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

Chapter 217 Gongsun Sheng Comes to Protect Wang Liu'er

This Han Er had been severely beaten with dozens of lashes and imprisoned for seven or eight days before being released.

The beating was so severe that his skin was torn and bleeding profusely, and he walked with a limp, the wound on his buttocks still not healed.

But this guy is the kind of person who "forgets the good times," and his wicked intentions never give up.

After resting at home for several days, he saw his elder brother Han Daoguo go to the shop. Then he remembered that his sister-in-law Wang Liu'er was good at flirting. The dirty thoughts in his heart rekindled and he could not suppress them.

Han Ernuo sidled up to the edge of the warm kang (heated brick bed), his face gleaming with lust as he approached, saying, "My dear sister-in-law! I've missed you terribly these past few days! It's so warm here in your room, with this roaring brazier..."

As he spoke, his eyes darted around like a mouse stealing oil, constantly scanning Wang Liu'er's half-open breast and the white, greasy flesh of his legs exposed by his rolled-up trousers, while he swallowed greedily.

Wang Liu'er glanced at him sideways, without moving, but threw the sunflower seed shells in her hand at his face, spitting, "Pah! Shameless thief! You got a good beating last time, and your dog skin hasn't even been properly stuck to your ass yet, have you? You dare to sneak into my room again? Be careful when your thieving brother comes back, he'll peel off your skin and break your dog legs!"

“My brother doesn’t care! As long as my sister-in-law is happy, he’s happy.” Han Er, scolded, grinned and sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), reaching out to warm himself by the fire.
"My sister-in-law has the heart of a Bodhisattva; she's always taken pity on her brother!"

As he spoke, he pretended to warm his hands by the fire, but seemingly unintentionally, he rubbed them against Wang Liu'er's pale calves at the edge of his trousers.

Wang Liu'er felt ticklish from his rubbing, and instead of dodging, she twisted her body and giggled lewdly, then kicked his rotten buttocks lightly:
"Get the hell out of here! Don't try to pull this on me! I can see right through you! With your shifty eyes, you're definitely up to no good again!"

Han Er cried out in pain when he was kicked in a sore spot, but his excitement only intensified. He grabbed Wang Liu'er's ankle, which was covered in bright red slippers, and pulled her into his arms, muttering, "Sister-in-law! Dear mother! Please have some pity on your poor brother! I'm in jail, and I don't think about anything else but these little feet of yours..." As he spoke, he impatiently started to take off the slippers.

Wang Liu'er pretended to struggle a few times, laughing and cursing, "You damned thief! In broad daylight..." Despite his words, his body had already gone limp on one side, letting him take off his slippers, revealing a bare, white foot.

Han Er was overjoyed, holding it in his hands, kneading and squeezing it, praising it and saying, "It smells so good."

The two were rubbing against each other on the heated kang. One pretended to distance himself while cursing "prisoner" under his breath; the other shamelessly called out "dear mother".

The brazier was crackling and burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy. The smells of sweat, perfume, and charcoal mingled with an indescribable aroma.

Han Er's hands became increasingly unrestrained, sliding down her smooth calf and trying to slip inside her trouser leg...

Wang Liu'er sneered, quickly pulling her open coat shut with a smug glint in her eyes: "I'm here to protect you now! Not only have you, you thieving bastard, not even your own brother Han Daoguo dared to lay a finger on me these past few days! Who do you think you are? Daring to provoke me? You fearless monkey, keep trying! Just wait till I whip you to death, you dog!"

When Han Er first heard the words "Master Lai Bao" and thought of the overwhelming power of the Ximen family, he was only slightly startled, but his lustful desires were instead aroused and ran rampant.

He lewdly grinned and said, "To die under the peony flower, to be a romantic ghost for my sister-in-law, I, Han Er, am... a thousand times willing!" As he spoke, he pounced on Wang Liu'er like a hungry tiger.

Just then! The courtyard gate slammed shut with a series of loud bangs! The force was rapid and heavy, accompanied by a man's thunderous roar:

"Open the door! Open the door now! Something amazing has happened!"

The man who arrived was none other than Lai Bao, who had been instructed by the wealthy Ximen Qing to hurry over and arrange a "mutually consenting" affair!

Han Er was so frightened that his three souls left his body and his seven spirits ascended to heaven. His lustful courage instantly turned to ice water, and he dared not linger any longer.

