As Shen Yunwei spoke, he secretly glanced at Liu Bifu’s expression. Seeing that the other man’s face had softened a little, he quietly let out a breath of relief.
“Starting tomorrow, I will change all the relief and charity stalls to operate under the county office’s name.”
Shen Yunwei knew very well that Liu Bifu, as the magistrate of Dengfeng County, held real power in his hands.
If he offended him, the Shen family would likely find it hard to take even a single step in this prefectural city going forward.
Shen Yunwei thought it over again. His Shen family had already been giving out relief under the name of Lu Qingqing, the future matriarch of the Shen family, for more than half a year now, and the prayers for blessings had gone on long enough.
Over the past six months or so, thanks to Lu Qingqing’s charitable deeds, the Shen family’s reputation among the common people had been growing day by day, but it had also drawn some unnecessary attention.
For example, from this Lord Liu right in front of him.
There were still a few months left before the full year was up.
The one-year relief period had been his own decision from the start. First, it was to pray for blessings on Lu Qingqing’s behalf. Second, it was for the sake of the many suffering common folk.
So for the remaining few months, he would distribute charity to the poor and struggling people of the city under the county office’s name.
That way, he could give Liu Bifu a way to save face and maintain a good relationship with the authorities, while also allowing the relief efforts to end on a proper note, so no one could criticize them later.
Shen Yunwei calculated all this silently, keeping that kind and friendly smile on his face, as if everything were done willingly and had been planned all along.
Hearing Shen Yunwei’s words, the smile on Liu Bifu’s face deepened a little more. He was clearly very pleased with how sensible Shen Yunwei was being.
Liu Bifu nodded and said in a gentle tone, “Old Master Shen truly is a man who understands things.”
“Since the Shen family is willing to distribute relief to the people under the county office’s name, then I naturally will do my part as well and fully support your Shen family.”
“That way, the common people can receive real benefits and also feel the county office’s care. Isn’t that the best of both worlds?”
Shen Yunwei quickly bowed and said respectfully, “Lord Liu is absolutely right!”
“The Shen family is merely doing what little we can. It is my honor to be able to share the county office’s burdens.”
Liu Bifu gave a final satisfied nod, picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and then smiled as he said,
“Old Master Shen, there’s no need to be nervous. The reason I came today was also to share in the Shen family’s joy.”
“Your Shen family has a great celebration today, so I have also prepared a small gift. I hope Old Master Shen won’t dislike it.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand. The man who had been rude earlier immediately brought forward an exquisite gift box and handed it to Shen Yunwei.
“Since the matter has been settled, I won’t disturb you any further.”
“Old Master Shen, you go ahead with your business. I have many official duties to attend to. I’ll come bother you another day.”
Shen Yunwei quickly accepted the gift box, gratitude written all over his face. “Lord Liu, you are too kind!”
“Your presence alone is already an honor for the Shen family. Why bring gifts as well?”
“We in the Shen family are truly overwhelmed!”
Liu Bifu laughed heartily and waved his hand. “Old Master Shen, there’s no need for courtesy. This is just a small token of my regard.”
“Today is a great day of celebration for the Shen family, so I won’t disturb you any longer. Another day I’ll have a proper chat with Old Master Shen.”
Shen Yunwei quickly bowed again. “Take care, Lord Liu!”
“Another day I will certainly visit your residence in person to thank you, Lord Liu!”
Liu Bifu nodded, turned, and left with several attendants.
Shen Yunwei watched Liu Bifu depart. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a grave expression.
It seemed the Shen family’s reputation in the prefectural city had clearly made this local magistrate wary.
Still, this Lord Liu had not done anything wrong. Their Shen family was a family of physicians. Having such great renown was somewhat excessive.
What Shen Yunwei feared was that this Lord Liu might have other designs on the Shen family.
And Shen Yunwei’s guess was indeed correct.
As soon as he stepped outside, Liu Bifu went straight to his official county sedan chair.
The friendly smile that had filled his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark, ruthless look.
His whole demeanor became frightening, as if he had become a different person.
