Chapter 8, finally encountering the villainous bully

Chen Yuanyuan gritted her teeth and gently pulled at his sleeve, expressing her sorrowful plea: "Is it merely the issue of status that your family is concerned about? If that is the case... I can forgo the title of concubine; I would be willing to serve as a maid for a year or two instead"

"Young Master Shen? You have lost weight. You must have suffered quite a bit during the more than half a month you haven't been here."

Shen Shuren pondered his wording: "You have been in the pear garden for quite some time, have you recently heard of any respectable young ladies who, due to circumstances, have been compelled to enter your profession?"

Shen Lang, I have indeed thought of a younger sister who is of the same age, just a few months younger than I. She originally comes from a merchant family in Kunshan, where her family ran an embroidery shop. However, misfortune struck their family; her father passed away four years ago, leaving no sons, only a lonely daughter and her widowed mother relying on each other.

In this case, the opposing competitor is a treacherous and unscrupulous servant who takes advantage of the situation. Seizing the opportunity after the employer's death, he falsifies accounts to embezzle the former master's business and bullies the vulnerable widow and her orphaned daughter. Even after the mistress's death, he still seeks to usurp the mistress's daughter.

Then, a delicate and graceful young girl, resembling a willow swaying in the wind, approached with a light velvet fan in hand. Her gaze was filled with gratitude as she sat down beside Shen Shuren and gently pinched his sleeve.

Shen Shuren observed quietly. After all, he was a time traveler and had long been accustomed to beautiful women, so he would not be easily startled.

Therefore, if Shen Shuren does not reveal his identity and secretly intercepts while pretending to be harmless, the other party will most likely feel resentful, which will lead to conflict. If Shen Shuren then feigns weakness to set a trap, it will be even easier to cause trouble

However, Shen Shuren's quiet and detailed words made her feel even more at ease

I am still too civilized; if it were another wealthy family, and the young master suffered a loss or was wronged here, regardless of the circumstances, they would definitely come to seek revenge.

Shen Shuren did not expect Chen Yuanyuan to be quite sincere, and he felt a slight touch of emotion in his heart. However, great undertakings and strategies cannot be interfered with. His mind raced, and he thought of a solution, saying with great seriousness:

After a brief moment of distraction, Shen Shuren quickly regained his composure and responded appropriately: "It is better to be a bit thinner; it will be less likely to suffer from heatstroke in the future"

She also privately discussed with me that if she were to be dissatisfied with the mourning period and was pressured by others, she would have no choice but to go into hiding, pretending to be dead, and then go to another place to make a living by singing, at least to avoid being accused of being unfilial and bringing shame to the family name

Chen Yuanyuan felt somewhat confused, thinking that there were too many conditions, making it truly difficult to sort them out. Perhaps she would only know for sure when her adoptive mother arrived

This situation, on the contrary, left Shen Shuren somewhat disappointed—he had come today primarily to gather information about the market, not to seek out women for music. If the madam were to appear, her information would surely be more reliable than that of the girls, and perhaps it would be twice as effective in gathering intelligence.

After a brief moment of sadness, she stared into Shen Shuren's eyes for a long time, only to see a serious and stern gaze.

This is not a coincidence; rather, it is due to the fact that the Shen family has established an extensive business in Suzhou, with over 100 large ocean-going vessels engaged in the trade of Suzhou embroidery, silk, and Songjiang cotton fabric.

However, the aura of a renowned performer of traditional arts that she possesses is undeniable; it cannot be described as pure, but it is certainly elegant. Every gesture and movement is full of style, with each step presenting a unique charm, and every stride blooming like a lotus.

As someone destined to dominate the world and save the nation from peril, ultimately having multiple wives and concubines is inevitable; what is there to be conflicted about in taking one or two more women?

She suppressed her sense of shame and slowly inquired about Shen Shuren's requirements. Shen Shuren also spoke very cautiously, and after a thorough probing, he finally clarified his needs.

That feeling is akin to the character Miaoyu from the 1987 version of "Dream of the Red Chamber"; it must be portrayed by a top-tier actress of Yue opera or Kunqu opera to truly embody that aura—of course, if we are solely considering appearance, Chen Yuanyuan is evidently much more beautiful than the actress who played Miaoyu in the 1987 version

With an official status, it becomes much easier to negotiate marriage with prominent families. My father would not agree to my marriage before I openly take a concubine. If you are simply unwilling to be pressured by your mother, I can help you delay for another year or so, which would not be a problem.

Because she deduced that Shen Lang would not be motivated by lust, otherwise he would not have set such screening criteria. She must live up to Shen Lang's trust; after tonight, not a word about this matter should be spoken outside, and it should be buried in her heart and completely forgotten.

After Shen Shuren clarified the context, he solemnly expressed his gratitude to Chen Yuanyuan

After thoroughly aligning her thoughts with Shen Shuren, Chen Yuanyuan found her perspective broadened somewhat. After the two of them quietly conspired for nearly half an hour, she indeed came up with a clue.

