“Uncle, please have a seat.”

Gu Qingyan greeted him inside and placed three white porcelain bowls in front of him.

Inside the three bowls were preserved fruits of three different colors: honey-yellow, dark brown-black, and a brown sprinkled with little white specks like snowflakes.

The village chief uncle sat down and smiled, “You specially called me over just to treat me to preserved fruits?”

“If you’d like to try them first, after you’ve eaten, I have something important to discuss,” Gu Qingyan said as he sat down beside him.

The village chief uncle was curious inside. Looking at Mrs. Liu smiling silently, and the two sisters also smiling, he suppressed his suspicion and picked up one.

“Hmm, this flavor is really good.”

He had chosen the honey-yellow one. From the first bite, he knew the preserved fruit was delicious—crystal clear in appearance, with a taste that blended sweet and sour perfectly. At his age, he still found it very enjoyable.

“The preserved fruits from the shops in town aren’t this tasty. Could it be that you brought these back from Qingzhou Prefecture?” the village chief uncle asked.

Gu Qingyan just smiled, “Try the other two kinds.”

The village chief uncle picked up a dark brown-black one. “This… is a bit bitter, but if you taste carefully, it leaves a sweet aftertaste. The apricot flavor is stronger than the previous one.”

It had a good chewiness, more suited to the taste of an older person like him.

“I’ve never eaten preserved fruits like this before.”

Without being told, the village chief uncle reached for the third.

Different from the first two, the third was salted flavor—sweet with a touch of saltiness, fresh and savory. It was completely different from the sweet preserved fruits.

After eating one, the village chief uncle couldn’t help but grab another.

Only after biting it did he realize, and he laughed embarrassedly, “Look at me, still so greedy at my age.”

“Qingyan, where did you buy these preserved fruits? If the price is cheap, we could buy some for the New Year. Great for home use or serving guests.”

Gu Qingyan smiled reassuringly, “Uncle, we made them ourselves.”

“Made yourselves?”

The village chief uncle was stunned, then recalled how some time ago the kids had gone up the mountain to pick fruit.

At the time, his wife had said the plums were too sour and astringent to eat and had asked him to bring some peaches from the city for the kids to enjoy.

“These are made from fruit from Meiling Mountain?”

Gu Qingyan nodded.

The village chief uncle was even more surprised. No one knew better than him how poor the flavor of mountain fruit was.

Over the years, he had tried many methods, but the mountain soil was barren, and even with fertilizer, nothing stayed—it was all natural growth.

His expression turned serious. He quickly ate another one and fell into thought.

Gu Qingyan smiled and asked, “Uncle, do you think our Gu family can do this business?”

The village chief uncle was taken aback and looked toward Mrs. Liu sitting across.

To him, although Qingyan was educated, he surely didn’t know how to make preserved fruits. Most likely it was Mrs. Liu’s skill.

“If you want to do the preserved fruit business, that’s fine. The fruit on the mountain belongs to no one; you can pick it and no one will say a thing.”

The village chief uncle smiled, “Your studies and exams cost a lot. If you want to go to the capital to take the imperial exams, you’ll need at least eight hundred to a thousand taels of silver. Earning some money from this would help.”

Gu Qingyan hurried to correct, “Not just my family — I mean the entire Gu family in Meiling Village doing this business.”

This surprised the village chief uncle, and he frowned.

“Qingyan, I know your good intentions, but the skills your foster mother brought, you can’t just give away to others cheaply.”

At that moment, Mrs. Liu spoke up:

“Uncle, before we invited you here, we had already discussed it.

Though I have the skill, as a woman I can’t openly run a business. Also, Qingyan is a scholar. I hope he will pass the exams and become an official. He can’t be distracted by business.

Besides me, the family has only two little girls, too young.

So I thought, why not have the village take charge together, and everyone join in this business?”

This was the plan Gu Qingyan and Mrs. Liu had agreed on.

Mrs. Liu was an outsider and Gu Qingyan’s foster mother living with the Gu family. Though most relatives were good people, rural places always had gossip.

By attaching the secret recipe to Mrs. Liu, the villagers would appreciate her even more, raising her status in the village.

The village chief uncle pondered deeply.

He knew the preserved fruits tasted good and wouldn’t be hard to sell, plus they were made from mountain’s sour fruits, so the cost was low.

If it sold well, every household in the village would share the profit.

But this meant the big nephew’s family would lose out.

