Chapter 10, Means (Part One)

Su Jing cleared his throat, breaking the awkward atmosphere, and smiled, saying: "Please take a seat, both of you. I need to discuss the tasks we will be undertaking next. Time is a bit tight, so you may have to work a little harder over the next couple of days."

... ...

The two sat in silence, and before long, weariness overcame them, leading them both into a deep slumber

Butler Su Fu had already prepared everything, so there was no need for Su Jin to worry. After leaving the old lady, Su Jin directly sent the meals to her own courtyard to have breakfast. Now, with the addition of a pair of sisters and Yang Xiao Si, the courtyard became lively all at once.

Rou Niang brushed aside the loose strands of hair and said: "Sister Xiao Sui, you are thoughtful to arrange for me and the young lady to stay in the small side room, which is located to the left of the study."

The two sisters looked at each other, both surprised and shy; just moments ago, when Su Jin had held her in his arms, they thought this young master intended to act improperly, but it turned out he was considering their well-being, wanting them to rest properly

Su Jin seemed completely unaware and turned to leave; in the corridor, Su Jin reminisced about the soft touch of Rou Niang's delicate hand, unconsciously bringing her fingers to her nose to sniff. Suddenly, she shook her hand a few times and muttered to herself: "Look at you, acting like a pig, as if you've never seen a woman before." She quickened her pace and hurried away

Su Jin no longer wasted words with them, extending her arms to lift Ruan Niang and placing her on the bed. She then took hold of her small feet to remove her shoes and pulled the blanket over her; she repeated the process to carry the stunned Huan Niang to another bed. The two women were so tense that they could hardly breathe.

The two women were quite moved; this was the first time in several years that they experienced such a respectful treatment associated with books, and it was the respect from the son of the Su family in Luzhou. Watching Su Jin busily attending to them, both women felt somewhat embarrassed

Su Jin was not so particular, and with a wave of her chopsticks said, "Eat..." She immediately buried her head in the food. The cooks' skills were indeed commendable; the black bean and millet porridge paired with fragrant steamed buns, along with several plates of sweet cakes, snacks, and a few home-style dishes, made for an exceptionally delicious meal.

Rou Niang and Huan Niang initially thought they would become forbidden objects, but unexpectedly, this Young Master Su suddenly seemed like a different person. There was no trace of desire in his eyes, and they couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, while also feeling a hint of indescribable disappointment.

Su Jin occasionally offered a few pointers from the side. Although he only had a superficial understanding of painting himself, this bookworm had a wealth of knowledge, having read numerous books on the subject. While he could not produce any artwork, he was able to articulate his thoughts, embodying the true essence of someone with high aspirations but lacking practical skills. The two girls, who were initially confused, were taken aback by his seemingly reasonable comments and began to view him with newfound respect.

Moreover, as for Su Jin himself, he prefers a mutual willingness in relationships. The reverence for women that has been passed down through the ages is somewhat reflected in this, and while it does not adhere to the outdated practice of monogamy, it also does not descend to the level of demeaning oneself to the point of indiscriminate choices in times of hunger

Su Jin turned her head to look at the two girls standing with their heads down and said, "What is the need for this? This night has been quite difficult."

Before breakfast, I first paid my respects to Madam Wang and arranged for someone to invite Old Master Zhang to the residence to accompany me to the fabric shop. There was no need to prepare incense and a ceremonial table for the old master, as his retirement was an honorable one, and his status was akin to that of an honorary steward. The Su family had also paid him his full wages; thus, this time, only two letters of appointment needed to be issued, making the process quite straightforward

Rouniang hurriedly picked up the lantern and lit it to escort Su Jin back to her room. Su Jin reached out to take the lantern and said, "You are not as familiar with the path as I am; don't get lost on your way back later." As their fingers lightly brushed against each other while exchanging the lantern, Rouniang felt as if electricity coursed through her body, leaving half of her feeling weak.

When everyone had gathered, the table in the small hall was already laden with a large spread of snacks and porridge prepared by the aunts and sisters in the kitchen. Xiao Sui'er was very considerate; she immediately sent back half a tael of silver to the two aunts who delivered the porridge, expressing gratitude for the extra effort the kitchen staff had made. The two cooks, who had initially worn stern expressions, instantly brightened up and stated that serving the young master was their duty and that they could not accept any reward. However, they hurriedly stuffed the money into their aprons.

Su Jin personally poured tea and served snacks to the two great painters, bustling about with great enthusiasm. If it weren't for the hint of romantic tension, she might have even offered to massage their backs and shoulders or caress their chests.

Su Jin also felt a bit weary after a long day of hustle and bustle. He yawned and said, "I will head to bed now. You all can tidy up; there's no need to continue painting. As long as it's completed within three days, that will suffice. Staying up late is not good for your health. By the way, where have you arranged for the two of you to stay?"

