Chapter 102: 102. Barely (First Update)
Translator: 549690339
After a night of “nightmares” where he felt as if he were being pricked by needles, Li Chen woke up initially feeling a dull headache and aching all over his body. However, he had no difficulty moving around and seemed no different besides looking a bit worn out.
Old Lady Li wanted to use her seniority to force her way into the Wan Family, but she didn’t even make it past the door before stomping back to the inn in anger. Upon seeing Li Chen, she asked, “Why do you look so pale?”
Li Chen suddenly fainted in front of her, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Old Lady Li cried out in shock, “Chen’er!”
They invited the best doctor in Qingyang City, who diagnosed Li Chen with some unknown cause of qi and blood disorder. It was necessary for him to rest and avoid physical labor for a period of time.
Old Lady Li was relieved to hear that her son’s life was not in danger. Resentful, she said “It’s all that bitch Wan Hui’s fault! She refuses to give up my Li family’s bloodline, driving Chen’er to this state!”
Li Chen didn’t seem to be waking up any time soon, and Old Lady Li, after weighing her options, decided that staying in Qingyang City was not a long-term solution. Since the route to the Government Office had already been blocked, they had no choice but to return home and make new plans.
After all, their grandson was still there and couldn’t escape.
In truth, Zhengzheng’s appearance did bear some resemblance to Li Chen when he was a child.
But due to Li Chen’s indulgence in sensual pleasures and his weakened physical state, it was now impossible to see any resemblance between Zhengzheng’s features and his.
Others might not see it, but Old Lady Li was well aware of this and firmly believed that Zhengzheng was her real grandson. That’s why she had come all this way to argue her case.
She didn’t expect Ning Jing and Su Liang to interfere, ruining their chance for success.
Moreover, their previous attempt to snatch Zhengzheng away had also been thwarted by Ning Jing and Su Liang.
Liang, we’ll see who has the last laugh!”
With that, she ordered the servants to prepare for departure in order to avoid more trouble from the Wan Family. Li Chen, still unconscious, was carried straight into the carriage.
Just as the Li Family left the inn, Wan Qiang received the news.
He had not planned to retaliate against Li Chen and his mother, as taking any action at this time would only invite criticism.
After discussing the matter with Su Liang, Wan Qiang decided that the best way to seek revenge on the Li family would be to crush their business first.
After the Li family’s departure, Wan Hui and Lu Yu accompanied Ning Jing and Su Liang on another day of sightseeing in Qingyang City. Most excited of all was Zhengzheng.
But happy times never last, and early the following day, Ning Jing and Su Liang bid farewell to their hosts and left Qingyang City.
Zhengzheng was still asleep, and not wanting to disturb him, Wan Hui didn’t wake him up. She thought that after the new year, they could all meet again in the capital city.
“For Zhengzheng.” Ning Jing handed over an agarwood bracelet, small and intricate, with each tiny bead etched with a meticulously engraved Buddhist scripture for safety.
Wan Hui took it, recognizing the agarwood as one of the treasures Zhengzheng “took” from Wan Qiang to give to his Ning Uncle and Aunt. It was extremely rare and had taken Wan Qiang a lot of effort to find.
Such intricate craftsmanship amazed Wan Hui, who was touched by Ning Jing’s skillful work. She knew Ning Jing and Su Liang were well-off and had no need for the Wan Family’s help or resources.
Even Su Liang’s proposal to unite the three families against the Li Family was ultimately for the benefit of the Wan Family, as the Li family had been causing trouble for them in various ways over the years.
Wan Hui understood this, and as a mother, she vowed to repay Ning Jing’s kindness and help whenever an opportunity arose.
“Sister Wan, you can go back now, no need to see us off. We’re going to Bei’an County for the New Year, and after that we will go to the capital city,” Su Liang said, waving from the carriage.
Watching Ning Jing driving the carriage with a straw hat on, Wan Qiang couldn’t help but marvel, “Master Ning, you are truly unconventional!”
As the carriage slowly pulled away from the gates of the Wan Family mansion, Wan Li sighed, “Compared to them, I seem so useless.”
Wan Qiang gave his son a kick, “You’re right, you are useless. I’ve decided, the
Wan Family needs a scholar, and that will be you!”
