Chapter 75
Although Lu Shang didn't mind Jiang Wanning eating, she suddenly changed her appetite and he couldn't help but worry that she was sick.
He first quickly prepared some easily digestible rice porridge, added shredded chicken and lard to the porridge, and boiled two more eggs, which he brought to the bedroom.
The portion of shredded chicken porridge was quite large, and he wanted to wait until Jiang Wanning had eaten enough before he could eat the rest.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wanning ate slowly. There was not a single drop of food left at the end. She even ate two eggs, leaving the basin and bowls empty. Lu Shang was stunned for a long time.
He finally couldn't help but say, "How about we go to the clinic tomorrow?"
"Ah?" Jiang Wanning was stunned. "Husband, are you feeling unwell?"
Lu Shang smiled bitterly, "You ate a bit too much today. Not just today, but recently, if you think about it, you've been eating quite a bit. I didn't notice it before, but I realized it was not right these past two days. Aning, don't you feel uncomfortable?"
He thought about it. Eating two pots of porridge in a row would be difficult even for a grown man like him. He didn't know how Jiang Wanning managed to finish it. Looking at her current appearance, there was clearly nothing unusual about her.
Jiang Wanning was also confused by what he said: "I, I feel fine..."
"Let's go to the clinic tomorrow," Lu Shang said decisively. "In the past few years, we used to have a doctor come every month to check our pulses. Since the drought last year, we've stopped this habit. It's been a while since we last checked our pulses, so it's a good time for everyone to check it out."
"Forget it. I'll get up early tomorrow and go to the clinic. I'll ask the doctor to come home. Not only you, but everyone in the family will be examined. That will give me peace of mind."
Jiang Wanning nodded: "Okay."
She was tired and sleepy, and fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed.
Lu Shang was afraid that she would feel uncomfortable after eating too much, so he stayed with her for more than an hour. When he saw that she was indeed fine, he lay down next to her. In just half a minute, he also fell asleep.
The next morning, Lu Shang woke up very early. Seeing that Jiang Wanning was still asleep, he did not disturb her. He just tiptoed out of the door, said hello to Jiang's mother who had gotten up early, and strolled to the clinic.
The clinic always opens very early, and when he arrived, people were already queuing at the door.
Fortunately, the Lu family had already cooperated with this clinic. He told the schoolboy at the door and was allowed in as an exception. He found the familiar doctor He, and after he finished seeing his patients, he took the medicine box and went home with him.
On the way home, Lu Shang briefly explained Jiang Wanning's symptoms.
Doctor He thought for a moment and asked, "Is it just an increased appetite? Are there any other symptoms like drowsiness and nausea?"
"My impression is that I only had an increased appetite, but no other symptoms."
Doctor He frowned and said, "Then let me go and take a look."
When they got home, everyone in the family was awake. Jiang Wanning was accompanying Grandma Lu in tending to the flowers and plants in the yard, while Mother Jiang was drinking tea nearby, and the servants were already preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Jiang Wanning had already told her family about finding a doctor to check her pulse. Except for Grandma Lu and Mother Jiang, she also brought the rest of the servants with her. It was considered an extra benefit of working in the Lu family.
Doctor He was invited to the main hall first, and not long after, Jiang Wanning came over with others.
The servants had to wait a little longer to take the pulse and were still waiting at the door, while the people in the hall also sat down one after another.
Lu Shang said, "Let's see Madam first." The doctor was invited this time for Jiang Wanning, so it was only right to see her first.
Doctor He placed the pulse pillow on the table, said "Excuse me," and placed two fingers on Jiang Wanning's wrist. He closed his eyes out of habit, but after only two breaths, he opened them again and said, "It's smooth under my fingers, like beads rolling on a plate. This is..."
"Pregnant pulse?" Lu Shang felt that the sound was familiar, so he subconsciously replied, and his voice overlapped exactly with Doctor He's.
Suddenly, the whole hall was quiet.
Jiang Wanning was completely stunned. After a long while, she asked, "Doctor He, what do you say?"
Doctor He took a half step back, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Madam Lu, you are pregnant!"
...That’s true.
