Chapter 15

Du Ruo suddenly saw the light.

Since it was written clearly in the family separation document, don't blame her for being unfilial. Who told you to be so biased back then? Both are your own sons; one got money and land, while the other got nothing. So if you are sick, you should naturally look for the son who got the benefits.

She looked at the livid Yan Pozi and said with a difficult expression, "Grandmother, look, I am from the branch that left with nothing, so this matter of serving..."

Clang!

Yan Pozi suddenly picked up the teacup on the cabinet by the bed and threw it with all her might at Du Ruo's feet, gritting her teeth and saying, "Get out! A bunch of ungrateful wolves, unfilial things, get out!"

"Oh, Grandmother, calm your anger, I'll go right now..."

Du Ruo turned and slipped away.

Outside the door, Jiang Dabo stared fixedly at Jiang Zhan, his eyes sinister.

"Er Lang, you are a scholar; you still need to take the imperial examination and become a high official in the future. But don't forget, would the imperial court need an unvirtuous and unfilial person? Could the Emperor tolerate you?"

"Uncle is wrong to say that." Du Ruo took over the conversation and said with a smile, "The imperial court needs officials who act according to the rules most of all. Second Brother does this very well. We are just doing exactly what was written in the family separation document; there is nothing wrong with that."

She curtsied, "Grandmother still needs someone to serve her, so we won't disturb Uncle anymore and will head back first."

After finishing, she gave Jiang Zhan a wink, and the two turned and left.

After completely leaving the area of the old house, Du Ruo let out a long sigh and laughed, "Second Brother, thanks to you today, otherwise I would have been miserable."

Jiang Zhan didn't speak.

Du Ruo tilted her head to look at him, seeing his handsome brows slightly furrowed, looking preoccupied.

"What's wrong?" she asked suspiciously.

Jiang Zhan hesitated, and after a long while, he said, "Sister-in-law, does the abdominal pain of Grandmother and Aunt-in-law really have something to do with you?"

Hiss, this child is a bit smart, not as easy to fool as that husky.

Since that was the case, she wouldn't fool him and admitted it generously, "Yes, I did indeed do something to the cakes."

Jiang Zhan's steps faltered.

Du Ruo smiled, "What, do you think I went too far?"

Jiang Zhan shook his head and said, "Compared to what they did to my mother and our Second Branch back then, it's not too much at all."

If they hadn't been driven out back then, they wouldn't have gone hungry, and his sister wouldn't have lacked proper nourishment in the womb.

If it wasn't for Cao Shi pushing his mother when she knew she was about to give birth, his mother wouldn't have gone into labor early, leading to a difficult birth.

If it wasn't for Jiang Zongbao pestering and holding back the midwife, his mother wouldn't have died of postpartum hemorrhage because she couldn't be treated in time.

Every single one of these things was the evil deed of the First Branch; he would never forget it!

"Second Brother? A-Zhan?" Du Ruo saw that he was a bit off and quickly nudged him.

In her impression, Jiang Zhan had always been a refined and elegant youth, sometimes even a bit bookish, looking as harmless as a rabbit.

But just now, she clearly saw a fierce aura in his eyes.

But soon that aura dissipated, and Jiang Zhan returned to being that upright and polite young man.

"I'm fine." Jiang Zhan continued to walk forward and changed the subject, "By the way, Sister-in-law, I have a question. Since Grandmother, Aunt-in-law, and Lian'er all ate the cakes, why did only Lian'er not get sick?"

Du Ruo smiled, "That's nothing strange. Actually, the toxicity of that herb is not high. For someone young and healthy like Jiang Lian'er, it would be digested after passing some gas, so there's no reaction. Grandmother and Aunt-in-law are different; they are older, and their gastrointestinal functions have declined, so naturally, they couldn't handle it."

So that's how it was, Jiang Zhan suddenly realized.

Sister-in-law is worthy of being from the Assistant Magistrate's family; she knows so much.

Du Ruo didn't know he was overthinking it; she was currently communicating with the system in her mind.

"Host, it's been several days. Besides wagging your tongue with those people, can't you do something serious?" The system was a bit anxious.

Du Ruo rolled her eyes, "Alright, I know. Isn't it just about making money? I have a plan."

