Chapter 274 Why Did He Hide It? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Chen Yi was unaware that he had been seen by Bai Daxian when he went out last night, but he did not doubt the accuracy of the intelligence tip.
So be it.
He would probably feel a sense of regret, like he could have taken both the watermelon and the sesame seeds, but ended up only taking one.
Even if Master Bai didn't give him any guidance, the fact that he was able to befriend Master Bai would be of great benefit to his future.
It's all about timing and fate.
Chen Yi shook his head to himself and stopped thinking about it.
He glanced at Chen Yunfan, thought for a moment, and asked, "Brother, you haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
Chen Yunfan raised an eyebrow and said, "What, you finally remembered that your brother is standing under the eaves of your Jishi Pharmacy right now?"
Chen Yi chuckled, said nothing more, greeted Liu Quan and the others, and then led him to the nearby tavern.
It was the same tavern that Xiao Wan'er had brought him to before.
The shop is small, but it has a strong wok hei (wok aroma).
Amidst the smoke and flames, a large number of martial arts practitioners sat crammed together.
When people from all over the country come together, even the most reserved person will be infected by this ordinary yet lively atmosphere.
They'd say a few words, boast a bit, and then raise their glasses to say, "I've heard so much about you."
Clearly, these wandering martial artists who originally intended to come and pay homage to Bai Daxian were completely unaware of his arrival.
"Shuzhou has been really lively lately."
"If the White Immortal is coming, those bandits and barbarians will also be coming."
"We can't talk nonsense. If the barbarians really invade our Great Wei again, it will be another massacre."
"Yes, let's talk about Master Bai..."
The brothers Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan naturally wouldn't join in the fun.
They've met Master Bai.
The matter of King Randhu of Vaishsa and the barbarians has already been discussed before.
So they abandoned their usual playful banter and ate their meal quietly.
They only exchanged a few words from time to time.
Although it was just a casual chat, given their knowledge and perspectives, they were able to explain something clearly in just a few words.
After several rounds of drinks...
Chen Yunfan put down his cup and said with a smile, "The last time we sat at the same table before coming to Shuzhou was five years ago."
"At that time, my father had just set off for the Western Regions."
"You've returned from Nanjing."
"Mother ordered someone to prepare a table of dishes and invited you, me, and the fourth and sixth brothers, among others."
At this point, Chen Yunfan looked at Chen Yi and continued with a touch of emotion:
"Actually, I thought we would meet again in Kyoto Prefecture, or even on that imperial edict."
"I never imagined that after that meal, when I went out to study, I would see you again in this land of Shu."
Chen Yi met his gaze and smiled, "It's all about timing and fate."
The scene from that night flashed through his mind—
Cui Yu smiled gently, and showed no strange looks to either him or his other brothers.
Chen Yunfan was loud and boisterous, and he would often bring up the poem written by "Chen Yi" to bid farewell to Chen Xuanji.
The fourth son, Chen He, was half a year older than Chen Yi and was born to another of Chen Xuanji's concubines.
From a young age, he was strong and powerful, with exceptional talent in martial arts. By the age of fifteen, he had already reached the seventh rank of cultivation.
He always spoke the least at meals, but ate the most.
The sixth son, Chen Yu, is one year younger than Chen Yi and is Chen Yunfan's full brother.
He doesn't like martial arts or reading; he prefers having fun.
What was supposed to be an ordinary dinner party turned out to be a shocking surprise when the original owner of this body was imprisoned in the woodshed the very next day.
Looking back now, Chen Yi also noticed something amiss.
There seems to be something fishy about that incident.
Chen Yunfan, unsuspecting, poured two more glasses of wine and said:
"Things have come to this point, there's no point in me saying anything more, brother. It's all in the wine."
Chen Yi snapped out of his daze, picked up his wine glass, and clinked it against his.
bite.
After finishing their drinks, the two looked at each other and smiled, then picked up their chopsticks and began to eat the vegetables and meat.
