Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 137: Returning the Favor

Lu Xun suddenly sat up straight. “That won’t do. If the Li family did something, they must have had their reasons. Chengxiao won’t tolerate Yu’er being treated unfairly.”

Chen Shi snorted and ignored Lu Xun, rolling over to lie down and sleep.

Lu Xun sighed. “…”

“Tell me again,” Chen Shi said, stable as ever, pretending not to hear him.

Unable to sleep, Lu Xun shook Chen Shi’s shoulder. Seeing no response from his wife, he pondered silently.

“Qian Shi is causing all this trouble just to avoid interactions with us? It’s their own fault. What else can the Li family say?”

At this stage, Lu Xun couldn’t accept the idea that his third son and daughter-in-law would still have to pay respects to the Li family after marriage.

Chen Shi heard this and finally lost her composure. “You’re thinking too well of them. Do you see any integrity in Qian Shi’s actions? I didn’t interact with her much before, but I thought she was just arrogant. Now that I’ve seen this, true arrogance isn’t like that. I see she’s quite adept at underhanded tactics.”

“She’s circling around just to avoid Li Cunyi? If Li Cunyi doesn’t know anything, and we end up distancing ourselves from them for no reason, what will others think of our family if Qian Shi continues with her manipulations?”

Lu Xun was stunned. He hadn’t considered all this.

Chen Shi continued, “I don’t care what Li Cunyi thinks. Without the Li family, we lived just fine before. I just don’t want to be schemed. We didn’t do anything wrong. Why should we let our children become the subject of gossip in the future?”

Lu Xun wasn’t really angry at Qian Shi’s actions. He was kind-hearted and didn’t want to tarnish Li Yunbi’s reputation. He also didn’t want unnecessary trouble for his youngest son and daughter-in-law.

Furthermore, it was his nature to yield in situations like this. He didn’t want the previously friendly relations between the two families to end on a sour note.

Now, hearing from Chen Shi about what Chengxiao and Yu’er would have to face in the future, he was already wavering. Hearing that Chen Shi would not damage Li Yunbi’s reputation when teaching Qian Shi a lesson and severing the relationship with the Li family, he couldn’t help but agree. He immediately asked Chen Shi what her plan was.

But this time, Chen Shi refused to speak, closing her eyes to sleep as usual.

Lu Xun sighed helplessly. “Tell me, please. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep thinking about this.”

No response came. Lu Xun gently nudged her shoulder. “Yizhen.”

Whether she was pretending or not, Chen Shi was adamant. He was curious about Chen Shi’s methods half the night, but he didn’t get a single answer. Apart from soothing her to prevent anger, Lu Xun had no other way but to suppress his curiosity.

~

Early the next morning, Chen Shi called for Lu Chengzong. Amid Lu Xun’s curious gaze, she summoned him to the main room to talk.

Lu Xun knew that this meant he wasn’t supposed to listen in. Despite his curiosity, with his eldest daughter-in-law and daughter present, he didn’t feel bold enough to approach, so he sat in the flower hall, straining to listen.

Lu Chengzong followed Chen Shi into the main room, still puzzled by his parents’ demeanor. “Mother, did you and Father have an argument?”

Chen Shi smiled. “No, I have something important to discuss with you. I need you to make a trip to Yuanzhou for me.”

“To Yuanzhou?”

Chen Shi nodded, calling Lu Chengzong closer and carefully explaining everything that needed to be done. However, she didn’t mention specifically what the Li family had done; she only instructed her son on what actions to take.

Lu Chengzong was dumbfounded after hearing it all. After a moment, he asked, “Mother, do we really have to do this? Why? Is it because of what happened with the Qian family? Have you discussed this with Father?”

Chen Shi nodded again. “Of course we’ve discussed it. Don’t worry, your father agrees. Don’t ask too many questions. Just do as I say.”

