flstandardbreds Chapter 400: Inquiring about the Shen Family’s Past
Chapter 400: Inquiring about the Shen Family’s Past
After coming out of Chuiliu Street, Chen Shuhua was a little absent-minded. Yao Qingnian didn't ask much and sent her back to the Duke's Mansion first. He asked Shan Wei to go to Yuzhu to see if there was anything she could help with.
They first sent someone to Zhao Qi's house, but when they arrived, they found the house empty. After asking around, they found out that the whole family had suddenly moved away overnight. As for where they moved to, the neighbors nearby all shook their heads and said they had no idea.
Later, Chen Shuhua's people went to Lao Qiao's house, but found it empty. After Lao Qiao died, his wife and children found Chen Shuhua and made a fuss. After getting the money, the whole family left the capital and returned to their hometown in the countryside.
As for the distant relative of Shen Wenting's family, Yuzhu went to Shen Wenting's hometown in person to inquire. Shen Wenting's hometown was in Shenjia Village, not far from the capital. Because Shen Wenting's family had several scholars, anyone who was asked could tell a little about Shen Wenting's family.
After entering the village, Yuzhu randomly found a woman she met and asked, "Aunt, do you know Shen Wenting?"
"Shen Wenting? I know him! In our village, everyone, except newborn babies, knows him. He's a promising man. He passed the imperial examination at a young age, making up for the regret of his father Shen Kangyuan. I heard that he became a high-ranking official in the capital! But no matter how good he is, he is still ungrateful." When she heard that someone was asking about Shen Wenting, the woman started talking to Yuzhu enthusiastically. From what she said, although Shen Wenting was promising, his reputation in the village was not very good.
"Auntie, is there anyone in our village who is close to them and knows their situation better?"
"Girl, why are you asking about this?" The woman looked at Yuzhu in confusion. This girl didn't look like she was from the village, but rather from the capital.
"It's like this, auntie. My father and the old master of the Shen family were old friends. Because of other reasons, he left home and the two lost contact. He only came back recently. Now he is in poor health and may die at any time...
His only regret now is to know how his good friend has been doing over the years. My brother and I came here and found out that Mr. Shen is no longer here. His family has moved to the capital a long time ago. So I want to find someone to ask about the Shen family's situation so that I can go back and tell my old father and let him feel at ease. "Yuzhu looked sad and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
"What a filial child. If we were to say who in our village knows the most about Shen Wenting's family, it would be his uncle Shen Kangde's family. When Shen Kangyuan was alive, the two families still had contacts. After he passed away, Shen Wenting and his mother moved to the capital and never came back.
Old Detou often curses Shen Wenting and his family at the door of the house, saying that they have no conscience. However, Old Detou has been in poor health recently, and we rarely see him. Girl, you can go over and ask. But I remind you that they are not easy to mess with. "The aunt told her everything she knew, then went to work and left.
"Thank you, aunt."
After Yuzhu thanked him, she followed the direction the woman pointed and walked towards Lao Detou's house. Their house was still a mud-brick house and it looked like they were not living a good life. Logically, since her nephew was an official in the capital, he could have easily given her some money to help them. She knocked on the door with doubt in her heart, "Is anyone there?"
After a while, a smart-looking woman came to open the door. Seeing the elegantly dressed girl in front of her, she asked impatiently, "Who are you looking for?"
"Aunt, I'm from another place and I want to ask Uncle Lao De about something. Is he here?"
"You're looking for my father-in-law. He's lying in bed. How can you ask him when he's half dead and can't even speak clearly?!" The woman looked at her unkindly.
"Aunt, to be honest, I just want to find out about Shen Wenting's family." Yuzhu didn't beat around the bush and directly stated her purpose.
"Were you sent by him? Get out!" Hearing Shen Wenting, the woman's tone became even more unfriendly and she directly told Yuzhu to get out.
But her eyes were always on Yuzhu, and she couldn't take her eyes off the jade bracelet on her hand. Yuzhu noticed her gaze, took off the bracelet directly, and took out a silver ingot: "Aunt, you misunderstood, I was not sent by him, I just want to ask you something, if you can let me in to ask, I will give you this bracelet and this silver ingot."
When she heard that she was going to give the bracelet to herself, the woman's eyes lit up. The bracelet looked very valuable, and there was also silver. After hesitating for a moment, she immediately said with a smile: "Are you really not sent by him? Girl, why are you asking about them? Even if I let you in, I can't say a few words with my father's condition.
"What is there to ask about Shen Wenting's family? They are all heartless ungrateful people. They live a good life in the capital, but let their uncles and aunts eat coarse food in the village. Bah!" the woman cursed.
But for the sake of the bracelet in Yuzhu's hand, he continued: "Ask me anything you want! I've lived in the Shen family for most of my life, and I know everything about their family."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you, auntie." Yuzhu was worried that they were relatives and it would be difficult to find out. Judging from the look of this woman, they might not get along with Shen Wenting.
"My husband has gone to the fields. Please come in and sit down. If you have any questions, just ask." The woman politely invited the man into the yard to sit down, her eyes never leaving the things in Yuzhu's hand.
Yuzhu handed her the bracelet and silver. The woman took them happily and told her to ask whatever she wanted and she would tell her everything she knew.
The woman in front of him was Shen Wenting's elder sister-in-law, Fang. It turned out that Shen Wenting's family was also a poor family in the village. It was rare for a scholar to be born in this family, and everyone attached great importance to it. However, it was not easy for an ordinary family to support a scholar. All the money earned by the family was spent on Shen Kangyuan, and everyone had no complaints and placed all their hopes on him.
However, he had studied for many years but failed to pass the imperial examinations. After his old father passed away, everyone advised him to give up, but he disagreed and insisted. Over time, his two brothers naturally had opinions about it. His wife wanted to divorce him several times, and the relationship between the sisters-in-law was not good either.
But even so, as the eldest brother, Shen Kangde still received every penny of the money he was entitled to, and everyone in the Shen family tightened their belts to support his studies.
Unexpectedly, in the end, Shen Wenting went to high school before his father. Everyone thought that the hard times were over. However, who would have thought that Shen Kangyuan was depressed and died soon after.