Chapter 139 Even More Like a Demon
Song Jin didn't take the marriage proposal seriously.
Putting aside the fact that she has a boyfriend, although they haven't been formally married yet.
Qi Ye was concerned about the possibility of the two breaking up. He always felt that the two were just playing around. Anyway, Song Jin was still in the mourning period for Song Shang, and the marriage would have to wait until next year. He would think about it some more.
If the two of them break up because of this short period of time, it will save them from future conflicts.
If the relationship is still good by then, it won't be too late to arrange a marriage.
Song Jin didn't care about this. She was just dating someone, and it wasn't like she necessarily wanted to get married—of course, it would be better if she could get married, as she wanted to have two kids to play with, but she wasn't in a hurry.
Putting aside the fact that she already had a boyfriend, the fact that Old Lady Ding came to propose marriage was, in her view, just an old woman who had nothing better to do and casually mentioned it. It wasn't a formal proposal or betrothal, and it was no different from the idle gossips of the town's aunties.
She didn't take it to heart. In the days that followed, she went about her usual activities and dates. Then, on a beautiful, sunny day, she sent Huang Huang, who had been lounging at home for three months and had become as fat as a tiger, back to the mountains.
If we don't go out soon, we'll really turn into tigers.
Considering Huang Huang's size, Song Jin had specially arranged for the tiger to be carried in a carriage, so it wouldn't be unable to walk on the way. Unexpectedly, after getting off the carriage, the tiger still didn't move, lying on the ground like a dead tiger, its round, golden eyes looking at her: "Meow~"
"Alright, stop whining. There's no room for negotiation. Relying on heaven or earth is no substitute for relying on yourself."
Song Jin grabbed the tiger by the neck, intending to drag it up, but after all, it was her own tiger daughter whom she had raised, and she couldn't bring herself to do it. She lifted her robe, sat cross-legged on the ground, rubbed its head, and began to reason with it earnestly.
“You’re a big tiger. You have to live on your own and know how to hunt. I can support you now, but what about later? What if I can’t even feed myself? Will I have to skin you, butcher you, and sell you by weight to make money?”
Huang Huang: "Meow?"
Something's not right. Something's not right about what I'm saying.
Song Jin pinched its tiger leg and continued, "Besides, being fat is bad. It can easily cause high blood pressure and cerebral infarction. You should be a healthy tiger and run more and exercise more."
Given its chubby appearance, she'll have to come back to check on it next week after she goes back, lest this stupid tiger get too fat and starve to death because it can't find food.
A troublesome person.
Huang Huang reluctantly: "Meow~"
Song Jin tapped its head: "You're lazy and have no ambition at all. Besides, you're already so big and chubby. Don't you want to date and have some babies? It's so inconvenient at home."
Huang Huang rolled over and nibbled at her skirt, calling out, "Mimi!"
Song Jin: "Don't even think about it, it's impossible. I won't take you back."
...
One man and one tiger, you say yours and I sing mine, until the warm spring sun shines on the trembling flower buds on the branches, gradually illuminating the entire earth.
Song Jin patted the tiger's head, stood up, and whistled.
Huang Huang, who had just been clinging and acting spoiled, stood up, put down its front paws, stretched, rubbed against Song Jin's leg, and circled around twice.
Song Jin whistled again.
Reluctantly, Huang Huang still walked away from her and headed up the mountain. Just as it reached the top of the small slope, it turned back again: "Meow—"
Song Jin rolled her eyes, and a whistle rang out: "Whoosh—"
Huang Huang shook its fur, raised its head, and roared to the sky: "Roar—"
Birds flew through the forest, and wild animals fled in their wake.
The overlord that left in March is back. Even though it has shrunk twice and can't run as fast, it doesn't diminish its deterrent power.
Hearing the sounds coming from the woods, Huanghuang glanced at its mother a couple more times, then turned and ran into the woods, its golden figure quickly disappearing among the leaves.
Song Jin smiled slightly, dusted off her hands, and followed them back.
It's a hundred li from Yong'an City to Zhushan. It took her almost two hours to get here by carriage, and she really didn't want to spend that much time going back.
After thinking for a moment, she got back into the carriage and headed towards Shangyang Village. The two sides were adjacent, and in less than half an hour she reached the outskirts of the village, where she could see the notorious shady inn, Tonghua Inn, bustling with people. The snow had melted, and those scholars who had missed the previous imperial examinations were now arriving from all over the country, only to be brutally beaten by the unscrupulous merchants once again.
When Song Jin first arrived, he thought that this shady shop was located right under the city walls and it wasn't afraid of offending people, so it must have some kind of background. Now that he thought about it, it certainly did have a background.
The orphanage in this village was funded by Song Shang. If she were to say that this inn had nothing to do with him, she would be out of her mind.
She drove the carriage to the inn's entrance.
Yang Youyang came running out excitedly: "Your Highness, is this a pleasure to have you? Would you like to have a meal or stay at an inn?"
