Wanjin Lady

Chapter 297 Knocking Hints
As he walked through the courtyard, he remembered Cheng Yunzhang's words about liking the books in his study. He then instructed the maid, "Take the two travelogues from my room. Oh, and Xiuwen's good tea. Go and pack the tea basket with the new good tea from the master's room and take it away."

Cheng Yunzhang had been studying away from home, and apart from seeing each other during festivals, he wasn't close to his brothers and sisters. This time, by chance, his aunt had chosen him to accompany Yunzhang to study in Beijing. He had to spend time with Cheng Yunzhang, nurturing a bond that would facilitate future work.

The huge Cheng family winery will need the two brothers to work together to grow it in the future.

However, what Accountant Zhou said did serve as a reminder to him.

Wenwan is cunning and must be guarded against. You have to find out more about her before you can deal with her.

Yuan Qi made up his mind to ask Cheng Yunzhang for clarification and headed towards the Cheng family's villa.

At this moment, in the Yuan family mansion, the courtyard has a light-filled and ventilated patio, with flowers and plants planted or rockery placed, giving people a feeling of winding paths leading to secluded places.

Arriving at the east wing where Cheng Yunzhang lived, the maids and servants were busy running around. Several boxes and crates were placed on the floor, filled with clothes, medicine, straw raincoats, etc. Yuan Qi pointed to the bookshelves that the maids had hurriedly moved out and asked the girl with a smile, "Why are you putting out the bookshelves too?"

Yuan Qi was a frequent visitor, so the maids naturally recognized him. Furthermore, Yuan Qi was not arrogant, so the maids also enjoyed talking to this young cousin. "The young master said that the weather has been good these past two days, and these books haven't been opened for a long time. So we decided to bring the bookshelf along to air them. We can then select some interesting ones to take to Kyoto."

Cheng Yunzhang heard Yuan Qi's voice from inside the house and came out with a smile. He saw Yuan Qi dressed in a relaxed manner, showing no sign of preparing for a long journey. "Fifth cousin, we're leaving in two or three days. Have you packed your luggage?"

"The servants have all taken it. Don't worry, it will be safe for departure."

"On the eleventh day of the lunar month, my mother will host a farewell banquet at home for us. I hope my cousin will remember to come."

"Is Third Sister coming?"

Cheng Yunzhang and his third sister Cheng Qingwan have a very close relationship. Cheng Yunzhang left Bozhou and went to Beijing to take the imperial examination. Cheng Qingwan doted on her younger brother and would definitely attend the farewell party.

"I've already sent a letter. Third sister...if you can come, you will definitely come."

Yuan Qi patted his shoulder and said the line Cheng Yunzhang had heard countless times, "As long as you win the imperial examination, the prefect will definitely treat my third sister well. Maybe he'll even make her his second wife. Then, when she returns to her parents' home... even that lady... won't be able to stop her. We siblings will be reunited at any time."

Cheng Yunzhang smiled faintly and said nothing.

Yuan Qi assumed he had heard, and then, trying to figure it out, he calmly asked, "By the way, cousin, do you know...that the second daughter of the Wen family is missing?"

"Wen Jing?" Cheng Yunzhang was stunned. The last time he saw Wen Wan was at the Lantern Festival. He had even seen Wen Jing before. The girl was more lively in Bozhou than in Ping County. She even generously asked him if he wanted to eat candied haws, and she would treat him.

How... did you get lost?

Almost instantly, Cheng Yunzhang looked at Yuan Qi with a stern look in his eyes.

Could it be that Yuan Qi wants to steal Wen Wan’s prescription again?
Yuan Qi stiffened under his gaze and feigned a relaxed smile: "Cousin, why are you looking at me like that?"

Cheng Yunzhang retracted his gaze, picked up the book, and spread it out page by page to dry. He said calmly, "Cousin, you're joking. Who in the entire Bozhou City dares to touch Junior Sister Wen's people?"

Yuan Qi's heart tightened. He knew the Wen family had intricate connections with that governor, which was why he had only sent Widow Wang to probe for Wen Weiming's prescription. If it were anyone else, he would have already found a way to seize it by force. But judging from Cheng Yunzhang's words... could it be that Wen Wan has other backers?

"My cousin, what are you saying... I don't understand. Shopkeeper Wen is just a merchant from Ping County. Even if he's lucky enough to become Mr. Yao's adopted daughter and the governor's junior sister, how can he dominate the entire Bozhou City?"

Cheng Yunzhang flipped through the books one by one, his movements neither hurried nor slow, and his tone of voice neither hurried nor slow, "There are differences between adopted daughters, and there are also differences between junior sisters."

"My teacher likes Junior Sister Wen very much. When we encountered bandits in Wandang Mountain, he and his wife even risked their lives to protect her. He loves her very much. Even his two sons frequently exchange letters with Junior Sister Wen. And my Senior Brother Jinyu follows the teacher's lead. Anyone who dares to touch Junior Sister Wen would be treasonous."

Yuan Qi smiled and said, "So, the person who kidnapped the second young lady of the Wen family... is in trouble."

Seeing that Yuan Qi's expression was normal, Cheng Yunzhang let out a barely perceptible breath, "That's right, you're just asking for trouble."

"The second young lady of the Wen family is missing. How about we help look for her?"

"No need." Cheng Yunzhang smiled and shook his head. "Junior Sister Wen didn't come to me to ask for help, so the matter should still be under her control. Besides, she doesn't like to owe favors to others. I'd better not make trouble for her."

If this matter was really difficult, Wen Wan would have searched everywhere for people to deal with it, and it would be impossible for him not to have heard any news until now.

The only possibility is... Wen Wan knows where Wen Jing is.

Yuan Qi saw that Cheng Yunzhang's profile had soft lines, especially when he mentioned Wen Wan, the whole person seemed to have shed his usual coldness and alienation, and instead became a little more popular.

Yuan Qi felt something strange in his heart, and then thought to himself that he was too suspicious.

Cheng Yunzhang...and Wen Wan, the young widow from Ping County?

These two people are completely unrelated!

Cheng Yunzhang thought that he would be able to take Yuan Qi away soon, and barely pull Wen Wan out of the quagmire. As long as the people from the third branch of the Yuan family followed him to Kyoto, two years... would be enough for Junior Sister Wen to make the Wen family winery bigger and stronger.

This is also the only way to put out the war at present.

The next day.

Wen Wan took Hongmei to Lanyue Pavilion to reserve a table in advance. When they came back, they happened to meet He San, who was accompanied by a young boy with red eyes.

Wen Wan guessed that this should be Widow Wang’s eldest son.

After welcoming the guests in, He San put his hand on the boy's shoulder and kowtowed to Wen Wan. Widow Wang was not a good person, but her son was handsome and graceful. He knelt for a long time without getting up. "Shopkeeper Wen, I'm sorry! I didn't know right from wrong before, and I mistook my enemy, which almost caused my mother to die unjustly. Thank you for investigating the facts and giving my mother justice. You also let me work in the winery. This kindness... I will repay you by working like a slave in the future!"

Wen Wan ordered Hongmei to serve tea. Her voice was neither cold nor indifferent. "Your mother was fine, but I've ruined her reputation. You will always be labeled the son of a whore and will inevitably be bullied by others. What's more, I didn't find out the real mastermind behind the incident that day in court. As long as you don't hate me for all this, I don't ask for your gratitude."