The daily life of a space tycoon raising children, doting on his husband, and farming.

Chapter 134 Conditions
Chu Xu then shook his head: "I don't know."

The assassins shouted at him to kill, specifying that they wanted no survivors, only corpses.

“If Father and my brother were here, they would definitely know who sent those assassins.”

Shang Wan immediately sensed trouble upon hearing this. Given the child's identity and circumstances, and the fact that it was during a war, even a fool could tell that this matter likely involved political struggles within the imperial court.

After quietly assessing their own strength, they realized they weren't even qualified to be on the table.

She asked, "Where are the assassins who were chasing you?"

“They saw me jump off the cliff, they probably thought I was dead.” Chu Xu frowned. “They probably won’t chase after me.”

"It's admirable that you dared to jump off a cliff at such a young age." Shang Wan patted his head. "However, your idea is a bit too naive."

Chu Xu tilted his head in confusion.

Shang Wan explained, "There's a saying: 'If they want to see you alive, they want to see your body.' Since they are assassins who came with a mission, they definitely need to bring your body back to complete their mission. They might be looking for you in the vicinity right now."

"Nearby?" Chu Xu raised his voice in fright.

After all, he was only six years old. He had just been assassinated and almost lost his life. How could he not be terrified?

It's already quite remarkable that they can calmly recount their experiences these days.

However, it's still a bit immature.

If Shang Wan were a coward, he could be killed right now and thrown into the valley to prevent assassins from coming after him.

In fact, Shangwan is considering it.

Of course, she didn't think she couldn't defeat those assassins. However, she had no obligation to protect Chu Xu and thus implicate her own family.

Shang Wan has always been very clear about distinguishing between its own people and outsiders.

Who knows how many waves of assassins there will be? What if one wave is killed and another wave comes? Her peaceful life will be disrupted, which is something she doesn't want to see.

Lu Chengjing's thoughts coincided with Shang Wan's; they both prioritized their own interests.

Seeing the two fall silent, Chu Xu's heart pounded. Did these two not want to help him?
“I’ve told you everything. You promised to help me.”

The child's voice was aggrieved, and his amber cat-like eyes welled up with tears. He looked at Shang Wan as if he were a big liar who was trying to fool a child.

Anyone looked at with such eyes would feel tenderness and affection.

But Shang Wan not only showed no sympathy, she even felt a little amused.

"Doesn't it hurt when you pinched my leg?"

He even put on an act in front of her. A six-year-old child, quite cunning, with one little trick after another.

Chu Xu: "..."

He silently released his small hand that was pinching his thigh, and with a blink of his eyes, the tears he had desperately squeezed out were swallowed back.

He pouted and asked in a low voice, "Are you still going to send me away?"

“I’m considering it. I don’t want to drag myself and my family into this.” Shang Wan didn’t lie to him. “However, if you can convince us, I can let you stay.”

Chu Xu was taken aback. Persuade?

The little brain was working at lightning speed; persuasion should involve offering benefits, right?
My father once said that on the battlefield, a great reward will surely attract brave men. Shouldn't it be the same now?
If the benefits he brings to this woman outweigh the losses inflicted by the assassin, she can make him stay.

But what benefits can he bring to this family?

As Chu Xu pondered, he carefully observed the two of them. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and his gaze settled on Lu Chengjing.

"You're a scholar, aren't you?"

Lu Chengjing looked up. This was a breakthrough!

Chu Xu tried hard to suppress his excitement, "As long as you are willing to let me stay and protect me, I can let you study at Baihong Academy. You know Baihong Academy, right? It's a place where scholars all over the world want to go, and it has produced many top scholars."

He worried that Lu Chengjing, being from a small town, wouldn't know how powerful Baihong Academy was, so he tried his best to describe it using what he knew, hoping to impress Lu Chengjing.

Unfortunately, Lu Chengjing didn't even change his expression, and said calmly, "I've heard about it."

Chu Xu stared at him expectantly, and then what?
Lu Chengjing looked at him, his eyes calm and serene.

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, the little flame of excitement in Chu Xu's heart was instantly extinguished.

He couldn't understand how any scholar could remain unmoved by Baihong Academy.

He wasn't lying; Baihong Academy truly is the holy temple that scholars all over the world dream of!
"Then do you want to enter the Imperial Academy?" Chu Xu changed his condition. "I can have your family recommend you for admission to the Imperial Academy."

If Baihong Academy isn't interested, surely the Imperial College will be?

That's the Imperial College!

Only officials of the fourth rank or above are eligible for recommendation slots!
Lu Chengjing gestured for him to look at the wheelchair he was sitting in and said slowly, "How can a cripple be selected for the imperial court?"

The Imperial Academy was indeed excellent; its students were considered candidates for court officials and even had the opportunity to meet the emperor. But a man in a wheelchair couldn't even get through the gates of the Imperial Academy.

I thought Lu Chengjing was only temporarily injured, but it turns out that his legs are crippled?

Realizing he had touched a raw nerve, Chu Xu lowered his head in annoyance and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I thought your leg was just injured."

Shang Wan looked at the back of his head.

Proud but not arrogant, considerate of others, and has a decent temperament.

She coughed lightly, "Ignorance is no excuse."

Chu Xu stole a glance at Lu Chengjing, who didn't seem angry, so he raised his head and looked at Shang Wan, "What do you want? As long as I can do it, I'll agree to anything."

He made a foolish mistake just now; it would have been much faster to ask directly than to think for himself.

Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing exchanged a glance, and Chu Xu's gaze also shifted to Lu Chengjing.

“Three promises,” Lu Chengjing said gently. “We will protect you in exchange for three promises from the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion.”

Chu Xu: !!!
He wanted to yell at the two of them for taking advantage of his misfortune, asking, "How can you just give away something like a promise like that?"

Three more!

That's outrageous!
"I plan to send you away tonight. You can give us an answer before dark." Shang Wan ignored Chu Xu's face, which was flushed with anger, and pushed Lu Chengjing out.

As dusk fell, only a sliver of the sun remained on the mountainside. Summer was approaching, and even the night breeze carried a hint of dryness.

Shang Wan caught a basket of crucian carp that were only the size of a palm and asked Xiao Huan to make soup.

Xiao Huan discovered that adding two homegrown bok choys during stewing completely eliminates any unpleasant odor, no matter how fishy or pungent the ingredients are, saving a lot of spices.

Dinner was served, and the enticing aroma made my stomach rumble.

Everyone ate, chatted, and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.

The new house is more than halfway built and should be completed in another half month.

When Gao Yan and Ma Jieyong weren't working, they liked to wander around the village. If they saw someone repairing a house, they would go over and chat for a bit. Gradually, they started getting a lot of odd jobs.

He Sizhi wanted his apprentices to do more work and gain experience, so he let them do it, as long as it didn't delay the repair of the new house.

The two men had learned their craft from He Sizhi, and their wages were similar to those of the Zhang family. They were quite well-known in the village, and people from other villages even came to them to ask them to help build new houses.

(End of this chapter)