Chapter Seventy-Five: The Allure of Wealth and Silk

When Little Bamboo saw Zhen Qian's indifferent expression, as if none of this concerned him, she felt a surge of temper. Outwardly, she claimed she was giving him a massage, but in truth, she pressed a little harder with her hands. Unfortunately, the girl's strength was not much to begin with, and despite her efforts, Zhen Qian did not so much as grunt. Frustrated, she exclaimed, “Why don’t you say something!”

“What am I supposed to say?” Zhen Qian replied irritably. “Other people’s mouths are their own. I can’t go around covering them, stopping them from gossiping. And besides, it’s better for this matter to come to light sooner rather than later. I’m not anxious—why are you, little girl, so worried?”

Little Bamboo wasn’t truly anxious about the matter itself, though she couldn’t say so aloud; inside, her heart was ablaze with anxiety.

Just as she was about to speak, Zhen Qian reached out and took her delicate hand. “Put away those little thoughts,” he said. “If the family really splits, the Xing household won’t fuss over the two of you and your servant status with me. Without you two by my side, I’d honestly feel a bit out of sorts.”

A faint blush appeared on Little Bamboo’s cheeks. She wanted to pull away but hesitated, glancing furtively at the figure behind the beaded curtain, a shy smile on her face.

Late at night, Zhen Qian lay on a bamboo chair, gazing absentmindedly at the star-studded sky. Beside him, Second Zhen stood respectfully, head bowed. “Father,” he said, “these days the Qin family has sent people to the valley several times, claiming they want to inspect the golden pheasants we’re raising, but in truth, they keep trying to spy on the distillery. Twice now, I’ve caught them trying to sneak in when no one was looking. Should we...?”

Money and profit move men’s hearts. Zhen Qian was not surprised in the least by Qin Hao’s prying.

“No matter,” Zhen Qian waved his hand dismissively, brushing away the mosquitoes buzzing before him. “Once Song Yi finishes carving out the wine cellar cave, move the distillery to the depths of the valley. Set aside a forbidden area there. That may not stop the Qin family from spying, but it’ll help us avoid direct conflict for now. Let’s hope they take the hint and retreat.”

Second Zhen smacked his lips, about to say more, but Zhen Qian continued, “Greed is human nature. The Qin family refrains from outright theft only because they’re wary of us. Still, we can’t let our guard down. Tomorrow, return to Zhendin, deliver this letter to Aunt Wang, then go with her to Luquan County. Once there, follow her instructions—understood?”

Second Zhen had already been to Luquan County once, bringing back a detailed map he’d drawn himself. Now, hearing he must go again, his heart skipped a beat; he sensed something was afoot. “Yes, Father,” he replied.

On the third day after Second Zhen left the valley, Wang Qun hurried in from Zhendin, grumbling as soon as he arrived, “Eldest, something’s happened! Yesterday, the clan leader rushed in from the countryside, stormed through the doors, and flew into a rage. He demanded to know who approved the Xing family’s split, who was spreading rumors behind the scenes, then gathered the Zhen family’s sons and scolded everyone. In the end, he ordered Xing to uncover the culprit and punish them severely, driving them out of the family!”

“Oh? Even the old master himself was alarmed?”

Zhen Qian stroked his chin, intrigued. “Did he ask about me?”

“How could he not?” Wang Qun, annoyed with Zhen Qian’s irresponsible attitude, retorted, “He knew you were out visiting friends and didn’t say much, just told them to find you and bring you back.”

Zhen Qian had little impression of the Zhen clan leader. He hadn’t shown up when Zhen Qian lost his memory, but now, stirred up by rumors of the family split, he had rushed over—making Zhen Qian wonder if there was some deeper meaning behind it.

He recalled how he'd once invoked the clan leader’s name before Xing; now the old master had actually appeared, and heaven knows what Xing would think. Perhaps she’d blame him for the whole affair. He asked, “How did the old master hear about the second branch’s troubles? Did someone pass word?”

Wang Qun’s face darkened. “I’m afraid so. All the children of the second branch study in the main branch’s school. Did you forget?”

Only now did Zhen Qian remember the private school in the Zhen household, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the oversight. A hundred precautions, and he’d missed this one detail. Yet the clan leader’s sudden arrival at the second branch was suspicious—was it really to prevent the split?

“What do you think, Uncle Wang?” Zhen Qian was at a loss over the Zhen family’s affairs. Worried he’d be exposed, since his memory loss he’d rarely appeared in public, and some questions he couldn’t ask outright. Besides, there were things he simply didn’t know how to ask. As for the two girls at his side, their insight was too shallow; asking them would be like asking the blind for directions. Only Wang Qun could answer.

Wang Qun, knowing Zhen Qian’s memory was patchy, reminded him, “The Zhen family hasn’t had a split in thirty or forty years. After Second Master left to take up his post, Mistress Xing has handled the inner household, and if anything major happens in the outer household, the clan leader can intervene. Now he’s heard rumors of a split and come to investigate, which is perfectly reasonable. But we don’t know Second Master’s stance on splitting the family. If the clan leader stirs things up now, I fear Xing will lay low and not mention the split again. If that’s the case, it complicates matters.”

No one had expected the clan leader to appear at this moment, making the situation suddenly thornier. Zhen Qian pressed further, “So what did the old master say and do in the Zhen household? Did he explicitly forbid the split, or did he hint at anything?”

Wang Qun sorted through the old master’s words and actions in his mind, and his eyes brightened. “He was furious about the rumors, but I didn’t hear him say publicly that a split was unacceptable. Whether he said anything to Xing in private, I can’t say. But thinking carefully, it does seem odd. He seemed mainly upset about the rumors, not about whether the family could split.”

Just because he said nothing in public didn’t mean he hadn’t said anything in private; no one could guarantee the clan leader’s attitude toward the split. “Uncle Wang, tomorrow go back and ask about the last family split, especially how the clan leader responded back then. Surely some of the older folks still remember. I suspect that even if Father agrees, we can’t bypass the clan leader.”

Wang Qun had lived in the Zhen household for just over twenty years, so he wasn’t clear about the split that happened thirty or forty years ago. Such things were rarely discussed, and few remembered. Yet for now, this was the only way forward—he couldn’t just confront the clan leader and lay everything bare; far better to appear as a victim and win others’ sympathy.