The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 182 Meng Yulou decides to marry, a small person struggles.

Lai Bao saw that Han Daoguo and his wife were truly poor and destitute, and took pity on them. So he found them a job at the herbal medicine shop managed by Ximen Da Guanren, where they were transporting and drying medicinal herbs.

Although it wasn't a respectable job, and I was drenched in sweat every day, I still managed to earn a few coins, enough to tide me over when we had nothing to cook.

Han Daoguo was extremely grateful and from then on worked hard from dawn till dusk.

However, Han Daoguo had a younger brother named Han Er, who was an idle, good-for-nothing who only drank and gambled and was utterly worthless.

Seeing that he was young and strong, Wang Liu'er began to flirt with him, and disregarding their relationship as sister-in-law, she began an affair with him.

When Han Daoguo was away, Han Er would sneak in like a mouse, and the two would commit their illicit acts in the room.

That afternoon, when the light was just right, Han Daoguo went to the shop again.

Wang Liu'er, itching with desire, heated up a pot of wine and waited for Han Er.

Having received the signal, Han Er, seeing that no one was around, cautiously slipped into his sister-in-law's room.

When Wang Liu'er saw him arrive, she laughed and cursed, "You short-lived wretch," before pulling him onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

Little did they know that walls have ears and windows have eyes.

In this alley, there are always some hooligans who cause trouble and extort money from the streets.

They had long heard rumors that Wang Liu'er and Han Er had some kind of connection, but they had never caught them red-handed.

Today, seeing Han Er sneaking in from afar, I knew something was up. Like flies drawn to blood, we crept up to the back window of Han's house and listened intently.

The sound of the mat on the kang (heated brick bed) rattling filled the room. One of the ringleaders, seeing this, shouted, "Catch them in the act! Do it!" The four ruffians yelled back and kicked at the flimsy door. With a loud crash, the latch broke, and the four men pounced into the room like wolves!
This is truly:
The mandarin ducks on the kang (heated brick bed) were terrified, naked and with nowhere to hide.

Wang Liu'er screamed and hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself, her face turning purple.

Han Er was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed) naked and tried to crawl under the bed, covering his head.

As a result, these hooligans grabbed his arms from both sides, lifting him up like a chick.

"What a shameless harlot! In broad daylight, she dares to do such a shameless thing with her own brother-in-law!"

The scoundrel shouted insults, spitting all over Han Er's face. "Go! Take him to the authorities! Let the master's rode him and teach you shameless scoundrels a lesson!"

Without a word, a few hooligans found some hemp rope and tied the naked Han Er up like a dumpling. They then grabbed a piece of clothing and threw it to Wang Liu'er to cover his shame. Pushing and shoving, they dragged the two of them toward the yamen gate.

Along the way, neighbors came out upon hearing the noise, pointing and laughing incessantly.

Hearing about this rare event, which of the neighbors in Niupi Lane wouldn't come to see it?
In an instant, the area was completely surrounded. The pointing, laughing, and chattering were like a pot of boiling porridge.

One of the women scoffed, "Pah! What a shameless whore, Wang Liu'er! And Han Daoguo is a real-life bastard!"

One of the idlers crossed his arms and sneered, "Heh heh, Han Er, that scoundrel, always stealing chickens and dogs, who would have thought he'd steal from his own sister-in-law's bed! Look at him, all that daring he usually has, he's using it all up here!"

Some shook their heads and sighed: "Alas, the world is going to the dogs, morals are corrupt! An uncle and sister-in-law committing adultery, they are worse than beasts! They should be arrested! They should be beaten!"

Amidst the commotion, a loud, hoarse curse suddenly rang out, drowning out all other sounds: "Indecent and immoral! You despicable couple, deserving to be torn to pieces!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, squeezed at the front of the crowd. His beard bristled with anger, and his finger trembled as he pointed at Wang Liu'er and Han Er, spitting as he angrily berated them:

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky! How dare you commit such a beastly and despicable act! Han Daoguo is my neighbor, a mature and prudent man who works hard to build a family business. How could you, you harlot, do such a shameless thing at home! And you, Han Er, you beast!"