Wan Li stared in disbelief. “Father, I’m already seventeen!”
“There are people who become scholars at sixty! What’s your excuse?” Wan Qiang snorted. “Our family business has peaked. If one of you had gotten a title and a government post earlier, would the Li family have dared to bully Huihui like they have?”
Wan Qiang’s second son said solemnly, “Father speaks the truth.”
The third and fourth sons immediately agreed, vowing that they would wholeheartedly support and oversee their youngest brother’s studies.
As a young child, Wan Li had been tutored by a scholar and had studied diligently, only to become frivolous and lose interest in pursuing academic honors in the last couple of years. However, he did have a solid foundation to build on.
He thought Wan Qiang was acting on a whim and would forget about it soon, but to his surprise, Wan Qiang spent a fortune that day to hire an elder scholar to tutor Wan Li separately.
Wan Qiang said he didn’t expect Wan Li to be as excellent as Ning Jing; he couldn’t do it either. All he wanted was for Wan Li to achieve the title of a scholar.
Wan Li wanted to cry but couldn’t, “Father, Ning Family’s master is a genius;
I’m not. Becoming a scholar isn’t that easy…”
When Zhengzheng woke up, he was wearing a bracelet Ning Jing personally made for him.
Wan Hui thought Zhengzheng wouldn’t find Ning Jing and Su Liang and would cry, but when she told him, he merely pouted and didn’t cry, “Uncle Ning said that if I eat well and grow taller, I’ll be able to see him and Aunt again.”
Wan Hui smiled warmly, “Yes. Your aunt made you some delicious food.”
Before leaving, Su Liang made breakfast for Zhengzheng: little bean buns shaped like rabbits and fried eggs shaped like bears, looking very cute.
On the other side, after leaving Qingyang City, Su Liang and Ning Jing sped up their journey northwards.
They took a big box full of gifts from Zhengzheng, as well as the silver fox cloak gifted by Wan Hui, the medical books Wan Qiang had collected hastily, and many valuable medicinal materials treasured by the Wan Family.
Just like when they came, the two took turns driving the carriage.
Three days later, Ning Jing gave Su Liang a bracelet, carved from the same piece of agarwood as the one he made for Zhengzheng, only slightly bigger.
“Do I have one too?” Su Liang was surprised.
“I used up that piece of wood and honed my carving skills.” Ning Jing said.
Su Liang gratefully accepted it and put it on. It was just the right size, and its antique color had a nice texture. The faint fragrance was soothing, “Thank you.”
After a while, Su Liang asked, “I have to give you a gift in return. What do you want?”
Ning Jing handed her his carving knife and the remaining wood.
Su Liang stared blankly. “You want me to make you one? I can’t.”
Ning Jing stretched out his hand with no intention of taking it back. “I want one too, but making it myself and wearing it is weird.”
Helpless, Su Liang said, “Alright. You divide it into small pieces first, and I’ll try. But if it’s too ugly, don’t complain.”
So, that night, Su Liang got the carving knife and a bunch of small blocks of wood.
As they approached Bei’an County, the weather was overcast and chilly in the early morning.
As Su Liang was fiddling with the bracelet she made for Ning Jing, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, and a cold wind blew in.
Instinctively, Su Liang looked outside, her expression brightening, “It is snowing! ”
Large flakes of snow fell like goose feathers, covering the ground with a white blanket. They could see the walls of Bei’an County in the distance.
Su Liang put on the cloak, sat beside Ning Jing, and let the snowflakes fall onto her face, the coldness disappearing in an instant.
Ning Jing took the finished bracelet from Su Liang’s hand and slightly furrowed his brows.
Each bead of the bracelet was a different shape.
There were small stars, crescent moons, squares, spheres, flowers…
“Childish,” Ning Jing commented.
Su Liang cleared her throat, “I did my best. Or do you want to exchange it with Zhengzheng’s later?”
Ning Jing raised his hand, revealing his jade-like wrist. The bracelet slid down and clung to it.
Su Liang looked and felt that her craftsmanship was too poor and affected the aesthetic somewhat.
“Nevermind.” Ning Jing lowered his sleeve, indicating he would grudgingly accept it for now..
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