Chapter 247: An Uninvited Guest

Wang Shi had given Shi Lian an additional two servants and three maidservants. After discussing with her husband, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Shi Lian decided to leave one of the servants at home to help take care of the lands given to her as dowry while she brought the other five to the capital.

Besides Cai Yun, the three maidservants were all active and eager, and had long regarded themselves as part of the family. Upon seeing Sang Yufei who was handsome and had come in third for Hanlin Academy’s examination, they adored him greatly and considered themselves as ‘knowledgeable’ for not being born in a lowly family. They were also confident that although Sang Yufei was now highly regarded, he came from the countryside where beauty standards were lacking. As such, they intentionally stroked their hair coquettishly in front of him and expressed every sort of flirtatiousness. Shi Lian only watched them coldly, but Cai Yan clenched her teeth and scolded them countlessly. Sang Yufei sneered secretly. After all, he wasn’t Ren Zhixian, and was not charmed by some maidservants. On the contrary, he hated seeing their behavior more than Shi Lian.

The two of them had already secretly discussed that on their way to the capital, they would sell those three people to avoid trouble when they arrived there.

On the day when it was time to leave, Sang Yufei and Shi Lian both paid their respects to Sang Hong and his wife. After thinking that they would only meet again in another two or three years, tears welled up in Sang Hong’s eyes and he had mixed feelings. He was happy, proud, and sad to part with them.

“Don’t forget to write us a letter when you settle down, so that we don’t have to worry about the expenses there. If you are short on money, write a letter back to tell us. Although we aren’t very wealthy, thanks to you, our situation has become better, so we can still be of help,” Sang Hong patted his second brother’s shoulder and said. Sang Yufei quickly agreed.

Fang Shi was pleased that Shi Lian was gentle, well-mannered, and sensible. Although she was very reluctant to part after getting along with her for a few days, she held her hands and said with a smile, “We will help to look after the lands and stores. The dowries that you didn’t bring along, I’ll tidy and lock them up later. I heard that the expenditure in the capital is high and the people there are influential, but the two of you shouldn’t get by being pressed for money. I did some calculations yesterday. The lands and shops will yield 700 to 800 silvers a year. I think it’ll be more than enough for the two of you to live well in the capital!”

Upon hearing that, Shi Lian felt a sense of warmth in her heart. Although she wasn’t the pampered daughter in her family and didn’t care about money, Fang Shi was willing to give all the profits in one year to her. This kind intention was invaluable.

“Big Sister-in-law, you and Big Brother, together with Xiao Quan and Xiao Nuan, have to live better too. This way, we’ll not have to worry. We will be bringing quite a large sum with us to the capital, and my husband has an official’s salary, so we won’t be hard pressed for money. Don’t worry,” Shi Lian said with a smile.

Sang Hong replied with a sigh, “But most of the money came from your dowry. It’s better not to use them! You should keep them instead.”

Shi Lian said with a smile, “Big Brother, you’re regarding my husband and I as outsiders by saying that. When my husband gets promoted in the future, he can return them with his increased salary!”

This brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

“Big Brother, don’t worry. I know what to do.” Sang Yufei said with a smile. He was not inflexible. If he had to spend the money and there was no other way, it was understandable to use his wife’s dowry. Just as she had said, he would return it to her in the future. Since they were husband and wife, they ought to go through thick and thin together.

Upon seeing that it was getting late, Sang Hong was afraid to delay their journey, so he urged them to set off. Sang Yufei and Shi Lian paid their respects again before they went up the carriage.

When they arrived in Qingzhou City, they went to the Shi household as promised. After staying there for three days, Sang Yufei had a knowledgeable discussion with Shi Fenghua before becoming a guest at Magistrate Hong’s place. After which, they took a boat to the capital under Shi Fengju’s arrangement.

After Magistrate Hong met Sang Yufei, he praised his talents and learned that he was backed by the huge financial ability of the Shi Family. He assured Sang Yufei that there was nothing to worry about when he arrived at the capital, and after a year or two in Hanlin Academy, he would have no problem entering the Ministry of Manpower or Ministry of Finance. He couldn’t help but secretly make up his mind to take good care of this man so that the Shi Family would owe him a small favor in the future. Therefore, when Magistrate Hong inadvertently heard his incompetent son mention to Sang Yufei that his wife was a concubine that he didn’t want, it infuriated him. Ignoring his wife’s dissuasion, Magistrate Hong firmly beat his son with a hard plank.

Not long after Sang Yufei and his wife had left the Shi household, an uninvited guest came over.

This man wore a brand new round-neck robe, made with royal blue silk, and a pair of black boots. He also wore a jade hairpin to tie his hair. From behind, he looked like a wealthy young man with an elegant figure. However, his front was greatly disappointing. This man was almost fifty years old. He had a pair of beady eyes, high cheekbones, yellow skin with wrinkles, flat lips, and two wisps of moustache. There was also a cautious smile on his face. He clearly did not have any status or confidence.

This man was Sang Pingliang.

“Is your Miss Gu around?” Sang Pingliang asked the gatekeeper with a smile.