"That's your own sister-in-law! Have you thrown all sense of propriety and shame to the dogs? You've disgraced your family and dishonored your ancestors! The magistrate should beat you two to death on the spot to set an example!"

The old man cursed with righteous indignation and fervor, as if he were a moral exemplar and a paragon of justice. The onlookers were drawn to his intense attitude, and some unsuspecting people even nodded in agreement.

However, the old neighbors who knew each other well exchanged knowing glances and covered their mouths to chuckle.

Someone whispered, "Look, that old bastard Tao is jumping out to pretend to be a decent person!"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "Pah! Everyone on the street knows about his family's scandalous affair. His daughter-in-law almost hanged herself the year before last because of it, causing a huge uproar. And he has the nerve to come here and call others 'immoral'?"

A shrill voice from the crowd interrupted him rudely: "Hey! Who do we have here pretending to be something they're not! It's Old Man Tao, the philanderer!"

This shout of "Tao the bastard" was like revealing his secret, and the crowd immediately erupted in even louder laughter.

Immediately afterward, another voice chimed in with utter sarcasm: "Old Tao, you're here calling others 'immoral' and 'worse than beasts,' but have you completely forgotten your own illicit affairs? Are your 'moral principles' and 'sense of shame' just for others?"

A middle-aged man, clearly well-informed, started counting on his fingers and loudly recounting the events in public:

"Listen up, neighbors! This old man Tao is the real master of 'incest' in Niupi Alley! How did his first daughter-in-law end up hanging herself from the roof beam because he drove her to the point of shame? It's only been a few years! Have you all forgotten?"

The crowd erupted in a buzz, and countless piercing gazes were fixed on Old Tao.

The man became more and more animated as he spoke, his voice booming and every word piercing: "His first daughter-in-law was driven to her death by him, and after less than two years of peace, his son remarried. Hey! Guess what? This new second wife of his also fell for his incestuous hands!"

"He's always getting handsy and stirring up trouble, driving newlyweds to tears and almost causing a death! Everyone in the neighborhood knows about this!"

"Hahaha!" The crowd erupted in deafening laughter, filled with contempt and glee. Someone shouted, "That's right! A proper 'incestuous' master has the nerve to accuse others of 'stealing their brothers-in-law'? It's like a madam scolding a prostitute—unaware of her own shame!"

Someone else spat in Tao Ba Hui's direction, saying, "Pah! You old scoundrel! Your own incestuous affair led to your daughter-in-law hanging herself, and you still have the nerve to act like a saint! I bet you're trying to extort a few taels of silver from Han Daoguo too, aren't you? What are you pretending to be, you big bad wolf!"

Tao, the shameless man, was exposed in public with a barrage of accusations, each word hitting the nail on the head. He was so ashamed that his old face turned from red to purple, then from purple to green, as if he had been exposed to a dye shop.

His earlier righteous and stern demeanor was completely gone. His lips trembled, and although he wanted to retort, he couldn't utter a single word, and his cane was shaking uncontrollably.

Amidst the laughter, mockery, and contemptuous stares from all around, and the curses of "incestuous affair," "old incestuous man," and "driving his daughter-in-law to her death," he could no longer stand and wished he could bury his head in his crotch.

With a disheveled appearance, leaning on that cane that seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, he fled like a stray dog ​​amidst the pointing fingers and constant laughter of the crowd, looking even more pathetic than Han Er, who was paraded naked through the streets.

When Magistrate Li saw that the evidence of adultery was irrefutable, he was furious and ordered that Wang and Han each be beaten twenty times and imprisoned.

In the depths of winter, when even a drop of water freezes instantly, nothing chills the human heart.

When Han Daoguo heard the terrible news, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck from a clear sky, shaking him so badly that his soul trembled and his spirit wavered.

The only person he knew with the highest status in his family was the one who was having an affair with his wife and was now in charge of the household.

They didn't care about anything else at the moment, and rushed over to protect their home, thinking it was just a lifeline.

So there was this scene.

Han Daoguo collapsed to his knees, trembling violently, his face streaked with tears and snot: "Brother Laibao! The sky... the sky has fallen! I... I, Han Daoguo, am a beast, even if you break me apart and boil me for oil, you can't squeeze out a few taels of silver to fill that bottomless pit!"

