This Life, I'm Raising the Right Man

After seeing off the guests, Zhang Zhaodi looked at the order list and discovered that one batch of goods hadn’t been delivered, so she sorted out the goods and personally brought them over.

Speaking of which, Zhang Zhaodi herself negotiated this deal.

Last time, she gathered the whole family to watch a play and happened to know the manager of the theatre, so the rouge and face powder they needed were purchased from Taoyao Square.

To maintain the relationship with this major client, Zhang Zhaodi proactively offered a twenty percent discount. The other party was also generous, immediately ordering ten large sets.

”Daughter, I just came out of the theatre; guess what I saw?” Zhang Zhaodi found Su Yaoguang excitedly.

Su Yaoguang was experimenting with a new product, she heard Zhang Zhaodi’s excited words and said without looking up: ”What did you see?”

”I went to the theatre to deliver goods and saw the Young Master of Jinle Square, Cui Rong, entertaining those purchasing envoys watching the play.”

”Isn’t this normal? The Cui Family is a big clan, and this business is just one among their hundreds of shops, so it’s normal for them to be familiar with people from the palace.”

”If it’s just entertaining to watch a play, then it’s nothing.” Zhang Zhaodi said, ”But that purchasing envoy was getting handsy with Cui Rong, clearly with bad intentions.”

Su Yaoguang was stunned and looked up at Zhang Zhaodi: ”Getting handsy?”

Zhang Zhaodi nodded excitedly: ”Yes, getting handsy, touching here and there, particularly shameless.”

Su Yaoguang suddenly felt a bit sympathetic towards that Young Master Cui.

”Isn’t the purchasing envoy a eunuch?” Su Yaoguang murmured.

”You little girl, what do you know? So what if he’s a eunuch? He lost that thing, but it doesn’t stop his interest in this kind of thing!” Zhang Zhaodi said, ”Oh, why am I telling you about these things? Just forget about this filthy stuff and pretend I never said anything. I’ll go tell the second and third about how extravagantly these palace people play.”

Su Yaoguang: ”...”

The hour was getting late, and Su Yaoguang remembered she had agreed to visit Zhou Wangshu at the academy today to deliver newly bought paper and some travel journals, and to bring back his dirty clothes.

She sorted out the things she had prepared in advance, carried a basket, and headed towards the academy.

Just passing through an alley, suddenly a person rushed over from the opposite direction, swaying unsteadily and bumped into her.

Su Yaoguang was strong, stepped back two steps but stabilized herself. The other person wasn’t as fortunate, falling backwards and then collapsing to the ground, unable to get up.

”Hey... hey... wake up... you...” Su Yaoguang wanted to say don’t fake an injury, but upon seeing the young man in front of her, she closed her mouth.

Cui Rong?

She looked around but didn’t see anyone else.

From here to Jinle Square was a bit far, but going back to Taoyao Square was closer.

This Cui Rong had a smell of blood on him; he must be injured somewhere. She only had to take him back to Taoyao Square first to let Jiang Jing examine his wounds, then notify someone from Jinle Square to come and pick him up.

”Jing’er, Jing’er, quickly bring your medicine chest over.”

”Who’s injured?” Jiang Jing’s voice came from the backyard.

She appeared jogging with the medicine chest.

When she saw Cui Rong placed on the soft couch by Su Yaoguang, she said: ”Weren’t you going to see my brother-in-law? How did you pick up a person and bring them back?”

”I met him halfway; he didn’t seem right, collided with me, then fell and didn’t wake up after. Quickly check where he’s hurt.”

”You don’t even know where he’s hurt, yet you dare to bring him home? Jinle Square already has a grudge against us, and this Cui Rong especially causes us trouble; why bother with him?”

”If it were you, and a living person collapsed in front of you, especially someone you’ve seen and recognized, would you let them die without saving them?” Su Yaoguang retorted.

”I wouldn’t!” Jiang Jing said, ”I’m a doctor; saving lives is my duty. You aren’t a doctor, so it’s up to you whether you save people or not; no one would say anything.”

”How is he?”

”The smell of blood is coming from his leg,” Jiang Jing said, ”His thigh was stabbed with a knife, deep too. I need to remove his pants to apply medicine.”

Su Yaoguang understood Jiang Jing’s meaning.

She had to step out for a moment.

Standing at the door, Su Yaoguang listened to the commotion inside.

Zhou Wangshu returned carrying large bags, saw her standing at the door, and asked: ”Why aren’t you going in?”

”Why did you come back today?” Su Yaoguang blocked the door, ”Jing’er is applying medicine to an injured person inside; we’re better off staying out here for now.”

”Alright.” Zhou Wangshu said, ”I’ve been at the academy for seven days straight, all I have in my head are Confucian teachings. Haven’t you been saying to balance work and relaxation? I followed your advice.”

”What’s this?”

”I bought you something to eat.” Zhou Wangshu said, handing her a paper-wrapped roasted chicken leg as he opened a package.

It was still warm.

Su Yaoguang was truly hungry, and the aroma was tempting her.

Just as she was about to bite the chicken leg, a piercing scream came from inside.

She pushed the door open and went in, only to see Cui Rong with arms crossed against his chest, looking at Jiang Jing warily, as if Jiang Jing was a troublemaker.

”Why am I here?” Cui Rong asked.

”I picked you up on the road.” Su Yaoguang said, ”If you think I meddled, I can throw you back now.”

Cui Rong’s expression changed, he lowered his gaze, and said nothing.

Su Yaoguang recalled the gossip Zhang Zhaodi mentioned and looked at Cui Rong’s current state, feeling a pang of concern.

No way?

When she saw him earlier today, he was flamboyant and radiant, lively and passionate, a unique young master. Just a few hours later, he ended up like this? Did he really experience the harassment by the eunuch and go through such a darkness?

”I’ll send a clerk to Jinle Square to find someone, let the shopkeeper arrange for someone to pick you up.”

”Can I stay here tonight? I’m willing to pay silver. Let me stay a night, and I’ll pay fifty taels.”

Su Yaoguang hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Usually, someone with a boisterous personality suddenly becomes docile; she’s a little unaccustomed to it. Judging by his appearance, he seems terribly frightened. Never mind, she’ll do a good deed!

”Your wound needs dressing. You won’t let me dress it; how about I find a clerk to do it for you, will you accept that?” Jiang Jing asked.

Cui Rong bowed his head: ”No need, I’ll dress it myself.”

”That works, as long as you can do it.”

Su Yaoguang looked at Cui Rong’s demeanor and asked: ”How did you get injured? Jing’er said your injury is deep, caused by a sharp weapon like a dagger. Want me to find someone to report to the authorities?”

”What’s the point of reporting?” Cui Rong muttered, said nothing more, took the medicine and cloth towel from Jiang Jing, preparing to bandage his wound.

He glanced at Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu, who immediately got the hint and left the room.