"I heard that after you married into the Xiao family, Xiao Jinghong has been away all the time?"
"Yes, she has military duties and can't get away."
"Is he really too busy, or is he deliberately avoiding you?"
"Perhaps...both?"
"So what are your feelings towards her?"
"Don't tell me yet, let me guess—you're very fond of her, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi paused, showing a rare moment of hesitation.
After thinking for a moment, he said bluntly, "Yes."
Although he hadn't met Xiao Jinghong many times, he still remembered the scene of his first meeting with Xiao Jinghong that afternoon.
He stood by the pond, holding an earthworm in his hand.
Bathed in the slightly yellowish sunlight, he saw a beautiful figure.
She was dashing and extraordinary.
Even if he didn't say it, the marriage was a done deal, and Xiao Jinghong was already his destiny.
Besides, although he is a carefree person, he would never repay kindness with enmity.
He wouldn't consider leaving until the Xiao family did something to wrong him.
To say he's just drifting along might be true.
But this is still his home.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi looked at Chen Yunfan and changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about me, what about you and Miss Cui?"
Chen Yunfan's initial intention to continue joking vanished instantly, and he said with a hint of regret, "I don't know."
He paused for a moment, then said seriously, "Thinking about it carefully, what I actually dislike is not Qingwu, but the marriage between the Chen and Cui families."
Arranged marriage...
Chen Yi suddenly realized what he meant.
Perhaps in Chen Yunfan's heart, emotions mixed with family interests are not so pure.
"So, you don't dislike Miss Cui?"
"I hate it, of course I hate it."
Chen Yunfan stubbornly insisted, "You have no idea how annoying she is; she's always bothering me."
"Like this time when I came to Shuzhou, she somehow came too, really..."
Just then, a figure walked in from outside, glancing sideways at Chen Yunfan and asking:
"Really what?"
Chen Yunfan shrank back upon hearing the voice, but upon seeing Chen Yi's ambiguous smile, he stiffened his neck and said:
"She is truly beautiful inside and out, understanding, and dignified... Oh, Qingwu, what brings you here?"
"I was just praising you to Yidi."
The newcomer was Cui Qingwu. She looked at Chen Yunfan's expression and burst out laughing.
As she walked over and sat down next to him, she said reproachfully, "If I hadn't come, how would I have known that Brother Yunfan disliked me so much?"
"Hehe, it shouldn't be me who said it, it was Brother Yi who said it."
"Right?"
Chen Yi chuckled and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Miss Cui, please forgive me. My brother had just had some wine and misspoke."
"Yes, yes, yes... I've had too much to drink."
"Yeah?"
"certainly……"
Chen Yi was neither surprised nor taken aback by Cui Qingwu's arrival.
Surprisingly, she finished lunch with Xiao Wan'er so quickly, and it seemed that she had a very pleasant conversation with Xiao Wan'er.
Unsurprisingly, Cui Qingwu still remembered the things they discussed last night.
We chatted for a while.
The three paid their bill and left the tavern.
Before parting, Chen Yunfan looked at Chen Yi, slightly raised his head, and said:
"I've been in Shuzhou for so long, and you've finally done your duty as a host."
"However, I won't let you suffer a loss. After I'm done with this busy period, I'll..."
He turned his head and gestured to Cui Qingwu beside him, saying, "Have Qingwu set up a table for you at Yunqing Tower."
Cui Qingwu naturally wouldn't refuse, "It just so happens that the new wine has just been released from the jar, and it has a unique sweetness."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded: "I would be honored to accept your offer."
Not long after.
Chen Yunfan returned to the yamen by carriage, while Cui Qingwu took Huan'er to the East Market.
Chen Yi glanced at the two figures as they walked away, then smiled and returned to the Jishi Pharmacy.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly.
But by this time of year, the weather has turned cold.
As a slightly cool breeze blew by, Chen Yi's mood gradually calmed down.
He had a very pleasant conversation with Chen Yunfan today.
