Uроn hеаring this, Zhou Shaоjin wаs sо furiоus thаt she thought of thеsе peоple аs Сhеng Сhi's еldеrs. She fumed fоr a long while before finаllу blurting out, "Тheу'rе likе а cuсkоо осcuрying a magрiе's nest!"
Сheng Chi cоuldn't help but smilе faintly, раtting hеr hеаd аs hе continuеd, "Оur familу's раtriarсh had nо idеa what thе Sеven Stаrs Hall was аbout, let alоnе thаt it was а decision mаdе bу eldеrs, sо hе nаturаllу agrееd without hеsitatiоn. Chief Stеward Qin's grаndfаthеr, howеvеr, hеаved a long sigh оf relief and praisеd our patriаrch for dоing the right thing.
"Nоt lоng aftеr, Lord Lie passed away.
"The following year, Chief Steward Qin's grandfather also passed away, and Chief Steward Qin's father became the steward of Nine Prosperities Lane.
"Another year later, my grandfather passed the imperial examination and was selected as a Junior Scholar Candidate.
"Our patriarch cared even less about worldly possessions, never inquiring about the family's income. Whatever the second branch allocated to the main branch, the main branch accepted.
"At that time, the patriarch of the second branch was serving as an official elsewhere with my grandfather, while my father and second uncle studied diligently at home, occasionally tutoring the children in reading and writing. Uncle Li managed the family's affairs, and business flourished. The two branches were as close as one, living in harmony and prosperity. It seemed as though the family's reputation was on the verge of being restored."
Cheng Chi pursed his lips and said, "Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long! In the summer of the Renzi year, the sixth year of Jianlong, just after the second branch's eldest master, Cheng Yi, celebrated his third birthday, Uncle Li went to Huai'an to obtain salt permits. Because he was smuggling salt, the ship was overloaded, and when passing through the Huai'an Inspection Office, he was caught by the canal gang. A dispute broke out, and during the armed clash, he was killed by the canal gang members."
Zhou Chujin's lips moved slightly, unsure of what to say.
When Cheng Chi mentioned that Cheng Lie had Cheng Li take over the Seven Stars Hall, she had a premonition that Cheng Li's death might be related to conflicts in the martial world.
As the Buddha said, you reap what you sow.
Cheng Li's death was the consequence of Cheng Lie's greed.
And now, the one in charge of the Seven Stars Hall must be Uncle Chi!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have appeared at the post station in martial attire, nor would he have shot arrows like meteors, nor would he have known Xiao Zhenhai...
But the Uncle Chi she knew was someone who could assess situations and make decisive choices. How could he cling to worldly possessions that were as insignificant as chicken ribs to him?
Could this be the reason he ran away from home in his previous life?
The thought made Zhou Shaojin's heart ache.
Her hand unconsciously rested lightly on his.
Cheng Chi smiled faintly at her, turned his hand over to clasp hers in his palm, and said softly, "People in the martial world value loyalty and heritage, but it's also a place where fists speak louder than words. The patriarch of the second branch finally realized that to control the Seven Stars Hall, one needed not only the right background but also strength.
"But he realized it too late.
"He lost his only son's life."
If that was the case, why not take the opportunity to disband the Seven Stars Hall?
Zhou Shaojin pondered this but felt the situation might not be as simple as she imagined. She thought it best to listen to Cheng Chi continue.
"The patriarch of the second branch, having to bury his own son, looked at his young nephew Cheng Yi and was overwhelmed with grief.
"Our patriarch, however, was simple-minded. He believed no business was worth more than a human life and advised the second branch's patriarch to end the Seven Stars Hall's operations.
"The patriarch of the second branch disagreed.
"The two parted ways unhappily over this.""Our family's patriarch learned from Chief Steward Qin's father that Seven Stars Hall could bring substantial annual profits to the Cheng family. The second branch's patriarch was able to establish himself so quickly in the court not only because of his reputation for integrity but also because he had ample silver to grease palms."
