Chapter 111: 111. Chapter 111: Expelled from the Shuyuan

111. Chapter 111: Expelled from the Shuyuan

"Just throw them away—they're nothing to me anymore, so why bother thinking about them?" Compared to Chunmiao's urgency, eight-year-old Chunya appeared far more composed.

"And sis…" She kicked a small stone on the ground, her voice cold, "He's not our father anymore. Don't call him father again."

Hearing this, Chunmiao froze, surprised by her younger sister's cold reaction.

She couldn't help glancing at Jiang Xiaoxiao, the five-year-old girl sitting quietly, her small face pale and clean, her clothes spotless.

Then she looked at her own sister—still wearing the torn clothes Zhao Ergou had discarded, her body thin from years of hunger, the clothes hanging loosely on her frame. Though already eight, she looked tiny beside the five-year-old Jiang Xiaoxiao.

Chunmiao's nose prickled with tears; she stepped forward and stroked Chunya's head, her voice trembling: "Alright, we won't call him father again. Zhao the Rascal doesn't deserve to be our father!"

The news that Widow Xu had moved into Zhao the Rascal's house spread quickly throughout Yuhe Village.

Everyone wondered why Widow Xu, of all people, had moved into Zhao the Rascal's home.

Even when the whole village had caught her in an affair with Zhao the Rascal, she hadn't moved in to preserve her reputation—so why had she suddenly changed her mind?

…

"The villagers all say Widow Xu is pregnant…"

The next day, Chunya brought green grass to feed the rabbits and brought gossip from the village: "Auntie Wang Shenzi saw her leaning over in the courtyard, vomiting. Zhao the Rascal was overjoyed and even sent for Doctor Zhou."

After saying this, Chunya's expression grew dark.

When her mother had been beaten half-dead and lay in bed, Zhao the Rascal hadn't spent a single tael on her medicine—why was he now willing to pay for a doctor just because Widow Xu was pregnant?

Chunya bit her lips, her heart filled with resentment.

Jiang Xiaoxiao could only pat her shoulder and comfort her: "Don't care about her. Your best course is to live well yourselves."

"Mm." Chunya nodded, carrying the chopped green grass into the Rabbit Nest.

Soon after, Chunmiao arrived with Old Man Zhao.

Since entrusting the delivery work to the two of them, Chunmiao had risen early every day to wait for Old Man Zhao at the Village Head—she couldn't bear to let him walk alone to Yuhe Village, so she accompanied him to the Jiang Family daily.

Jiang Wei stepped out of the Kitchen, moved the Ice Cabinet onto the Horse Carriage, and noticed Chunmiao's distracted expression. "Chunmiao, you don't need to come today. Xiaoxiao and I will go."

"Huh?" Chunmiao blinked. Jiang Xiaoxiao, fearing she'd overthink it, added: "Today, Mom and I are going to meet Shopkeeper Zhou about something. You're off today—go home and spend time with your mother."

Both sisters had been distracted since learning of Widow Xu's pregnancy; who knew how Zhao Dasao, always so soft-hearted and sensitive, would react.

Chunmiao didn't move; she and Chunya finished feeding the poultry in the Courtyard before heading home together.

Jiang Wei's group arrived in Town by Horse Carriage.

Since acquiring the Horse Carriage, they now reached Town earlier than ever before.

Jiang Wei glanced at the Ice Cabinet in the carriage and decided to have Old Man Zhao deliver to several Restaurants in the Neighbor County first, then go to Yuelai Restaurant last.

But when they arrived at Yuelai Restaurant, Shopkeeper Zhou informed them Jiang Yu was not there.

Jiang Wei could only send Old Man Zhao back with the Horse Carriage and waited with her daughter inside the Restaurant for Jiang Yu's return.

"Uncle Zhou, where did Young Master Jiang go?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked. This was the second time they'd come and found him absent.

Why does this young master keep running off every few days?

Shopkeeper Zhou served the mother and daughter two plates of Ruanzao Cake and replied: "Young Master Jiang went to the County Yamen to visit his second brother."

"Second brother?" Jiang Xiaoxiao blinked. How did she not know Jiang Yu had a second brother?

The book never mentioned it…

And everyone says Fu'an Trading House's owner, the Jiang Family, has only one only son—so where did this second brother come from?

Still, if there's a second brother, maybe there's also an older brother or sister…

As she pondered, Jiang Xiaoxiao picked up a piece of Ruanzao Cake with her fingers and bit into it—it wasn't as delicious as she'd imagined.

Back home, she was used to the soft, fluffy, sweet cakes her mother gave her; the Ruanzao Cake, so popular in Town, now seemed dull to her.

She couldn't help wondering—if the Ice Cream and Snow Cake business failed, could they switch to making cakes instead?

But then she reconsidered—it was impossible. The cakes her mother fed her were made with modern fine flour, milk, animal cream—none of which existed in this era, and no one could afford such expensive ingredients. The cost would be too high to sell profitably.

Jiang Xiaoxiao sighed without realizing it.

Shopkeeper Zhou noticed her sigh like a grown-up and chuckled: "Why are you sighing at such a young age? Still thinking about that business with the rich merchant Sun's brother-in-law? Don't worry—Young Master Jiang already handled it. The Sun Family won't bother you."

"Huh?"

She'd nearly forgotten the incident until he mentioned it. Jiang Xiaoxiao hurriedly asked: "What happened? Did Zheng Yaocai still try to come after me?"

"Young Master Jiang's father is an old acquaintance of the Mountain Chief of Suiyang Shuyuan. That day, the young master went to Qingping County to visit his father's old friend, but happened upon you being bullied in the Shuzhai. He was furious and told the Mountain Chief about Zheng Yaocai's false accusations…"

Shopkeeper Zhou ended with a helpless shake of his head: "The Mountain Chief Yang is a Jinshi graduate—learned, virtuous, and upright. He couldn't tolerate such disgraceful behavior in his academy, especially when it happened right before his old friend's son. So he ordered Zheng Yaocai expelled."

"T-That's so severe…" Jiang Xiaoxiao blinked. Was the academic discipline at ancient academies really this strict?

She hadn't expected that being falsely accused by Zheng Yaocai that day would lead directly to his expulsion from Suiyang Shuyuan.

That's Suiyang Shuyuan—the very academy so many Scholars fought tooth and nail to enter!

"Don't blame yourself for this." Seeing Jiang Xiaoxiao's faint guilt, Shopkeeper Zhou added: "Zheng Yaocai was never a good student anyway—just loafing around, living off his family's wealth, harassing the Official Students who studied hard. The senior scholars and other Scholars had long resented him. Now he's expelled, everyone's pleased."

Jiang Xiaoxiao sat up straight: "Won't Zheng Yaocai hate me to death?"

"Don't worry. With Young Master Jiang protecting you, he won't dare come near you." Shopkeeper Zhou patted his chest again.

Even Jiang Wei, sipping tea beside her, spoke calmly: "If he dares show his face, I'll settle the score with him myself."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao sheepishly scratched her head. She had to admit—it felt good to have so many people watching out for her…

But if Zheng Yaocai won't bother her, will he go after Duan Yu instead?