Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 17 A Fiancé Falls From the Sky

On the way back to the city, Shen Qing didn't want to see the miserable state of the disaster victims anymore, so she closed the car window like an ostrich.

He was born under the red flag and grew up in the spring breeze. He came from a well-off family and knew about other people's hardships, but these hardships had never been directly seen by him. How could data from the media be as touching as being on the spot?

"System, does your store sell grain?" Shen Qing communicated with the system in his mind.

【Hey, it's a strategy system (；￣д￣) 】

"Rubbish."

[...That's amazing! We suggest you try cultivating hybrid rice!]

"Search online for how to grow hybrid rice."

[Searching...]

"It really works!" Shen Qing's eyes lit up. Wouldn't he now have a Baidu (Chinese search engine) at his fingertips? Then manufacturing glass, cement, and steel would be a piece of cake!

[No detailed information found in the database (￣y▽￣)~*]

"..." Shen Qing's lofty ambitions were instantly extinguished. Was this garbage system playing a trick on him? It definitely was!

"Fine, fine~ Is this how you play it? You can forget about being bound together for life!"

【Σ(????)?】This host can't handle this.

As Shen Qing was mentally battling the system for three hundred rounds, the team's speed suddenly slowed down, as if they were moving to the side.

The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the rubbing of armor plates told Shen Qing that an army was passing by.

Fangyu opened a corner of the carriage window and saw a young general riding towards them. Shen Qing looked up and saw the young general also turning his head to look over. Their eyes met for a moment, then they turned away and rode towards each other.

Shen Qing hadn't paid any attention to this little incident, but then Fang Yu exclaimed excitedly, "Young lady, it's the young master!"

⊙?⊙?

What the heck? Shen Qing's eyes widened, a look of confusion on her face. There was no such person in the original owner's revolving lantern.

Fangyu misunderstood, thinking that the young lady was not satisfied with the marriage. She immediately suppressed her smile and said sadly, "A soldier's son is indeed not good enough for the young lady."

Girl, can you please stop talking so incoherently?

Based on the limited information available, Shen Qing analyzed that the sons of military families were newly emerging nobles. Although they were capable in battle and held military power, the aristocratic families were too proud to form marriage alliances with them.

Not knowing who arranged the marriage for the original owner, she carefully considered her words and tentatively asked, "Yes, I really can't understand why... sigh~"

Shen Qing started acting again, and Wen Ying cooperated, saying, "Back then, when the Shen family moved north, they encountered a Jingguo cavalry force and were almost wiped out. Fortunately, Marquis Yongyi led troops to their aid and repelled the enemy."

Oh, a life-saving favor, huh? That's such an old, tired tactic.

"The Shen family's lands are all in Yunyang and cannot be taken away. The most precious thing is the Shen family's collection of books. Marquis Yongyi not only spared the lives of the Shen family, but also sent people to escort the collection of books and valuables to Xuandu. The old patriarch was so grateful that he promised to marry his second daughter to the then three-year-old heir."

Shen Qing pondered for a moment. Something was not right. When the Shen family moved, there was no legitimate second daughter. They clearly had a legitimate eldest daughter who was about the same age as the heir, yet they promised to marry off a legitimate second daughter whose birth date was unknown.

You have to understand that at that time, Shen Shi was widowed, and it was unknown when he would remarry, whether his new wife would be able to have children, or whether the child would be a daughter. That old rascal was really wicked.

Is Marquis Yongyi really willing to take this opportunity? Why doesn't he just ask to marry Shen Yunxi directly?

Seemingly noticing Shen Qing's doubts, Wen Ying continued, "The eldest daughter of the main wife is always destined to marry into a powerful family and become the wife of a noblewoman. Marquis Yongyi is also aware of his own limitations and dares not force the issue."

Oh, so the second daughter of the legitimate wife isn't worth much?

"The old patriarch was just stalling for time. Who knew that he would marry his mistress so soon after entering Xuan? The following year, they had a daughter. Marquis Yongyi was so happy that he even sent a full-month celebration gift for the girl."

Haha, how could I not be happy that the pie has come true? It's such a pleasant surprise!

Fangyu comforted her, "The mistress is not satisfied with this marriage. Fortunately, the Marquis Yongyi is stationed on the border for a long time, and the Marquis's wife comes from a humble family and is not good at socializing. The two families rarely have contact and have not been formally engaged."

I understand. This marriage will definitely not happen in the end. The original owner was not familiar with the Marquis of Yongyi's heir, which is why he had no memory of him.

Shen Qing stopped worrying about it and the rest of the journey went smoothly, allowing him to enter the city and return to the Shen residence.

Upon entering Yilan Courtyard, the maids and servants who remained immediately busied themselves preparing hot water for Shen Qing to wash and change.

Qiaoqiao brought in a plate of steaming hot buns and said, "Today, a girl named Sanya sent this plate of buns to the gatehouse. She said that she didn't see the young lady go to the palace school this morning, so she delivered the first basket of buns to your residence as agreed."

Shen Qing thought to herself, "She really is a straightforward girl." She picked up a steamed bun and took a bite; it was filled with mutton.

Thin crust, thick filling, juicy and delicious flavor, happiness index soars. The little girl has quite a talent for cooking. He wants to increase investment and see if he can make Fatty's Happy Water.

The aroma of mutton and refined flour made the servants around them swallow hard. Shen Qing smiled and said, "Distribute it."

After thanking the recipients, the people who received the steamed buns couldn't help but devour them, their eyes squinting with happiness. This was definitely the best food they had ever eaten.

Shen Qing sighed inwardly, thinking how easily satisfied Sanya could get the iron pot out. He wanted to eat stir-fried dishes. Who would have thought that the "Zhongming Dingshi Family" truly meant "dining" in the literal sense!

There were many people in Yilan Courtyard, and some who didn't get any steamed buns felt regretful as they smelled the aroma. So Shen Qing instructed, "Fangyu, after you take me to the palace school tomorrow, bring some steamed buns back for everyone on your way back."

"Thank you, young lady!"

Everyone cheered happily, looking forward to tomorrow.

Exhausted from the long journey and a long day, Shen Qing washed up early and went to bed.

I was so tired that I could fall asleep as soon as my head hit the bed and sleep soundly. But I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat.

"System, what are you barking about!"

[? ? ?] The system, which was inexplicably scolded in the middle of the night, couldn't stand this injustice!

[Woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof...

"..."

The system kept running for half the night. The next morning, Shen Qing had bruises under his eyes, looking like he had been punched twice.

Yawning, he was led by Wen Ying like a puppet to wash up and change, and struggled to climb into the carriage. He truly loved learning.

The carriage stopped at the usual spot, but Sanya's stall was nowhere to be seen. A bad feeling welled up in his heart, so he asked Heizi to go to the beverage shop next door to inquire.

A moment later, Hei Zi returned with a sullen face.

"Young lady, the shopkeeper said that yesterday, the young master of the Du family tasted the steamed buns and found them very delicious, so he forcibly bought Sanya to take into his mansion as a slave."

Shen Qing's face darkened instantly, and he asked, barely suppressing his anger, "What about Sanya's family? Why did they stop doing business? Were they all sold off?"

"Du Langjun said that commoners were not worthy of enjoying the same food as him, so he 'bought out' the recipe and stopped them from doing this business."

How domineering! Shen Qing was furious.

"drive!"

Upon reaching the palace gate, Shen Qing jumped off the carriage and strode quickly, exuding a murderous aura as he entered the East Pavilion, shouting loudly, "Du Shaoyu!"