CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 423 THE CAUSE

Zhao Xuran gave Zhao Guangran a shove—is this dumb kid planning to use public resources for private benefit?

Even his own dumb brother couldn’t possibly miss such an obvious situation, "Are you pretending to be clueless?"

Pretending to be clueless? Hmph, Zhao Guangran was definitely playing dumb. Such a great opportunity shouldn’t be wasted; there won’t be another such chance in the future.

"This matter has nothing to do with Ban Xia and the others. Maybe Mom wants to take them to see someone," Zhao Xuran hadn’t initially noticed some things but had after being home for a while.

See someone? It seemed the family didn’t have any connections with the Beijing side, at least in Zhao Guangran’s memory, his mother really didn’t have any ties there.

Zhao Xuran muttered, "It should be related to the person Aunt Wan mentioned on the note today."

Then regret hits Zhao Xu, how couldn’t he have paid more attention. Now matter how much Zhao Xuran tried to recall, he just couldn’t remember the person’s name, let alone their address.

Amazing! Gong Ruini remembered when Zhan Jing browsed the note Wan Qiweng wrote, Zhao Xuran was busy coaxing Zhan Zisu to eat, absolutely oblivious to Zhan Jing’s odd behavior at that moment.

Apparently, he really deduced this himself; Gong Ruini wanted to say the kid isn’t just ordinary sharp, no wonder he’d be so formidable in the future. At this rate, he’s already a cunning fox; in another ten or twenty years, he’ll be a crafty old fox.

Luckily, this fox occasionally scams others but fiercely protects his own. Even if Zhao Guangran screwed up, internal folks could discipline him, but if someone outside his approved circle tried to bully or reprimand Zhao Guangran, this kid would definitely make it right and avenge him.

Like Zhao Guangran thinks it’s his good nature that gives him many friends to play with, and no one dares to bully him. Actually, many times kids who wanted to cause trouble for him were dealt with by Zhao Xuran secretly, otherwise, with Zhao Guangran’s brains and fighting abilities alone, could he really have settled those issues?

It’s just that Zhao Guangran thinks he’s charming; let him carry such a lovely misconception to Beijing to start his new base.

"Actually, we could ask Aunt Wan," Gong Ruini suggested. Since they couldn’t remember, they might as well ask Wan Qiweng outright, although doing this might pique Wan Qiweng’s interest.

Asking Wan Qiweng would be a good solution, but Zhao Xuran vetoed the idea, "This is probably Mom’s private matter; it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask."

"Let’s wait till Mom wants to tell us." Regardless of why it was never mentioned before, Zhao Xuran trusted his mom would eventually bring it up.

Since they could hear the story from Zhan Jing, why stir up outsiders to know about it? Even if they found the address, they wouldn’t understand why mom is intent on going to Beijing.

Actually, Gong Ruini reckoned Hua Miaozhu might know a thing or two, but would she say anything? Gong Ruini truly didn’t have hopes.

If she were willing to speak, she should’ve explained the reason to Zhao Gang right when they got home to calm him down, but Hua Miaozhu didn’t do that.

No, it’s not quite right to say she didn’t do it; there was a moment Hua Miaozhu did reach out to grab Zhao Gang’s sleeve, probably wanting to say something but ultimately gave up on the idea.

"Your mom just wants to take Ban Xia and them to meet someone who was an old friend of your grandfather," Hua Miaozhu stepped in, revealing why Ban Xia and the others were going to Beijing to the crestfallen children.

So it truly was an old acquaintance of the Zhan Family. Gong Ruini got curious whether there was some sort of arrangement, perhaps an engagement or an intention to have Zhan Family’s descendants apprentice under them. Of course, these were merely Gong Ruini’s own thoughts.

An old friend of Grandpa? Then why couldn’t he go? Zhao Guangran felt incredibly aggrieved.

"The person once mentioned that if there were descendants from the Zhan Family, he could pass down some of his family’s medical skills."

Ah, really? What kind of close relationship is needed for that idea? It’s known that such Chinese medical families don’t readily share their skills, usually passing them on only to sons, not daughters, sons-in-law, or daughters-in-law unless there’s no son, which is why traditional medicine is declining.

Wouldn’t even teach such close relatives, how could be willing to teach an outsider? Seems the person is truly open-minded, made Gong Ruini genuinely curious about them, but unsure if they’ll get a chance to meet someday.

Indeed, someone recognized by Zhan Jing as important and respectable must be a master-level figure. Gong Ruini thought this way and figured they must be of high caliber.

Still, why was there never any mention before, let alone contact? Even if avoiding suspicion, one can’t be entirely out of touch during festivals.

Never contacted before, suddenly upfront with two kids at their doorstep. Gong Ruini was sincerely worried they’d get turned away.

"Grandma, we’ve never contacted them and just showing up like this, is that okay?" Zhao Xuran was genuinely worried they’d be refused entry.

"It’s not about not contacting; there’s no way to contact," Hua Miaozhu was somewhat anxious, while the family connection was decent when the family head was alive, years of no contact, even with valid reasons, meant uncertainty if they’ll be the same as before.

Oh, Gong Ruini understood, it seemed Zhan Jing attempted contact but failed and thus ceased trying to reach out.

However, Hua Miaozhu’s visible concern made Gong Ruini realize even she didn’t feel optimistic about their venture.

"I think Mom should visit first to gauge the person’s attitude." If able to converse with Grandpa, possibly their medical skills are excellent, and according to Wan Qiweng, they should be formidable. Yet, so what?

Even if the family is down now, they shouldn’t let Brother suffer to earn some skills, nor obligate him to study from someone. As long as he learns Grandpa’s medical heritage well enough with their mom, Zhao Xuran finds that satisfactory, able to uphold the family’s Shiyu Hall name.

Hua Miaozhu shared that sentiment, "If Xuran, you’re interested and gifted in medicine, you could go with your mom, but how old are Ban Xia and the others."

Hua Miaozhu honestly couldn’t understand why her daughter was so rushed. Even if intending Ban Xia and the others to learn from Old Xue, there’s no need to hurry, could wait till they’re older to study.

But her daughter adamantly denied her chances to persuade them; what could Hua Miaozhu do but resignedly reflect that her girl had grown up, had her own ideas, and didn’t need to heed her, an old woman’s opinions.