They were utterly terrified, and with a "whoosh," like a stray dog ​​or a frightened bird, they scrambled and crawled towards the back door of the main room.

Wang Liu'er panicked immediately, frantically pulling up her pants and belt, slipping on her slippers, and scratching her disheveled hair, repeatedly calling out, "Hey! Hey! Coming, coming! Who...who is it?"

Unfortunately, the door bolt hadn't been properly secured when Han Er rushed in. With a loud crash, Lai Bao pushed the gate open!

A servant followed behind him, carrying a heavy vermilion lacquered tray covered with a red silk cloth.

As soon as Lai Bao stepped into the courtyard, his eyes, sharp as knives, caught sight of Han Er's hasty retreating figure, tail between his legs, disappearing in a flash behind the curtain at the back of the main room!
"Han Er?" Lai Bao was taken aback. He turned his head sharply, his eyes fixed on Wang Liu'er's face: "You shameless slut! You shameless dog and dog! In broad daylight, with your doors tightly shut! I wondered what treasure you were hiding, but it turns out you're hiding this filthy wretch! It's that filthy scoundrel Han Er! He's a truly despicable slut who won't eat anything! Did I feed the face and money I gave you to the dogs?!"

Wang Liu'er was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a thud. Ignoring the cold ground, she grabbed Lai Bao's leg and burst into tears, her face covered in snot and tears.
"Master! My dearest master! I've been wronged! I've been wronged! Waaah... It was that Han Er! That shameless scoundrel Qiu Gen sneaked in and harassed me while his brother was away! Ever since you... you took my body and slept with me, you've been the only one in my heart and eyes!"

“Even…even my deadbeat husband, Han Daoguo, I haven’t let him touch me for days! I swear to God! I fought tooth and nail to get rid of him, and I was yelling at him to get lost when you came knocking on the door, sir! Waaah…what is that Han Er anyway? He’s not even worthy to carry your shoes! How could I possibly want him? Waaah…”

As she cried, she hugged Lai Bao's legs even tighter, trying to calm his anger with her gentle warmth.

"Bullshit!" Lai Bao cursed angrily, and suddenly drew the horsewhip from his waist! The whip was made of tanned cowhide twisted together, with a copper buckle at the end. When it struck a person, it immediately left a bloody gash!

"Crack! Crack!" Two crisp sounds rang out! Lai Bao showed no mercy, lashing Wang Liu'er's back, which was clinging to his leg, twice with the whip! "Ah—!"

"Sir, spare me! Sir, spare me! Everything I said is true! It's Han Er! It's Han Er! Waaah..."

Lai Bao roared at the dumbfounded servant behind him, who was carrying a silver tray, "Are you standing there waiting to die?! Go! Take my name card and go to the county government office right now! Find Chief Zhang! Tell him that the Ximen family has caught a thief named Han Er!"

"Tell him to take men and arrest him immediately! Beat him to death! After that, exile him! Don't worry about any crime, just fabricate one! Go now!"

The servant dared not delay and quickly replied, "Yes, sir! I'll go right away!" He put the silver tray on the ground and ran off towards the county government office.

Nowadays, a name card from an official in the Ximen family is a hundred times more effective at the yamen than a petition from an ordinary person!
"Stop howling like that!" Lai Bao spat, his eyes flashing with a beastly light. He grabbed Wang Liu'er's hair, yanked her up from the ground, ignoring her wincing in pain, and dragged her staggeringly into the house. "You'll learn your lesson and know who your master is!"

Han Daoguo was taking a nap in his herbal medicine shop when a servant from the Ximen household came galloping in to report that there was some incredible "good news" waiting for him at home, and that he needed to discuss it with Wang Liu'er immediately.

He hurriedly asked for leave and rushed home against the biting northwest wind.

The room was dimly lit. Wang Liu'er, wearing only a light red bodice, lay stiffly on the heated kang, her face buried deep in the pillow, completely silent.

"Liu'er! My dear mother! What... what have you done to me?!" Han Daoguo was so frightened that he fell to the edge of the kang with a "thump" and reached out to pull her shoulder, his voice cracking.

"Ouch—you damned bastard! Don't touch me!" Wang Liu'er gasped, shuddering in pain, and struggled to turn half of his face to the side.

By the dim red light from the charcoal brazier, Han Daoguo could see clearly that her hair was disheveled, her makeup was in disarray, tear stains were horizontal and vertical, and the corners of her eyes and brows still held the lingering fear and pain.

