Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 127 The God of Wealth Arrives

The stark contrast between Yi She's assessment of him as "an arrogant and reckless person" and Li Youcai's assessment of him as "extremely talented" caused the sprightly old man to raise an eyebrow and reveal a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

The fact that they, both being external affairs officers of the Yu clan, had such contradictory judgments on the same person piqued his interest.

Li Youcai was a little embarrassed at this moment. He secretly glanced at Yi She beside him out of the corner of his eye, afraid that Yi She would become dissatisfied with him.

Yi She had served as the Foreign Affairs Officer for many years, but he had only recently taken up the position of the Third Foreign Affairs Officer.

Although he was older than Yi She, he was far inferior in terms of seniority and prestige, so he really had no confidence to go against him.

This vigorous old man in a dark blue brocade robe is Dong Shun, the chief steward of the Yu clan's external affairs, and the most important retainer of the Yu clan in the modern era.

Among the eight powerful families of Guanzhong, the Yu family stood out due to its reputation as the "granary of Longyou," with agriculture and animal husbandry being the foundation of the Yu family.

Dong Shun was in charge of the overall planning, management, supervision and accounting of all the grain fields, mulberry fields, orchards and pastures of the Yu family. He held the lifeline of the Yu family in his hands.

The Yu family has a history of nearly three hundred years and now has nearly ten thousand descendants. Why would they entrust such an important task to an outsider?
With so many descendants of the Yu family, is there not a single one who is capable of great use? Of course not.

The reason is that such a large family is practically a small country without a state.

If it wants to last, it must follow the same path as all feudal dynasties: give important positions to court officials rather than members of the imperial family.

Even if a retainer wields immense power for a time, the risk of him usurping the throne is ultimately limited.

Although such threats have occurred throughout history, they are far less likely to pose a threat than those posed by members of the imperial family.

Once members of the imperial family hold key positions, the resistance to usurping the throne will be much less.

The struggle for power would lead to frequent infighting, and the Yu family's fortunes would likely not last even a hundred years.

Just like the current tycoon Yu Xinglong, who, due to his frail health, once heavily relied on his younger brother Yu Huanhu. What was the result?
If Yu Huanhu were a retainer, he could have been taken down before he gained the power to rebel.

But this person is his younger brother, the head of the eldest branch of the family, so he can't be removed.

The two can only act like elder and younger brothers on the surface, but they are fiercely competing in private. It is still unknown who will ultimately prevail.

Dong Shun snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze falling on Yi She, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Oh? What makes you say that, Steward Yi?"

Yi She shook his head and then told Dong Shun what had happened when he went to fetch the coffin of his eldest son, Yu Chengye.

In front of the young mistress of the Suo family, Yang Can insisted that the Suo family was involved in the death of the eldest son and demanded that the clan leader investigate thoroughly!
The marriage alliance between the Suo and Yu families is far more complex than that of ordinary families. He has no evidence whatsoever, yet he launches this attack. Isn't that reckless?

"cough……"

Li Youcai cautiously forced a smile and said, "Deacon Yi, he's a young man, full of vigor, so it's inevitable that he'll act a bit hastily."

However, Yang Can is now the chief steward of the eldest branch, and he gets along quite well with the young mistress.

He found some merchants to partner with in trading with the Western Regions, and even reserved a share of the profits for his young mistress.

The young mistress reciprocated by giving him her personal maid as a concubine; everything was harmonious.

Upon hearing this, Yi She merely scoffed and said disdainfully, "That's just because he's not completely stupid yet!"
She was so reckless and disregarded the consequences back then, probably because she thought that since the young master was dead, the young mistress might not be able to stay in the Yu family.

Now that he's come all this way to the young mistress's side, isn't he afraid she'll make things difficult for him if he doesn't hurry up and mend their relationship?
As for the young mistress giving him a personal maid, that was merely a means to win people's hearts.

The young mistress is now pregnant with the posthumous child of the eldest son. Even if the child is a boy, the country will be in turmoil due to the young ruler.

