{"id":3589,"date":"2026-05-24T10:57:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T10:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-41\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T10:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T10:57:24","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-41","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-41\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit Of Jade 41"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fan Changyu\u2019s temples twitched as she listened. Pushing the door open, she called out sharply, \u201cNingniang.\u201d

\u201cA-Ah\u2026 Elder Sister.\u201d

The little girl who had been proudly boasting moments ago instantly turned obedient, though her grape-like eyes darted everywhere except toward Fan Changyu.

Xie Zheng entered behind her, the corners of his lips carrying the faintest trace of amusement. When he saw the boy in the satin jacket inside the room, his gaze paused briefly.

\u201cWhose child is this?\u201d

The boy still had baby fat on his cheeks and looked no older than five or six. His large round eyes drooped slightly at the corners like a puppy\u2019s. Golden embroidery decorated his padded jacket, and gemstones were set into the small belt around his waist.

Standing beside Changning, he looked honest and simpleminded\u2014the perfect image of a wealthy household\u2019s foolish young master.

Only after Xie Zheng spoke did the boy puff out his chest proudly.

\u201cAll these houses belong to my family!\u201d

Fan Changyu recalled Chef Li once mentioning that Yu Qianqian had a son. If this child claimed the houses were his family\u2019s, then perhaps\u2026

Before she could finish the thought, the steward woman\u2019s voice sounded anxiously from outside the courtyard.

\u201cYoung Master! Where have you hidden yourself?\u201d

The child immediately shouted back, \u201cGranny Fang, I\u2019m here!\u201d

The steward woman hurried over after hearing him.

\u201cSo this is where you hid yourself. This old woman\u2019s been searching everywhere\u2026\u201d

Seeing Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng there as well, she apologized awkwardly.

\u201cThe young master wandered into your room by mistake. Please forgive the disturbance.\u201d

Fan Changyu said it was no matter and asked, \u201cIs he Shopkeeper Yu\u2019s child?\u201d

The steward woman smiled and nodded.

Through her, Fan Changyu learned the boy\u2019s name was Yu Bao\u2019er, though everyone in the restaurant called him Bao-ge\u2019er.

In Fan Changyu\u2019s impression, families with even a little wealth usually gave their children elegant scholarly names. For Yu Qianqian\u2019s son to simply be called \u201cBao\u2019er\u201d genuinely surprised her.

Then she remembered Yu Qianqian\u2019s personality and suddenly felt it suited her perfectly.

The group walked together toward the main hall of Yixiang Tower.

Along the way, Changning\u2019s courage returned, and she resumed bickering with Yu Bao\u2019er every few steps.

Xie Zheng followed behind them silently. As he watched Yu Bao\u2019er\u2019s back, his brows gradually furrowed, his expression unreadable.

\u2014

When they reached the hall, Yu Qianqian learned her son had hidden during a game of hide-and-seek inside Fan Changyu\u2019s room and couldn\u2019t help laughing helplessly.

While questioning Yu Bao\u2019er about his studies, she noticed Changning and casually asked Fan Changyu:

\u201cHas Ningniang begun her studies yet? If not, you can send her here. I hired a tutor for Bao\u2019er anyway. Teaching one child or several makes little difference. The workers in the restaurant with children have all sent them to study together too. No need for them to become top scholars\u2014being able to recognize a few characters is already enough.\u201d

Fan Changyu\u2019s admiration for Yu Qianqian deepened yet again.

She was tempted.

But Lin\u2019an Town was still quite far from the county city, and Changning was still young. If she were to study here, someone would need to escort her back and forth daily. Besides, Fan Changyu wasn\u2019t even one of Yixiang Tower\u2019s workers. She had already accepted too many favors from Yu Qianqian to shamelessly accept another.

\u201cThank you for your kindness,\u201d she replied. \u201cHer brother-in-law has taught her a few characters already, though it hardly counts as proper schooling. She\u2019s still young and rather afraid of studying. We\u2019ll wait until she\u2019s older.\u201d

Changning immediately interrupted proudly:

\u201cNingniang can already write her own name!\u201d

She grabbed a pair of chopsticks and began drawing in the air.

\u201cWood, yao, wood, big\u2014Fan!\u201d

Yu Qianqian laughed outright.

