Chapter 48: Zijun Has Grown Up

This brother-in-law is truly foolish...

Luo Zijun muttered to himself.

Who would have thought that just as he finished muttering, his sister said with a face full of surprise: "Zijun, well done! I really didn't expect that you are even thicker-skinned than your sister. I didn't even dare to go ask for it, yet you actually went and did! Hahahaha, our family needs a thick-skinned person like you!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

Sure enough, people of the same family belong together.

His sister and brother-in-law are a perfect match.

Luo Zijun was speechless and had no choice but to explain: "These twenty taels weren't asked back from Uncle Datou; I earned them myself, by writing books."

This matter had to be spoken of eventually.

After all, he would have to give money to the family in the future, so he needed a reason.

"Earned it yourself? Writing books?"

Li Zhengshan was stunned upon hearing this, his face full of astonishment.

That look was as if to say, are you kidding me, kid!

You? You can write books?

Luo Jiaorong was also stunned.

She then hurriedly walked over, snatched the silver from his hand, flipped it over to look at it several times, and finally concluded: "This is not the twenty taels of silver for Datou!"

She then said with a serious expression: "Zijun, tell your sister the truth, where did this silver come from? You didn't..."

"It wasn't stolen, and it wasn't robbed!"

Luo Zijun took the silver back from her hands and said: "I earned it properly by writing books."

Xiaohuan suddenly spoke up: "Master, Mistress, the Young Master is truly writing books. This servant even helped him grind ink last night."

Once these words were out, Luo Jiaorong immediately had an expression of disbelief.

Li Zhengshan was also surprised and said: "Zijun, you really can write books? What kind of books are you writing? Books about medicine?"

Luo Zijun said: "Brother-in-law, I signed a contract with a bookstore. They buy my books, but they must be signed under a different name. So, I cannot reveal what kind of books I am writing."

Luo Jiaorong was dazed for a moment and hurriedly asked: "Why sign a different name? Isn't it you who wrote them?"

Luo Zijun explained: "I am unknown, so they probably think it won't sell if they use my name. Sister, it's already good enough that they are willing to take my books; as long as I can earn money, these are just small matters."

Li Zhengshan and Luo Jiaorong did not understand these things; they looked at each other, still somewhat unable to believe it.

This matter was truly absurd and unbelievable.

This kid only started studying a while ago and just took the exam for the scholar degree. Two days ago, he was suddenly admitted in advance by the best Academy in the Outer City, and now he is suddenly able to write books, and he earned dozens of taels of silver all at once!

It was just like a dream.

"Zijun, how much money did you earn in total?"

Li Zhengshan hurriedly asked.

Luo Zijun said: "Thirty taels. I didn't write many words, and it was my first time writing. They said that after I write more in the future, we can discuss the price again."

Once these words were out.

Li Zhengshan was immediately overjoyed: "Zijun, you are more impressive than your brother-in-law! At such a young age, you can already write books to earn money, and you earned so much all at once! Sure enough, studying is good, studying is wonderful!"

Luo Jiaorong was still somewhat incredulous: "Zijun, is it true? You must not lie to your sister."

Luo Zijun said: "Of course it is true. If you don't believe me, Sister, I can go get the manuscript and show it to you."

Luo Jiaorong rolled her eyes: "Your sister is illiterate."

After she finished speaking, her eyes suddenly turned red: "Zijun, you... you can earn money on your own now... wuwu... you can actually earn money on your own... if Father and Mother knew..."

As she spoke, she began to cry.

A moment ago she was crying out of anxious anger, but now she was crying tears of joy.

Li Zhengshan handed her a handkerchief and said with a smile: "It's a good thing that Zijun can earn money, why are you crying. Go, go, go, hurry and cook, I'm hungry."

Luo Zijun handed over the roast goose in his hand and said: "Brother-in-law, I also bought you a roast goose to go with your wine."

Li Zhengshan was stunned. He looked at the roast goose in his hand, then looked at him, and his eyes suddenly turned red as well.

"Good... good... Zijun has grown up, Zijun has grown up..."

He took the roast goose, smiled with relief, and then hurriedly turned and walked toward the kitchen, saying: "I'm going to light the fire."

With his back turned, he rubbed his eyes.

