Chapter Thirty-Two: Laughing Discussion

  The capital city, due to its cool weather, has chrysanthemums blooming more luxuriantly than those in Jiangnan.

  In Zhou Lang's courtyard, there were all kinds of chrysanthemum flowers in various sizes, and the maidservants surrounded them to admire their beauty, with joyful laughter and pleasant conversations.

  "Fold it in half again." Qin Langjun said, his hands holding a mortar and pestle, using one hand to pound the contents with a loud thudding sound.

  The two girls ran over and picked a couple of chrysanthemums, bringing them back.

  The flower silk was ruthlessly pulled down and trampled into a mess.

  "Sanzi, you're actually capable of doing something so devastating, if word gets out, no one will believe it." Zhou Liulang said with a smile, leaning against the corridor.

  "This is what it means to make tea, and when done well, it can entice people even more, isn't that even more beautiful?" said Qin Langjun.

  "You're always messing with these things." Shūroku said.

  Behind her, a young maid quickly walked over, knelt down on the corridor and pushed over two bowls of tea.

  "Sir, young master, have some tea." She said with her head bowed.

  Zhou Lang stretched out his hand and picked up a drink to finish it off.

  Qin Langjun didn't take it and continued to play with flowers.

  "I don't drink this tea, it's disgusting," he said. "I want to try making some myself."

  Zhou Lang smiled but didn't speak, while Ya Tou looked up in surprise.

  "Does Mr. Lang also think this stir-fried tea is not good to eat?" she asked.

  Qin Langjun's hand paused for a moment.

  "Also?" he asked, looking at this girl.

  "Han Qín, don't you think this tea tastes bad?" asked Zhou Liulang.

  Half of the celery lowered its head.

  "Yes, I'm just a humble servant." She said with some unease.

  Qin Langjun smiled and waved his hand.

  "Not shallow, not shallow, it's rare to meet someone as understanding as you, great, great." He smiled.

  Zhou Lang pouted and took over the tea for Qin Langjun, tilting his head back to drink it.

  Ban Jin felt a little less tense in Qin Lang's laughter, and after seeing herself, the scrutinizing eyes always made her feel uneasy, but at this moment he looked at her with a much better expression.

  "What do you think makes a good-tasting tea?" Qin Langjun asked with a smile.

  The half-awakened man was at a loss for what to do when a servant woman came over and interrupted their conversation.

  "Sixth Master." She said with a curtsy.

  Seeing this woman, Ban Jin was slightly taken aback and sat up straight.

  "Has he replied?" Zhou Liulang asked casually.

  "Yes." The woman replied.

  "Haven't made it clear yet?" Zhou Liu Lang asked.

  "Yes, originally the shop was to be divided in two, and the fields would all belong to us. Madame Cheng agreed, but Second Master Cheng disagreed, saying that in the future, Jiaoniang would have to rely on the fields for food and clothing, so why divide them again now?" The woman said.

  Zhou Lang let out a cold laugh.

  "You've eaten so much for so many years, you won't want to spit it out now." He said disdainfully, "Then slowly divide it up, wanting to take advantage of my family's kindness? It's not that easy."

  The woman echoed him.

  "The old master and mistress have given orders to that effect, I must go there again immediately." She said, hesitating for a moment, "And also, the child has been sent to the Taoist temple."

  "What? Wife?" Ban Jin shouted in a fluster, tears welling up in her eyes as she took several steps forward on her knees. "Has the mistress been sent to the nunnery?"

  Zhou Lang gave her a somewhat dissatisfied look.

  "What's all the fuss about?" he said displeasedly.

  Half of the celery hung down its head and held back tears.

  "The children of the Cheng family are naturally in charge, and they don't care about our affairs." Zhou Liu Lang said, waving his hand.

  "Yes, sir also said so." The woman replied with a smile.

  Ban Jin wanted to speak behind Zhou Lang but didn't dare to, while Qin Langjun continued to quietly stir the flowers, seemingly not hearing their conversation.

  "There's something else." The woman was about to turn around, but stopped and took out a book. "Half Qing, this was brought over by someone from the other side, saying it was for you."

  Ban Jin suddenly let out a cry, got up and rushed down without even putting on her shoes. At first glance, she saw that her body was trembling and tears were welling up in her eyes.

  She was so unusual that everyone looked over, even Qin Langjun, who was making trouble, raised his head and took a look.

  "Daughter... daughter..." Ban Jin choked out, clutching her book and kneeling on the ground, unable to control herself.

  "Who gave it?" asked Shūroku on Saturday, "What is it?"

  "This is a record of all the things that happened on our journey here, written down by the slave girl and the young lady." Half Cinnamon cried.

  Zhou Lang hummed and ignored him, while Qin Langjun seemed lost in thought.

  "Daughter, is there something you want to tell me?" asked Ban Jin, crying and looking up at the servant woman.

  Qin Langjun furrowed his brow and looked at this half-witted girl.

  The woman shook her head.

  "You go down." Zhou Liulang said.

  My wife responded and turned around, walked a few steps and stopped again, seemingly having something to say but hesitating.

  "There's something..." she said hesitantly, turning around.

  "Say it," said Shūrō.

  "The new maid beside her, also called Ban Qin," said the woman.

