Chapter 160

When these words came out, the whole scene fell silent.

The smile on Jiang Sheng's face visibly disappeared, turning into panic.

Xu Mo simply wanted to roll up his sleeves and slap this silly younger brother, but considering his own scholarly status, he could only grind his teeth and say coldly, "Younger brother, what nonsense are you talking about."

Zheng Ruqian then realized that his wording was wrong, and quickly scratched his head and said, "What I mean is, I have to go on a long trip, and won't be back for a few days."

Earlier in the year when he went to Danyang Prefecture, he also gave the roast duck he brought back to Shopkeeper Hao.

Because it had been stored for a long time, it couldn't be called crispy skin and tender meat, but with the ingenuity of the restaurant chef reheating it and adding sauce, it still had a unique flavor that made Shopkeeper Hao exclaim in surprise. He even wanted to order another hundred or so to sell in the restaurant.

But that was impossible.

Whether it was dried vegetables or fresh vegetable leaves, Zheng Ruqian could keep them for half a month in winter and carefully preserve them for five or six days in summer.

But roast duck wouldn't work. Even in the cold winter, it would rot after seven or eight days. In summer it would grow fur even faster the next day, making it impossible to transport.

Shopkeeper Hao thought he was overcharging and reluctantly paid the sky-high price of two taels of silver per duck.

At that time, Zheng Ruqian was stunned.

He bought these ducks in Danyang Prefecture for only thirty or forty wen each. Just for the trouble of handling them, the price increased so many times?

It was also at this moment that he truly realized the difference between regions.

Ordinary goods in a local area could be sold at sky-high prices when brought to another area.

Perhaps it was a case of scarcity making things precious, or perhaps the rich and noble just loved the novelty. But in any case, the price difference between two taels of silver and thirty or forty wen deeply moved Zheng Ruqian.

He had originally planned to go back to Danyang Prefecture after Lantern Festival, and bring back roast duck while also hiring people to specialize in this route.

But Jiang Sheng had been depressed the whole time, so he didn't dare mention it, and kept postponing the trip to Danyang until now. Now that he finally made Jiang Sheng happy again, Zheng Ruqian eagerly wanted to start his money-making plan.

But because of a slip of the tongue, he said the wrong thing.

Seeing Jiang Sheng's pale face, Zheng Ruqian felt both angry and regretful. He scratched his head, not knowing what to do, "Second brother was wrong, second brother spoke wrongly, second brother won't leave you." Third brother didn't leave us either, he just went to take care of his own business. In the future we will still reunite... I... aiyaya!"

The more he said, the more mistakes he made.

Zheng Ruqian hated that he couldn't slap his own big mouth.

Although Xu Mo was angry at his second brother's clumsy mouth, he still fulfilled his responsibilities and helped explain, "This trip should only be a couple months, very fast."

"Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely be back before big brother takes the exam." Zheng Ruqian desperately went along as if he had grabbed a lifeline.

Looking at her two brothers, Jiang Sheng reluctantly hooked the corners of her mouth.

She had really been scared by second brother's words just now, thinking that after third brother left, second brother would also leave her.

Now knowing it was a misunderstanding, her heart finally calmed down a bit, just feeling a little sad.

But she didn't want her brothers to worry, so she could only force a smile and say, "It's okay, second brother. Go early and come back early, pay attention to safety."

"As long as you still come back, as long as you are still Jiang Sheng's brothers, that's enough."

The little girl gathered her clothes tightly. Although her face was pale, she still forced a smile.

This scene made every brother feel heartache, and was also engraved in their hearts, so that no matter where they were, they would always remember that there was a little sister at home waiting for their return.

The next day.

Zheng Ruqian rushed the carriage, bringing Wang Xiaosong and Jiang Si straight to Danyang Prefecture in the south.

Big brother went to the prefectural school, and would take the examination in April, so his pressure was great.

Only little Jiang Sheng, Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan stood in the east of Anshui Prefecture, watching as Zheng Ruqian's carriage disappeared before slowly turning around and walking back from the east of the city to Hairpin Courtyard.

Passing the Anshui County Magistrate Manor, Chang Yan keenly noticed some outsiders.

They were neatly dressed, driving three carriages, with an arrogant and aloof expression. Occasionally they looked around with an overwhelming aura of arrogance and indifference, looking at the local people of Anshui Prefecture as mere ants.

Chang Yan frowned.

He didn't like this condescending arrogance. Everyone was human, with two arms and two legs, eating and sleeping. There could be rich and poor, but there should be no nobility and lowliness. Also, one or two of them looked a little familiar.

Just as one turned to look at Chang Yan's carriage, the youth immediately lowered the curtain and shrank back, leaning against the carriage wall.

"Fifth brother, what's wrong?" Wen Zhiyun asked puzzledly.

Chang Yan shook his head and whispered to Jiang San who was driving the carriage, "Go slower."

Jiang San obeyed the order, and slowed the carriage's speed even though he didn't understand. The group moved like a turtle, and finally heard the gate of the Anshui County Magistrate Manor open.

Immediately after, there was Prefect He's mocking tone, "Butler Fang of Fengjing personally coming to insignificant Anshui Prefecture, this official is truly awed in his heart. What kind of matter is it that could make you take the trouble to come personally?"

The saying goes that even a third-rank official in front of the prime minister's door still wields power. Although the middle-aged man in front was only a butler, he was from the Fang family of Fengjing, and the most trusted servant of the Fang family head, handling many of the Fang family's affairs.

Even though the Anshui County Magistrate was a proper official, he still had to give some face to Butler Fang.

"There's no big official business, just here to remind Prefect He not to forget the agreement with the Fang family back then," Butler Fang tidied his lapel and said neither arrogantly nor humbly, "Also, the Sun family is not doing well now, I hope your lordship shows leniency."

This was forcing the Anshui County Magistrate to make peace with the Sun family.

The rest of the words were too far away to hear clearly.

But Chang Yan had good eyesight, and through the lifted carriage curtain, he clearly saw the blackened expression on Prefect He's face, as well as his displeasure.

"Fifth brother, did someone come to harm third brother?" Jiang Sheng quickly crawled over, pursed her lips, with an expression that was hard to describe as happy or worried, "Luckily third brother already left. Although where he went is not peaceful, third brother was right to say it's most dangerous here in Anshui."

However, Chang Yan shook his head.

What needed to be worried about now was no longer Fang Heng, but those who were left in Anshui Prefecture and could not leave - them.

Luckily, their father the prefect was not willingly commanded by the Fang family.

Luckily, they still had the Wang family as backing.

"Pay close attention to the workshop these days," Chang Yan carefully exhorted, "The aunties hired as laborers must also be repeatedly warned that there can be no more leaks of the recipe like before."

Jiang Sheng nodded earnestly.

Eldest brother was at the prefectural school listening to lectures, and was also a registered scholar, so with the Wang family's protection, as long as he acted properly he had nothing to fear from anyone.

Second brother had gone out of town, and even they couldn't find him in a short time, let alone villains.

The whole family was focused on Jiang Sheng's little workshop, afraid someone would pick fault or make trouble.

But unexpectedly, it was Wen Zhiyun's little clinic that got in trouble.