Yang Can is employed by the head of the family, and even the young mistress cannot move his position as the eldest son's steward in the short term.

The young lady weighed the pros and cons, not wanting both sides to suffer, so she could only offer favors to win them over; this proves nothing.

"Haha, Steward Yi is right. I was too simplistic in my thinking."

Li Youcai gave an awkward laugh, picked up his teacup to cover his face, and cursed inwardly, "Idiot! I'm more than ten years older than you, and you're acting like you're disciplining your grandson? You have no respect for your elders at all!"
Dong Shun listened to their conversation, remaining noncommittal on the surface, but inwardly he sighed softly.

Did he really know nothing about Yang Can?

As the chief steward in charge of all agriculture and animal husbandry in the Yu clan, Yang Can had been in charge of the eldest son's agricultural and animal husbandry affairs. How could he not have heard of this name?
I just hadn't seen the real person before.

Having heard Yi She recount Yang Can's past, and considering the subtle cooperative relationship between the Suo and Yu families, and recalling Yang Can's rise from a strategist on the verge of dismissal to the second steward of the eldest branch, it became clear to him:

Yang Can was not a reckless person at all; he was clearly using the guise of "loyalty" to gamble on the most risky yet most effective move.

Unfortunately, Yi She failed to see through this crucial point and remained complacent about his "keen insight."

Dong Shun shook his head inwardly: Xiao Yi is capable in handling affairs, but he is ultimately lacking in the ability to manipulate people and is not up to the task.

Then, thinking about the people that the patriarch Yu Xinglong has promoted over the years, He Youzhen is not only a retainer but also a traitor in the family.

He embezzled and smuggled for more than ten years, truly treating the Yu family as his own cash cow.

Yi She, too, is so short-sighted.

Li Youcai was somewhat better, but he was too self-conscious, speaking with extreme caution, which was truly...

Dong Shun pondered to himself, his gaze falling again on Li Youcai's plump face, which looked like a large winter melon that had been thoroughly fertilized.

Dong Shun asked with a smile, "Oh? Deacon Li, why do you think Yang Can is a rare talent among the younger generation?"

Li Youcai first glanced quickly at Yi She, and seeing that the other party did not show any obvious displeasure, he calmed himself down, carefully chose his words, and recounted Yang Can's deeds one by one.

When Yang Can served as the second steward of the eldest branch, he was in charge of six villages and three pastures. He improved the old plows and waterwheels, and subdued Zhang Yunyi alone, thus intimidating the six villages and three pastures.

After establishing their authority, they then extended their benevolence by engaging in joint business dealings, thereby winning over the hearts and minds of the villagers.

Now he has successfully settled the Xianbei tribes that have submitted, and successfully held the "Feast to Reward Farmers" and the "Autumn Hunt and Military Drill"...

In order not to offend Yi She, Li Youcai simply stated the facts objectively, without uttering a single word of praise that reflected his subjective stance.

But that's enough; his views and stance on Yang Can are already very clear.

Upon hearing this, Dong Shun smiled slightly and said, "In that case, he is indeed a young man with a pioneering spirit."

"Being a little impulsive is fine; we can't expect a young man like him to be as mature as you or me."

After saying that, Dong Shun casually added, "Let's invite this young man over when we have drinks tonight."

With the current shortage of talent in the valve industry, we should make more contact with and mentor these promising young people.

……

Dusk, like a piece of velvet soaked in ink, slowly enveloped the world.

In the study's veranda, servants carried lamp poles, taking down lamps one by one, lighting them, and then hanging them back up.

A halo of light gradually illuminated the corridor, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor, barely dispelling some of the chill of late autumn.

On the corridor outside the master's study, some dried grass clippings were still embedded in the cracks of the bluestone slabs.

A few withered yellow sycamore leaves twirled and fell silently to the ground, only to be swept up by the occasional evening breeze, gently touching the pillars before returning to silence.

