[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268665,4429,"Chapter 45: Forty-Five: The Blessing Bell Rings Again (Starting Point Uploading, Midnight Request for First Subscription!)","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>Forty-Five: The Blessing Bell Rings Again (Starting Point Uploading, Midnight Request for First Subscription!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhen Yi made me come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyangrong  still had half a zongzi in his mouth, staring blankly up at the girl standing before him, blocking his sunlight, her lips pressed tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, the junior sister had walked straight onto the stage and come up to him, saying this out of nowhere, leaving him frowning in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does that mean? She didn’t come on her own accord—someone forced her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, the junior sister really is tall, but she always speaks bluntly and likes to talk back to her senior brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those long legs before him, standing elegantly, instantly blocked his entire field of vision—especially when looking up from below, he could barely see her proud little face… This was the real “Eye-Blocking Pavilion.” The pavilion halfway up Mount Dagu was just a fake one—how could it compare to this one? Not big enough, no, it blocked the view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resentful senior brother put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said his first words: “Salty zongzi or sweet zongzi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling turned her head away, not looking at him, her eyes fixed on the dragon boats racing along the riverbank, lips curling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got plenty of zongzi to eat, Heng . I’m just here to deliver a message from Zhen Yi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, she caught his out-of-the-blue glance as he silently began peeling his zongzi, and quickly added: “Salty, with white sugar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no sooner had she spoken than this Xie Shigui lady regretted it, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if disappointed in an unteachable student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong, bent low, hadn’t seen any of this—he froze at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What cult had he stumbled into? Was a zongzi dipped in sugar still salty or sweet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong silently grumbled, handed the zongzi to Xie Ling, and turned to call over a nearby attendant for some white sugar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the attendant left, only Ouyang Rong and Xie Ling remained, and the atmosphere grew chilly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been many days since their last argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling’s male attire today was striking—a white robe like a jade prince, yet cinched with a crimson brocade sash that accentuated her slender waist; the inner collar and sleeve edges peeking out were also crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A touch of crimson against pure white—her junior sister knew how to dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong lowered his gaze and spoke first: “What message did Auntie send you to deliver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling unconsciously tapped her chopsticks against the small brown salty zongzi in her bowl:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your auntie wants you to go pick out a maid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pick out a maid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded and explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Early this morning, Zhen Yi dragged me shopping, saying the Fifth Day of the Fifth Month is lively, and there are many foreign Hu merchants selling slaves at the western market’s Ma Xing. You’re a seventh-rank official with no maids at all—it’s unseemly. She wants to pick you a personal maid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When we got there, we found too many choices—dazzling. There were Goryeo girls, Silla maids, Pusaman women, Japanese slaves, even Western Hu women with golden hair and blue eyes… But we didn’t know your preference, and I didn’t want to keep shopping, so Zhen Yi asked me to deliver the message: come pick one yourself after you’re done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong opened his mouth but held back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling’s expression remained calm; she took a small bite of the zongzi’s tip, salty, then suddenly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know what you’re thinking. When I was young, I hated this kind of treating people like livestock. But have you ever considered that instead of leaving them in the hands of heartless Hu merchants, only to be bought by cruel masters and end up miserable, wouldn’t it be better to redeem them, treat them kindly, offer what little help you can, and perhaps, if the chance arises, send them home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong fell silent. Though it’s true that no trade means no harm, the current situation in the Zhou Empire is supply outstripping demand… not something a mere seventh-rank county magistrate could change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, the attendant returned with sugar. Ouyang Rong handed it to Xie Ling, about to speak, when a short young man sprinted up, cheerfully approaching:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Ling Jiang-jie, you’re here to watch the dragon boats and eat zongzi too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Wang Cao turned to Ouyang Rong, astonished: “Is this… the County Magistrate?! Long time to hear of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short youth wore an expression of profound admiration, as if he regretted meeting him too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow, glanced at the slightly frowning junior sister, then bowed formally: “May I ask your honorable surname…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Caozhi! No need for honorifics—I’m Wang, of the ancient Langya Wang clan, longtime family friends with Ling Jiang-jie’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong understood: “Ah, Brother Caozhi, my apologies for the oversight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s I who’ve long admired the County Magistrate’s reputation—never had the chance to meet. I’ve heard you’re benevolent to the people, upright and righteous. Today I see it’s true—even more vigorous than I imagined!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nonsense, vigor is enough—vigor isn’t my forte… Brother Caozhi, you’re truly a dragon among men. You’re our guest—please sit! Do you prefer salty or sweet zongzi? Need sugar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sweet zongzi, definitely! What? Sugar? Who in their right mind dips zongzi in sugar? Do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Neither do I.