Chapter 48: Zijun Has Grown Up

This brother-in-law is truly foolish...

Luo Zijun muttered inwardly.

Just as he finished thinking this, his elder sister exclaimed with a face full of pleasant surprise: "Zijun, well done! I really didn't expect you to be even thicker-skinned than your sister. Even I didn't dare to ask for it, yet you actually went and demanded it! Hahahaha, our family needs someone with your thick skin!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

Indeed, people of the same kind flock together.

His elder sister and brother-in-law were truly a perfect match.

Speechless, Luo Zijun had no choice but to explain: "These twenty taels weren't demanded from Uncle Datou; I earned them myself, by writing books."

This matter had to be brought to light eventually.

After all, since he would be giving money to the family from now on, he needed to provide a plausible reason.

"You earned them yourself? By writing books?"

Li Zhengshan was stunned upon hearing this, his face full of utter astonishment.

His expression seemed to say, are you kidding me, kid?

You? You know how to write books?

Luo Jiaorong was also taken aback.

Recovering quickly, she hurried over, snatched the silver from his hand, turned it over and examined it several times before finally concluding: "This isn't the same twenty taels given to Datou!"

Then, her expression turning stern, she demanded: "Zijun, tell your sister the truth, where did this silver come from? You didn't..."

"It wasn't stolen, nor was it robbed!"

Luo Zijun took the silver back from her hands and said, "I earned it fair and square by writing books."

Xiaohuan suddenly chimed in: "Master, Madam, the Young Master really has been writing books. This maid even helped him grind the ink last night."

At these words, Luo Jiaorong wore an expression of sheer disbelief.

Li Zhengshan was equally astonished, asking: "Zijun, you can actually write books? What kind of books? Medical texts?"

Luo Zijun replied: "Brother-in-law, I've signed a contract with a bookstore. They are buying my book, but it has to be published under someone else's pen name. So I can't reveal what kind of book it is."

Luo Jiaorong blinked, bewildered, and quickly asked: "Why use someone else's name? Didn't you write it?"

Luo Zijun explained: "I am a nobody; they probably figured using my name wouldn't help sales. Sister, it's already a blessing that they're willing to take my book. As long as it makes money, these are minor details."

Neither Li Zhengshan nor Luo Jiaorong understood such matters. Hearing this, they exchanged glances, still finding it hard to believe.

The whole thing was simply absurd and incredible.

This kid had only started studying recently and just passed the scholar exams. A couple of days ago, he was suddenly admitted in advance with exceptional status by the best academy in the outer city, and now, out of nowhere, he could write books and had instantly earned dozens of taels of silver!

It felt like an absolute dream.

"Zijun, how much money did you make in total?"

Li Zhengshan hurriedly asked.

Luo Zijun answered: "Thirty taels. The word count isn't much, and this is my first time writing. They said we can renegotiate the price after I write more in the future."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhengshan was overjoyed: "Zijun, you're more capable than your brother-in-law! At such a young age, you can already write books to make money, and make this much all at once! Indeed, studying is good, studying is wonderful!"

Luo Jiaorong was still somewhat incredulous: "Zijun, is this true? Don't you dare lie to your sister."

Luo Zijun said: "Of course it's true. If Sister doesn't believe me, I can go fetch the manuscript and show it to you."

Luo Jiaorong rolled her eyes: "Your sister doesn't even know how to read."

With that, her eyes suddenly turned red: "Zijun, you... you can make money on your own now... Sob... You can actually make money on your own now... If Father and Mother only knew..."

As she spoke, she began to sob softly.

Just a moment ago she had been crying from anxiety and anger, but now she was weeping tears of joy.

Li Zhengshan handed her a handkerchief and smiled: "It's a good thing that Zijun can make money, what are you crying for? Come on, go make dinner, my stomach is rumbling."

Luo Zijun handed over the roasted goose he was carrying and said, "Brother-in-law, I even bought you a roasted goose to go with your wine."

Li Zhengshan was startled. He glanced at the roasted goose in his hand, then looked at Luo Zijun, his own eyes instantly turning red.

"Good... good... Zijun has grown up, Zijun has really grown up..."

He accepted the roasted goose, smiled with deep gratification, and then hurriedly turned toward the kitchen, saying, "I'll go stoke the fire."

With his back turned, he rubbed his eyes.