Yang Can was dressed in a light blue deacon's robe, the fabric of which was crisp and without a single wrinkle.

A long time had passed, but he kept his hands folded together, hanging naturally in front of him, his fingertips slightly tucked in, while his back remained ramrod straight, like a spear about to be drawn from its sheath.

Such a respectful attitude was noticed by all the guards at the study door.

The sounds coming from the study came in fits and starts, sometimes low and sometimes high.

Yang Can didn't need to listen carefully to guess that the person "reporting" inside must have had poor performance and couldn't even satisfy the lord with an explanation.

Suddenly, with a soft creak, the study door opened.

A middle-aged man in a dark long robe walked out in a disheveled state, his cheeks flushed and his forehead covered with fine beads of sweat that gleamed under the light of the corridor lamp.

His face was full of embarrassment and awkwardness. He looked away as soon as his eyes met Yang Can's, while at the same time he seemed to be gloating.

His predecessor who went in to "report for duty" was reprimanded by the lord for poor performance.

Before the lord's anger subsided, he was subjected to even more scolding.

At this moment, the lord was about to explode. This young man below... well, you'd better pray for yourself.

The man only glanced at Yang Can briefly before turning and leaving hastily, as if the pressure from the study would follow him if he stayed any longer.

The guard standing at the door nodded slightly to Yang Can: "Steward Yang, you may go in."

Yang Can nodded slowly, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the study.

The study was dimly lit, with not many lights on.

Yu Xinglong sat behind the desk, the large chair making his figure appear somewhat thin.

His cheeks were flushed an unnaturally, his breathing was rapid, and his chest was rising and falling slightly, clearly indicating that he had just been in a fit of anger.

On the table sat a small sandalwood box with fine grain, clearly of considerable value.

The box contained neatly arranged pills the size of quail eggs, dark brown in color, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

The butler, Deng Xun, stood beside the table, holding a bowl of warm water, his expression respectful.

Yu Xinglong frowned, picked up a few pills, and quickly chewed them. The bitter taste of the medicine made him frown even more.

He took the bowl from Deng Xun, tilted his head back and drank several mouthfuls of warm water before swallowing the dregs of the medicine, then let out a long sigh.

Only then did Yu Xinglong raise his eyes to look at the person who had come in. When he saw that it was Yang Can who had entered, his expression softened and a smile appeared in his eyes.

"Sit!" He pointed to a chair on the side of the table, his voice a little hoarse.

After the autumn harvest, Yu Xinglong had to meet with his subordinates who came to "report" almost every day, from dawn to dusk. He had to talk so much that his voice had been hoarse for the past few days.

There weren't many things that made him happy during these performance reviews, but seeing Yang Can at this moment made him feel joyful.

Since Yang Can took over the Six Villages and Three Shepherds, the series of achievements he has made have been truly remarkable, and every single one of them has met his expectations, which has soothed his restless heart a little.

"Volcano, you have done a great job during this time. I am very satisfied with you."

A faint smile appeared on Yu Xinglong's lips, and his eyes softened: "So, this time you're officially returning to the manor?"

"How are the resettlement arrangements for the Bali tribe going in Feng'an Village?"

"Replying to the clan leader..."

Yang Can, who had just sat down in the chair, immediately stood up, his hands hanging at his sides, his back still straight.

He first gave a concise report on the progress of the resettlement and dismantling of the Bali tribe, speaking clearly and without any delay.

As he spoke, he changed the subject, his tone becoming more excited, and began to talk about the "Feast to Reward Farmers" and the "Large-scale Military Exercises of the Troops".

When he spoke of the "Feast to Reward Farmers," he described how the people surrounded him, repeatedly expressing their gratitude to the local lord.

When the banquet was held, the feast stretched from Feng'an Fort all the way to the outside of the village. People rushed to get a seat, and the noise and laughter could be heard for miles.

