The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 780 - 742: You Should Smile More

"Dad, who are you talking to?"

Wen Shun heard the noise, tossed the chicken into the basin, wiped his hands, and came out to see a young man. He raised an eyebrow, "What’s up, Dad, do you know him?"

He didn’t remember having such a relative.

Father Wen said, "Just passing by, said he wanted to ask for some water."

Despite these words, Father Wen’s gaze never left Lu Yanqing’s face.

For some reason, he felt the face was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Soon, Father Wen stopped overthinking. He was a businessman, dealt with many people, perhaps this young man came to their shop to buy something before, but he couldn’t recall.

Putting aside unnecessary thoughts, Father Wen displayed a kind smile, "Please come in."

Lu Yanqing stiffly said "Thank you" and followed Father Wen into the yard.

The Wen Family yard was rebuilt after the disaster; the previous layout had the shop in front and the living quarters in the back.

After reconstruction, the living and shop areas were separated; now entering the yard gives a clear overview of the interior.

While Lu Yanqing looked around, Wen Shun pulled Father Wen aside and whispered, "Dad, why do I feel this person doesn’t seem good?"

Though his skin was somewhat dark, he at least looked like a young man in his twenties, but why were his eyes filled with signs of hardship?

Such people either have a story or have schemes.

After years of business, Wen Shun has some insights on judging people, believing his intuition was right.

Given the circumstances, Father Wen couldn’t judge whether the other party was good or bad, so he asked Wen Shun to brew some tea inside.

Wen Shun quickly went inside and soon came out with a tea tray, containing a teapot and a teacup.

There was a stone bench under the grapevine in the small yard. Father Wen pointed to it and said to Lu Yanqing, "Young man, please sit."

Lu Yanqing sat down accordingly, withdrew his examining gaze, and expressed thanks again as Wen Shun handed over the teacup.

"You’re not from around here, are you?" Wen Shun sat across, looking at him.

Lu Yanqing nodded.

"Here for something in Ningzhou?"

"Looking for someone."

"Oh, have you found them?"

Lu Yanqing gazed at the swirling tea leaves in the cup and said nothing more.

Wen Shun wanted to ask further but got a glare from Father Wen, "Enough, go kill your chicken, I’ll entertain the guest."

Wen Shun chuckled, "Dad, I’m just being hospitable."

After taking over the business, Wen Shun was learning daily how to interact with people.

At fourteen, he had matured much more than his peers, no longer the mischievous kid chasing after Wen Wan, calling her "Little Mute."

After his father’s words, Wen Shun quickly got up and took the plucked chicken to the kitchen.

Mrs. Zhou was busy in the kitchen; hearing the commotion outside, she saw Wen Shun come in and asked what happened.

Wen Shun said nothing much, just someone passing by asking for water.

Mrs. Zhou acknowledged with a "Oh" and continued with her work.

The son was busy with business in the Prefecture during the New Year and didn’t come back; she intended to cook New Year’s Eve dishes for him to try.

Only Father Wen and Lu Yanqing were left in the small yard.

Seeing the other party silent, Father Wen had to break the awkward atmosphere, "I’ve been in Pingjiang County for years, met many people; if there’s someone you’re looking for, feel free to tell me, perhaps I just happen to know them."

Lu Yanqing didn’t respond, took out the remaining thirty-five taels of silver and placed them on the stone table.

Father Wen was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

Lu Yanqing: "Temporary stay."

If the other party harbored no ill intentions, Father Wen wouldn’t mind accommodating him for a night or two.

Father Wen didn’t take the silver, "Since you’re here to find someone, you probably need to spend more money later; keep this money for yourself. Staying at our place for a night doesn’t require money."

Lu Yanqing said, "Half a month."

"Even so, it’s not necessary," Father Wen refused to accept, "Our small yard isn’t an inn; the best inn in the county charges only one tael of silver per night. How about I take you to an inn?"

Lu Yanqing shook his head.

The young man was too sparing with words, reluctant to speak, making it hard for Father Wen to decipher his intentions. He said frankly, "If you don’t want to go to an inn, you can stay with us, but there’s no need for the money; you’ll eat whatever we eat."

Wen Shun just came out to pour water; hearing his father’s words, he chimed in, "Dad, didn’t one of your shop assistants resign recently? How about letting him fill in for half a month?"

Father Wen frowned.

This son, all those years of rebellion made people gnash their teeth, and now, though he’s improved and doing things on his own, he always adopts a businessman mindset—profit-driven.