Looking back on the past, talking about the present, and discussing many things about the future has made him feel much more relaxed.
Since he came into this world.
With so many things weighing on him, he rarely spoke casually with anyone in the Xiao family.
Even when facing familiar people like Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Die, and Pei Guanli, he rarely spoke.
It wasn't that it was unnecessary, but he knew that saying too much would only cause people worry and annoyance.
I'd rather not say anything.
But Chen Yunfan is different.
Even though Chen Yi didn't reveal his secrets, he still managed to say things that touched on the most important points, confirming some of the guesses and inferences.
"Chen Yunfan... I don't know why he's hiding himself..."
...
The whole afternoon.
Chen Yi stayed in the pharmacy, and apart from occasionally helping Ma Liangcai with some difficult cases, he spent most of his time keeping an eye on the developments in the East Market.
To be precise, it's about grain prices.
At first, rumors spread that grain prices had skyrocketed, from ten taels per shi to twelve taels.
By the time of Shenshi (3-5 PM), the price had risen to fifteen taels per shi.
Just past mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM), several grain shops uniformly lowered grain prices, making them even lower than they were this morning.
—One shi (石) is equivalent to nine liang (粮) and silver coins.
"I regret buying it so early! How come the price has dropped so much in such a short time?"
"If I buy now, wouldn't I be able to buy twice as much grain?"
"I heard it's the daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe. She said she has grain on hand, which helped to stabilize grain prices."
"Buy some if you can, otherwise the price will probably go up again once Miss Cui's grain is sold out."
"That's what they're saying..."
After half a day of changes, people who originally thought the price of grain was too high were now able to accept nine taels per shi.
There are many buyers.
Even Liu Quan and the others in the pharmacy were somewhat tempted.
However, Liu Quan was quick-witted; even if he wanted to buy, he would use some clever tricks.
"Shopkeeper, do you really think the bandits and barbarians from Vaishsa Kingdom will attack again?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi glanced at him and shook his head: "I don't know."
Liu Quan, unwilling to give up, said, "There are rumors circulating everywhere, and they seem to have a lot of details. Could it really be true?"
"Before the government issues a statement, everything is just speculation."
"Can……"
Seeing that he could guess his thoughts so naturally, Chen Yi put down the account book in his hand and walked outside.
"Buy the grain if you want, you're not short of money anyway."
"The shopkeeper?"
"I'm going back. You guys stay here and watch."
Chen Yi waved his hand without turning his head and walked away.
He naturally knew the reason for the fluctuations in grain prices that afternoon.
Previously, Liu Lang, Wang Ji, and others had been quietly acquiring assets, and now Cui Qingwu has entered the fray with great force.
Those grain merchants will naturally take appropriate measures.
We either need to sell in large quantities now, or we need to win over Cui Qingwu and let him get a share of the profits.
Clearly, the people from those grain shops were still greedy—they chose to reluctantly accept Cui Qingwu's involvement.
"Alright."
"If they just give up now, wouldn't all my plans have been for nothing?"
With these thoughts in mind, Chen Yi headed straight for Baicaotang in the West Market.
Wang Ji had been waiting for a long time and led him to a quiet room upstairs.
Chen Yi didn't waste any words and asked, "Has the Marquis replied?"
Wang Ji bowed and said, "My lord, Steward Lu from the Marquis's residence just sent someone to report."
"The Marquis has been unwell recently, so he would like to meet with you in five days."
As he said this, he felt a strange chuckle to himself.
How could Mr. Chen Yi, the gentleman of Qingzhou, not know whether the old Marquis was unwell?
This response is nothing more than an excuse.
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, not at all surprised.
"It is understandable that the old marquis is worried about the news of the barbarians marching north in Shu Prefecture today."
Fortunately, he only wanted to confirm a time with the old Marquis this time, and he wasn't in a hurry.
Besides, five days is just the right amount of time.
That's enough for him to clean up some things.
Thinking about all this, Chen Yi then asked, "Did Boss Jia give the money to Guard Liu?"
