Chapter 91: What Else To Look At, Your Guts?
The Golden Crow sank in the west, and the Jade Rabbit rose in the east.
Torches were already lit under the Old Elm Tree. Lu Chengjing flipped the account book to the last page, his voice slightly hoarse as he read out the names and quantities.
There were few literate people in the village, and none who could read the account book from start to finish. So, no one could help Lu Chengjing with his task. Even though he tried to spare his voice, after reading all afternoon, it inevitably became hoarse.
Zhang Er and the others could take turns, their repeated chanting voices still loud and clear.
Rong Niangzi and Aunt Zhang weighed out the grain according to the chanted numbers together, while Aunt Zhou and the others took turns resting on the side.
Shang Wan borrowed honey from the Yuan Family and mixed a large pot of honey water, pouring a cup for each person who had been using their voice, including Lu Chengjing.
Lu Chengjing drank the honey water while looking at the account book. Once the last bag of grain was distributed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The villagers happily carried their grain home.
Wu Mingli and Liu Cheng helped pack up the carts, tying torches onto them to make it convenient for Dan Dajun and his group to travel at night.
Dan Dajun and his group felt a bit embarrassed. Distributing the grain was originally their job, but the villagers had done it all, while they ate, drank, and rested on the side all afternoon.
After discussing, Old Man Wu and the other village elders planned to invite the officers to dinner before they left.
Today’s grain distribution went so smoothly, not as the Village Head and Village Chief Lin had hoped, all thanks to these few people.
Before they could even invite them, Village Chief Lin spoke first: “Officers, it’s late. You can’t travel on an empty stomach at night. Dinner is ready at home, and we’ve steamed a strip of cured meat. Come to my home for the meal.”
Hearing about cured meat, the runners figured the other dishes wouldn’t be bad either. Their appetites stirred, and they all looked at Dan Dajun.
Their eyes plainly said: Just agree, eat a full meal before heading back to the city.
Dan Dajun didn’t care where they ate. Since it was prepared, they could go.
He nodded in agreement. “We’ll impose on you.”
Village Chief Lin immediately beamed with smiles and called to Lin Jianshan, “Eldest, grab a torch and lead the officers home.”
“Got it.” Lin Jianshan agreed, casually pulled off a torch, and went ahead to lead the way.
Dan Dajun and the others followed. Dan Dajun deliberately turned to check Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing’s reactions. Actually, he wanted to go to the Xiucai Scholar Lu’s home for dinner more.
But while he thought so, Shang Wan did not.
It wasn’t reluctance; they just hadn’t prepared.
Shi Tou had brought He Sizhi and his disciple home, adding four mouths to feed. The bowls and chopsticks were barely enough. If they invited Dan Dajun’s group over, there really wouldn’t be bowls for everyone.
Besides, Xiao Huan would be exhausted cooking alone.
Anyway, someone in the village would surely host Dan Dajun’s group. Shang Wan thought for less than a second and ruled out her own home from actively hosting.
Now facing Dan Dajun’s expectant little look, Shang Wan selectively ignored it and lowered her eyes to massage Lu Chengjing’s sore wrist.
Once the group left, Aunt Yao couldn’t help complaining to her own man, “I told you to speak up sooner. Now they’ve been invited to the Lin Family.”
“We don’t have cured meat at home,” Old Man Wu said. “If we can’t put out good dishes, we might offend them instead.”
These officials weren’t like farming folk—how could a meal be without some meat and oil?
Aunt Yao wouldn’t have it. “If our family chips in one dish, wouldn’t that make a full table? How is that no good dishes?”
Aunt Zhou also thought it was a pity. If they could build a good relationship with the officials, they’d have backing if trouble arose later.
But now that the people had been invited away by the Lin Family, thinking more was pointless.
“The Xiucai Scholar worked hard today.” Old Man Liu took out a bulging cloth bag and smiled at Lu Chengjing. “We old folks discussed it and chipped in a little from each household as a thank-you gift. Please don’t refuse, Xiucai Scholar.”
