Watermelon was restrained by the guards, struggling all the way and cursing loudly that he was the young master's man.
After being pushed into the room, he immediately calmed down, shrinking his neck and bending slightly, looking pitifully at Chen Jinyou.
Softened by his gaze, Chen Jinyou scratched his head and pleaded, "Father, why did you tie up Watermelon? He was just running errands for me, buying some story books."
Chen the county magistrate glared at his foolish son and scolded, "Shut up, or people will think you're mute. Just wait and see if this rascal is loyal or treacherous."
After scolding his son, Chen the county magistrate felt frustrated, unable to comprehend how he, such an intelligent man, could have given birth to such a foolish son.
Perhaps it was because he took after his Madam?
Such a thought was dangerous, for if the Madam found out, he would surely have to kneel on a washboard. Chen the county magistrate quickly dismissed the idea.
Clearing his throat, Chen the county magistrate glared at Watermelon with a grim expression and said, "How dare you, behind my back, buy these kinds of story books for Jinyou.
The stories are all about bullying and taking advantage of others.
One or two books with similar content could be a coincidence, but every single one is like this, clearly harboring malicious intent."
At this point, Chen the county magistrate could no longer contain his anger and demanded fiercely, "Where did these story books come from?"
"Bought... bought them."
"Oh? From which bookstore? I'll have my men seal it off right now!"
He had asked the key question, and Watermelon's gaze began to shift evasively. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before stammering, "I... I forgot."
All this time, Watermelon had been very careful, repeatedly instructing the young master to hide the story books well, so the Old Master would not find out. The young master was also afraid of being scolded by his father, so he kept them hidden tightly. How did this sudden exposure happen today?
Before he could figure it out, Chen the county magistrate waved his hand, and the guards standing by understood the meaning.
They skillfully carried a long bench into the room, immediately frightening Watermelon into trembling like a sieve.
Under the terror of the "Whipping County Magistrate," Watermelon quickly changed his attitude, "Old Master, there's no need for that... I'll tell the truth!"
"It was Aunt Wu! She gave me the story books.
At the time, I was lucky enough to be chosen as the young master's personal attendant, and I was afraid of ending up like the previous attendants, being sent away to do other chores for following the young master in his mischief.
Aunt Wu saw through my thoughts and approached me herself, giving me these books. She said they were specially written for the young master by people she hired, and that the young master would definitely love reading them. As long as the young master was willing to spend some time reading every day and showed some improvement compared to before, the Old Master would keep me by the young master's side, and I would earn a better monthly wage.
I was just momentarily bewitched, please have mercy on me, Old Master."
After hearing this, Chen the county magistrate was stunned. He had originally thought it was someone from the officialdom trying to sabotage him, or someone he had offended before seeking revenge.
He never expected the fire to be burning in his own backyard.
He furiously found Aunt Wu, grabbed her by her clothes, and demanded, "Why?"
Upon learning that Watermelon had been tied up, Aunt Wu had already prepared herself mentally. She smiled coyly and said nonchalantly, "Of course, it's to get revenge on you!"
"I've been the Old Master's concubine since I was sixteen, and I've never missed a dose of the contraceptive soup.
At first, when the Madam had not yet moved in, I could understand it, as a son born to a concubine cannot be born before the son of the principal wife.
But after the Madam moved in, the Old Master never once set foot in my courtyard. The Old Madam instructed you to have more children for more blessings, but you claimed that the Chen family already had Chen Jinyou.
What's so good about him? He's always out chasing chickens and fighting dogs, a good-for-nothing. All these years, the Madam has yet to bear any other children.
Even in such a situation, you still refuse to give me a child.
Why? Why won't you give me a chance? I could surely give the Old Master a much smarter child!
Since the Old Master insists on having only Chen Jinyou as a son, then I'll ruin him. Let the Old Master see how foolish his choice was.
I want you to regret it, regret not having more children, regret not having other options, hahaha!"
Her spittle sprayed all over Chen the county magistrate's face.
Chen the county magistrate wiped his face, took a step back, and said coldly, "I did give you a choice. After the Madam moved in, I suggested letting you leave the manor, buying you a separate courtyard, leaving you with some silver, so you could remarry or live independently, whichever you preferred.