The golden rays of sunset bathed the courtyard, and the evening breeze rustled the leaves in the tree, making a soft, soughing sound.

At this moment, that peculiar surge of emotion welled up in Luo Zijun's heart once again.

"Hand the silver over, Sister will keep it safe for you, lest you go outside and squander it on reckless socializing!"

"We need to save it for your future wife!"

Luo Jiaorong reached out her hand for the money.

Luo Zijun, however, tucked it away and said, "Sister, I'll give it to you tonight. After we finish eating, I need to take the manuscript and go out for a bit. Once the bookstore gives me the remaining ten taels, I'll hand it all over to you together."

Luo Jiaorong's eyes instantly lit up, radiant with excitement: "Then Sister will go with you!"

How could she possibly miss such a face-saving occasion?

Luo Zijun refused: "No, I signed a contract with the bookstore; I have to go alone."

Just as Luo Jiaorong was about to protest, Li Zhengshan called out from the kitchen: "Alright, alright, stop meddling. Zijun is going to take care of business, and if you tag along making a fuss, what would that look like? Don't go ruining Zijun's business with your clamoring."

Hearing this, Luo Jiaorong grew displeased, turned toward the kitchen, and angrily retorted: "When do I ever make a fuss? Li Zhengshan, I haven't even settled accounts with you for what happened earlier, and now you're acting up again! Are you looking for a beating?"

Luo Zijun quickly intervened: "Sister, go cook quickly, I'm hungry, and I have to go out on business later."

Hearing this, Luo Jiaorong immediately changed her tune: "Alright, I'll go right now. The ingredients are all prepared, I'll just stir-fry them, it'll be very quick and won't delay your important matters."

With that, she bustled into the kitchen as if walking on wind.

Before long, the sounds of stir-frying and her humming a little tune drifted out from the kitchen.

"Xiaohuan, come in and help me grind the ink."

"Yes, Young Master."

Luo Zijun washed his hands, then led Xiaohuan into his room to continue writing the remainder of the story of *Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai*.

He had already written the greater part of it last night.

The rest of the story flowed quickly, and he finished writing the whole thing before dinner.

He needed to make money urgently.

Money was indispensable for everything else, and even more so for martial arts practice.

After finishing dinner, he took his manuscript and headed out.

Luo Jiaorong was worried and advised, "Zijun, why don't you let your brother-in-law accompany you? He can wait for you at a distance. Carrying such a huge sum of money, Sister is afraid you'll get robbed."

Luo Zijun replied: "There's no need. The streets are bustling with people, and I won't be taking any alleys."

If anyone were to rob someone, it would be him robbing others.

Luo Jiaorong escorted him all the way outside the alley, and even as his figure vanished into the lantern light ahead, she still stretched out her neck to peer after him, her heart filled with worry.

Li Zhengshan comforted her from the side: "It's barely dark, there are plenty of people on the road, it'll be fine."

Luo Jiaorong gave him a disdainful look: "You're a martial artist, so of course you're not afraid. Zijun is a weak scholar. If he runs into local ruffians, having his money stolen is one thing, but if he gets hurt, I... I won't live either!"

Li Zhengshan was speechless.

"Which of the local ruffians on this street doesn't know Constable Li? I've already warned them, no one dares to touch Zijun, so you can rest easy."

Hmph, boasting with that bit of skill of yours? You don't even earn as much in a year as my Zijun makes in a day!"

"Oh my, Madam, how did we go from talking to making a personal attack? Zijun is your family, but he's my family too. Since he earns a lot, doesn't that mean I earn a lot?"

"My goodness! Li Zhengshan, you really have some nerve!"

"Hehe."

Bickering all the while, as the couple turned to head back inside, Luo Zijun had already crossed the street and was heading toward the Tianxiang Pavilion.

However, no sooner had he crossed an alley than he suddenly realized he was being tailed again!

Was it that same group of people?

He touched the dagger at his waist, then felt the packet of lime powder hidden in his bosom, and paused before a vendor's stall.

Hmm?

There was only a single pursuer, and moreover, it was a woman.

Draped in purple robes and wearing a cloak.

Was it that same woman sent by Sun Yan'er earlier?

Since they were lingering like a bad penny, he wouldn't bother being polite tonight!

He glanced at a sundry shop ahead and walked straight toward it.