At the inn.
A man in a light gray tunic angrily shook off the woman's hand. "Su Qian is your own younger brother, yet you want to harm him!"
"Su Ming, I'm doing this for your own good!" Su Yue stared at Su Ming sorrowfully.
But Su Ming only thought it was absurd. He really couldn't figure out Su Yue's reason for targeting Su Qian.
Su Qian had passed the imperial examination to become a scholar at a young age. He was also on good terms with the eldest son of the County Princess Jingning. Thanks to this connection, the business of the Su family's workshop was thriving. Even the shop he was running now owed its reputation to the eldest son.
Moreover, it was Su Ming himself who had proposed to put the family property in Su Qian's name. As a scholar, according to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty, Su Qian was exempt from corvée and could enjoy a significant reduction in taxes.
This could save a lot of money!
Just thinking about the taxes he would have to pay without Su Qian gave Su Ming a headache. He began to blame Su Yue in his heart.
His eldest sister had been the only child in the family for more than a decade and had been spoiled by their parents. Even after being married for more than a decade, she still relied on the family for financial support every month. She really had lived a life of luxury and didn't understand his hardships.
He was old enough to get married and start a family. With a younger brother like Su Qian to back him up, it was easier for him to find a wife. Moreover, his mother had been very kind to him. Even though he wasn't her biological child, she had left him some money.
Su Ming sighed. "Su Qian is easily influenced. If you say such things, he will overthink. You should think again."
Alas, Su Qian and Su Yue were siblings of the same parents. Even if they had a conflict, they would soon make up. Why involve him in this?
Then Su Ming strode away. Su Yue stared blankly at his back, her voice full of sorrow. "Ming'er, you're still young. You'll understand your mother's good intentions in the future..."
...
Early the next morning.
Shen Heqing took Shen Baozhu to wake up Su Qian.
Shen Baozhu lay on the edge of the bed. First, she poked Su Qian's face with her hand, then pinched his nose. Finally, Su Qian woke up, his face flushed from the折腾.
Meeting Su Qian's resentful gaze, Shen Baozhu felt a bit guilty, but still laughed happily. "Big brother, no wonder you like to wake me up. It's so much fun."
[Is the little cutie treating the crybaby as a toy? It is quite fun indeed.]
Su Qian's resentful eyes then fell on Shen Heqing, making Shen Heqing feel uncomfortable all over. He took the initiative to start a conversation. "Su Qian, get up quickly. We're taking you to investigate Su Ming's background."
Shen Heqing tilted his body slightly to let Su Qian see Shen Danqing behind him. He was full of confidence. "With Baozhu and Danqing here, we're sure to solve this problem today!"
Soon, Su Qian got dressed. The group got into the carriage.
On the way, Su Qian introduced. "My family used to live in a village. Later, we moved to the capital. After my father passed away, my mother has been sleeping in the workshop. The nanny who took care of me was unwell a few years ago and stayed in the village to retire."
The nanny was the wet nurse of Su Qian's father. She had been in the Su family for many years and was like a family member. Su Qian's mother had even bought a little maid to serve her.
Since it was a bit far away, they didn't arrive until noon.
The Su family was from Sujia Village, a small village that made a living by growing flowers.
Looking at the green grassy Sujia Village, Shen Baozhu immediately took a fancy to the butterflies in the flower bushes. She exclaimed, "Wow, butterflies!"
Shen Danqing grabbed Shen Baozhu and said first. "Baozhu, we're not here to play this time. After we finish investigating Su Qian's family matter, you can catch butterflies, okay?"
His tone was gentle. With the important matter at hand, Shen Baozhu could only reluctantly watch the colorful butterfly fluttering around.
Shen Baozhu turned her head and stopped looking at the butterfly. "Okay, I'll catch it later."
"Waiting for something? Butterflies?" Su Qian followed Shen Baozhu's previous gaze and also saw the butterfly.
He paused for a moment, then quietly walked into the grass, took out the handkerchief from his bosom, and accurately caught the fluttering colorful butterfly with the handkerchief.
Su Qian handed the handkerchief with the butterfly in it to Shen Baozhu. "Does Baozhu want this butterfly? Here you are."
Shen Baozhu looked at Su Qian admiringly and sighed. "Brother Su Qian is more capable than big brother and second brother! They can't catch butterflies!"
"Brother Su Qian, let the butterfly go. Then take Baozhu to catch butterflies later, okay? Baozhu wants to catch them by herself."
Shen Baozhu just liked the process of catching butterflies and wasn't interested in the butterflies themselves.
[The crybaby is useless, but a qualified playmate.]
While Su Qian was there coaxing Shen Baozhu, Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing walked into the village first.
It was the hottest time at noon. Many people in the village were enjoying the cool under the trees. Seeing strangers entering the village, someone asked curiously, "Where are you from? Where are you going?"
Shen Danqing held up the gift in his hand and smiled. "My brother and I are here to find someone. It's the old lady in the second-to-last house inside. Usually, there's a little maid serving her..."
Hearing Shen Danqing's words, the man wanted to ask more, but was hit hard on the back by an old man behind him.
The older people in the village all looked at Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing strangely. Especially the old man, who glared at Shen Heqing several times.
Shen Heqing felt confused. Just as he was about to step forward to argue, he was pulled back by Shen Danqing.
At this time, the village head got the news and rushed over with his bowls and chopsticks. He gave Shen Heqing a disdainful look, then looked at Shen Danqing. "Is that you, Qian boy? You've come back to see the old lady. That's great! The old lady has been missing you."
"When you passed the imperial examination to become a scholar last year, I told your mother to bring you back to the village so that everyone could celebrate with you."
"It's good that you're here today. Good."
Seeing that the village head had mistaken him, Shen Danqing didn't refute. Instead, he quietly avoided the village head's hand that was trying to pull him. "What about my big brother..."
The village head interrupted Shen Danqing. "Qian boy, you can enter the village, but this bastard can't."
"We didn't report him to the government out of respect for your parents, but we'll never let this bastard enter the village!"
Shen Danqing had a clue in his mind. He lowered his head and tried to get more information. "But my big brother is innocent..."
"Innocent? If he's innocent, what about my parents who were killed by the bandits?" Suddenly, someone rushed up and punched Shen Heqing.
Su Qian walked over holding Shen Baozhu's hand. Seeing his good friend being beaten, he immediately rushed up and pushed the man away, then punched him back. "How dare you beat Brother Heqing!"
Shen Baozhu also followed closely behind, waving her small fists. "How dare you beat my big brother! I'll beat you!"
Shen Heqing, who had been very angry at first, felt relieved. He reached out and pulled Shen Baozhu. "Okay, Baozhu."
"No! The bad guy bullied big brother. I want to avenge big brother!" Shen Baozhu was fuming. Her small body was surprisingly strong. Shen Heqing couldn't pull her back.
Shen Heqing had no choice but to change his approach. "Big brother's face hurts. I need Baozhu to blow on it."
Hearing that big brother needed her, Shen Baozhu reluctantly came back. She also told Su Qian, "Brother Su Qian, hit him a few more times. Since Baozhu can't avenge big brother, it's up to you."
The people in Sujia Village were shocked when they heard this. The village head's hand trembled, and his bowls and chopsticks fell to the ground. But he didn't notice. He pointed at Shen Heqing. "He's Su Qian. Then who are you?"
"Stupid, he's Big Brother Baozhu!"