, tender beggars they first were.
"Leave it to me."
Leaving these words, Zheng Ruqian strode out the door.
Though still a child, his figure was already straight and broad.
"Second brother." Wen Zhiyun chased after him and put the medicinal powder he and Doctor Wu tried into his hands. "This can disrupt people's moods and make them irritable and angry. You may find it useful."
Finally the little fourth brother could contribute something to the family too.
Zheng Ruqian stroked his little head, turned, took Jiang San and Jiang Si, caught up to the two donkey carts, and went straight to You Ran House.
Everything happened smoothly.
Wang Mingyu's idiocy exceeded expectations. Indulged by the family all these years, he was not only hot-tempered but unscrupulous. With a son like this, even if he inherited the Wang family he would only lead them to decline.
But he could still swagger into You Ran House fearlessly, drinking the tea Zheng Ruqian handed him. Then when his provoked temperament acted up, he directly bullied the Sun family members.
The Suns and Wangs inevitably came into conflict.
Eldest young lady Wang tearfully complained to her cousin that he went too far in bullying people, even laying hands on her and trying to hit her too, truly reckless and unrestrained.
Wang Mingyu was arrogant at first, but after a beating from his own father, he too started bawling, saying straight out his cousin didn't respect him as the elder male cousin, looking down on the Wang family's male heir. He was only teaching on his father's behalf.
Some teaching on his father's behalf.
It was said Lady Sun's face immediately darkened. She had originally still wanted to reconcile with the Wangs, but now, unwilling to watch these bastard children make trouble, her anger flared. She only wanted to wipe them out.
Hairpin Courtyard
Listening to Jiang San's vivid description, Zheng Ruqian laughed uproariously, even taking credit. "I taught him that phrase. Eldest brother said Lady Sun hates others mentioning her lack of men in the house. Fifth brother said to poke people's vital points when poking them. How's my learning? Pretty good right?"
Xu Mo nodded slightly. Recalling Wang Mingyu's idiocy, he felt puzzled again. "From the description, the second master of the Wang family should be quite smart. How could he raise a son with such a temperament?"
Any clear-sighted person knew a son like this absolutely could not bear the heavy responsibility of a family.
Chang Yan pondered briefly before suddenly looking to Jiang Yi and Jiang Er. "Find out about the third and fourth houses of the Wang family."
Not long after, Jiang Yi and Jiang Er returned.
The steadier Jiang Yi slowly and steadily said, "The fourth house of the Wangs has two daughters. The third house has a son and daughter. Their son has been sickly and timid since childhood, rarely appearing before others."
That explained it.
The second master of the Wangs was just an arrogant clown. The truly important one was the third master hiding behind the scenes.
Wang Mingyu was merely a spoiled target. He just waited for the second master to perish together with the first master, and then this seemingly weak son of the third master could come out and take over.
Whether he was truly weak remained to be seen.
After Chang Yan finished analyzing, all the children shuddered.
Zheng Ruqian said incredulously, "Are these family? So much scheming? So much maneuvering?"
Fang Heng smiled bitterly.
Xu Mo shook his head.
Chang Yan lowered his eyes for a moment before laughing. "Those who pursue profit are everywhere."
The richer the family, the harder to find true feelings.
Just as everyone fell silent, a commotion sounded from outside.
Soon after, Jiang Yi hurried in to report, "Young masters, young lady, the eldest young master of the Wang family sent people here saying he wants Zheng young master to testify for him that he wasn't the one who struck first."
Zheng Ruqian abruptly stood up, his face pale.