Especially with the arrival of his childhood friend, Ninth Master Lee, he beca even more wary of Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu.
He didn’t believe that a village girl would be involved with the Lee Family business, nor did he believe that a village hunter could actually beco a scholar.
There must be soone behind them!
Not to ntion, after Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang supposedly went back to the countryside to sweep the graves and didn’t return, they moved in the mute person to the Song Family Courtyard.
In the eyes of others, that mute was just an ordinary man, but he could see that this mute was definitely not ordinary, almost resembling a vagabond warrior.
Why would a good village scholar be involved with a vagabond warrior?
These days, the families capable of supporting a vagabond warrior are few and far between. Who else could it be but one of them?
It must be a guise to plant such a spy to monitor him.
Gu Zikai kept a calm appearance, but his heart grew increasingly vigilant.
Later, he thought, since Song Chongjin and that mute were monitoring him, why couldn’t he counter-surveil them?
He found an opportunity to enter the Song Family Courtyard, roughly determining the direction. There were a few flowering trees in the corner of the Song family, their lush branches and leaves providing good cover.
At night, using the excuse of wanting to read without being disturbed, he secretly made a small hole in the wall, then camouflaged it with mud-colored paper, blocking the hole during the day so no one would notice.
At night, when everyone was asleep, he would extinguish the light and secretly observe the movents in the backyard.
Despite all this ti, he still didn’t find any flaws in Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu, especially after Wang Yongzhu’s mother fell ill. Watching Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin do everything they could for Old Granny Zhang—hiring the best doctors, getting the best dicine, even hiring two elderly won to take care of her specially—showed their dedication.
Moreover, Wang Yongzhu even gave up a business that brought in almost a thousand taels of silver annually to stay ho and accompany Old Granny Zhang, saying she wanted to take her out to see the sights.
Song Chongjin, as the son-in-law, also treated Old Granny Zhang like his own mother, showing utmost filial piety.
Whether it was an act, he could see through it.
So upon knowing Old Granny Zhang was ill, after so hesitation, he had Lang Hao send a batch of top-quality dicinal herbs to the backyard.
These herbs were originally sent by his family worried that he might not be able to buy good dicine while out.
Unexpectedly, it benefited the Song family.
Deep down, Gu Zikai knew that this Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu family were probably not spies sent to monitor him.
However, he had developed the habit of lying on the kang every night, extinguishing the lamp, and listening to the noises in the backyard.
Sotis it was Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu bickering occasionally.
Sotis it was Old Granny Zhang’s loud scolding.
More often, it was Wang Yongzhu sweet-talking Old Granny Zhang.
...
Now that it was discovered by Ninth Master Lee, he wasn’t worried that Ninth Master Lee would expose this matter.
Ninth Master Lee was a person he knew best, quick to anger, without much cunning, very arrogant, and unable to hide anything.
But the two of them grew up together, who didn’t know each other?
Outsiders said that they couldn’t stand each other since childhood, always fighting like enemies from a past life.
In reality, no one knew that they shared a life-and-death bond and knew each other’s true selves.
Ninth Master Lee knew he wasn’t the outwardly gentle scholar but was actually the most suspicious, cold, and ruthless person inside.
He also knew that Ninth Master Lee, though seemingly brash and arrogant, actually had a cold and calculating mind.
They shared a mutual understanding and a tacit agreent to clash in front of others but relax and be their true selves when alone.
Ninth Master Lee certainly knew his friend, appearing gentle but extrely stubborn, unlikely to change his mind once he had decided on sothing.
So he could only sigh, "We’ve investigated the Wang Family’s background seventeen or eighteen tis. Why else do you think my family is so comfortable doing business with her? She’s indeed from the countryside, forced to take on the family’s burden due to sudden misfortune. Furthermore, Lady Wang can live comfortably solely based on her dyeing trades, does she need to do this?
"And, think about it, Song Chongjin is a scholar. I’ve verified it, he really did pass the exam himself, he does have so talent. Would soone with such prospects ruin his future to be a lackey spying on you? I think you’re too paranoid because of the capital’s schers; you see threats everywhere now!
"You need to curb your suspicion! Do you not trust your grandfather, your parents? You’re their only precious son, they’d never let anything happen to you! Not to ntion, with your school’s dean’s connection to your mother’s family, how could anything happen to you in Jing County?
"The autumn exam is only a few months away. If you keep fixating on this and miss the exam, wouldn’t you be playing right into their hands?"
Ninth Master Lee sincerely advised Gu Zikai.
He understood Gu Zikai’s family; despite the external harmony, there was constant turmoil beneath the surface. Growing up in such an environnt, Gu Zikai’s high vigilance towards outsiders was normal.
But for Gu Zikai to be always on edge, focused on these matters, wasn’t good.
He rembered their teacher once said that Gu Zikai had extraordinary talent. Even using only half his effort, he outshone others. If he focused entirely on his studies, he could beco a genius renowned in the world.
As a friend, he couldn’t bear to see Gu Zikai locked in pointless conflicts and scheming for his whole life.
He had advised Gu Zikai so many tis, but Gu Zikai always remained silent.
But today, after his words, Gu Zikai was silent for a while, then sighed, "I’ll try my best."
Ninth Master Lee was overjoyed, jumping up, "Really? Bookworm, did you finally get it? I’ve nagged you every ti we t for years, and you’ve always been as stubborn as a rock in a latrine, stinky and hard! What’s changed today?"
Gu Zikai’s face darkened as he glared at Ninth Master Lee, "Change your clothes and get out! Wang Cai will be here to fetch you soon!"
Ninth Master Lee’s face fell imdiately, "Are you really my good brother? I’m looking out for you, and you want to push back into the wolf’s den?"
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