CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 263: CUI HUAIXIN

Jin Dongsheng didn’t understand, until he was tied up by Fu Qionglin’s men, he still hadn’t figured it out.

How come a few reckless citizens suddenly appeared and dared to report him face to face?

Jin Dongsheng suspected that these citizens were arranged by Fu Qionglin beforehand, but he had no evidence.

Fu Qionglin came and went quickly, taking only three days to sort out the grain store’s follow-up issues and taking Jin Dongsheng to the capital.

Before leaving, Fu Qionglin left a few words for County Magistrate Ma, who was also quite terrified, advising him to do well.

After Fu Qionglin left, grain prices in Luocheng returned to normal. Although people still needed vouchers and faced limits to buy rice, the prices had dropped, and the people were very happy.

Compared to the people’s joy, County Magistrate Ma was uneasy. He had also been involved in selling grain at high prices. Why did Fu Qionglin arrest Jin Cangchang but not him?

County Magistrate Ma couldn’t figure it out and immediately sent messages separately to the Minister of Agriculture and Prince Jin.

Su Jingchen initially planned to visit his maternal grandfather’s house with his brother, but upon reaching Funan, they found his grandfather gravely ill. The originally dispirited old Zheng Shopkeeper recovered considerably upon seeing his two grandsons.

After New Year’s, when the old Zheng Shopkeeper heard that Su Jingchen and Su Jingyue were returning to Luocheng, his previously strong spirits suddenly diminished, and Su Jingchen and Su Jingyue stayed by his bedside, taking care of him until he passed away.

After burying the old Zheng Shopkeeper, Su Jingchen and Su Jingyue wanted to start their return journey to Luocheng but were blocked by their uncle.

It was said that their maternal grandfather left some last words before dying.

Since old Zheng Shopkeeper married his illegitimate daughter to Su Dafu, Su Dafu had taken the Zheng family back to Linzhou, and neither he nor his daughter had been seen for many years.

He only learned about her death years later from Su Jingchen.

Though old Zheng Shopkeeper didn’t overly love his illegitimate daughter Zheng, she was his flesh and blood and had given him two such good grandsons that he wanted to pass some of his estate to them.

Su Jingchen hadn’t planned to claim the shop his grandfather left him, but before he could clarify with his uncle, his grandmother came out scolding him terribly, accusing them of hearing about the old Zheng Shopkeeper’s serious illness and coming to divide the estate without any filial piety. All they did to show filial piety at his bedside, feeding soup and giving medicine, was just to win over the old man’s wealth.

The grandmother Cui was not Su Jingchen’s mother’s biological parent. Zheng’s mother was merely a concubine of old Zheng Shopkeeper who had died many years ago.

As Zheng fell into the viewing pond and got wet, saved by the servant Su Dafu, Cui suggested marrying Zheng to Su Dafu and gave him some money, encouraging him to return home in glory, aiming to send these concubine-born children away so that they wouldn’t be a bother.

Now, Zheng’s two sons who hadn’t been heard of for over a decade suddenly appeared and won the old man’s favor, being given the two shops on Middle Street, one for each son. How could that be?

Cui didn’t want to divide the estate among the concubines’ sons and daughters, let alone these who didn’t bear the Zheng surname trying to take part of her son’s share.

However, despite Cui’s unwillingness, she couldn’t defy her legitimate son Cui Huaixin, as widows follow their sons.

Why would Cui Huaixin want to give the two shops to the Su Jingchen brothers? Aside from respecting the old man’s wishes, it was also because Cui Huaixin believed Su Jingchen was more than meets the eye.

Achieving the top ranking in a prefecture examination, is that something ordinary people can do?

On top of those days’ observations, Cui Huaixin was convinced that Su Jingchen would surely make a name for himself.

In recent years, the Zheng family’s shops have spread across Jiangnan, starting from a herbal medicine business to venturing into various industries. When people reach a certain level of wealth, they aspire for power.

If Su Jingchen could excel in the civil service examinations and succeed in officialdom, then the Zheng family would have an alliance with the government.

Hence, regardless of whether Su Jingchen wanted the two shops, Cui Huaixin was determined to give them.

Su Jingchen couldn’t refute and ended up delaying his return to Luocheng while handling the matters of the two shops.

Su Jingchen entrusted the two shops to his mother’s biological brother, his uncle Zheng Huaixing, to operate and manage on his behalf.

Zheng Huaixing and Cui Huaixin wanted Su Jingchen to stay in the academy in Funan to study, but Su Jingchen had recently agreed with Principal Zhao of Jianyin Academy, believing one should keep one’s word.

Another reason was that Yu Xiaolian once said that when the princes each occupied a territory and waged large-scale wars, Yu State was one of the few places in Great Liang that wasn’t affected by the flames of war.

Having taken care of everything, when Su Jingchen returned to Luocheng with Su Jingyue, it was already the end of March in the lunar calendar.

Yu Xiaolian went to the post station to send a letter to Fu Zihan and picked up a letter from Jiang Lin for her. She was about to go home but turned and saw Su Jingchen, thinking she was seeing things.

Yu Xiaolian rubbed her eyes and saw the person in front of her hadn’t disappeared and was indeed real, confirming Su Jingchen really came back.

Yu Xiaolian stepped forward, "Su Jingchen, why did you just come back? I thought you wouldn’t return!"

Su Jingchen was taking baggage off the carriage and, hearing Yu Xiaolian’s voice, handed the baggage to Su Jingyue to take inside.

Su Jingchen explained, "My grandfather passed away, so I was delayed for a while."

Yu Xiaolian acknowledged, thinking that despite Su Jingchen being an absolute beauty, he couldn’t escape the fate of a drake voice during transition.

"Have you been well lately?" Su Jingchen asked.

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "I’m doing great, eating well and feeling strong!"

Su Jingchen frowned, wanting to say, I’m not well, not eating well, not sleeping well, and missing you.

But recalling how the last time he confessed to Yu Xiaolian, she said she wasn’t emotionally moved by him, he hesitated.

In his view, pestering someone who doesn’t like you is impolite and immoral.

Thus, ever since that day at Xiangyang Lane, Su Jingchen had been restraining himself from disturbing Yu Xiaolian.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian cheerfully smiling now, he felt sorry for himself.

This is a heartless person, no need to be upset.

Su Jingchen comforted himself internally.

Yu Xiaolian said, "Principal Zhao asked me about you. Since you’re back, hurry to report to the academy tomorrow!"

Su Jingchen responded with a nod, originally planning to prove his strength at this Spring Examination, but he missed it again. Those who knew thought he was delayed by matters; those who didn’t might believe he lacked true abilities and chickened out.

After all, during his initial days at Jianyin Academy, there were many skeptical voices among other scholars about him.