Meanwhile, the secretary who had been following closely outside his sedan—the very man who had just been making sarcastic remarks about the Shen family—
was now slightly hunched over, his eyes darting around from time to time, looking thoroughly sneaky.
“My lord!”
He leaned close to the sedan window, lowered his voice, his face full of doubt, and whispered through the sedan curtain, “Are we really just going to do it like this?”
“Fool!”
Hearing the man outside speaking so carelessly, a flash of malice passed through Liu Bifu’s eyes. His tone was full of impatience and disgust. “Why ask so many questions!”
This useless fool, in broad daylight with so many people around, actually dared to probe him about such matters. Did he not know that walls have ears?
Liu Bifu cursed inwardly, his brows tightly furrowed, anger surging up inside him.
He slightly lifted the sedan curtain, his gaze sweeping over the secretary outside like a blade, his tone carrying a note of warning: “Shut your mouth.”
“Say one more word, and watch your head.”
The secretary trembled in fright at Liu Bifu’s look and quickly lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
He secretly regretted it. In a moment of carelessness, he had forgotten the thing Liu Bifu hated most.
That was discussing these secret matters in public.
Liu Bifu gave a cold snort, lowered the sedan curtain, and leaned back inside to rest with his eyes closed.
His face still carried a trace of coldness, but in his heart he was calculating his next move.
The Shen family was one of the top wealthy households in Dengfeng County, with abundant financial resources and extremely high prestige.
Ever since Liu Bifu had taken office, he had set his sights on this piece of fat meat early on.
It was just that the Shen family’s prestige was too high, and they had quite a bit of support from various factions, so he had never found a suitable opportunity to make his move.
“Shen Yunwei, that old fox, is quite sensible.”
Liu Bifu sneered inwardly. “But that alone isn’t enough.”
What Liu Bifu wanted was not just the Shen family’s reputation, but their wealth as well.
He had indeed set his sights on the Shen family as a big fat sheep.
The Shen family had been doing business in this prefectural city for many years, with vast wealth and deep foundations.
Especially in recent years, the Shen family’s business had been thriving, and they were faintly showing signs of becoming the number one great family in the prefectural city.
Liu Bifu had long been eyeing the Shen family’s wealth and had been looking for a chance to get a piece of it.
Using the Shen family’s relief efforts as a pretext this time was merely the first step in his plan.
This time, Liu Bifu’s goal was to first weaken the Shen family’s reputation for a period of time.
When the time was right, he would move against the Shen family.
He knew very well that to thoroughly devour the Shen family, this piece of fat meat, he would have to proceed step by step and take his time.
“It seems I’ll have to put a little more pressure on the Shen family.” Liu Bifu thought to himself, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
The county sedan chair moved slowly forward, but Liu Bifu’s thoughts grew clearer and clearer.
He decided that once he returned, he would immediately arrange for people to secretly investigate the Shen family’s weaknesses.
As long as he found the Shen family’s weakness, he could strike at them decisively.
A mere ant at the marrow-refining stage had no right to possess so many martial arts resources.
As Liu Bifu thought about this, he also felt a great deal of pain.
The Shen family had been giving out relief for more than half a year. How wealthy must they be?
All of this was supposed to be my money!
Shiny white silver, all scattered to the poor—what a sin!
At the same time, Shen Yunwei stood at the entrance of the residence, watching Liu Bifu’s sedan chair disappear into the distance.
The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a grave expression.
But then Shen Yunwei turned and went back into the residence, putting on a smile to welcome the other guests.
“Father, Lord Liu, he…” A young man of about eighteen stepped forward and asked in a low voice.
This was one of Shen Yunwei’s five sons, his third son by a concubine, Shen Wenfeng.
Shen Yunwei waved his hand, signaling him not to say more, then quietly instructed, “Wenfeng, go make the arrangements. Starting tomorrow, all the relief stalls will operate under the county office’s name.”
“Also, the scale and manner of the relief efforts should be adjusted appropriately. We must not be as ostentatious as before.”
Shen Wenfeng nodded and replied softly, “Yes, Father. I’ll go make the arrangements right away.”