For a moment, Lu Shang's mind was filled with these words, and he couldn't react to what they meant.
Until Grandma Lu slapped her thigh and said, "Wan Ning is pregnant! Great, great, after all these years, she's finally pregnant!"
Jiang Wanning and Lu Shang were both startled and subconsciously looked at each other, but the moment their eyes met, they looked away at the same time. They only felt the tips of their ears burning, and they didn't know what they were shy about.
Mother Jiang didn't have time to care about their reactions. She just urged Doctor He, "Doctor, can you tell how many months pregnant Wanwan is? Is her pulse stable? My son-in-law said Wanwan's appetite has increased recently. Is this normal?"
She asked many questions, and Doctor He answered them one by one: "Madam is already two months pregnant, and her pulse is very stable. If you are worried, I will prescribe two more prescriptions for pregnancy-maintaining medicine later."
"It's normal to have an increased appetite during pregnancy. You may experience other symptoms later in life."
"Okay, okay, okay. Doctor, could you please prescribe two more medicines? I'll go to the clinic with you to get them later." Mother Jiang asked.
Doctor He said, "You don't need to make this extra trip. I'll have my apprentices bring it to your home when I get back. Madam Lu is still very young, so you need to be more careful on a daily basis. Avoid overwork or strenuous exercise, and eat a light diet. Once the pregnancy is confirmed in April or May, you can relax a bit."
"Okay, okay." Jiang's mother had given birth to children before, but at this moment she seemed to have forgotten her experience. She quickly found a pen and paper and wrote down Doctor He's instructions one by one. She turned around and wanted to tell Lu Shang, but she didn't expect that in just a moment, he had already run to his daughter.
Lu Shang leaned over Jiang Wanning. The young couple were whispering something to each other. Their voices were so low that only they could hear it. Outsiders had no chance of hearing a word.
No one knew what Lu Shang said, but Jiang Wanning frowned and raised her hand to slap him, neither lightly nor heavily on the forearm, which he then caught in his palm.
“…”Okay.
Mother Jiang kept silent, folded up the notes she had just written down, and stuffed them into her pocket.
Later, Doctor He checked the pulses of the rest of the people. Only Grandma Lu had been busy these days, so her pulse was a little weak. He then prescribed two tranquilizers and she was fine.
Because his wife was pregnant, Lu Shang decided to give rewards to all the servants in the house.
After doing all this, he still felt it wasn't enough. He rubbed his chin and pondered, "Aning, do you think I should also give some bonuses to the workers in the logistics team? This is a great event. I want to accumulate some blessings for you in advance so that you can have a more stable life in the future."
Jiang Wanning squinted at him and said, "Doesn't my husband not believe in gods and Buddhas?"
Lu Shang seemed unable to hear her words and said sternly, "Nonsense! I respect gods and Buddhas the most!"
"Then it's a deal. I'll send a message to Lu Qi in a moment, asking him to give all the workers at Lu's Logistics one tael of silver. Tell them that your wife is pregnant, and consider it a blessing for your wife and unborn child."
Jiang Wanning couldn't help but laugh and gently pushed him, "Boss Lu is so arrogant."
"Hmm." Lu Shang was not ashamed but proud, and said, "I remember there is a Buddhist temple outside the city. I will go there in a few days to light a long-burning lamp for you to bless you and your child."
Jiang Wanning tried to persuade him a few times, but seeing that he was determined to go and even Jiang's mother and Grandma Lu said he should go, she simply stopped caring.
Her family members, considering that she was still in the early stages of pregnancy and fearing that she might be too tired, sent Doctor He away and asked Lu Shang to accompany her back to her room to rest.
Jiang Wanning was stunned: "But I just woke up an hour ago..."
Jiang's mother advised her with the tone of someone experienced, "One hour is not a short time. Wanwan, be obedient. Only when you get enough rest can your body be healthy. This will be good for you and the child. Go ahead, go. Grandma Lu and I will take good care of the family."
"..." Jiang Wanning wanted to say that even when she was free before, she didn't have to worry about the family.
But when she saw the worry and joy in the eyes of the two elders, she couldn't help but smile and said obediently, "I'll listen to mother."