For such an old person to ask about Miss Gu the moment he arrived, the gatekeeper couldn’t help but look at him from head to toe before asking while remaining vigilant, “Who are you? Why are you looking for her?”

Why was he looking for her? Of course it was to ask her for help!

Sang Pingliang hurriedly said, “I am Sang Pingliang. Can I trouble you to tell her that I’ve something urgent for her!’ He then took out a piece of fragmented silver and shoved it into the gatekeeper’s hands as he requested.

Seeing that the money to complete such a simple task was not small, he thought to himself first and pouted soon after, “Wait there and don’t block the gate. I’ll help you to ask!”

Before Sang Pingliang could thank him, the gatekeeper suddenly eyed him from head to toe again, “Your surname is Sang? Are you one of our Young Mistress’ relatives?”

Apart from Sang Wan’s family, the Shi Family didn’t seem to have other relatives or friends with the surname Sang. What differentiated a gatekeeper from other servants was the need to understand the relationships the Shi family had with other families.

“Ah? No, no, no!” Sang Pingliang was startled and hurriedly shook his hand to deny. There was no way he would have dared to admit it. If Sang Wan knew about what he had done, she would surely place righteousness before her family. That Miss Gu, who was full of smiles and amiable, was much easier to talk to! He could only shamelessly ask the kind-hearted girl. As for Sang Wan, it was best for her not to know!

“You could’ve just said no. Why are you so agitated?” The gatekeeper stared at him angrily before going to the second gate to find someone to deliver the message.

As for why Sang Pingliang suddenly appeared again, it all happened two months ago.

At that time, Shi Fengju was still recuperating in Handan while Sang Wan had rushed over there to take care of him. Through Wang Shi, Gu Fangzi managed to get involved in the Shi Family’s sea freight business and had the mind to get Sang Pingliang and Li Shi involved.

Ever since she had met Li Shi by chance, she was clear on what sort of person Li Shi was. As such, she had a vague idea in her mind. Afterwards, she sent someone to Yangliu Town’s Sihe Village to investigate. From there, she learned of the dispute between Sang Pingliang’s family and Sang Hong’s family. Gu Fangzi almost laughed out loud.

With such a person readily available before her eyes, she would even look down on herself if she did not make good use of him.

Therefore, a horse carriage entered Sihe Village one afternoon and someone knocked on Sang Pingliang’s door.

The person who arrived was named Hu San. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, “You’re must be Old Master Sang Pingliang, right? I am sent by Miss Gu from Qingzhou’s Shi Household. Is your wife at home?”

“You’re looking for my wife?” Sang Pingliang saw that Hu San was no older than thirty years old. For an old cabbage like his wife, he did not have any doubts when this man came to look for his wife. However, he did find it strange.

“Miss Gu told me to look for your wife. She felt like she was old friends with her even though their first meeting was short. Your wife will surely know who Miss Gu is!” Hu San said with a natural smile.

Although Sang Pingliang found it somewhat strange, he still allowed Hu San in before telling Sang Rou to call Li Shi back.

When Li Shi heard Hu San mention Gu Fangzi and the meeting they had previously, she didn’t suspect a thing especially after he took out a pair of golden hairpins as a gift. She was both delighted and pleased, so she praised Gu Fangzi endlessly.

Hu San did not expect this woman to go on and on. As he was not good at interrupting, he could only smile and give a few words of praise.

At the very least, Sang Pingliang was not muddle-headed and knew that Hu San wasn’t here just to look for his wife, give a small gift, or say a few words after coming all the way here. He coughed and interrupted Li Shi before asking with a smile, “Brother Hu San, is there anything else?”

This was exactly what Hu San came for, so he hurriedly said with a nod, “There is! Let me explain. Our Shi Family’s sea freight business is short of a watchman to watch over the warehouse. The job is very simple. The watchman only has to remember to close the door for entry and exit and patrol at night so that nobody steals the things in the warehouse. However, this person has to be someone dependable. This way, we won’t have to worry, isn’t it so? Miss Gu feels your wife and her are like old friends and knows that your situation isn’t very good. This job is easy and will be a good opportunity for your family to earn more money. And since you’re Young Mistress’ family, the two of you are naturally dependable. If this job is handled by you, Miss Gu will have nothing to worry about!”

“No problem, no problem!” Upon hearing that he was going to work for the Shi Family, Sang Pingliang was so happy. How could he not agree? Even if the job didn’t sound simple, since he was Sang Wan’s uncle, who would dare to disrespect him when he had a role to play in the Shi Family’s business? If he made a lot of friends, developed his contacts, and his luck was good, he would have a bright future ahead! Wouldn’t that be better than staying in this ditch?

“Miss Gu is really kind-hearted!” Sang Pingliang couldn’t help but praise Gu Fangzi. He hurriedly asked, “May I know when we will be going?”

Hu San quietly looked down on them: These are the Young Mistress’ uncle and aunt? From the looks of it, Young Mistress must be no different! No wonder the Young Master wasn’t willing to marry her then! Marrying a woman from such a family was simply a disgrace!

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