TGCFNM -Chapter 569 Extra 1 Don’t Want to Retire

After the spring imperial examination, at the grading office:

Lu Shi furrowed his brows as he looked over the essays the examiners had picked out. With a look of disdain, he said, “They look flashy on the surface, but there’s nothing substantial inside.”

“Those are all going to be discarded,” one examiner said with a smile. “Rest assured, sir. His Majesty already instructed us to select the practical ones… Take a look at this Ye Bisi—he knows quite a lot about farming. His essay is solid, though perhaps a bit too plain.”

Lu Shi took the essay, glanced over it, and nodded slightly. “Not bad.”

“Then there are these two, Yang Huaishan and Lu Anming, also among the better ones…” the examiner continued, a satisfied smile on his face.

At that moment, another examiner added, “After going through dozens, we finally found a decent one, Lu Zheng… very earnest, good handwriting—he’s passed as well.”

Lu Shi nodded slightly, looking at the selected essays with satisfaction.

“I’m done here. The last one, Sun Yang, pass him too—he’s acceptable,” the examiner said slowly, standing up and adding Sun Yang’s essay to the pile.

Lu Shi flipped through the chosen essays casually and nodded in approval. After sealing them, he prepared to personally deliver them to His Majesty.

“Sir, you’re really leaving?” one examiner asked.

Lu Shi let out a long breath. “Seems like it. Finally, I can leave.”

Everyone in the room couldn’t help but laugh.

Lu Chong also laughed. This Master Chu would send a letter every ten or fifteen days, boasting about eating ancient delicacies, having stewed chicken, or playing Pai Gow in a room filled with fire dragons… And after all the showing off, he would always end his letters with: Master Lu works on cases alone every day—it must be exhausting.

It made Lu Shi so annoyed that he always had to send back some case files for her to study carefully, and then write a reply. If she didn’t write it correctly, she would be summoned to the capital to learn from him directly.

In the end, Master Chu would counter every move by complaining to Madam Lu.

Madam Lu would let Chu Ling read slowly—take her time replying. She even sent a letter to the capital first, telling Lu Shi not to trouble Master Chu too often, as he was busy.

Lu Shi’s verdict: “Busy my foot!”

When Lu Shi was ready to leave, Lu Chong got up as well and carried the essays.

“All packed?” Lu Shi asked.

Lu Chong nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, sir. Everything’s ready; we can leave anytime.”

Lu Shi finally gave a satisfied hum, smiled, and strode out.

Lu Chong’s face was full of smiles too. Master Chu had even said that the retirement houses for them were already built, and there would be a welcome feast waiting.

Hong Shiyuan looked at the list handed over by his subordinates. After confirming it, he said, “Alright, no problem. Let’s go ahead.” Then he instructed them to carry the crates onto the ship, ready to send them to Sishui County.

Ever since the eldest young master settled permanently in Sishui County, the Wan family’s business focus had shifted there. To make it easier to inspect their estates, the Wans had spent the past few years funding waterway repairs and even widening the original river channels of Sishui County. This way, every trip by boat was faster and more convenient.

Once the goods were loaded, Hong Shiyuan got on the ship and went into the cabin to rest.

On the desk inside the cabin lay a letter from Old Wu. He had invited Hong Shiyuan to retire in Sishui County, describing how comfortable life was there—fishing, foraging wild vegetables, and leisure trips to enjoy the scenery. Even Master Lu had recently developed a fondness for fishing, and they went together every day.

Hong Shiyuan felt a pang of envy. He thought that this time he could stay longer, and once he brought his subordinates along, he could retire there with peace of mind.

As the ship slowly set off, Hong Shiyuan’s eyes were filled with hope for the future.

About ten days later, Hong Shiyuan disembarked. After assigning the cargo handling to his subordinates, he first took the gifts and the account books that needed to be shown to the eldest young master, and got into a carriage heading to the county office.

Along the way, Hong Shiyuan lifted the curtain to look outside and couldn’t help but exclaim, “The prosperity of Sishui County is truly remarkable… it’s already called the little capital!”

The coachman was a local, and seeing the situation, he laughed: “That’s all thanks to our county magistrate and advisor. Do you know who their eldest brother is? The eldest son of the Wan family, the richest household around. Extremely wealthy—anything can be accomplished with money.”

