"Dad..."
Having met countless people and done many things, I wasn't sure which incident Dad was referring to.
This guy, he kinda doesn't focus on serious matters.
My eldest brother has been learning medicine from our grandfather since childhood and is now a well-known Doctor Zhao in the county town's Hundred Herbs Hall.
My second brother loves reading. Although not talented, his diligence paid off; after three attempts, he finally earned a scholar title, which made Dad so happy he almost threw a three-day feast.
Of course, he didn't do that, only urged the second son to keep working hard and celebrate together when he becomes a scholar.
As for me, the third young master of the Zhao family, I don't want to learn medicine or study, I just want to do business and make silver. But Dad wouldn't let me go into business; whether it's scholar, farmer, or artisan, they run a pharmacy, already at merchant level, and if I want to engage in other things, that's not happening.
So, I can't let my dad know everything about what I do.
"Have you met a certain girl?"
Zhao Minghua... could it be that Dad sent someone to follow me?
"Dad, I wandered around the county twice this morning, and walked three rounds in town in the afternoon. I saw countless girls along the way, so which one are you talking about?"
Zhao Chengxun... this son is deliberately trying to make me angry.
"The Xiao family's girl, have you seen her?"
Zhao Chengxun was too irritated by his rebellious son to speak indirectly, as subtlety is lost on him since this kid can't understand human speech.
"The Xiao family's girl? You mean the granddaughter of the Xiao Clan Leader?" Zhao Minghua disliked arranged marriage but had to accept parental orders and matchmaker arrangements for major life events: "She is a distinguished lady, not allowed beyond the front gate, how could I possibly see her?"
"You rebellious son, I'm asking about Doctor Xiao's granddaughter, have you seen her?"
"Ah, oh, um, I have seen her."
Zhao Chengxun was secretly delighted with this answer, just as he suspected!
"Did you give her silver?"
What?
Zhao Minghua was dumbfounded, what's going on here?
He glanced at Qingsheng, who was shaking his head vigorously, saying, don't ask me, I know nothing, I really haven't said anything.
"Dad, why would Doctor Xiao's granddaughter inexplicably want my silver?" Well, that's it, caught red-handed, explanation equals an excuse: "I gave the deposit. I know the Xiao family girl can process medicinal materials, so I thought of doing business without going far, better let her process some and sell them to our Hundred Herbs Hall, it saves effort."
"Hehe, since when did you become in charge of Hundred Herbs Hall?"
"No, Dad, in business, one must seize the opportunity as it's fleeting." Zhao Minghua didn't know what went wrong, letting Dad come to settle accounts. Regardless, he stirred this up, he must shoulder it, can't let Dad think too much about Miss Xiao.
"Such a fleeting opportunity." Zhao Chengxun happily slapped the table, the sting in his palm reminded him of his slight overexertion of joy: "Ming Hua, your idea is good, buying processed medicinal materials from the Xiao family girl, this matter, you handle it."
"Dad..."
Zhao Minghua was dumbfounded... He just wanted to send some ointment to the girl, but before reaching the Xiao family, he heard the aunties talking about their misfortune; they had no choice but to rent a place and ended up burning down the kitchen, and the family, women and children, might not endure for long.
Seeing the Xiao family's dire situation, compassion arose, he untied his purse, and concocted a reason in urgency, unexpectedly discovered by Dad, and taken seriously.
What if the Xiao family girl doesn't know how to process medicinal materials?
Not right; how could Doctor Xiao's granddaughter not know how to process medicinal materials? If she truly couldn't, she would have certainly said so.
With their integrity, if she accepted the deposit, she surely possesses the capability to process medicinal materials.
"That's settled then." Suddenly recalling something: "I asked your mother to invite a matchmaker to propose to the Xiao Clan Leader's family a few days ago, but they declined, so let's drop this arranged marriage. After all, we cannot climb up to them."
"Alright, alright, I'll follow Dad's decision."
This is great, no need to be forced to wed, Zhao Minghua was genuinely happy, almost ready to jump three feet on the spot.
"So unsteady."
The dragon has nine sons, each different.
Out of three sons, indeed the youngest is most troublesome.
Looking at it... how can he match Doctor Xiao's granddaughter?
Such a worry.
Oh well, it's time to go talk to my wife about ceasing the arranged marriage with the Xiao Clan Leader's family.
"Sir, you mean not to align with the Xiao Clan Leader's family?"
This marriage was privately favored by Mrs. Zhao Zhou and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao Clan Leader; both were very satisfied, and Xiao Chunlan had met Zhao Minghua a few times, her heart long secretly attached.
Suddenly not aligning, it surely needs inquiry.
"Ming Hua's character is unconventional, the Xiao Clan Leader's granddaughter is a distinguished lady, they aren't suitable."
"How could it be? Xiao Chunlan is an exceptionally good girl, I've seen her..."
"Many good girls." I've just noticed one but dared not speak directly: "Yet few match Ming Hua, marriage is meant for alliance, not enmity, Ming Hua is still young, this isn't urgent."
Mrs. Zhou was directly stunned.
But she had no choice, men are the household heads.
"I'll find an excuse to talk to Mrs. Xiao."
Really, how should she approach this?
"No need to say anything special, anyway the matchmaker was rejected at the door, just tell the matchmaker, no need to go asking for marriage again."
"Is this okay?"
"Nothing wrong with it, like I said, Ming Hua's character is unconventional, I need to teach him properly for a few years, wait till he's older then talk about appropriate marriage."
Why wait till older, for Doctor Xiao has recently passed, his granddaughter must observe three years of mourning.
Zhao Chengxun considers himself very wise, thought through every detail.
What Mrs. Zhou does with it, he does not care.
Thinking of some possibility, Zhao Chengxun's mood was especially good, even humming a tune while leaving the main courtyard.
"What did Ming Hua do today? Why did he upset the master?" Mrs. Zhou asked in confusion, like speaking to herself: "It's not right, if Ming Hua truly caused trouble, made the master angry, he wouldn't be humming a tune?"
No one knows a son better than his mother, yet, this time, neither Mrs. Zhou nor the concerned Zhao Minghua knows what's going on: today, the master seems very peculiar.
"Qingsheng, you truly never spoke to anyone about my deeds? The master didn't ask you either?"
"Young master, absolutely not, truly never."
"Then why does Dad know everything?" Zhao Minghua was quite upset: "How does he even know I gave money to Miss Xiao?"
"Moreover, don't you find it strange? Dad clearly disagrees with me doing business, yet this time he agreed to let me engage with Miss Xiao about the medicinal materials business, what does this mean?"
Qingsheng shook his head, I'm a servant, I don't understand, don't make it difficult for me.
"Got it." Zhao Minghua slapped his thigh and winced: "I understand, back then, Doctor Xiao favored my dad, so my dad wants to return the favor, disguising it as purchasing processed medicinal materials to secretly aid the Xiao family."
Qingsheng... Young master, are you serious or joking?