Chapter 522: No Family Can Keep You in Check
"Hmph, who needs them," the Shopkeeper said without a moment’s hesitation. He walked up to Gu Zhifeng. "I’ve followed Old Master Gu for decades. If you’ll still have me, I’ll continue to follow you and serve as your shopkeeper."
Gu Zhifeng was overjoyed. "Excellent! Though our shop is small for now, as long as we have integrity, it will grow. With you as our shopkeeper, Qian Guangjin, what is there to fear?"
"Boss, we’ll follow you too."
"Boss, me too..."
"Wherever the Shopkeeper goes, I’ll go..."
In that moment, all the clerks from Yu Min Pawnshop flocked to his side.
Gu Yuan’s face darkened as he watched. Staring at Gu Zhifeng, he said, "The people you trained are certainly loyal, Uncle. It seems I’ll have to clean house at the other shops I took from you as well."
"Since my nephew has said as much, I won’t stand on ceremony," Gu Zhifeng said, then called out to Gu Chi, who was ahead of him. "Gu Chi, go to the shops tomorrow and pick out our people."
"Alright," Gu Chi nodded.
"Hmph. Goodbye, Uncle. I won’t see you out." Gu Yuan snorted and led Gao Yunyue back into the shop.
Not only had Gu Zhifeng closed a huge deal today, but he’d also gotten to vent his frustrations on the fourth branch of the family. He was in an excellent mood, and his opinion of Ye Qianning skyrocketed.
Luo Wen steered the carriage around the corner and came to a stop.
An old man in a gray robe boarded the carriage.
"Master," Ye Qianning said sweetly, sitting up straight.
Dean Chen sat down. "So you still remember you have me as a master? You haven’t visited Lou Mountain once in a whole month."
"Things have been a little busy lately. In a few days, I’ll go up to the academy and stay for a while." ’It seems today is a rest day,’ Ye Qianning realized.
"I don’t believe you," Dean Chen sighed. "It seems I’ll have to find a way to get the Eighth Prince to resume his studies. Only if he’s on Lou Mountain will I believe that you’ll stay put."
"Master, you have a way to get Sang Zhi back in the academy?"
"Look at you, your eyes light up just at the mention of the Eighth Prince. A young lady shouldn’t be so boy-crazy." Dean Chen had easily pigeonholed his young disciple.
"..."
Ye Qianning had no rebuttal.
"See? I was right, wasn’t I?" Dean Chen said with a smile, shaking his head gently.
"No, you weren’t."
She pouted. ’I can’t tell him about the space.’
’The blessing points in there have barely budged, and sometimes, when I’m too exhausted, I can’t even handle being inside.’
’I’ve been so busy lately. Every time I enter the space, it’s to work on the Nanyuan fruit seeds. I have no time to focus on expanding the land, and I wonder how long my body can sustain this.’
"I’ll figure out a way to get the Eighth Prince back in the academy. It’ll take a month at most." Dean Chen couldn’t bear to see such a talented child’s potential go to waste.
"What do you plan to do, Master?"
"You don’t need to worry about that. When the time comes, you can just stay on Lou Mountain, and I’ll be able to see you every day."
"Even though I haven’t been up Lou Mountain, I still have good food sent to you every few days, don’t I?"
"That’s true, you do think of your master in that regard. Lately, I only enjoy the tea you send me. No other tea tastes right anymore," Dean Chen said, stroking his beard as he savored the thought.
"I’ll prepare some more for you later, Master."
"Mm. By the way, has your father written recently?"
"It’s been about a week since I last received one. Why? Did something happen?" Ye Qianning’s heart tightened.
"No, nothing like that. It’s just, with you all alone in the manor, I worry. I heard you even sent Zhan Yi and his wife back to the Zhan Mansion. Besides Xiang Minghou, I can’t think of anyone who can keep you in line."
Ye Qianning breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, "It’s not that I dislike them. I was just afraid that some of the things I do might scare them, so I found an excuse for them to return to their mansion."