Wang Ji nodded. "I delivered it to them as soon as I got it this morning, and even led them to the other warehouse."
"only……"
He hesitated and said, "It seems that things are not going well with Guard Liu. He went to several villages outside the city but did not receive any grain."
Chen Yi frowned slightly, then calmed down and said, "It seems that these powerful clans in Shu Prefecture have quite a few selfish motives."
There are only two reasons why we did not choose to sell grain at this time.
First, there were too many people in the family, and not enough surplus grain.
Secondly, they felt the price was too low and wanted to wait for the grain price to rise further in the future.
Clearly, the latter is more likely.
Let them be.
"Next, do one more thing for me..."
Wang Ji was stunned for a long time after hearing this, looking at him with a slightly surprised expression, as if he was a little confused.
"Sir, you...you...what if someone finds out, then..."
Chen Yi waved his hand and said, "Just pretend."
"Of course, this matter should be kept as secret as possible."
Wang Ji hesitated for a moment, then nodded, suppressing his fear, and accepted the task.
"Don't worry, sir, I will definitely do my best to handle it for you."
"Well, if you're not sure, you can contact Zhang Dabao. He'll tell you what to do."
"yes……"
After giving his instructions, Chen Yi didn't linger and got up to return to the Xiao family.
Wang Ji saw him off as he left Baicaotang. After a moment of contemplation, he gritted his teeth and summoned two guards to leave with him.
Everything he has now is thanks to Chen Yi.
It's impossible for them to disobey orders.
Besides, he had long been aware of how terrifying Chen Yi was, and dared not do anything unnecessary.
"I just hope you don't go too far."
"If we get found out, then, then we'll be in big trouble..."
Chen Yi naturally knew the reason for Wang Ji's hesitation.
However, to achieve his plan, he would have to use both overt and covert strategies.
Only by taking a two-pronged approach can this act be made more convincing.
"Judging by the time, Zhang Dabao should be setting off soon."
"Heh, I hope they can hold on..."
...
Before nightfall.
Chen Yi returned to Chunhe Garden with a leisurely air.
Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die were in the courtyard.
One person practices stance training, while another applauds and cheers.
"Young Master, your progress is rapid. Your stance training is excellent."
"My second uncle said the same thing, hehe..."
As they chatted and laughed, the two saw Chen Yi approaching and went to greet him together.
"Brother-in-law, you're finally back! Come and see how my stance training is going!"
"Young master, the eldest young lady just sent someone to say that we're having dinner over there tonight."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, then patted Xiao Wuge and said with a smile, "No one else can learn your skill."
The stance training called "Xiao Huang Ting" is clearly a secret tradition of the Xiao family.
Even if he could see some of the mistakes, he wouldn't have said them so openly.
However, seeing that Xiao Wuge was slightly disappointed, Chen Yi added with a smile:
"Since your second uncle praised you, it means you've been doing well lately."
"I think so too."
"What do you mean 'also'? It's just praise; we shouldn't be arrogant or complacent."
"Don't worry, brother-in-law..."
Not long after, Chen Yi finished washing up and changed into some light clothes, and arrived at Jiaxing Garden with Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die.
Upon seeing Xiao Wan'er, she came over with a letter in her hand, smiling as she said:
"My second sister has written a letter."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, took the letter, and asked, "What did it say?"
"My second sister said that the trade business is coming to an end soon, and she will return to Shuzhou soon."
"return?"
Chen Yi opened the letter and began to read it.
[To my husband.]
[Lately, Jinghong has been busy with the Wushan trade market and has rarely replied to letters. I hope my husband will forgive her.]
[Fortunately, with the help of the mountain tribes, the border market is not far from completion. In about ten days to half a month, Jinghong will set off to inspect the three towns...]
Seeing this, Chen Yi turned his head and glanced at Xiao Wan'er.
"Returning soon?"
"She'll probably return when she passes through the prefectural city during her inspection of the three towns..."
(End of this chapter)
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