He then recounted the scene of a grand military exercise involving more than two thousand soldiers from the eight villages and four pastures. The cavalry galloped on their horses, their hooves shaking the ground, while the infantry stood in neat formation, their spears like a forest. Their majestic and imposing aura seemed to pierce the clouds...

As Yang Can spoke, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. His originally composed expression was completely replaced by excitement, and he even started gesturing wildly when he got to the exciting parts.

Yu Xinglong sat behind the table, listening with a smile. Occasionally, he would turn his head and exchange a glance with Deng Xun, who was standing beside him.

His eyes held a mixture of understanding and intrigue.

He already knew all the details of the "Feast for Farmers" and the actual situation of the "Training of Troops" through secret reports.

What Yang Can said at this moment was clearly not entirely true.

He exaggerated the scale of the "Feast to Reward Farmers," saying that the banquet stretched from Feng'an Fort to the outside of the village, and that the drinks were provided as if they were free.

In reality, although the banquet was lively, it was far from being that exaggerated.

He said that during the military exercise there were 600 cavalry and 1,800 elite soldiers, with a murderous aura that soared to the sky, but the actual number of cavalry was at most 400.

Moreover, the twelve teams from the eight villages and four pastures caused quite a bit of chaos and amusement during the joint exercises.

How could it be like what Yang Can said? They were practically a battle-hardened veteran team under unified command.

Despite his exaggerated and pretentious behavior, Yang Can still put on a humble and somewhat conservative demeanor, which inevitably made Yu Xinglong laugh inwardly.

But Yu Xinglong didn't expose his intentions; instead, he felt even more pleased.

If Yang Can deliberately concealed the people's gratitude towards him at the "Feast for Farmers" and deliberately downplayed the prestige of the joint exercise of the Eight Villages and Four Pastures, then it would show that this person was cunning and reserved towards him, and probably harbored evil intentions.

But now, Yang Can was worried that the villagers didn't respect him enough, and that the joint exercise wasn't impressive enough, which actually put Yu Xinglong at ease.

As for seeking credit and rewards, I don't mind at all.

Yu Xinglong was never afraid of his subordinates having ambitions to climb the ranks. Ambitious people are more driven and more eager to achieve results. As long as that ambition wasn't a rebellious intent, it was exactly what he wanted. The Yu clan desperately needed capable and driven people like him to maintain its prestige.

In recent years, the Yu family has been going through a turbulent period.

First, the Dailai faction pressed forward relentlessly, provoking them at every turn.

Then, each branch of the clan harbored ulterior motives and secretly plotted against each other.

Then the eldest son was brutally murdered, and the youngest son was too young to command respect.

Not long ago, another scandal involving He Youzhen, who betrayed her own people, broke out...

Each and every one of these things is almost crushing his old bones.

He desperately needs something inspiring to demonstrate the power of the clan leader and prove that the Yu clan remains stable.

As for Yang Can's underhanded tactics of winning people over in the Eight Villages and Four Pastures, Yu Xinglong was fully aware of them, but he pretended not to see them.

If someone wants to climb the ladder, how can they not build their own team? If they don't even have this small step, they're either incompetent or too good to be true.

Moreover, given the size of the Eight Villages and Four Shepherds, even if Yang Can had them all under his control, they wouldn't be able to cause any significant trouble, and wouldn't be enough to make him wary.

After Yang Can finally finished speaking and paused to catch his breath, Yu Xinglong slowly opened his mouth, his voice full of relief:
"Good, well done. I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Now, the entire eldest branch of the family is in your hands. Don't let me down."

"Yes! Your subject will certainly not fail the trust placed in you by the clan leader!" Yang Can immediately bowed and saluted, his voice firm and powerful, his eyes filled with determination and gratitude.

Yu Xinglong waved his hand, a smile on his lips, indicating that he could leave.

Anyone who spends a long time in his study is someone who has had a bad day in their job performance and who has dissatisfied him.

What would satisfy him is a few words enough to end the conversation; he wouldn't drag his subordinates here for an hour to chat about everyday matters.

