Chapter 122: Juanjuan: Because I Know Too Much!!!

The fact that all four children could go to and from school on their own, and still come home on time after playing outside—

Their parents were pleased.

Their older brothers were pleased.

But Juanjuan felt uneasy, and for one simple reason.

Because she knew too much!

Take now, for example.

It was the second morning of their rest day, and the whole family was gathered around the breakfast table.

Mother: 【Hmm hmm hmm~ I told you, no one can resist the charm of the Great Sage!】

Father: 【Liang Tian’er is back in the capital, but I’ve secured the marketing rights for Shiwei Restaurant! I’m going to crush Zhenxiu Restaurant and rake in more dividends! Dividends, dividends, dividends!】

Big Brother: 【I knew my strategy of retreating to advance would work. Now I’ve got the whole day off to go treasure hunting!】

Second Brother: 【I had someone deliver the message to Liang Tian’er. Whether she’ll help or not is up to luck. As long as it gets to Wuyou Hall, the family will know.】

Third Brother: 【Great Sage actually helped Shiwei Restaurant turn the tide. But Kang An is still a threat. We need to deal with him sooner rather than later!】

All these inner thoughts from the family’s power players echoed at once.

There was just too much critical information. Juanjuan couldn’t help but slow down her eating.

At school, at least she could hear fewer voices.

But once she was home, especially at mealtimes, the table might seem quiet, but to Juanjuan, it was a noisy mess.

“Juanjuan, spacing out again? Eat up!”

Jiang Dai noticed her youngest daughter dawdling and zoning out again, and looked at her with some confusion.

【What’s going on with Juanjuan? These past few days, she always starts daydreaming during meals.】

【Sure, my cooking isn’t amazing, but it’s not that bad either! At least I can eat it just fine…】

“Thank you, Mama.”

The little girl gave her mother a soft smile and lowered her head to eat.

But in her head, her big brother’s rambling voice kept drifting in.

【This whole ‘robbery boss’ gig doesn’t pay enough. Not worth it.】

Juanjuan: So that’s why Big Brother’s been running around so much lately—he’s been trying to be a gang leader.

【I’ve already scoped out the black market these past few days! They say the one in Furong City is the liveliest. I really want to check it out…】

Juanjuan: What’s a black market? A market full of black persimmons¹?

She was already used to her big brother’s constant chatter during meals. In fact, if one day she didn’t hear it, she’d probably feel like something was missing.

“Do you all want to go shopping today? Mama will take you!”

Jiang Dai set down her bowl and asked the four children gently.

Bai Yunqi: “Mama! I want to go play with Shengzi!”

【No way I’m staying put under Mama’s nose on my one precious day off! What a joke!】

Bai Yun’an gave a faint smile too. “Mama, I’ve made plans to read at Zheng Xian’s place.”

【That threat needs to be eliminated soon. Can’t let it drag on.】

“Alright then.”

Jiang Dai’s gaze fell on the second son and her youngest daughter, the only two who hadn’t said no. Her eyes were full of hope. “Will you two go shopping with Mama?”

As a certified mama’s girl, Juanjuan didn’t hesitate for a second. “Yes!”

Bai Yunxing nodded. “Sure.”

He didn’t have anything else to do anyway. Accompanying Mama on a shopping trip was a good way to show filial piety², and he could help carry things too.

…

“Useless trash! Are these Zhenxiu Restaurant accounts even readable?!”

Kang An slammed the ledger down hard, the book smacking into the steward’s face and leaving a red mark.

“A foreign dancer who could earn a fortune in the capital, and she gets outshone here by some storyteller from Shiwei Restaurant? If word of this gets back to the capital, how am I supposed to show my face?!”

The steward knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

But what he was really thinking, only he knew.

He was cursing up a storm inside, but on the surface, he remained respectful and submissive.

A polite knock at the door interrupted Kang An’s fury.

“Master, we’ve uncovered the storyteller’s background.”

Kang An’s eyes narrowed with a sharp glint. “Then get in here and speak!”

The man outside entered and reported everything they had found.

Kang An’s eyes narrowed further. “Are you sure there’s no mistake?”

“Positive.”

Kang An took a deep breath. “So it really is that lingering ghost!”

“Where are the Three Blade Brothers? Go to the black market and find all three of them!”

“They took my money and still failed to get the job done. Now they even dare to scam me? They must be tired of living!”

“And that whole family—how dare they show up on my turf? They’re asking for death!”

A wicked smile crept onto Kang An’s face as he gave his orders. “That little Liang girl is back in the capital too. Now, immediately, go find someone! Don’t kill her—I want her alive!”

“I want to see just who can protect them this time!”

“Yes, sir!”

The steward quickly responded and left with the guard who had just entered.

Not far away, nestled among the thick branches of an old tree—

A small figure lay quietly on a sturdy limb, legs crossed.

As long as he didn’t move, no one would notice he was up there.

Bai Yun’an yawned as he watched the steward and guard hurry off. His gaze shifted to the room whose door had just been closed again.

Good. They’re all gone.

The small figure slid down from the tree. In the blink of an eye, he slipped through the window, shut it behind him, and entered the room.

“You—”

A startled cry rang out, but was quickly silenced. The room fell into an eerie stillness.

A deathly silence.

Above, thick white clouds had drifted in, blocking out the sun.

On the street.

Jiang Dai was walking slowly home, holding a child’s hand in each of hers.

She looked up at the sky.

“Not bad. The sun’s gone behind the clouds. It was getting a bit hot from all the walking.”

Behind her, Bai Tian carried the morning’s purchases.

【Sigh… Who said ancient food is all natural and delicious? There’s so little of it, and hardly any variety. I miss greenhouses, air freight, and road transport!】

【Aaaaah! It’s all because my dear homeland spoiled me with such abundance! I want watermelon, lychees, Hami melon, jackfruit!!!】

Juanjuan: …

There goes Papa again. Still, she was getting curious about the place where her parents used to live.

It sounded… pretty amazing.

Just as they were about to reach home, Jiang Dai suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Bai Yunxing glanced at his mother, then followed her gaze to a few men standing nearby.

【These guys…】

Jiang Dai crouched down and handed a wooden token to Bai Yunxing, her voice low. “Yunxing, go to the County Magistrate’s Mansion and find Second Young Master Li.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the six men who had been scattered nearby began closing in, step by step, without drawing attention.

Realizing the urgency, Bai Yunxing turned and ran.

One of the men immediately moved to chase him.

But a stone suddenly shot out and struck the man’s leg. It wasn’t a light hit, and the force made him pause in surprise.

That brief pause was all it took—Bai Yunxing had already vanished into the crowd.

Jiang Dai silently retracted her slingshot.

They couldn’t all run. Not a chance.

Juanjuan was too small. Bai Tian was too conspicuous. Yunxing, on the other hand, trained every day, was young, agile, and could hide easily.

He was the best choice to go for help.

Jiang Dai touched the calluses on her hands, feeling the growing strength in her body. All that training hadn’t been for nothing.

And the meat and eggs she’d been eating lately hadn’t gone to waste either.

But with six strong men facing her, and one adult and one child behind her—

Her hand instinctively reached for the short blade at her waist.

————

Great Sage refers to Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West. He is a powerful, magical monkey who calls himself “Great Sage Equal to Heaven”. Known for his strength, immortality, and cleverness, he accompanies the monk Tang Sanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, fighting demons and supernatural threats along the way.

Translator’s Notes