You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 69: The Unremarkable Shopkeeper Chen

Inside Jiaxing Garden.

Chen Yi arrived neither early nor late.

Shen Huatang was just coming through the outer gate with five men of varying ages, all dressed in long robes.

Xiao Wan’er was waiting outside the wooden building. Her normally cool and detached expression became a little unnatural when she saw Chen Yi approaching.

Chen Yi found this amusing and gave her a slight bow from a distance.

She froze for a moment.

Xiao Wan’er first instructed Shen Huatang to have the men wait in the main hall, then she greeted Chen Yi.

"Brother-in-law, did Wuge throw a tantrum?"

’Why else would you come to Jiaxing Garden?’

Chen Yi understood her unspoken meaning. Realizing he couldn’t use the excuse of scrounging a meal again, he shook his head with a smile.

"I heard from my wife that Eldest Sister has already found a position for me. Since I had nothing else to do, I came over to ask about it."

Xiao Wan’er looked at him hesitantly, then glanced instinctively toward the building. After a moment of thought, she said:

"I was planning to get everything arranged before speaking with you, Brother-in-law."

"But since you’re here, and I happen to have summoned several Medicine Hall Stewards today, you might as well come in and listen."

Chen Yi readily agreed. Thanking her for the trouble, he followed her into the wooden building with a smile.

He had heard a little about the Xiao Family’s businesses before, and hearing Xiao Wan’er’s words, he now guessed what his new position would be.

’A Medicine Hall?’

’That’s actually a good place to be.’

’My Medical Dao hasn’t improved in a long time. I suppose I can put it to the test at a Medicine Hall.’

After some pleasantries, they all took their seats.

The five Medicine Hall Stewards were already muttering to themselves that this summons couldn’t be good news. Seeing Chen Yi present, their sense of foreboding intensified.

One by one, they sat ramrod straight, their eyes lowered, not daring to speak.

Xiao Wan’er’s gaze swept over them, and she gestured to Shen Huatang.

Shen Huatang nodded slightly, took out several ledgers, and flipped through a few pages before speaking coolly:

"These are all the accounts for the five Medicine Halls since the beginning of the year. Even if the Eldest Miss didn’t say anything, you Shopkeepers should be well aware of your respective situations."

"Compared to previous years, things are not looking good, correct?"

Before they could respond, Shen Huatang continued, "I’ve called you here today to discuss the arrangements for the second half of the year."

The five Medicine Hall Stewards’ hearts trembled, and they nodded quickly.

Seeing this, Xiao Wan’er finally spoke.

"Shopkeeper Liu and Shopkeeper Li have managed their affairs well these past few months. Whether it’s the transport of medicinal herbs or their care for the Physicians and patients, they’ve been very timely."

"As is customary, you may go to the estate’s treasury later to collect ten taels of silver. I hope you will continue your diligent work."

Two of the older-looking Stewards visibly relaxed and rose to bow.

They were, of course, endlessly grateful.

As for the remaining three...

Xiao Wan’er’s crisp but gentle voice was heard, "Shopkeeper Ma, Shopkeeper Sun, you have the same old problems as last year."

"Your prescriptions are too strong. Blindly having the Physicians increase dosages is unacceptable."

"You must understand that we treat the sick with medicine. The dosage must be appropriate for their condition. If your only goal is to make money, what does that make of my Xiao Family?"

The two who were called out exchanged a glance, then rose, bowed, and said apologetically, "The Eldest Miss’s criticism is just. We know we were wrong."

Xiao Wan’er didn’t reply, merely gesturing with her hand.

Understanding the signal, Shen Huatang stepped forward, handed the ledgers to the two men, and said:

"When you get back, set new rules for the Physicians. If there is a next time, you know the consequences."

"Yes, yes..."

Hearing this, the last Steward’s face was already drenched in sweat.

Before Xiao Wan’er could speak, he dropped to his knees with a THUD, his face pale as he stammered:

"Eldest, Eldest Miss, this lowly one knows his mistake! I beg you to forgive me, for my father’s sake, who served the Dingyuan Army..."

Xiao Wan’er lowered her beautiful eyes, not looking at him, and let out a soft sigh.

"Wang Ji, in the first five months of this year alone, you lined your own pockets with several hundred taels of silver. Have you ever considered your father’s hard work?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"However, for the sake of your father’s years of bloody sacrifice, you don’t have to pay back the money. Keep it and find some legitimate work to live on."

"Eldest Miss, I, I..."

Before he could beg for more mercy, Shen Huatang strode forward, dragged him out of the wooden building, and handed him directly over to the Armored Warriors waiting outside the garden.

Witnessing this scene, the other four Medicine Hall Shopkeepers wore solemn expressions, as if ashamed to be associated with him.

Chen Yi, who had been watching the show from the side, paid no mind to these Shopkeepers.

His eyes were fixed on Xiao Wan’er, feeling that she carried herself with more of a superior’s bearing than usual.

But he wouldn’t say she was angry.

On the contrary, it was very interesting.

As if noticing Chen Yi’s gaze, Xiao Wan’er subconsciously lowered her head, her face half-hidden beneath the fur collar of her cloak, her lips pursed.

’What is he doing? Can’t he see there are other people in the room?’

After a moment, while Shen Huatang had not yet returned and the other Stewards weren’t paying attention, Xiao Wan’er lifted her head slightly and shot Chen Yi a "fierce" glare.

Her expression was neither angry nor pleased, as if to say, ’Still looking?’

Chen Yi smiled and averted his gaze. It was clear she still remembered that poem.