Yang Can bowed again, then turned around gently, his steps extremely light.

He slowly left the study, and only after the door closed gently did he straighten his back and walk away.

As the door closed, Deng Xun, the old butler who had been standing by, stepped forward and whispered, "Master, this Yang Can is a promising talent and deserves to be cultivated."

Yu Xinglong nodded slowly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, his eyes filled with a deep look.

"You need to finalize the list of young leaders I asked you to look for as soon as possible."

"I plan to spend five to ten years nurturing a group of young deacons to gradually replace people like Dongshun and Yishe."

"Yes, this old servant is already making preparations. Now, besides Yang Can, this old servant has discovered two more promising young men."

"Their character and abilities are acceptable, and their names have already been added to the list." Deng Xun bowed in response, his tone respectful and composed.

Yu Xinglong nodded in satisfaction, his fingertips tracing the edge of the sandalwood box, his gaze gradually darkening.

Ever since He Youzhen revealed that he was "Master Shan" and that he was secretly colluding with outsiders and plotting against the Yu family, Yu Xinglong had the idea of ​​supporting a group of young people.

Even He Youzhen, whom he trusted most and who usually supported him the most, became a bloodsucking leech hiding by his side.

So how reliable can people like Dongshun and Yishe be?
Yu Xinglong trusts no one anymore.

Those veteran officials have been entrenched in the powerful families for many years, with deep roots and each of them has their own agenda. If they are not careful, they may cause a major disaster.

Therefore, he wants to replace a group of people with young people who are ambitious but lack background and connections.

These young people, whether they want to climb higher for themselves or are truly loyal to the Yu family, can only devote themselves wholeheartedly to the Yu family and can only prove themselves by making outstanding achievements.

When they gradually grow up and become too powerful to be controlled, like Dongshun and Yishe are now, but not yet out of control of the clan leader, a new batch of people will be brought in.

Yu Xinglong thought this cyclical method was feasible.

He even wanted to establish it as an unspoken system, so that his sons and grandsons could inherit it as a family rule from generation to generation, ensuring that the power of the Yu clan would always be firmly in the hands of the main line.

Thinking of this, Yu Xinglong slowly said, "If we are going to give Yang Can an important position, we must follow the rules set by our ancestors and thoroughly investigate his background."

His family background and past cannot be overlooked. What is the current progress of the investigation into Yang Can?

Deng Xun quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Ever since the clan leader mentioned this matter last time, this old servant has sent someone to Jiangnan."

Judging by the time, they should have already reached the Jiangnan region and begun their reconnaissance.

……

Jiangnan, Wuzhou.

As the lifeblood of this water town, Tongqu Street is now shedding its daytime hustle and bustle and taking on a vibrant new look, becoming the liveliest place in Wuzhou at night.

The lights were as bright as day, and the sounds of people and music mingled together. Even the air was filled with the aromas of wine, meat, and tea, blending the gentle charm of the Jiangnan night scene with the vibrancy of the city.

"Zuijianglou" is one of the top restaurants in Wuzhou City. The three-story building is covered with vermilion palace lanterns, and the light shines through the carved window lattices onto the bluestone road, creating patches of light.

The signboard outside the building swayed in the evening breeze, and the three large, gilded characters "Zuijianglou" stood out prominently.

The waiter at the entrance, dressed in a light blue short-sleeved shirt with a white towel draped over his shoulder, called out to customers in a loud voice:

"Please come in! Freshly arrived Yangtze River crabs, served with some newly brewed Shaoxing wine, perfect for warming you up!"

The building was even more lively, with the windows of the private rooms on the second floor half-open, and the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments drifting out on the breeze.

Furthermore, a female singer's soft, charming voice sang a Jiangnan folk song, the seductive melody mixed with the smell of alcohol, making passersby slow down their pace.

Occasionally, a tipsy young nobleman would emerge from the private room, swaying and leaning on the railing, loudly greeting acquaintances downstairs with his hearty laughter, startling the night birds perched under the eaves.