Lai Bao snorted cold air, leaned closer, and his spittle almost splashed onto Lai Bao's face.
"You idiot! You good-for-nothing! There's a real Buddha right in front of you, and instead of bowing, you come and ram into my dilapidated temple? In this Qinghe County, who else but my master would dare to put down the county magistrate's divination sticks, keep those scoundrels in check, and make those ox-headed and horse-faced demons obediently release the people?"

Han Daoguo, like a drowning ghost grasping at a floating weed, had a glint of thievery in his eyes before they dimmed again. He stammered, "My lord... my lord, what a noble person you are! I... I'm just a lowly shop assistant in his shop, barely able to get a bite of the mud off the soles of his boots. How dare I... dare to be so shameful?"

"How would you know if you don't go? Don't you care about your wife? That's not the wife I'm here to protect!" Lai Bao spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground, his oily finger poking hard at Lai Bao's sweaty forehead.
"You've been blinded by lard! You've been blinded by dog ​​shit! The great master is the kindest of all, and he cares deeply for his men! Now that you've suffered this terrible misfortune, isn't this the perfect time to grovel before him and beg for his mercy?"

"Just go and beg! Prepare a 'pleading for mercy' note, and plead with the sir that since you have been diligent in the past, please open your mouth, show your compassion, and save us!"

Han Daoguo was drenched in a torrent of abuse by Lai Bao, leaving him feeling both enlightened and bewildered. He hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Uncle Lai Bao is right! I'll go right away!"

When Han Daoguo arrived at his home, he found that the house had already been ransacked by those ruffians. Chests and trunks were overturned, tattered rags were scattered all over the place, and they had taken everything that could be sold for a penny.

Han Daoguo's eyes were red, and he didn't care about tidying up.

He slammed open the creaking, broken door of the neighbor, Bu Tongsheng, as if his backside were on fire.

This old scholar, surnamed Bu, was a poor, penniless fellow who had never even scratched the surface of the imperial examinations. He made a living by writing divorce papers, IOUs, and Spring Festival couplets for his neighbors.

Upon seeing the "famous" Han Daoguo, the disdainful and sullen expression on his withered old face became lively.

"Old Man Bu! My living ancestor! Help! Help me!" Han Daoguo knelt down in the mud outside the threshold with a thud, his face blurred with tears and snot.
"Please, Father, have a compassionate heart and draft a life-saving petition for me! My good-for-nothing wife and my troublesome brothers are locked up in the county government's den by the devils! Only the golden words of Master Ximen can save my life!"

Bu Tongsheng twirled a few mouse whiskers, his eyelids drooping, and slowly dragged out his words, "Oh? A letter pleading for help from Master Ximen? This... is no ordinary, trivial letter; it concerns lives and deaths, and must be written with heartfelt emotion and sorrow... This... is the fee for writing it..."

Han Daoguo felt utterly dejected. He frantically rummaged through his sweaty satchel, which clung to his flesh beneath his ribs, and pulled out the last dozen or so copper coins, still warm and damp with sweat—shaking as he presented them, his voice cracking with sobs.
"Old Man Bu! I... I've scraped all the money out of the oil pan! This is all I have! Please, have mercy! Write it down quickly! The chains of death are already around my neck!"

Bu Tongsheng weighed the meager amount of money in his hand, grunted in his throat, reluctantly spread out a piece of coarse, moldy yellow hemp paper, licked his chapped lips, dipped them in cheap ink, and inquired about the reason for the filth.

As he wrote, his handwriting was crooked and he shook his head, spouting pretentious nonsense like "the world is going to the dogs, hens are crowing at dawn, and families are in turmoil."

After finally finishing writing, the ink was still black and not completely dry. Han Daoguo, like a starving dog pouncing on excrement, snatched the life-saving talisman and, disregarding all etiquette, turned around and, like a rolling gourd, stumbled and ran wildly towards the vermilion gates and high walls of the Ximen Mansion, as if his life depended on it.

When Han Daoguo arrived at the magnificent black lacquered gate of the Ximen Mansion, his legs felt weak.

The two servants in blue robes and small hats were standing at the door.

