Chapter 2: As Thin as Paper

Liu Cheng is not big.

The Shen Family is very big.

Exaggerating a bit, whether Liu Cheng is chaotic or not, it's the Shen Family that decides.

Shen Shen, having left Wenxi Hall, summoned the Shen Family stewards who oversee all properties in the city.

"Master, I have lost face today!"

Shen Shen is quite a bachelor.

Rather than wait for rumors to spread, it's better for him to reveal it himself first.

"As the saying goes, when the lord worries, the minister is humiliated; when the lord is humiliated, the minister dies!"

"You are all elders of my Shen Family; some have watched me grow up, some have grown up with me."

"The Zheng Family, just because they produced a minor top scholar, have become arrogant and conceited."

"My demand is just one!"

"If the Zheng Family does not come to apologize within a day, then for all merchants in the city who dare to sell goods to the Zheng Family, you decide how to handle it!"

Those words were full of killing intent.

If the Zheng Family were still at its former scale, Shen Shen would truly have accepted this injustice meekly, even going to apologize in person.

But the Zheng Family has long since declined.

"Master, please rest assured!"

"Starting today, don't even think about buying a grain of rice or any food in the streets for the Zheng Family!"

The Shen Family's stewards all expressed their stance.

Loyalty must be shouted out.

"My great-uncle is truly a good person!"

When Shen Yunyao learned of Shen Shen's arrangements, she truly felt grateful from the bottom of her heart.

If there was still a sliver of hope to salvage this marriage before, now there is not even a hint of hope left.

The two families will remain enemies from now on.

……

Zheng Family.

Zheng Wangshi naturally received the news quickly.

The Shen Family is powerful; ordinary people dare not provoke them.

But this Zheng Family, having produced a top scholar Zheng Si Que, might just rise again.

Therefore, there are still people willing to quietly give the Zheng Family some convenience.

Of course, it's merely passing along the news.

"In that case, my son's engagement can be honorably called off!"

Zheng Wangshi is both hot-tempered and opinionated.

Before the messenger delivering the good news of Zheng Si Que's top scholar achievement arrived, Zheng Wangshi had already received a letter from Zheng Si Que explaining that he and the Grand Tutor's daughter were mutually attracted, and asking Zheng Wangshi to help him call off his engagement to Shen Yunyao.

Formerly, when Zheng Si Que had not yet achieved success, Zheng Wangshi did not want to break this engagement, merely to leave a retreat for her son.

Now that her son has become a top scholar with a bright future, how could a young lady from the Shen Family of this small Liu Cheng be worthy of her excellent son?

It is precisely based on such calculations that when Shen Shen went to the door to offer congratulations, he was stopped outside by Zheng Wangshi's people.

Angering Shen Shen would provoke retaliation from the Shen Family, which Zheng Wangshi also anticipated.

After all, to call off an engagement, one needs a legitimate reason.

Otherwise, her son's reputation would suffer.

As for being targeted by the Shen Family?

Earlier, Zheng Wangshi had already arranged for people to buy enough grain; as for vegetables and meat, although the Zheng Family has declined, they still possess some farmland.

Furthermore, in a few days, her son will return home in splendid attire.

By then, she will also leave Liu Cheng with her son; no matter how powerful the Shen Family is in Liu Cheng, it will only be a brief show of might in this small town.

Even more, when her son returns, he might even be able to turn the tables on one city and take revenge on the Shen Family.

"Foolish!"

"Utterly foolish!"

Inside Wenxi Hall, Li Shi learned of Shen Shen's actions and, in anger, smashed the teacup in her hand.

However, Shen Shen had already made a decision, and she herself said she would not intervene.

"Mother-in-law, now the situation is such that only you can step forward!"

"That Zheng Family's young man is now a top scholar with a promising future; as the old saying goes, the people do not contend with officials."

"My husband has lost his mind; this is going to drive the Shen Family to ruin!"

Shen Shen's wife Zhou Shi had returned to her natal home a few days earlier; upon receiving news of Zheng Si Que's top scholar achievement, she hurried back, only to hear the dreadful news upon her return.

"For now, let's leave it at that!"

Li Shi, how could she not know that her son has lost his mind?

But she just said she wouldn't intervene; is she supposed to slap her own mouth?

For now, the only plan is to delay and see.

Li Shi thought to wait two or three days before stepping forward, at least letting her son vent his inner anger.

Who would have thought that very afternoon, Zheng Wangshi would come to the door seeking an audience?

"Call off the engagement!"

Zheng Wangshi met Li Shi, exchanged greetings, and then frankly stated her purpose.

Since ancient times, it has been said that marriage seeks matched families!

Our Zheng family has fallen on hard times; we cannot hope to marry up to a Shen family young lady!

Zheng Wangshi!

Shen Shen suddenly rushed in.

What do you take my Shen family for?

Earlier, my Shen family intended to call off the engagement, but your Zheng family spread rumors behind the scenes, and on top of that, my mother disagreed, so this marriage has been dragged out.

Now that your son has become top scholar, you want to climb high—nice dream!

Shen Shen's earlier behavior was indeed like anger to the point of losing his wits.

But the truth is not so.

Since Shen Shen said the engagement cannot be called off, how could he possibly push everything to an irreversible point?

His reason for targeting the Zheng family is, on one hand, to vent his anger, and on the other, to warn the Zheng family, especially Zheng Wangshi.

Let them understand that even if Zheng Si Que became top scholar, our Shen family is not something they can casually knead and shape.

The Shen family young lady is not someone they can casually bully.

Shen family head, in this matter, both our families have been at fault!

Even if you force this marriage to happen, the young couple will not have smooth sailing.

If so, why bother?

Zheng Wangshi now appears in a good mood.

My son has ultimately become top scholar, destined to be appointed to the Hanlin Academy; later, he may well enter the cabinet and become a premier.

There's a saying: grievances should be resolved, not intensified!

Are you sure you want to go head-to-head with our Zheng family to the bitter end?

Gentle words spoken with a fierce threat.

The Shen family is powerful in Liu Cheng, but the Shen family is not the heaven of Liu Cheng.

Oh, right—now the county magistrate of Liu Cheng, speaking of him, is actually my son's teacher!

Another threat!

Of course, to make this a reality, all that's needed is for Zheng Si Que to return home and pay a visit to this county magistrate, and everything will become fact.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shen's momentum suffered successive setbacks.

What will you do?

Shen Shen's momentum was thwarted, his confidence lacking, his voice weakened by thirty percent.

I have heard that the Shen family young lady has been frail and weak since childhood, constantly soaking in medicinal broth.

Such a person—likely heaven envies her beauty, her life may not be long!

Zheng Wangshi did not originally want to go to such extremes, but for her son's reputation, this marriage could only be settled this way.

Calling off the engagement is a genuine calling off.

But if Shen Yunyao's fate is as thin as paper, unable to bear the aura of the top scholar's wife, then his son's reputation would also be preserved.

You—?!

Too bullying!

Shen Shen did not expect Zheng Wangshi to be so ruthless; coming to call off the engagement, she even wanted Shen Yunyao's life.

Shen family head, it's merely a young lady!

Of course, all I want is just a statement.

Why not you consult with your younger brother and the old lady more?

Today, I will take my leave first!

Zheng Wangshi said this, rose, and took her leave.

Li Shi sat still, unmoving; Shen Shen also did not move.

Zheng Wangshi's demand was truly beyond what they could have imagined in their dreams.

(End of chapter)