\u201cNingniang is so clever.\u201d

Then she looked teasingly toward Fan Changyu.

\u201cI nearly forgot\u2014you already have a talented husband at home. Why would Ningniang need someone else to teach her?\u201d

Fan Changyu had only said those things to politely decline the offer, so now she merely smiled without answering.

Xie Zheng glanced at her but also said nothing.

Yu Qianqian then changed the subject.

\u201cThat storefront outside my restaurant can be rented to you long-term. If you\u2019re too busy to manage it yourself, I can also let my restaurant workers help sell the braised meat. Other tenants either pay yearly rent or give me twenty percent of their profits. If you\u2019re interested, I can even lower your rent a little.\u201d

Fan Changyu had already witnessed today just how prosperous the storefronts outside Yixiang Tower were.

\u201cYou treat me far too kindly, Shopkeeper Yu.\u201d

Her words made everyone in the restaurant laugh.

The accountant chimed in, \u201cOur shopkeeper has the heart of a bodhisattva. She treats all the workers well too. Madam Fan shouldn\u2019t stand on ceremony.\u201d

Yu Qianqian also smiled.

\u201cI make friends based on first impressions. I liked your temperament the moment I met you. Stop acting shy with me now. Just tell me plainly whether you want the storefront or not.\u201d

Fan Changyu answered decisively:

\u201cI do. No need to reduce the rent. But I truly won\u2019t have time to manage the shop myself. If I borrow your workers, I\u2019ll pay extra wages separately.\u201d

Yu Qianqian immediately turned toward the workers.

\u201cYou all heard that. Anyone interested in earning extra wages can step forward now and let Boss Fan recognize your face.\u201d

Hearing herself called \u201cBoss Fan\u201d made Fan Changyu blush.

Yet at the same time, the title felt strangely new and exciting.

People back in town simply called her Changyu.

But now it felt as though she had gained another identity entirely.

That identity was like a tiny boat\u2014still small for now, yet capable of carrying her farther someday.

The workers whispered among themselves briefly before a capable-looking young woman stepped forward.

\u201cI\u2019m willing to help at the storefront.\u201d

Fan Changyu recognized her. She had likely been responsible for receiving female guests earlier. She handled matters efficiently and spoke sweetly.

Yu Qianqian introduced her:

\u201cThis girl is called Fuling. She was sold as a servant when she was young. After saving enough money to redeem herself, she came to work here when my restaurant started hiring. She\u2019s very capable. What do you think?\u201d

Fan Changyu nodded immediately.

\u201cShe\u2019ll do.\u201d

Fuling clearly knew how to ingratiate herself.

\u201cThank you, Shopkeeper. Boss Fan, please take care of me in the future.\u201d

Yu Qianqian pointed at her and laughed.

\u201cSee how glib she is?\u201d

Fan Changyu couldn\u2019t help laughing too.

\u2014

After the meal, Fan Changyu bid farewell to Yu Qianqian.

Now that she had rented a storefront in the best part of the county city, she would need to provide braised meat there long-term. She had to consider whether to hire transport regularly or simply buy an ox cart outright. There was also the cured meat promised to the county school shopkeeper that still needed delivering later.

Yu Bao\u2019er followed his mother to the entrance to see them off.

While the adults spoke among themselves, the children naturally had their own conversation.

Yu Bao\u2019er proudly told Changning:

\u201cNext time you come, I\u2019ll show you my study! There are so many books inside, plus clay figurines, wood carvings, coral decorations\u2014they\u2019re really beautiful!\u201d

Changning gripped Fan Changyu\u2019s sleeve tightly and thought hard for a moment before finally producing something she could brag about.

\u201cIf you come to my house, I\u2019ll show you my elder sister\u2019s pig-killing knives! There are more than ten of them, big and small! If you\u2019re lucky, you might even see my elder sister slaughter a pig! Have you ever seen pig slaughtering before?\u201d

Yu Bao\u2019er shook his head immediately, envy filling his eyes.

Changning spread both hands dramatically.

\u201cMy sister can knock out a whole pig with one slap!\u201d

Fan Changyu: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

Under the shocked gazes of both mother and son, she hurriedly coughed.

\u201cNingniang. Time to go.\u201d

Only then did Changning trot after her proudly, chest puffed out like a victorious little rooster.

