Chapter 200: Consideration
“However, I have some news here that you’re definitely going to find useful.” Chen Cai held up two fingers. “Just twenty taels.”
After saying that, he even winked at Shang Wan.
Shang Wan just felt it was an eyesore. She pulled Xiao Huan along, turned, and walked away, while raising her other hand and waving back. “Keep the shop for me. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
Chen Cai: “…”
Stingy to death with you!
Xiao Huan turned back and glanced at him, then asked Shang Wan, “Sis, aren’t you curious what the news is?”
“Curiosity killed the cat.” Shang Wan said, “Anyway, it has little to do with us. It’s fine not knowing.”
Selling one piece of news for twenty taels—why doesn’t that Chen guy just go rob someone?
Her silver wasn’t blown here by the wind!
Uh… at least part of it wasn’t.
The two went to a restaurant for a meal. Then Shang Wan drove the ox cart to Qiao Mansion.
Qiao Yu’an was at the mansion. Hearing the gatekeeper report, he hurried out.
“I was just about to send A Le to find you.” Qiao Yu’an glanced at the ox cart. “Why didn’t Cheng Jing come with you?”
“Husband is studying at home.” Shang Wan said. “Do you need him for something?”
Qiao Yu’an: “It’s not me. It’s Master Chu. Master Chu wants to ask Cheng Jing to help him paint a Treading Snow Painting.”
Shang Wan: “What’s the reward?”
Qiao Yu’an was stumped. He really hadn’t asked about that.
“Painting takes effort and energy. It can’t be for nothing, right?”
Qiao Yu’an thought for a moment and said, “You go back and tell Cheng Jing first. After I ask Master Chu clearly, I’ll have A Le go tell you.”
“Alright.” Shang Wan nodded.
After finishing with that matter, Qiao Yu’an finally asked what Shang Wan had come to him for.
Shang Wan didn’t beat around the bush and asked, “How’s Sang Qi doing?”
“My people have been watching him.” Qiao Yu’an said. “He went to Lu Residence twice, then returned to the Escort Agency afterward. Everything about his actions is as usual.”
Shang Wan looked at him. “I heard Lu Residence is moving the whole family to the Capital City.”
Qiao Yu’an’s face showed shock as he said in astonishment, “When?”
“These couple of days. They’ve already started packing their belongings.” Shang Wan asked, “Given the relationship between the Qiao and Lu families, you haven’t heard any rumors?”
Qiao Yu’an shook his head. “I’ve been at the county school lately and haven’t heard anything.”
Shang Wan narrowed her eyes and eyed him suspiciously.
Qiao Yu’an felt his scalp tingle from her gaze, and he felt uncomfortable all over.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Shang Wan withdrew her gaze and asked, “Do you have anything else?”
“No.”
“Oh, I’m off then.” Shang Wan waved at him and drove the ox cart away.
Qiao Yu’an didn’t delay either and quickly sent someone to Lu Residence to inquire about the news.
He had a hunch that the Lu family moving away was related to that separate courtyard Lu Chengjing had asked him to keep an eye on.
……
……
Returning home under the blazing sun.
As soon as Shang Wan stepped through the courtyard gate, a little meatball appeared clinging to her leg.
“Mom!” The little baby girl had just bathed, her little face rosy and flushed, the soft fuzz on her head still wet. She happily hugged Shang Wan’s leg and rubbed against it.
Shang Wan’s hands were full and she had no free hands to pick her up. Yuan Yuan wasn’t picky either. She plopped her little bottom onto Shang Wan’s foot, wrapped her small hands tightly around Shang Wan’s leg, and steadily became a pendant.
Shang Wan: “…”
Fine.
Shang Wan dragged her sweet burden on her foot into the kitchen, placed the things on the cutting board, and only then had free hands to pick up the child.
Yuan Yuan twisted her little body, still wanting to play.
Shang Wan doted on the child, so she dragged the little baby girl to the bedroom.
Lu Chengjing was indeed in the bedroom.
He had just bathed Yuan Yuan. She had splashed him all over while playing, wetting his clothes. He was changing clothes in the room.
