After the morning court session ended, Elder Wen departed first for the first time, abandoning his usual leisurely gait and walking away briskly.
The ministers, maintaining their dignity, refrained from chasing after him and could only watch as Elder Wen ran ahead.
Zhou Shuren glanced at the Wen family's in-laws and raised his eyebrows. This must have been prearranged. While the Wen family attracted resentment, they also gained a favorable reputation. People tend to forget; with the Wen family already toning down their behavior and focusing on maintaining their reputation, it's likely that, in a few years, only their acts of kindness will be remembered—except by those with grievances against them.
Old Master Wang approached. "Shuren, how much are you planning to donate?"
The two families are in-laws, so coordination is necessary to avoid significant disparities that could hurt each family's reputation.
