Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy-Chapter 75 - 73. Father-in-law and Son-in-law
Chapter 75: 73. Father-in-law and Son-in-law
Chapter 75: 73. Father-in-law and Son-in-law
Afternoon.
The tea house.
Ling skillfully ground tea leaves with a copper grinder, placed them into a bowl, poured boiling water, and stirred into a tea paste. Then, while pouring more boiling water, she whisked it with a tea whisk, until the surface of the tea displayed the character “Fortune.”
She pushed the tea in front of her master-in-law and then prepared another bowl in the same manner, handing it to the young lady.
Having completed these tasks, she stood up and took her leave.
The little tea girl, aside from not being skilled in martial arts, having a worrying mind, and poor character, was still quite talented and versatile.
An Chenyu took the tea and gently sipped it.
Song Cheng broke the silence saying, “These matters, you usually don’t come to me.”
An Chenyu replied, “But this time, I’m not sure what to do.”
Then, she repeated what Song Cheng had already “learned through out-of-body experiences,” followed by the results of interrogating An Kai.
An Xu was her father, and An Kai was her third uncle. The two of them met a disciple of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall while indulging in wine and song. After that, the disciple eagerly invited them to various entertainments, gambling halls, brothels, and everywhere…
“My father and An Kai felt particularly dignified, becoming sworn brothers with that disciple. Of course, it wasn’t just the two of them, but also some other playboys from different families.
An Kai had wanted to find a person from Shanhe Martial Arts Hall earlier, and that was the disciple.
This time, my father was in a gambling hall, losing terribly, when he discovered the other party was cheating, so he slapped the table.
As a result, the dealer turned out to be the wife of his good brother.
He was immediately captured.”
An Chenyu spoke eloquently, “But this disciple’s behavior didn’t match what I knew of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, so I felt the hall shouldn’t be so base.
So, I had Hua take charge and lead people to investigate.
Hua is capable; he reported that the disciple was indeed from the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, but… only a peripheral Outer Sect disciple.
According to Hua, this person most likely engaged in private ventures under false pretenses.
I’m thinking if we really give the ten thousand taels to him, he’ll be greedy and insatiable, continually demanding more.
Thus, I plan to act as if I’m unaware of these dealings, and have someone legitimately deliver the money directly to the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, locating the hall’s on-duty External Affairs Envoy to give him the ten thousand taels, asking him to release my father.
In this way, the other’s private dealings will be exposed.
Offend as we may, my An Family can still withstand a martial artist stripped of his pretenses.
But the person delivering the money to the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall must be someone who can command authority.
After thinking it over, it must be you, Song.”
Song Cheng thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Sister An, have you considered that the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall cares about its reputation? Especially now, during this recruiting period for martial artists, it’s particularly sensitive. At such times, they can’t afford to let their prestige diminish.
Once this incident occurs, the pretender will surely suffer, but the matter will undoubtedly be concealed, and perhaps later, they’ll hold a grudge against our An Family for causing trouble…
New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.
Though, maybe they won’t.
But we can’t take that risk.”
An Chenyu replied, “I’ve thought about these things too, but what other way is there?”
Song Cheng said, “Give me the ten thousand taels, I’ll take it to him, and you needn’t worry further. The silver we give away, I’ll retrieve.”
An Chenyu gazed at her man with beautiful eyes, softly saying, “Don’t take risks, my father…”
The young lady bowed her head, lightly sighed, clearly unsure of what to say.
But if she didn’t rescue him?
She couldn’t harden her heart.
Previously, she became the chairwoman not only due to An Changsheng’s incompetence but also because of her father’s strong recommendation.
Though his endorsement was due to believing she had the capability to earn money and thereby convinced many, he ultimately didn’t harm her.
Song Cheng changed the subject, saying, “Are they targeting only the An Family?”
An Chenyu raised her head and said, “Yes.”
Song Cheng said, “That settles it, let Old Wang accompany me.
Mr. Wang is the face of our commerce chamber. In the Prefectural City, when mentioning Ruyi Commerce Chamber, they will surely think of him.”
An Chenyu nodded, then added, “Song, at home… two martial artists have gone to the government offices.
Lately, there’s been talk on the streets about how profitable recruitment is…
Furthermore, Shanhe Martial Arts Hall and White Camel Estate have real Form Realm experts overseeing the scene, personally teaching cultivation techniques and gifting resource cultivation.
Today, someone surnamed Chen came over, saying his cousin also gained significant benefits…
Such situations hadn’t been present in previous days, yet now they’re ubiquitous.
Moreover, people are boasting that the barbarians aren’t fearsome; united martial artists could surely break them, saying now is the time to achieve meritorious service.
There are even those shouting to drive out foreign invaders, driving the barbarians back north.
The atmosphere is so intense, so heated that it doesn’t permit any pessimism…
If anyone expresses caution, they are insulted, called cowardly or lacking the spirit.”