As village chief, he naturally cared about the clan and villagers, but as an uncle, he was reluctant to see his big nephew suffer loss.

“Uncle, my foster mother is right. If I pass the imperial exams, I’ll become an official. Once I am in office, I’ll take them all away. Then no one will be here to run the business.”

“And another thing, the fruit grows on the mountain, which belongs to the whole village. How can one family monopolize it?”

The village chief uncle shook his head, “You’re the one who’s losing out here.”

Mrs. Liu smiled and said, “Uncle, how about this: our family provides the secret recipe and can teach the clan how to make the preserved fruits. After the preserved fruits sell, deducting costs, our family takes ten percent profit for ten years.”

“After ten years, the secret recipe belongs to the village.”

The village chief uncle shook his head repeatedly. “No, no, your family is losing out too much this way.”

“Uncle, I sincerely want to share the secret recipe.”

Gu Qingyan then brought up his father Gu Tongsheng: “When my father stayed in the village to teach, he wanted to give the village more opportunities. I’m not cut out to be a teacher, so I have to try ideas like this.”

“If our village earns money, every household will have extra funds to send their kids to school. If any have talent, they might also follow the imperial exam path.”

“In the long run, only then can the Gu family of Meiling Village truly prosper.”

His sincere words indeed made the village chief uncle hesitate.

He really wanted progress, but the situation in Meiling Village was clear. Preserved fruits might be a good chance.

He ate another preserved fruit and relaxed, “Qingyan, on behalf of the Gu family and Meiling Village, I thank you and Mrs. Liu for your kindness. If Meiling Village can make money, everyone will be happy, but you can’t lose out too much.”

Before they could say anything, he added, “Without the secret recipe you provided, these fruits would be worthless, rotting on the mountain every year. Now that they can earn money, the village should take the small share, and you take the bigger share.”

“Uncle…” Gu Qingyan disagreed.

He provided the secret recipe purely to improve the village’s finances; he never intended to profit himself.

Mrs. Liu knew the ownership of the secret recipe well and naturally listened to Gu Qingyan.

But the village chief uncle was firm: “If your father knew I was treating you unfairly like this, he’d crawl out of his grave and beat me up.”

Gu Qingyan touched his nose.

Thinking to himself, Gu Tongsheng had most likely already been reincarnated long ago. Otherwise, according to the original storyline, by now Meiling Village would have started to suffer misfortune, so why hadn’t he shown any spirit?

“How about this: the costs for picking the fruit, making the preserved fruit, and purchasing spices will all be covered by the village.”

The village chief pondered for a moment: “When the time comes, we’ll trouble Madam Liu to lend a hand and teach us how to make preserved fruit. After the preserved fruit is sold, we’ll split the profits three to seven after deducting costs.”

“You take seventy percent, for a full ten years. After ten years, I’ll shamelessly put the secret recipe into the clan.”

Gu Qingyan naturally disagreed: “That’s too much. How about we take twenty percent, and after ten years it goes back to the clan?”

“Then how about a 40-60 split, for ten full years?”

“We’re not putting in money or effort. Thirty percent is already plenty.”

The two of them pulled and tugged, their voices getting louder and louder—someone who didn’t know the situation might have thought they were arguing.

In the end, Gu Qingyan settled it decisively: “Then it’s a 50-50 split. After three years, the secret recipe belongs to the village.”

The village chief still felt they were taking too little and was about to speak when Gu Qingyan stopped him: “Uncle, if the village improves and the clan members get rich, then I’ll have fewer things to worry about in the future.”

“If you really care for me, why not reserve ten percent of the profits to buy clan land? That income will be used to build a private school and send the children to study. Only this way will the Gu family grow better and better.”

The village chief took that to heart, and after much contemplation, he finally agreed.

“You’re right. It’s just that I feel like we’re losing out.”

But deep down, he felt even more guilty.

He silently vowed that Qingyan was gifted and insightful—a person destined to accomplish great things. If anyone in the village dared to hold them back, he would dare to open the ancestral hall and expel them from the clan.

The Gu family never raised him, but now that he was back, he wholeheartedly thought about the family.

Where else could such a good child be found? The third child was just unlucky—died too early—otherwise, who knew how happy they’d be.

The village chief grasped Gu Qingyan’s hand, tears streaming down his face: “You’re a good child. I bet the Gu family ancestral tomb is already smoking with joy.”

