Give it.
Since we've come this far, how could I not give it.
Jiang Sheng painfully took out fifty thousand taels worth of silver notes, and handed them over with trembling hands, only breathing easy once he had stuffed them into the pocket sewn inside his navel, confirming they were secure.
"Don't delay when it comes to business matters. Lychee season is already over, sell whatever two carts are left frozen as ice lychees and earn a final sum." Zheng Ruqian turned around, "Eldest brother will now..."
Before he could get the word "leave" out, he saw a young man in fluttering white robes walking over waving a fan, and his expression immediately became as if he had seen a ghost.
Jiang Sheng turned his head in confusion, only to find that it was Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan of the Fang family. He had just been cursed for snatching away their profits, yet now he had appeared on Fourth Avenue, and was walking towards Jiuzhen Store.
Lychee season was already over, so the Fang family business had folded up too. What was he trying to do?
No one would believe he had come to buy pastries, but he was still a guest. Jiuzhen Store was open for business, so they could not turn him away at the door.
Jiang Sheng signaled to the young maid with his eyes.
Having become capable of handling things solo, the girl came up and asked, "What pastries would the guest like to purchase?"
Fang Yuan shook his head, managing to remain elegant while tactfully refusing.
"I've come looking for your mistress." He smiled lightly as he stood in front of the counter.
The maid could only take two steps back and continue tidying up the disheveled pastries.
Leaving Jiang Sheng to frown slightly, and Zheng Ruqian full of wariness.
"Why has Young Master Fang left the Imperial Academy, only to appear at Jiuzhen Store?" He took a step forward, trying to pick up the conversation.
Unexpectedly, Fang Yuan ignored him as if he hadn't heard him at all. His peach blossom eyes rested on Jiang Sheng, as he smiled lightly and said, "Fang came specially to meet Miss Jiang. May I ask if the lady has time to chat over tea at the teahouse?"
Zheng Ruqian, who had been relatively calm, instantly bristled.
The true objective is not about wine! He had been thinking that the lychee business owed some thanks to the Fang family, but now he just wanted to curse, stomp on and crush the Fang family!
His sister was only twelve! The Fang family bunch were not human, actually eyeing such a young girl!!!
How dare they!!!
How could they be worthy!!!
"There is no time." Zheng Ruqian rejected him almost without thinking. "If Young Master Fang has anything to say, just tell me directly. My sister is still young."
Fang Yuan finally turned his head, an undisguised sneer on his face. "Can you represent the Jiang family?"
He had snatched away Zheng Ruqian's lychee profits, and also knew that Zheng Ruqian had some savings, but the arrogance unique to noble households made him look down on Zheng Ruqian from his heart.
Especially since Zheng Ruqian truly could not represent the Jiang family.
But he could represent his sister, and, and...he was so angry!
"I can represent the Jiang family. I have no time." Jiang Sheng uncharacteristically spoke coldly, putting on the airs of a young mistress from a prestigious household.
Fang Yuan was not displeased at all, rather he appreciated her even more. "Miss Jiang has experienced such a bizarre and bumpy conspiracy, yet can still regain her status and identity, proving that you should belong to a noble household by nature."
The common folk of Fengjing only knew that there was a real and fake young miss of the Jiang family, but did not know the specifics of what happened.
Even Jiang Chenghua's death was just part of some private guesses, not daring to make it public knowledge.
The fact that Fang Yuan was so clear about things meant there were dark undercover spies for the Jiang family.
Jiang Sheng's expression grew colder as she pondered telling her grandmother and having the family's servant girls and lackeys cleared out and replaced.
"The Jiangs are a huge family clan. General Jiang earned his current status by serving the country and people." Fang Yuan still spoke unhurriedly. "You have an esteemed origin. There's no need to associate with this bunch."
This bunch, surely referred to Xu Mo, Zheng Ruqian and the rest.
Indeed, words only someone from an aristocratic clan would say, the bones showing contempt for ordinary commoners.
