She refused to marry.

Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

After serving her parents breakfast, Su Wanwan returned to Jinxiu Hall to wash and dress.

He changed into men's clothes and stuffed the gold from his home into his pocket.

They pulled Chunhua along, got into a carriage, and headed straight for the largest entertainment district in the capital.

"Miss, how could we come to a place like this?" Chunhua tugged at her mistress's sleeve, repeatedly backing away.

"Looking for someone." Su Wanwan used her fan to lift Chunhua's chin. "What are you afraid of? Hold your head high and stand tall."

"Miss, Chunhua begs you, this is really not a place for us to come to." Chunhua pulled back again.

"Come back, since you're already here." Su Wanwan stood still.

"Miss, we've never gone this far before, even when we were being silly. Please think of the master and mistress, let's go back." Chunhua pulled again.

"Fine, you go stay on shore, I'll go by myself." Su Wanwan shook off her hand and stepped onto the deck.

Chunhua couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to follow.

"Miss, wait for me."

Women of various appearances stood on the deck.

There were also courtesans.

Su Wanwan looked carefully, searching for people based on her memories from the original story.

Beside the railing, there were people playing the zither, playing chess, chatting, and a few just standing quietly, their faces enough to make you look at them several times.

His ten fingers were slender and green, which didn't seem like he had any martial arts skills.

The upright official, upon seeing that it was his female employer, warmly greeted her: "Sir, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?"

"No, this is my first time on a pleasure boat." Su Wanwan unfolded her folding fan and held it to her nose as she walked inside.

She was dressed as a man, so how could people still tell she was a woman?

Upon taking the first step, a strong scent of cosmetics mingled with the aroma of food and wine.

After passing through two more curtains, you'll find yourself surrounded by bright lights and bustling activity, reminiscent of a brothel.

"Sir, would you like to listen to music or have some drinks?" the courtesan asked with a smile.

Su Wanwan generously tossed a small piece of gold into the hands of the courtesan.

He casually touched her hand, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing. "Call your manager over."

"Yes, yes, yes!" The courtesan's eyes lit up when he saw the gold.

Overjoyed, he stammered as he excitedly led his patron to a private room on the third floor.

A short while later, a woman with striking features pushed open the door and entered.

"I heard we have distinguished guests?"

Su Wanwan took a sip of wine, looked up and saw the shopkeeper at the door. Although she was old, you could still tell that she used to be a beauty.

"Manager, are the rules on your boat the same as those in the brothel?"

"Oh, that's different. Everything here is carefully selected, so the standards and prices are naturally different."

"Tell me about it," Su Wanwan leaned forward.

The innkeeper held up three fingers. "The rules in this establishment are divided into three classes. The third class is for listening to music, drinking, and relieving boredom, without getting intimate. It costs ten taels of silver a night."

Su Wanwan nodded. Ten taels wasn't expensive. The person she was looking for was handsome and refined, not worth only ten taels of silver.

The shopkeeper raised a second finger. "Second class, a kindred spirit, understanding, and empathetic, fifty taels. Can play the zither, play chess, and speak well. Can accompany you to admire the moon, can grind ink for you, can coax you when you're unhappy, and can sit quietly when you're tired, without bothering you."

"And the first class?" Su Wanwan asked with a smile.

"First class, one hundred taels." The shopkeeper held up one finger, moved closer to Su Wanwan, and covered his mouth with his fan.

"This first-class servant not only knows how to serve, but also gets things done—clean, efficient, and leaves no loose ends." She put down her fan. "Distinguished guest, which class would you prefer?"

Su Wanwan frowned.

She came looking for someone who, apart from being refined and gentle and being only twenty-two years old, knew nothing else about him.

It's all because the original work required a membership.

I did some quick calculations and concluded that I should be born in the Year of the Tiger.

To be good at handling affairs, one must possess exceptional skills; such a person is undoubtedly first-rate.

"Well, I'm a businessman, and I believe in the old ways. In business, harmony is paramount. Manager, do you have anyone born in the Year of the Tiger? Someone younger and capable." Su Wanwan placed the silver on the table.

"Yes, yes, please wait a moment, esteemed guest." The shopkeeper stood up briskly and went out with a smile.

In a short while, he led in several courtesans.

"Come, esteemed guests, take a look. These are all what you requested." The shopkeeper pointed to the group with his fan.

Su Wanwan examined them one by one.

They were all handsome, with gentle features and slender fingers; they all looked like pampered people.

She immediately ruled out only one guy with a muscular build and rough fingers.

She was in a dilemma: "I invited you to entertain guests, and they're all business people. Has any of you ever been in business, or has an ancestor who has?"

The muscular man stepped forward. "My esteemed guest, my ancestors were businessmen. I can definitely handle this."

"You?" Su Wanwan asked in disbelief.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Get out, get out!" the shopkeeper waved his hand.

"Wait a minute, you stay here." Su Wanwan pointed to a seat beside her, gesturing for the man to sit down. The act had to be convincing; she couldn't afford any flaws. "Manager, is there anything else?"

"Yes, yes," the shopkeeper said with a smile as he went out, and soon returned with several more people. "They're all experts, distinguished guests. How are you?"

"Leave them all here," Su Wanwan gestured to Chunhua.

Chunhua took out two gold ingots and handed them to the shopkeeper.

"Manager, bring out the best wine and food," Su Wanwan said, swirling her wine glass.

"Good! Serve them well and don't neglect our distinguished guest." The shopkeeper's face was beaming with joy.

A moment later, the room was filled with wine and meat, and a tall, thin servant was left at the door to serve at any time.

"Since we're serving guests, everyone knows how to drink, right?" Su Wanwan raised her glass.

"Of course," everyone said in unison.

After a few rounds of drinks, Su Wanwan noticed that everyone was quite tipsy, so she inquired, "Are you all merchants? What kind of business do you do?"

"My ancestors were fur traders."

"My ancestors were tea merchants."

"I make silk."

"I make porcelain."

Su Wanwan listened to each of their answers, and finally looked at the muscular man: "Our young master is a salt merchant."

Su Wanwan narrowed her eyes slightly: "Tell me, how did you end up like this?"

After drinking, the men talked about their past for three days and three nights straight.

Everyone was crying their eyes out, especially the muscular man, who was in tears when talking about his son.

Su Wanwan also realized that mentioning past names was a major taboo here, so she couldn't find out any information for half a day.

The servant at the door kept peeking inside, and Su Wanwan told Chunhua to stand guard at the door.

Chunhua gave the servant a gold ingot and pulled the man out.

Su Wanwan then asked in a low voice, "Do you know Lu Huai'an?"

Everyone shook their heads, except for the muscular man who suddenly sat up: "Why would such a distinguished person seek out this individual?"

Su Wanwan said in a low voice, "I received his kindness many years ago. When I heard that he had fallen to this state, I couldn't bear it and wanted to come and see him."

Upon hearing this, the muscular man excitedly stood up and slammed his hand on the table: "My benefactor! You are my benefactor!"

"You're Lu Huai'an?" Su Wanwan's eyes widened.

This burly man was vastly different from the rumored Lu Huai'an.