The golden sunset bathed the courtyard, and the evening breeze blew through the leaves in the yard, making a rustling sound.

At this moment, that strange emotion surged in Luo Zijun's heart again. "Give the silver to me, your sister will keep it for you, lest you go out and spend it on debauchery!"

"We still need to save up for you to take a wife in the future!"

Luo Jiaorong reached out for the silver.

Luo Zijun put it away instead and said: "Sister, I will give it to you tonight. After we finish eating later, I have to go out with the manuscript again. Once the bookstore gives me the remaining ten taels of silver, I will give it all to you together."

Luo Jiaorong's eyes immediately lit up, and she was radiant: "Then your sister will go with you!"

How could she miss such an occasion to show off!

Luo Zijun said: "No, I signed a contract with the bookstore; I must go alone."

Just as Luo Jiaorong was about to speak, Li Zhengshan said from the kitchen: "Alright, alright, don't get involved. Zijun is going to handle serious business; what does it look like for you to follow along and make a fuss? Don't go and ruin Zijun's business."

Luo Jiaorong was unhappy the moment she heard this and looked toward the kitchen angrily: "When have I ever made a fuss? Li Zhengshan, I haven't settled the account for what happened just now, and you're jumping around again! Are you looking for a beating?"

Luo Zijun hurriedly said: "Sister, go cook quickly, I'm hungry, and I have to go out to handle business later."

!

Upon hearing this, Luo Jiaorong hurriedly said: "Alright, I'll go do it right now. The dishes are all ready, I'll just stir-fry them, it'll be very fast, I won't delay your business."

Having said that, she walked into the kitchen with a spring in her step.

Before long, the sound of stir-frying and her humming a little tune came from the kitchen.

"Xiaohuan, come in and help me grind the ink."

"Yes, Young Master."

Luo Zijun went to wash his hands, then brought Xiaohuan into the room to continue writing the remainder of the story of "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai."

He had already written more than half of it last night.

The rest of the story was written quickly, and by dinner time, it was all finished.

He had to earn money quickly.

Money was indispensable for other aspects, and it was even more indispensable for practicing martial arts.

After finishing dinner, he took the manuscript and went out.

Luo Jiaorong was uneasy and urged, "Zijun, why don't you let your brother-in-law go with you? He can stand far away and wait for you. You are carrying a large sum of money, and your sister is afraid you might be robbed."

Luo Zijun said, "No need, the streets are crowded with people, and I won't be walking through any alleys."

If anyone were to be robbed, it would be him robbing others.

Luo Jiaorong followed him all the way to the outside of the alley, and even when he disappeared under the lights ahead, she still stretched her neck to look, her heart full of worry.

Li Zhengshan persuaded from the side, "It has only just turned dark, there are many people on the road, it will be fine."

Luo Jiaorong rolled her eyes at him and said, "You practice martial arts, so naturally you aren't afraid. Zijun is a frail scholar; if he encounters local ruffians, it would be one thing if they just took the money, but if he gets hurt, I... I won't go on living!"

Li Zhengshan was speechless.

"Which of the local ruffians on these streets doesn't know me, Head Constable Li? I have already warned them; no one dares to touch Zijun, so just set your heart at ease."

"Pah, you're still bragging with that little bit of ability you have? You don't even earn as much in a year as my Zijun earns in a day!"

"Oh my, Madam, how did you start making personal attacks while we were talking? Zijun is your family, but he is also my family; if he earns more, doesn't that mean I earn more?"

"Ouch! Li Zhengshan, you really have a thick skin!"

"Hehe."

As the two bickered and turned to head back, Luo Zijun had already crossed the street and was walking toward Tianxian Pavilion.

But just as he crossed an alley, he suddenly discovered he was being followed again!

Was it that same group of people?

He touched the Dagger at his waist and then touched the remaining packet of Lime Powder in his pocket, stopping in front of a stall.

Hmm?

The follower was one person, and furthermore, it was a woman.

She was wearing purple clothes and a Bamboo Hat.

Was it that woman sent by Sun Yan'er before?

Since she was haunting him like a ghost, then he wouldn't be polite tonight!

He looked at a general store ahead and walked straight toward it.

(End of this chapter)