But he had forgotten, aristocratic clans had also started out as commoners at the beginning.
It was the striving by generations of ancestors, and their pampered way of living, that caused them to forget their roots and lose their original hearts.
With their various means and actions, other than maintaining their current extravagance, they also coveted even higher status, wanting to forever trample on the common folk.
They did not want the commoners to rise up in status, only wanting their family's current status to be eternal.
How could that be possible?
Even the state's rule could change hands over time, so what were aristocratic clans worth? New talents kept emerging ceaselessly, and capable people would always be able to wrest a future for themselves.
Jiang Sheng lowered her eyelashes, and when she raised them again, they were also filled with contempt. "The Jiang family is different from your lot, we cannot be compared."
At her side, Zheng Ruqian looked about ready to applaud and cheer.
"It seems Miss Jiang is unwilling to chat with Fang over tea." Fang Yuan was still faintly smiling. "What a pity. I can only hope Miss Jiang does not regret today's slight difference in stance in the future."
Without waiting for Jiang Sheng's anger to flare, he turned and left, his motions breezy like drifting clouds and flowing water.
Along with his spotlessly clean white robe that had no patterns at all, it gave him a somewhat unique charm.
It was a pity that the Jiang siblings were still immersed in anger, and simply did not see it at all.
"This turtlespawn actually tried to seduce you." Zheng Ruqian bared his teeth cursing. "Who knows if he'll come once, twice. If he harms you for the Jiang family's sake, what then? No no, I cannot leave."
As he spoke, he moved to take out the fifty thousand taels.
While money was precious, his sister was more important.
If his leaving Fengjing allowed his sister to fall victim to one of Fang Yuan's schemes, he would never forgive himself.
"Eldest brother, don't think too much," Jiang Sheng said with exasperation. "There's still big brother, fourth brother and fifth brother in Fengjing. Failing which there's still Grandmother, second uncle and second aunt. And I have cousin and little Yu. The Fang family would not dare harm me."
"But, I..." Zheng Ruqian still felt uneasy.
Jiang Sheng could only prop her hands on her waist, pretending to be angry. "Am I that stupid in your eyes? Just foolishly falling into all the Fang family's traps? Don't forget, your sister lived alone for seven years. "
Over those seven years, she had seen too much human suffering, and suffered too many malicious plots.
She knew all about the ways of the world, she just did not want to be world-wise.
A child who managed to survive alone could not be stupid.
"Alright alright, stop worrying about this and that. If the Fang family really wanted to make a move, Fang Yuan would not have come to beat the grass and startle the snakes." Jiang Sheng pushed at Zheng Ruqian. "Eldest brother, just go earn money with peace of mind and bring lamb meat back. I want to eat lamb meat."
After much coaxing and countless reassurances,
Zheng Ruqian finally set his heart at ease, and reluctantly took his leave.
Before that, he had instructed big brother and fourth brother countless times, and strictly ordered Jiang San and Jiang Si before setting off towards Shang Prefecture.
Yet the Fang family remained perfectly quiet and tranquil, as if Fang Yuan's visit that day was merely a passing fancy.
Time passed by steadily, and all the ups and downs faded away. Life went so smoothly it was unbelievable.
Even the heavily emphasized, warned-over-and-over national examinations did not show any movements.
Wen Zhiyun's studies progressed, and he began feeling his way towards treating critical illnesses.
Xu Mo smoothly adapted, with the reputation of Young Master Qingzhu becoming resounding.
Until the New Year came, with Zheng Ruqian still not back from Shang Prefecture, the scientific examination fraud case that had been endured for over half a year seemed to find an outlet, or maybe was intentionally manipulated, finally arousing the intense discussion of the masses of students.
Regarding whether it was Fang Yuan or Xu Mo who had cheated, arguing endlessly with each other.
At the same time, a small carriage that had rushed over from Anshui Prefecture stopped outside the Fang residence.
A figure in familiar goose-yellow robes slowly peeked out.
