The father and son returned home without alerting anyone, parting ways naturally to rest. The next morning, they met in the courtyard to wash up.
"You took a risk. The Zhang family will surely suspect you," Ji Xiu remarked.
"They have no evidence!" Ji Zian replied.
Ji Xiu smiled. "That is your cleverness. Without evidence, let them suspect all they want."
Ji Zian stood beside him, cold-faced as usual, but a trace of pride flickered in his eyes. In the past, whenever he fought, his parents only lectured him. They had never called his actions "clever" or "beautiful." Though his empathy was low, he was still a child, and no child dislikes praise—especially regarding things they take pride in.
Ji Xiu noted this. He had a new idea on how to handle Ji Zian. However, he still needed to get that secret manual. Otherwise, if Ji Zian became an unstoppable killing machine later, Ji Xiu wouldn't even have the right to speak.
During breakfast, Shen Lang gave an egg each to Ji Xiu and Ji Zian, while she ate plain porridge with pickles. Ji Xiu glanced at their hens. "Selling eggs doesn't earn much. Boil three tomorrow; we should all eat one."
Shen Lang looked at him in surprise, then nodded tenderly. "Alright."
…
After breakfast, Ji Xiu went to the Shen family cloth store to finish his work. Once the books were cleared, he found the manager to request a month's leave.
The manager was displeased. "Mr. Ji, being the Master's son-in-law doesn't grant you special privileges. You need a three-day notice for leave. Leaving for a month without a reason is difficult for us."
Ji Xiu nodded calmly. "Then Ji shall simply resign."
The manager was stunned. Ji Xiu had stayed at this job for years despite the bullying from the Eldest Young Master Shen. Why was he quitting now? Thinking of the Master's failing health and the Eldest Young Master's dislike for Ji Xiu, the manager greedily agreed. He paid Ji Xiu his five taels of silver and warned him it wouldn't be easy to come back.
Ji Xiu took the money without emotion. In his original world, he had lived as a "trash" root cultivator; he was used to being treated with disdain.
As he walked out, he saw Ji Zian standing by the door. The boy's face was dark. He had clearly overheard parts of the conversation and assumed the manager was chasing his father away. Ji Xiu quickly led him away, explaining: "I resigned on my own."
"Why?" Ji Zian frowned. He remembered an arrogant man always criticizing his father's ledger. If his father was being bullied, Ji Zian intended to make them pay once he grew older.
Ji Xiu noticed the boy's darkening expression. In the original timeline, Ji Zian never cared about his parents' affairs until they were much older. Why is he asking now? Have I gained his affection early? Ji Xiu realized he had to be careful. He didn't mind Ji Zian being vengeful, but he had to draw a line at "slaughtering entire families." He patiently explained the plan: they were moving to Huizhou.
Shen Lang had always wanted to visit her mother's family in Huizhou. She was a concubine's daughter who had been mistreated until Ji Xiu used his "life-saving favor" for the old Master Shen to marry her. Ji Xiu decided that rather than waiting until next year—as in the original timeline—they would go now to avoid trouble with the Zhang family and to secure the manual early.
…
Three days later, the family prepared to leave with a merchant caravan. Ji Xiu had sold the chickens and settled the rent. For Shen Lang, leaving Yangzhou was bittersweet, but home was wherever Ji Xiu and Ji Zian were.
Before leaving, they paid a formal visit to the Shen residence. Old Master Shen was too ill to see them, and the Mistress found Shen Lang an eyesore, so they were dismissed by a maid.
As they left through the side gate, they encountered a two-year-old girl leading a puppy, surrounded by nannies. The butler bowed. "Miss Sun."
Ji Xiu glanced at her. That was Shen Bingyao, the future heroine of this world. She was just a toddler now. He looked away and followed the butler out. Their paths would cross again in sixteen years.
…
Three days after they left, Zhang Peng’s wounds had healed. He went back to the alley to investigate and deduced that his attacker must have been someone shorter than him—likely Ji Zian.
Just as he turned to go tell his family, a hemp sack dropped over his head. After a round of kicks, a muffled voice demanded: "Hand over all your money!"
"Ji Zian! Is that you again?!" Zhang Peng roared, struggling. He was met with another punch.
"Stop talking! Give me the money!"
Zhang Peng surrendered his money, but the attacker wasn't done. "And the longevity lock!"
Zhang Peng’s family had given him his childhood silver lock to "ward off evil" after his recent bad luck. He threw it out in terror. The attacker vanished.
Zhang Peng ran home and told his parents. The Zhang family beat the drum at the magistrate's office, accusing the Ji family of robbery. When the constables arrived at the Ji house, they found it empty. The neighbors said they had left for Huizhou three days ago.
The constables were furious. "Twice now! You commoners dare to toy with us?!" The Zhang family was extorted for a large sum of money by the officials as a "fine" for the false report.
Meanwhile, at an inn far away, Ji Xiu’s family was sleeping soundly.
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