Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

That's true. It's fine if you're young and naive, but now that you're grown up and have your own ideas, it's not pleasant for others to interfere in your life under the guise of doing what's best for you.

Even in feudal times, Deng Zechen felt that it was better to give people choices rather than making choices for them.

"Don't you have any other questions for me?"

Deng Zechen snapped out of his daze and looked at Sun Sanzhu, who was smiling meaningfully.

"for example?"

Sun Sanzhu's eyes curved into a smile, revealing her undisguised joy:

"For example, who exactly am I?"

For example, what did I do recently?

I'm in a good mood right now, so maybe I'll just grant you any request you might make.

"In that case, please give me a larger share of the profits, boss."

Sun Sanzhu's eye twitched, and he barely suppressed the urge to slap him to death, saying:

"Oh? Is that all? What are you saving up so much money for? A scholar reeking of money, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

Sun Sanzhu didn't refuse outright, which gave Deng Zechen hope, so he deliberately put on an embarrassed look:

"I'm not getting any younger, so I need to start saving up some money to get married, right?"

What's wrong with scholars? Don't scholars spend money?

Writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, firewood, rice, oil, and salt—all of these cost money.

Who has the right to laugh at me for the money I earned through my own hard work? Does it mean that only those poor scholars in those storybooks who spend the money of rich young ladies are considered refined?

The more Deng Zechen spoke, the more self-assured he became, showing no fear of being laughed at.

Sun Sanzhu was amused even more by Deng Zechen's down-to-earth words, and laughed heartily.

"Haha... That doesn't sound like something a scholar would say, but I like it."

Sun Sanzhu covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled as she answered, displaying impeccable manners.

"Alright, since that's the case, from now on I'll only take 10% of the profits."

Consider this my payment for helping me out.

Seeing that Sun Sanzhu had agreed, Deng Zechen was also very happy and said sweetly:

"May your employer be generous! Wishing them wealth from all directions and abundant prosperity!"

Upon hearing Deng Zechen's words, Sun Sanzhu's smile froze for a moment, a fleeting hint of melancholy flashing across her face before she quickly concealed it and resumed her dignified and composed demeanor.

"Alright, stop joking around. I have a lot of things to take care of. You should go back too."

If anything happens, feel free to come to me. Don't bear it all alone.

"Then I'll gladly accept your offer. Just don't find me annoying."

Deng Zechen pretended not to notice Sun Sanzhu's fleeting change in expression, thanked her with a grin, and left the room after receiving permission.

He knew perfectly well what Sun Sanzhu meant, but saying something out loud and not saying it out loud are two completely different things.

Right now, if we don't expose it, we can still pretend to be confused, but once we expose it, we won't even have the chance to pretend anymore.

If Sun Sanzhu reveals his hand, it's a signal that he's taking sides.

The more benefits they offer, the deeper the entanglement will become, and before they are strong enough, they will be at the mercy of others.

Although she is behaving very well now, who knows what the future holds?

It would be better to maintain the current simple exchange of interests, and give the other party a chance to repay the favor, so as to avoid both sides keeping this matter in mind and causing unnecessary trouble.

As Sun Sanzhu watched Deng Zechen's departing figure, she saw through his words and actions another person who only existed in her memory.

"How is it that they don't look alike? They're so alike that I can't recognize them."

After Deng Zechen walked away, Sun Sanzhu's expression gradually turned cold. "Song He."

Song He stepped forward in response and respectfully knelt on one knee before Sun Sanzhu:

"master."

"Has the city been thoroughly cleaned up?"

Song He replied in a deep voice:

"The captured interrogator revealed a lot of information. Some were arrested, some were killed, and the city has been thoroughly searched."

The Qingshui cult, which had been lying low for many years, has been reduced to less than one-tenth of its original members; those who had leaked out have all been dealt with.

Especially near the Deng family's residence, my men guarantee with their lives that there would be absolutely no one who escaped.

Sun Sanzhu remained seated, making no move, her gaze coldly fixed on Song He, who was kneeling on the ground.

"You'd better make the most of your head while it's on your shoulders, otherwise you'd better move over somewhere else and not delay my business."

We need to select a new group of more skilled individuals to protect them, ensuring they don't discover anything that could disrupt their lives.

Song He broke out in a cold sweat, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily.

Fortunately, there were still tasks to be done, and there was still room for redemption. "Thank you, Master."

Song He didn't receive a response from Sun Sanzhu; he only heard her get up and leave.

As soon as the door closed, Song He immediately lost his strength, and after his muscles relaxed, he involuntarily swallowed.

That night, Song He realized something was wrong and rushed back immediately, just in time to find Deng Zechen interrogating a prisoner he had captured.

Song He breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he realized that something had gone wrong and he would be punished when he got back.

So in the past few days, Song He practically peeled the skin off that tongue, dug out the information, and cleaned up the capital almost completely. Only then could he be considered to have redeemed himself through meritorious service.

"At least I survived..."

……

After returning home, Deng Zechen went straight to Qin Keqing. After a moment's consideration, he tentatively asked:

"If you had the opportunity to reunite with your family, would you be willing?"

Qin Keqing was stunned upon hearing this, and then trembled slightly, whether from excitement or unease, it was hard to tell.

"My...my family? You're sending me away?"

When she said the last two words, her voice was already trembling with tears, but she bit her lip tightly to prevent the tears from falling. She was truly a pitiful sight.

Deng Zechen sighed softly. There was no one else in the room, and the two of them had become much closer after that night.

He held Qin Keqing's plump, fair hand in one hand, and stroked her face with the other, his fingertips brushing against her lips, which already bore the marks of her teeth, as he softened his tone:

"I'm not saying I'm sending you away, we're just chatting."

You know what Xiangling's situation is; I've been searching for her family.

And then I couldn't help but think of you, which is why I thought of asking what you're thinking. If you also want to reunite with your family, I'm naturally willing to lend you a hand.

Qin Keqing initially tried to pull her hand back, but Deng Zechen held it tightly, making it difficult for her to do so.

With his gentle words of comfort, she gradually calmed down and went with him.

"I think things are fine as they are now, and there's no need to force anything."

Qin Keqing was truly terrified. Having finally escaped the source of that nightmare, she didn't want to force anything anymore; maintaining the status quo was enough.

You should know that when she first moved in, she often woke up from nightmares.

In her dream, the Ningguo Mansion was like a giant python lurking in the darkness, silently coiling around her when she was alone in the dead of night, suffocating her.

The cool, sticky sensation sent a chill down her spine just thinking about it.

Deng Zechen noticed that Qin Keqing was acting strangely. With a little force, he pulled her into his arms, and while looking down and playing with her soft, boneless hand, he asked:

"What's wrong? I was just asking casually. If you don't want to, I won't bring it up again."

After a dizzying sensation, Qin Keqing heard a voice beside her ear. Warm breath brushed against her neck, instantly raising goosebumps. She was finally freed from that chilling nightmare.

After seeing the current positions of the two people, Qin Keqing unconsciously twisted her body, but when she found that she could not break free, she gave up and instead adjusted her sitting posture to make herself more comfortable.