Song Jin yawned: "Give me two side dishes, and find someone to help me send the carriage back. I'll ride back on horseback in a bit."
It would take two or three hours to drive, and an hour to ride a horse if things went faster; she couldn't be bothered to wait.
Yang Youyang chuckled and said, "No problem. Someone from the village is going to the city, so I'll deliver it to you tonight."
Song Jin waved her hand: "Okay."
With that, she went inside to eat.
There were quite a few people in the inn. Although things were a bit pricey, most scholars weren't short of money. It was pretty dark all around, so there was no need to go hungry just to save a little money.
She chose a seat on the edge, sipped her tea, and waited for the food to be served.
Before the dishes were served, they were greeted by Yang Laoliu, the head of the orphanage.
Song Jin wasn't very familiar with this hall master, but because of Song Shang, Song Qingzhi, Xiao Huasheng, and others, they had quite a bit of contact. In particular, since their own daughter was active here, they needed to keep an eye out for reckless hunters.
Song Jin: "Did you need something from Hall Master Yang?"
Yang Laoliu smiled and said, "It's nothing much. I just heard that the princess has arrived and wanted to come and have a chat with you. Some time ago, the fifth young master sent someone to deliver books, and the small study in the hall has doubled in size. Madam Yang also sent fabric and money to buy new shoes for each child, and the children are very happy."
Song Jin rested her chin on her hand: "You guys weren't short of money before, were you?"
Yang Laoliu shook his head: "Food and drink are not a problem, but there are many children in the family, and the expenses are high. If we want to get something else, we will be short of money. But, sir, you know his temperament."
He certainly had good intentions, but he wasn't particularly attentive to them. Yang Laoliu wanted to give these children a better future, so even though the orphanage had been generating income over the years, they were still somewhat strapped for cash.
Now that Song Qingzhi has taken over, he is wealthy, generous, and empathetic. Not only has he doubled the money he gives to the orphanage every month, but he also provides continuous support in the form of books and skills.
The orphanage has been completely transformed compared to before.
Yang Laoliu was very grateful, so as soon as he heard that Song Jin had arrived, he rushed over to tell her about the orphanage and to express everyone's gratitude.
Song Jin pursed her lips. She originally wanted to say that she didn't know that person at all, but when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she felt that it was unnecessary. No matter how much she said now, she really couldn't clear up this relationship, and there was no need to clear it up.
She sat there listening to Yang Laoliu talk about the orphanage, about Shangyang Village, about the state of the world, and about the Song Dynasty merchants.
Yang Laoliu: "When I first met Prime Minister Song, the orphanage only had twelve children. The youngest child had broken his leg and needed a lot of money to get medicine every day. At that time, everyone in the village was also struggling. I thought I would go to Yong'an City to beg for food. I could get a lot of food outside and the orphanage would have to spend less money."
Song Jin's lips twitched: "...So you've arrived?"
Yang Laoliu shook his head: "At that time, the court was in chaos and the people were suffering. Even the people in the city were having a hard time. Where would they have extra to give to outsiders? Even if there were some kind-hearted people, a pancake would only cost a few coins, which was barely enough to eat."
Song Jin: "You ran into him?"
Old Yang nodded, somewhat emotionally: "That day it was raining heavily, and the children were huddled with me in the dilapidated temple, shivering from the cold, their stomachs growling, when Lord Song appeared out of nowhere..."
"Like a celestial being?" Song Jin raised her eyebrows, feeling that the words sounded familiar; her mother had said the same thing before.
Thinking about it this way, her deadbeat father was quite the actor.
Yang Laoliu remained silent for a long time, then shook his head and said, "Even more like a demon."
Song Jin: ...
Yang Laoliu smiled bitterly: "He said that the mansion is short of maids and servants, and asked me to sell them to him for double the price outside."
Ten children were offered a price of three hundred taels of silver at the time.
Three hundred taels was enough for him to take back and build a house, buy land and shops, and live a different life.
This was just the beginning. At the time, Du Songshang even said that if there were any more in the future, the price would be the same, regardless of size.
The temptation is undeniably great.
In times of chaos, the most common creatures outside are children. You can pick up a few just by going out, and if you're willing to pay a little, you can choose any you like.
For Du Yang Laoliu at the time, Song Shang's proposal was a sure-fire way to make money, but it could also be described as a path to hell.
Song Jin was surprised by the whole story and clicked her tongue: "You definitely didn't agree."
"If I had agreed back then, there would be no Yang Laoliu in this world. But after that, the orphanage gained some capital, and the village followed suit and developed." Yang Laoliu smiled bitterly and finally sighed sincerely.
"Lord Song is a great benefactor to our entire village."
Song Jin muttered, "Then why do you charge me every time I come to eat?"
Yang Laoliu hesitated, "This..."
Song Jin laughed, a hint of slyness in his voice: "Just kidding. I'm worried about not having enough money to spend. The food's here, have a seat. I'll treat you to a meal with me, and it'll save you a meal at the restaurant."