Lu Chengzong hesitated. “Shouldn’t we wait for Third Brother to return and ask for his opinion?”

Chen Shi shook her head. “No need. Your Third Brother definitely won’t object. I’m doing this for the good of your third brother and sister-in-law.”

Lu Chengzong was still confused. He didn’t understand how this could be good for his third brother and sister-in-law.

However, considering his recent trip to Hongdu Prefecture and some of his mother’s remarks, Lu Chengzong guessed that the current issue with the Qian family involved the Li family. Otherwise, his mother wouldn’t handle it this way.

In Lu Chengzong’s eyes, his mother was quite clever. If Chen Shi didn’t want to elaborate, there must be a good reason. Hearing that this was also for the benefit of his third brother and sister-in-law, Lu Chengzong nodded and said, “Alright then, I’ll go. I’m just afraid I won’t handle it well. Actually, Second Brother would probably do better than me, but his shop doesn’t have anyone to assist right now, so it’s better if I go.”

Chen Shi smiled. She knew her eldest son was sincere, and her second son was more eloquent. It was precisely because Lu Chengzong was sincere that Chen Shi wanted him to go.

Qian Shi was trying to take advantage of the honest men in her family, so she would send someone equally sincere to give her a taste of her own medicine.

She chuckled, “It’s okay. You going will handle this matter better than your second brother. Just do as I’ve instructed, and deliver the message I’ve asked you to.”

Lu Chengzong took her words as encouragement. After carefully considering all of Chen Shi’s instructions, he felt reassured and nodded. “Alright, I’ll prepare some fresh clothes and then take the boat.”

Chen Shi waved her hand. When mother and son emerged, Lu Chengzong had already returned to his own room. Qin Shi followed him in, learned that he was going to Yuanzhou, and without much ado, helped him pack some fresh clothes and grabbed a few freshly baked pancakes from the kitchen.

Outside, Lu Xun was anxiously waiting. When his eldest son came out, he already had a bundle on his shoulder and was about to leave after a brief word.

Lu Xun said, “…”

Why was this child so straightforward?

“I’ll walk you out,” he said, taking a few steps to catch up with Lu Chengzong as they started to leave together.

“Come back.” Chen Shi’s voice stopped both father and son in their tracks.

She smiled and addressed Lu Chengzong, “You can go now.”

Implicitly, she meant Lu Xun should stay.

Lu Chengzong looked at Lu Xun, then at Chen Shi. Qin Shi smiled and offered a solution, “Dad, why don’t you sit down? I’ll take the child to see his father off.”

He picked up his second son, took his eldest by the hand, and saw Lu Chengzong off.

Lu Shuang chimed in mischievously, “I’m going to play at Sister Yu’er’s embroidery shop for a while.”

And off she slipped.

Lu Xun sighed helplessly, knowing his wife was determined to test him, and he had no choice but to endure a few days of tension and discomfort.

As for what Lu Chengzong would accomplish on his trip to Yuanzhou, he wasn’t worried. He knew his wife well; Chen Shi always acted with discretion.

~

It was Lu Chengzong’s first solo journey. He took a fast boat on a shared schedule and arrived in Yuanzhou City by the afternoon of the next day.

The only places he remembered in Yuanzhou were the docks, the Li family’s residence, Qian family’s shop, and the inn. Recalling his mother’s instructions not to approach the house but to monitor from outside, he settled in to wait by the gates of the Li family. If one day wasn’t enough, he’d wait two or three.

Following her advice, Lu Chengzong found a spot where he could observe the Li family’s gate without being seen from their servants’ quarters.

Around this time, there were occasional comings and goings at the Li family’s gate, and Lu Chengzong carefully avoided detection.

Luck was on his side. Just as the sun was in the second hour of the afternoon, Li Zhongjue returned from the dyeing workshop. He hadn’t yet reached his own gate when he heard someone calling his name in a hushed voice.

“Zhongjue, Zhongjue.”