Gu Qingyan gave an awkward smile, uncomfortable with the emotional atmosphere, and changed the topic: “Uncle, look, the fruits on the mountain are gradually ripening. Preserved fruit can’t be made with overly ripe fruit, so it’s better to notify everyone early and start picking fruit as soon as possible.”

The village chief immediately wiped his tears: “Alright, I’ll go now.”

Sure enough, that day a meeting was held in Meiling Village.

Most of Meiling Village were Gu family members; only two or three households had different surnames, but even they were connected to the Gu family, either by marriage or as in-laws.

The old village chief didn’t exclude them and said, “The secret recipe was brought by Qingyan’s godmother. She’s generous to share it and has done us a great favor. Anyone who dares to deny this favor in the future should get out of Meiling Village.”

Everyone hurriedly nodded, “That would be heartless. We definitely wouldn’t.”

After the warning, the village chief explained the profit distribution, which had been decided early on. The heads of each family had no objections.

Several older elders sighed, “Qingyan is losing out—such a good child.”

They all thought that the reason the godmother was willing to give up the secret recipe was because of Qingyan’s face.

Since the child came back, they hadn’t taken good care of him and had even eaten for free many times, feeling very guilty.

After finishing, the old village chief said at once, “If no one objects, let’s write the agreement and have everyone sign it, so there’s no confusion later.”

“The secret recipe will be managed by me and several clan elders. The annual profits will be distributed according to household size, but if anyone doesn’t trust us or doesn’t want to contribute money or effort, just say so in advance. We won’t force anyone to join.”

He looked around, and those who were seen quickly said, “We all agree.”

“Alright, come over and put your handprints.”

After the representatives of each household put their handprints, the village chief waved his big hand: “Let’s go up the mountain and pick fruit.”

Every family that had free people grabbed small bamboo baskets and headed up the mountain to pick fruit.

Gu Qingyan joined the fun, bringing his two younger sisters to join the fruit picking group.

But as soon as they went up the mountain, they were stopped.

“Qingyan, you’ve already taken out the secret recipe, so you can’t work yourself tired anymore.”

“Yeah, this little bit of fruit will be picked quickly. We don’t need you.”

“Go home and study. Here, auntie has a ripe one for you to try, see if it’s sweet.”

Gu Qingyan was helpless. The clan members wouldn’t let him work; they practically wanted to carry him down the mountain.

The Gu sisters laughed nonstop, teasing their brother.

After a while, they were also sent down the mountain.

The clan unanimously felt that since they had given out the secret recipe and were teaching everyone how to make preserved fruit by hand, they had already taken a big loss. How could they be made to work as well?

Mother Liu saw them going off excitedly but returned helplessly and laughed when asked.

“Come on, picking fruit isn’t that fun. If you want to work, why not help me teach them how to make preserved fruit?”

The Gu sisters agreed at once and hurried to follow.

Gu Qingyan wasn’t interested; he preferred to stay home making peach pits to train his woodworking skills.

With many hands, it took only a few days before the fruits on the mountain were completely picked clean. Some lamented that if they had known the fruit trees were so useful, they wouldn’t have cut them down for firewood.

Meanwhile, in the village, the fruit was washed, sorted, cut into pieces, and boiled in big pots, with everyone assigned specific tasks in cooperation.

Gu Qingyan went to check it out once and thought his uncle was talented—everything was arranged in perfect order.

It was just that Meiling Village limited his uncle’s potential; otherwise, he would be a good manager outside.

Soon, the village was filled with the sweet fragrance of the preserved fruit; the air itself seemed sugary.

The village children were overjoyed, running around the pots all day. If a small piece fell, children would immediately pick it up and stuff it in their mouths.

Adults scolded them, but it was no use; the children happily ate away.

Of course, most adults didn’t take it seriously and even thought it was good for the kids—the pots were full of good things, clean and safe to eat.

Gu Qingyan became the laziest person around. Whenever he tried to help, someone would worry he’d get tired.

Whenever he went into the village and came back, his hands were always full of treats.

He simply shut himself indoors to study hard, preparing for the provincial exam in August.

At that moment, the Zhang family sent a letter from Zhang Cheng, who was writing from Qingzhou Prefecture.

Zhang Cheng chose to stay in Qingzhou Prefecture to prepare for the exam and would return to Lingchuan County only after the provincial exam was over. Although the two places weren’t too far apart, communication was still inconvenient without using the official courier system.

After returning, this was the first letter Gu Qingyan had received from him.

Gu Qingyan opened it and his expression darkened.