Yang Laoliu chuckled, wanting to refuse, but looking at Song Jin's bright and cheerful face, he swallowed his words and said, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."
He felt a pang of sadness. If the princess had grown up by Lord Song's side since childhood, the lord would probably have been as radiant as this child over the years.
...
After finishing her meal, Song Jin went to the orphanage with the others, left two hundred taels as a donation, and then absentmindedly rode her horse back to the city. As she walked, touching her empty purse, she had a feeling she'd been tricked.
She was incredibly wealthy, but her mother held all the power. Her monthly allowance, including all her savings, amounted to only about a hundred taels of silver. Her secret stash of money had already been spent on buying shops.
During this period, all that's going out and no that's coming in has left my wallet empty.
Song Jin chewed on some peanuts, thought it over, and decided to go find her mother later. Or maybe she should ask her deadbeat father for the money instead, so she wouldn't get scolded.
If that doesn't work, go find that sucker Song Qingzhi again and ask for some more money. Then go find General Song Shenzhi, he has some wealth too. As for Song Xingzhi, Song Shunzhi and Song Anzhi, forget about them, they are even poorer than her and rely entirely on their families for subsidies.
Hmm, I've used up all the ones at home, so I'll go get two more from my partner.
Although Qi Zheng was stingy and frugal, he only did so for himself. Knowing that Song Jin had no idea how much money she spent, he specially left her a money box to play with.
Not much, just a little over ten thousand taels of silver.
Thinking this way, Song Jin felt relieved. She figured she could go out and buy some things to take back with her. She cracked her whip and galloped towards Yong'an City ahead.
In early February, the weather had warmed up considerably. The snow had disappeared from the roadside, and greenery was beginning to sprout on the branches. The streets and alleys were bustling with people, creating a vibrant scene.
Horses were not allowed to be ridden in the city, so she rode back slowly on horseback.
She returned late, just in time to catch the large group leaving the court. In the northern area, carriages and horses were constantly moving from side to side, and people in official robes were very conspicuous in the crowd.
She whistled.
From afar, Yan Sheng, who was talking to his colleagues, looked over with delight. He said a few words to someone and strode over.
Song Jin didn't dismount, but remained seated: "Finished your shift? How was it?"
Yan Sheng laughed: "It's alright. We just went in. We're mainly sorting out old records and getting a feel for the situation. There's nothing else to do."
He came from a poor background, so he understood the importance of relationships, and in addition to his studies, he also worked hard on his social skills. During his time at the company, while not everyone liked him, at least no one was hostile towards him.
That's enough.
However, as a result, he has noticeably lost some weight recently.
Looking at his thin face, Song Jin thought for a moment, then turned to the side, untied a basket from the horse's back and handed it to him. Inside were a pheasant and a rabbit. She said casually, "Here, I caught it on the way. Here, have it with Shu Chenghao. Two skinny bones."
Yan Sheng felt a warmth in his heart: "I won't stand on ceremony with you."
Song Jin clicked her tongue: "Stop talking about all this. You should live your life well, get promoted and make a fortune soon, so my mother can eat a few more bowls of rice."
Yan Sheng chuckled: "I'll try my best not to disappoint my aunt."
As she spoke, Song Jin spotted another figure in the crowd. Seeing the sickly-looking person walking towards her, she clicked her tongue and said, "Annoying. I'm leaving now. Be careful. If anyone causes you trouble, come find me."
Yan Sheng was somewhat puzzled. He looked over and saw Chu Cheng'an's figure. He frowned. When he saw Song Jin raising his whip, he quickly said, "By the way, Lord Xiao and the others have arrived. They are behind the Wuma Street Office."
Upon hearing this, Song Jin raised an eyebrow, waved from his horse, and rode away.
It wasn't that she was shy or embarrassed; she simply didn't want to have much contact with that sickly man. If she angered him to death, her mother would nag her again.
When Chu Cheng'an arrived, he could only see her back as she rode her horse around the alley. His eyes darkened, and when he looked at Yan Sheng, who had a serene and composed expression, he twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Lord Yan and the Princess have such a good relationship. With so many people present, she can only see you."
People around looked over.
Yan Sheng's expression turned slightly cold as he said softly, "The princess and I grew up together since childhood and are as close as siblings. Since we have just arrived in Yong'an City, it's natural that she would miss us a bit."
Chu Cheng'an looked at him: "Is that so? The princess rejected my marriage proposal before, I thought she and Lord Yan..."
Yan Sheng interrupted him solemnly: "Lord Chu, please be careful with your words. The princess and I are like brother and sister. As for you, based on my understanding of the princess, if she were to choose a son, she would definitely prioritize martial arts skills. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, you should go back and practice riding horses and swordsmanship to recover your health as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will fall ill every now and then, which will not only show your beloved your determination but also help share His Majesty's burdens."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Chu Cheng'an standing there, feeling the gazes from all directions, his face dark, his hands clenched tightly.
This ungrateful scoundrel dares to do this!
Uncle, you've misjudged me too.
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