Chapter Seven, with significant origins

On one side, Yang Xiaosi was left dumbfounded, his mouth half-open. In just a few words, Young Master Su had deceived two beautiful young ladies into willingly entering the residence. Meanwhile, he had been searching for three to four years and had not even managed to find a wife. The comparison with others was truly infuriating.

Xiao Sui wore a displeased expression, pouting as she stared blankly out the window. Su Jin flicked her forehead and said, "Hurry up and eat, I have important matters to attend to this afternoon. Are there any painters nearby who can do portraits?"

The third floor was suddenly filled with joy. Although those who can dine at "Hefeng Building" are not impoverished, taking advantage of opportunities is the essence of happiness. Do you not see millionaires arguing passionately with farmers over a few yuan in vegetable prices? It is precisely this feeling of gaining an advantage that is sought after.

"This is indeed my humble abode; the simplicity of the small building may have caused you to mock it, young master," the woman said with a smile

Zhu Yanei thought for a moment and, feeling helpless, said: "In any case, regardless of the reason, we must not publicly cause trouble for He Feng Lou. It is a pity that such a charming young lady is beyond our reach."

"You flatter me, young master." The woman smiled, then turned to look at Zhu Yanei and the others who were about to sneak away, a layer of frost appearing on her face

Soft-heartedness is Su Jin's greatest weakness; at this moment, his sympathy is overflowing. At the same time, he possesses a peculiar temperament that drives him to complete tasks thoroughly. Otherwise, he would not have spent nearly his entire university life successfully winning over the department's beauty. Thus, he is contemplating whether he can arrange a position in the residence, even if it is just a menial job with a salary, as it would be far better than working in takeout or singing for tips.

Master Zhu, you have repeatedly come to my residence to cause trouble. Do you think that you can take advantage of a weak woman like me without facing any consequences?

Su Jin was in high spirits and invited everyone to take their seats and enjoy the meal. Rou Niang and Huan Niang were also quite hungry, so they did not hesitate and timidly took their bowls and chopsticks to eat. Yang Xiao Si, feeling self-pity, saw this and no longer insisted on any rules; he also sat down and began to eat heartily, after all, the innkeeper was treating them, so it didn't count as a violation.

Zhu Yanei angrily said: "How could this be let go? Am I supposed to continue living in this Lu Zhou city? Er Gou, Da Hu, starting tomorrow, you two will keep a close watch on him every day. As soon as there is an opportunity, give him a good beating. Be a bit careful with your methods; just don't kill him. It would be best to break his hands and feet, so that he learns not to meddle in others' affairs."

In He Feng Building, several master and servant were eating and discussing matters with great enthusiasm, completely forgetting the displeasure caused earlier by Zhu Yanei and his group. However, the group outside He Feng Building did not forget about them.

Seeing that the situation had calmed down, the woman turned to leave. Suddenly, as if recalling something, she quietly instructed a tall maid beside her with a few words, and then gracefully descended the stairs.

"In the yamen, I cannot understand why you are afraid of that woman. In this city of Lu Prefecture, have you ever been afraid of anyone? Why is it that upon seeing that woman, you act like a mouse encountering a cat, fleeing even faster than when you see the magistrate?" The fair-skinned Young Master Liu asked in confusion.

Yang Xiaosi said: "Is there any need to ask? Naturally, it is the City God Temple. The City God Temple not only gathers numerous merchants but is also a place for worshippers to offer incense. Every day, people come and go in droves, creating an extraordinary bustle."

Yang Xiaosi's eyes widened; five guan per month is the standard monthly salary for the shopkeeper. Moreover, being able to rely on the Su family as a backing is truly a stroke of good fortune. Just based on this, let alone five guan, even if it were only one guan, he would certainly agree.

The woman said with slight annoyance: "What is the outcome? Aren't you all causing a disturbance and unable to dine? Remember this: if he comes again, just throw him out. Everything is under my control and *Tushu*, so you need not be afraid; if you do not listen to me and let him in again, you will all take your wages and go home."

Xiao Sui'er was taken aback and turned her head, frowning as she said: "This little maid truly does not know where there is a painter."

Su Jin sighed quietly, reflecting on the tragic dramas that unfold in every dynasty. Take these two women, for instance; they were originally delicate beauties from humble backgrounds, yet they have fallen to the point of selling their singing. Su Jin certainly understood that female singers occupy a status similar to that of courtesans, or even lower.

Zhu Yanei appeared to be very afraid of this woman, and did not argue; he hurriedly made his way downstairs, followed by several attendants who tumbled down in a flustered manner.

Su Jin casually gestured with a thumbs-up and remarked, "Impressive." He tore the beautiful poem in his hand to shreds, turned around, and returned to the private room to continue eating and drinking. Two rescued singers hurried over to express their gratitude to Su Jin. Seeing the two women looking pitiful, he casually asked them a few questions. It turned out that they were sisters; their parents had been minor officials in Hefei County. For some unknown reason, they were punished and exiled to Yizhou. Their mother soon fell ill and passed away in a fit of anger. Their father, during his time in office, had not saved much silver. After the sisters sold their family property to bury their mother, their home became destitute. Gradually, they fell to the point of singing in the city for a living. Fortunately, they had learned to play the guqin and pipa since childhood; otherwise, they might have descended into an even more tragic situation.

Xiao Sui'er's ability to read the room is truly remarkable. Although she felt an indescribable reluctance, she still spoke up: "Young Master, the Madam mentioned that there are only a few of us here, just you, me, and Xiao Mi. Why not invite these two sisters back to settle in the residence?"