Han Daoguo knelt down with a thud at the foot of the cold stone steps, holding aloft the crumpled, tear-stained "pleading letter," and wailed at the top of his lungs:
"Brother at the gate! Please inform him! I am Han Daoguo, a shop assistant at the Lion Street herbal medicine shop, sir! I have suffered a terrible injustice and beg to see you for help! Please, brother, do me a favor! I kowtow to you!"

After saying that, he started kowtowing loudly, his forehead instantly turning blue.

The two servants in blue robes stood on the vermilion gate and exchanged a glance.

“It’s not that we’re deliberately making things difficult for you, but do you know how many people come to our master every day for trivial matters? If we were to pass on every single one of them, hey! Our master wouldn’t have a moment’s peace for twelve hours a day, and he probably wouldn’t even get a hot cup of tea.”

Another person chimed in, "Exactly! If we go in and report this, and the master gets upset and blames us, won't the beatings be severe? We'll be bruised and battered, and we'll lose our jobs. Who will we complain to then? You should just leave."

Han Daoguo was terrified, knowing this was his last chance to survive, so how could he leave?

He suddenly grabbed a servant's leg tightly, his tears and snot smearing the servant's brand-new trouser leg, his voice hoarse and desperate: "Brother, I know I've offended your eyes! But my wife hasn't enjoyed a single day of happiness with me, I can't let her die in jail!"

"Please, brothers, have mercy on me! Just send a note in, and whether the lord sees it or not, I will be eternally grateful! I will repay you both by serving you as a cow or a horse in my next life! I beg you!"

The servant, annoyed that his leg was being held and that his pants were soiled, angrily broke free and yelled, "Let go! You filthy thing! You've dirtied my pants, can you afford to pay for it? If you keep bothering me, believe me, I'll call my men!"

Just then, Lai Bao walked out in a serious manner and shouted, "What are you two doing? Han is still one of our shop's employees. Now that he's in trouble and has nowhere else to turn, he's come to your house."

"Just take the invitation in and report the truth to Dai'an! Whether the master sees him or not is his own decision! If you keep making excuses and block him outside the door crying and wailing, it will make outsiders think that our Ximen family is mean-spirited and heartless, and doesn't care about its servants! Do you still have any dignity?"

Lai Bao's words were perfectly watertight. He pointed out the advantages and disadvantages while giving the servants a way out, keeping them at a distance from Dai An. Even if the master didn't help, it would prevent the two from being punished.

The two servants, drenched in cold sweat from the reprimand, dared not utter a word of excuse. They hurriedly bowed and replied, "Yes! Yes! We were foolish! We'll go and report right away!"

Lai Bao, seeing that the matter had been arranged, paid no further attention to it and said indifferently to Han Daoguo, who was still slumped at his feet, "Whether it is a blessing or a curse, we shall see what fate has in store. You should take care of yourself."

Having said that, she stopped looking at him, straightened her robes, and went out to do the things her master had instructed her to do.

Han Daoguo collapsed at the foot of the cold stone steps, as if utterly exhausted. Blood mingled with tears and sweat streamed down his forehead, and he trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind. He could only stare intently at the black lacquered door that symbolized life and death, desperately praying that Master Ximen would show him a shred of mercy.

After what seemed like an eternity, the small side door creaked open.

The servant who had gone in to announce the arrival came out and said, "Consider yourself lucky! The master has shown you mercy and is willing to see you! Go in and wait outside the ceremonial gate!"

"Remember, keep your head down and look at the ground, don't let your eyes wander! If you offend someone important, you'll regret it!" the servant cursed, kicking Han Daoguo. "Hurry up and go inside!"

Han Daoguo felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and he scrambled through the side gate.

Once inside the mansion, they dared not breathe loudly, keeping their heads down and backs hunched, their eyes fixed on the tips of their worn-out shoes, as they followed the servant leading the way through the courtyard with its carved beams, painted rafters, and lush flowers and trees.

The overwhelming sight of wealth and luxury only made this poor man feel more ashamed and tremble like an autumn leaf in the wind. Finally, he was led to a spacious and magnificent hall. Through the beaded curtain, he could vaguely see figures moving about inside, laughing and talking, with the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifting in.

