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墨書 Inktalez
Su Rong felt completely ignored, and suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table in frustration.
However, the other three paid him no mind. Shen Muhan focused his attention on Xia Muxin, who was busy munching on snacks at the table. Meanwhile, Shen Muqing turned his gaze toward the window, his expression cold and serious.
Su Rong truly felt that enough was enough. One person acted this way, and now two did as well. Ever since Xia Muxin appeared, Shen Muhan seemed to have forgotten all about him as a grandfather. After a pause, he turned to Su Xiuning and said,
"Ning'er, since Han Er has chosen his own path, then you should marry Qing'er."
He didn't care; Su Xiuning had to enter the Shen Family, even if it meant using underhanded tactics.
Su Xiuning lowered her head, her gaze dimming. Deep down, she resented Su Rong. It was precisely because she wasn't of Su Family blood that her life had no room for choice. Today she was told to marry this person, tomorrow another. On the surface, they all claimed to love and care for her, but in reality, everything was just for the sake of the Su Family.
Moreover, she had never been interested in Shen Muqing. His eyes were too cold; there was never a hint of warmth in them. Although his chilliness couldn't compare to Shen Muhan's, she found herself drawn to him nonetheless—so much so that it had become ingrained in her bones.
She deliberately flattered him and endured various grievances. Even when he tossed her aside for Wei Jianxu, she could only silently bear it, hoping that one day he would realize she was the best choice for him. However, the Su Family constantly had their eyes on her; thus, she couldn't be blamed for becoming distant.
"I heard your house is quite large; I think I'll stay there for a while."
Shen Muqing furrowed his brows and stared at Su Rong for a moment before disdainfully looking away. Then Xia Muxin spoke up in a low voice and stood up to leave.
"Grandfather, I want to go with Brother Muqing," she said.
Seeing this situation unfold, Su Xiuning's eyes lit up with a smile as she tugged at Su Rong's sleeve playfully.
"Alright, let Su Yan Chu accompany you; otherwise, I won't feel at ease."
Seeing Su Xiuning like this made Su Rong feel somewhat relieved. It seemed she didn't dislike Muqing after all. He gently patted her hand reassuringly.
"Um..."
A flock of crows flew overhead, and Xia Muxin thought to herself that this was her home, not a place where just anyone could stay.
But she was straightforward and said whatever came to her mind:
"Uncle, this is my house, not a place for just anyone to live in."
Shen Muhan raised an eyebrow, then took her small hand in his, gazing at her with a slight smile as he replied:
"Isn't having money like having a ghost push the mill?"
"That's true. The only rooms left in the house are on the fifth floor. The higher you go, the more comfortable it is. Plus, from up high, you can see far. Ten taels of silver a night isn't too expensive, right? Food and drink are extra. Is your brother's share on you or does he pay for himself?"
At the mention of money, Xia Muxin's eyes sparkled, and she grinned as she reached out her palm toward Shen Muhan, raising an eyebrow at him.
Even the usually composed Regent couldn't help but feel amused at this moment. This girl—when would she stop calculating everything? She was always looking to profit whenever silver was involved. Where did she get such a nature from...?
At that moment, Su Yan-Chu, who had been eavesdropping at the door, stumbled and fell right into the room, rolling across the floor.
Feeling particularly embarrassed, he got up while straightening his robe and chuckled awkwardly:
"Grandfather is right; Second Sister must be unfamiliar with many things in the countryside. Having more family around will certainly help."
His eyes occasionally darted toward Xia Muxin. Seeing her deep in thought yet amused as she looked at him made him slowly lower his head.
Who would be foolish enough to turn down free silver? Thinking of these three people—thirty taels each night—what was there to worry about? She clapped her hands and exclaimed:
“Welcome, Commoner. What price range do you want for the beds, blankets, cabinets, and other decorations? Feel free to ask, but the payment must be made in advance.”
With that, he spread his hands wide, one side reaching towards Su Xiuning and the other towards Su Yan-Chu.
“Chuer, pay him two thousand taels in advance. Let them stay however they like.”
Su Rong shook his head in disappointment at Xia Muxin’s shortsightedness while glaring at Shen Muhan with frustration. He thought that this useless fellow would eventually be led astray by such a coarse woman. After giving instructions to Su Yan-Chu, he called the Su siblings to another private room, likely to discuss some strategies.
Thus, while only two people had left, five returned, and the Xia Family was bound to be lively for quite some time.
“Muxin...”