He couldn’t help but worry, if this continues, how can he be when he grows up?

Thinking of this, Father Wen glared at Wen Shun with a dark face, "Why are you everywhere?"

Lu Yanqing suddenly said, "I can."

Father Wen: "No... my son has been wild since young, doesn’t walk a straight path, you don’t have to take his words to heart."

Wen Shun said, "Dad, if you don’t want him, I’ll take him with me."

Father Wen’s face turned dark again, "What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing much." Wen Shun glanced at Lu Yanqing’s face, "Just thought, besides being a bit dark-skinned, he looks quite good, might be good for business if I use him as a living signboard."

Father Wen shouted angrily, "Nonsense!"

Afraid of getting hit, Wen Shun jumped to the side and shouted loudly, "Dad, I’m serious, business is tough at the beginning of the year, if he comes with me, I won’t ask him to do anything, just stand in front of the shop for a few hours a day. I’ll cover his food and lodging."

Saying this, he looked at Lu Yanqing, "Hey, aren’t you looking for someone? Come with me to the Prefecture, I’ll have someone in the county help you search, after half a month, I’ll personally send you back, how about it?"

Just as Father Wen was about to look for a stick, he heard Lu Yanqing respond, "Okay."

Father Wen was stunned, "Young man, are you... missing a screw? And you agreed to this?"

The second half of the sentence, Father Wen didn’t say out loud, but his face showed disapproval.

Wen Shun listened with a wide smile, "It’s settled then!"

After saying this, he dashed into his room, rummaged through for paper, ink, and seal paste, planning to write a contract in case Lu Yanqing changed his mind.

After preparing the ink, Wen Shun picked up the brush and started writing.

For the sake of business, he finally learned to recognize all the characters, and what he wrote now was quite proper.

After writing for a while, he looked up and asked Lu Yanqing, "What’s your surname?"

Lu Yanqing paused, "I don’t remember."

"How about your name?"

"I don’t remember either."

Wen Shun: "..."

Is this guy suffering from amnesia?

Wen Shun was quite troubled, "If you don’t remember your name, I can’t write this contract!"

Lu Yanqing picked up the seal paste, painted his right palm entirely red, and pressed it heavily on Wen Shun’s contract.

A full palm print, impossible to deny.

Wen Shun contentedly picked up the contract and blew on the ink, "Then it’s settled, you’ll be my living signboard for half a month, I’ll have the staff help you find someone... wait, you don’t even remember your own name, who are you looking for?"

Lu Yanqing: "My biological father."

It seemed he really didn’t remember anything.

Wen Shun scratched his head, "I’ll do my best then!"

At this moment, Mrs. Zhou opened the kitchen curtain and called outside, "Shunzi, come help bring the dishes, it’s time to eat."

Wen Shun responded promptly and quickly went to the kitchen.

Mrs. Zhou asked him, "Wasn’t that person just passing by asking for water? Why isn’t he leaving?"

"I asked him to stay." Wen Shun grabbed a meatball from the plate and stuffed it in his mouth, mumbling, "He looks nice, taking him to the Prefecture to help attract business."

Mrs. Zhou struggled to follow his logic, "He looks good, what’s that got to do with your shop’s business?"

"You wouldn’t understand even if I explained."

Wen Shun said, reaching out for another meatball, which Mrs. Zhou slapped away, "The meal is about to start, don’t mess around here, did you wash your hands?"

Wen Shun ignored her, quickly bit a meatball, and carried two dishes to the main room, not forgetting to call Father Wen and Lu Yanqing before entering.

Since he didn’t know Lu Yanqing’s name, Wen Shun called him "Brother Nameless."

Wen Shun hadn’t been back during the New Year, so this meal was made like a New Year’s dinner, thus especially sumptuous.

Lu Yanqing was invited to sit.

The table was filled with home-cooked dishes, not comparable to the full flavor and color made by the Changning Marquis Mansion’s chef, but it tasted like home, someone else’s home.

Originally a reunion meal for three, now with an extra guest, the atmosphere seemed unchanged, still warm and harmonious.

Wen Shun was talkative, he was responsible for talking, Wen Guangping and Mrs. Zhou just listened.

Perhaps to get him talking, Wen Shun kept asking for Lu Yanqing’s opinions.

Whenever that happened, Lu Yanqing would twitch the corner of his mouth and respond with one or two words.

Wen Shun told him, "I think you should smile more, once you’re standing at my shop’s front, if you keep a stern face, no one’s gonna want to come in and buy things."