Hong Shiyuan could only laugh bitterly. Well, it was true—money could indeed make almost anything possible.

“You’re here to deliver a message to the eldest son, right?” the coachman asked. “Most of us who handle these pickups usually deal with people from the Wan family.”

Hong Shiyuan nodded: “Yes, so I’d appreciate it if you could hurry.”

“No need to rush too much, otherwise you might arrive and find no one there,” the coachman replied.

Hong Shiyuan didn’t quite understand and was about to ask for clarification when the coachman exclaimed with delight: “Master, look! They’re here! The eldest son must be right behind them, cleaning up the aftermath.”

Hong Shiyuan furrowed his brows, a head full of question marks. He lifted the curtain to look outside, then exchanged a glance with Wu Yong, who was holding the fish.

Squinting, Hong Shiyuan observed: Wu Yong had his pants rolled up, barefoot, covered head to toe in stinky black mud. A rope woven from straw hung across his body, draped with fish. Even before he got close, a strong smell of fish hit Hong Shiyuan.

Had they been fishing and dropped the catch into the pond?

Wu Yong’s eyes lit up: “Kids, look! Who’s here! It’s your Uncle Hong! And he even came in a carriage—we can hitch a ride!”

Hong Shiyuan instinctively tensed, muttering to himself, No way, no way… Then a few mud monkeys suddenly leapt out behind Wu Yong. Seeing him, they ran over excitedly, shouting: “Uncle Hong! Uncle Hong! You finally came!”

People on the street immediately perked up at the sight of Chu Ling and the others, pausing whatever they were doing to wave greetings.

Chu Ling and the others cheerfully responded one by one.

Hong Shiyuan hurriedly patted the coachman on the back: “Quick, quick, go!”

The coachman didn’t hear him at all, cheerfully waving at Chu Ling and glancing back at Hong Shiyuan: “They’ve probably gone back into the pond to fish. They caught so many today, I bet Miss Xiao Hua will make salted fish, and we’ll get some too.”

Hong Shiyuan wanted to drag the coachman away, but accidentally noticed Lord Lu beside Wu Yong.

Lord Lu seemed to be wearing shoes, but his appearance wasn’t much better. He had only a few fish, but next to him, Lu Chong had hung a lot more.

Hong Shiyuan’s face froze in shock: This is what leisurely retirement looks like? Going fishing together? Wu Yong is a total liar!

At that moment, Chu Ling and the others had already arrived, smiling at Hong Shiyuan.

Hong Shiyuan’s face was full of don’t come near me tension. One hand gripped the carriage curtain tightly, the other held up in a defensive gesture.

Wan Sanjin, as if he hadn’t seen anything, climbed onto the carriage, calling out as he went: “Brother Liu, let us ride with you! We’ll share a few fish with you later.”

“All right, hop on. We’ll wash everything off later,” the coachman said with a smile.

As soon as he spoke, Chu Ling, Su He, and Zhang Dong all climbed aboard. Zhang Dong even enthusiastically tried to help drive the carriage.

After the carriage moved forward a bit, Lord Lu and his companions were picked up as well.

Hong Shiyuan looked at Wu Yong with a face full of accusation, but Wu Yong turned his head as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Hong Shiyuan had no choice but to look at Lu Chong: “Is this how you retire?”

Lu Chong laughed heartily: “Every day is quite lively. Sometimes we dig bamboo shoots, sometimes we catch eels, occasionally we go into the mountains to pick wild fruit or collect mushrooms… Today, it’s fishing.”

Hong Shiyuan gave a look like do you take me for a fool? Scanning the scene: This is fishing?

“Originally it was fishing, but Master Chu and the others are terrible at it and cheat, so it turned into pond fishing instead,” Lu Chong explained.

Hong Shiyuan exhaled deeply.

Wan Sanjin leaned close to Hong Shiyuan, his mud-covered hand hooking around Hong Shiyuan’s arm, and asked warmly: “Uncle Hong, when are you coming to retire with us?”

Hong Shiyuan gave a wry smile. He had made up his mind: he’d go out and run business a few more times. At least for several more years, he had no intention of retiring!