Lin Caisang put down the bamboo basket on her back and spoke to Old Man Zeng.
"We are here to collect the money?"
Old Man Zeng was taken aback by her words; he had never heard such a thing before, but he nodded in response.
"Miss Lin, rest assured, Yulang and I will certainly take care of this matter."
"Speaking of which, where is Brother Yulang? Why haven’t I seen him?" Lin Caisang asked when the name Zeng Yulang was mentioned.
Whenever she had visited before, Zeng Yulang would always come out to see her. It seemed odd that he did not show up this time; perhaps he was not at home.
Old Man Zeng sighed deeply at the mention of his son.
"Just a couple of days ago, Yulang’s facial wound had nearly healed, and he was thinking of going back to the academy. Who would have imagined that he’d been expelled!"
Since Lin Caisang was no outsider, he conveyed to her the events that had recently transpired concerning his son.
"How could this have happened?" Lin Caisang asked in amazement.
If her memory served her correctly, Zeng Yulang was considered a renowned scholar in Jianan City. How on earth had he managed to get expelled?
"Can a scholar’s reputation easily be tarnished by an academic institution?"
"It’s not about the reputation of the scholar; his reputation remains intact. However, he now has no choice but to study at home. My heart aches when I think about it. How could my son be barred from entering an academic institution if not for someone’s ill intentions?" said Old Man Zeng.
"Miss Lin, as you may already know, Yulang was engaged to a young lady before. I have reasons to believe that it is this girl who has done the damage. She had hurt Yulang before as well. What a misfortune it is to get involved in such a mess! Had I known..."
"If he cannot attend the academy, then so be it. It isn’t the end of the world." Lin Caisang didn’t give it much thought.
"My cousin, too, is a scholar. He’s been studying at home this year, preparing for the autumn imperial examination. It might be even better to study at home, devoid of unnecessary competitive tension, which will leave his mind more settled."
"Of course, that sounds reasonable...but...whatever. It’s just unfair that even after calling off the engagement, we can’t get rid of the stench of it!" Old Man Zeng wished to say that he just couldn’t get over it.
But what’s the use of feeling upset? One still has to make a living, right?
"Wait until Brother Yulang becomes a scholar, then makes it to the top three; those people will no longer dare to look down upon you." Lin Caisang said.
Old Man Zeng chuckled and shook his head.
He knew his son very well. The thought of Yulang topping the examination was far-fetched, but qualifying for a scholarship was feasible, for which he had to make all the necessary preparations.
"Exactly, that’s why I’m in the process of selling my store. Without it, Yulang wouldn’t even be able to qualify for a scholarship."
It wouldn’t have been an issue if his son’s reputation had remained untarnished and they had kept their small family business. The problem was his son’s ex-fiancée who was so prone to mischief. So, Old Man Zeng figured it was better to be safe than sorry. He planned to sell off the shop to someone else, move out to the countryside, buy land there, and live off of the rent from his farmland.
If father and son cut back a bit on their expenditure, they could still live a decent life.
"You’re selling the shop?"
Upon hearing this, a gleam appeared in Lin Caisang’s eyes.
"Uncle Zeng, what kind of shop do you own? If it’s suitable, I would like to purchase it. I have been looking for a physical store in Jianan City, but couldn’t find any ideal location."
"It’s a general merchandise store. I sell anything that can make money. Although the daily revenue isn’t much, the store itself, with its deed, could be worth something."