However, Shen Shuren was previously unable to produce the ransom money, clearly due to obstacles at home, which caused him to suffer from heatstroke and be carried back. Therefore, she also needed to understand the difficulties faced by Young Master Shen. Since he did not speak up, she refrained from hinting at anything, so as not to hurt his feelings. Instead, she looked at him with concerned and attentive eyes, remaining silent.

By the way, what about your mother? Since it has been agreed to extend your night performances for another six months, why not settle the payment tonight and sign the contract, so that you won't suffer here for the next six months. If she intends to breach the contract, you can notify me at any time, and I will certainly protect you.

If Chen Yuanyuan were to be bought now, the scheme would no longer be viable, and at the very least, it would arouse even greater vigilance from the enemy, leading to unnecessary complications

You have shown such sincerity, and I cannot let you down. However, at present, I am recovering from an illness. Once I have recovered, I will be entering the Imperial Academy in a few months, so it is best for me to keep a low profile for now. As for this money, I will use it to sustain the situation for a few more months, and as soon as I enter the Imperial Academy, I will come to redeem you immediately

Two years ago, her mother was gravely ill and in distress. Unable to afford the cost of medicine, she secretly sought a way to meet me, learned to play an instrument and sing for a while, and then went to Nanjing to perform for a few months. She sold her art, not her body, and returned after raising enough money for her mother's medicine

Upon hearing the words "heatstroke," Chen Yuanyuan felt a pang in her heart: "Young Master Shen, by saying this, I feel even more guilty. Although I did not witness the events of that day, it was indeed because of my matters that you suffered from heatstroke. I truly have no way to repay you, but thankfully you are now safe and sound, right"

However, this excuse from Shen Shuren further ignited Chen Yuanyuan's hopes

After Chen Yuanyuan finished speaking, she too felt a deep sense of emotion

Chen Yuanyuan's emotions were quite complex. As a woman who had fallen into the world of courtesans, even though she had not yet been groomed, she was not overly shy or bashful. Shen Shuren had genuine feelings for her and was sincerely willing to pay a large sum to rescue her from her suffering. She wanted to express her sincerity in a generous manner.

Chen Yuanyuan listened to him speak solemnly, guessing that it was likely a matter of him fearing her jealousy, and thus she replied with a smile, "As long as I can be of help, I will certainly speak without reservation."

Yuan Yuan, you have truly helped me immensely! Rest assured, I have promised never to let you down. You may consider this matter as if nothing has happened. A few months from now, I will definitely come to fetch you. This two thousand taels will ensure that you will not be subjected to any coercion during these months.

Inside, there is a bed for reclining, while the outer area features a circle of tea tables and various silk and bamboo musical instruments. In the center, there is a large open space covered with imported velvet carpets, clearly designed for dancing at any time and place

I have no other intentions; after suffering from a serious illness, I wish to accumulate some virtue. Bringing you back will also mean serving my stepmother and aunts. I assure you that before I redeem you, I will never indulge her. This matter does indeed have some unspoken difficulties for me

Although Shen Shuren is not perfect, he is willing to make sacrifices for you, to rescue you from the sea of suffering. His sincerity has been expressed to this extent, and other conditions can be gradually adjusted.

Shen Shuren is not a promiscuous person, but since he has returned to ancient times, it is better for him to be straightforward regarding matters between men and women rather than being ambiguous.

Chen Yuanyuan nodded silently, and based on trust, finally reported the answer: "My sister's name is Dong Bai, and she lives in the Dong Family Embroidery Studio by the Yangcheng Lake in the northern part of Kunshan City."

Both you and I are aware of this matter, so there is no need to ask why. It is best to keep it to ourselves. After all, before entering the Imperial Academy, I do not wish to attract attention. If you are truly sincere with me, then follow my instructions. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for you to leave in a more dignified manner.

Shen Shuren wanted to take the opportunity to find the old madam Chen, to both offer some silver for a renewal of the contract and to gather more information about the market while the other party was in a good mood from receiving the money

On the other hand, those women who pride themselves on their exceptional talent and beauty harbor some degree of longing for their future abode. They fantasize about encountering a perfect match who possesses both talent and looks, followed by considerations of wealth, character, physical condition, and age.

Chen Yuanyuan felt a stir in her heart: Since Young Master Shen had suffered from heatstroke and a serious illness for her sake, she should reciprocate with trust; perhaps there were indeed other hidden circumstances.

Therefore, as long as it can be purchased, he will definitely buy it, merely delaying for a few more months, everything is absolutely under control

However, it is not possible to buy Chen Yuanyuan at this time, still for the sake of the grand cause, in order to handle the affairs for Elder Yang—he had previously deceived Zheng Hongkui, claiming that one important reason he could not go to Nanjing was his infatuation with Chen Yuanyuan's beauty, which made it difficult for him to part with her

Until he sat down in front of the mahogany tea table and the maid poured the tea, he was still somewhat lost in thought

Shen Shuren listened carefully and increasingly felt that this case was very suitable for him to handle: the other party had not yet been sold, but many people were already eyeing it, and perhaps some had even secretly made a decision, only hindered by the obstacle of "mourning rites" which prevented the "transfer of ownership".

