116. Lu Nanqing Supports Her Waist to Receive Guests

Shen Mansion, Creek Garden, Chuyun Terrace.

"Youran, who bullied you?"

When Lu Jin returned to the Chuyun Terrace study from the Cloud-Watching Tower, supporting his lower back, he found Wu You standing at his door, on the verge of tears.

"Big Brother, what happened to you?" Wu You, who had initially not wanted to speak, immediately forgot her grievances upon seeing Lu Jin clutching his waist and hurried forward, filled with concern.

"Ah, it’s nothing. I just accidentally strained my back," Lu Jin said awkwardly. After all, it was his own vigorous activities last night that caused it.

"How could you be so careless?" Wu You, still teary-eyed, reached out as if to examine his waist.

Lu Jin felt extremely awkward. Putting aside Wu You’s own situation, with that expression on her face, anyone would think she was crying out of concern for him!

"I’m fine, just a little uncomfortable. Tell me, Youran, who bullied you?" Lu Jin hurried into the room and sat down. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly; his wife was truly wild.

Now that he knew Shen Yanxi’s true nature, Lu Jin realized she had a classic dual personality. In public, she was dignified and elegant, like a cold fairy, but in private—well, it was indescribable.

"Hmph!" Seeing Lu Jin sit down, Wu You remembered why she had come to find him today.

Lu Jin was stunned. For a while now, Wu You had tried her best to act like a man; what was this sudden change today?

"What’s wrong? Come, sit down and tell Big Brother all about it." Lu Jin tried to remain calm. With Wu You looking so delicate and tearful, who could handle it? It was a disaster!

"Hmph! You’re not my Big Brother," Wu You said poutily.

Lu Jin was bewildered. He hadn't done anything, had he? Why was she suddenly disowning him as her brother?

Resigned, Lu Jin stood up and said awkwardly, "Fine then. If you have something on your mind, tell your Big Sister."

"Pfft!" Hearing this, Wu You couldn't hold back her laughter.

Seeing her smile, Lu Jin felt a sense of relief.

"Alright, alright, tell me. Whoever bullied my brother, I'll see to it they pay," Lu Jin feigned a fierce tone.

"It was you," Wu You said indignantly.

Lu Jin was speechless. He really hadn't done anything!

"Big Brother always said you treated me like a brother, so I ask you: why didn't you tell me about the brewing and salt-making businesses? Do you look down on the Wu family because we aren't a noble clan?" Wu You didn't hold back and poured it all out.

Lu Jin was dumbfounded. In his original plans, he had only focused on well-known noble clans and hadn't considered Wu You. While the Wu family wasn't a "noble clan" in the strictest sense, they were a high-ranking, powerful family with deep foundations.

"Actually, I knew about it a long time ago and was waiting for you to come to me. But it seemed you had no such intention, so I wanted to ask..." Wu You felt she had to get it off her chest.

"Youran, that was my oversight. Don't blame me, alright? Come, sit down and let’s talk properly," Lu Jin soothed her.

Wu You sat down, and Lu Jin called a maid to pour her a cup of tea.

"Even if you want to participate, don't you need to discuss it with your family first?" Lu Jin asked.

"I am the head of the Wu family now!"

Lu Jin: ...If you're the head, why are you never home? Are you managing by remote control?

"Still, you have to consider your father's wishes. What if he opposes it?" Lu Jin knew that although they were just making money now, his goals went far beyond that. The attitudes of Wu Han and even Xiao Yi were crucial.

"I have the final say at home. My father doesn't interfere."

Lu Jin: ...How should he respond to this?

"Even if you are the head, you know that each of my two ventures requires an investment of about a million. That's not a small sum. I still think it's better to consult your family."

It wasn't that Lu Jin wanted to be hypocritical; it was the complication of their personal bond. He could fleece other noble clans without a shred of guilt, but he couldn't do that to Wu You. Not to mention the price, would Wu Han even appreciate it? If Wu Han and Xiao Yi later turned against him, how would he and Wu You face each other?

"So, Big Brother, are you telling me to go to the Southwest Circuit myself?"

Lu Jin: ...Is that what he meant?

"Youran, I am your Big Brother, so I cannot hide things from you. If you insist on doing this business with me, I guarantee it will be very profitable. But the problem is that, from now on, your family will be tied to me. Your father and grandfather hold high positions; you must consider these things. I know your heart, but I believe if you truly want to participate, you should ask your family." Lu Jin spoke with earnest sincerity.

"Big Brother, are you planning to rebel?" Wu You’s eyes widened. In her heart, if her Big Brother wanted to rebel, he would surely succeed.

Lu Jin: ...Who is the one from ancient times here? Why is everyone always talking about rebellion?

"Rebel my foot! Do I look like a natural-born traitor to you? Why would I rebel?" Lu Jin flicked her forehead.

"Then why ask the family? I can decide for myself." Wu You lowered her head, embarrassed. She truly didn't see what couldn't be tied together, other than the impact of rebellion on her father and grandfather. She just wanted to be tied to her Big Brother.

Lu Jin had no choice. If he refused any further, it would be truly disheartening. If Wu Han turned against him later, so be it.

"Since you feel this way, I’ll tell you: the Jiangzhou Brewing Bureau can allocate a maximum of 500,000 shares to the Wu family, at the same price as the Tantai family—two taels of silver per share. You can decide how many to buy based on your family's situation." He couldn't go lower; any lower and it would be charity.

