CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 534: DIG A PIT FOR CUI YUN AND BURY HIM

This string of words was sharp and incisive, striking right at the heart of the matter.

Shen Wei’s smile was barely maintained. Ms. Shen Chun half-lowered her eyebrows and, uncommonly, she did not speak to help extricate from the awkward situation.

The meal was consumed in abnormal silence, except for Cui Yun, who was oblivious, and Shen Hua, who was fanning the flames without realizing it.

The remaining three ate without any appetite.

Shen Zhi soon put down his chopsticks.

Once he took over the care of Shen Hua, Yicui retreated to one side, and the girl’s gaze had merely to fleet somewhere, when the desired dish would be picked and placed in her bowl.

Of course, this included dishes she did not like to eat.

At the Shen Family’s dinner table, picky eating was not allowed.

Seeing that Cui Yun and Shen Hua had almost finished eating, Shen Zhi, who had hardly eaten anything, gracefully stood up and bowed to the two.

"My son has no appetite; I shall take my leave first," he said.

He followed all the necessary etiquette meticulously, yet his attitude was resolutely clear.

"Yangyang, follow brother," he called.

He took the hand of the little girl who, having finished her meal, was already taking out her mirror.

Cui Yun had come with him and naturally he also took his leave, though without a trace of respect, he merely nodded slightly towards Chun Yun.

When they left, the room became even more desolate. The servants hurriedly bowed their heads as they cleared the dishes away, terrified of making even the slightest noise.

Shen Wei’s forehead veins bulged with suppressed anger, as he finally vented, "Look at the fine son you’ve raised!"

He had said the same thing when Shen Zhi topped the academy exams and also when Shen Zhi made him proud in front of the merchants and businessmen, only the tone was different.

"Yangyang being young and ignorant is one thing, but him! What did I send him to study for? The flesh may be cut away, but the sinews still connect—what did he mean by that?"

"Had there not been outsiders present, I would have certainly—"

His words cut off, interrupted by someone.

"That too is the master’s son."

Chun Yun was different from those women who only relied on men; she had skills, the capability for strong judgment, and her own pride.

It was exactly these qualities that Shen Wei had admired when he had sought to marry her. But now that he had everything, he wanted to clip her wings, forcing Chun Yun to become like Xue Mouyan, a caged bird.

Chun Yun’s voice was gentle: "Up to now, I’ve turned a blind eye, unwilling to fuss over these matters. But I think I was wrong. The child’s words are not without reason. As for his second uncle, let it be, but the eldest son of the clan elders’ family went to the gambling house last month and lost everything, yet the creditors came to our residence for payment. What kind of sense does that make?"

"You helped pay off the debt, but that wasn’t something the Shen Family should have had to do for him. He’s a gambler; for so many years, his bad habits have not changed, on the contrary, they’ve become even worse. Because every time there’s someone to clean up his mess."

Mountains of gold and silver wouldn’t be enough for his squandering.

It’s Shen Wei who’s cleaning up now; he’s willing to come forward, so Chun Yun held her peace. But what about in the future?

Her Brother Zhi is just a delicate scholar. Could it be that he should frequent such places and redeem people before all sorts of commoners?

The more she thought about it, the tighter her frown became.

"People always say how Yangyang spends money lavishly and is raised spoiled. How does it concern them if the Shen Family’s money is all spent on her? Yet if we really did the sums, she probably hasn’t spent as much as has been spent on outsiders."

The more Shen Wei listened, the more his head throbbed painfully.

"I say one thing, and it seems you have ten things to counter with," he retorted.

"What I’m saying is something the master should still listen to," she insisted.

He is the Family Head, but everyone challenges him! Shen Wei remained silent for a long time, nobody seeing the resentment and towering rage in his eyes. Finally, to soothe Chun Yun, he patted her hand: "I have indeed neglected certain things, in the future I will deal with things more cautiously."