"At that time, my grandfather was serving as an official. The third branch was at odds with the eldest and second branches, the fourth branch was plagued by illness, the fifth branch was unruly and unworthy, my father and uncle were already young scholars who had never practiced martial arts, my second uncle's son Fen was still in swaddling clothes, and I hadn't even been born yet... Counting it up, the Cheng family actually had no one capable of taking over Seven Stars Hall." He said with no small amount of sarcasm, "Of course, even if the Cheng family had someone who could take over Seven Stars Hall, if this candidate didn't satisfy the second branch's patriarch, the Cheng family would likely still have no one to manage Seven Stars Hall!"
Zhou Shaojin remained silent.
Uncle Chi must have harbored many grievances in his heart, grievances he couldn't voice aloud.
This kind of pain probably gnawed at his heart frequently, though one couldn't be sure.
Zhou Shaojin obediently sat by his side, letting him hold her hand.
"So when the second branch's patriarch decided to have Chief Steward Qin's father temporarily take over Seven Stars Hall on behalf of the Cheng family, our family's patriarch remained silent."
At this point, Cheng Chi's expression suddenly turned stern.
Zhou Shaojin's heart tightened along with his.
"The second branch's patriarch forgot last time that in the martial world, strength speaks. This time, he forgot that the martial world values lineage—although Chief Steward Qin's father possessed exceptional martial skills, nominally he was merely a servant of the Cheng family. Who would submit to the authority of a servant?"
"What happened?" Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but blurt out.
Cheng Chi glanced at her, the corners of his eyes faintly bloodshot.
He said gravely, "In the sixth month of the sixteenth year of Jianlong, the tenth year after Uncle Li's passing, during Seven Stars Hall's memorial ceremony for the patriarch at Yashan, the Hua family of Guangdong was the first to challenge, questioning Chief Steward Qin's father's qualifications. They felt that the Cheng family sending Chief Steward Qin's father to manage Seven Stars Hall was an insult to the hall's elders and demanded an explanation from a direct descendant of the Cheng family."
"Chief Steward Qin's father knew they were merely using this as an excuse to rebel against Seven Stars Hall."
"At such a time, only strength held sway."
"He fought alongside his two nephews and six grandnephews against those people for a full day and night. In the end, although they suppressed the Seven Stars Hall members, two nephews and four grandnephews lost their lives."
Those people were the uncles and brothers of Qin Ziping and Qin Zi'an!
Thinking of the amiable Qin Ziping and the stern yet warm-hearted Qin Zi'an, Zhou Shaojin felt tears welling up.
Cheng Chi said, "Afterward, Chief Steward Qin's father struggled on for over a decade, eventually succumbing to illness aggravated by old injuries."
"During those more than ten years, internal strife within Seven Stars Hall never ceased, and it fell from its undisputed position as the martial world's overlord to a top-five martial sect."
"Until the seventh year of Zhide, when I was fourteen and took charge of Seven Stars Hall..."
Zhou Shaojin's face flushed inexplicably upon hearing this.
In the seventh year of Zhide, she was only one year old, yet Uncle Chi had already begun managing the family's affairs...
She thought of Nanping's fiancé, who was also the elder brother of Qin Ziping and Qin Zi'an, and couldn't help but ask, "What about Qin Zining..."Cheng Chi's expression dimmed as he said softly, "Although the Yashan incident ended with the Cheng family's victory, the Cheng family was also severely weakened and unable to suppress the various elders of the Seven Stars Hall. By the time I took charge of the Seven Stars Hall, the so-called major leaders had already become influential figures in their own right—how could they possibly heed my commands? And at that time, although I had learned a set of martial arts from who-knows-where that Elder Lie had obtained, I had very little practical combat experience. When I was besieged in Panyu, Qin Zining covered my retreat and lost his life." He paused for a moment before adding, "He was Chief Steward Qin's eldest grandson!"
