Upon inquiry, I learned that all these were left to him by his grandfather, the old Master Wang, also known as Wang Fufeng’s grandfather.
“Back then, my grandfather pitied me for my weak constitution and my parents’ dislike of me. Fearing that I would die prematurely, he left me a portion of his trusted aides and connections,” Wang Fufeng said as he lowered his eyes, his tone mournful.
Xu Mo, Zheng Ruqian, Jiang Sheng exchanged looks.
He already has everything, yet still seeks death and livelihood. Compared to them who have nothing, shouldn’t they just pluck their eyelashes and hang themselves to make things easier?
After a long while, Xu Mo asked the key question, “Does the Wang family know?”
Wang Fufeng nodded and shook his head.
That meant they knew, but didn’t know much.
The Wang family, including Wang Fufeng’s father Third Master Wang, had suspected before that Wang Fufeng had something in his possession. After failing to acquire it several times, Third Master Wang furiously threw him into a separate courtyard, wanting him to fend for himself and also forcing him to take initiative to hand over what he had.
It wasn’t until Wang Fufeng “died” that Third Master Wang probably believed his legitimate son didn’t have anything.
“Now, the Wang family must be very harmonious,” Wang Fufeng said in an unreadable tone. “The legitimate son of the third branch has passed away. The first branch is suppressed. The second branch rises alone, grasping the family power as easy as flipping their palm.”
“I don’t like this kind of harmony. It’s time to let them see my good younger brother.”
His tone was light, but his methods were lethal.
With a light flick of his hand under Jiang Sheng’s admiring gaze, Wang Fufeng stirred up the harmonious waters of the Wang family.
First, Third Master Wang’s concubine was discovered by Second Master Wang. Right after, a healthy thirteen-year-old illegitimate son was exposed, lively and jumping about, also quite learned, having passed the county exam and about to take the tongsheng exam.
Although he was an illegitimate son, and his mother was a lowly concubine, his excellence could not be denied, especially when compared to Wang Mingyu. It was as if a star of civil and military arts had descended to earth.
Third Master Wang felt somewhat regretful, thinking the illegitimate son was exposed too early. But the flattery from other Wang family members and the envy of the fourth branch still made him smugly bring the concubine into the Wang family, naturally adding the illegitimate son into the family tree as well.
I heard his name is Wang Haoran.
The second branch of the Wang family raised huge waves. Second Master Wang started to suspect his younger brother’s motives, and as a result increased his restrictions on Wang Mingyu, hoping he could surpass Wang Haoran.
However, how could a spoiled young master correct himself in a short period of time?
To this, Wang Fufeng lightly said, “Third Master Wang had always refused to reveal he had an illegitimate son, precisely because Eldest Brother Mingyu, although a wastrel, had not yet reached the point of debauchery. What he wanted was for Eldest Brother Mingyu to ruin the Wang family until it tottered on the verge of collapse, then the illegitimate son could turn the tide.
By then, the first branch would have collapsed, the second branch would have transgressed, and the fourth branch had no male heir. For control of the family, who else could there be besides the third branch?”
What a meticulous scheme.
Too bad Wang Mingyu’s bones had not rotted to the core yet, and Wang Fufeng had not obediently died either.
The premature exposure of the healthy illegitimate son threw the Wang family into turmoil.
Second Master Wang refused to give up control of the family. Third Master Wang was eager to give it a try. The first branch of the Wang family also eyed the opportunity like a tiger watching its prey. Even the fourth branch wanted to take advantage of the situation to get a bigger share.
The Wang family could be said to have turned into a messy pot of congee.
“What does Eldest Brother Fufeng plan to do next?” Xu Mo cleverly avoided mentioning the surname Wang.
Wang Fufeng smiled faintly, “Let the Wang family be in turmoil for a while.”
Snake fights snake, rat fights rat, family still needs family to deal with.
During this time, Wang Fufeng would consolidate the assets in his possession—the land deeds, old servants, and the “Young Master Fufeng” reputation that had once made a stir in the literary world before disappearing due to his illness.
When sorting through a land deed, he paused and deeply looked at the Xu siblings.
These days, while Wang Fufeng was busy, the six of them were not idle either.
Although Xu Mo was not in Xieyang County, his title as teacher was still in use. In order for the hundred taels of silver a year to not be wasted, Bian Wenxuan would send over gifts every so often, whether it was small cases that needed handling or official documents that needed organizing and submitting.
Although Zheng Ruqian’s food processing workshop had gone under, he was not discouraged. Instead he turned his gaze to the black bean seeds he had brought from Anyang County, asking Zhang Qizheng every day how they should be planted.
Planting black beans was not a simple matter. First to consider was whether the seeds could take root, then agricultural experts were needed to help, followed by large amounts of farmland to plant them, and finally drying grounds to make dried black beans.
Looking around Pinhua Courtyard, they had enough space to produce dried black beans, but far from enough to plant them.
After thinking it over, Zheng Ruqian made a decision. “Forget the workshop. Let’s go back to Xieyang County and plant black beans.”
As long as they could make the dried black beans themselves and sell them to restaurants and food stalls, the profits would be higher. Compared to a failed cured meat workshop, there really was nothing worth clinging onto.
“But the workshop still has over half a year of rent left!” Jiang Sheng said anxiously.
Thirty taels a year, over half a year was still over ten taels of silver!
“The workshop is out of business, no use keeping it,” Zheng Ruqian persuaded his sister. “It’s obviously inefficient to plant black beans in Xieyang County then transport them here to make dried black beans.”
As for planting in Anshui Prefecture, he didn’t even consider it. The difference between a prefecture city and a county city was at least twenty taels of silver for the same amount of land.
“Also, the rent here at Pinhua Courtyard is not cheap,” Zheng Ruqian spat. “For the remaining half year, we can sublet it and get back what we can.”
Just as he was speaking, a land deed was placed before him.
Zheng Ruqian glanced at it initially without care, then looked again and was stunned.
“I just discovered this while organizing. Turns out I have the deed to this courtyard,” Wang Fufeng said embarrassedly. “You saved my life, and I have no way to repay you, so please take this land deed.”
Zheng Ruqian’s eyes went round.
Jiang Sheng still knew to decline. “No, no, no, Elder Brother Fufeng, this is not proper. It’s too valuable, we can’t accept it.”
“This courtyard isn’t that valuable,” Wang Fufeng said mildly. “Over ten years ago, it was a separate courtyard belonging to one of my aunts. Later my aunt married off to Fengjing, so the courtyard was left abandoned.”
Wang Fufeng’s aunt would also have the surname Wang right?
Fang Heng’s mother seemed to also be a young lady of the Wang family.
Among the Wang family’s young ladies marrying off to Fengjing, there should only be one.
As Jiang Sheng’s thoughts churned wildly, a choked sob suddenly sounded. “This aunt you spoke of, could she be called Wang Fuxue?”
