Chapter Twenty-One A Group of Actors

  The lights in Liu's house didn't go out until very late.

  On the second day, Liu Jiqian and Liu Niangzi went together to Hui Chun Tang.

  There were many patients inside Huichuntang, Liu Jiqian lined up and let his daughter wait aside.

  Before long, Sun Ximei came out of the inner room and saw Liu Jiqian. She walked up to him and said: "Liu boss, you don't need to line up anymore. My grandfather says let Mrs. Liu go in with me directly."

  "Ah! Go to the inner room," Liu Jiqian was taken aback. The registration fee for the inner room is expensive, 300 coins.

  Sun Ximei also ignored Liu Jiqian and pulled Liu Yuyan into the inner room.

  Liu Jiqian's heart skipped a beat, but it wasn't because of the medical expenses. He suddenly felt that his daughter's illness might be very serious, perhaps it was a women's private disease, and as a man, he couldn't ask about it. Alas, what could he do?

  Liu Jiqian sat anxiously on the long bench waiting for news.

  There were patients waiting around, as well as their family members.

  "Hey, have you heard? Yang Jialang was sued yesterday."

  "What? Mr. Yang's husband? Who is it?"

  "Who else could it be, but Yang Huaiyan, one of the Four Great Talents of Suzhou, who is said to have gained his reputation by plagiarizing others' poems and songs? And also, I heard that it was his father's behind-the-scenes manipulation of connections that allowed him to pass the provincial examination and obtain a high-ranking position."

  "It's really knowing people and faces but not knowing their hearts."

  Just then, an old woman came over and interrupted, "It's not just that, I heard that the young master of the Yang family often bullies his servants. Ah, I've seen that servant girl, she's only twelve years old, and she looks so delicate. No wonder we haven't seen her lately, I hope she wasn't tortured to death by that beast."

  "In these times, a slave's life is thinner than paper."

  "You say he has a habit of being arrogant and domineering, that's one thing, but he also likes to torment little girls, this kind of beast, yet the authorities can't even punish him."

  "Alas, yes, and I don't know which family's daughter will marry him, that would be a great misfortune."

  "Keep your voices down, I heard that the beast was married to a concubine before, but he tortured her to death..."

  A few women's voices grew softer and softer until someone coughed, and several people stopped discussing the matter and started talking about family affairs.

  Liu Jiqian's face turned pale, is... are these true? No wonder the old steward said those words to me yesterday, if they marry Yuxiang to him, that would be unbearable!

  Liu Jiqian was secretly relieved in his heart, fortunately they had not yet consummated the marriage. He returned home and immediately returned Yang Huaiyan's betrothal gifts, saying that he wanted to cancel everything!

  Just then, Sun Ximei and Liu Yuxiu walked out hand in hand.

  Sun Ximei beckoned to Liu Jiqian with a wave of her hand.

  Liu Jiqian walked over.

  Sun Ximei handed the medicine package to Liu Jiqian and instructed him expressionlessly: "Liu Zhanggui, my grandfather said that although Madame Liu's illness is not too serious, it will have a great impact on her future. She is mainly unhappy and has liver qi stagnation. If this continues, it will not only affect her fertility but also lead to suicidal tendencies. My grandfather warned you not to make Madame Liu angry again."

  Liu Jiqian was startled and just about to respond when several people entered from the door of Hui Chun Tang.

  "Good morning, young mistress!" The shop assistant and those few people greeted her.

  The woman in charge just nodded and saw Sun Ximei, then ran over enthusiastically, "Sister Mei, are you done with your work? I have something important to find you."

  The identity of the county lord's daughter was not a secret in Suzhou City. In fact, from the beginning of the Tang Dynasty to the present, hundreds of years have passed, and due to the many concubines and children of the emperor, as well as princes and other relatives, there are many titles such as imperial son-in-law, county lord, and national father-in-law. However, these people cannot participate in government affairs and only enjoy their salaries, so seeing a county lord's daughter would not be unusual for the city's residents.

  Sun Ximei nodded and smiled: "Why come so early?"

  It was Li Menghan who came.

  Li Menghan glanced at Liu Jiqian out of the corner of her eye, then pretended not to know him and laughed: "Of course it's good news, great news."

  "What's wrong, you're here to make me happy again." Sun Ximei handed over the remaining medicine package to Liu Jiqian.

  Li Menghan said in a low voice with a smile, "Sister Mei, listen to me. It's really a good thing, it's a profitable business, that's why I came to discuss it with you."

  "Speak up, I'm done," said Sun Ximei, clapping her hands.

  "Hehe, Mei sister, let's open a fabric store, we'll definitely make money," Li Menghan said with an innocent expression, without revealing any sign of acting.

  Liu Jiqian and Liu Yuxuan were about to leave when they heard Li Menghan mention making money at the cloth shop, and Liu Jiqian's footsteps slowed down.

  Sun Ximei pouted, stretched out her hand and slapped Li Menghan's head, "See? I told you it's not that easy! Opening a cloth shop is not just about buying hemp, spinning, weaving, dyeing, but also selling them."

