Chapter 12: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!
Chapter 12: Easily Manipulated
Upon hearing that someone was looking for them, the Chen family became curious and stepped out of the carriage, only to find no one there.
Although they didn't see anyone, they noticed a bundle, which the servant said was delivered by the yamen officials.
Chen Xue and the others looked at each other, thinking it might be from Xu Tian. Although they were curious why he didn't come himself, they understood he had to watch over the exile group and might not have time for them.
They opened the bundle and found food inside, like steamed buns and cakes, but they weren't interested.
Inside the carriage, they had already eaten their fill, especially since Chen Xue had revealed her spatial abilities, so they didn't bother hiding anymore and simply conjured various snacks.
They ate pastries, dried fruits, fresh fruits, or chatted while snacking, feeling pleasantly full in a daze.
Being full themselves wasn't the issue; the important thing was to make those nearby suffer.
The exiled prisoners, already dizzy from hunger, occasionally caught whiffs of pastry aroma, only to have it change to the scent of melon seeds before they could even savor it.
In short, various food aromas lingered in their noses, tempting their appetites.
However, they couldn't locate the source of the smells and assumed it was the officials in the carriages ahead and behind them, harboring numerous grievances.
Returning to the main topic...
Before Chen Yuan could decide what to do with the food, he saw someone approaching and became curious.
What kind of day was it that everyone was coming over? Could it be a housewarming celebration? It's just a carriage, right?
As the person approached, he saw that it was Zhang Yiquan, his colleague. Chen Yuan was a Left Attendant of the Ministry of Revenue, while Zhang Yiquan was a Right Attendant.
Although they were familiar, Chen Yuan rarely interacted with him because he found him often insincere and unworthy of friendship.
The corruption case had almost implicated the entire Ministry of Revenue, as investigations revealed collusion from top to bottom, resulting in the embezzlement of disaster relief supplies.
Chen Yuan had been ill at that time and on sick leave, otherwise, with his character, he would have definitely reported it.
When he returned to work after recovering, the scandal had already erupted.
The embezzlement of disaster relief supplies had been exposed.
And the mastermind was none other than Chen Yuan himself.
Chen Yuan was bewildered, facing the written confession implicating him as the mastermind by the entire Ministry of Revenue. He was rendered speechless, unable to defend himself.
Moreover, with ample evidence, the verdict was swift, leading to immediate execution.
If not for the pleas from some officials who knew his character and knew he wouldn't embezzle, he would have faced a harsher punishment than exile.
Anyway, the one who had admitted Chen Yuan's mastermind role was none other than Zhang Yiquan.
"Brother Chen!"
Zhang Yiquan, thick-skinned as he was, approached with some embarrassment, but when he saw Chen Yuan's expression, he wondered why he was being avoided.
"Now that we're both exiled, what's the point of holding onto past grievances? Why not let go..."
"Let go!"
Chen Yuan initially didn't want to engage with him, but his words ignited a fury within him.
"I've been falsely accused and lost my official position for no reason. If you were in my shoes, could you let it go?"
"Furthermore, my wife and daughter are innocent, yet because of a few words from you people, they're implicated, exiled thousands of miles away to the barbaric lands of the south. They waste away their prime years for no reason. Could you let it go?"
"I'm not a saint, I'm a human being, a husband, and a father. I haven't sought revenge on you, which is already quite generous. And you want me to let go of my hatred?"
If he hadn't been impulsive in seeking revenge, risking his life and endangering his wife and daughter, seeking vengeance would have been minor compared to the danger his family faced. He was angry enough to kill Zhang Yiquan with his own hands.
However, faced with Chen Yuan's furious rebuke, Zhang Yiquan remained unfazed, even smiling.
"If Brother Chen feels better after cursing, then go ahead. After you're done, let's discuss..."
Facing such thick-skinned audacity, Chen Yuan suppressed his anger and turned to retreat into the carriage.
"No discussion needed!"
Although he didn't know what Zhang Yiquan wanted to discuss, he had no intention of agreeing.
"Brother Chen, don't rush to refuse. Let me say a few words. I know Brother Chen's family is in financial straits..."
Is he ever going to stop?!
Chen Yuan was speechless. Why did it seem like the whole world knew he was broke and his family was struggling? Wait, when did I ever say we were struggling?
Zhang Yiquan didn't understand Chen Yuan's thoughts and continued, "The journey of exile is long and arduous. Considering your family, wouldn't it be better to have some means of transportation?"
"I'm willing to offer 100 taels to purchase your carriage and even give you a donkey cart as a gift. This way, you'll still have a mode of transportation and gain 100 taels."
"With this 100 taels, managing the journey ahead, whether in dealing with officials or purchasing supplies, won't be difficult..."
Inside the carriage, upon hearing Zhang Yiquan's offer, the faces of Chen Xue and the others darkened. How shameless of him to put us in this situation and then want to buy our carriage?
And to top it off, he's acting like he's doing us a favor, even saying he'll gift us a donkey cart. It's simply insulting.
"Too much!"
Chen Yuan was immediately furious, turning to leave the carriage to confront Zhang Yiquan, but was stopped by Chen Xue.
"Dad, let me handle this!"
Stepping out of the carriage, Chen Xue looked at Zhang Yiquan. "Mr. Zhang, are you really short on money?"
Zhang Yiquan didn't expect Chen Yuan not to come out but for his daughter to appear instead. He frowned slightly, wondering if Chen Yuan didn't want to talk to him and sent his daughter to refuse him instead.
But, in such times of exile, there weren't many formalities.
However, knowing that Chen Yuan was very fond of his daughter, he couldn't understand why he wouldn't want to see him.
He couldn't figure it out but heard Chen Xue continue, "Mr. Zhang isn't short on money but lacks a carriage. So, if we were to sell it for 10,000 taels, would Mr. Zhang be interested?"
Dream on!
Zhang Yiquan almost blurted out, but instead chuckled, "10,000 taels? If you don't want to sell, why ask for such a sky-high price?"
Chen Xue didn't mind, revealing a look of realization. "So, Mr. Zhang isn't actually short on money. I thought it was just us who were poor, but it turns out Mr. Zhang is also quite impoverished."
Bullshit!
Who's as poor as you?!
Zhang Yiquan, as thick-skinned as he was, couldn't bear to hear such words and couldn't help but retort.
"What nonsense! Even if my Zhang family is down and out, 10,000 taels is still affordable."
He sneered, "It's just that your two worn-out carriages aren't worth that much."
"Is that so!"
"Well then, I wish Mr. Zhang success in achieving his aspirations and soon escaping the donkey cart!"
Upon hearing the words 'donkey cart,' Zhang Yiquan seemed to smell his own stench and his expression changed. His formerly lofty demeanor plummeted in an instant, quickly reverting to a humble demeanor as he hastily said,
"Um, Miss Chen, let's talk. Let's negotiate!"
Seeing her daughter effortlessly manipulating a former high-ranking official who had once held great power, Chen Yuan and his wife looked at each other in astonishment and couldn't help but feel relieved and proud that their daughter had grown up.
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