Upon returning home, Xia Muxin was pulled away by Yan Zhouwan. Shen Muhan watched their closeness with a furrowed brow. It wasn't until Shen Muqing waved his hand in front of him that he snapped back to reality and coldly glared at the sullen Shen Muqing, saying in a deep voice:
“It’s not worse than your military camp.”
“How many floors do I stay on?”
Hearing this, Shen Muhan looked at him as if he were an idiot. After a long pause, he muttered,
“Fifth floor. Excluding food and drink, it’s ten taels a night.”
In fact, Shen Muqing's return was due to Shen Muhan's pressure. He had been away from home for too long, and their mother constantly worried about him. Knowing he was reluctant to return, Shen Muhan had anticipated this situation. Moreover, their relationship only resembled that of brothers when faced with difficulties; otherwise, they were merely strangers.
So his response was natural.
“I have no money; just put it on credit for now.”
Shen Muqing had already taken a step forward, but upon hearing Shen Muhan speak, he paused and turned to glance at him, coldly saying.
He was puzzled. How could this country girl, Xia Muxin, have such a hold over his all-powerful older brother? As long as Xia Muxin said east, he wouldn’t dare go west. He compromised and hid his true abilities for her.
Feelings, huh... he really couldn’t figure it out.
Once, he had yearned for something similar, but that old man Su Rong had meddled in his affairs. Even today, he held onto a glimmer of hope. Even though she was already married, just knowing that she was well would be enough...
Shen Muhan shrugged indifferently; it wasn’t his money on the line as long as he could escape the scrutiny of the girl.
“Zhou Zhou, what’s wrong?”
Meanwhile, Yan Zhouwan pulled Xia Muxin into her own room. Seeing her so nervous, Xia Muxin asked with concern.
Yan Zhouwan tugged at her sleeve, her face slightly flushed. After a long pause, she hesitantly said, “Muxin... do you still have that thing from last time?”
Seeing her fidgeting and shy demeanor, Xia Muxin grinned and teased, “What are you shy about? We’re all women here.”
Her voice was a bit loud, and just then Shen Muhan happened to pass by the door. Both of them frowned slightly. At that moment, the door creaked open, and Xia Muxin rushed out only to bump directly into Shen Muqing behind her. The collision caused her to bleed from her nose.
Shen Muqing had changed into a plain silk robe on his way here. Now, with Xia Muxin's nosebleed spilling over, several crimson flowers bloomed across his chest, a sight that was shocking to behold.
“Big Brother, how do you walk? Were you eavesdropping at the door?”
Xia Muxin tilted her head back, one hand wiping her nose, as Shen Muhan brought a warm towel and placed it on her neck. She couldn't help but grumble in annoyance.
Shen Muqing glared at her blood-stained chest, remaining silent as she walked upstairs.
Fortunately, Shen Muhan was nearby, and the nosebleed was quickly stopped. He wiped his hands with the towel and asked suspiciously, "Muxin, have you been eating a lot of spicy food lately?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's face flashed with discomfort. She quickly dashed upstairs but returned moments later, rushing into Yan Zhouwan's room. Shortly after, Yan Zhouwan emerged from the room, her face flushed.
Shen Muhan's brow twitched. What was going on with these two girls?
Su Yan-Chu did not stay at the Xia family home; she only dropped off Su Xiuning and left after dinner. Su Xiuning felt at home there and had become familiar with the villagers in just three days, especially with the Zhou sisters.
Whenever she had free time, she would run over to their house and wouldn’t return until mealtime. Xia Muxin had been staying at home lately since the Ouyang family was still engaged in a price war. She wasn't foolish enough to go out and buy things again with a large sack, especially since they had stopped making Orchid Bean at home. If they were willing to engage in a losing business venture, then let them continue.
Ouyang Xuan was clingy and sarcastic; she hardly went to town anymore. The shop was being watched over by Sister Swallow and her sister-in-law, which made her feel at ease. After all, she planned to lose money on the storefront anyway, so she might as well do it thoroughly.
This time Shen Muhan returned seemingly busier than ever. He would frequently go out for a day or two at a time, returning exhausted each time. Even when he was home, he buried himself in paperwork all day long. After his return, Ming Peng had disappeared, and neither Ming Yi nor the others had shown up either.
Xia Muxin knew he had come back for her; there must still be many unresolved issues at the border. But why had Shen Muqing returned as well...?
*
"Brother, take a look! Can we make this?"