So, Jiang Wanning was taken back to the house by Lu Shang just one hour after she came out.
She sat down beside the bed, while Lu Shang went back to close the door and stood at the door for a long time before he completely recovered from the shock. He shook his head, but he couldn't control the smile on his face.
Lu Shang and Jiang Wanning have been married for eight or nine years. In the past few years, taking Jiang Wanning's young age into consideration, even though he felt very depressed, he controlled himself not to cross the line and waited until Jiang Wanning turned eighteen before becoming a real couple.
In this era, it was normal for women to become pregnant at the age of sixteen or seventeen, but Lu Shang had received more advanced education and knew that women at this age were not yet fully developed, so even if they became pregnant, it would actually harm their bodies.
So in the first two years, he deliberately used contraception, and whenever anyone suggested that they should have a child, he would just smile and brush it off.
When Jiang Wanning was twenty-two or twenty-three, both of them were busy with their careers. Although Lu Shang no longer used contraception, the time they spent together gradually decreased. He decided to let nature take its course and did not deliberately pursue anything.
He is 29 years old this year and Jiang Wanning is 27. Even in his era, it was considered late to have children.
But Lu Shang felt that at this time, the Jiang family was reunited, he had passed the imperial examination, and both Lu's Logistics and Wuming Private School were on the right track and could operate stably without anyone. This child came at the perfect time.
child.
Lu Shang repeated this word several times, and the curve of his mouth became bigger and bigger.
He took a deep breath, walked quickly to the inner room, bent his knees, and hugged Jiang Wanning's waist. Without waiting for her to ask, he put his head on her waist and whispered, "Aning, I'm so happy...even happier than when I passed the imperial examination."
Jiang Wanning lowered her head and looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness: "I'm happy too."
…
Because of the arrival of this child, the trip to the county magistrate's office originally scheduled for the afternoon was also postponed.
Lu Shang did not hide anything and reported the reason to the county magistrate's residence without any error. He originally just wanted to lure Jiang's father back, but he didn't expect that in the evening, the county magistrate and his wife would also come together.
As soon as Father Jiang entered the room, he asked, "Is Wan Ning pregnant?"
Mother Jiang was sitting in the yard with Grandma Lu, cutting flowers when she was startled by him. Mother Jiang glanced at him unhappily and said unhappily, "I thought you wouldn't come back until your grandson was born."
Father Jiang chuckled twice and opened his mouth to explain.
But Qu Heng, who came with him, spoke first: "Master's wife, please don't blame me. It's not that the teacher doesn't want to come back. It's all my fault. I begged the teacher not to leave, which is why he was delayed for so long. If you are angry, Master's wife, please punish me."
Jiang's mother's expression brightened a little. "Don't speak for him. I've been with Jiang Zhiyuan for so many years, how could I not understand his reasoning?"
"Okay, you guys have made this trip, so why don't you stay here and have dinner together tonight?"
"Oh! Thank you, Master's wife!" Qu Heng smiled apologetically and gestured twice with his hands, indicating that Yu should go over and accompany Jiang's mother.
Yu understood and greeted Jiang's mother and Grandma Lu respectively. Then she quickly joined them. After a while, they started chatting together, talking about flowers and plants. Then the topic changed and they talked about the time when she got pregnant.
Leaving Jiang's father and Qu Heng looking at each other, he quietly walked around them and went to the study room at the back.
The two of them didn't wait long in the study before Lu Shang and Jiang Wanning arrived.
Speaking of Qu Heng's visit this time, one was because Jiang Wanning was pregnant, and the other was because of her private school.
Qu Heng first congratulated them both, then had to say, "Originally, I was thinking that your private school was getting too popular, so I might as well find a reason to shut it down for a while. But now that you're pregnant, I have a legitimate reason."
As early as when the results of the provincial examination were announced, he had discussed the matter of the nameless private school with Jiang's father.
It would be fine if Jiang Wanning was just a woman, but after all, the Jiang family had been convicted, and the two elders of the Jiang family were secretly sent to Songxi County. If someone with ulterior motives seized this handle and filed a complaint with the county government, it would be a big disaster.
——Harboring a criminal is no small crime.
