Chapter 33: The Tide of Life, We Support You! (Below)

  Followed Shen Jing to the 'Zhonghe Hall' that I had been to last time, the interior decoration was still the same, but there was one more person sitting on the right side of Old Master Shen, who must be that rascal Second Master.

  The two old gentlemen bowed in silence and respect. Old Shen smiled and said, "No need to be so polite, nephew, please sit down."

  "Before seniors, where is the place for juniors to sit?" He stole a glance and saw that the second master looked very serious, as if he had a heavy heart.

  At this time, Mr. Shen said with a smile: "The elder lets you sit down."

  He cast a silent glance at Shen Jing who was standing by the side, meaning to say: "Sorry about that, old chap." Then he sat down on the lower seat.

  Mr. Shen again had someone bring tea for Shen Mo, and only then did he speak warmly: "We've all heard about your plan to compete with Shan Yin County." As he spoke, he glanced at Second Master Shen beside him: "Although this matter is being done in your own name, you are after all a member of the Shen family, so we can't just ignore it... So I and your second uncle have discussed it and called you here to make our position clear..."

  One of the two old men on the side suddenly interjected, "Shen Mo, if you're not confident, then don't force yourself to take charge. Losing face is a small matter, but if that young man's life is ruined, who will take responsibility?"

  This person really doesn't mince words, making Shen Mo's face turn red and white with embarrassment, only able to force a bitter smile and say: "If there were another way, I wouldn't have taken on this task."

  The Second Master said in a low voice: "It seems that you are not confident, then go and admit defeat to Tiger Head... I'll accompany you there and help you bring back Yao Changzi."

  Shen Mo said, "This feeling is good." and was about to agree when the old master on the other side cleared his throat and said, "Jun Fu, we came here today to boost Shen Mo's morale, not to dampen it."

  The old master frowned and said, "This is a matter of life and death, how can we let this child play with it?" These words should have been spoken in private, but he was always like this, never able to keep his words hidden.

  "Your temper, when will you change it?" he said with a sigh. He picked up his teacup and took a light sip, saying: "Now the news has spread, and Shanyin County is preparing for a grand event. Our own County Magistrate Li is also eagerly anticipating it, hoping to vent some of our pent-up anger this time. You suddenly inserted yourself into this matter, messing everything up and making the county magistrates of both counties lose face."

  "Is face more important or is life more important!" The second master huffed: "Really can't understand how you people think every day!"

  "I still don't understand where you've been all these years as an official!" Old Master Shen heavily set down his teacup and grumbled, "Is there anything heavier than the face of an official in this world?"

  Silent heart says: 'There is a bigger official than him.'

  "Unacceptable!" Shen Lian stormed off with a flick of his sleeve, and before leaving, he gave Shen Mo a fierce glare and said: "You're playing with people's lives!"

  Mr. Shen was so angry that his face turned red and he didn't recover for a long time, forcing a smile: "Your second uncle is just like this, with a fiery temper, forgive him."

  "Actually, Second Master was teaching me that I didn't put the eldest son's life as the top priority."

  "Child, you don't understand." Old Master Shen shook his head and smiled: "Things have reached this point, even the county magistrate must be alarmed. To avoid escalating the situation, he will definitely order the Shanyin County Magistrate to protect the eldest son's life." He chuckled and said: "I dare to guarantee that the eldest son's life is as safe as Mount Tai. As long as you can win over the hearts of the people in Shanyin, he will return unharmed."

  Silence is also concern, after Mr. Shen said so, I immediately understood the key points and felt a lot lighter: "Thank you, sir, for pointing out the confusion..."

  "Alas, what a great elder? Too presumptuous." Old Master Shen chuckled and said: "According to our generation, I am your uncle who has not yet worn the five mourning garments, and Shen Jing is still your paternal cousin."

  "Uncle..." Shen Mo had no choice but to restart and say: "Elder brother." Shen Jing hurriedly returned the courtesy.

  With this one call, the two sides indeed became much closer. Mr. Shen smiled and said: "Since you called me Uncle, your business is our family's business. We strongly support this matter, when the time comes, if you need any help, just mention it, our whole house will spare no effort!"

  Smiling silently, he nodded and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Master Shuai, for your concern. When the time comes, I'm afraid we'll still have to trouble your family."

  Old Master Shen looked at Shen Mo's clothes and instructed Shen Jing, "Withdraw two taels of silver from the account and buy Shen Mo two sets of decent clothes. Is this how you act as an older brother? You wear silk and satin yourself, but let your younger brother wear patched-up clothes."

  Shen Jing smiled wryly and agreed, thinking to himself, "You give orders as you please, why do you have to scold me all the time?" Shen Mo declined several times, but was dragged out by him. When they were alone, Shen Jing laughed and cursed, "You can pretend all you want, if I didn't drag you out, would you really not care about this money?"

  "Be quiet," he patted his hand and said, "I still have a new set of clothes, don't buy this one either, keep the remaining silver for yourself."

  "Ball sack." Shen Jing said gloomily: "Always thinking of me as so despicable, am I the kind of person who covets friends' wealth?"

  "You don't want to. " Shen Mo said softly: "Even with my five taels, let's bet together... I'll buy you winning. When the time comes, we'll split the account 50/50."

  "What if we lose?" Shen Jing asked with wide eyes.

  "It's lost, so be it." Shen Mo patted his hands and said, "Anyway, it's external wealth, what's there to regret?"

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The next day, a yamen runner came to the mansion to pass on a message, saying that the other party was ready and could sign the contract early the next morning at Xuantingkou.

  The next day, before dawn broke, Shen Jing came knocking on the door. Shen Mo, still sleepy-eyed, opened it for him and grumbled, "What time is this? You're already here."

  "Can you still sleep? I was tossing and turning for half the night before falling asleep, and then got up again before midnight."

  Shen He also laughed and scolded inside: "This kid is just like a person who has nothing to do, as soon as he touches the pillow, he falls asleep. If you don't call him, he won't get up."

  Silently scrubbing his face and roughly tying up his hair, he said gruffly: "Have you eaten? Do you want me to make a portion for you?"

  "I'm here to call you for dinner." Shen Jing chuckled and said, "My dad ordered the kitchen last night to prepare breakfast for you, go ahead and eat in the front hall."

  Shen Mo looked at his father silently, and Shen Jing smiled: "What do you think I'm holding in my hand?" With a sleight of hand, he pulled out a lunchbox and grinned at Shen He, showing off his teeth: "How could I forget about Uncle's feelings?"

  Shen He smiled and shook his head, it seemed that the two of them had gotten along quite well these days.

  She quietly opened the multi-layered lunchbox and took out a dish from each layer... a plate of stir-fried meat, a bowl of fish and tofu stew, a bowl of clear broth with fish balls, a large bowl of white rice, and a small steamer basket of small buns.

  The dishes from Shen's kitchen were far superior to those of Qiuniang and Shen Mo, the aroma wafting out as soon as they were served, making one swallow saliva in secret.

  Division line

  Overtaken by others, even the first place in history class wasn't kept... everyone vote to help me out...... I'm going to write chapter 3.