WSMTATMC C165

Chapter 165

The next day, Wang Ying did not open the shop, planning to wait until the turmoil passed before deciding further.

Chen Qingyan had originally agreed with the academy to continue lecturing, but after yesterday’s events, he decided to stay home with him.

Wang Ying said, “Go do what needs doing; no need to sit with me.”

“I’m not at ease.”

“What’s there to fret over? At worst, a little less money earned.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Qingyan said, “Then I’ll go to the prefectural offices and see if any connections can help settle this.”

“Don’t. Put mind on studies; leave the rest alone.”

As they spoke, Lin Sui came over with yesterday’s proceeds.

The vegetables delivered yesterday had barely been set out before customers arrived; in just two hours everything was sold, not a single chive left—ten strings in total.

Hearing this made Wang Ying feel worse. To open on time these past days, a few hours of crop speed-up had even been used.

Yet now they couldn’t be sold. While other vegetables could be stored for the time being in the test plot, there was no telling when the doors could open again—truly like lighting a lamp for a blind man, a total waste.

Seeing Sister-in-law troubled over the shop, Lin Sui could not help saying, “How about asking the Marquis again?”

“Don’t. There hasn’t even been a wedding yet—constantly troubling him might make the Marquis weary.”

“Then what should be done?”

Wang Ying was at a loss. “Wait a bit longer.”

The doorkeeper, Xiao Fang, hurried in. “Sir, several men at the gate—say they’ve come to apologize!”

“Apologize for what?”

They rose and went to the main gate, where several men were carrying a man on a stretcher outside.

Wang Ying had never seen Xue Wang and asked, puzzled, “Who might you be?”

Clutching his chest, Xue Wang said, “This small one is surnamed Xue, chief rider of the patrol. Today I have come specially… to make amends.”

Assistant Prefect Zhao had admonished him beforehand to keep his posture low; no more swaggering like before, or brother-in-law would no longer recognize him as kin.

Hearing this, Chen Qingyan’s face changed at once, and he stepped in front of Wang Ying. “You beat our servant to that state, and dare come here?!”

Xue Wang said quickly, “Pig’s fat clouded my eyes—I know my wrong. I beg your magnanimity to forgive.”

Lin Sui snorted, disbelieving.

Wang Ying also watched warily. By rights, a man of his station had no need to lower himself like this—what was his true aim?

Seeing none of them inclined to forgive, Xue Wang broke out in a sweat and could only continue pleading. “This small one is willing to pay two hundred strings in compensation. Please, Scholar Chen, Sir Wang—grant forgiveness!”

Looking at his pale face and genuine-seeming injuries, Wang Ying thought: could the Marquis have beaten him yesterday? What had been said to frighten him into apologizing? Otherwise, it made little sense.

Holding to the principle that it is better to untie a knot than tighten it, Wang Ying did not wish to escalate. “Since there is sincere apology, let this matter be dropped. But in future, our cart is not to be seized.”

“Rest assured, sir—never again!”

“You are injured; go recuperate. Consider the affair cleared between us.”

Xue Wang bared his teeth in a grin, accidentally tugging the pain in his chest and grimacing. “Put the silver down for Sir and let’s go.”

Two underlings set down a full load of money at the door. Wang Ying said, “Keep the money; each side will treat its own injuries.”

“A small token—please accept it.” A bit of coin meant nothing to him. These years, Assistant Prefect Zhao had quietly amassed much, and his elder sister had often subsidized the natal family; Xue Wang did not lack for cash.

After they left, Chen Qingyan said, “Are we really forgiving him just like that?”

“What else is there to do? Business must continue in the prefectural city. If this turned into a rupture, Assistant Prefect Zhao would make things petty and hard.”

Lin Sui nodded agreement. “Just wait till I marry into the Marquis household; I’ll shield you then!”

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan laughed. “Very well, we’ll rely on you, then~”

“Shielding doesn’t have to wait for marriage.” As luck had it, right after Xue Wang left, Li Mu arrived on horseback with Qing’er and overheard Lin Sui’s words.

This made Lin Sui flush scarlet; he wished he could sink through the ground.

Li Mu, seeing his shyness, did not tease further. Holding his daughter, he dismounted. “Did Xue Wang come just now?”

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan stepped forward to salute and pointed to the load of silver at the gate. “He also left two hundred strings as compensation.”

Li Mu snorted. “Quite generous. Take the money—better in your hands than squandered on ill-gotten pleasures.”

With that, Wang Ying set his mind at ease and had Xiao Fang and Tian Ju carry the money inside.

After dismounting, Qing’er ran to Lin Sui, tugged her own clothes and then pointed at Li Mu.

Lin Sui understood: the Marquis had told her that new clothes had been made for her.

“The new outfit’s in my room—come try it on.”

“Stay and have tea,” Wang Ying said.

Li Mu waved a hand. “Back to the barracks. Qing’er will stay with you, and I’ll pick her up this evening.”

Qing’er leaped with joy; being with Lin Sui was her favorite!

After they entered the courtyard, Lin Sui took Qing’er to the back to try on clothes; with that settled, Chen Qingyan could finally head to the academy to lecture in peace.

Ershun’s suffering could not be in vain; Wang Ying decided to give him ten strings as compensation.

The remainder of the silver he planned to put toward Lin Sui’s dowry—after all, the whole affair had been settled thanks to Marquis Wuping. Without him, not only would Ershun have been lost, the shop couldn’t have continued. Giving the money to Lin Sui was, in a sense, giving it to the Marquis.