A strong scent of perfume and an unknown incense wafted over him. Han Daoguo was ordered to kneel on the cold gold brick floor to wait, his head almost buried in his knees, and he even breathed very softly.

Ximen Qing was reclining on a drunken chair covered with brocade cushions, while Jinlian and her two adorable daughters were massaging his legs and shoulders.

The servant carefully held up Han Daoguo's invitation: "Reporting to your Excellency, Han Daoguo, the clerk from the herbal medicine shop, has arrived. He is kneeling outside the door, and this is the invitation he handed over."

The official took the card, unfolded it, and read it quickly: "Since she's a shop assistant, let's put her on the list. Dai'an, take my name card and go to the county government office. Tell Magistrate Li that the woman, Wang Liu'er, is a family member of one of my shop assistants. She's a woman who hasn't seen much of the world and might be being coerced or have some misunderstanding. Please, Magistrate Li, handle this as you see fit and release her."

He spoke casually, then, as if remembering something, added, "As for that...Han Er? Leave him at the yamen to give an explanation. Also, those few hooligans broke in; tell the head constable about that."

"Yes! I understand!" Dai'an bowed and left to receive the order.

As the saying goes: "The judge's pen is no match for the eloquence of a nobleman!"
With just a few words from Master Ximen, the fate of several people was already decided.

Han Daoguo, kneeling on the cold gold brick floor outside, could only vaguely hear a few indistinct instructions from Master Ximen and the laughter that echoed again inside the hall, through the beaded curtain.

His heart was in turmoil, unsure whether it was good or bad. Then he saw Dai'an hurrying out, carrying Ximen Qing's gilded name card.

Dai'an walked up to Han Daoguo and said with a smile, "Han, you must have had good karma from your ancestors! The master has been merciful!"

Han Daoguo's eyes instantly lit up with wild joy, and he struggled to kowtow, saying, "Thank you, sir! Thank you for your boundless kindness! I..."

"Alright, alright, stop kowtowing. Don't spoil the master's mood!" Dai'an interrupted him. "Come with me."

After being rescued from prison, Wang Liu'er and Han Daoguo embraced and wept.

That evening, Lai Bao brought some tonics, and Han Daoguo left under the pretext of buying wine. Wang Liu'er thanked him profusely without mentioning it.

A few more days passed.

As the winter solstice approaches, a chill has quietly crept into the Ximen mansion.

In the afternoon, the wealthy official Ximen Qing lay reclining on the warm kang in the hall, with his wife Wu Yueniang leaning against him, and Pan Jinlian, Li Guijie, and Xiangling standing behind him. The floor heating made the room feel like spring, with only the north wind blowing through the bare branches outside the window, making a mournful sound.

Lai Bao stood at the foot of the steps and reported one by one: "The workshop is working day and night to finish the important birthday gifts that the master instructed the other day. The jade mountain base has been carved into an imposing eight-sided shape, and the gold peach has also been molded. It is only waiting for the final addition of kingfisher feathers and jewels. It will be presented in its entirety in the next few days."

The official listened and grunted, clearly quite satisfied: "Keep a close eye on it; there can be no mistakes whatsoever."

Before he finished speaking, Dai'an had already lifted the scarlet felt curtain and led several servants in one after another. The servants were all carrying heavy lacquer boxes decorated with gold-painted peonies. Dai'an, panting, said, "Reporting to Master, the silversmith has sent over the designs for the new jewelry made for the Winter Solstice!"

"Bring it up!" Ximen Qing suddenly became interested and waved his hand.

Several nimble servants hurriedly carried over a large, round, black lacquered table, and Dai'an opened the box lids one by one. In an instant, the room was filled with brilliance, and gold, silver, pearls, and jade glittered dazzlingly. Red gold inlaid with kingfisher feathers, white jade inlaid with gems, pearl necklaces, coral and agate... layer upon layer were laid out, making even the winter sunset outside the window lose its color. Although each piece of jewelry was small, it exuded an aura of wealth and luxury.

Moon Lady smiled and said, "This silver shop has really gone to great lengths, coming up with so many fancy things just in time for the winter solstice."