What's strange is that those peach blossom eyes were actually brimming with a bewitching, watery light, burning with a kind of wicked excitement, and they were actually quite enjoying it!
Then her eyes swept over the tray covered with a red silk cloth under the edge of the kang!

Han Daoguo followed her gaze and also noticed the conspicuous object.

He had no time to investigate further. He just beat his chest and stamped his feet, crying out, "This...this must be the work of that damned bastard! Where...where are you hurt? Can you still bear the pain? My God! This...this money earned at the risk of one's life, it's better not to earn it! Why send one's own flesh and blood into the oil pot?!"

Wang Liu'er didn't answer his question about whether it hurt or not. She just breathed heavily and gestured with her chin toward the tray: "You...you lift up that red cloth and take a look!"

Filled with suspicion, Han Daoguo did as instructed, his hands trembling as he lifted the red silk—whoosh! A tray overflowed with gleaming, heavy silver coins! In the dim light, they stung his eyes!

A rough estimate suggests it's worth at least fifty or sixty taels of silver!

Han Daoguo had never seen so much silver before!

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his throat felt like it was blocked. He chuckled twice before suddenly looking up, staring intently at Wang Liu'er: "This...this...where...where did this windfall come from?!"

Seeing his dazed expression, Wang Liu'er's seductive smugness emanated from her very bones, as if the injury on her buttocks had lessened considerably. She gestured for Han Daoguo to come closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with a mysterious air of seeking praise: "Master Lai Bao... just left... this silver was placed there by him personally... as a deposit!"

"Deposit?!" A sense of foreboding surged through Han Daoguo's heart like a venomous snake. "What deposit?!"

Wang Liu'er took a deep breath and then recounted the whole story in detail.

“…That’s the thing.” After Wang Liu’er finished speaking, she paused slightly, her voice soft and slow, but every word struck Han Daoguo’s heart: “Master Lai Bao is an open man. Master Ximen said that this is all about mutual consent. Let’s put the money here first and let us…think it over carefully.”

"At home, my word is law regarding the basic necessities! But this matter... concerns Ai'er's entire future! Is it a matter of jumping into a fire and burning to ashes, or climbing a high branch and becoming a phoenix..." She sighed softly, her eyes like hooks.

"As a mother, I have a heart too. I need to hear from you, the father, and get a straight answer! Tell me, is our daughter going to get married or not?"

After hearing this, Han Daoguo froze on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), as if he were a clay or wooden sculpture. His mind went blank, a jumbled mess of thoughts.

He remained silent for a long time, as if he were a taciturn man, until the fire in the charcoal brazier went out, leaving only a few embers.

The room was deathly silent, save for Wang Liu'er's suppressed gasps and his own heavy breathing. With a thud, he slowly slid down to the cold floor, clutched his head with both hands, and dug his ten fingers deep into his hair, pulling at his scalp until it ached.

"Sigh—" A long sigh, as if forced out of his chest, echoed dully in the deathly silent room.

Han Daoguo raised his ashen face, etched with withered weariness and a resigned bitterness. He looked at Wang Liu'er, his throat feeling like it was filled with sand:
"Let's...let's get married."

A glint of tears flashed in Wang Liu'er's eyes, but she forced it back and remained silent.

Han Daoguo started rambling on to himself:
“If she doesn’t marry… what else can we do? Confined to this dilapidated, cold cave dwelling, her whole life…” He choked up, “…will just be this wretched. It’s my good-for-nothing father who’s useless, I’ve ruined her life…”

"With our family's status, even if we managed to marry into a wealthy family in Qinghe County, what good would it do? Nine out of ten would still end up as someone's concubine! A domineering matriarch above you, surrounded by a pack of ravenous concubines. That kind of life..." He shuddered, "...just thinking about it sends chills down my spine! You'd never even amount to anything!"

He paused, and then a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes:
“But if we send him to the Zhai family in the capital…that would be a completely different story! Do you think that head steward Zhai is some kind of person? He has connections that reach the highest levels of government, and he only has one wife at home!”

He lowered his voice to a whisper, his tone seductive: "This is the greatest fortune our Ai'er could ever have! As long as she gets through this, learns to be more obedient, becomes more perceptive, and manages to please Steward Zhai... who knows... who knows, maybe heaven will open its eyes and let her get pregnant!"

