332 The Journey Back

Zhao Zhan did not say a word.

Madam Yan’s thoughts drifted away.

“Jiaojiao’s mother and I were close friends. Back then, she and I met Jiaojiao’s father at the same time. In the end, she was the one who married him. All I could do was marry his bookworm brother.

“Every time Jiaojiao’s mother returned to Bei City to visit her relatives, she would always tell me how much she loved her husband. This kind of life should have been mine! So, how could I possibly tolerate Yue Jiaojiao marrying my outstanding son?

“Yue Jiaojiao is not worthy of him at all.

“It just so happens that the Lin family was in need of money. My husband only knows how to read books all day and has never cared about these worldly matters.

“What’s wrong with me ordering people to kill Yue Jiaojiao and using her dowry to pave a good future for my son?”

Zhao Zhan finally knew where Lin Chenzhi’s personality came from.

Zhao Zhan thought that Lin Chenzhi had been spoiled by the elders in his family, which was why he had developed such a reckless and arrogant personality. Now, it seemed that his thoughts and worldviews actually came from his mother.

Zhao Zhan had more or less heard about Yue Jiaojiao’s parents’ loving story from Madam Qin.

They were in love with each other, so why did this lady end up becoming a jealous monster?

“I’ve already told you.” Madam Yan looked at Zhao Zhan. “The Lin family has a total of twelve shops. Including that restaurant, you only need to give us three thousand pieces of silver. That will be enough. With three thousand pieces of silver. I’ll even leave the goods in my shop to you. I won’t take them away.”

“Three thousand? That’s too expensive.”

Zhao Zhan lowered his head and tidied his robes. “I’m just a small businessman. I can’t afford three thousand.”

“County Magistrate.”

Madam Yan and Lin Chenzhi raised their heads in unison.

Fang Tianliu opened the door from the outside.

The County Magistrate placed his hands behind his back and entered the room to take a casual glance.

“Your Excellency, the two of them have just admitted that they have maliciously plotted to steal someone’s dowry and their lives. Please investigate this matter!”

Zhao Zhan cupped his fists and bowed in front of the magistrate.

How could he easily let these two people take the silver and live a good life elsewhere?

He had to take revenge for the hatred in his heart.

The County Magistrate waved his hand casually. “Men, take them away.”

Zhao Zhan watched as the officers rushed into the room and took the two of them away.

“Thank you for upholding justice for me!”

“As the Bei City County Magistrate, it is my duty to seek the good fortune of the people and eliminate the bad.”

Zhao Zhan bowed deeply again.

He had been able to persuade the County Magistrate because Zhang Lingzhen was the middleman, and Zhao Zhan had promised to hand over half of the Lin family’s assets to the County Magistrate when this matter was resolved.

After finishing the most important task in Bei City, Zhao Zhan could not wait to get up and leave.

Zhang Lingzhen and Madam Zhang saw him off all the way to the city gates.

“Zhao Zhan, the weather is pretty good now. When you return to the mountain gaze, you must bring Jiaojiao back to meet the family as soon as possible.

“Don’t worry about that good-for-nothing father of yours. I’ll keep a close eye on him and definitely won’t let him sneak out again.”

The Zhang family had prepared a carriage for Zhao Zhan.

Zhao Zhan stood beside the carriage and shook his head when he heard this. “If he wants to leave, then let him go. I’m not a child anymore, I don’t need a father now. It makes no difference to me whether he’s here or not.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s not talk about such gloomy matters right now.” Madam Zhang looked at the sky.

“It’s getting late. Zhao Zhan, you should hurry and set off. It’s a long journey, so you must be careful. The blue cloth bundle on the carriage is filled with gifts I prepared for Jiaojiao.

“I’ve also asked the servants to put some dry food in the secret compartment in the car.

“However, you should pay attention to the town along the way to rest and replenish your dry food.”

Madam Zhang gave out many instructions, her eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at Zhao Zhan. She truly treated Zhao Zhan as her own child.

“Alright, it’s time to let them go.” Zhang Lingzhen was sad, but he could still keep a straight face. your grandmother is getting on in years, you must remember to bring Jiaojiao back to see her.

“After you leave, I’m sure everyone here will miss you a lot.”

“Thank you for taking care of me for such a long time. If I have time in the future, I will definitely bring Jiaojiao to Bei City to visit you.”

Zhao Zhan bowed deeply.

Madam Zhang couldn’t stand it anymore, and cried on Zhang Lingzhen’s shoulder.

Zhang Lingzhen waved his hand.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhan cupped his fists and saluted. Then, he boarded the carriage and whipped the horse.

After being away from home for months, he did not know how Jiaojiao was doing.

Fang Tianliu had thought that the journey back would be easier, but he didn’t expect Zhao Zhan to go crazy. Apart from the necessary supplies along the way, he pulled the two of them along and took turns driving the carriage.

The two of them had already changed three horses and even changed the wheels of the carriage once.

…

Yue Jiaojiao sat under the pavilion, holding a bowl of green bean porridge that had been made by Madam Qin.

“Madam Qin, Lizheng came over yesterday to say that the wheat will be harvested the day after tomorrow. Many people in the workshop have asked for leave because of the farming season. Did Xiaoyu send over the latest account books?”

“It’s here, but you were sleeping at the time, so I didn’t wake you up.” Madam Qin had helped Yue Jiaojiao’s mother manage the accounts when she was at the Yue family’s house, so she was quite capable of handling these accounts as well.

“I’ve already looked through the accounts. The total amount of orders has been reduced by sixty kilograms compared to last month.

“I’ve already told them to give out more rewards to the people who are temporarily staying in the workshop, as you have suggested.

“Those who can persist throughout the busy farming season without taking leave will be rewarded with an additional 200 coins.”

“Thank you for handling it all.”

Yue Jiaojiao was afraid of heat. Now that she was pregnant, she felt even hotter than before.

“If I go out under such a hot sun, I’m afraid I’ll melt before I even reach the workshop.”

Her belly was already showing. However, her clothes were loose, and she was sitting on a stool, so it was hard to tell.

Madam Qin couldn’t help but look out the door.

“The child in you will know how to care for others and won’t torment you that much, my lady.”

“Peak season is about to start. I don’t know when Zhao Zhan will be back. Yang Lizheng even came to ask me about this yesterday.”

Madam Qin was truly worried for Yue Jiaojiao.

This woman was pregnant, so her mood was much more sensitive and fragile than usual.

Even though her appetite was growing, compared to before Zhao Zhanleft, she had lost a lot of weight.

Yue Jiaojiao’s movements paused for a moment. “Zhao Zhan should be here soon, but there hasn’t been any news from him since I received his letter. Even though I don’t feel anything bad, I’m still a little worried.”

Madam Qin forced herself to cheer up. “My lady, there’s no need to be sad. Perhaps he has already arrived at Wangshan and is rushing home.”

Just as she finished speaking.

A barbarian looking man could be seen rushing in from the front yard.

Zhao Zhan’s tone was filled with excitement. “Jiaojiao!”