As soon as Shang Wan entered, she saw a snow-white back. This fox seemed to have gained a bit of weight.
Hearing someone enter without knocking, Lu Chengjing knew it was Shang Wan.
He tied his sash before turning around. Seeing the little baby girl wriggling on Shang Wan’s foot, the corners of his lips curved helplessly.
Yuan Yuan raised her small hand and waved it at Lu Chengjing, wanting Daddy to join the game.
Lu Chengjing: “…”
He took a clean towel and picked up Yuan Yuan to dry the little baby girl’s hair.
Shang Wan went behind the screen to change into casual home clothes, undid her hair tie, letting her black hair cascade down. She combed it as she walked out.
Lu Chengjing freed a hand to pour her a cup of herbal tea.
Shang Wan tied her hair back up and sipped the herbal tea from the cup.
With her there keeping watch, Yuan Yuan didn’t dare play too rough with her daddy and obediently let him dry her hair.
While drying, the little one opened her small mouth in a yawn, her eyelids drooping as she drowsily fell asleep.
Shang Wan poked her cheek with a finger. It was soft, just like dough.
The little baby girl drooled from her mommy’s poking, but the mommy had no self-awareness at all and kept poking and pinching playfully.
Perhaps annoyed by the fussing, Yuan Yuan opened her mouth and chomped down by feel, nearly biting Shang Wan’s finger.
Shang Wan: “…”
Such a fierce cub.
Lu Chengjing pressed his lips to hold back a laugh, wiped the drool from Yuan Yuan’s mouth, and carried her to the little bed to sleep.
Once the person was settled, Shang Wan asked, “Why didn’t Yuan Yuan take her nap?”
“Shi Tou took her into the mountains to find ginseng. They went pretty far, so lunch was late. Sleeping right after eating isn’t good, so I coaxed her to play. Now’s a good time for her to sleep.”
Shang Wan nodded and asked, “Did you find the ginseng?”
“Found two. Shi Tou was worried the ginseng would run away, so he tied them with red string and bound them to a tree trunk.”
Shang Wan was helpless. Ginseng doesn’t really have legs—how could it run?
“What about the seeds?”
“Not ripe yet.” Lu Chengjing picked up the fan nearby and fanned Shang Wan. “The book says ginseng seeds mature from late July to October, usually harvested in autumn.”
Shang Wan nodded, remembering the matter.
Her spiritual fields were increasing now. She could definitely spare a plot to plant ginseng.
“Qiao Yu’an asked me to tell you that Master Chu from the county school wants you to help paint a Treading Snow Painting. He didn’t ask about the reward. He’ll send word once he asks.”
Shang Wan poured herself another cup of herbal tea and looked at Lu Chengjing. “Do you know that Master Chu?”
Lu Chengjing shook his head. Master Chu hadn’t come to the county school yet when he was studying there.
“Then why did he suddenly ask you to help with a painting?”
Lu Chengjing didn’t know the reason either.
“Maybe he likes your paintings.” Shang Wan gave a reason and brought up another matter. “Are you going back to the county school to study?”
Lu Chengjing countered, “Do you want me to go back to the county school?”
“I just think studying can’t be done behind closed doors. Exchanging ideas is also important.” Shang Wan said. “But whether you go back or not, decide for yourself.”
Ever since the case was cleared and news of Lu Chengjing’s leg injury recovery spread, the county school had sent people several times to invite him back to school.
After all, Lu Chengjing had always been top of his class at the county school and was the masters’ favorite.
Lu Chengjing had never agreed.
Shang Wan figured he had his own considerations and didn’t interfere.
Lu Chengjing pondered for a moment and said, “I’ll go back once family matters are settled.”
Seeing he had already decided, Shang Wan brought up looking at shops.
“There are two places. One in north of the city, one in south of the city.”
She carefully described the situations of the two shops. “Judging solely by the shop itself, I prefer the one north of the city. Good layout, big courtyard, and the backyard can be lived in.”
What Shang Wan hesitated about was, “But it’s surrounded by restaurants. What’s it mean to suddenly stick a apothecary in there?”