"By then, our Ai-jie will be the number one hero of the Zhai family! Her status will rise because of her son!"

Wang Liu'er's voice trembled with tears: "But... my heart is aching like it's being ripped out! When she's by my side, at least I can catch a glimpse of her... But now that we're in the capital, with mountains and rivers separating us, seeing our daughter is harder than climbing to heaven..."

Han Daoguo sighed heavily: "A girl! Sooner or later she'll belong to someone else! You can't keep her tied to your belt and take her to the grave, can you?"

"So...this matter...is it...settled like this?" Wang Liu'er's voice trembled, barely audible.

Han Daoguo seemed to have all his strength drained away, squeezing out the last breath from the depths of his lungs, his voice dry as sandpaper: "...It's...it's settled."

Han Daoguo uttered the word "It's settled," as if he had exhausted all his energy. He slumped down on the cold ground, feeling a chill run through his body, as if his internal organs had frozen solid.

The last spark in the charcoal brazier went out with a "poof".

Wang Liu'er struggled to sit up and called out hoarsely towards the door, "Young man outside! Go back to...go back to the master! Tell him that my wife and I...have agreed! We are extremely grateful for the master's kindness!"

The servant boy from the Ximen household, who was waiting outside the door, responded and hurried away to deliver the message.

Before half a cup of tea had been brewed, the servant returned, followed by the arrogant Lai Bao.

Han Daoguo had long since disappeared into some hidden corner, leaving Wang Liu'er alone on the kang (a heated brick bed), forcing herself to stay alert and cope.

Lai Bao strode into the room, bringing with him a chill. His gaze first swept over Wang Liu'er's prostrate hips, then a smirk played on his lips as he asked with a hint of lewd mockery, "Is that injury... still throbbing painfully?"

Wang Liu'er immediately put on an extremely charming demeanor, turned her face with difficulty, her eyes darting around with a watery look, and deliberately dragged out a soft, drawn-out sob, half coquettish and half reproachful: "Oh my... my dear master... you love me so much..."

Lai Bao chuckled: "...It's inevitable that I'll get hurt once." Wang Liu'er gave him a disdainful glare.

Lai Bao accepted the teasing, but his expression turned serious: "My master asked me to ask you one more question: Is this matter truly a done deal? Once you've given your approval and sent the person to the carriage, it's like spilled water! The reputation of the Zhai family and our Ximen family is tied to this! Have you thought this through clearly and thoroughly?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Liu'er declared resolutely, "It's settled! Absolutely true! It's a done deal! My husband and I are both sensible people; we know this is an immense blessing! A fortune bestowed upon us by the ancestors! We wouldn't dare go back on our word even if we had a hundred lives! Absolutely not!" Afraid that Lai Bao wouldn't believe her, she desperately tried to climb off the kang (heated brick bed) to swear an oath. "Stay put!" Lai Bao waved his hand impatiently, but a satisfied look appeared on his face. "Good! The master is waiting for his reply. I'll go arrange it now."

He abruptly changed the subject, dropping a bombshell: "In the afternoon... at the latest before dark, the carriage with the blue silk veil from the manor will come to pick her up, without stopping, and send Ai-jie'er straight to the capital! The Zhai family is urging us urgently, and they can't afford to delay even for a moment!"

"Leaving...leaving this afternoon?!" Wang Liu'er's forced, charming smile froze instantly! Hearing that her daughter would be taken away in a few hours, her heart felt like it had been ripped open by an iron hook, and her voice cracked:

"This...this...is far too...far too rushed! At least...at least allow us to pack a few decent clothes for the child and give him a few heartfelt words of advice..."

"In a hurry?" Lai Bao scoffed. "When immense wealth falls into your lap, you think the Grim Reaper is coming too soon? In the capital, if Steward Zhai coughs, countless people will scramble to curry favor with him! The manor has all the carriages and horses ready; sending them over at top speed is the only right thing to do! What's there to pack? The Zhai family is overflowing with gold and silver; do they need your rags? Hurry up and have the children get ready and wait!"

After he finished speaking, he didn't even look at Wang Liu'er's suddenly pale face, turned around and left in a hurry with his servant.

No sooner had Lai Bao stepped out of the hospital than Han Daoguo scurried out like a startled mouse.

After listening to Wang Liu'er's trembling words, all the color drained from his face, and his lips trembled like fallen leaves in the autumn wind: "Leave...leave...leave...leave? This...this is too fast!"