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sugar-dipping is a hollow sweetness—soulless,” someone sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ” Xie Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You two… Xie Ling looked at the two overly familiar fools, amused yet irritated. She hadn’t even introduced them yet, and they’d already locked eyes and expelled her from zongzi membership… Fine, you two don’t dip sugar—your brains are dipped in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dipping sugar in salty zongzi still counts as…” Wang Cao eagerly continued, but the next second, his survival instinct flared—he caught sight of the sugar bowl in Xie’s hand, expression instantly serious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Magistrate, I think dipping salty zongzi in sugar might actually be a wise choice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong nodded with a smile. Xie Ling couldn’t help saying: “Wang Caozhi, aren’t you busy hoarding grain? How do you have time for the Dragon Boat Festival?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao scratched his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I’m just following the big grain merchants around, sipping their sugar water—how would I dare hoard? Sister Xie overestimates me, haha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He regretted telling her back when they first met that he came to Longcheng to sell grain—never imagined this Xie lady was so serious; she’d frozen up the moment she heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young manager of Qingliangzhai glanced at Ouyang Rong, who remained calm, showing no anger, even appearing slightly dull as he peeled his zongzi with harmless precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Ouyang Lianghan looked just like the rumors—a righteous scholar, a bookworm. Of course—he’s the kind of man this Xie Shigui lady would associate with so closely. Their personalities must match. So being a bookworm isn’t so bad… Wang Cao silently chuckled to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed aloud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Magistrate… ah, forget formality—we’re all close to Ling Jiang-jie. Allow me to boldly call you Brother Lianghan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, whatever,” Ouyang Rong nodded genially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, Yan Liulang frowned at Wang Cao’s words—how disrespectful! A grain speculator dares to call the magistrate brother? Bold indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao’s smile widened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lianghan, I heard Longcheng suffered floods, the people starving, in dire need. I brought some grain to offer what little help I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I assume you lifted the price cap recently because you were worried about grain shortages, hoping to attract more merchants to Longcheng—but now, who could have predicted…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, turns out those heartless senior merchants raised prices so high, I can’t fight them… Brother Lianghan, how about this: over the next few days, I’ll rally a few other honest grain merchants to set up a porridge stall in the south city. You come by to cut the ribbon when it opens—what do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate’s expression grew pensive. He studied Wang Cao for a moment, eyes touched, lips parting as if to speak, then sighed, and firmly clapped the young grain merchant’s shoulder—as if words were unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you’re our guest—please sit, please sit,” Ouyang Rong repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao beamed, waving his hand: “No need to trouble you—I’ve other friends waiting below. Ling Jiang-jie, Brother Lianghan, let’s meet again—I’ll treat you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling barely nodded or spoke throughout. Together, she and Ouyang Rong watched the short youth’s back disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence settled between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your cousin’s quite likable,” he praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I Landeli ,” she bit her lip lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong glanced at the sky, thought a moment, then turned: “Maybe you should tell him to leave Longcheng quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling’s face showed regret: “Sorry—I can only keep Xie family businesses from coming. The Wang clan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong shook his head: “No, tell him to run. Fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xie Shigui lady froze, turning to stare at Ouyang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the lip she habitually nibbled curled upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled, eyes bright as she looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Aren’t you family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then who are you close to…” The casual question died on his lips; he changed it: “Are you still mad at your senior brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then after today’s business, I’ll take you somewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A place where a righteous female hero felt sad when she arrived, happy when she left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Female hero… you mean me?” Xie Ling wrinkled her nose. “No—I’m a literate and martial strategist, not some sword-wielding female hero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… female private secretary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm~” She lifted her chin, crisp and clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong smiled, remembering the earlier matter: “Then, Secretary, help me send word to Auntie—I’ll come after I’m done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave it to me,” Xie Ling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong watched her retreating back, muttering softly: “I’ll pick a cheap maid this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ouyang Rong shuddered as if struck by lightning—faintly, he heard the trembling chime of an ancient bell!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words fallen than Ouyang Rong shuddered as if struck by lightning, and faintly heard the trembling chime of an ancient bell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately sat back down, feigning calm, but his lowered face was filled with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For inside his mind’s Merit Tower, the ancient, silent Blessing Bell was trembling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brand-new blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brand-new blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>",1715,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","86bddf6b338a010353037dfb574d7b10324407749e2e29f82a2fce0ba1d5e1e4","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-46","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-44",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]