Chapter 180: I'll Take the Blame for You, But Don't Forget to Reward Me Later

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Wen Jun kept in mind Wen Xiuyi’s instructions. After there were hardly any patients left and Shopkeeper Qiu had returned to accompany the two guests, Wen Jun finally found an opportunity to bring up the matter with Doctor Jin.

“Meng De? You mean your stepfather?” Doctor Jin seemed to recall such a person, though he appeared to be a minor official of little significance.

Doctor Jin stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I’ve been away from the capital for many years. I’m not quite sure what the situation there is now. I’ll write a letter to Yi’er’s father and have him look into this Meng De.”

Wen Jun solemnly bowed to Doctor Jin. “Thank you very much, Master and Senior Brother.”

Doctor Jin laughed heartily. “We’re family; there’s no need to thank me. Old Qiu and I both care deeply about Datuo. If they really intend to take Datuo away, we naturally cannot stand idly by. Just wait calmly for news, and tell your father not to worry. With us around, no one can just take Datuo away.”

“But tell me, how did you all learn that they would come back to take Datuo? After all, your mother left so decisively, not taking any of you three siblings.”

Wen Jun couldn’t exactly say they had advance knowledge of the plot, so he improvised: “I dare not hide it from you, Master. Before my mother left, I overheard her speaking with Datuo. She said once she had established herself in the Meng family, she would come to fetch Datuo.”

Doctor Jin raised an eyebrow. “Just to take Datuo?”

Wen Jun lowered his head, looking wounded.

Doctor Jin sighed deeply. The bond between mother and child is profound, but to hear one’s own mother reject you and favor a younger brother must have broken this child’s heart.

“Your father is a good man. Your grandparents, uncles, and aunts all treasure you and Yao Yao dearly. There’s no need to be troubled over this small matter. As for your mother… well, since she chose to leave you, whether it was due to your father’s past folly or not, ultimately she was the one who was cruel to you first.

“You still have a long road ahead. Once you master my medical skills, there may even be a place for you in the Imperial Medical Academy — perhaps even as its head. For now, focus on learning medicine and don’t let other matters unsettle your heart.

“When the time comes, stand proudly before her, and she will realize the error of her choice.”

Doctor Jin’s consolation was heartfelt. Had the original owner heard these words, she might have been moved, but Wen Jun only held memories of this mother from the original owner’s perspective, who had no fondness for Datuo’s storyline.

Still, Wen Jun respectfully bowed again. “Thank you, Master, for your teaching. I will remember it always.”

Seeing his apprentice comforted, Doctor Jin leaned in and whispered, “Those things you gave me last time — while no one is around, teach me properly how to use them.” With that, he led Wen Jun to his resting quarters, where one taught and the other listened; only now the roles reversed, with Wen Jun instructing Doctor Jin.

Meanwhile, upon arriving at the Xie family, Wen Yao gave Qiu Rongrong the potatoes and sweet potatoes using the same method. When Qiu Rongrong learned about their yield, she, someone who never worked the fields, was utterly astonished.

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“The yield is this high?”

After her surprise, Qiu Rongrong said, “Yao Yao, could you get me more seeds? This amount is too small. I’ll speak to Grandfather Wen and ask him to allocate more to me.” She immediately recognized the great potential of these crops — they were destined for large-scale cultivation.

However, the amount Wen Yao brought wasn’t even enough for a single acre, while her estate boasted hundreds of acres of fertile land; no matter how much more came, she could plant it all.

With the fields on the estate nearly ready for harvest, and according to Uncle Wen, after harvesting wheat, another crop could be sown — time was of the essence.

For Qiu Rongrong, time was truly money.

Wen Yao wanted to give more — she had plenty in her space — but now that the old master had made his position clear, he was keenly aware of the household’s holdings, making any clandestine redistribution difficult.

Besides, that was not the reason she came to see Qiu Rongrong today.

“Sister, do you think these crops are good?”

Without hesitation, Qiu Rongrong nodded. “Of course. If, as you say, they can serve as both vegetables and staple food to fill the stomach, and with such high yields, do you know what that means? It means many people won’t starve anymore because of low grain production or heavy taxes.

“Although our Qiu family are merchants, we haven’t neglected helping the poor these years. And as you said, these crops aren’t picky about soil — they can grow anywhere. It’s just a matter of yield. If this is promoted widely, there will only be benefits, no drawbacks.”

Hearing this, Wen Yao suddenly laughed.

Qiu Rongrong looked puzzled. “I was serious—why are you laughing?”

Wen Yao burst out laughing. “I thought you were thinking about how to make money off them.”

Qiu Rongrong was stunned for a moment, then realized this mischievous girl was testing her. She pounced and started tickling Wen Yao, who begged for mercy.

“Sister! Sister! I’m sorry! Please stop! Hahaha, it’s so ticklish!”

Qiu Rongrong held her down, feigning a fierce look. “Do you know you’re wrong?”

Wen Yao nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I won’t tease you like that again.”

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Only then did Qiu Rongrong relent, tidying her clothes before saying, “Am I someone who only thinks about money?”

Wen Yao raised an eyebrow — isn’t that true?

Provoked, Qiu Rongrong wanted to pounce again, but despite the fun, the serious matter remained.

After settling herself, Qiu Rongrong said, “Sometimes, reputation is worth far more than money.”

Now that Qiu Rongrong was wealthy, what she desired most was precisely that reputation.

In the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, even as a merchant, her status was low. Otherwise, when a branch of the Xie family came to propose marriage, her parents wouldn’t have agreed so readily. If not for hoping to secure a better future for the younger generation of the family, she wouldn’t have endured so many years of humiliation at the Xie household.

But now, feeling refreshed each day, she realized marriage could bring such freedom.

Thinking of this, Qiu Rongrong said, “If Grandfather Wen worries that planting these crops would attract unwanted attention, just plant them all on my estate. People guard the estate daily; no one will dare steal the seedlings.”

“Stealing is not the concern now. Sister, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

Wen Yao then explained her situation to Qiu Rongrong.

After a long while, just as Wen Yao worried this elder sister might be upset over her using her name, Qiu Rongrong suddenly burst into laughter, rolling about before reaching out to poke Wen Yao’s head.

“Well, well, so you just used me as a front, and now you tell me? And you give me so few seeds? That’s not enough, is it? After all, these were ‘found’ for you by me.”

Wen Yao stared at her, mouth opening slightly. “Sister, aren’t you curious…”

Qiu Rongrong gave her a playful glare. “Stop. I’m not curious, and I won’t ask. Yao Yao, I consider you like my own sister. Your arrival has changed me. I, Qiu Rongrong, am not an ungrateful person. So, whatever way you got these, I won’t ask. I only have one thing to say: next time something this good comes along, don’t exclude me. Look, I already missed a whole season — that’s a big loss.”