Zhang Nian noticed his unusual look and asked worriedly, “Brother Gu, did something happen?”

Gu Qingyan put down the letter. “Dean Lu is dead.”

“What?!”

Zhang Nian was startled.

When they left Qingzhou Prefecture, Dean Lu was still full of life. He had even threatened Brother Gu, saying he would deal with him and make him pay.

“Dead? How did he die?” Zhang Nian hurriedly asked.

Gu Qingyan’s tightly furrowed brows didn’t relax. “Brother Zhang’s letter says the Lu family only told outsiders he died suddenly of illness. But he felt something was off, so he inquired privately. Someone said Dean Lu hanged himself at home.”

Whether it was a sudden illness or hanging himself, both seemed unbelievable.

Dean Lu had always been healthy. How could he suddenly fall ill? And he valued his life so much—how could he hang himself?

Zhang Nian worried about something else. “Brother Gu, now that he’s dead, won’t the Lu family take it out on you again?”

“The last time, Lu Yanhe died, clearly it was the Lu family’s own doing, but Dean Lu blamed you. Now that he’s dead, will the Lu family do the same?”

Gu Qingyan handed the letter to Zhang Nian.

Since coming to the Gu family, Zhang Nian had learned some characters and could barely read through it.

Although it wasn’t stated directly, the letter advised Gu Qingyan to give up this prefectural exam and wait two more years. The prefectural exam was held twice every three years, and Gu Qingyan was only sixteen—there was no need to rush.

“It’s definitely the Lu family causing trouble; otherwise, my cousin wouldn’t say that,” Zhang Nian said angrily.

After cursing the Lu family, he began to worry again. “Brother Gu, the Lu family are all madmen. Will you still go to Qingzhou Prefecture?”

With only a month left until the academy exam, Gu Qingyan had originally planned that after finishing the village’s preserved fruits in a few days, he would take Zhang Nian and leave for Qingzhou Prefecture.

Gu Qingyan frowned.

Suddenly, he looked up and asked, “What kind of situation do you think would make someone like Dean Lu hang himself?”

“That must be something scarier than losing his life.”

Gu Qingyan fell into thought.

When the Qingzhou pavilion poisoning case happened, he had felt something was off.

Dean Lu, when young, might have been like Lu Yanhe—fond of beauty—but killing 32 members of the Hua family after seeing a woman only once made no sense.

Rather than being greedy for Hua Xiaomei’s beauty, it was more like the Lu family was using her as a pawn.

Hua Dalang studied at Hongshan Academy, and must have had dealings with the Lu family. Maybe something major happened there that caused the Lu family to make a big move.

Hua Zhao was the younger brother’s wife. If Hua Dalang really had some trouble, he wouldn’t tell her.

Later, the Hua family suffered a catastrophe, and Hua Dalang tragically died in the fire. Whatever happened back then was burned to ashes by that great fire.

Twenty-five years later, Hua Zhao reopened the case of the Hua family massacre.

At the court, Gu Qingyan keenly noticed that Dean Lu would rather quickly take away Lu Yanhe’s body than let Magistrate Ding investigate further.

This was surely because the truth was even more terrible than the death of his son.

What exactly happened twenty-five years ago that made the Lu family mercilessly commit a massacre?

Suddenly, Gu Qingyan looked up. “Get ready, we’re going to Qingzhou Prefecture.”

Zhang Nian hesitated.

Gu Qingyan said calmly, “If the Lu family is going to take it out on me, it doesn’t matter if I go now or two years later. The result is the same.”

“But in two years, maybe the Lu family will calm down and realize this has nothing to do with Brother Gu,” Zhang Nian said.

Gu Qingyan disagreed. “On the contrary, hatred only grows stronger with time. If I go now, at the height of the storm, the Lu family will be less likely to act.”

“But…”

Zhang Nian pursed his lips, glanced at Gu Qingyan, and still tried to advise, “What if besides the Lu family, there are other dangers in Qingzhou Prefecture?”

Gu Qingyan found it strange and looked at Zhang Nian.

Zhang Nian hurriedly explained, “I just find it odd that someone like Dean Lu would hang himself. Maybe there’s a hidden hand behind the Lu family.”

“Then all the more reason for me to go.”

Gu Qingyan smiled, “Hua Zhao has been lying low for twenty-five years just to avenge her family. If there’s still some secret from back then and it comes out because of me, wouldn’t that be even better?”

