Chapter 354: Chapter 341: The Illegitimate Son

But at the time, Chu Jinnian also admitted that he was no longer involved. Although that man was somehow ruthless, he did keep his word.

He probably didn’t even have the energy to think about it…

No need to dwell on it any longer.

Regardless, this matter was geared towards his needs, and teaching Zhuang Qingsui to read was all there was to it.

Speaking of which, he hadn’t truly taught a female student before. If Zhuang Qingsui could truly become accomplished in the future, and become an excellent female instructor, that would be considered a complete merit — a great contribution to society.

As Fan Wenxuan thought this, he felt much more relieved. He sipped his tea and chatted awhile with Zhuang Qingning, then led Zhuang Qingsui and Zhuang Mingli to the study.

In a short span of time, the study was filled with the sound of reading and Fan Wenxuan’s explanations.

Zhuang Qingning prepared some tea, snacks and fruits for them to enjoy in the study.

Just as she finished up, someone came to the door.

It was the merchant from the county town that Mrs. Cao had mentioned, a man by the surname of Cheng.

As stated by Mrs. Cao, the visitor was called Cheng Ruize, a young man in his late teens. Dressed in fine silks, he had no hint of a businessman; instead, he was handsome and refined, carrying an air of scholarly sophistication and looking more like a scholar than a merchant.

“Here I am, troubling Manager Zhuang today to speak about something else. I heard in the county town that the century eggs sold here had a unique appearance and an excellent taste. I investigated and found out they are sold by Zhuang’s Tofu Shop, and I wonder if you’d be willing to sell these century eggs in the county town?”

“I have been to your tofu shop several times, and found the tofu skin and tofu among other products to also be of excellent taste. I wonder if Manager Zhuang would like to transport those commodities to the county town for sale.”

Cheng Ruize chuckled softly, continuing, “I should perhaps have introduced my family background before jumping straight to my intentions.”

“My family has been in business for generations, with shops in the provincial town as well as its neighboring counties. We have a herbal shop, a spice shop and a tea shop in the county town, and business is alright.”

“I didn’t say this to show off my family’s wealth. I only wanted to inform Manager Zhuang of two things: firstly, my family has been in business for generations and I have been learning about business from a young age, so I’m quite familiar with running a shop; secondly, my family has some wealth, so even if business doesn’t go well initially, we can certainly hold out.”

“I understand what Manager Cheng means,” Zhuang Qingning nodded, “You said that you’re from the Cheng family, and you have a herbal shop in the county town. May I presume to ask if your herbal shop is the one supplying medicinal herbs to Zhuang’s Cloth Shop?”

“Yes, that’s exact.” Cheng Ruize paused, a questioning look crossing his face, “But how did Manager Zhuang know?”

A moment later, Cheng Ruize laughed, “Since it’s called Zhuang’s Cloth Shop, so is it owned by a relative of Manager Zhuang?”

“Yes, it’s run by a village uncle of mine, and the mosquito repellent herbs packages are sold by this uncle and myself.” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, “My uncle mentioned before that the Cheng family is huge, having a bustling business, a family of merchants. As you are the young master of the Cheng family, I assume the business won’t need much managing in the future.” “Manager Zhuang is overly kind. The title ‘young master’ is too much for me. There are three sons in the family, and I am just one of them, moreover a concubine-born son. It was only because my parents saw that I had some insights into business that they entrusted me with the shops in the county town.”

Cheng Ruize grinned, “It would be best if Manager Zhuang continues to call me ‘Manager Cheng’.”

“I misspoke; please, forgive me, Manager Cheng.” At Zhuang Qingning’s slight pause, she promptly apologized.

Zhuang Qingning had not expected Cheng Ruize to be a concubine-born son.

In this era, the social status of concubine-bom sons or daughters is rather low. Apart from situations where there is no first-bom son and the family business must be inherited by the concubine’s son, the concubines’ sons are generally not entitled to inherit the family business, nor are they able to handle the various family affairs like the first-bom sons. Since Ruize is managing several shops at a young age, Zhuang Qingning thought surely that he must be the cherished one in his family.

Therefore, Zhuang Qingning never considered this possibility.

Her earlier calling of ‘young master’ was highly improper, and it sounded like she was exposing somebody’s shortcomings.

“Manager Zhuang need not worry about it.” Cheng Ruize appeared unconcerned, “Although I am a concubine’s son, because my concubine mother passed away early, I was raised by my father’s wife. My parents had high hopes for me, my older brother was always very considerate, and I never regarded ‘stepson’ as a derogatory term. People are as they are and I don’t like to hide, that’s why I’m used to telling others about it.”

Cheng Ruize’s words were clear and his smile did not lessened a bit, signifying that he genuinely did not mind the matter.

Zhuang Qingning’s heart lightened, and she felt that this Cheng Ruize, as Mrs. Cao had said, was indeed quite good.

Someone coming from a business family, who was used to dealing with money, who conducted large businesses, would often overlook smaller trades. But Cheng Ruize was interested — which indicated that he was a solid and perceptive individual.

Earlier, Mrs. Cao had mentioned that Cheng Ruize was very sincere and low-key.

It now became apparent that Cheng Ruize did not regard himself as the Cheng family’s young master and when referring to himself, he was open, straightforward and without a trace of covering up or inferiority, which showed that this Cheng Ruize had an open heart.

Moreover, what Cheng Ruize said about his family suggested a place where, unlike other households where mothers would suppress concubines’ sons and daughters and the inner quarters would be chaotic, the Cheng family was strict and humane, with older brothers being friendly to younger brothers, mothers being kind and sons being filial. Even a son of a concubine was able to be educated exceptionally and given important duties.

“Does the earlier reference by Manager Zhuang for jointly selling the mosquito repellent herb bags with her uncle, mean that these herb bags were made by her? Is Manager Zhuang proficient in medical theory?” Cheng Ruize asked.

“Not really, it’s just that one of the medicinal powders in this herb bag was left by my parents. I was afraid of mosquitoes before, so I tried it and found it was very good.”

Zhuang Qingning continued, “Later I thought about making some money by selling these herbal bags, so I went to find my village uncle who has a business in the county town, and together we started the business of selling these herbal bags.”

“I see,” Cheng Ruize nodded slightly, “These herbal bags are indeed excellent. The herbal shop has transported them in large quantities to Jiangsu-Zhejiang and Lingnan regions, where they were well liked. As a result, our shop has made a considerable profit.”

“Though I have never suspected that this product was made by Manager Zhuang.”

Looking at this, the Cheng family and Manager Zhuang seemed to have some connection.

Cheng Ruize looked at Zhuang Qingning, his gaze now containing more admiration and surprise.

When he first learned that the manager of Zhuang’s Tofu Shop was a woman, Cheng Ruize was surprised, but not shocked.

After all, there were quite a few articulate and competent women in the world.

However, when he saw Zhuang Qingning today, he was indeed taken aback.

He didn’t expect Zhuang Qingning to be such a young girl.

A girl at this age would usually be spoiled by parents at home, doing embroidery, chasing butterflies, indulging in playful fun, mostly naive and not familiar with the ways of the world. Even daughters from families like the Chengs, who set rather strict expectations, still have substantially limited learning experience..