Ximen Qing waved his hand and smiled at the women behind him, saying, "Go and pick out a few that you like, to add some joy to the Winter Solstice."

Several women immediately smiled and gracefully moved to surround her.

The Moon Maiden had quite a few belongings of her own, so she casually picked out two simple and elegant jade hairpins and silver bracelets before sitting back on the kang (heated brick bed) to enjoy her tea.

Jinlian, Guijie, and Xiangling all opened their eyes wide and searched carefully among the glittering jewels.

Xiangling was timid and only dared to pick out a pair of small and exquisite pearl earrings before stopping. However, the master took off two more and put them in her hair.

This gesture made her pout, and the little pearls were so touched they almost fell off again.

Jinlian'er and Guijie'er's eyes were both fixed on a pair of red gold and kingfisher feather butterfly hairpins.

The butterfly was exquisitely crafted: its thin wings were made of fine, hair-like red gold filigree, and its entire body was dotted with emerald green, its blue color resembling the sky after rain; its eyes were inlaid with two tiny red gems, radiating brilliant light; and each of its antennae had a small South Sea pearl hanging from its tip, making it seem as if it were about to take flight.

Jinlian, quick as a flash, had already caught the end of the hairpin with her slender fingers. She said to Xiangling with a sweet smile, "Good sister, look! This butterfly is so pitiful. It would be perfect if it landed on my hair..."

Before she could finish speaking, a hand painted with scarlet nail polish swiftly reached out beside her—it was Gui Jie'er. How could she possibly let it go?

Without a word, she snatched the golden hairpin from Jinlian's fingers and stuck it into her high-coiffed hair. She even tilted her head slightly, making the butterfly tremble trembling beside her temple.

Jinlian was no pushover. Instantly, her eyebrows furrowed, her almond eyes widened, and she grabbed Ximen Qing's sleeve, writhing him like a piece of taffy. Her voice was shrill and coquettish: "Father, be the judge! I clearly grabbed her first! Gui-jie is so unreasonable, snatching her right away!"

Gui Jie'er also rushed to Ximen Qing's other side, hugged his arm, and pointed at the hairpin in her hair, shouting, "Father, don't listen to her nonsense! This good thing belongs to whoever is quick to see and grab it! I've already put it in, do you expect me to take it out?"

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Jinlian with his peach blossom eyes. Jinlian glared back without backing down, her two pink faces turning bright red. It looked like they were about to tear each other apart, and the atmosphere in the hall became tense.

Caught between these two fragrant breezes, Ximen Qing heard the warbling of birds and the chirping of butterflies, and saw the angry faces of women, which he found quite amusing.

He laughed heartily, putting his arms around their waists, one in each hand, and scolded them with a laugh, "You two little hussies! Is it worth all this fuss over something so trivial? Alright, alright, stop arguing! One for each of you, go pick something else, don't ruin the harmony!"

He slapped each of their plump buttocks with his large hand.

After being coaxed by their master and hearing that there was another treasure, the two of them turned from angry to happy, snuggling sweetly into Ximen Qing's arms. They tugged at each other's sleeves and pinched each other's hands, calling out "good father" and "dear father" in a jumbled mess, completely forgetting the little sparks of anger from before.

Ximen Qing was extremely pleased, with women on his left and right, and said to Yue Niang with a smile, "Look at them, they're all like horses without bridles, they need me to whip them from time to time!" Yue Niang covered her mouth and smiled, then lowered her head and fiddled with the Buddhist beads on her wrist.

The Ximen family lives in harmony here.

Meng Yulou delayed for a few more days.

Guarding those silks, each day truly felt like an eternity.

Even after gradually lowering the prices, not many people came.

She's a woman who's born with a knack for business; how could she not see the key to it?

In Qinghe County, the prominent families who were willing to spend a lot of money on silk had already been lured away months ago by the 'ten-man gang' gimmick in Ximen's shop, and their money flowed into Ximen's treasury like water.

The remaining ordinary buyers, either short of money or hesitant and observing, now that they see her prices have dropped, they all have the mentality of "buying when prices are rising, not falling," thinking that prices can get even cheaper, and are even more reluctant to make a purchase.