The boudoir is quite spacious, clearly a place where a singing actress resides. There is a separation created by embroidered curtains between the resting area and the area for receiving guests and listening to music

Not long ago, she met with me, and when I inquired about her plans, she mentioned that the steward left by her deceased father intended to seize her property and her person, promising to help her repay her debts. Out of filial piety towards her mother, she did not wish to bring shame to her family and resolutely refused, which eventually led her to persuade the other party to grant her a reprieve

When Shen Shuren saw that he had settled the matter with the other party, he immediately thought of a question

How could Master Shen ask her to introduce other sisters who are on the verge of falling? What position does this put her in?

Shen Shuren could still see genuine concern in Chen Yuanyuan's eyes, and he roughly guessed the other party's mindset

Chen Yuanyuan still hopes to go with the flow; if fate does not allow her to choose such a destiny, then so be it, it is a loss of her life

Shen Shuren was drinking tea in a daze, lost in thought. Half of a delicate face peeked out from behind the embroidered curtain, cautiously confirming with a glance

Hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan smiled: "Mother was originally in the courtyard tonight, but when she heard that you had come, she slipped away. After you suffered from heatstroke a while ago, she was quite anxious, fearing that Manager Shen would take out his anger on her and send someone to smash this Pear Fragrance Courtyard. Even now, she is still worried that you might not have calmed down."

"Yuan Yuan, I will not let you down, you can rest assured about this. However, there is one more thing I would like to ask, and I hope you can help me with it." Shen Shuren, in a very straightforward manner, shifted the topic.

On the other hand, directly purchasing Chen Yuanyuan would not serve to advance the project he needed to design, as he had already been too high-profile. Everyone knew that the richest man in Suzhou, Young Master Shen, was vying for Miss Chen, and others, aware of their insufficient financial power and influence, dared not compete. One by one, they all retreated, so who would he turn to for "justifiable defense"?

Neither the mother nor the daughter could manage external affairs, lacking business acumen, which led to the gradual embezzlement of their business by the steward and manager left by their father. Soon, their family fell into decline, and they also incurred debts

Shen Shuren was taken aback, as it indeed seemed to be the case.

Shen Shuren was thus involuntarily surrounded by a group of young ladies and brought into Chen Yuanyuan's boudoir

Chen Yuanyuan is indeed a great beauty, but by the standards of the 21st century, she is not considered extraordinarily stunning

Therefore, it is necessary to select another target, one that an outsider is unaware of their interest in, and to act discreetly, pretending to be harmless in order to provoke conflict and advance the case

In that case, he took the initiative to clarify: "My family is too strict with me, so that matter can only be postponed for now. My family is not like others; my father has no expectation for me to study and take the imperial examination to become an official. He just wants to wait a few months until I donate to become a student of the academy, and then choose the right time to spend money to secure an official position."

In the end, Shen Shuren also has a moral bottom line. He had several relatively forced opportunities before, but he never acted on them. The key reason is that he felt the rivals he was competing against were also good people, not sufficiently evil. He truly did not want to oppress the good.

Are you looking for a respectable woman who is contemplating whether to sell herself, yet is still on the verge of struggle? Ideally, she should be worth several thousand taels, or perhaps from a family that has fallen on hard times and is being sold along with its estate? It would be preferable if there are others interested in this transaction, wanting to compete for it

Chen Yuanyuan wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Shen Shuren's resolute gaze, she decided to trust him instead

From beginning to end, no one intervened or questioned, not even Chen Yuan Yuan's adoptive mother, the Chen family. Clearly, everyone in the Li Xiang Courtyard felt that it was perfectly reasonable for Shen Shuren to come looking for Chen Yuan Yuan, after all, a substantial sum of money had already been paid for the long-term exclusive use of the venue

In the Suzhou and Songjiang areas, any embroidery or weaving workshop that is poorly managed and has debts for raw materials or advances will most likely owe money to the Shen family

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan felt as if her heart had been struck by a tremendous shock

Since Chen is not present, Shen Shuren decided not to beat around the bush any longer. After some thought, he resolved to directly discuss today's topic with Chen Yuanyuan.

This unscrupulous individual, having been killed by Shen Shuren in legitimate self-defense, harbors no moral qualms whatsoever

Today I brought two thousand taels of silver, which can cover your theater expenses for another six months. I must also make it clear that the obstacles at home are not due to the issue of silver, but rather the issue of status.

If you can agree to buy her and not touch her for a year and a half, allowing her to continue living in the ancestral home and fulfilling her filial duties, then that would be considered saving her from peril—perhaps this is also fate. It seems that the several thousand taels of debt owed by her family primarily belongs to your Shen family. If you wish to buy her, you need not pay much silver; you can simply offset it against the debt.

However, more than a year ago, her mother passed away from a serious illness. Now she is at home in mourning, facing the threat of being left with nothing, and the remaining house and embroidery shop are not even enough to cover her debts