Chapter 104: Mr. Xie from Guangling City
Qi Huaijing did not take the jade seal because the old man fell drunk after he finished speaking.
After returning home, the old man was ill for a few days, and Qi Huaijing served him medicine, just like when he was a child and his grandfather personally took care of him when he was sick.
Because Madam Du was ill, Chen Tang and Cheng Xinyu helped to take care of all the affairs of the Yue family. Because there was a scandal in the family, the servants were replaced... There were too many things to do.
After all, the couple did not get the tens of thousands of taels of silver in vain.
Miss Yue was under house arrest and not allowed to go out, so she had a lot of free time.
After he got better, the old man brought up the matter of Yu Zhang again, and Qi Huaijing smiled faintly.
"Old man, no need to say more. If you eat someone's food, you will be soft-hearted. Since I refuse to listen, I naturally don't want it... Let's leave it to my cousin. This is his family property. Don't worry, although I am not as loyal as my cousin, I am not an ungrateful person. I remember the kindness of raising me, and I also remember the brotherhood... I can't raise him like my uncle, but I will help him like a brother, and I will definitely not let you waste this family property."
After hearing this, the old man pondered for a long time.
"There are two farms at home. Please give them to Tang girl for me. Ever since she came home, there have been this and that... I have always been unfair to my granddaughter-in-law. If such a good child were someone else, I don't know how many troubles would have arisen... It's a pity that if I had been more open-minded back then, maybe I would have had a great-grandson by now."
Qi Huaijing smiled, and this time he didn't say anything polite, and directly thanked him on behalf of his wife.
Chen Tang was packing his luggage to go back to Guangling again, and was surprised to see him bring back two land deeds.
"It's not enough that we have embezzled so many banknotes, we also took away the manor, this is also..."
Qi Huaijing helped her put it away directly, and he felt very justified.
"Take it! Whose granddaughter-in-law's first visit to visit relatives could lead to so many messes! It's outrageous just to think about it... The Yue family owes you this!"
After a busy day, he stretched and wanted to lean on Shen Tang's shoulder to rest, but he didn't expect that he would push her down and just lie in her arms.
"Tang'er, I'm sorry... It's also my fault. You shouldn't have come here, and you shouldn't have encountered all these messes."
Chen Tang patted his shoulder gently and sighed leisurely.
"It's not a wasted trip. This is where you grew up, and here are the people you've known since childhood... After this trip, I finally recognized my husband. It turns out that even such a wanton person has difficulties that force him to do so."
Qi Huaijing raised his head and looked at her eyes, feeling a little uneasy.
"...Don't you despise us? Merchant families like us may look rich and prosperous on the surface, but underneath there are so many disgusting things and so many dirty thoughts that only care about themselves..."
It was hard for Chen Tang to say that he didn't mind at all, so he just closed his eyes and told him to lie down obediently.
"Huai Jing, you and I are husband and wife, there is no need to distinguish between you and us anymore. Forget about whether we are businessmen or not. There is no perfect family in the world... If everyone is a gentleman, the world will not need the enlightenment of saints..."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but kiss his forehead.
"...Besides, you protect me and love me so much. If I continue to complain, even the saints will not be able to bear it...But, I do miss home a little. Let's go back to Guangling as soon as possible, back to our own home, okay?"
Qi Huaijing let out a long sigh of relief.
"Okay, that's good. Let's go... let's go home..."
Having not slept well for a long time, he yawned as he spoke... and finally fell asleep in her arms.
Two days later, the couple finally set out on their journey home.
Due to the heavy rain in recent days, the canal was unobstructed, so I decided to take a boat home this time.
In late spring and early summer, the waterfront is wide, willow trees are lush, and there is an endless stream of ships coming and going along the canal.
At the ferry, Zhao Wenzheng and Qi Huaijing said goodbye in the wind.
"...When you arrive in Guangling, we should go back to our hometown. I'm afraid we won't be able to meet again in three to five years. Take good care of yourself, nephew."
"Three to five years? Are you just going to abandon your jewelry store in Beijing?"
Zhao Wenzheng smiled innocently.
"Don't mention it... I don't think I'm cut out for business. I might as well close the shop and go back home to do something serious before I lose money..."
"Oh...what serious matter?"
Zhao Wenzheng was about to reply when he suddenly heard a clear male voice.
“Miss Shen!”
They both turned around and saw a tall and thin young man standing under the willow pavilion in the distance. He just jumped over the pavilion railing and walked quickly towards Chen Tang.
Chen Tang was standing on the shore, gazing into the distance over the water. He turned around when he heard the voice and saw the young man approaching him. He was surprised and delighted.
"Thank...thank you, sir?"
The young man had long eyebrows and beautiful eyes, and was elegant and refined. He wore a blue robe and a jade crown. He was still out of breath because he was walking so fast.
"It's really you. I looked at you from a distance and I almost didn't recognize you! Sister Shen, you...you are married? Why did you come to the capital? How is Master Shen these days?"
Unexpectedly, he met a student taught by his father in Beijing. Chen Tang was also happy to meet an old friend in a foreign land.
"Dad, everything is fine. I came here this time to visit relatives in Beijing with my husband..."
While she was reminiscing about the past with the young man, she pointed to Qi Huaijing in the distance.
The two looked at each other from a distance, and the young man smiled brightly and bowed to him.
Qi Huaijing was indifferent and returned the greeting.
"Who is this guy? How does he know Chen Tang?"
Zhao Wenzhen looked at the young man and a subtle smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, man, you don't even know him? He's also from Guangling, his last name is Xie, his given name is Yushuo, and he was admitted to the Imperial Academy from your Guangling City's Academy last year. He's a rare talent - probably your father-in-law's favorite student."
This makes sense, but Qi Huaijing felt unhappy when he heard it.
Uncle Shen’s favorite student… maybe he was once the son-in-law that his father-in-law liked.
He leaned against the railing of the ferry, staring at the two people reminiscing about the past, his tone was lazy, but it couldn't hide the jealousy in his heart.
"Oh, a scholar. It's not easy to be a scholar. After ten years of hard study and hard work, you can only earn a few hundred taels of salary a year..."
Zhao Wenzheng's smile became more subtle.
"You... really don't know him?"
"I don't know him. It's strange, how do you know a scholar and know him so well? Has he ever bought hairpins and jewelry for any girl in your jewelry store?"
"That's not the case..."
Zhao Wenzheng stood with his hands in his sleeves, smiling.
"…Because his cousin is a famous wealthy businessman in Beijing, Xie Yuduo."
Qi Huaijing paused when he heard this and unconsciously tightened his grip on the railing.
Zhao Wenzheng asked him with a smile.
"The Xie family is also from Guangling. They just came to the capital last winter. Their business is extremely extensive and incredibly rich. They have become famous in the capital in just a few months... You have been in Guangling City for so many years, but you have never heard of his brother's name?"
"I've heard of it. Mr. Xie from Guangling City is well-known in Jiangbei and is rich... as rich as a country."
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