————

Meanwhile, the group departed from the main compound.

Cui Yun looked up at the sky, which was very gloomy and dark.

"From what I see, your father won’t take heed of what was said," he commented.

Shen Zhi furrowed his brows deeply.

"Yes."

He was well aware that this time too, things would be picked up heavily but set down lightly. The houses that should be given will be given, the Silver that should be distributed in the future will also be distributed.

"I was merely stating my position," he said.

Shen Zhi helplessly added, "Daddy has always been one not to change his mind easily."

If that’s the case, then why bother?"

In Cui Yun’s eyes, if it was as he suspected, Shen Wei was indeed a beast with a human face and a beast’s heart. He might cherish Shen Zhi, but what was more cherished was Shen Zhi’s knowledge.

There is a limit of three, if Shen Zhi repeatedly crosses his bottom line and disrespects him, who can guarantee that he would not be the second Shen Hua?

Without the strength to contend against him, it would simply be like throwing an egg against a rock, with no chance of victory.

Shen Zhi forced a smile: "Truth and falsehood are known by discussion, to speak falsehood as truth is folly. Right and wrong, a mistake is a mistake, even if he is my father, I should speak up."

Cui Yun watched him with interest.

"I shall remember this phrase."

Shen Zhi did not understand its profound meaning and felt ashamed at that moment.

"For today’s incident, it has been a source of amusement for Young Master Cui."

Cui Yun walked neither quickly nor slowly, the breeze lifting his clothes as he left behind an aloof yet meaningful sentence: "Judge right and wrong for oneself, leave fame and blame to others, and find peace in fate. I hope Mr. Shen remembers well."

Shen Zhi didn’t understand.

He always felt that Cui Yun was hinting at something.

But indeed, these words could enlighten people with wisdom.

Shen Hua wiped her mouth, she simply didn’t understand anyway. Then disdainfully: "What’s with the pretense of knowledge!"

Her brother was the most coveted scholar in Fengzhou!

Passing by Shen Hua, his clothes brushed against her. In the blink of an eye. Cui Yun quickly obtained an item in his hand,

Shen Hua was completely unaware, but accustomed to distorting the truth, the girl swayed and readied to accuse falsely, "Why did you bump into me?"

"Miss Shen better not falsely accuse me."

"I am accusing you, so what? If you can, let the government office arrest me."

Cui Yun looked at her expressionlessly.

"Ignorant fool."

Shen Hua: ???

Cui Yun sighed, "If you must be this way, I have nothing more to say. But I can’t stand to be falsely accused by you for no reason, so let’s..."

Shen Hua thought Cui Yun would ask Shen Zhi to speak some fair words, but instead he said.

"Should Mrs. Shen come over and seek justice for you?"

This person, the more she looked, the more annoying he was!

Shen Hua gritted her teeth, just about to explode, but Shen Zhi held her back.

The girl pursed her lips, only able to pat her left hand with her right, comforting herself: "Yangyang won’t get angry."

Her voice was very light, but Cui Yun heard every single word.

"He did save your life after all. Don’t bother with such a tactless person."

But she pursed her lips, truly unwilling to let it go.

She could only pat her right hand with her left. This time with a tone of immense vexation: "But what if I can’t help wanting to beat him up?"

"If he bullies me again, just beat him up and bury him in a pit afterward."

Having made up her mind, Shen Hua raised her head to meet Cui Yun’s complicated gaze.

"This might be our last conversation."

She urged: "Don’t say anything, just write your will quickly."

Shen Zhi held her down again.

So, she seriously patted her left hand with her right: "I won’t bother with it."

In a babyish voice: "Yangyang is generous!"

While saying this, she didn’t forget to straighten her back, apparently praising herself.

Really... quite a dramatist.

’Clap clap clap’ Cui Yun casually clapped his hands in response.

"What are you doing?" Shen Hua was on guard.

Cui Yun: "I’m just going along with you."