Uncle Chi must have been deeply grieved back then.
Zhou Shaojin gazed gently at Cheng Chi and comforted him softly, "Things will get better, everything will get better."
Cheng Chi suddenly found his eyes uncontrollably moist.
So many years had passed. He had never mentioned Qin Zining, even allowing Nanping to remain in his room as if Qin Zining hadn't died but had merely gone out to handle some matters for him and would return soon... It turned out that those unspeakable wounds had already scabbed over and festered in his heart...
He pressed his lips together and remained silent.
Yet Zhou Shaojin could sense the stiffness in his body.
She very much wanted to stand up and embrace Uncle Chi, to offer him some comfort.
But she felt too shy, thinking such an act would be too bold, fearing Cheng Chi might dislike it...
While she hesitated, Cheng Chi's emotions had already calmed.
He smiled gently and said, "I'm fine! Just as you said, things will get better."
Cheng Chi decided to return to Jinling City in a few days, taking Nanping to properly pay respects to Qin Zining and speak the words he had long kept hidden in his heart. Both he and Nanping would bid farewell to the past and start anew.
He said to Zhou Shaojin, "After I accompany you through the Bathing the Buddha Festival, I'll return to Jinling City."
Zhou Shaojin guessed he was going to pay respects to Qin Zining.
She said gently, "Should we bring Nanping over? Would a change of scenery help improve her mood?"
No wonder people said daughters were like little cotton-padded jackets.
Shaojin was not only gentle and soft but also exceptionally understanding.
Cheng Chi gently squeezed Zhou Shaojin's hand and said warmly, "I'll ask her then. If she's willing to come, I'll bring her over to keep you company. If she doesn't want to come, I'll let her stay with the Qin family—since she misses the Qin family, we should follow her wishes. People live only a few short decades in this world, fleeting in the blink of an eye, so it's best to try to live as happily as possible!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
Then what about herself and Uncle Chi... Could they also live contentedly, peacefully, and smoothly?
She hardly dared to think about it.
Hastily shifting her thoughts, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Uncle Chi, was it the Second Branch's ancestor who chose you to take charge of the Seven Stars Hall? How did they choose you? How could the Old Master and Old Madam agree? People in Nine Prosperities Lane all say you grew up in the capital—did you secretly train in martial arts with someone there?"
Even for a prodigious genius, learning martial arts could only be faster than others, not achieved overnight. Otherwise, the Qin family wouldn't have helped the Cheng family manage the Seven Stars Hall for over twenty years.
Sometimes, what binds two people together isn't just interests but also secrets.Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Using the profits from smuggling salt to replenish the national treasury is not exactly a glorious affair. The establishment of the Seven Stars Hall by the late Duke was a temporary, desperate measure—how could it be widely publicized? By the time the current Duke took charge of the Seven Stars Hall, everything had changed. To avoid being backstabbed by these people, he not only killed several elders who knew about the connection between the Seven Stars Hall and the late Duke but also, when dealing with outsiders, presented himself as the hall master of the Seven Stars Hall. His demeanor and actions subtly reflected the boldness of the northerners. Many in the martial world knew that the Seven Stars Hall belonged to the Cheng family, but few knew that this Cheng family was the same as the Cheng family of Nine Prosperities Lane in Jinling.
"After the Yashan incident, the patriarch of the second branch and Chief Steward Qin’s father both felt the situation was unfavorable for the Cheng family. They feared that once others learned of the Cheng family’s background, they would come knocking, even using the court’s power to retaliate against the Cheng family. My second uncle moved from Apricot Grove Alley to Twin Elm Alley, while Chief Steward Qin’s father faked his death in Jinling and settled in the capital. One taught me to read and write, and the other taught me internal martial arts and combat skills. It’s not wrong to say I grew up in the capital—at least until I was fourteen, I stayed there."
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Brothers and sisters, today’s bonus update!
O(∩_∩)O~
The update is scheduled for around midnight tonight.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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