Occasionally, someone would come to inquire about the price, but they would be picky and nitpicky, wishing they could drive the price down to the ground. How could Meng Yulou possibly agree to that? It was truly difficult to sell, and even more difficult not to sell; it was like putting people on a hot seat.

Just after noon that day, he started making a racket both inside and outside the house.

A flurry of footsteps, banging on the door, and shouting filled the air, like boiling water being poured onto a pot of oil.
"Madam Meng! Stop being a coward! Paying back debts is a matter of course!"

"You can run away on the first day of the month, but you can't hide on the fifteenth! If you don't pay back the money today, we brothers will set up a stage in front of your shop tomorrow and put on a show so that the whole of Qinghe County can see how many bad debts are hidden under the golden signboard of your 'Yang's Cloth Shop'!"

"Yes! Smash her signboard! Let's see who dares to buy her unlucky silks now!"

The door was slammed loudly. Meng Yulou's face turned ashen, and she swayed, barely managing to hold onto the corner of the table. Her heart sank.

These damned scoundrels! Just a few days ago they were only shouting insults from behind the wall, but today they're actually going to tear off the mask and ruin her livelihood!

If she, a widow, were to be blocked at her doorstep and cause a scene by this group of filthy people, how would she continue to do business?
Just as I was feeling flustered and confused, the noise outside suddenly stopped, and a familiar voice, yet filled with unprecedented anger, rang out like a thunderclap:
"Hey! You bunch of lawless bastards! Have you lost your mind? How dare you come here and cause trouble? Get out! All of you, get the hell out of here!"

Meng Yulou's heart skipped a beat. Peeking through the crack in the door, he saw that the wealthy Master Li, who often came to "take care" of the group, was standing there, his chest heaving slightly, his finger trembling as he pointed at the group of ruffians.

"In broad daylight, you're blocking a widow's door and shouting insults at her. Do you have any humanity left? Get out!"

The ringleader, seeing it was Master Li, retorted, "Master Li! Please calm down! It's not that we're disrespecting you, it's just that Madam Meng owes us a debt and won't pay it back. We're just following orders from our master!"

“Although you are the guarantor, you are not from Qinghe County. What if you just pack up and go back to the capital, to that rich and powerful place? Are we poor folks supposed to sprout wings and chase after you all the way to the Golden Palace?”

"This debt has two options: either you, kind-hearted old lady, pay it off for her today, or she'll return the money herself! There's no other way!"

Master Li, enraged, shouted, "Nonsense! Is Madam Meng the kind of person who would default on a debt? She's just short of silk and can't make money! You heartless bunch, are you trying to drive her to her death by pressing her like this?"

He took a deep breath: "Besides! Madam Meng... Madam Meng... she will be my lawfully wedded wife sooner or later! Her difficulties are my difficulties! Do you think I, Li, a dignified merchant in the capital, would just stand by and watch my betrothed suffer the filth of you scoundrels? Would I shortchange you few who are just buying coffins? That's a ridiculous joke!"

Upon hearing this, the group of hooligans outside the door immediately looked at each other like chickens with their necks choked, their arrogance diminished by half.

Meng Yulou, who was inside the door, suddenly trembled as if he had been doused with cold water.

When did she ever agree to marry him? This Master Li… his words are… so rash and abrupt!
Yet, through the crack in the door, she could genuinely sense some of his eagerness to protect her.

Zhang San, standing outside, rolled his eyes and sneered, "Master, you speak so sincerely! But Madam Meng wants to marry you? We've never heard of such a thing! It's all just talk!"

"Unless we get Lady Meng to personally confirm that she truly intends to marry the Master, then we'll leave without a word! We'll come back to demand our money after the Master's wedding feast! Otherwise... humph!"

His thugs joined in the clamor: "Yes! Let Lady Meng come out and speak!" "Marry or not, just say it! Give us a straight answer!"

Meng Yulou was pale, leaning against the door, her body trembling slightly.

Master Li shouted loudly, "Yu Lou...you know my feelings for you! In this situation...say something! Tell them that what happened between us...it wasn't just empty talk!"

