Chapter 322: Chapter 224: Fifth Grade

Chen Yi really hadn’t expected Xie Tingyun to bring so many disciples to Shu State. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Hundred Herbs Hall was indeed planning to expand, but Yan Sea and the others had only just left the Prefecture City.

No word had come back yet about the situation in the other counties and towns of Shu State.

Chen Yi hadn’t yet decided in which direction Hundred Herbs Hall should expand, or specifically, to which counties and towns in Shu State.

To say nothing of having any arrangements for the disciples of the Celestial Sect.

However, Chen Yi also knew it was useless to overthink it at this moment.

Xie Tingyun had already brought the Celestial Sect disciples here. In any case, he had to get them settled first.

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Yi said he would go to Hundred Herbs Hall tomorrow morning, first to put Xie Tingyun, this senior sister of the Celestial Sect, at ease.

"Where are they now?"

Xie Tingyun relaxed slightly and broke into a smile. "A few too many people came, so I just told them to find their own places to stay for now."

"Find their own places?"

"You may not know this, sir, but the Celestial Sect doesn’t have many silver coins."

"When we came down from the mountain, we didn’t have much travel money on us, so..."

"..."

An image immediately appeared in Chen Yi’s mind: a crowd of naive Celestial Sect disciples, performing in the East Market, begging in the West Market, and sleeping under a bridge in North City.

After a moment’s thought, he asked Xie Tingyun to wait, and told Pei Guanli and Xiaodie to hold an umbrella for Xiao Wuge and head to Jiaxing Garden first.

He returned to his study, took out two silver notes, and handed them to Xie Tingyun.

"Two thousand taels of silver? Sir, you... you’re this wealthy?"

Chen Yi smiled and said, "I previously wrote a birthday verse for Duke Qian and received some silver from him."

"Let me be clear, this two thousand taels of silver is a loan. Take it and get your junior sect brothers and sisters settled first."

"After Shopkeeper Wang and I have discussed things, you can pay me back once you’ve earned some silver."

Xie Tingyun put away the silver notes and cupped her fist in thanks. "Thank you, sir."

"Don’t mention it..."

As the big boss behind Hundred Herbs Hall, Chen Yi naturally didn’t want the Celestial Sect disciples to run into trouble in Shu State.

After all, he was relying on them to guard Hundred Herbs Hall.

It was only right to earn some goodwill in advance.

「A short while later.」

Chen Yi arrived at Jiaxing Garden, went straight to the wooden building where Xiao Wan’er was, and entered the living room.

When Xiao Wan’er saw him enter, she smiled, stood up, and invited him to sit.

Just as she was about to call for Xie Tingyun, she heard her say, "Miss, I have to go settle one hun—a few of my junior brothers later. I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you for dinner."

Xiao Wan’er was taken aback for a moment. She glanced at the bewildered Shen Huatang and asked:

"Weren’t your few junior brothers already settled in at Fengchun Building?"

The smile on Xie Tingyun’s face froze. She didn’t dare look at Xiao Wan’er, and she especially didn’t dare look at Shen Huatang. She stammered:

"A few other junior sisters have arrived as well. I can’t keep troubling you, Miss."

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Hearing this, Chen Yi was secretly amused. He knew at once that the senior sister of the Celestial Sect was playing the "act first, report later" game, deceiving everyone in the process.

Shen Huatang had figured it out as well.

Knowing her fellow senior sister as she did, she understood that Xie Tingyun was hiding quite a lot.

Only Xiao Wan’er suspected nothing, even telling Juan’er to go fetch some silver.

Xie Tingyun frantically waved her hands. "No, no need for silver. The Second Son-in-law just gave me plenty."

Xiao Wan’er paused, her gaze falling on Chen Yi. "Second Son-in-law?"

’This Xie Tingyun is so unreliable,’ Chen Yi cursed inwardly, and had no choice but to repeat the explanation he’d given earlier.

After listening, Xiao Wan’er was still a bit doubtful, but with important matters to attend to, she only reminded Xie Tingyun to be careful and to speak up if she needed anything.

Xie Tingyun nodded, feeling slightly relieved.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she saw Shen Huatang also excuse herself and exit the wooden building with her.

Xie Tingyun grimaced and said in a low voice, "Junior Sister, it’s raining so hard. You don’t have to come with me, do you?"

Shen Huatang ignored her, picked up two Oil Paper Umbrellas, and handed one to her, saying:

"Senior Sister, it’s getting late. Let’s go and come back quickly."

Seeing this, Xie Tingyun pouted, took the umbrella, and began grumbling to herself.

’Now I can’t hide it anymore.’

’If Shen Huatang finds out so many junior brothers and sisters came, she... she’ll definitely give me an earful.’

Shen Huatang walked a good distance away and, seeing that she hadn’t followed, turned her head and called out, "Senior Sister?"

"I’m coming, I’m coming! What’s the rush?"

Hearing the two of them walk away, Chen Yi shook his head to himself, letting Xie Tingyun stew in her own troubles.

Xiao Wan’er watched Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang walk off into the distance through the window. Recalling her earlier doubt, she asked:

"Brother-in-law, does the Celestial Sect disciples’ arrival in Shu State have something to do with you?"

Chen Yi was startled for a moment but didn’t plan on hiding it. He nodded. "It’s related, but not by much."

As he spoke, he recounted the time Xie Tingyun had come to him for help, and said with a smile:

"It just so happened that Hundred Herbs Hall needed more people for its expansion, so I took the opportunity to put in a few good words for them."

Xiao Wan’er nodded in understanding. "As the senior sister of the Celestial Sect, it’s understandable that Tingyun would seek some opportunities for her sect mates."

After a pause, she asked, "How are things going with Hundred Herbs Hall?"

"Counting the days, Shopkeeper Yan should have just arrived in Guangyuan. We should have news in a few days."

"That’s fast progress. Just yesterday, Grandfather was asking about Hundred Herbs Hall. He said he wants to meet this Boss Chen."

Chen Yi picked at his food, calmly replying as he ate, "I’ll ask Shopkeeper Wang when I go over tomorrow and see when Boss Chen will be back."

Xiao Wan’er sipped her hot soup and said with a smile, "It would be best if Boss Chen could return in the next few days."

"Because of the grain tax issue in the Three Towns, the estate has been spending a lot of silver these past two days. Grandfather is getting anxious."

Chen Yi was well aware of this. "Wait for my news."

After a bit more small talk, Xiao Wan’er remembered the matter of the Annual Examination and couldn’t help but advise him:

"Brother-in-law, the Annual Examination is crucial for your future prospects."

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