You said you only wanted to stay in the manor to grow old.
Fine, I fulfilled your wish.
At the same time, I also told you that before I met the Madam, I could accept concubines, but now I only want to share a bed with her.
As for you, I've long lost any desire for you, unable to even get it up, so how could I possibly let you have a child?
Even if you truly wanted revenge, you could have come after me. There was no need to harm the innocent Jinyou!"
Chen the county magistrate let out a heavy sigh and thought to himself, "Truly, if one fails to cut off the source of trouble, chaos will inevitably ensue."
When he first became intimate, his mother had arranged for Aunt Wu to be his concubine. At that time, he was just a young lad, and it would have been foolish not to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh.
Later, after marrying the Madam, he gradually realized that the human heart is so small, once filled with one person, there is no room for anyone else.
He didn't want Aunt Wu to remain in the backyard as a perpetual widow, so he offered to compensate her, but he never expected that while she claimed to only want to grow old in the manor, she had actually harbored resentment.
Fortunately, Aunt Wu only intended to mislead Jinyou and did not harm his life.
Chen the county magistrate rubbed his temples and, considering that she had served him before, waved his hand, ordering Aunt Wu to pack her bags and leave.
Next, Watermelon received thirty lashes and was thrown out of the Chen manor, half-dead.
Chen the county magistrate sat alone in the study for a long time. A servant brought him a brazier, and he threw the offensive story books one by one into the fire.
Until he reached the last one, revealing a familiar cover.
No wonder he couldn't find this cherished collection of supernatural battle stories he had kept for years - it had been with his son all along.
Looking further, there were a few new ones as well.
Thinking about his young son's lack of proper education, Chen the county magistrate angrily declared that he would have to confiscate these picture books.
After hiding them away, he went to settle the score with his son.
Chen Jinyou was grabbed by the ear and beaten by his father, repeatedly crying out his innocence. He had only stolen one picture book from his father, and had never seen the other new ones before.
Who knows where they came from?
"Jinyou, there's one more thing your father doesn't understand. You've been hiding these story books for so long, so why did you suddenly think of showing them to your father? And circle and fold the problematic parts?"
Chen Jinyou had always been honest and plainly said, "Huan says that after reading those storybooks, you'll understand that collecting protection fees wasn't entirely my fault... Huan also gave me new storybooks, and they're so good!"
Upon hearing about storybooks, Chen the county magistrate instinctively tensed up.
"Hand them over and let me take a look first!"
After flipping through them, he found that the storybooks Qi Huan had given were all about guiding his son to reform and be upright. Chen the county magistrate's eyes brimmed with gratification.
Doctor Qi's daughter was raising her well!
Closing the storybooks, Chen the county magistrate said earnestly, "Jinyou, these books all convey the same message - it's not terrible to make mistakes, but it's terrible not to repent."
"The rent grain from the manor has all been handed over. Sell those grains, and I'll add some more money. Return every coin you took from others."
"Yes, I'll listen to you, Father. Huan also said that since no one is a saint, who can be without fault? Acknowledging mistakes and reforming is of utmost importance."
Hearing him speak such eloquent words surprised Chen the county magistrate.
And he inwardly sighed: Qi Huan's influence on his son is immense.
*
A few days later.
The Cloud Shadow merchant group sent back news that the first batch of starch they transported was successfully sold, and the money from selling recipe books also brought in quite a sum.
When Qi Huan received the silver notes and was getting motivated, the system suddenly started repeating, "Act of kindness +1, points +1."
"Act of kindness +1, points +1."
...
Qi Huan was puzzled, "What good deed did I do without even realizing it?"
"Host, Chen Jinyou returned all the protection fees he collected. You gain one point for each sum he returned. Guiding him to reform was a great kindness."
"Just one point for a great kindness? You're so stingy."
"..."
After teasing the heavens to silence, Qi Huan didn't mind. She paused from counting the silver notes and suddenly smiled.
Repaying a wood apple with precious gems.
Chen Jinyou had helped her a lot, and she was willing to repay him in some way. They were friends.
Friends are people who sincerely wish the best for each other.
She was glad Chen Jinyou could reform, unrelated to points, solely because of friendship.