The two of them agreed that it would be better to close the private school for a while, and it would not be too late to reopen it when there were not many people paying attention to it.
It just so happened that Lu Shangqi would go to Beijing to take part in the imperial examination next year. Jiang Wanning was free at home and could concentrate on helping him prepare for the exam. If Lu Shangqi passed the exam and made great achievements in his official career in the future, it would not be impossible for him to exonerate the entire Jiang family.
Qu Heng and Jiang's father laid out all the pros and cons and analyzed them carefully for Jiang Wanning and the others.
However, they didn't expect that the issues they were considering were all issues they had thought about earlier. It would be fine if Jiang Wanning didn't succeed, but since she had already decided to divide the private school into boys' and girls' schools, she didn't want to waste nearly a year in vain.
After Qu Heng and Father Jiang finished their conversation, she shook her head and said, "Dad, Uncle Qu, you might as well listen to my thoughts."
She recounted what she had discussed with Lu Shang before, and concluded, "For the students currently enrolled in the private school, I will personally teach them until they leave. As for future students, unless they are female, I will not personally teach the rest."
"I understand what Uncle Qu and Father mean, but the Wuming Private School is now so famous simply because it takes up too many places in the imperial examinations. If I focus on girls' education in the future, they won't take the imperial examinations, and naturally it won't infringe on the interests of others, so there will naturally be fewer people who are jealous."
"What Dad and Uncle Qu said is true. Now that I'm pregnant, I definitely can't work as hard as before. It's just right that when I'm older, the students in the private school will be going to Beijing for the exams, so I can have some free time."
"As for the women's school, I only have a preliminary idea, and the specifics still need to be carefully considered, but this is the general idea. What do you two think?"
Qu Heng and Jiang's father both knew about girls' schools, but this was the first time they had seen one of this size.
The so-called girls' schools they had seen were just tutors hired by wealthy or powerful families for their children. Since they were all family members, there were not so many rules to separate boys and girls. They would teach girls to read while the children were young.
When they first learned that there were quite a few female students in the nameless private school, they were all shocked.
But the family of the female student didn’t care. Merchants could take the imperial examinations, so what was the point of girls studying?
But unexpectedly, one day, Jiang Wanning wanted to focus entirely on girls' education.
The two had never thought of such a method and were silent for a moment.
After a moment, Lu Shang said, "I think Aning's idea is correct. As for the identity of my parents, I actually think that after so many years, the emperor may have forgotten about it. I also heard Aning talk about the reason why the Jiang family was convicted. Although they may have been on the wrong side, the Jiang family never participated in the fight for the throne. It is not an exaggeration to say that they suffered an unprovoked disaster."
"On the contrary, many of the works Dad compiled during his time in the court are still considered required reading for the imperial examinations. Even if someone reported him to the government, who knows whether it would be a blessing or a curse? Dad has countless disciples, not counting those who are just nominal disciples, and even people like Uncle Qu are no exception. When the emperor first ascended the throne, he urgently needed to purge the court, so he might have been a bit harsh. But so many years have passed, the world is stable, and he may have a reputation. Even if the emperor really wants to do something, he has to consider Dad's reputation, right?"
His words caused Jiang's father and Qu Heng to think deeply. They were silent for a long time and both expressed their agreement.
Jiang Wanning said, "Then it's settled. Thank you, Uncle Qu, for your help. If anyone asks about my private school in the future, please put in a word for me. And please also keep an eye out for the teachers I'm going to recruit!"
"Okay, no problem." Qu Hengzi agreed without hesitation and offered, "The academician and I have always had the habit of giving lectures at academies, big and small. We can also visit private schools later. If there's anything else I can do, just let me know."
It's a pity for Father Jiang. For safety reasons, he should try to show up less in public in the future. If he really wants to teach someone a lesson, Lu Shang is still here.
Lu Shang was stared at by the three people and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Is it true that I have both my father and Aning to teach me that I have won at the starting line?"
Everyone laughed, and Qu Heng said with a smile, "That's right. If you don't come back with the top scorer, you'll have let down your teacher and Wan Ning's hopes."
The tremendous pressure made Lu Shang feel ashamed, and he hurriedly said, "Please let me go."