Young Master Liu and Young Master Huang stifled their laughter, while the officer referred to himself as "my father," which indeed created a muddled situation; however, Huang Junqing was somewhat astute and thought to himself: "Could it be that this woman’s family has someone in the court who is a high-ranking official, someone your father cannot afford to offend, which is why..."

A plump shopkeeper, wiping his sweat, stepped out from the side and cupped his hands in greeting, saying: "Master, it is not that we allowed him to enter; rather, he is a member of the governor's office and accompanied by attendants. We were concerned that a disturbance might arise and affect our business, so we arranged for him to be settled on the third floor for the sake of peace."

Su Jin could not take her eyes off her after just one glance. The woman had her hair elegantly styled in a high bun, her features were picturesque, and she exuded a mature charm. Although she appeared to be only in her twenties, she possessed a dual beauty that was as ripe as a peach yet as graceful as an orchid.

Zhu Yanei's eyes sparkled as he pointed with his long fingers and said: "Old Liu is still up to his tricks, clever as ever. When the time comes, the three of us will take turns; we won't let the fat water flow to outsiders."

Su Jin was secretly astonished; this woman spoke with such arrogance. The way she dismissed the governor of Luzhou as if he were no different from a dog suggested that her family must wield considerable power, completely disregarding the authority of the minor governor.

The managers and staff lowered their heads in agreement, saying that He Feng Lou was thriving in business, and that the wages here were double those outside. Moreover, the female owner treated the staff kindly on ordinary days, so no one was willing to leave for elsewhere. Since the owner has spoken, next time that Zhu Yanei comes, they will fight with all their might to drive him out.

The maid exclaimed, "My young lady has said that our establishment has not been attentive today, and that this fly has disturbed everyone's enjoyment. Therefore, all food and drink on the third floor today will be offered free of charge. We hope you will continue to visit He Feng Lou in the future"

Rou Niang and Huan Niang, who were savoring their food, said: "What does the young master wish to paint? My sister and I have learned a bit of painting from our mother since childhood; we wonder if we might be of assistance."

The two singing women exchanged glances and suddenly knelt before Su Jin, saying in unison: "Young master, your heart is kind and compassionate. My sister and I have no doubts about you. If it were not for your timely intervention, we would have been subjected to the insults of vile people. We need not think further; it is a blessing for my sister and me that you are willing to take us in."

If such a restaurant is considered simple, then it is likely that there is no such thing as luxury in the world. Su Jin gradually regained her composure and began to speak freely.

The two laughed softly, and Huang Junqing scoffed, "You are quite enthusiastic about painting a pie in the sky, but without any foundation, it seems you might even burst a blood vessel. That kid from the Su family just offended us; are we really going to let it go like this?"

Su Jin quietly informed Yang Xiaosi of the task at hand. Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaosi found it to be exceedingly simple, and immediately patted his chest with a resounding thump, agreeing to proceed.

The two attendants responded in unison, and a few of them chatted as they headed north along the riverbank. The northern city is a place where brothels and singing houses are concentrated, and naturally, it is also where these individuals linger every day

"Bah, what do you know? Am I afraid of that little lady?" Zhu Yanai spat resentfully.

The young woman gracefully approached the crowd, bowed her head towards Su Jin, and softly said: "I have the honor of meeting Young Master Su. I am deeply sorry that your first visit to our establishment has been disrupted, and I sincerely apologize for that."

"You little bastard! How dare you make me lose face in front of that woman again, it infuriates me!" Zhu Yanei snapped a willow branch and struck it fiercely against the ground, sending up a cloud of dust as he cursed.

Su Jin hurriedly returned the greeting, feeling somewhat flustered under her dazzling gaze. She feigned calmness and asked, "Is 'He Feng Lou' the property of this elder sister?"

Su Jin was overjoyed and thought to himself: "Having money is good; one can do good deeds without hesitation. Matters that can be resolved with money are not worth considering." He then inquired about the names of the two young women. Both women had the surname Shen; the one who was fifteen years old was named Rou Niang, while the other, who was fourteen, was named Huan Niang

The woman turned her head and asked lightly: "Who allowed him to enter? Did you not hear my instructions clearly a month ago?"

Su Jin slapped his thigh and said: "I have a task for you. If you can handle it well, I will take you on as a personal attendant from now on, with a monthly salary of five guan. You will only need to follow me around and take care of some errands. During festivals and holidays, there will also be rewards."

Su Jin was pleasantly surprised, realizing that these two sisters had some knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It seemed he had stumbled upon a treasure. He then carefully reiterated his requirements, and the two women found them to be quite manageable. Su Jin felt relieved and inquired with Yang Xiaosi about the most prosperous area in this place.

Zhu Yanei licked his lips and said: "We would like to, but how could we even touch the corner of a garment? You may not know this, but my father has strictly ordered me not to cause trouble at He Feng Building. If he finds out about this, I will be in for a stir-fried bamboo shoot and pork dish when I get home, and I won't be able to get out of bed for at least three days. That old man doesn't usually hit me, but he has beaten me three times just for causing a bit of trouble at He Feng Building. It's truly bizarre."

Su Jin looked at the two women and said: "I have no ulterior motives; everything is voluntary. I just feel that singing for takeout is not something you should be doing, and of course, serving others is not your responsibility either. However, I do need someone to manage the ink grinding in my study. If you two do not mind, you could help me with that. I do not often go into the study to write or read, so there is not much to do. You may decide for yourselves; if you agree, you can come to the Su residence in the East City to find me tomorrow."

If it doesn't work openly, we can do it secretly. Let's find an opportunity to give that young lady a bottle of the medicine obtained from Lichun Tower. At that time, won't it be a matter of picking at will

"Is it possible that our young master is attracted to that young lady's beauty, with ulterior motives?" The tall and slender Huang Junqing chuckled.