  Ban Jin suddenly raised her head, tears streaming down her face, and after a moment of stunned silence, she burst into loud wailing sobs.

  Daughter, after all, is remembering this name, she must be thinking of her own!

  Zhou Lang drove them all away, and his ears were finally a little quieter.

  "What's most annoying is that these women are always crying and wailing." He said, looking at Qin Langjun with a thoughtful expression, "Have you been driven mad by their crying?"

  Qin Langjun came back to his senses and smiled, putting down the medicine pestle in his hand.

  "Sixth Brother," he said, "You were at the Zhou's place, and you saw that foolish younger sister of yours before seeing this girl, right?"

  "No, I saw her do it," said Zhou Liang, with a flick of his sleeve as he sat up straight. "As soon as she came in, she put on a good show, leaving the people from the Cheng family stunned and speechless. It was really entertaining, and what's even better is that she actually knew my intentions and manipulated that fool into tricking the group of people from the Cheng family."

  He laughed loudly and heartily at this point.

  "Otherwise, I would have wasted another day at the Zhou's house, what a relief." he said.

  "Didn't you see that fool?" Qin Langjun asked, frowning.

  "What's wrong? What's not right?" Zhou Liulang asked.

  "I feel that something is wrong, but I can't quite put my finger on it," said Qin Langjun, leaning back in his chair and gazing at the chrysanthemums filling the courtyard. "The letter that was delivered to this humble abode from over there..."

  Zhōu Líu láng děng le bàn rì, děng lái zhè yī jù huà bù yóu hài le shēng.

  Translation: Zhou Liu Lang waited for half a day and was overjoyed when he heard this sentence.

  "That's hers, it's normal for the Cheng family to not return it." he said.

  "Yes, and also gave a new name to the little girl, still called this name." Qin Langjun said.

  "The Cheng family just humored that fool so he wouldn't make a fuss," Zhou Liu Lang said, "You're thinking about these trivial matters, how boring."

  Qin Langjun smiled and didn't think much of it.

  "If it was really an unintentional move by the Cheng family, then so be it." He said, "If that fool meant to..."

  "What's wrong with being foolish?" Zhou Liulang asked.

  "This fool is really a narrow-minded and vengeful person." Qin Langjun said slowly while stroking his hand.

  Zhou Lang looked at him for a moment and burst out laughing with his head thrown back.

  "It's possible that what that girl said and did in front of the Cheng family was also taught by this fool." He put away his smile and spoke seriously.

  Qin Lang nodded.

  "It's also possible," he said, looking at Shūroku.

  Zhou Lang burst out laughing again.

  "Mulberry, maybe I'm a fool!" He laughed loudly.

  The courtyard of the Zhou family was deep and secluded, with laughter echoing but unable to reach outside the gate.

  Outside the gate, a young servant was sweeping the street. A team of horse-drawn carriages came hastily, and seeing the leading officer clearing the way, relying on his dignity, the young servant from the Zhou family knew that this was an official's household, and it was not a low-ranking official at that, so he hurriedly made way for them.

  "Who is this?"

  Everyone discussed it among themselves, and in the capital city, news spread quickly, so soon everyone knew.

  The newly appointed Minister of Personnel is Chen Shao.

  This young prodigy, who became a jinshi at the age of 18 and had served in various positions in both the imperial court and local governments for many years, finally re-entered officialdom after three years of mourning for his mother, and was directly appointed as the Minister of Personnel, in charge of promoting, demoting, and appointing officials.

  Mr. Chen, the high-ranking official, has been away from Beijing for three years. Although there are people guarding his former residence, it still looks somewhat dilapidated due to long-term vacancy. Of course, those who want to offer to repair the house in advance can almost line up from the door to the city gate, but Mr. Chen, who has always been upright and honest, would not do such a thing.

  Even the people who came to greet him were not on the street, a simple horse-drawn carriage, a few elderly servants in attendance, sent away the official errand, and Mr. Chen's gate was as unassuming as a small door and a small household.

  "Father." Mr. Chen, who was about forty-five years old, personally helped an elderly man down from the carriage.

  "Father." A little girl popped out from behind the old man and called out with a smile, "Dan Niang wants to go play on the street!"

  Mr. Chen smiled and first picked up the little girl and handed her over to the servant woman, then supported his father.

  The old man's face was somewhat haggard, and it could be seen that this journey had been quite exhausting.

  He slowly walked up the stairs, suddenly stopped his feet, and stiffened for a moment.

  "Father?" Chen Xiang anxiously asked.

  The old man stood still for a moment before his body relaxed.

  "My waist hurts a bit, it'll be fine after some exercise." he said.

  "It's all because of me that Father has been running around and getting tired," said Chen Xianggong with a look of shame.

  The old man didn't say a word, and with one hand behind his back, he rubbed it heavily.

  The numbness and pain have been getting more frequent, probably due to the long bus ride. I'm finally home, time to rest this old body, can't afford to get sick. Three years of mourning for my mother has already delayed my son's career, if something happens to me, his hopes for further advancement will be completely dashed.

  Old man, your illness must be cured as soon as possible.

  A voice seemed to flash by her ear.

  The old man's legs, which were about to take a step, paused for a moment.

  "Father?" Chen Xiang asked anxiously, "Why don't we invite a doctor to take a look?"

  The old man hesitated for a moment, nodded, and stepped inside.

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