Two days later, the nameless private school opened.
Pang Liang, Dabao and others returned home some time ago. They had appeared when Lu Shang held a buffet. Dabao and Lin Zhongwang had learned enough over the years, and they had no plans to take the imperial examinations, so they had actually left the private school a long time ago.
The friendship that grew up under Jiang Wanning's eyes is different after all. Lu Shang also wants to train them to become big managers like Lu Xian, so he wants them to stay in the private school for two more years to develop some horizons and breadth of mind.
Now that Pang Liang has passed the imperial examination and has a bright future, the others are thinking that it is time for them to take on the responsibility of supporting their families and find their own way out.
The four children stood in the Lu family study and told Jiang Wanning their thoughts one by one.
Jiang Wanning was a little surprised to hear this, but she also expressed her understanding. She pondered for a moment and said, "Dabao and Zhongwang have learned a lot. I've told your family before that after you leave my place, you can directly join the logistics team."
"But there's one thing I haven't told you yet. While you're joining the logistics team, you won't start as farmhands at the bottom. Instead, you'll be promoted directly to senior stewards. That means you'll work under Lu Qi for two years, like an apprentice, before taking over as fourth and fifth stewards. You should be clear about the significance of these two steward positions, right?"
When these words came out, both children were shocked: "Really?"
Jiang Wanning smiled and said, "Of course it's true. Otherwise, why would I keep you here for so long? It would be a waste of time."
"Then, then we--" Dabao's father worked in the logistics team. He occasionally followed Lu Qi to work, so he naturally understood the status of the manager. He was so excited that he was speechless.
Jiang Wanning said, "Since you've made up your mind, you can prepare to go home in the next two days. Go back and rest for three to five days. I'll ask my husband to make arrangements for you. Once everything is settled, you can report to the logistics team. Having a job in the future won't be as easy as studying. This is the end of what I can teach you."
Dabao and Lin Zhongwang's eyes became sore and they quickly lowered their heads to hide their expressions.
They stood upright, then knelt down straight, kowtowed three times to Jiang Wanning, and said, "Thank you, Master, for your many years of teaching."
Jiang Wanning curled the corners of her mouth, walked over and helped the two of them up.
"It's okay. You're still at Lu's Logistics. We'll have many opportunities to meet in the future. It's just a matter of changing the venue. It's a matter of time. There's no need to be sad."
"Yeah!" Dabao and Lin Zhongwang wiped their faces and agreed heavily.
After resolving the issues between Dabao and Lin Zhongwang, Xiang Min's whereabouts remained a problem.
Xiang Min is nineteen years old this year. Her family has long wanted to urge her to find a husband. She knows that she cannot resist her family on her own, so she has been using Jiang Wanning's name and hiding in the Lu family most of the time, thus avoiding getting married.
Since she mentioned leaving today, Jiang Wanning thought she was planning to go home and get married.
Unexpectedly, before she could say anything, Xiang Min knelt down and said, "Master, I still want to stay with you. Master, I have been talking to you for many years, I know many words, I have read many books, I can even do arithmetic, and I can also teach children."
Jiang Wanning was stunned and didn't understand what she meant for a moment.
Until Xiang Min said again: "Master, are you still willing to accept children? If you are willing to accept younger students, then I can help you teach. I don't want wages, as long as you can let me stay in the capital. I don't want to go home, and I don't want to get married."
"This..." Jiang Wanning understood, but she never thought that she would have such an idea.
"I'm sorry, Amin. I don't have any ideas about this yet, so I can't give you an accurate answer. But since you mentioned it, I will think about it carefully. If you want to stay in the private school and help me, there is indeed something you can do right now."
Xiang Min looked over in surprise: "Master, tell me!"
Jiang Wanning had no choice but to reiterate her intention to separate the boys' and girls' schools, then added, "I know you're very good at math. If anyone in the girls' school wants to learn this subject, you can teach them. What do you think?"
"Of course!" Xiang Min was not afraid at all, and was very confident. "Master, don't worry, I will definitely teach you well!"
Jiang Wanning liked her reckless spirit, which was no less than that of some men. If she were in the private school, she would surely be a great help in the management of the school in the future.