Fan Changyu tried desperately to maintain a calm expression, but her ears had already turned bright red, as though she wished a crack in the ground would swallow her whole.

Behind them, Xie Zheng caught sight of the sisters from the corner of his eye, and the faintest smile curved at his lips.

\u2014

On the ox cart ride back to town, Fan Changyu continued sighing emotionally over how kind Yu Qianqian was.

Xie Zheng merely let out a quiet scoff.

Fan Changyu frowned.

\u201cDid I say something wrong?\u201d

Xie Zheng lifted his eyes lazily.

\u201cIf someone sold you off someday, you\u2019d probably help count the money for them too.\u201d

Her expression darkened immediately.

\u201cShopkeeper Yu is a genuinely good person. Why must you always slander her?\u201d

Xie Zheng replied mercilessly:

\u201cThen don\u2019t forget she\u2019s a merchant. You didn\u2019t even gain that much from doing business with her, yet now you\u2019re endlessly grateful to her.\u201d

His gaze cooled slightly.

\u201cYou\u2019ll probably never learn her methods of winning people over.\u201d

Fan Changyu instantly grew unhappy hearing him speak that way about someone she liked.

\u201cYou always assume the worst of people. Shopkeeper Yu really did help me a great deal\u2026\u201d

Xie Zheng interrupted her.

\u201cWhat exactly did she help you with?\u201d

Meeting his sharp gaze, Fan Changyu faltered briefly before answering:

\u201cWhen I first started selling braised meat, if Shopkeeper Yu hadn\u2019t given me the opportunity, I could never have partnered with Yixiang Tower so quickly.\u201d

Xie Zheng asked calmly:

\u201cThere\u2019s more than one braised meat seller in Qingping County. Why do you think she chose you?\u201d

\u201cChef Li recommended me\u2026\u201d

As Xie Zheng simply stared at her silently, her voice gradually weakened.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

\u201cYes, that chef recommended you. But if your product had been poor, nobody would\u2019ve chosen you anyway. Merchants never select inferior goods because of personal feelings. At most, they do favors among equally good options.\u201d

Fan Changyu clasped her hands tighter together.

\u201cToday, Shopkeeper Yu originally didn\u2019t even want any share of the money from the braised meat sales. Only after I insisted repeatedly did she accept the cost price.\u201d

Xie Zheng replied flatly:

\u201cHow much did you even earn? It probably wasn\u2019t worth as much as a single one of her banquet tables.\u201d

Fan Changyu pressed her lips together.

\u201cThat\u2019s not the point. It was her kindness.\u201d

Xie Zheng frowned.

\u201cI\u2019m not telling you to take her kindness for granted. I\u2019m telling you the favor she granted you and the gratitude you feel toward her are not equal. You can remember her kindness, but there\u2019s no need to lower yourself constantly because of it.\u201d

Then he added:

\u201cBesides, today both of you were simply taking what you needed from each other. She supported you because she wanted to suppress Wang Ji.\u201d

Fan Changyu fell silent.

Xie Zheng knew her nature was too soft-hearted. If someone treated her well even once, she would wish to repay them tenfold.

After a pause, he softened slightly.

\u201cI\u2019m not saying this to slander that shopkeeper. Only once you understand everything clearly might you truly become her friend someday. If all you remember is gratitude and favors, then you\u2019re no different from the obedient workers beneath her.\u201d

No one had ever taught Fan Changyu such things before.

After her parents died, aside from occasional help from Aunt Zhao\u2019s family, she had carried everything alone. Yu Qianqian\u2019s sudden warmth had felt like a fire to someone freezing in winter\u2014something she instinctively wanted to move closer toward.

After a long silence, she finally muttered softly:

\u201cThank you.\u201d

Her voice sounded subdued, though not defeated.

She knew she still had a long road ahead and countless things left to learn. Understanding these truths only now was not too late.

When she looked at Xie Zheng again, her eyes were full of eager curiosity.

\u201cYan Zheng, teach me more. Someday, I want to become someone as impressive as Shopkeeper Yu too.\u201d

Xie Zheng let out a faint laugh.

\u201cYou becoming a merchant? Forget it. I already told you\u2014her greatest strength lies in how she uses people.\u201d

Fan Changyu immediately straightened up to listen attentively.

