Rebirth Married The Control group Fulang Chapter 137

Chapter 137 Extra Ruili 2

    “Brother, take good care of sister-in-law on your journey. I’ll handle everything at home.” After the start of spring, Ruijin packed his belongings to take up his official post in another prefecture. He had to arrive before the spring season fully set in, so shortly after the Lantern Festival, his luggage was prepared for departure. This move meant settling down there for at least two or three years, or longer if no promotions or transfers came. Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He had prepared extensively for the newlywed couple, ensuring all necessities like clothing and quilts were packed.  

If not for the fact that they had learned of Ruijin’s assignment beforehand, prompting Zhang Fangyuan to purchase a house and hire servants to maintain it, Xu He’s meticulous nature would have resulted in an unmanageable amount of luggage - enough to fill eight or ten carriages.  

    “As long as you behave at home, I won’t have any worries.”  

    “I know.” Luo Yuxing stepped forward and grasped Ruili’s hand. Though he felt secure with Ruijin by his side, this was the first time since meeting Ruili that they would be separated indefinitely, making it hard to avoid a sense of reluctance.  

    “Once everything is settled there, I’ll send you a letter and arrange for someone to bring you over so we can reunite.”  

    Ruili hugged his sister-in-law tightly. “Alright, I’ll wait for good news from you and Brother.”  

    “Enough, it’s getting late.” No matter how reluctant Zhang Fangyuan was to see his son leave, parting was inevitable. Rather than prolonging the sorrow, it was better to make it quick. “Leave early while there’s still daylight. Winter days are short, and an early start means reaching the post station sooner.”  

    The young couple complied. As the carriage set off, Ruili waved vigorously at the departing convoy. Unconsciously, he followed the procession a few steps, watching as two of his closest companions left. The emotions swirling in his heart were indescribable.  

    As a child, he and Ruijin had been inseparable, too young to understand the sorrow of parting. Now grown, he found himself sentimental. He had always assumed he would be the one to marry into another family, while his brother remained at home. He had even teased his family about it, jokingly demanding more attention. Yet fate was unpredictable, his brother had started a family and career but could no longer stay home. Instead, Ruili was the one left behind to keep their father company.  

    He stood watching until the carriages disappeared from sight, then sighed deeply. 

    If all else fails, maybe our family should just take in a son-in-law instead.

    Two days later, Zhang Fangyuan led a merchant convoy to the salt fields to restock, leaving Xu He alone to manage the family. Aside from the salt business, the family owned several other shops, but with limited manpower, Ruili stopped his usual outings and began inspecting the accounts at their stores.  

    Since opening the salt business, the family’s income had soared. Even their smallest salt shop earned in a month what their other shops made in half a year or more. Yet, despite the salt trade’s profitability, Zhang Fangyuan hadn't shut down their other business.  

    First, those businesses were how Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He had first built their fortune, and they were reluctant to abandon them. Secondly, while the salt trade was lucrative, it was ultimately controlled by the imperial court. There was no guarantee the privilege would last forever, so keeping their original businesses served as a safeguard. 

    Moreover, profits from salt were being reinvested into other business like cosmetics, jewelry, silk, textiles, and tea - industries with high returns and entry barriers.  

    That morning, Ruili took his attendants to inspect the accounts at their newly opened cloth shop. Passing through the new market street, he collected the latest quarterly rent from their leased storefronts. By the time he arrived at the cloth shop, the manager had already prepared the account books and tea.  

    He went straight upstairs and flipped through the ledgers. Over the years, he, Luo Yuxing, and Ruijin had studied under the same teacher. Though the other two were exceptionally bright, Ruili was no slouch either. As Ruijin’s twin, while his brother had excelled in the imperial exams, earning the title of jinshi, Ruili had no such aspirations. Instead, he channeled his talents into the family business.  

    He was quick with numbers, sharp with his words, and had a biting wit. His sharp eye for discrepancies and blunt critiques made shop managers dread his inspections, preferring Zhang Fangyuan or Xu He instead. His visits always put them on edge. 

    “A new shop doesn’t need excessive scrutiny. As long as business is steady, that’s enough.”  

    The manager exhaled slightly in relief when Ruili made no further criticisms.  

    “It’s almost noon. Would the young master like to dine here?”  

    Ruili kept his eyes on the ledger. “If I stay, you’ll just order takeout from a restaurant. I’d rather go myself and eat something fresh and hot.”  