After having this idea, she became even more determined to keep Xiang Min.
The three of them had all found their places to go, and only Pang Liang was left to stay in the private school. Pang Liang was a steady person. He had long decided to make a name for himself in the imperial examinations. He did not complain even though he was suppressed by Jiang Wanning for several years. Although he was sad to hear his friends leaving one by one, it did not change his ambition.
Besides, he still has his master to help him prepare for the imperial examination next year.
Perhaps because he was accompanied by someone he knew and trusted, the last bit of uneasiness and hesitation in his heart disappeared.
Within two days of the private school opening, Jiang Wanning told everyone about her plan. She asked the female students to discuss the matter with their families. If they were willing to stay in the private school to learn some skills, she would welcome them most. If they did not want to continue, she would not force them.
As for the remaining male students, although they were unwilling to be taught by the new teacher, they knew that they could not change the female teacher's mind, so they could only cherish their current courses more to avoid regrets in the future for not paying more attention in class.
A month later, the private school was officially divided into boys' and girls' schools.
Most of the original female students chose to stay, but there were still seven or eight who, either because they did not want to or because they were restricted by their families, asked to drop out.
The boys' school is not accepting new students for the time being, while the girls' school has started to recruit the first batch of students from all walks of life. Girls can enroll regardless of age or family background. The tuition fee is two cents per month, which includes two meals and writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone.
The tuition fee is much lower than before, but because it is for girls, not many people sign up in a month. Most of them are from well-off families. They send their daughters here just to get familiar with the teacher in advance. If the teacher recruits male students in the future, they can get a place for their children in advance by being close to the teacher.
Jiang Wanning knew what they were thinking, but she wasn't angry. After all, the reason for coming to school really depended on the students themselves. Family members were only a reference, and they couldn't really plan their entire lives for them.
Unfortunately, most of these women had no goals. Even when Jiang Wanning asked them what they wanted to learn, they couldn't say anything. In the end, they had to let Jiang Wanning make the decision. She dabbled in various aspects, but the main focus was to teach them a skill to make a living.
It could be the farming methods, the weaving techniques, or simply the ways of doing business... The nameless private school changed its previous style and seemed to have become secular and materialistic all of a sudden, but Jiang Wanning didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
After the nameless private school owner's daughter became an educator, those who had objections to a woman like Jiang Wanning opening a private school gradually died down.
The dean of Lu Lin Academy, upon learning that this year's top scorer was Jiang Wanning's direct disciple, and that Lu Shangdu, who had been looked down upon by their academy, had passed the imperial examination, actually paid a visit to Jiang Wanning, hoping to ask her to share her teaching experience.
Lu Shang, who was listening in on the situation, saw through his plan perfectly and said sarcastically, "If the dean truly admires Madam's knowledge and doesn't need to seek her experience, he can just do what the county magistrate did and invite her to teach at Lu Lin Academy."
The dean's face turned pale after being confronted, and he finally said "ridiculous" and walked away.
Regardless of what others think, the private school affairs have come to an end. Jiang Wanning has been busy for two months in a row. At one point, she forgot that she was pregnant. She often had to be reminded by Lu Shang before she remembered that it was time to rest.
Now that the private school diversion is over, she should adjust her focus and pay more attention to her health.
In the past two months, Doctor He came to the house to take her pulse every once in a while. Jiang Wanning's fetal condition was always normal, and she did not have the same pregnancy reactions as other people. If it were not for the unusual pulse, Doctor He would even doubt whether she was pregnant.
The cool autumn has passed and the cold winter is coming.
Jiang Wanning was a little pregnant, and the slightly bulging belly reminded her that she finally knew to pay more attention. In addition, the nutritious soups that Jiang's mother and Grandma Lu took turns bringing her tasted very strange, regardless of whether they were nutritious or not.
At first, she gave face to the two elders and drank it with her nose pinched. Later, she tried to avoid it whenever possible and even asked Lu Shang to help.
Lu Shang had been studying with her and Jiang's father for two or three months, and his head was already full of the righteousness of the world. He was not a person who loved studying very much, and now he only wanted to take part in the imperial examination as soon as possible so that he could end these painful days soon.