Meng Yulou felt her throat go dry and her mind in turmoil. Her deceased husband's memorial tablet, the piles of silk, the thugs demanding repayment of debts... and the man before her, who seemed both anxious and sincere.

A thousand emotions welled up inside her. Looking at the unmistakable sincerity in Master Li's eyes, and then at the aggressive rogue, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning: Perhaps... this is a way out?
At least, the person in front of her genuinely wanted to protect her?
She bit her lower lip, avoiding Li Yuanwai's burning gaze, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

Master Li said, "Since you, Yulou, are not saying anything, I will do it as you agree."

Hearing this, the group of ruffians exchanged glances, not daring to truly offend the seemingly genuinely angry master. They bowed slightly and said with forced smiles:
"Alright! With Madam Meng's words, we brothers will give Master and his future new wife face! Three days, three days at most! Either we see the money, or... we'll have to follow the rules! Brothers, let's go!"

The group dispersed in a flash, leaving behind a mess.

Master Li's face immediately lit up like the sun breaking through the clouds, and his joy almost overflowed from his eyebrows and eyes.

He rushed to the door, his voice trembling with excitement through the door: "Yu Lou! I'll take that as your own promise! Good! Very good! I...I..."

He rubbed his hands together, so happy he didn't know what to say. As if afraid the promise would slip away, he hurriedly asked, "In that case, when can we officially settle this relationship? When can we sign that marriage certificate that promises a hundred years of happiness? So that I can rightfully protect you from the wind and rain and take care of these dirty and trivial matters!"

Meng Yulou leaned against the door frame, her thoughts a complex mix of emotions. Seeing Li Yuanwai's genuine elation and heartfelt eagerness, her initial resistance softened somewhat.

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and said in a hoarse voice, "...Three days. Give me three days. Firstly...I need to do my best to sell the stock of silks and other belongings in the shop to raise enough money to settle this debt."

"Secondly... we need to invite a few influential relatives from my late husband's clan to be witnesses... to silence any gossip and prevent any idle chatter. Three days later... we will... we will sign the marriage certificate and... marry into the family, as the master wishes."

Upon hearing this, Master Li was overjoyed and clapped his hands in laughter outside the door, saying, "Alright! Alright! Three days it is! Everything is as you wish! Everything is as you wish!"

Meng Yulou twisted the handkerchief in her hand and said softly, "Yulou... Yulou is a widow who remarried. It is already a great blessing that the master does not abandon her. It's just... her deceased husband left behind this meager fortune."

"Yu Lou dares to... ask for your mercy, sir. After the debts are paid off by selling the property, could... could you allow Yu Lou to keep the remaining silver with her as... as some personal spending money?"

"That's fine...that's fine too. I can buy some cosmetics, hair oil, needles and thread for women, or give a maid or boy as a reward. Otherwise...otherwise I'll be empty-handed in the mansion, having to shamelessly ask the master for everything, which would only make me a laughingstock, and also...otherwise it would damage the master's reputation..."

Upon hearing this, Master Li was first taken aback, then burst into an even louder laugh, a laugh brimming with generosity and indulgence, as if he had heard something extremely amusing:
"Hey! I thought it was something huge! So this is what it's about! As you say, do you think I, Li, with my vast fortune, would covet this little bit of your deceased husband's legacy...?"

His tone was sincere, with the straightforwardness of a businessman: "Don't worry! Just focus on preparing for the wedding! From now on, I'll take care of everything!"

"Now that you've come with me, your food, clothing, and daily necessities—clothes for all four seasons, jewelry, and accessories—will all be provided for by the public funds. You'll never be shortchanged. As for this little bit of personal savings, you can keep it as you see fit!"

"Spend it however you like, whether it's buying rouge and powder or rewarding maids and servants, it's all up to you! If I, Li, cared about such a small amount of money, what kind of man would I be? Wouldn't I be ridiculed by the world for mistreating a beautiful woman? You can rest assured!"

He suddenly remembered something, quickly suppressed his smile, and said seriously, "As for those silks and valuables, Madam Yulou, don't worry too much! Sell them if you can, and if you can't sell them right away, there's no need to sell them at a low price! I'll cover your debts! Now that we're husband and wife, what's mine is yours!"

(End of this chapter)