Turning around, Li Zhongjue spotted Lu Chengzong hiding around the corner. His surprise turned into delight. “Big Brother Chengzong, what brings you to Yuanzhou?”

Smiling, he hurried over to greet him and invite him inside.

Upon hearing his mother’s advice not to enter the gatehouse but to wait outside, Lu Chengzong shook his head and pulled Li Zhongjue to a quieter alley. “I’m here to talk to you, but I won’t come inside your house. Can we find somewhere else to speak?”

Lu Chengzong is an honest man. Li Zhongjue was both surprised and understanding. He realized the awkwardness of Lu Chengzong’s position, considering he had been waiting outside instead of entering. This was reflected in his expression.

With this gesture and these words, Li Zhongjue paused momentarily but quickly adjusted. He smiled, “Sure, why not? Let’s go, Big Brother Chengzong. I’ll treat you to a meal outside.”

Leading the way, Li Zhongjue took Lu Chengzong to a decent restaurant in Yuanzhou City, where they could have a private conversation in a small private room.

Li Zhongjue held Lu’s family in high regard, and he was exceptionally attentive and warm in hosting Lu Chengzong. He ordered seven or eight dishes, which Lu Chengzong insisted they couldn’t possibly finish, so they stopped there.

The more warmly Li Zhongjue treated him, the more uneasy Lu Chengzong felt, as he had no idea what exactly the Li family had been up to.

After ordering some drinks and waiting for the waiter to serve tea and leave, Li Zhongjue finally smiled and asked, “Big Brother Chengzong, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you come inside the house?”

This posed a dilemma for Lu Chengzong.

If he were to respond himself, he wouldn’t be in such a bind. The difficulty lay in the fact that Li Zhongjue’s question was anticipated by his mother’s instructions on how he should respond.

Chen Shi’s exact words were that he should first explain the incident on August 12th when they were turned away at the Li family’s gate, and then directly state:

“My mother’s intention is for us to have self-awareness. This time, we have a specific matter to discuss with you. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to disturb you by entering your home. We won’t enter the Li family’s gate, as we fear it would trouble Madam Li and make it seem as though we don’t understand propriety. So, we’ll wait outside. When you, Zhongjue, are available, we can arrange to speak privately outside.”

Lu Chengzong, being straightforward, vaguely guessed from his mother’s words that they had been deceived by the Li family during the incident on August 12th. However, he had to adhere strictly to her instructions, even referring to Qian Shi as “Madam Li” instead of “Madam Qian.” Halfway through saying the latter, he corrected himself to the former.

Yet, the more he followed these instructions, the more effective they seemed.

Chen Shi intended for Li Zhongjue to understand that Lu Chengzong was merely conveying her words. The mocking undertones were all part of her intention as an elder.

Sure enough, Li Zhongjue was dumbfounded. His lips trembled slightly before he asked, “Big Brother Chengzong, you came to Yuanzhou on August 12th?”

Lu Chengzong naturally could answer this. He nodded, “My father brought us here to meet with Uncle Qian’s family to collect goods for the prefectural city. We brought gifts for your family. We arrived on the night of August 11th, and it was too late to visit. So, we went to deliver the gifts the next morning on August 12th. The gatekeeper said your entire family was out, and we didn’t know when you would return, so we left the gifts and departed.”

As Li Zhongjue reflected on August 12th, his thoughts grew more detailed.

The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart sank, and his face paled slightly.

August 12th—how could it be possible that his whole family was out? Not to mention his mother and sister, even he himself had been at home that day, conducting experiments with dyeing and never leaving the house.

Li Zhongjue felt a buzzing in his ears. He wanted to explain for his mother, to make everything clear, but he couldn’t find the words.

Who else in the household, besides his mother, could issue such a command?

Sansukini: Qian Shi wants to play stealthy scheme, but Chen Shi is the Queen of Subtlety. A point for Chen Shi.

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