Fortunately, Feng He also passed the provincial examination. After learning that Lu Shang was having a special meal at home, he shamelessly followed him. With Feng He's help in sharing the attention of Jiang's father and Jiang Wanning, Lu Shang finally had a chance to breathe.
The days passed uneventfully and smoothly until the evening of that day, when the county magistrate sent his servant to invite Lu Shang over.
Lu Shang didn't know the reason, but he didn't refuse. He just told his family and hurried to the county magistrate's office.
But when he met Qu Heng, he was stunned by what the other party said.
Qu Heng's expression was serious. "Do you know that someone has accused you of taking the imperial examination while scheming for personal gain, attempting to disobey the Emperor's decree by being an official and engaging in business?"
"What? I'm not an official yet. Why would I be a merchant?"
Qu Heng said, "You're right, but that's not the problem. Have you ever thought about who brought you to justice?"
Lu Shang shook his head, finally noticing the key point. His expression gradually grew colder. "Uncle Qu, please tell me, although I'm not currently serving in the imperial court, I have the Emperor's grace, so even if I really can serve as an official while doing business, it's fine. However, this matter has not been made public. In the eyes of outsiders, doing both is a capital crime. I'm afraid that accusing me of this is putting me in an unjust position."
Qu Heng finally nodded: "That's right."
"Originally, this matter wouldn't have delayed you, and I shouldn't have told you about it. However, the person who filed the lawsuit is quite involved with you, and I'm afraid that I might really put you in an unfair situation in the future, so I want to warn you."
"Do you know Lu Xian? It was he who went to the Tangzhen County Government Office and sued you."
Lu Shang thought of many people, including those he had offended accidentally, or bosses who had business conflicts with him, and even the dean and teacher of Lu Lin Academy, but he never thought of Lu Xian.
He wondered if he had misheard something, or perhaps, "Uncle Qu, did you remember the name wrong?"
Qu Heng said, "This is what the Tangzhen County Magistrate told me personally after I met with the county magistrates from various places at the government office today. He also said that Lu Xian is your half-brother and has been working under you for many years."
"Then Lu Xian told the Tangzhen County Magistrate that while he appreciated your support, he couldn't bear to see the laws of his country violated. That's why he put his personal interests above his own and informed the County Magistrate of your situation."
"That's how it is. It doesn't have a big impact. I'm just telling you. As for what to do with your half-brother, I won't ask any more questions. It's getting late now. I'm afraid Wan Ning will worry if I ask you to come here so late at night. I'll have someone send you back right away."
Lu Shang glanced at the sky, then thanked Qu Heng and returned home.
After returning home, Jiang Wanning asked him what happened. Lu Shang was afraid that if he said too much, he would make her worry, so he made an excuse to get by.
But what Lu Xian did was really beyond his expectations.
In Lu Shang's opinion, he had treated Lu Xian's family with all his heart. For example, among so many people in the Lu family, he only asked Lu Xian to work. Even though he was not capable enough, he still made him the manager. Later, he handed over the newly started construction team to him.
He really couldn't understand how he had wronged the other person to make him do such a thing.
Take him to court?
Fortunately, he had not yet entered the court as an official, and had received grace during the natural disaster. If these things had not happened, I am afraid he would have really suffered a heavy blow. If he was not doing well, what good would it do to Lu Xian?
Lu Shang was puzzled and couldn't even decide what to do with him.
Just when he was still feeling uneasy about Lu Xian's actions, he never expected that before he could make a decision, something went wrong with the business in Tang Town.
The person who came to the door that day was a stranger. It took Lu Shang a long time to recognize that this middle-aged man was not a permanent or temporary worker of the logistics team, but a worker recruited to build a house. His name was Yang Chu, and he had participated in the construction of the bamboo house on the mountain farm.
Later, when Mr. Guo built a new house, his construction team went to work for the first time. When Lu Shang went to inspect, he found that this man was efficient and sincere, so he promoted him to be a small foreman and asked him to supervise the work when Lu Xian was away.