Wang Liu'er could no longer hold back, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks. Filled with anxiety, pain, and regret, she grabbed the broom handle from the head of the kang (heated brick bed) and hurled it at Han Daoguo, hissing, "You damned wooden stake! Still lying here like a corpse?! Go! Go and call Ai'er over! Hurry!"

Han Daoguo snapped out of his daze, stumbling to the door of his daughter Ai'er's small room, his throat dry and choked with sobs, "Ai'er... my son... Ai'er... you... you come out quickly... your father and mother... have... have something important to say..."

The curtain was lifted, and Han Aijie walked out timidly.

Seeing her father's distraught state and then looking at her mother's back as she lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) in the inner room, an ominous premonition made her flinch.

“My dear sister… my child…” When Wang Liu’er saw her daughter, her heart seemed to harden, as if stabbed by something. She forced herself to speak: “Listen carefully! This afternoon… this afternoon the Ximen family will send a carriage to pick you up! To take you to the capital! To a very wealthy family! To the residence of Steward Zhai!”

"You...you used to be a maid to Steward Zhai! Listen to this!"

"Don't cry! What are you crying for! This is your good fortune! Others would beg for it!"

"When you get to that kind of place, tighten your muscles! Be more alert! Bow your head when you need to, and flatter when you need to!"

"You must behave as well as you would at home, understand? There are strict rules in this household, so speak less and kowtow more! Be respectful to the Madam, and in everything... be careful! Keep your menstrual pad hidden, so as not to offend any important people..."

Wang Liu'er rambled on, pouring out all the experiences she could think of and had heard, her tone hurried.

As Han Ai listened, her face turned from white to pale, then from pale to white again, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Overwhelmed by immense fear and confusion, she was devastated. What housekeeper? What concubine? Where was the capital? She felt the world spinning around her.

"Mother...Father..." She finally burst into tears, collapsing to her knees with a thud. Her small body curled up into a ball, and she cried her heart out: "I won't marry! I'll stay home and serve you...I won't go anywhere...Waaah..."

That cry of "I won't marry" pierced Han Daoguo's heart like a knife. He could no longer hold back; tears streamed down his face. He rushed forward and embraced his daughter, wailing, "My child... Father... Father is so sorry... Father is useless..."

His rough hands stroked his daughter's thin back, his heart filled with unspeakable guilt and helplessness.

Looking at the father and daughter on the ground, who were crying their hearts out, Wang Liu'er felt a surge of intense heat rush to her nose, making her vision go black.

Her carefully constructed hardened heart crumbled instantly. With a loud cry, she struggled to tumble off the kang (a heated brick bed), stretched out her arms, and tightly embraced her husband and daughter like iron hoops. The three of them rolled together on the cold ground, their weeping so loudly it shook the earth and dimmed the sun and moon.

After crying for an unknown amount of time, Wang Liu'er was the first to stop wailing.

She suddenly grabbed the tray covered with a scarlet cloth from under the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and with a "whoosh," she lifted the cloth!

With hands like iron rakes, he dumped all the gleaming, heavy silver ingots and silver nuggets into a slightly worn coarse cloth bundle next to him!
Clang! Clang! The silver light is dazzling!
"Son! Take it! Take it all!" She shoved the heavy bundle into her daughter's arms, causing the frail Ai-jie to stumble and nearly fall.
"Take it all with you! Don't leave out a single coin! Master Ximen sent a message, and out of respect for him, the household there will certainly not dare to mistreat you! Not only will they not make things difficult for you, they will treat you like a goddess!"

Wang Liu'er was panting heavily, her hands gripping Ai Jie'er's hands tightly, refusing to let go:

"But who knows, there might be some troublesome little devils in the underworld! Don't be stingy with the money! If you need to pave the way, then throw money at it! Use this pile of silver to make those snobbish bastards crawl on the ground! Let them know that you have mountains of gold and silver backing you up! Got it?!"

Her fingernails almost dug into her daughter's flesh. "From now on... your parents... can no longer protect you! Whether you live or die... it all depends on your own fate and ability!"

This day is the winter solstice, a day when the yang energy begins to emerge in the coldest days of winter.

Normally, this should be a time for families to gather around the stove, enjoy warm wine, and reunite.

Han Daoguo and Wang Liu'er, however, shrank back and half-dragged, half-pulled the absent-minded Han Ai'er, walking cautiously and tremblingly as if on thin ice, until they finally arrived at the two vermilion beast-head gates of the Ximen Mansion, whose brass studs were so dazzling that they made one dizzy.

