Chapter 6 Preparation 2

Zhu Youzi detected dissatisfaction in his daughter's tone. He set down the plastic bottle used for soy sauce and asked curiously, "Wen'er, not long ago you were angry with me for neglecting Wang Shizhi, which made me lose face in front of him. Why are you doubting Wang Shizhi's background again today? Could it be that he has been disrespectful to you in some way?"

Zhu Youzi wore a smile on his face, his mind filled with a flurry of thoughts. During his illness, he had been quite worried about his daughter's future. In this world, he had only this one relative. Recently, the county magistrate of Zhijiang had come to their home to propose marriage for his son. Zhu Youzi had initially intended to agree, but after some inquiries, he learned that the magistrate's son was suffering from tuberculosis and was on the verge of death. The proposal was based on the nonsensical words of a wandering Taoist, who suggested marrying a daughter-in-law of noble status to bring some joy to the dying son. Thus, they had set their sights on his own unfortunate and disdained royal lineage.

Zhu Youzi, who was originally in despair due to illness, did not expect a certain Wang Shuhui to appear out of nowhere. Wang Shuhui not only cured his illness, but after a few days of observation, it became clear that this former monk possessed outstanding character and temperament. He came from a wealthy family and was a young and handsome individual. The key point was that he was without parents and was an outsider, so if he wanted to settle down in Zhijiang County, he would have to rely entirely on his own efforts, making him an excellent candidate for a son-in-law.

Father, what kind of person do you think Wang Shuhui is? Zhu Weiwan, being a woman, though still young, has learned to take responsibility early as a child of a poor family, and she tends to think things through carefully. She notices that although Wang Shuhui is gracious and appears to be well-educated and cultured, his ability to cook and his naturalness in moving things seem to conflict greatly with his background as a person from a wealthy family. She realizes that people raised in different environments and eras exhibit significant differences in their habits and behaviors.

People from different civilizational environments have completely different rhythms of life. While Wang Shuhui was preparing to liquidate funds through the Xuande official kiln in modern times, Zhu Youzi and his daughter from the late Ming Dynasty were still studying the modern living materials brought by Wang Shuhui

Wang Shuhui, hailing from an old industrial base, has never held a favorable impression of the capital. He believes that in a city where there are too many people not engaged in production and not on the front lines of labor, the urban culture becomes quite unhealthy. In Wang Shuhui's eyes, the capital is a place rife with sycophants, fraudsters, and various second-generation elites. Particularly, the so-called culture of the old capital is filled with the petty bourgeois mentality of backward feudal styles and an unfounded arrogance that comes from being under the emperor's feet. Wang Shuhui harbors strong aversion towards the capital, especially regarding the so-called culture of the old capital, which is steeped in the petty bourgeois mentality of backward feudal styles and an unfounded arrogance that comes from being under the emperor's feet. Wang Shuhui is filled with resistance towards the capital.

Zhu Weiwen felt embarrassed. In fact, she knew that her emotions today were abnormal, entirely due to the clothes that Wang Shuhui had given her. Originally, a large pile of various clothes made the young Zhu Weiwen extremely happy. However, when she saw the underwear and undergarments that Wang Shuhui had asked the supermarket staff to buy, she felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she liked the soft and comfortable fabric adorned with cute cartoon patterns. On the other hand, she thought that Wang Shuhui must be a debauched young man, a wandering monk who did not adhere to proper conduct. After all, how could a grown man prepare such intimate garments for girls?

She was initially moved by Wang Shuhui's approachable demeanor, which treated her, a down-and-out woman, with equality, stirring some naive feelings typical of a teenage girl. Faced with the speculation that Wang Shuhui might be a playboy, she felt a mix of shame and anger, and, almost unconsciously, revealed her feelings in front of her father. To her surprise, her usually oblivious father was surprisingly perceptive about human emotions and social affairs, instantly uncovering his little daughter's thoughts, causing her to blush and, turning her head, hurriedly returned to her room.

Although Zhu Youzi was not particularly accomplished and lacked significant abilities, his royal background and insights were undeniable. Whenever matters concerned his daughter, he was quick-witted. Thus, while Zhu Weiwan's heart was stirred and Wang Shuhui remained oblivious, he secretly determined the fate of their union.

He carefully observed the plastic bottle containing soy sauce and said to his daughter, "Wen'er, what kind of person is Wang Shuhui? Isn't it clearly written on his credentials? It clearly states that he is from Liaodong. He himself also mentioned that he lost both parents in childhood and grew up in a temple. Looking at his attire and lifestyle, it is evident that he comes from a prominent family, as can be seen from the items he sent over.

Wang Shuhui, living in modern times, is completely unaware that in order to establish himself in the Ming Dynasty, he must marry a young girl of royal descent. He is still observing the market conditions in various antique shops in the capital. He does have a university classmate whose family runs an antique shop. However, Wang Shuhui, who has always been cautious, sticks to his old habits; no matter what he does, he insists on going to the front lines to observe and research, forming a concrete understanding of things before engaging with specific individuals.

Is it that what he said about having a connection with you has upset you? Hehe, there is really no need to take it to heart like this. In fact, you have reached the age for marriage. A graceful lady deserves a gentleman, and we, as members of the royal family, are not like those foolish and ignorant households. Although Wang Shizhi may have been somewhat impolite, what is there for us royal family members to fuss about? Moreover, in my view, this Wang Shizhi is an orphan with considerable wealth, and aside from having been a monk, he has few shortcomings. If he wishes to become a son-in-law to me, I would be more than willing. Hahaha

The Wang Shuhui family must have been wealthy for generations; otherwise, how could such Western items be casually used to hold soy sauce? I, your father, am quite knowledgeable; glassware often comes from the South Seas. In my youth, it was also commonly seen in the Wang residence. However, this soft glass is indeed the first time I have encountered it. Once Wang Shizhi finishes refining the elixir, I intend to ask him thoroughly whether this soft glass used for soy sauce, along with other rare items like hard glass and duck down clothing, are all from the South Seas

Zhu Youzi understood the situation and naturally rejected the marriage proposal. The county magistrate's consumptive son passed away shortly thereafter. This detestable county magistrate actually vented his anger on Zhu Youzi and his daughter, spreading rumors that his daughter was a harbinger of death, claiming she had caused his son's demise. This led to the entire Zhijiang County being aware of the situation, and the question of his daughter's future became a significant issue. His cold was largely due to the mental stress stemming from his worries about his daughter's future.

In comparison, Zhu Youzi, as a father, has experienced over thirty years of life filled with hardships; however, his childhood was relatively carefree, and his thoughts and character are rather coarse, lacking the insights of his own daughter.

The snobbishness of the people in the capital was something Wang Shuhui had only heard about but never witnessed. After spending a few days browsing the antique shops in the Liulichang area, he felt he had gained some insight. No matter which shop he entered to inquire, everyone treated him with indifference, leaving Wang Shuhui quite perplexed. It was not until he deliberately took out the teacup he used for drinking water at the Wang Feiyuan in Zhijiang and poured himself a Coke that he finally received a proper response.

Father, since you have recognized Wang Shuhui as your nephew, we must investigate his background thoroughly. The world is becoming increasingly chaotic; what if Wang Shuhui is a rogue? Our family hails from royal lineage, and while this status does not seem particularly significant in daily life, you are aware that the court is wary of us royal descendants. If we were to be accused of associating with bandits, being detained in Fengyang would be considered a fortunate outcome. Zhu Weiwan understood that her father had always been somewhat irresponsible. If it were not for their financial difficulties forcing him to toil for a living, he would focus his energy on indulgence and entertainment whenever life was a bit easier.