Chapter Sixty: I Have a Request

Guanshan Town was indeed a small city; Shi Guangjun knew this all too well. The events of the morning had spread throughout the town by noon, with every mouth retelling the story, adding embellishments and vivid details as it passed from person to person. In summary: the son of an official was caught at Drunken Immortal Tavern in a clandestine affair with a charming widow. The two quarreled, and it just so happened that Lin Xuesong, the wealthy merchant from Ziyang City, witnessed the scene.

The trouble was, the Lin and Shi families had once arranged a marriage between their children. With such a scandal erupting, the engagement was naturally off, and the farce became the topic of everyone's idle conversation.

Lin Xuesong, seeing Shi Guangjun's true colors at last, immediately found his beloved daughter. Facing Lin Rou, he cast aside his pride, pouring out apologies, nearly kneeling before her in remorse.

“My dear daughter, please forgive your father. I had no idea Shi Guangjun was such a scoundrel. Don’t worry, I will write to Shi Wanli at once and refuse this marriage!”

“This was entirely my fault. However you wish me to make it up to you, just say the word—I’ll agree to anything!”

With the engagement completely ruined, Lin Rou’s spirits soared, and she did not forget her agreement with Jiang Chen. She introduced Jiang Chen to Lin Xuesong and suggested purchasing those medicinal wines. Lin Xuesong did not hesitate; he ordered his steward to buy them all and immediately sent men to load the casks and transport them to Ziyang.

Truly a magnate of his region, Lin Xuesong did not blink at the price—one hundred taels of silver per cask—nor did he care about the quality. His only purpose was to please his daughter.

A total of one thousand three hundred and fifty-three casks were sold, and Jiang Chen received thirteen thousand five hundred and thirty taels of silver. If Zhao He knew, he would surely be so furious he’d spit blood on the spot.

When Jiang Chen bought the wine from Zhao He, it was at a bargain price—less than ten taels per cask. Now, he sold it at ten times the price, profiting handsomely.

“You can come to the Lin residence in Ziyang whenever you wish. I’ll have the steward convert the silver to banknotes for you. Is that satisfactory?” Lin Rou explained everything to the steward in front of Jiang Chen, emphasizing her commitment to fulfill her promise without compromise.

“Actually... I have one small request. I wonder if you could help me with it?”

Jiang Chen hesitated, looking troubled. Lin Rou was slightly displeased by his demeanor.

“I’m in a good mood today. If you have a request, make it now—I won’t wait! And stop making that face, as if you doubt I can do it. Don’t underestimate me!”

Lin Rou, pampered as she was, had a pride deep in her bones, easily swayed by Jiang Chen’s subtle maneuvering. He was secretly delighted—his little scheme had cornered the young lady, leaving her no retreat.

Still, Jiang Chen replied seriously, “I’d like to ask you for a small favor: give the refugees outside Ziyang a chance to survive.”

“I know even the city’s commander couldn’t manage such a thing, but for your family, it would be no trouble at all.”

Jiang Chen’s earnest manner made Lin Rou feel his request was absurd. Who, given such a golden opportunity, wouldn’t seek greater gains for themselves, but instead worry about refugees with whom he had no connection? This man was truly a hopeless scholar, stubborn to the core!

Lin Rou paused, then told Jiang Chen, “Do you know what my father calls those refugees?”

“The living dead.”

When she spoke those words, she revealed the utter disregard for life typical of her station.

“My father says those people may be barely surviving, but they will die sooner or later, and their time is running out. The Lin family could feed them, but it won’t change their fate. In other words, not even the gods could save them.”

These words indeed sounded like something Lin Xuesong would say—profound yet indifferent, seeing reality so clearly that he had no shred of compassion.

Jiang Chen remained steadfast. “Give them two months of food and some clothes to get through the winter. I know a place where they can settle and recover. The rest is up to them.”

Jiang Chen knew that providing a few hundred refugees with food and clothing was insignificant for the Lin family; the only question was whether they would do it. Lin Rou found Jiang Chen increasingly difficult to understand, but ultimately she agreed.

“Fine. I’ll give them food for half a year. After that, their survival is no longer our concern.”

“Thank you!”

After their conversation, Lin Rou was about to leave with Lin Xuesong for Ziyang, but her temperament ensured she wouldn’t forget to “deal with” those two unfortunates.

The county magistrate, feigning illness at the yamen, could not escape the Lin family’s reckoning. He had foolishly been led astray by Lin Yuanzhou and mocked the Lin family’s young lady, and now he suffered for it.

Lin Yuanzhou was even quicker to admit fault, shamelessly claiming that his branch of the Lin family was kin to the Lin family of Ziyang, distant relatives. He wept and pleaded in public, even kneeling before Lin Rou, fully displaying his shameless nature.

Having suffered a crushing defeat at Jiang Chen’s hands, Lin Yuanzhou had no idea how he’d lost so badly—he’d angered the Lin family’s young mistress and his lover, the lovely Jiaojiao, had been entangled with some official’s son.

Although their relationship was far from honorable, Lin Yuanzhou still felt as though he’d been cuckolded. But he had no time to worry about that now; appeasing Lin Rou was all that mattered. Alas, the more servile he became, the more irritated she grew.

“This scoundrel is utterly shameless. Father, deal with him. I don’t want to see his face—it turns my stomach!”

Lin Xuesong replied with seasoned assurance, “Don’t worry, daughter. I’ll handle this for you and ensure these fools learn their lesson. Next time they see you, they’ll run for their lives!”