Entered the small courtyard.
Xu Mo and Zheng Ruqian were interrogating their younger siblings, with the main focus being on Chang Yan.
"Was it you who told Jiang San to ride back to Yunshui County?" Xu Mo looked shocked. "He only slept three nights in seven days, wearing through two pairs of pants. Did you know?"
Chang Yan nodded. He knew.
"You also brought the Gao family here." Zheng Ruqian was glaring with his whiskers bristling. "Since you were already in Anshui Prefecture, why didn't you bring some special local products from Fengjing for your old friend, like cured meat or sausages?"
Chang Yan shook his head. He really forgot about that.
"Is that what this is about? Special local products?" Xu Mo gave an exasperated laugh to Zheng Ruqian. "The issue now is the Gao family!"
Gao was Zhu Zhi’s wife whom he married after arriving in Anshui Prefecture. It was originally for Zhu Zhi to live more comfortably there, but later, Zhu Zhi was executed by the Anshui prefect, so to protect him, the Zhu family killed all the Gaos to silence them. It was cruel.
The Gao family harbored resentment but didn’t dare express anger. They were perfect to use as a weapon.
However, after killing Zhu Zhi, it would be hard for the Gaos to escape punishment by the law. If Jiang San brought them back to the small courtyard, it would be disastrous.
"Eldest Brother, don't worry. The Gao family bullied the local people relying on the fact that Gao was the county prefect’s wife. They deserve to die." Chang Yan said innocently. "Jiang San never showed his face from beginning to end, so it can’t be traced back to me."
Most importantly, with the Zhu family's backing gone, no one would make a big fuss over the death of a good-for-nothing.
Xu Mo was silent for a long time.
He knew why his fifth younger brother went to such efforts and for whom, and this was already the best outcome.
But he still didn’t want to hurt the innocent. Even more, he didn’t want to see Jiang San lying crookedly in bed with blood all over his inner thighs.
Revenge should have been his own business, but so many people had sacrificed for it instead. He felt uneasy.
"Little Five, from now on, you still have to discuss things with everyone." Xu Mo frowned at Chang Yan.
Chang Yan obediently nodded but before he could respond, Wen Zhiyun, who was sitting next to him, couldn't hold back anymore and suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Eldest Brother, it was me. It was all my idea," the already weak imperial physician Wen Zhiyun trembled as he spoke, making Jiang Sheng worry from afar. "I begged Fifth Brother to help me, because I didn't want to see Eldest Brother struggling alone. I also want revenge. I want to do something for Father and Mother too."
He suddenly looked up with tears welling up in his eyes. "Zhu Zhi killed your parents and mine. He was the enemy of both of us, but every time, it was only Eldest Brother who led the charge, only Eldest Brother who struggled to make plans while I did nothing and could do nothing."
"In Xieyang County, I secretly gave him a drug that would take half a year to recover from even with careful treatment. Other than that, I was helpless. I don't deserve to be called a son or daughter. I'm not a good child." Wen Zhiyun choked back sobs with great difficulty. "So I begged Fifth Brother to think of a way to kill Zhu Zhi for me. Fifth Brother came up with ideas and plans for me and hid everything."
Clearly everything was his idea, but little Fifth was just trying to help out of kindness, yet he had to bear all the blame.
Wen Zhiyun was always timid and cowardly, but he knew what the word “responsibility” meant.
To deal with He prefect, he could bravely open Wen’s Clinic and then close it without even blinking.
After arriving in Fengjing, if it wasn’t for Zheng Ruqian’s push, he would still be hiding in the back garden, quietly reading medical texts and studying new medicines.
Unlike Jiang Sheng’s satisfaction with the status quo, Wen Zhiyun was truly timid and cowardly, fearing change the most and also fearing loss.
To decide to kill Zhu Zhi must have taken him a long time to gather his courage.
Asking little Fifth to hide it from his brothers and sisters, how anxious he must have felt.
Xu Mo heaved a long sigh. "Little Four, don't be afraid. Eldest Brother doesn't want to scold you, just to tell you to share any ideas you have in the future with everyone instead of bottling them up inside."
"As long as you speak up instead of hiding them."
"That’s right, little Four. We’re brothers. Feel free to tell your big brother anything," Zheng Ruqian stopped bristling his whiskers. “Second Brother will definitely agree first.”
Meanwhile, Chang Yan, who had just been lectured...
There was no other way. Who would dare be harsh with little Fourth who was as delicate as a young lady. All his brothers were afraid of hurting him.
Luckily, Wen Zhiyun was easy to coax and soon went from crying to smiling. “It’s all little Four’s fault. I won’t dare do it again in the future.”
The once serious small courtyard became harmonious again. Auntie Zhang took the opportunity to bring out two big bowls of tangyuan balls, smiling. “You all haven’t eaten well these past few days. Have two more mouthfuls now. I ground the filling myself!”
Jiang Sheng’s expression changed.
Her brothers really hadn’t eaten well. Only she had eaten quite a lot and now felt sick of tangyuan. She just wanted to hide far away.
But where could she hide?
The little girl rested her cheek in her hand. Her mind kept replaying the crying appearance of Fourth Brother. Unknowingly, she walked out of the small courtyard.
It had been ten days since her last fight and split up with You Ran House. The dried cured meats were piled up in the warehouse and Auntie Zhang had shaped one tray after another of exquisite pastries.
Although Second Brother had angrily left, Jiang Sheng felt it would still be better to continue cooperating if there was hope. What would they do with the cured meats if not sold to others or with the pastries Auntie Zhang had painstakingly shaped?
And thinking again, Fourth Brother was working so hard for revenge. Little Jiang Sheng shouldn’t do nothing either.
With these complex thoughts, the little girl slowly walked to You Ran House. In the end, she was young and rather timid. She stopped at the door, conflicted internally about whether to go in or not.
Just then, Jiang Chenghua came out from a private room, her eyes red as if she had experienced something.
Seeing Jiang Sheng, she quickly regained her aloof demeanor and arrogantly said, "I already said we're not cooperating anymore. What are you doing here again? Don't expect to trick us again. My brother's not here. You can't deceive him."
Jiang Sheng looked up in confusion. Her gaze slowly lifted until colliding with Jiang Chenghua’s on the wooden stairs.
The two girls were completely different, standing at differing heights in more ways than one, with vastly different backgrounds. One had red-rimmed eyes and a face full of petulance, while the other had round cheeks and a blank confused expression.
The only similarity was probably their age.
The little second boss who had been crouching behind the counter suddenly stood up. At first, he was puzzled why the old madam only said she was looking for an eleven-year-old girl without saying whose relative the girl was.
Now he seemed to know this little girl’s true identity.
He also understood what kind of huge impact this news would bring to the Jiang family.
Hesitating for a moment, the little second boss still asked for leave from the boss before rushing straight toward Jiang Mansion.