The servant at the door glanced sideways, about to speak arrogantly, when Lai Bao came out and slapped him on the forehead, snorting out two puffs of white breath. He quickly opened the door.

As soon as the family of three stepped inside, they were greeted by a warm, fragrant wave of heat, mixed with the smells of charcoal fire, perfume, and an indescribable air of luxury, which immediately kept out the biting cold outside.

The sight before them terrified this small family from Qinghe County, leaving them utterly terrified!
The polished blue brick floor beneath their feet was so smooth that it reflected their images.

Han Daoguo was afraid that the mud on his feet would stain the "mirror," so every step felt like stepping on a red-hot iron. He hunched his shoulders and wished he could curl up his whole body.

Wang Liu'er's eyes greedily scanned the glass ram's horn lanterns hanging under the corridor, which were exquisite and translucent, reflecting the sun and shimmering with a seven-colored halo.

The vermilion lacquer railings of the covered walkway are glossy and smooth, carved with intricate lotus scrolls, the petals of which seem so delicate they could be squeezed for moisture.

The servants and maids standing under the eaves were all dressed in silk and satin, with powdered faces and oiled hair. They stood more properly than the clay statues in the temple, and they were all wearing the clothes they had always dreamed of.

She secretly pinched her thigh to stop herself from drooling—any one of the items in there could probably feed her family for ten or eight years!
Han Aijie felt dizzy and disoriented, as if the flying eaves and brackets, the gold-painted decorations and colorful decorations in the courtyard were so dazzling that she couldn't open her eyes.

Wang Liu'er said in a low voice, "My son, you will also have such a glorious life in the capital."

The three were led to a more spacious and magnificent flower hall, where the warm fragrance was even stronger when the felt curtain was lifted.

In the hall sat a man dressed in a brand-new black sable coat with dark patterns, holding a gleaming brass hand warmer in his hands. It was none other than Master Ximen.

Behind him stood a sandalwood screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl, reflecting the flickering flames in the charcoal brazier, its shimmering light further accentuating his handsome features and imposing presence.

"Thump," "Thump," "Thump!" Han Daoguo took the lead, followed closely by Wang Liu'er and Ai Jie'er. The three of them knelt down on the cold, hard gold brick floor as if their bones had been removed, their foreheads pressed against the brick surface, not daring to breathe.

The official slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Get up!"

He paused slightly, his gaze falling on the trembling Han Ai, and his tone softened:

"You two can put your minds at ease. Lai Bao will personally escort Ai Jie to the capital. Since I, Ximen Qing, recommended her, out of respect for me, no one in Steward Zhai's household will dare to bully her. She will receive all the respect due to her. Just rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Wang Liu'er felt as if he had received a pardon. He immediately kowtowed several times, praising her repeatedly: "Thank you, sir, for your divine grace! Thank you, sir, for your divine grace! You are like a second parent to our beloved sister! With you protecting us, we are completely at ease! Completely at ease!"

As she spoke, she glanced up and her eyes swept across the man's face with a mixture of gratitude and deliberate flirtation, a hint of teasing in her gaze.

But then he saw three beautiful women standing behind him.

Each of them had thick, bushy hair, a face like a silver basin, a serene demeanor like the autumn moon, and an elegant figure.

These three grandmothers are all like celestial beings!

That overall aura, that stunning beauty, that exquisite charm in the corners of her eyes and brows, especially the one on the right, a stunning beauty with a bewitching allure, looking at me with a half-smile, as if she knew everything.

Seemingly laughing at his own overestimation of his abilities, that gaze was like a basin of cold water mixed with ice shards, splashing down on Wang Liu'er's heart, which had just been ignited with wildfire!
Wang Liu'er's half-finished flirtatious glance froze in mid-air like a thread snapped by sharp scissors, then shrank back hastily like a startled rabbit.

She felt her face suddenly burn hot, and her newly formed, presumptuous, and romantic thoughts were shattered by the vibrant, beautiful reality before her.

Han Daoguo, standing to the side, dared only bury his head even lower, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold gold bricks, as if trying to embed himself into the ground. The overwhelming wealth and prestige of the Ximen family made his spine feel like it was about to break; how could he dare to raise his eyes to look at that high-ranking official?