Across from Zuijiang Tower is Qingfeng Teahouse, which offers a completely different kind of lively atmosphere.

There were no fancy decorations at the entrance, just a few long tables and rough wooden benches, which were full of people.

Peddlers carrying loads, travelers hurrying along the night road, and weary shoppers...

Whether you know each other or not, once you sit down for a cup of hot tea, you can easily strike up a lively conversation.

Their conversation ranged from the harvest in the fields to the latest happenings in the city. Their voices were soft, but they exuded a down-to-earth charm.

Two men dressed in coarse cloth robes stood on the street corner, exchanging glances. Clearly, this teahouse was crowded and gossipy, making it the perfect place to gather information.

They were taller and larger than people from Jiangnan, and their skin was also darker than that of the Guanzhong region, making them stand out in the crowd.

These two were spies sent by Deng Xun from Tianshui; one was named Li Qingyun, and the other was named Yuan Yiyi.

Their journey south to Jiangnan was fraught with a heavy responsibility: to investigate Yang Can's background, confirm whether he was truly from Jiangnan, and whether he had fled to Longshang due to persecution by the gentry.

The two walked quickly to the teahouse and sat down on a bench with two empty seats.

Yuan Yi raised her hand to beckon the tea server: "Bring me a pot of hot tea, and a dish of salt-roasted melon seeds."

The tea server responded with a "Yes, sir," and quickly brought over a rough porcelain teapot and a plate of fragrant, shiny roasted melon seeds that looked incredibly tempting.

Li Qingyun picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for each of them. Her fingertips gently caressed the rim of the cup, but her ears were perked up, listening carefully to the conversation at the next table.

Some say this year's mulberry and hemp harvest is good, and the price of cloth will drop; others say that the Zhang family in western Liaocheng is getting married, and their dowry is so large it fills half a street.
Some people also say that a new teacher has arrived at Wushan Academy, and that he is highly learned...

It was all trivial family matters, with not a single piece of useful information.

Yuan Yiyi picked up a melon seed and slowly cracked it open, her gaze falling on the peddler at the same table.

The peddler was wearing a short jacket and had a small ledger clipped to his waist; he looked like someone who spent his days wandering the streets and alleys.

These kinds of people are extremely well-informed; they know everything about weddings, funerals, and other exciting events.

Yuan Yiyi cleared her throat and, with a deliberately softened Guanzhong accent, tentatively began to speak:

"This gentleman looks like someone who travels frequently; he's very well-informed. Do you know anything about the Luo family of Wuzhou?"

As soon as he spoke with that accent, the peddler looked up at him and clearly recognized his accent as coming from out of town.

Although Deng Xun was a seasoned steward, he had considered the accent issue when arranging spies, but there was no way to solve it.

Within Tianshui, it's extremely difficult to find someone who is both reliable and speaks fluent, gentle Jiangnan dialect, so the two of them had to try their best to conceal their accents.

The peddler put down his teacup, a smug look on his face, and patted his chest:

"What do you want to know about the Luo family? Anyway, there's nothing in Wuzhou City that I haven't heard of. If even I don't know, then no one else knows!"

Yuan Yiyi was secretly delighted, leaned forward, and lowered her voice even further:
"I'd like to ask you something, brother. I heard that the eldest daughter of the Luo family in Wuzhou has fallen in love with a poor scholar and they've even secretly pledged their lives to each other? Have you heard about this?"

Upon hearing this, the peddler's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice:
"Oh my! Judging from your accent, you're from out of town. I didn't expect you'd even heard about this?"

Li Qingyun hadn't said a word until now, and seeing that things were looking up, he quickly pushed the plate of melon seeds in front of him toward the peddler.

Li Qingyun smiled broadly: "So, you know about this, brother?"

The peddler grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and started cracking them open while showing off.

"That's right, I'm always out and about, I'm a real 'gossipmonger'! Lots of people know about this, how could I not know?"

