Chapter 266: Misunderstanding
Lu Chengjing finished writing and came out to find his daughter. Chu Xu looked up and saw him, immediately running over to greet him, “Uncle Lu!”
Lu Chengjing was stunned for a moment, then softened his expression, reaching out to ruffle the child’s head, “When did you arrive?”
“Just now.” Chu Xu tilted his head up, giving Lu Chengjing a thumbs up, “Uncle Lu, you got top scholar on your first try, that’s amazing.”
Lu Chengjing opened his mouth just as he was about to speak when a clamor suddenly arose outside the mansion, one of the voices being Shi Tou’s.
Shang Wan’s figure flickered and she went out.
The others also hurried out to see.
“Want to fight?” Shi Tou glared at the bearded man in front of him, rolling up his sleeves to prepare for a fight.
He had gone to the academy to withdraw today, and upon returning, he saw this group gathered at his own doorway, having even beaten someone and trying to barge in.
“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding.” Chen Cai stood between the two, “Let’s talk it out nicely, gentlemen use words not fists.”
“No misunderstanding.” Shi Tou pushed Chen Cai aside, “So many of them surrounding my house doorway, even drawing their knives. If I hadn’t returned in time, they would’ve beaten their way in.”
“I just wanted to knock on the door earlier.” The bearded man spoke up with an explanation.
“You beat up my family’s steward, and that’s just wanting to knock?” Shi Tou pointed at the steward nearby with a big swollen lump on his forehead.
The steward had been pushed by the bearded man, unprepared, and crashed into the doorpost. His vision was still seeing stars.
“He didn’t stand steady himself.” A lackey standing behind the bearded man muttered.
Shi Tou was as protective as his sister. Hearing this, he immediately got angry, “You beat someone and think you’re in the right?”
He was just about to land a fist on the bearded man to let him taste his strength when his forward-lunging body was suddenly pulled back.
He didn’t even need to turn around; this familiar force meant it was definitely his sister.
The youth immediately complained, “Sis, they beat our family member and won’t apologize.”
Shang Wan released Shi Tou’s clothes, glanced at the bearded man and his group, and asked Chen Cai standing nearby, “What’s going on?”
“This is just a misunderstanding.” Chen Cai saw Shang Wan come out to intervene and let out a long breath, pointing at the bearded man, “This is Deputy General Shi of the Chu Family Army, not here to make trouble.”
He then pointed at Shang Wan, saying to Shi Changsheng, “This is Shopkeeper Shang of the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion.”
Shi Changsheng nodded to Shang Wan, his tiger-like eyes carrying a probing look, “What movement technique did you use just now?”
This woman had appeared in the blink of an eye, and even with his eyesight, he hadn’t seen it clearly.
“Lightness skill.” Shang Wan was also sizing up this deputy general, asking, “Are you here for A Nian?”
The brushed-off deputy general was unhappy, though his expression was hidden by the beard and unclear. He nodded and asked, “Where is the young master?”
“Uncle Shi.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Xu ran out from inside the gate, but instead of pouncing on him, he hugged the youth who had just been about to fight him.
The two bumped heads and whispered a few words, looking like they had a good relationship.
Shi Changsheng immediately felt upset. All the way here, he’d hunted wild rabbits and grilled mountain chickens for that kid A Nian for nothing.
Chen Cai recounted what had happened earlier. As he said, it was just a misunderstanding.
Shi Changsheng hadn’t beaten anyone; he was just naturally strong, and the steward couldn’t withstand it, so he fell and hit the doorpost.
This group’s knives had always been in hand; they drew them because those two’s scabbards were broken with nowhere to sheathe.
“Aunt Shang, Uncle Lu, Uncle Shi has no ill intentions.” Chu Xu now remembered Shi Changsheng, raising his small hand to vouch for him.
“Since it’s a misunderstanding, clearing it up is fine.” Lu Chengjing cupped his hands toward Shi Changsheng, “My younger brother is young and acts impulsively, please don’t take offense.”
Shi Changsheng waved it off, “It’s not entirely a misunderstanding; I did accidentally push the man down.”
He gave the steward some silver as medical expenses.
Thinking of how he’d just cursed this group thoroughly, Shi Tou felt a bit embarrassed. After apologizing, he helped the steward inside to apply medicine.
Lu Chengjing then invited Shi Changsheng and his group inside.
“Uncle Shi, this is the Yuan Yuan little sister I mentioned to you.” Chu Xu held Yuan Yuan’s hand as they walked beside Shi Changsheng, his little chin raised proudly.
Shi Changsheng looked down at the little chubby doll beside him. She was fair and plump, quite endearing, and didn’t seem afraid of him.
It was rare for a little baby girl not to fear his appearance.
He deliberately made a fierce face and leaned close, intending to tease the little baby girl, but his cheek suddenly hurt—three hairs from his beard had been yanked by the little baby girl in front of him.
The lackeys all gasped. Yanking the beard—three whole ones! Would the general fly into a rage?
Yuan Yuan had been interested in the black beard on this bear-like uncle’s face earlier. Now that it was right in front of her, how could she not tug a few to see?
But once she had them in hand, she started disliking them, patting her small hand to try sticking them back on the bear-like uncle.
But how could yanked-out beard hairs stick back? Yuan Yuan thought they could, so her little palm patted upward repeatedly, turning Deputy General Shi’s cheek red.
The lackeys gasped again. This little doll was so brave.
Before Shi Changsheng could react, Chu Xu scooped up Yuan Yuan and ran to the backyard, fleeing as if chased by a dog.
The three beard hairs fluttered down to the ground, blown by the wind under the eaves to a corner.
Shi Changsheng’s face immediately darkened as he looked toward the doll’s parents.
Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing stood there as if nothing had happened. Even when Shi Changsheng looked over, Shang Wan politely smiled at him.
Shi Changsheng: “…”
Though he didn’t want to quibble with a little baby girl, wasn’t the attitude of you parents a bit off?
He was a general after all!
Chen Cai suddenly coughed, giving Shi Changsheng a look.
Don’t forget you’re here to give thanks.
Shi Changsheng had no rapport with Chen Cai and even thought Chen Cai’s eye was twitching.
Chen Cai: “…”
Fortunately, the awkward atmosphere didn’t last long. For the sake of these people being close to Chu Xu, Shang Wan spoke up to smooth things over.
The group sat down in the hall, and Xiao Huan went to brew tea.
Shi Changsheng started the conversation, mainly expressing thanks from their marshal to Shang Wan’s family, and presented the gifts.
The gifts were precious rather than numerous. Looking at the items on the table, Chen Cai guessed Chu Xu must have said plenty of good things about Shang Wan and the others after returning home—he felt envious just looking.
At the same time, the deputy general offered to escort Shang Wan’s group to the capital city with his brothers.
This was partly because Chu Xu insisted on going with Shang Wan and the others, but most importantly, it was Marshal Chu’s kind gesture.
The journey from Dongning County to the capital city was long; with Shi Changsheng and his group escorting, it would surely be much safer.
Though Shang Wan felt her family didn’t need it— if they really ran into mountain bandits or robbers, who would clean up whom was uncertain.
But she accepted the sentiment.
That place in the capital city full of nobles—being on good terms with Duke Dingguo’s Mansion was no harm.
The mansion didn’t have enough rooms, but fortunately Shang Wan and the others were setting off in a few days. Shang Wan booked rooms at the nearest inn for Shi Changsheng and his group to stay temporarily.
The day of departure was drawing nearer.