The official took a sip of hot tea, seemingly oblivious to Wang Liu'er's flirtatious glance, and slowly began to speak: "Han, buddy."

"Yes, sir!" Han Daoguo's heart tightened, and he hurriedly responded.

"You are usually quite diligent in your work." The official's voice struck the two kneeling men with each word. "You will be the manager of the yarn shop."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, striking Han Daoguo squarely on the head!
Being the owner of a yarn shop! That's a lucrative and respectable job!

He was a "mud man" who had struggled in the mud of Qinghe County, enduring countless scornful looks and barely scraping by. When would he have dared to dream of such wealth and status?
This made him tremble all over, and even his kowtowing was shaky: "This humble one...this humble one is unworthy of such virtue...it is all thanks to the great sir's boundless kindness! This humble one...this humble one, even if I were to be shattered to pieces, could not repay even a fraction of the great sir's kindness!"

Wang Liu'er, standing to the side, was both surprised and delighted. Her heart was pounding, and she followed her husband in kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

The official waved his hand casually: "Just do it well." He paused, his gaze falling on Wang Liu'er's low-hanging hair, then changed the subject, his tone still calm: "There's one more thing. Wang Liu'er, I've heard you mention that you have a brother who is still young, and it's not good for him to just laze around at home."

Wang Liu'er's heart skipped a beat, and she held her breath.

"Tell him to come to the manor tomorrow and follow behind my servant Ping An. He will learn to run errands and be at my beck and call. This will give him a proper status."

A thunderclap suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

Before Han Daoguo and his wife could even finish their wild joy, they heard that the master was willing to take a liking to that little brother!

This is truly a double blessing, a sign of great fortune!
Wang Liu'er was overjoyed, feeling as if her bones had lightened considerably. Her face flushed red, and she replied repeatedly:
"Yes! Yes! Thank you for your kindness, sir! My good-for-nothing brother, I'll have him come here first thing tomorrow morning and be at your beck and call! If he makes even the slightest mistake, you may beat or scold him as you please! Even if you beat him to death, he'll still be a member of the Ximen household."

The couple were both bursting with joy, but they dared not act recklessly in the mansion, and they held back until they walked out of the vermilion gate of the Ximen mansion.

Just as they turned the corner and were out of sight of the grand mansion, Wang Liu'er could no longer contain herself. She grabbed Han Daoguo's arm, her voice trembling and high-pitched with excitement: "Master! Master! Pinch me! This...this isn't a dream, is it? Shopkeeper! My brother...he also..."

Han Daoguo took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all this immense fortune into his lungs. He gripped Wang Liu'er's wrist tightly with his other hand, lowering his voice but unable to suppress the trembling sound of wild joy:
"My lady! It's true! Absolutely true! The manager of the yarn shop! He's in charge of money and goods, and he has people to do his bidding! Your brother has also entered the manor, working with Brother Ping An. He's a respectable servant of the master! From now on... from now on, we've been pulled out of the muddy swamp of Qinghe County by the master's own hands!"

Han Daoguo chuckled, his back seemingly straightening a bit, and his voice rising, "Go back and tell your brother to find his cleanest clothes tonight, and have him waiting at the mansion gate before dawn tomorrow! Be alert, and keep an eye on things!"

He glanced back at the majestic gate tower of the West Gate Mansion, then looked down at the old coat he was wearing. He felt the suffocating sense of inferiority that had weighed him down in the past receding rapidly like the tide, and a feeling of triumph that he had never experienced before welled up within him.

Wang Liu'er stood close to him, her face filled with barely suppressed longing for a bright future.

After giving these instructions, the official led Jinlian'er and the other two to the back hall to see how the preparations for the Winter Solstice were going.

I had only taken two steps, and had not yet rounded the large carved sandalwood screen, when I heard a series of hurried yet deliberately soft footsteps coming from below the steps.

Immediately afterwards, Ping An's cautious voice rang out from the doorway:

"Reporting to you, Master Zhang, the clerk on duty at the magistrate's office, is waiting outside. He says that the Taoist priest from the Jade Emperor Temple has arrived and has urgent business to discuss with you, sir."

The official paused, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Today, Taoism is flourishing throughout the world, and the Jade Emperor Temple is a particularly popular place of worship in Qinghe County.
In contrast, Buddhist nunneries and monasteries would probably be in dire straits long ago if they didn't spend their own money.

It's rather strange that this official came knocking on our door.
(End of this chapter)