“I dare not accept.” Lu Chengjing was slightly stunned and declined. “Recording accounts already took two hours. Everyone helped today; it’s not just my merit.”
“Take it.” Old Man Wu directly placed the cloth bag on Lu Chengjing’s lap. “Without the Xiucai Scholar helping settle accounts, we wouldn’t know how long just sorting the accounts would take today, let alone distributing the grain so quickly. This is everyone’s heartfelt intention.”
Aunt Zhou and the others chimed in to persuade him.
“Take it.”
“Xiucai Scholar, we’re sincerely grateful to you.”
“Hurry and take it.”
Unable to refuse, Lu Chengjing accepted the thank-you gift.
“Gurgle gurgle…”
Many stomachs let out empty rumbles.
“Disperse.” Old Man Wu waved with a laugh. “Hurry home for dinner. Eat your fill tonight.”
Everyone exchanged smiles and headed home.
The night breeze brushed lightly, bringing waves of coolness.
Shang Wan tucked her temple hair behind her ear and asked the youth in the wheelchair, “Cold?”
Perhaps from exhaustion, Lu Chengjing’s face was three shades paler than usual, his expression listless.
He shook his head, but before speaking, he coughed muffledly a few times, his eyes watering slightly.
Seeing this, Shang Wan draped her cape over him and muttered softly, “Drinking so much… water, where did it all go?”
Lu Chengjing didn’t hear clearly and asked puzzledly, “What water?”
“Nothing.” Shang Wan quickened the wheelchair’s pace a bit. “I overheard the Village Head and Village Chief talking. The Village Chief seems to have some leverage over our family.”
Lu Chengjing’s attention shifted, and he asked, “What leverage?”
“Didn’t say.” Shang Wan sighed in mock seriousness. “How are the Lin Family people like grasshoppers? They’ve suffered losses several times but never learn their lesson, still hopping around endlessly.”
If they exhausted her patience, she couldn’t guarantee what she might do.
“Feeling annoyed?” Lu Chengjing turned his head, his dark eyes observing Shang Wan’s expression.
Shang Wan nodded frankly.
Lu Chengjing frowned slightly. “The Lin Family still has some use.”
Shang Wan asked curiously, “What use?”
Lu Chengjing beckoned Shang Wan to lean in and whispered a few words close to her ear.
After hearing it, Shang Wan’s eyebrows rose lightly, quite surprised. Then she recalled that the Lin Family could casually produce one hundred taels of silver, and suddenly she wasn’t surprised anymore.
She looked at Lu Chengjing suspiciously. “How do you know?”
Lu Chengjing said, “I learned it by chance.”
Shang Wan chuckled inwardly—quite the chance.
“If Niangzi finds them annoying, they can be useless.” Lu Chengjing’s brows and eyes cooled slightly, though the corners of his lips curved up faintly. “Shall I relieve Niangzi’s worries?”
Shang Wan: ?
Was her fox too tired or possessed by something strange?
She unhesitatingly reached out, lifted Lu Chengjing’s chin, making him tilt his head back to look at her.
Meeting those black eyes with a hint of bewilderment, Shang Wan narrowed her eyes and examined him closely, asking seriously, “How do you plan to make them useless?”
Lu Chengjing pressed his lips and stayed silent.
Silence often meant acquiescence.
Shang Wan tsked lightly. Her fingertip slid up from Lu Chengjing’s chin, tracing his facial contours slowly, wandering to his slightly red eye corner, and pressed gently.
“Too much worrying isn’t good for recovering from injury. Be good and think about these things after you’re healed.”
Lu Chengjing’s gaze trembled slightly, dark emotions churning in his heart. He said hoarsely, “You don’t think I’m cold…”
“Calm and wise, considerate and cute, brows and eyes like a painting, tall and graceful like a jade tree, face like polished jade, elegant as orchid and jade tree, handsome and talented,” Shang Wan gently brushed his trembling long lashes. “Remembered?”
Lu Chengjing’s ear roots instantly turned red. “You really only care about my looks.”
Shang Wan: “What else, my organs?”
Lu Chengjing: “…”