  Li Menghan said with a hint of grievance: "Sister Mei, you believe me, this time it's really feasible. You know, our Suzhou city is going to have an additional quota for imperial tribute silk, and the court needs a large quantity at once, and the price is high too. If we just take over a cloth shop and specialize in making imperial tribute silk, I guarantee we'll make money, and it won't be troublesome either, right?"

  "This is indeed, but can we get that quota?" Sun Ximei nodded and asked intentionally.

  "Of course, yesterday the official from the Weaving Bureau was at my house drinking with my father. I overheard them secretly, and it turns out that the official owed my father a favor in the past and was just about to repay it using this quota. He asked my father to recommend someone, so... I immediately thought of you! Hehe, Mei sister, this is a great opportunity!" Li Menghuan smiled very cutely, without any pretence.

  "Hmm, let's take a moment to sum it up. Neither of us has experience in business management, we can't be careless," Sun Ximei nodded and walked inside.

  Li Menghan pulled Sun Ximei's arm and followed her into the medical hall, "Let's go to Hongchen Inn instead, we can eat and chat while we're at it. And we can also invite Song Kai to open up a fabric store together, he has many clever ideas... since he was able to revive Hongchen Inn, he should be able to manage the fabric store well too..."

  Before she knew it, Li Menghan and Sun Ximei, as well as Da Bao and Er Bao, had already entered the inner room.

  Liu Jiqian stood there in a daze, his heart seething with anger. That scoundrel Yang Huaiyan! No wonder he was in such a hurry to get married. It turned out that he couldn't even get the imperial quota after all. He was trying to cheat himself! Once he married his own daughter, he would still be unable to get the imperial quota. It would be a crying shame with no one to turn to for justice!

  I previously had some doubts about the various rumors surrounding Yang Huaiyan, but now I don't have any doubts at all!

  Liu Jiqian's hands trembled a few times, trying hard to suppress the anger in his heart.

  At this time, Liu Yuvan stood quietly on the spot, although there was not much expression on her face, but in her heart she was surprised. She naturally sensed that all of this was just an act, but how did Song Kai find so many actors! Song Kai, a bookworm, how could he know Sun Ximei, Li Menghan, Sun Tang and others? And these people would even be willing to act for his own marriage!

  Liu Jiqian took Liu Yuyan home, and just as they arrived, Yang Huaiyan walked in with two young servants, beaming with joy.

  "Liu Shu, my father said he's going to invite you for dinner tonight," Yang Huaiyan said with a bow and a smile, still holding a fan in his waist.

  "Hum! Yang Lang, you've come at just the right time. I have something to say to you," Liu Jiqian said with a gloomy face, speaking slowly.

  "Liu Shu has something to say," Yang Huaiyan felt that Liu Jiqian's tone was a bit off, but he didn't know what the reason was.

  "It's like this, I regret this marriage, you can take the betrothal gifts and leave immediately, and I will also compensate your Yang family with another generous gift," Liu Jiqian said coldly.

  "What did you say?!" Yang Huaiyan suddenly straightened his waist, looking at Liu Jiqian, then realized that this was not good and hurriedly smiled again, asking: "Liu boss, this matter is not something to be joked about, you also know, if it's called off, it's not just a matter of my reputation, but also my father's face. My father is in charge of the entire Wu County's water transportation and docks, your goods..."

  "That's enough! Yang Huaiyan! No need to say more, bring out any other tricks you have, but this marriage is off! Someone come and escort our guest out with a generous gift!" Liu Jiqian said as he strode into the hall, no longer paying attention to Yang Huaiyan.

  Yang Huaiyan stood stupidly for a while, then blushed and pointed at Liu Jiqian loudly: "Liu, don't regret it! Do you know that the imperial quota is still in my hands?"

  "Get out!" Liu Jiqian was furious in his heart and scolded, this Yang Huaiyan, still wanted to deceive himself at this time, his face was really detestable.

  The old steward and two house servants took the betrothal gifts and over ten strings of copper coins, all of which were thrown out of the mansion, then they shut the gate tightly.

  "What the hell is going on here?!" Yang Huaiyan exclaimed in anger.

  Two house slaves did not dare to speak. After a while, Yang Quan, one of the house slaves, said in a low voice: "Young Master, recently... there have been some bad rumors, is it... is it related to those things?"

  "What rumors! Speak!" Yang Huaiyan's face turned red, with blue veins bulging out one by one.

  "It's... it's that you... you have a bad habit of being arrogant, and also insult the maids in our household, and..." Yang Quan's voice became softer as he spoke.

  "What else?!" Yang Huaiyan suddenly turned around, grabbing Yang Quan's collar with both hands, while Yang Yong, who was standing beside him, hastily retreated.

  "They also said that you had a concubine before, but she was tortured to death. They also said that your reputation as a talented scholar is stolen and that your official position was obtained through connections made by your father." Yang fully revealed all the rumors.

  "What! Which devil is destroying me like this!" Yang Huaiyan's hands trembled.

  "Wait, young master, don't be in a hurry, let's investigate...investigate this," Yang Quan said hastily as he knelt on the ground.

  "Come with me! We must investigate! After we find out, I, Yang Mou, will definitely cut off his tongue and dig out his eyes, let him know who the young master is!" Yang Huaiyan took a big step forward, but before he could take two steps, his legs trembled and he fell to the ground...