Seeing him back off, Xiao Wan’er relaxed the small fists she had clenched under her cloak, letting out a sigh of relief.

But her heart, which was pounding erratically, refused to calm down.

A faint blush remained on her pale face.

It wasn’t until Shen Huatang returned and reported to her that Xiao Wan’er came back to her senses, feigning a few coughs.

"From now on, the person taking over for Shopkeeper Wang will be my second sister’s husband, Chen Yi."

She inexplicably stressed the last few words.

Chen Yi, of course, noticed this. He stood with a smile and a bow. "I am Chen Yi. If my work is lacking in the future, I hope you will be understanding."

The few Stewards exchanged glances and forced smiles in response.

They had all, of course, heard the name "Chen Yi."

The rumors were a mix of truth and fiction, praise and criticism, so they weren’t sure what to believe. They only knew that Chen Yi’s calligraphy was supposed to be good and that he was learned.

But when it came to business, scholarly talent was ultimately of little use.

They exchanged greetings, officially acquainted, and then Chen Yi obediently listened as Xiao Wan’er laid out the plans for the second half of the year.

"The medicinal herbs from the Northern State have arrived in Jing State. They should reach the Prefecture City in about half a month. After that, you can allocate them as needed..."

"Finally, I will reiterate the rule—the Xiao Family opened these Medicine Halls to heal the sick and save lives first! Making a profit is secondary!"

The Shopkeepers nodded repeatedly.

Chen Yi naturally played his part as well, but his thoughts were ultimately a little different from Xiao Wan’er’s.

’Healing the sick and saving lives should indeed come first, but a Medicine Hall doesn’t have to rely on that to make money.’

’Everyone knows the real money is in treating ailments that aren’t quite illnesses.’

’For example...’

’Basically, a man’s unspeakable difficulties, a woman’s desire for beauty, an old person’s wish for longevity, and a child’s need for intellectual and physical enhancement.’

Of course, these thoughts merely swirled in Chen Yi’s mind for a moment before vanishing.

To put it bluntly, he had no interest in making money. It wasn’t even as appealing as that Golden Carp.

A moment later, the Stewards left one after another—

[Witnessed Xiao Wan’er’s lecture, where some rejoiced and others despaired. Reward: Position of Medicine Hall Shopkeeper, Opportunity +6.]

[Evaluation: You arrived, you heard, you saw. Utterly unremarkable.]

Chen Yi was stunned. ’The position of Medicine Hall Shopkeeper counts as a reward?’

’The Xiao sisters, Wan’er and Jinghong, forced it on me.’

Xiao Wan’er saw that everyone else had left, but Chen Yi remained seated. She couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

"Brother-in-law, um, has Jinghong not returned yet?"

Chen Yi snapped back to reality and looked at her, shaking his head with a smile. "No, she’s been busy outside these past few days."

Xiao Wan’er paused, unsure if he was complaining.

After a moment’s thought, she explained, "Second Sister doesn’t mean to neglect you, Brother-in-law. It’s just that the funds and provisions for the Dingyuan Army haven’t been secured, so she has no choice but to rush about."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. "The Dingyuan Army’s funds and provisions?"

Xiao Wan’er said softly, "I don’t know the specifics."

"But I can tell you that Grandfather recently sold off most of his birthday gifts to support Second Sister, letting her use the money to build a Mutual Market with the Mountain Race."

Chen Yi’s heart sank in realization. The Dingyuan Army’s funds and provisions were in trouble.

’So that’s how it is.’

’It wasn’t that the Xiao Family merely sensed something was off with the Imperial Court; the Imperial Court had already made its move overtly.’

After some thought, Chen Yi nodded with a smile. "Eldest Sister, I’ll accept the position at the Medicine Hall for now. If I don’t do a good job, you can take it back at any time."

Xiao Wan’er relaxed. "That would be best."

「Not long after.」

Chen Yi stood up to take his leave.

Xiao Wan’er stared blankly into space, wondering if her earlier explanation had eased her brother-in-law’s mind.

’If it’s because Second Sister is rarely home that he has those kinds of thoughts about me... isn’t that just human nature?’

Shen Huatang remained silent for a moment before asking, "Eldest Miss, the Young Master has never run a business. Is it really appropriate to have him take over as a Medicine Hall Shopkeeper directly?"

Xiao Wan’er shook her head instinctively. "Brother-in-law may be reckless at times, but he is both talented and capable."

Ever since the day she saw the calligraphy copybook written by Chen Yi receive praise from numerous great scholars and Courtiers, a part of her had come to admire him.

It was just as she had said when comforting Xiao Jinghong: the calligraphy reflects the person.

A person who could write with such a free-spirited Mental Realm must possess both excellent character and talent.

’It’s a pity that *Wan God’s Ode* was written in Wei Qing’s Style...’

On the other side, Chen Yi was oblivious to Xiao Wan’er’s thoughts.

If he had known, he certainly would have refused to write *Wan God’s Ode* again in Cursive Script.

The first time could be explained away as a moment of inspiration.

A second time would truly turn it into a poem of betrothal.

At that moment, Chen Yi stood at the end of a long corridor, watching the people in a distant pavilion.

’Since the Imperial Court has already made its move, the Xiao Family’s hopes in that Mutual Market probably won’t be realized so easily, will they?’

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi shook his head. ’If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.’

’As a mere live-in son-in-law and an unremarkable Medicine Hall Shopkeeper, I don’t need to worry about these things.’

With that, Chen Yi composed himself and called out to Xiaodie in the distance:

"Go find a fishing net! Today, this Young Master is going to show those small fry what I’m made of!"