One evening after dinner, Xia Muxin pulled out a blueprint and handed it to Xia Tieshu. Seeing Xia Tieshu staring wide-eyed at the paper in surprise, she leaned closer to ask.
“Muxin, what is this? It looks quite strange.”
Xia Tieshu pondered for a long time, gesturing with his fingers on the table, and then curiously asked Xia Muxin.
Shen Muhan returned in the evening. When he saw her bent over the table, seriously drawing something, he didn’t want to disturb her. Instead, he sat on the bed with a pile of items and began to read. At that moment, he realized that she was drawing this blueprint, and his gaze shifted to the back of the paper, filled with curiosity.
Su Xiuning had settled in at the Xia Family, but the meals were charged per serving. As Xia Muxin put it, if you want to eat, go ahead; if not, she wouldn’t take your money. You could always eat elsewhere. However, the food at the Xia Family was excellent; both the taste and presentation suited her palate perfectly. Although Xia Muxin could be a bit demanding, it was still within an acceptable range for her.
Moreover, she was most familiar with the Zhou Family in the village, but when it came to meals, she hesitated. After all, she feared they might covet her status and scheme against her.
“This? It’s a bicycle.”
Xia Muxin formed a heart shape with her hands and looked at her brother with utmost flattery, her eyes filled with hope.
“And this... chain?”
“This one has an uncle.”
“......”
*
“Muxin, this thing is found in every household in the village; it’s just an ordinary item. What do you want it for?”
“Yan Zhouwan, what kind of vehicle are you pushing? It looks so odd!”
Five days later, Xia Muxin went from house to house collecting Garlic, gathering several pounds from each family. Many villagers were curious and couldn’t help but ask about it. Upon seeing Yan Zhouwan behind her, they were even more astonished and widened their eyes in surprise.
Indeed, last night Xia Tieshu and his father followed the drawing made by Xia Muxin to build a bicycle. The chain was sourced by Shen Muhan. As soon as the bicycle was completed, Xia Muxin joyfully rode it around the yard for dozens of laps, leaving everyone astonished. They had never seen such a marvelous invention before, and it was made from just a few pieces of wood. At that moment, Yan Zhouwan was pushing the bicycle, with two sacks of garlic hanging from either end.
"Hehe, the secrets of heaven must not be revealed."
Xia Muxin smiled brightly and playfully hinted at something mysterious. She then conveniently took over the scales, while Yan Zhouwan quickly removed the sacks and spread them out, their teamwork remarkably in sync.
"Zhou Zhou, what's wrong? You've been gloomy these past few days. Is there something on your mind? Or is it that time of the month affecting your lovely mood?"
As they circled the village, the weight of the sacks felt lighter thanks to the bicycle. At this moment, they were heading back home, and Xia Muxin voiced her concerns from the past few days while taking over pushing the bicycle from Yan Zhouwan.
"Ah... it's nothing... maybe just that time has affected my mood a bit."
Yan Zhouwan replied absentmindedly. Xia Muxin knew she wasn't being truthful but chose not to press further.
"Husband, our child is going to be born next month."
"Mm."
"What do you think? Will it be a boy or a girl?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
"Either is fine."
"......"
Not far away, Zhou Cailian shyly wrapped her arms around Feng Liulang's, as if she had just come out of the Zhou family home. She nestled happily against his chest, occasionally asking him questions.
Feng Liulang maintained a stoic expression throughout, his face cold and almost silent, clearly indicating his indifference.
He was now the designated Top Scholar, and Feng San Niang boasted about him to anyone who would listen. It was said that he would soon take up an official position, although the specifics had yet to be announced. Zhou Cailian had indeed soared from a humble background to a position of prominence. Despite Feng Liulang's lukewarm attitude towards her, his discerning eye remained superior.
As a result, Zhou Qinglian had completely fallen out with Zhou Cailian, and the Zhou family now sided entirely with Zhou Cailian. Xia Muxin shook her head and sighed; indeed, the daughters of the Zhou family were merely pawns to be used. Whichever one married well received their favor, leaving one to wonder whether this was a blessing or a curse.
"Xia Muxin, I need to talk to you. Come with me."
As they crossed paths, Xia Muxin initially intended to ignore her, but Feng Liulang abruptly pulled away the hands that were wrapped around his arm and coldly glared at Xia Muxin's retreating figure, expressing his frustration.
"Muxin..."