Shen Yunwei took a deep breath and looked up at the red silk and celebratory characters filling the courtyard, but a faint unease lingered in his heart.
Just then, light footsteps came from ahead.
Shen Yunwei turned to look and saw an elderly man slowly approaching, supported by a young man.
Behind the two of them followed two middle-aged men in their forties or fifties.
One of them had an empty right sleeve, clearly having lost an arm.
These two middle-aged men were none other than Qian Hao and Li Daren of the Yellow-Rank Xuanniao Guard!
And the identities of the old man and young man in front were naturally self-evident.
They were Lu Xuan’s biological father, Lu Jiahe, and Lu Xuan’s half-brother, Lu Yun’an.
Lu Jiahe walked a few steps closer, a gentle smile on his face, and said, “In-law, today is a great day for the Shen family. I’ve come to lend a hand as well, to see if there’s anything I can help with.”
“With Xiaoyuan looking after Qingqing, I can rest easy.”
Hearing this, Shen Yunwei quickly stepped forward, his face full of smiles. “Ah, Father-in-law, your coming to Dengfeng County in person has already brought great honor to the Shen family!”
“How could I let you come out and help?”
Lu Jiahe waved his hand and said in a calm tone, “Old Master Shen, you’re too polite. Since our two families are now in-laws, we are one family.”
“Today’s great celebration for the Shen family is also a great celebration for my Lu family. How could I stand by and do nothing?”
Then Lu Jiahe smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the red silk and celebratory characters filling the courtyard, his tone carrying a touch of emotion.
“Ah!”
“Time really does fly!”
“In the blink of an eye!”
“I already have two little grandsons!”
“I wonder where Xuan’er is now.”
“If Xuan’er knew that Qingqing and the children are safe and sound, he would be very happy.”
Lu Jiahe had been staying at the Shen residence for two days now, and in truth, he was also hoping for Lu Xuan to appear.
It wasn’t just Lu Jiahe who was hoping.
In fact, within the Shen family, Shen Yunwei, Shen Yuan, and even Li Daren and Qian Hao were all waiting for that man.
That legendary figure among the Xuanniao Guard of Baidao Prefecture!
Yes, that’s right!
During the brief period when Lu Xuan served as the Xuanniao Envoy of Baidao Prefecture, he had become a mythical figure in the hearts of all the Xuanniao Guard in Baidao Prefecture.
“By the way, in-law, we in the Lu family have already imposed on you for two days. It’s about time we left.”
“Early tomorrow morning, I will return to Qingyun County.”
“With Xiaoyuan here for Qingqing, I can rest easy.”
Hearing this, Shen Yunwei immediately became a little agitated and quickly spoke up.
“Ah!”
“Father-in-law Lu, won’t you stay a few more days and let me fulfill my duties as host?”
“Father-in-law Shen, I appreciate your kindness.”
Lu Jiahe waved his hand, not dwelling on the matter, but instead changed the subject.
“Qingqing has been a bit weak lately. I plan to leave someone here to protect her at all times.”
“Daren, I’ll have to ask you to stay here and protect Qingqing for three months.”
After Lu Jiahe finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Li Daren behind him, his tone carrying a note of seriousness.
Then he clasped his hands together and bowed to Li Daren, not treating him like a subordinate at all.
Hearing this, Li Daren immediately stepped forward and respectfully cupped his fists in salute. “Brother Lu, there’s no need to be so courteous with me.”
“Rest assured!”
“I will definitely protect Miss Qingqing well.”
Li Daren and Qian Hao were both people specially arranged by Li Chengfeng to protect Lu Jiahe at all times.
Just this task alone—others would fight for it and still not get it!
If Li Chengfeng weren’t still serving as the Xuanniao Envoy of Baidao Prefecture, he would have wanted to come personally to protect this Old Master Lu.
After all, as the biological father of that legendary figure Lu Xuan—
if anyone were to learn of Lu Jiahe’s identity—
then Li Chengfeng estimated that people wanting to curry favor with Lu Jiahe would line up all the way from Baidao Prefecture to Tiandu.