    He closed the book. “Alright, keep up the good work. Don’t think that just because I didn’t find issues today, you can slack off. My father will inspect everything again when he returns.”  

    The manager carefully took back the ledger. “Of course. We’ll ensure the business runs smoothly, ready for the master’s inspection at any time.”  

    Ruili said no more. The morning’s rent collection had taken time and energy, and he was genuinely hungry. With more shops to visit in the afternoon, he hurried downstairs to find a nearby restaurant.  

    “The copy of the order you requested is ready. Please review it at your convenience.”  

    “Sir, please wait a moment. Our manager has gone to fetch the owner. He’ll be back shortly.”  

    “Thank you.”  

    The refined voice sounded familiar. Ruili, already at the door, paused and glanced back. Even from behind, the man’s tall, elegant figure was unmistakable.  

    “What’s he doing here?” Ruili muttered to his attendant, Ban Yan.  

    “Perhaps just a coincidence. Should we greet him? You did send him pastries last time.”  

    Ruili waved a hand. “Passing through a hundred flowers without a single leaf sticking. This young master enjoys admiring beauty but avoids entanglement. With Brother and Dad away, I must focus on the family business. No time for distractions, there’s still much to do today. Let’s go.”  

 [百花丛中过，片叶不沾身 (bǎi huā cóng zhōng guò, piàn yè bù zhān shēn): lit. Passing through a hundred flowers without a single leaf sticking; fig. Engaging without attachment.]  

    Ban Yan stifled a laugh. “Only you could say such things with a straight face. If you truly wanted to avoid entanglement, why send him gifts?”  

    As they walked out, Ruili replied, “When you see a beautiful flower on the road, don’t you stop to admire it? Appreciating beauty is the same. Who doesn’t like a pretty face? Why else do men in this city flock to me? Let’s just say I have an eye for elegance. Even my teacher once praised my refinement.”  

    Ban Yan, older than Ruili, had been his study companion since childhood and had attended classes with him at the Luo family. “I think Master Luo mispronounced elegance as frivolity.”  

    After lunch Ruili rested briefly in the restaurant’s private room before hurrying to Liufang Bookshop in the afternoon. Such shops were typically run by scholarly families, so it was surprising that the Zhang family - a family of common origins owned one.  

    This shop had its own story. When Ruijin passed the provincial exams, the family was overjoyed. Zhang Fangyuan pondered how to reward his accomplished son, and after much deliberation, the couple settled on gifting him a bookshop.  

    While Ruijin was still in Siyang, he had frequented this shop, indifferent to its profits but valuing the sentiment behind it. As a young juren, many scholars sought him out, hoping for guidance. Despite his aloof demeanor, Ruijin patiently advised those bold enough to ask, inadvertently boosting the shop’s business.  

    After Ruijin became a jinshi and received an official post from the emperor, the bookshop’s popularity skyrocketed. Scholars flocked there, hoping to absorb some of his exam luck.  

    Before leaving for his post, Ruijin had entrusted Ruili with the shop’s care, instructing him to gift his old exam notes, annotations, and drafts to “fated individuals.” Ruili relished the idea.  

    Today, with the academy on break, the shop bustled with scholars. Ruili, in high spirits, approached—only to stumble at the entrance when he spotted a familiar figure inside. Ban Yan caught him just in time.  

    Wide-eyed, Ruili gestured frantically. “Is he stalking me?!”  

    Ban Yan studied the slender, upright figure at a desk, meticulously copying texts. “Young Master, perhaps this scholar has taken a liking to you?”  

    “He doesn’t even know me!” Ruili blinked. Though many suitors had proposed without knowing him well, he assumed someone so refined wouldn’t stoop to such tactics.  

    “Of course he knows! That day at Yinqiu Tower, when you sent him pastries, the waiter surely boasted it was from you. And let’s be honest, who in this city doesn’t know of you?” Ban Yan analyzed. “His face may be peerless, but his clothes are plain. Likely a poor scholar.”  

    He didn’t need to finish. Ruili understood, this was the classic tale of a destitute scholar targeting a wealthy, naive young master to climb the social ladder.  

    Ruili nodded solemnly. “You’re absolutely right. I’m not a sheltered fool. I won’t tolerate such schemes. I must disillusion him!”  

    After a pause, he added, “But he is very handsome. Maybe he’s in dire straits. I’ll be gentle when I confront him.”