"Big Brother, I’ll go back and raise the money now," Wu You said, starting to stand up.

Lu Jin hurriedly grabbed her. Was there such a rush?

"Are you coming back with me, Big Brother?" Wu You asked, pleasantly surprised.

"..." What was she talking about?

"I said, buy based on your family's situation. You don't have to aim to buy all 500,000. I have plenty of ways to sell to others," Lu Jin reassured her.

"And even if you raise the money, there's no need to rush. The Bureau has enough funds for now. I'll reserve the shares for you; go back whenever you have time." Lu Jin couldn't possibly let Wu You travel thousands of miles to Wujiang with just a dozen people. Let’s wait and see.

"I’ll listen to Big Brother. I’ll write a letter to my sister and have her start preparing." Wu You was happy now, her face brightened.

Lu Jin didn't stop her from writing to her family; let her write.

"By the way, Big Brother, is your waist really okay?" Wu You looked at Lu Jin, who was still supporting his waist, and grew worried again.

Hah! Now she remembers to care about her Big Brother? Too late, Big Brother is already broken!

***

"What happened to Nanqing?" Tantai Ming looked at Lu Jin, who was clutching his waist, confused. They hadn't seen each other for a night; why was he like this?

Lu Jin: ...A sorrow that cannot be told.

"Nothing serious, just a slight strain. Please, both of you, sit and have some tea. Youran is currently teaching the children how to read; I’ll take you over in a moment." Lu Jin hadn't expected Tantai Ming to be so proactive; he had only mentioned it yesterday, and here they were today.

"You should take care of yourself." Tantai Ming didn't stand on ceremony and sat down with Tantai Yue.

Lu Jin: How to take care? There's no way to take care!

"Nanqing, I’m going back to Jinling in a few days. There are some things I need to discuss with my family," Tantai Ming said.

"Oh, when do you plan to leave, Ziyu?"

"As soon as the matter with the Brewing Bureau is settled."

"Alright, I’ll urge Shen Yi to process the paperwork as soon as possible."

"And what about Miss Tantai?" Lu Jin noticed Tantai Yue looked exhausted.

"Forgive me, Young Master Lu, I slept a bit late yesterday," Tantai Yue explained. She certainly couldn't tell him it was because she was reading a storybook.

Hearing this, Lu Jin remembered. It seemed she had been reading storybooks again.

"Big Brother, I’m finished here." As they were talking, Wu You walked out from the courtyard.

"Greetings, Brother Tantai, Miss Tantai." Upon reaching them, Wu You hurriedly greeted them.

The Tantai siblings returned the greeting. Tantai Ming was very puzzled. Wu You was clearly a woman; why did she wear men's clothing even at home? And to be hanging around Lu Nanqing all day like this—didn't the Second Miss of the Shen family have any objections?

Had Lu Nanqing become so arrogant in the Shen family that even they didn't dare to intervene? It didn't look like it!

Or did Lu Nanqing have some other... hobbies? Thinking of this, Tantai Ming shuddered and hurriedly moved a bit further away.

Lu Jin had introduced Wu You to the Tantai siblings as a man. As for the reality, Lu Jin couldn't tell everyone he met that his "brother" was actually something else, so it remained an unclear mess.

"Ziyu, Miss Tantai, let’s go over," Lu Jin said, standing up.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Tantai Ming saw that the inner courtyard was almost packed with people—young and old, probably several dozen of them.

"Nanqing, why are there so many people?" Tantai Ming asked. Are you really running a school in your home?

"At first there were only a few, then I took in some refugees, and many of the younger generation close to the Shen family came to listen to the lectures, so there are more and more people now." It was indeed too crowded now, almost bursting at the seams. More importantly, it was very noisy; Lu Jin was considering moving it elsewhere.

As Lu Jin stepped out of the gallery and onto the floor of the inner courtyard, the children who had been sitting quietly suddenly stood up and shouted in unison: "Greetings, Teacher!"

This sudden movement startled the Tantai siblings, especially Tantai Yue. She was wondering what Young Master Lu would lecture about, and she nearly lost her life from the sudden roar.

This shout was not like the chanting-style recitations of the Great Liang; it was a roar that shook the heavens and moved the earth.

These were no scholars before them; they were soldiers. No, even soldiers didn't have such momentum. Tantai Ming was shocked and quietly swallowed his saliva.

"Hello everyone. Today, I’d like to introduce two new students: Senior Student Tantai Ming and Senior Student Tantai Yue."

The Tantai siblings: ...Why does the relationship feel wrong?

"Greetings, Senior Students!" Another thunderous shout rang out, nearly causing the Tantai siblings, who were still struggling with the hierarchy, to faint again.

"Uh, greetings, Junior Students," Tantai Ming said awkwardly. This Lu Nanqing was truly devious; he should have given them a heads-up! It left them caught off guard at every turn.

Tantai Yue, a woman, had never seen such a scene. While she was perfectly capable of handling social situations at home, the current situation was completely beyond her expectations. She wanted to greet them like her brother, but found she couldn't open her mouth, so she just stood to the side, blushing.

Lu Jin: That’s exactly the effect I wanted.

"Young Master Tantai, Miss Tantai, please follow me," Caiyun hurried to lead the two noble scions to the seats in the back.

"Clack!" Lu Jin struck the gavel, and the room fell silent.

"Today, we will start with a story, continuing from the twelfth chapter of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms': Tao Gongzu yields Xuzhou three times; Cao Mengde fights Lu Bu."