Su Jinqiang suppressed the impulse within him and inadvertently made eye contact with the two women. From their eyes, he sensed a hint of disdain. Suddenly, Su Jinqiang became aware that he absolutely could not be as frivolous as a character from a picture book. Although he could take whatever he wanted on his own territory, and these two weak women would be unable to resist, doing so would mean he would become no different from the likes of Zhu Yanei.

... ...

The two women responded with a sound, then lit two candlesticks and moved them closer to the table, before approaching Su Jin's side to stand quietly and listen to his explanation

Rou Niang and Huan Niang sensed something from Su Jin's unusual gaze, a look they had encountered many times before. The two women exchanged a helpless glance, feeling an inexplicable fear in their hearts; it seemed they could not escape the fate of being ravaged by others. Although this young master Su appeared to be from a respectable family, he was no different from the men on the streets, all of the same ilk.

Su Jin's heart was suddenly filled with tenderness. He turned around, extending his arms to embrace the slender, soft waists of the two women, and walked out. The two women, their faces flushed with embarrassment, found themselves unable to break free and had no choice but to follow his steps as they turned left and arrived at the small house where they lived.

Due to Su Jin's pursuit of perfection, it took the two women two hours to complete a single painting. Although the speed was slow, the resulting effect was extraordinary. The characters in both paintings were vividly lifelike, with the color combinations and expressions of the figures being exceptionally well-executed, which left Su Jin extremely satisfied

After finishing breakfast, Su Jin repeatedly instructed to prepare the carriage, while also asking someone to check in the front hall if the old steward had arrived. She then called Rou Niang and Huan Niang to the study. Upon entering, Su Jin was taken aback to see that on the fine string specifically used for hanging paintings on the west side of the study, there were more than ten completed paintings swaying gently, drying the ink and watercolor. It was evident that the two sisters had stayed up all night to finish most of them.

The next morning, Su Jin woke up early and, as per her usual routine, ran a few laps in the small courtyard. She then crazily performed fifty pull-ups and one hundred push-ups before taking a hot shower and changing into dry clothes, drenched in sweat

Su Jin inadvertently saw Huan Niang let out a small yawn, feeling somewhat puzzled. Upon closer inspection of the sisters' drooping eyes, he clearly noticed a hint of red veins rolling across the whites of their eyes. It seemed that the two sisters had not rested at all last night, and it was likely they had stayed up all night working.

However, we can see that you, young master, are eager to complete this task. There are only ten more to go, so let us sisters take care of the painting.

The two small beds had their quilts neatly folded, showing no signs of having been disturbed. Su Jin spoke in a commanding tone: "You two, get to bed immediately. No more staying up late. Work is important, but health is even more so. During spring, it is the easiest time to catch a cold. You two are putting me in an unjust position. Even for the maids in the house, I do not allow them to treat their bodies in such a manner"

Only when it is noon will I allow you to get up. I will ask Xiaomi to call you. If you do not listen, you may leave on your own tomorrow. As she spoke, Su Jin's voice had already faded away.

"Young Master, you should go rest now; it is already nearing the third watch of the night. You have clearly stated your requirements for the painting, and both I and my sister understand what needs to be done. There is no need for you to stay up with us. You have matters to attend to tomorrow." Rou Niang spoke as she was, her words gentle and soft, devoid of any harshness, sounding as if a goose feather were lightly scratching at the heart.

The two young women were quite intelligent, and what Su Jin requested from them was not particularly difficult. Therefore, they quickly fully understood Su Jin's requirements. They then spread the sheets of paper, which they had purchased in the afternoon and were of desktop size, on the table and began their work

Su Jinxin was captivated, and the soul hidden within his body was not that of a sixteen-year-old, but rather that of a twenty-three-year-old young man from a later generation. What was even more critical was that he had already tasted the utmost pleasures of the world, unlike the naive and ignorant youth. As a man, he found it even more difficult to restrain himself after having experienced such delights.

Su Jin smiled and said: "That settles it. You are originally working in the study, so it is naturally best to arrange things nearby. Alright, tidy up and go to sleep. I shall take my leave."

Rou Niang secretly raised her eyes to look at him and said: "It is nothing, Young Master saved both me and my sister. We are willing to do some things for you, even if it is tiring, we do so willingly"

Two young girls accompanied him, and the feminine aura that wafted towards Su Jin stirred his heart incessantly. He felt a beastly impulse, wishing he could embrace them tightly, tear away their thin garments, and indulge in the sight of their robust figures beneath the clothing.

Su Jin held a goat-hair brush, dipping it in ink as she sketched on a piece of white paper while explaining her process. She also elucidated the principles behind her actions to help them better understand her intentions. The two women listened with increasing astonishment; this young gentleman Su's ideas were indeed novel. Although they had never heard of the concepts she discussed, they sounded quite reasonable.

Yang Xiaosi and Xiao Zhuzai were not qualified to sit at the table. The two of them took a dozen or so flatbreads and, with a large bowl of millet porridge, were chased out to the outer corridor by Xiao Suier, where they ate in silence. The young girls also maintained their dignity, sitting sideways and diagonally opposite Su Jin, savoring their food slowly.