There were still three days left before the deadline, what was the rush? She had already planned it all out.

The next morning, Du Ruo let Jiang Cheng stay at home to take care of his sister, and she and Jiang Zhan went to town.

The two did not head straight to the restaurant but went to Xiushan Academy first.

Jiang Zhan had always been indifferent to the world outside his window, focusing only on reading the books of sages, and rarely left the academy on weekdays, so he didn't know much about the market.

However, he had a classmate whose family happened to run a restaurant.

Xiushan Academy was the best academy in the town, adopting a courtyard style, backed by green hills and bordered by a stream. Students reading in such an environment could be said to be relaxed and happy.

The gatekeeper was a hunchbacked old man. Seeing Jiang Zhan coming, he immediately put on a smiling face, "Young Master Jiang, you've returned to school?"

Jiang Zhan was just a farm boy and originally didn't deserve the title of "Young Master." However, his father, the Jiang Scholar, was also a student of this Xiushan Academy back then, and his calligraphy still remained in the front hall for students to admire. Plus, Jiang Zhan himself was quite talented, handsome, and kind to others, so he was very popular.

"There are still things at home that haven't been settled, so I need to ask for two more days of leave." Jiang Zhan smiled, "Could you please go in and help me call Young Master Shang Tianyou?"

It was a small favor, so the gatekeeper naturally wouldn't refuse.

Before long, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy with a round, honest face came running out. As soon as he saw Jiang Zhan, he immediately pounced on him, knocking him off balance.

"A-Zhan, why did you only come back now? I missed you to death!"

Jiang Zhan quickly pulled him away, "I've told you many times, you and I are both men, we shouldn't be so intimate."

Shang Tianyou pulled on his sleeve again, grinning, "Does A-Zhan mean that if I were a woman, I could be intimate with you?"

Jiang Zhan blushed, "Stop messing around, Tianyou, I have something to ask you."

"You say it, whether you want money or people, I'll grant it."

Du Ruo chuckled.

These two kids are really funny.

Jiang Zhan hurriedly introduced, "Tianyou, this is my sister-in-law."

Only then did Shang Tianyou notice there were others. As soon as he looked up and saw the pustules all over Du Ruo's face, he was so scared that he took two steps back.

Du Ruo: "..."

You couldn't blame him; anyone whose eyes had just seen Jiang Zhan's beautiful face and then landed on her toad-like skin would have the same reaction.

It was mainly because the contrast was too strong.

Ahem, Shang Tianyou also realized his rudeness, hurriedly coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, and then stepped forward and bowed, "Sister-in-law Jiang."

Du Ruo returned the bow.

To avoid delaying Shang Tianyou's studies, Jiang Zhan quickly mentioned the business, saying that his sister-in-law had a very delicious dish and asked if Shang Tianyou could help introduce her to his family's manager.

"What's there to say? Your sister-in-law is my sister-in-law. Don't worry, this matter is on me!"

Shang Tianyou grabbed Jiang Zhan and was about to leave.

Jiang Zhan quickly pulled him back, "You haven't asked your teacher for leave yet." This person was always like this, doing whatever he wanted and not following the rules at all.

Shang Tianyou took a small ingot of silver from his pocket and threw it to the gatekeeper, "Help me tell the teacher that I have a sudden acute illness and am about to die, so I'm going to see a doctor and will be back later."

The gatekeeper was overjoyed and naturally agreed.

Shang Tianyou pestered Jiang Zhan as they walked in front, whispering, "A-Zhan, is she really your sister-in-law?"

Jiang Zhan said, "Naturally."

Shang Tianyou secretly looked back at Du Ruo and quickly turned away, "I don't believe it."

Jiang Zhan was confused, "Why?"

Shang Tianyou said, "I've seen your eldest brother. Although he's not as handsome as you, he's still a bit better-looking than me, and he doesn't match your sister-in-law at all."

He suddenly thought of something, his eyes widening, "Did your eldest brother sell himself to raise money for your tuition?"

Jiang Zhan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "What are you thinking? My eldest brother has always been upright; how could he do such a thing?"

He explained the cause and effect, and only then did Shang Tianyou realize, "So it was an ill-fated marriage arranged by Father Jiang back then..."

While talking, they had already arrived.