Chapter 58

"Is it reasonable to make a kid who just got up from his sickbed fight a match twice in a month?"

"Then who will learn and face the opponent? Neither I nor my sister can do it."

Dangmok Hyonyo said with a vexed expression, frowning.

"Since Seong-a brought the match, Seong-a should do it."

"Will it be okay?"

"Is there any reason why Yeon-a can and Seong-a can't? And originally, the reason we came all the way from Henan Province was to have Seong-a spar with Jin Zhongxia."

Dangmok Hyonyo gritted his teeth and whispered, his tightly clenched fists trembling.

Even thinking about it again made his blood boil.

"Damn, why didn't you stop it!"

"How many times are you going to say this? Kids grow up playing and fighting with each other!"

"If kids are going to play with the family name, they should be stopped...!"

"Enough!"

Dangmok Cheonggi's low shout silenced the siblings.

Wei Ziqing, who had been sitting quietly, smiled gently and said,

"Head of the Outer Hall, don't worry too much. There's no one as talented as Seong-a. She will learn a lot from this."

Dangmok Hyonyo looked at Wei Ziqing as if he might fall backward, his lips trembling as he nodded, muttering his thanks. Then, to vent his frustration, he brought up another matter.

"Right, speaking of that. This Yaoyueqing? What's the deal with the contract with this person? Herb supply? We already get herbs from Hoxian's Pharmacy."

"Oh, that."

Dangmok Xianwu spoke up.

"He's an herbalist we found on this trip, and he's really skilled."

As his younger brother spoke, Dangmok Hyonyo raised an eyebrow.

"Really, how skilled is he to warrant paying this much money for a contract? Where do we have the money for this? And why is the contract written under a guardian's name? Is the daughter selling her mother?"

"No, it's not the daughter's name, but the grandmother's name..."

"..."

Dangmok Hyonyo blinked. Dangmok Xianwu cleared his throat and continued.

"The herbalist Yaoyueqing is not yet an adult... so he plans to negotiate with his grandmother."

"How old is he?"

Dangmok Hyonyo thought he must be at least fifteen and asked, trying to ignore the growing unease in his heart.

"Well, how old... ten or twelve..."

"What do you mean, that?"

Dangmok Hyonyo laughed and then suddenly shouted.

"Are you saying we're paying this much money to a ten or twelve-year-old for herbs!"

"The herbs from this herbalist are really good. Since he brought the herbs, you can check them at the pharmacy later."

"Even if the herbs are really good, where do we have the money to expand the pharmacy like this! Who... what did you say? The child is a good herbalist, but where do we have the money for this!"

"He has a lot of money."

"What?"

"Technically, the family doesn't have a lot of money, but Lian-a does, so we have a lot of money."

"..."

Dangmok Hyonyo looked at Dangmok Xianwu as if he were talking nonsense. Wei Ziqing smiled.

"Head of the Outer Hall, you are so upright that you immediately took care of the children and people when you arrived, so you didn't have a chance to check."

Though it sounded like a compliment, it almost seemed like a jab, but everyone knew Wei Ziqing always spoke sincerely.

Dangmok Hyonyo blushed in embarrassment and glared at Wei Ziqing internally as Dangmok Xianwu said,

"Go check at the finance office."

"Do you think I won't go?"

"Everyone here knows you will go."

Dangmok Hyonyo glared at his younger brother and abruptly stood up, heading to the finance office almost at a run.

The finance office manager was busy with his brush when he saw her, looking surprised but welcoming her.

"Oh, Head of the Outer Hall... you're here?"

It had been over ten years since the family had any money, and Dangmok Hyonyo had long stopped visiting the finance office.

Dangmok Hyonyo first checked if Wei Ziqing was following, and seeing he wasn't, she spoke directly.

"I heard some ridiculous story about the family having a lot of money. What's going on?"

"Ah? You haven't heard of Qinglianshui?"

Dangmok Hyonyo frowned.

"Should I believe rumors from the market when I've never seen the product?"

