Republic of China: My great warlord, many children, many blessings.

Sure enough, this guy was up to no good.

This isn't showing I have faith in you, it's trying to drag me down with them.

Truly vicious.

How could we betray the Red Flag?

Shen Hao shook his head and said, "Forget about that. I don't like joining any political party, and I have no interest in understanding those so-called factions."

I am just a simple person.

Hu Ningmin was somewhat disappointed, but he still wanted to try again.

"Commander Shen, joining the Tongmenghui doesn't require you to give anything. It's all about fighting for the country and our ideals. It would be a real shame if someone as talented as you didn't join us."

Don't rush to refuse; you can go back and think about it.

The Tongmenghui will be wiped out next year, and all its leaders will have fled.

Joining now would be suicide.

Shen Hao shook his head and said, "No need to consider it, I'm not interested. If Governor Hu is just trying to persuade me to join the Tongmenghui, I think I'll pass."

I wouldn't consider it either.

Seeing Shen Hao's resolute attitude, Hu Ningmin sighed inwardly and stopped trying to persuade him.

So he changed the subject, saying, "There's something else I'd like to discuss with Commander Shen."

Shen Hao asked, "Oh? What is it?"

"That's a good thing. My younger sister is sixteen this year and has reached the age of marriage. I'd like to act as a matchmaker and let Commander Shen marry her."

Hu Ningmin spoke while keeping his eyes fixed on Shen Hao.

Meanwhile, Hu Ningyuan, behind the barrier, also pricked up her ears, held her breath, and listened intently to the three sounds.

102. Marry your sister?

Marry your sister?

Shen Hao hadn't expected that Hu Ningmin actually wanted to arrange a marriage between them.

Hu Ningmin actually wanted to marry his sister to him.

As a veteran of the Kuomintang faction of the Tongmenghui, he was a supporter of Mr. Sun Yat-sen.

Even the principal would have to call Hu Ningmin "Big Brother".

Shen Hao had never met Hu Ningmin's younger sister.

If, in a few years, his sister isn't too ugly, Shen Hao would be willing to sacrifice himself and consider it a marriage alliance.

But that's not possible right now.

In the capital, Yuan Shikai also intended to arrange a marriage.

He married his own daughter, who was also the most beautiful of them all, Yuan Fuzhen.

Yuan Shikai was the leader of the Beiyang clique, while Hu Ningmin was a representative of the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance).

The two sides are mortal enemies.

It's a clash of cultures.

The Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance) had always wanted to learn from the West and wanted to strip Yuan Shikai of his presidential power.

Seizing power is a life-or-death struggle in any era.

Even in times of peace, seizing power is bloody and brutal.

The "May 57th Incident" was even more significant during the Republic of China era.

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Therefore, if Shen Hao were to marry Hu Ningmin now, the news would send a signal to outsiders.

Shen Hao was a member of the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance).

Wouldn't that offend Yuan Shikai?

This is not what Shen Hao wanted to see.

Now, you can't afford to offend Yuan Shikai, because he's the real power holder in the country right now.

So Shen Hao shook his head and refused, saying, "Governor Hu, I really appreciate your kindness, but I already have a wife and more than one wife, and I have eight or nine concubines."

Your sister is so noble, I don't want to wrong her.

Hu Ningmin hadn't expected Shen Hao to refuse so decisively.

When Hu Ningmin heard Shen Hao say that he had seven or eight concubines at home, he also felt that it was inappropriate.

He only had one wife, so of course he hoped that his younger sister would also marry a man who would remain faithful to her for life.

Dang Re also understood that the main reason was that Shen Hao probably still didn't want to get involved with the Tongmenghui.

Hu Ningmin said regretfully, "Since that's the case, then let's pretend I never said anything."

Shen Hao said, "I am unworthy of Governor Hu's sister, and I am well aware of that."

Hu Ningmin said, "Perhaps we were destined to meet but not to be together."

Hu Ningyuan, who was hiding behind the screen, was struck dumb, her face turning as pale as paper.

My mind went completely blank.

I felt my heart pounding, as if someone was cutting it with a knife.

My heart aches so much I can't breathe.

When Hu Ningyuan first saw Shen Hao, she fantasized about a wonderful future together, and even thought of a name for her child. She never expected to be so ruthlessly rejected by Shen Hao.

Hu Ningyuan really wanted to go out and tell Shen Hao that she didn't mind that Shen Hao had a concubine.

She was willing to share a husband with other women.

Hu Ningyuan was educated with the Three Obediences and Four Virtues from a young age, and her maternal grandfather was from a prominent family in western Jiangxi Province.

Uncles, cousins, and so on—aren't they all men with multiple wives and concubines?

Hu Ningyuan is accepting of a man having several women.

However, Hu Ningyuan couldn't understand why Shen Hao had rejected her without ever having seen her face.

She is confident in her appearance.

But Shen Hao refused outright, and now there was no chance left, which made Hu Ningyuan extremely sad.

This was the first time she had ever experienced the feeling of being moved.

But this sweet feeling was gone before I could even taste it.

The maid standing nearby was also heartbroken to see her mistress in such pain.

She was happy when she saw Shen Hao earlier.

She was the young lady's maid, and if this Brigade Commander Shen became her son-in-law, she would have the opportunity to share a room with him.

Unfortunately, it was all an illusion.

Hu Ningyuan felt more and more wronged as she thought about it, and tears kept flowing down her face, but she dared not let anyone hear or see her, so she could only lower her head and sob.

Seeing this, the maid quickly helped Hu Ningyuan leave.

The negotiations broke down, and Shen Hao didn't linger any longer, bidding farewell to Governor Hu.

However, Shen Hao was not in a hurry to go back, but instead planned to take a stroll on the street.

This was Shen Hao's first time in the provincial capital, so he couldn't leave without taking a look around.

As expected of the capital of Guangdong Province, it is extremely prosperous.

There were quite a few foreigners on the streets. Unlike the provincial capitals of later generations, which were full of black people, the streets were now mostly white.

There were also occasional Black people, but they carried bags and followed behind the white people, and seemed to be slaves of the white people, being ordered around at will.

These people all lived in the concession area.

The concession areas were quite prosperous, densely packed with residential buildings.

The rest of the area is rather dilapidated.

Moreover, there were many boats moored on the water, and after listening to the explanations of the people around me, I realized that these were all floating brothels.

This has certainly broadened my horizons.

I walked around for a while, but it wasn't very interesting.

After buying some jewelry for the girls, Shen Hao returned home.