Chapter 8
As the New Year approached, Sun Dagui prepared gifts for the festival. After delivering them to Magistrate Zhao, he went to gentleman Chen, and after gentleman Chen, to Squire Cao…
He even prepared a whole cartload for Chao Jianan-bags of rice, grain, and oil, all carried up one after another.
I knew it. He still hadn’t given up on marrying my sister to Chao Jianan.
Sure enough, he said to me, “This batch for Chao San, you and the shop hands will deliver together later. And apologize while you’re at it.”
“Apologize for what? I won’t accept his apology.”
“…I’m telling you to apologize to him! Last time you accused him at the yamen, shouldn’t you make a proper apology?”
“Why doesn’t he apologize to me! He even said he was my father!”
“…Once your sister marries him, he’ll be your Brother-in-law. An elder brother is like a father, so he’s not wrong.”
“Heavens, Sun Dagui, you’ve lost all sense of shame!”
“A businessman doesn’t need shame. Didn’t you say you wanted to take over our grain shop? To bend when needed and act with righteousness is how you attract wealth from all directions. Understand?”
“Hmph, spare me the lecture. I’m not going anyway.”
“I’ll give you money.”
“Hmph, spare me the bribe. A gentleman loves wealth and takes it by the proper way… How much can you give?”
Half an hour later, I was standing with the grain shop hands in front of a house on the eastern outskirts of town.
Honestly, for someone like Chao Jianan, with his reputation and money, he could buy any fine residence he wanted. Yet he lived in such a remote place on the outskirts.
His courtyard was quite large, with several renovated old houses. The owner was leisurely sitting under the porch, drinking tea.
It was the end of the year, cold weather. Looking into the distance, mist curled around the hills, the chill rising and falling, everything shrouded in gray, like a faded ink painting.
Chao Jianan warmed himself by the brazier, the soup boiling, the fire glowing red, drinking tea alone as if it were wine. The blue robe he wore was the only splash of color in the scene.
The two shop hands unloaded things from the cart, each calling him Third Master with great enthusiasm.
Chao Jianan stood tall and elegant, lazily watching me from under the eaves. “Cold? Want a cup of hot tea?”
Of course I did. I was nearly freezing my nose off.
I walked right up, rudely huddled by the brazier to warm myself, and poured myself a cup of hot tea.
Once the warmth spread through my belly, I felt much better.
Feeling comfortable, my eyes began to wander. I pointed at the gate, “Your courtyard gate is just these two broken wooden bars?”
“So? Any complaints?”
“No complaints. I’m just curious how widows knock on your door at midnight. No need to knock, right? Just a kick and it opens.”
“…Aren’t you still in private school, twelve years old?”
“Thirteen after the New Year.”
“Hmm.” Chao Jianan raised his brows, smiling at me.
I glared at him, “What are you smiling at?”
“You want to control even what I smile at? What a domineering little girl.”
“You’re obviously up to no good.”
“Girls who talk like this won’t get married in the future.”
“None of your business. You really think you’re my Brother-in-law? Keep dreaming.”
“…”
No point in talking further. Once the shop hands finished unloading, I shot Chao Jianan a fierce glare and was about to get on the cart and leave.
Just as I was leaving, I saw Squire Cao’s carriage approaching and stopping at this house on the outskirts.
A young woman stepped gracefully down from the carriage-it was Cao Dapang’s sister, Cao Qionghua.
Cao Dapang may be a chubby fellow, but his sister Cao Qionghua had a slender figure and a charming, delicate face.
Supported by her maid, she straightened her dress and entered Chao Jianan’s courtyard with a radiant smile.
I had a vague feeling Sun Dagui’s hopes were about to be dashed.
Who would have thought this local ruffian was actually so popular.