Song Cheng remained silent for a moment, then said, “If they want to go, let them go. Dispelling the barbarians is right. I also hope they’ll succeed, and with such an encouraging atmosphere, more people going is better.”
An Chenyu nodded and said, “However, I truly haven’t shortchanged them. I’ve given them travel expenses and torn their contracts of indenture; I haven’t held back on those.”
Song Cheng laughed, “Sister An is generous.”
An Chenyu said, “Our An Family never blocks others’ paths; those wishing for promotion and wealth, ascending instantly, should go.”
Song Cheng chuckled and said, “No time to lose. I’ll fetch the ten thousand tael silver note from the accounts and head there with Mr. Wang.”
…
…
Evening…
The sky was gradually darkening.
There was no sunset.
Rain clouds piled up, and in no time, thunder rumbled ominously but remained suppressed, not falling.
In the northern district, a carriage stopped quietly. The manager was driving, next to him was a youth in valet attire.
The carriage curtain lifted, and Mr. Wang, silver note in hand, walked into an alley.
The youth dressed as a valet sat in the carriage, slightly leaning back, closed his eyes to rest, and suddenly his body stiffened, turning like a rigid, unyielding statue.
…
A long time passed…
Quite a long time…
Mr. Wang returned leading a man covered in filth, hair disheveled.
The youth in valet attire had returned to the driver’s seat.
“The master has returned.” Mr. Wang’s voice was hoarse, his eyes red with a hint of the urge to cry when looking at the youth, though all he said was, “Mission accomplished.”
Naturally, the valet was Song Cheng.
He said, “Thank you for your hard work.”
Upon hearing these four words, Mr. Wang actually cried.
Just now, he endured unprecedented humiliation.
The Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciple had made him crawl in from the entrance on his knees, delivering the silver note to his hand, or else it wouldn’t count.
Mr. Wang had never suffered such indignity, but he eventually lowered his head and crawled over, bringing back the master.
At this moment, Old Master An Xu glanced at this odd scene and said, “Mr. Wang, who is this blind valet? How can he speak to you like that? I have never met him. My An Family doesn’t have this person.”
Mr. Wang said sternly, “Master, keep quiet.”
His reddened eyes flared with anger, the murderous aura making An Xu jump in fright; he hurriedly said, “I won’t talk; I’ll keep quiet; thank you this time, Mr. Wang.
Ah, Chenyu should return the authority, right?
That child is a mess; once she’s married, she should stay married…
By the way, has Chenyu already married into the Chen Family?”
Mr. Wang helplessly glanced at Song Cheng again, then sternly said, “Shut up!”
“Oh…”
Old Master An fell silent.
His biggest distinction from the likes of An Changsheng and An Kai was: he only indulged in luxury without managing affairs, yet he wouldn’t cause trouble—or rather he was so useless, he couldn’t even cause trouble…
A gentle spring rain fell slowly; as Mr. Wang got onto the carriage, the youth lightly patted his shoulder.
Everything Mr. Wang went through, he’d already seen via out-of-body soul, and he had also clearly seen the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciple’s appearance and capabilities.
Merely a Force Realm.
Mr. Wang felt the youth’s reassuring pat, he looked back, his old eyes filled with bitterness, tears mingled with raindrops in the wrinkles of his frown.
As he entered the curtain once more, he murmured, “They forced me to kneel; it seems they intend to suppress our An Family, and after this… it will probably be relentless.”
Song Cheng nodded, then waved his hand. The manager whipped the reins, and the carriage began to move.
Song Cheng said, “Old Master An.”
An Xu asked, “Are you speaking to me?”
Song Cheng said, “Besides you, which other family got caught in that Shanhe Martial Arts Hall disciple’s snare?”
An Xu angrily said, “I didn’t get caught; I didn’t! I noticed something, but they broke the rules and simply detained me.
Yet the Gao Family and Chi Family weren’t as fortunate as me.
One lost twenty thousand taels, and the other twenty-eight thousand. Haha… they will have to ransom their family members too.
Hey, tell me, doesn’t this mean I saved the An Family some money?”
The manager lifted his hand and patted his forehead, unable to speak.
Song Cheng laughed, “It does.”
While Old Master An was looking at the glaring eyes of Mr. Wang inside the carriage, on hearing the word “does,” he was overjoyed and felt he had found a kindred spirit, so he grandly said, “I didn’t expect you, a little valet, to understand me, Master An, so well. There will be rewards! But Master doesn’t have money right now, once we arrive at the An Family, I’ll have my wife give it to you. My wife is the most gentle and considerate, adept at managing the household.”
Inside the carriage, Mr. Wang was almost amused.
And Song Cheng could only reflect, thinking Miss An’s current skill and means couldn’t be disconnected from her father’s influence.
A muddleheaded father, a foolish and wicked brother, a deceitful and meddlesome stepmother, a partial grandfather, a selfish third uncle, and a guard commander coveting her body…
That An Chenyu was able to endure and rise in such an environment was nothing short of a miracle.