Zhang Nian frowned deeply. “But Brother Gu, what about your safety?”

“Don’t worry, I have secret methods to protect myself,” Gu Qingyan laughed and patted Zhang Nian on the shoulder.

Zhang Nian still couldn’t relax at all.

In Qingzhou Prefecture, a month had passed since Dean Lu hanged himself in his study.

The Lu family held two funerals in succession. Dean Lu ended his life in such a disgraceful way, casting a shadow over the entire family.

In Qingzhou Prefecture, there was much whispered talk. Although nothing was openly displayed, the Lu family clearly felt the chill of being shunned and the coldness of human sentiment.

Especially since right after Director Lu’s death, the court immediately assigned a new head to Hongshan Academy, landing right on their doorstep.

This was like a slap in the face to the Lu family, and yet they were powerless to do anything about it.

Director Lu’s body was still lying in repose, and the old lady at home had finally reached the brink of death, barely hanging on.

The household was already preparing again; the Lu family was about to hold a third funeral.

Since the moment the news was received, Madam Lu had fallen gravely ill and could not get up. The household affairs, inside and out, could only be handled by Second Master Lu.

At the mourning hall, Lu Yanjun had grown gaunt and haggard, numb as he burned paper offerings.

Second Master Lu walked in and, seeing his nephew in such a state, felt heartbroken.

“Yanjun, your eldest brother is gone, but the Lu family still stands. You have always been talented since childhood. When the county exam comes in three years, you will surely pass with flying colors and enter government service.”

But Lu Yanjun suddenly asked, “Second Uncle, what really happened back then?”

Second Master Lu lowered his head. “Others don’t believe your father, but you cannot not believe him. Your eldest brother was not that kind of person. That crazy woman was talking nonsense, deliberately slandering the Lu family.”

“It’s precisely because I believe that I am sure this case is related to Father.”

Lu Yanjun pressed again, “What exactly happened?”

“Second Uncle, I suspect Father’s death is tied to what happened back then. Please, tell me.”

Second Master Lu dared not meet his gaze. “It’s really slander. The Hua family was targeted by river bandits because they were too flashy themselves. It has nothing at all to do with the Lu family.”

Lu Yanjun clearly did not believe him.

Second Master Lu stood up directly, patting his shoulder. “Child, don’t think so much. As long as there are still people in the Lu family, sooner or later we will rise again.”

“You are the hope of the Lu family. Anyone can have problems, but you must hold on.”

He even said, “When the funerals are over, we will take the coffin back to our hometown.”

“Take the coffin back to the hometown?” Lu Yanjun was surprised.

The Lu family had been away from their ancestral home for many years, having settled in Qingzhou Prefecture since his grandfather’s generation. Although their ancestral grave remained, they only sent someone each year to sweep the tomb, and the family head had not returned for many years.

Even for his imperial examinations, he no longer needed to go back to the old home.

Second Master Lu said, “We will leave for a while. When the public outcry calms down, it won’t be too late to return to Qingzhou Prefecture.”

Lu Yanjun’s brow twitched as he looked at Second Master Lu. “Second Uncle, what are you afraid of?”

“Nonsense. I’m doing this for your good, for the good of the Lu family.”

Second Master Lu’s tone grew serious. “Yanjun, don’t be willful. Listen to your Second Uncle’s arrangements. I would never harm you.”

After saying this, he didn’t linger, glanced once at the ancestral tablet, and quickly left the mourning hall.

No sooner had he left than Lu Yanchi arrived.

Because of poisoning, Lu Yanchi had also grown thin, though his complexion was better than Lu Yanjun’s.

He came over hesitantly, knelt down, and burned paper offerings quietly without saying a word.

After a long time, Lu Yanchi finally spoke, “Eldest Brother, I’m sorry.”

Lu Yanjun replied calmly, “The Lu family was doomed to this disaster. It has nothing to do with you.”

“But, if it weren’t for me…” Lu Yanchi felt deep guilt.

“I said, it has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Yanjun cut him off. “Go back and rest. I can handle this alone.”

Lu Yanchi wanted to stay and keep him company, but seeing Lu Yanjun’s cold expression, he sniffled and left.

Behind him, Lu Yanjun exhaled quietly.

Looking up toward the mourning hall, his face was complicated. So many recent upheavals at home had left him confused, unsure of who to hate.

In the cold and gloomy mourning hall, a sharp, icy voice sounded:

“Leaving like a lost dog, can you accept that?”