Indeed, it sold out immediately, and a casual glance while passing by wouldn't have been enough to get it. For Dangmok Hyonyo, who had just returned to Zhejiang Province, it might have seemed like a wild rumor.

Seeing Xue Guanxi's gentle smile, Dangmok Hyonyo's eyes widened.

"You mean it's really...?"

"Really."

"If it was that good, why didn't the family pharmacy make it long ago?"

"It's not that the pharmacy is incompetent, but Miss Lian made it. No one else can replicate its effects, which is why it sells so well."

In fact, it seemed that fake versions were starting to circulate, but the difference in effectiveness was significant, causing problems.

"Miss Lian made it herself, and it's that... that amazing, selling so well?"

"Yes."

"But why are the family buildings still in such a state?"

Not just the buildings, but the family members' clothing and living conditions were not much different from when she left for Henan Province. That's why she hadn't noticed.

"Miss Lian said to use the relatively intact parts and start repairs from the most dilapidated areas."

"What? Where is that?"

"The servants' quarters."

"Why... why...?"

Dangmok Hyonyo was about to speak but closed her mouth at Xue Guanxi's calm gaze.

No matter how the family's fortunes declined, the head of the family and direct descendants' living quarters would not be neglected, nor would the reception hall for guests. Thus, the most dilapidated and shabby part was the servants' quarters, which were not visible from outside the family compound.

"So, really... what... do you mean we have a lot of money? Are we rich now?"

"Not us, but Miss Lian is wealthy."

"!"

Xue Guanxi smiled casually. Dangmok Hyonyo swallowed hard and glared at him.

"Do you think I'm after my niece's money?"

"Everyone in the family knows you wouldn't do that."

"So, how much has she made, specifically?"

Xue Guanxi took out a ledger without hesitation.

It was a ledger of the money Lian had set aside for the family's use.

Dangmok Hyonyo snatched the ledger and quickly scanned it. Her hands trembled.

"This, this, this..."

She hadn't seen such a large sum of assets since she grew up.

'She made this much just by selling a few drops of oil?'

"Miss Lian said that since the family helped her get the patent, it's only right to repay it and use it for the family's development."

Dangmok Hyonyo's lips moved. How long had it been since Lian woke up, and how much did she not know about the family?

"So... with this, we're hiring an herbalist, expanding the pharmacy, and taking on new disciples?"

"Yes."

Dangmok Hyonyo's eyebrows trembled, and she slammed the ledger shut, returning it to Xue Guanxi.

"Do you really like that kid? She's the only one in this family who shows talent in making money rather than spending it."

"Do I dare to like her? I can only serve her."

"..."

Dangmok Hyonyo's face stiffened as she looked at him, but Xue Guanxi, with his youthful face despite his gray hair, nodded at her.

It was a signal that their business was done. Dangmok Hyonyo turned and left without a word.

* * *

The lantern swayed in the wind, and only then did Dangmok Cheng look up from his book.

He met Dangmok Hyonyo's eyes, which seemed unusually sad. It seemed she had been looking at her all along.

"Mother."

"Are you studying well, my daughter?"

Shi Banan, who had been looking at a painting next to Dangmok Cheng, also looked up. Shi Banan smiled.

"Learning a new martial art, right?"

"Yes, Father. So, Mother, don't be too upset."

"Ah, no... no, I'm not upset about what my daughter is learning."

Dangmok Hyonyo waved her hand hurriedly.

"Every martial artist should have the courage to stand up when their family's name is dishonored. My daughter did well."

"Yes!"

Dangmok Hyonyo felt bitter but couldn't bring herself to scold her daughter when she saw her face.

There was no reason to scold a daughter who was as beautiful and talented as herself, diligent, and full of potential.

"So, did you have fun playing with Lian-a? You didn't just go to the herb shop, did you?"

"Ah..."

Dangmok Cheng trailed off. Dangmok Hyonyo's eyes widened.

"Is Lian-a just doing what she wants?"