Yan Zhouwan was somewhat aware of the situation between Xia Muxin and Feng Liulang and looked at her with concern.
After all, Feng Liulang's status had changed dramatically; he was now the emperor's chosen Top Scholar and was destined for high office. She knew Shen Muhan also had an impressive background but assumed he wasn't from an official family. Even if he were, it likely wouldn't be a significant position.
Xia Muxin patted Yan Zhouwan's hand reassuringly, signaling her not to worry. She then turned her bicycle over to her and walked alone towards Feng Liulang.
"Is there something you need?"
Her tone was cold and devoid of emotion as her gaze drifted past him into the distance.
Her disregard for Feng Liulang infuriated him. Which girl in the village wasn't flattering him now? After all, he was destined to be the future Top Scholar—his future was secure, and he would undoubtedly have many wives and concubines. He needed to elevate the Feng family’s status.
"Xia Muxin, is that how you speak to a Top Scholar?"
Zhou Cailian glared at Xia Muxin with gritted teeth. If it weren't for her, she and Zhou Guilian wouldn't have reached this point of viewing each other as enemies. At this moment, seeing Feng Liulang so infatuated with her only fueled her anger.
After all, she was Feng Liulang's legitimate wife. Even though she had prepared herself for the possibility of him having many concubines, those little vixens were still under her control. Moreover, with the child in her womb, the Feng Family, no matter how heartless they were, would still give her some respect. Besides, a man like Feng Liulang, who cared about his reputation, would never dare to treat her poorly in public.
Feng Liulang, however, ignored Zhou Cailian and stepped forward, roughly grabbing Xia Muxin's hand and dragging her aside.
"Top Scholar, please have some self-respect. Losing your face is a small matter; ruining my reputation is a big deal."
Xia Muxin struggled several times before finally breaking free from Feng Liulang's grip. She was puzzled; when did he become so strong? She remembered him being quite different before and his tone was far from friendly.
"Hmph, Xia Muxin, do you still have the face to talk about reputation?"
Feng Liulang stumbled slightly as Xia Muxin broke free, nearly falling to the ground. In a fit of anger and embarrassment, he retorted.
Xia Muxin rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to argue further. "I'm busy. If you have something to say, just say it."
Feng Liulang furrowed his brows and said, "Marry me, and I will give you the position of a primary wife."
He hated Xia Muxin; the humiliation she brought him was something he could never wash away in this lifetime. Yet he also wanted to bind her to him and torment her mercilessly, watching her suffer and beg for mercy.
The man in black had also said that the first thing after becoming Top Scholar was to marry Xia Muxin and that she must be his primary wife. Otherwise, while he had the ability to elevate him to Top Scholar status, he also had the power to return him to commoner status. He had grown accustomed to a comfortable life filled with wealth and did not want to go back. Plus, marrying Xia Muxin wasn't such a bad idea; compared to Zhou Cailian, who was nothing but a brainless pig, Xia Muxin was far superior—especially since she knew how to make money.
Xia Muxin looked at Feng Liulang as if he were a monster and scoffed:
“Top Scholar, did you forget to take your medicine last night? Otherwise, how could you be having a mental breakdown in broad daylight?”
Damn, this person is really asking for it. Does he think he's some kind of prized possession? Just a lousy Top Scholar, flaunting himself for no reason. I could easily crush him with a silver coin.
And as for being a consort, who cares...
“Xia Muxin, don’t push your luck.”
Feng Liulang never expected Xia Muxin to be so unyielding. If she didn’t want to give him face, that was one thing, but now she was even insulting him. He immediately pulled her closer, his voice icy to the bone, his bloodshot eyes locking onto hers with a chilling intensity.
Xia Muxin frowned and struggled slightly, but the irrational Feng Liulang suddenly leaned down to kiss her.
Startled by his abrupt action, Xia Muxin quickly turned her head away and stomped on his foot. Feng Liulang let out a pained yelp and instantly released his grip on her. Seizing the opportunity, Xia Muxin kicked towards him.
“Ah...”
Feng Liulang was struck right in the groin, his body convulsing as he fell to the ground, howling in agony.
Xia Muxin straightened her slightly wrinkled dress, coldness rising in her eyes as she looked down at Feng Liulang with disdain. She stepped on his waist and said sharply:
“Feng, you better rein it in. Not every woman wants to climb the social ladder. Besides, who do you think you are that I would even consider you? Don’t even think about marrying me; I wouldn’t even want to be your ancestor.”
- End of Chapter -
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