A month ago, Mr. Guo’s new house was completed. The three-story villa attracted a group of people to come and see it. They had never seen such a beautiful house. I heard that there was something called "floor heating" installed in the house, which has the same function as a ground dragon, but is a little different.
This three-story villa occupies a small area, but has a huge space inside. As soon as it was built, it attracted many people.
Mr. Guo was so satisfied that he paid the workers' wages and gave them extra rewards. Not long after his house was completed, several families came to him, all wanting to build new houses.
It stands to reason that it is a good thing for the construction team to become famous.
Unexpectedly, Yang Chu said, "Boss, something terrible has happened! We brothers have packed up our gear and are ready to go to the next company, but when we get to his door, we are told that he doesn't plan to hire us anymore."
"We thought we had done something wrong and the owner was upset, but no matter how much I asked, they wouldn't tell us the reason. It was only after I staked out their house for half a month that I discovered they had hired new bricklayers. That team charged lower wages, but they built a house exactly like ours, even laying the foundation the same way you taught us!"
"Impossible!" Lu Shang simply didn't believe it. "Those house plans are unique. I only gave you one copy. The building techniques are all on the blueprints. How could someone else have learned them?"
"Could it be that someone on the construction team left and took the building methods with them?"
Yang Chu denied it, "No, it's not like that. The construction team has always been the same 20 or 30 people from the beginning. I remember it clearly. There has never been any change, and everyone is responsible for different tasks. Even if we really revealed this to others, they wouldn't be able to build the same house, unless they poached all the workers from our construction team, but that's impossible."
Lu Shang was completely unable to deny his words. Just as he was about to come up with another guess, he suddenly felt a shock in his heart: "No, wait - maybe you have got the blueprint?"
Yang Chu shook his head: "No, the blueprints have always been in the hands of Engineer Lu. Even when we encountered problems on a daily basis, Engineer Lu would look at the blueprints before teaching us. We haven't seen the blueprints many times, let alone obtained them."
As he spoke, he gradually realized something and a look of shock appeared in his eyes.
Lu Shang also gradually confirmed his guess from his words. Since no one in the construction team knew the entire engineering method, there was no informer. After eliminating all possibilities, only the last one remained -
It was Lu Xian who betrayed him.
Lu Xian first went to the government office, intending to punish him according to the law, and then leaked the construction team's drawings to others. It can be said that he used two prongs at the same time, wishing to destroy everything he had.
Lu Shang felt a chill run down his spine and stopped trying to find excuses for it.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, his eyes full of coldness: "I understand. Please wait at the door for a while. I will tell my family and then go back to Tang Town with you."
No matter what the reason was for Lu Xian's betrayal, Lu Shang only knew that he could not stay.
At this moment, he couldn't even help but vent his anger on others. He was indeed Wang Cuilian's child, and his character was exactly the same as his mother and uncle!
After he found Jiang Wanning in the study, he was still afraid of causing her more worries, so he just said that the logistics team had recruited a new group of people, and he wanted to go over to investigate and see Dabao and Lin Zhongwang by the way. If the two of them adapted well, he could promote them early.
Jiang Wanning didn't think about it: "Okay, then please help me say hello to Dabao and Zhongwang."
"Okay, no problem." Lu Shang agreed, lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then gently touched her slightly bulging belly. When he turned around to leave, he suddenly remembered Lu Xian's child.
He hadn't forgotten Jiang Wanning's concern for the girl, so he couldn't help but ask, "Does Aning still remember the girl from Lu Xian's family?"
"I remember, what's wrong?"
Lu Shang pondered and said, "Nothing, I just suddenly thought of her. If you miss her, why don't I bring her to the capital to live for a while?"
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wanning smiled and refused, "I do want to, but there's no need to take her in. She's not without parents. Besides, I see that Lu Xian and his wife are very devoted to Mingxia. How can I take someone's love away from her?"
"The other thing is—I shouldn't say this, but I've always felt that there was something wrong with the way Lu Xian and his wife raised Mingxia, but I can't quite put my finger on what exactly was wrong. Since I can't change her family situation, I'll just stay out of it and save the child from being caught in the middle and suffering. As for her future, it all depends on her own luck."
With Jiang Wanning's words, Lu Shang no longer had any worries.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