Though he clearly hadn\u2019t wanted to continue, Xie Zheng still explained:

\u201cLike today. Lending you one of her female workers made you deeply grateful. But in reality, she merely gave you exactly what you needed at the right moment.\u201d

\u201cIf you strip away emotions, you owe her nothing. You paid rent for the storefront. You paid wages for the worker.\u201d

He paused, eyes darkening slightly.

\u201cIn fact, using her own worker to manage your rented shop benefits her far more than it benefits you.\u201d

Then he added quietly:

\u201cIf she ever wanted to know your sales accounts, it would only take a single question.\u201d

Fan Changyu answered instinctively:

\u201cI believe Shopkeeper Yu isn\u2019t that kind of person.\u201d

Yet inwardly she felt shaken numb.

At first she had only thought Yu Qianqian was kind.

Now she realized Yu Qianqian was also extraordinarily clever.

And strangely enough, she admired this version of Yu Qianqian even more.

Only now did she truly understand how a lone woman could build two massive restaurants within just a few years.

Xie Zheng continued mercilessly:

\u201cAnd that\u2019s only her way of managing subordinates. As for how she deals with merchants and officials\u2019 wives? You probably couldn\u2019t learn those skills even in a lifetime.\u201d

Although she\u2019d been thoroughly criticized again, Fan Changyu surprisingly didn\u2019t argue back this time.

Instead, she suddenly said:

\u201cYan Zheng, teach me to study.\u201d

Xie Zheng looked at the woman before him.

She rested her chin in both hands, looking like a little lioness who had just stepped into the world and suffered her first setback\u2014pitiful, yet stubborn to the bone.

Just as he had promised her before, he answered quietly:

\u201cAlright.\u201d

\u2014

When the ox cart reached town, Xie Zheng stopped by the bookstore and purchased paper, ink, and five books.

Fan Changyu stared in shock.

\u201cSo many?\u201d

Xie Zheng handed four thick books to her and gave a thinner one to Changning.

\u201cThe Three Character Classic is for your sister. The Four Books are for you.\u201d

Fan Changyu flipped through them and discovered that although he\u2019d previously claimed he wouldn\u2019t teach her the Analects or Great Learning, he had still bought them anyway.

Unable to help herself, she grinned broadly.

Sure enough, this man\u2019s mouth was simply poisonous most of the time.

Clutching the books excitedly, she declared:

\u201cI\u2019ll begin studying diligently tonight!\u201d

Meanwhile, Changning hugged her Three Character Classic miserably, clearly wanting to protest against studying but swallowing the complaint after seeing her sister\u2019s enthusiasm.

When they arrived home, Fan Changyu unlocked the gate.

Changning insisted on being the first one through the door and immediately began shouting joyfully:

\u201cFalcon! Falcon\u2019s back!\u201d

The Haidongqing eagle had flown around all day and only returned after nightfall.

Instead of finding a bowl of chopped meat waiting for it, however, it had found the courtyard gate tightly locked.

Now, seeing the finally-returned trio through the broken bamboo basket, it poked out its head, several soft feathers sticking up messily.

Changning threw herself forward and hugged the bird\u2019s neck.

\u201cBrother-in-law didn\u2019t lie! Falcon really came back!\u201d

Even Fan Changyu looked surprised. She had originally assumed Yan Zheng had only been comforting the child that day.

She turned toward him.

\u201cYou\u2019re actually that good at training birds?\u201d

Xie Zheng calmly shifted the blame.

\u201cOr perhaps\u2026 you simply feed it too well?\u201d

Fan Changyu\u2019s apricot eyes widened.

\u201c…That works too?\u201d

She turned to look at the Haidongqing.

The eagle allowed Changning to rub and hug it while staring directly at Fan Changyu with its little bean-like eyes\u2014as though asking when dinner would be served.

Still unconvinced, Fan Changyu headed toward the main room.

The eagle pecked lightly at the ground before leisurely following behind her\u2026

\u2026and immediately stationed itself beside the large bowl normally used for its meat scraps.

Fan Changyu: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d

Seeing this scene, Xie Zheng turned slightly away, the corners of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly.<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3589","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3589"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3590,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3589\/revisions\/3590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}