Li Qingyun and Yuan Yiyi exchanged a quick glance, their eyes filled with surprise.

it's confirmed!
Deacon Yang wasn't lying; it's true!
Although they already had the answer in their hearts, they had traveled a long way from Tianshui, so they naturally wanted to find out the details so as not to miss anything.

Yuan Yi hurriedly grabbed a large handful of roasted melon seeds, piled them in front of the peddler, and smiled even more enthusiastically.

"Since we're both free anyway, if you're not busy, why don't you tell us more about it?"

The peddler weighed the melon seeds in his hand, his eyes crinkling with laughter: "Hey, if you're going to talk about this, it all started when Miss Luo went to the temple to offer incense..."

As the peddler began to tell his story with great enthusiasm, someone quietly stood up in the corner of the teahouse.

The man, dressed in a blue cloth shirt, was drinking tea with his head down when he heard the conversation between the two people at the table. He couldn't help but glance at Li Qingyun and Yuan Yiyi.

Soon, as he listened to the peddler's story, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He quickly took out two coins and placed them on the table. He pointed to the table and left without saying a word, afraid of disturbing the peddler who was telling his story with great enthusiasm.

He didn't walk fast at first, but as soon as he stepped out of the teahouse, he immediately quickened his pace, weaving through the crowd.

Some time ago, two outsiders came to Wuzhou City, inquiring about the story of the Luo family's eldest daughter falling in love with a poor scholar.

Of course, the other person didn't know what they were talking about, so they kindly told them the story Yang Can had told them.

The story goes that the eldest daughter of the Luo family fell in love with a poor scholar, but the Luo family ultimately separated them, killing her lover and his entire family, leaving only the poor scholar to escape and flee to another place.

Upon hearing this, the other party naturally maintained that they had never heard of it.

But if I've never heard of it before, then I've never heard of it before. Now that I've heard them talk about it, I've heard of it before!
So, those who had been questioned by them would then embellish the story they had just heard and tell it to others.

Thus, this story, which had come out of nowhere, spread like wildfire, from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, from the streets to the alleys, and soon became known throughout the city.

Those two self-righteous spies were actually sent by Yu Rui, the young master of Dailai City.

Seeing that no one knew the "truth," they concluded that Yang Can was lying, and happily returned to Dailai City to report back.

When this news reached the Luo family, it infuriated General Luo.

The Luo family is a prominent clan in Jiangnan. The current patriarch, Luo Ba, holds the official title of Military Governor of Three Prefectures, commanding a large army and enjoying a prominent position in Wu Prefecture.

He had four sons but only one daughter, named Luo Meier, courtesy name Lanshu.

A girl is considered of adulthood at fifteen when she is tied up with a hairpin.

Therefore, when girls from prominent families reached the age of fifteen and underwent their coming-of-age ceremony, regardless of whether they were already betrothed, their elders would give them a courtesy name (字), which would then replace their childhood name (名).

Luo Meier, also known as Luo Lanshu, just received her courtesy name last year.

General Luo cherished her like a precious jewel and had long ago arranged a marriage between her and the Zhao family, a prominent clan in Jiangnan.

Now someone is spreading such rumors to ruin his daughter's reputation. Isn't this a slap in his face?
General Luo immediately ordered a large reward to be offered for information leading to the arrest of the two spies who spread the rumors.

However, the trail went cold when they traced it back to two outsiders with Guanzhong accents.

Since the two outsiders asked around and no one knew the truth, they concluded that Yang Can was lying and happily returned to Dailai City to report back.

Even with General Luo's power, he couldn't find those two bastards again.

Less than ten days have passed since that incident, and today, two outsiders with Guanzhong accents have appeared again, inquiring about the romantic affairs of the Luo family's eldest daughter.

In the eyes of the departing man in blue, this was no stranger from out of town; he was clearly a generous reward delivered to his doorstep by God.

Hurry up and deliver the message, lest someone else beat you to it!
(End of this chapter)