Unexpectedly, matters had been resolved so quickly; a weight lifted, and the mind brightened.

In another room, Chen Rong happened to be there too—they had met once previously at a restaurant.

Chen Rong teased, “Whose child is this? How can any child be this pretty!”

Praised, Qing’er grew embarrassed and hid behind Lin Sui, peeking out with a small head to study Chen Rong.

Lin Sui said, “This is my mother; go on, no need to be shy.”

Little Qing’er stepped forward and made a small curtsy. The more Chen Rong looked, the more she liked; she lifted the child into her arms. “What a dear little one—later, Xiaomai and Yuanbao can come play with you.”

Lin Sui fetched the outfit he’d made and dressed Qing’er; the sleeves were a bit long—an easy fix.

Before long, Lin Qiu arrived with the baby in his arms and leading Xiaomai; hearing the news, Yuanbao ran over on his own.

It was Qing’er’s first time playing with so many children. She was shy at first, but soon warmed up, leading the two little brothers all over the room until sweat beaded on their heads.

Watching, Chen Rong said to her son, “Aside from not speaking, this child is no different from any other. She is so close to you—treat her well.”

Lin Sui glanced at the merry children and smiled with quiet happiness. “Understood.”

—

The vegetable shop reopened, and with Marquis Wuping as backing, no one dared stop their cart again.

Business this year was even better than last. Besides old customers, many new ones came—likely because Chen Qingyan had passed as juren and had status; everyone was particularly polite. Those few who liked to take advantage behaved properly now and never grabbed vegetables for free.

Wang Ying noticed that not only the customers were more courteous—the neighbors had changed their tone as well.

When the shop had first opened last year, several neighboring shopkeepers barely responded to greetings, speaking through their noses with scorn. Since reopening this year, all had changed, even using honorifics. Such is the way of the world—praising the high and stepping on the low.

Wang Ying paid it no mind; making money was the true path. Ten strings a day—one and a half hundred strings of profit in just a month. Business like that could continue through the second month next year!

Once enough was saved, it went to the bank converted into silver, tucked into the test plot as funds for Qingyan’s trip to the capital for exams next year.

In the blink of an eye, year’s end arrived, and preparations began for New Year’s gifts to all places.

With a fuller purse this year, more was prepared: for Tianyang County—five bolts of various cloth, two bolts of silk, two baskets of dried fruit and seafood, fifty jin of wild boar meat, over ten jin of venison, and a jar of Wang Ying’s own grape wine.

For Shanzhou, similar goods were prepared. Wang Ying specially cured soy-braised meat and pickled garlic—favorites of Elder Liang, though whether he was still in Shanzhou was unknown.

With the cold weather, the goods would not spoil on the road.

On the twentieth of the twelfth month, the New Year’s goods from Tianyang County arrived, along with a letter written by Eldest Uncle Li Shen. The letter chiefly thanked them for caring for the two cousins these past months, lamenting that Bingchen had failed to pass.

He himself was already older and likely could not continue with the examinations; through connections, he had arranged a post as a registrar.

The letter also said, “In the cyclical year Jiachen, coinciding with the honored father’s sixty-sixth birthday, grand banquets were set and kin widely invited. Elder and younger uncles and brothers all arrived, the orchids hall filled with guests. Only the youngest sister, far away, did not come; thinking of it, the regret is hard to dispel. Facing north to the wind, only wishing that sister cherish her health, hoping for an early reunion.”

After reading, Madam Li could not help but cry again. Wang Ying comforted her, “After Qingyan’s metropolitan exam next year, we’ll return to our hometown and visit all the relatives.”

“Can… can we?”

“We can. Such a matter of bringing glory to ancestors must be shown off, after all—let everyone know!”

Madam Li smiled through tears. “Good!”

On the twenty-third of the twelfth month, with a heavy snowfall, the New Year gifts from Shanzhou arrived as well.

Two letters came with them—one from Elder Liang, the other from Qing Huai.

Elder Liang’s letter mainly said he had learned of Chen Qingyan’s third-place success in the provincial exam and that he had brought honor to them. He exhorted Qingsong to catch up with the elder brother’s steps and, after the New Year, to pass in one leap.

He also asked after Yuanbao, saying he could not celebrate the child’s birthday next year and had specially asked a friend to paint a picture—a “child at play with cat”—and inscribed a verse: “First meeting jade and snow as the year turns new, orchids sprout to greet the courtyard spring. Tusu wine to dot vermilion lips; grandchild and grandsire together drunk in the deep hall. From now may there be no misfortune and gloom; grow to be a treasured family of letters.”

Wang Ying showed Yuanbao the painting; the little one loved it and insisted on hanging it next to his bed.

Qing Huai’s letter was longer, describing the customs of Shanzhou. Since his father’s posting, he had never been; father and son had not met for several years.

Upon meeting, Chen Jing clasped his son. “When you left, you only reached my nose; now you’re taller than father.”

The younger sister’s cough had recovered; the prescription from Laizhou had worked.

The younger sister still recognized him; the younger brother did not and took several days together to grow close again. Blood is thicker than water—no matter how long apart, kinship is never severed.

The letter added that he would enter the capital after the New Year—the metropolitan exam in the second month; leaving too late would risk delay. They would meet again in the capital.