Quick Transmigration The Prodigal Son - Chapter 3
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Chapter 3

The Jiang Estate was an extremely large house covering a large land area. Li Cai Wei supported the tipsy Jiang Zhe over the courtyard gate, slowly following the veranda corridor. The flowers in the yard were blooming vibrantly, bringing along a burst of fragrance as the wind blew through occasionally. 

Jiang Zhe half-squinted, his voice as clear and cold as the moon on a cold night, “Cai Wei.” 

Li Cai Wei: “Hm?” 

Jiang Zhe originally wanted to apologize. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. 

The atmosphere gradually became awkward. Shui Gen and Cui Xi were only three steps away and they held their breaths, afraid to breathe. 

After a long time.

Jiang Zhe opened his mouth once again, “Is Younger Brother Ming doing well recently?” 

Li Cai Wei looked at him doubtfully, then nodded: “Yes.”

Jiang Zhe: “………” 

After that short conversation, the journey was silent all the way till Li Cai Wei sent Jiang Zhe back to his room. As she turned around to leave, the man lying on the bed finally opened his mouth, “The amount you can learn from Qing He Town is limited. It is better to study in a big city. Not to mention other benefits, just experiencing and expanding your horizons in a big city is enough benefits.” 

Li Cai Wei stood stunned in the same place, her heart clamouring to leave but her feet were like lead - she couldn't lift them no matter how much she tried. 

Jiang Zhe was still going on, “Younger Brother Ming should have turned fifteen this year.” 

Li Cai Wei: “Yes.” 

Jiang Zhe gave a long sigh, “Fifteen years old is no longer young. If we were in a smaller house, he would probably have married and had children already.” 

Li Cai Wei's hands that were hanging down beside her body gradually clenched tightly. 

Jiang Zhe: “Tomorrow, I will follow my father to study in the shop. Being at home alone, you would probably feel strange and cold. I was thinking of calling Younger Brother Ming back. On weekdays, he'll be studying. On weekends, he can come over and visit, accompanying you to chat. If he's interested, he can also help around at the store.” 

Li Cai Wei: “You………” 

Li Cai Wei looked at Jiang Zhe in a complicated mood, wanting to read his face and find out if he was being sincere or just using words to deceive her.

However, Jiang Zhe's face was too calm, and she could not gleam anything from it. 

Li Cai Wei laughed bitterly at herself. What she was expecting? How could the words of a drunken man mean anything? She also doesn't have any value for Jiang Zhe to go so far for her. 

She was no longer the original Li's family Eldest Youngest Miss. 

Li Cai Wei lowered her eyes, silently leaving the room alone. Behind her, Jiang Zhe opened his eyes, his eyes clear with no trace of drunkenness. 

He looked at the door faintly as his eyes darkened, not giving any clues to his thoughts. 

The next day, Jiang Zhe got up early. At 7am, he was already at the main hall. 

Father Jiang was surprised to see him, "I thought you wouldn't be able to get up." 

Uncle Fu also smiled and played along at the side: "Old Master, you've underestimated the Eldest Young Master. The Eldest Young Master has strong discipline since he was young. Since he said so, then he will definitely do it.” 

Jiang Zhe had a polite smile on his face, “Uncle Fu exaggerates.” 

Uncle Fu waved: “Eldest Young Master is too modest."

Father Jiang: “Hahaha, alright, don't stand here praising each other. But this time, Zhe'er has really wisened up, I'm sure you won't go wrong in the future.” Then he turned his head and said to Uncle Fu: “You can start serving the meal.” 

The Jiang family's breakfast was varied and exquisite, but the portion on each plate was very small, probably to avoid wasting food. 

Jiang Zhe quietly ate porridge, his internal evaluation of Father Jiang rising a little higher. 

After the father son duo finished their breakfast, they took a car and went out. The other people would eat when they woke up. 

The Jiang family seemed to have only stricter rules for lunch and dinner. But that's not right either. From the original soul's memory, it seems that the rules are only particularly strict when Father Jiang was at home. Other times, the rules were much more lenient, or even go-with-the-flow. 

Mother Jiang was also an especially traditional woman, paying special attention to the rules. However, the current situation was due to Father Jiang's words. 

It became this way because Mother Jiang was in poor health. 

But if Father Jiang really cared about Mother Jiang, then why would he marry Concubine Shu later on. 

The car rocked as it drove on. Jiang Zhe sat in the back seat, closing his eyes pretending to sleep, but his mind kept thinking about the situation. 

Driver: “Old Master, Eldest Young Master, we've arrived at the shop.” 

Jiang Zhe got off first, and the ancient and majestic plaque entered his sight. 

“Jiang's Clothing Shop.” He muttered, his face calm with no fluctuations. 

Father Jiang walked up to him, his eyes filled with pride and satisfaction that could not be concealed, “It isn't time to open yet. Wait till the sun rises, the entire shop front will be worn out by the incoming customers.” 

Jiang Zhe smoothly complimented, “Father is really amazing. Son is ashamed." 

Father Jiang: “Don't say that. You are my son. The tiger father doesn't breed dog sons*. Dad believes in you; you will definitely be able to surpa.s.s me.” 

Jiang Zhe: “En.”

The two men looked over the shop exterior, then entered another courtyard. In the large courtyard, the many male and female workers had already begun to work. A woman dressed as a manager flittered around, occasionally giving the workers instructions. 

The shopkeeper introduced, “That is the newly promoted female manager in the courtyard, Miss Li. She is both diligent and intelligent. Ever since she was promoted, the cloth dyed by the workers she manages has always looked better than the others.” 

Father Jiang nodded slightly, while Jiang Zhe listened quietly. 

Not only does he know that the other party's brain is intelligent, he also knows that her husband just pa.s.sed away, she was chased out of her husband's house, almost lost her job at the dye workshop, and relied on her connections with the shopkeeper beside him to secure her manager position today. 

Unfortunately, this shopkeeper was ultimately still discarded after the other party used him to climb higher. 

Yes, he was the next target for her to climb. 

Using the entire morning, Jiang Zhe followed behind Father Jiang, learning all about the dye workshop. 

For lunch, he grabbed a quick bite before once again following Father Jiang to understand the Jiang family's business. 

When he returned home at night, he was too tired to even eat. 

Father and Mother Jiang could not persuade him to eat, and could only signal their daughter-in-law to look after him a little more.

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*The tiger father doesn't breed dog sons -It's a saying in Chinese that is basically trying to say that if the father is outstanding, the son will be too (or not too far off). In English, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" would be equivalent to this Chinese saying.

TN: They used 汽車 (car) and had a driver in the texts, so I'm thinking this still takes place in the modern settings? But he did take Shu as a second wife, so I'll continue using Concubine Shu as her t.i.tle. If anyone is uncomfortable with that and can recommend me a different t.i.tle to use, I would be thankful. Concubine just feels weird to me if we're talking about modern settings…