460, Rare (1 more
She had strived for decades. Then, in a flash, everything was gone, and looking back on those years of constant toil, she realized she had achieved nothing, left nothing behind. Her heart grew cold, her fighting spirit dissipated.
Back then, she really had no edge to her, or perhaps the edges were still there, just hidden deep within her heart. Now, her whole being was a thorn, ready to fiercely prickle anyone who dared provoke her.
Maybe it was because she now had money in her hands and a reliable backing that her confidence soared.
Maybe it was because she knew martial arts, had learned some medicine, and was no longer a powerless illiterate woman.
All in all, she was more assertive, and gentleness barely touched her anymore.
As for Mu Rourou…
Xie Zhinuan thought of this beautiful and gentle girl and laughed to herself.
She returned to her own courtyard, planning to make a trip once the timber was ready.
“Miss, there’s someone outside from Chonghe Town,” the doorman shouted at the gate, “selling bowls and cups, a Mister Chen from town!”
He didn’t dare enter Xie Zhinuan’s courtyard casually.
“?” Xie Zhinuan immediately knew who it was. Dong Sheng’s uncle. But what was he doing here?
“Please, invite him in!”
In the hall, Xie Zhinuan saw Shopkeeper Chen. Not much had changed about him since last year, but Xie Zhinuan had gone from a little village girl to present Miss Xie, holding tens of thousands of acres of mountain land, hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, as well as estates and manors.
“Shopkeeper Chen!” Xie Zhinuan was exceedingly polite.
Shopkeeper Chen seemed uneasy. He had been a shopkeeper all his life, managing just a small shop selling bowls and cups. In his relatives’ eyes, he was already considered wealthy, but in front of Xie Zhinuan, he was nothing. He couldn’t afford such a manor even in the county town.
“Miss Xie!”
“Please sit, Shopkeeper Chen,” Xie Zhinuan said courteously, signaling the maid to serve tea, “Have some tea, Shopkeeper Chen.”
“Yes, yes,” Shopkeeper Chen quickly lifted the cup, cautiously sipped, and found the tea sweet and fresh, surely a new blend.
After his long journey, he was both tired and thirsty. He drank a few more sips before setting down his cup and said, “Miss Xie, I really had no other choice but to come this time!”
Xie Zhinuan nodded to signal Shopkeeper Chen to continue.
She suspected he had come to borrow silver.
“It’s like this. My nephew Dong Sheng and Xiaoyuan, I saw them grow up, and their affection is genuine. It’s just that my sister-in-law is so foolish. She caused a perfectly good couple to split, now they have divorced and gone their separate ways. Dong Sheng caused trouble at home, turned everything upside down, and even my brother got so angry he fell ill. The matter escalated to the clan, and they severed his paternal relationship. Dong Sheng was kicked out, but he’s spiteful. Kicked out, he didn’t quiet down but continued to make a mess. I had no choice; I tied him up with rope, brought him to the county town, and now I’m asking Miss Xie to give him a chance to mend his ways!”
“Dong Sheng?” Xie Zhinuan was indeed surprised.
She did not expect that Dong Sheng would turn into such a nuisance after the divorce.
“He’s outside, in the mule cart,” Shopkeeper Chen quickly added.
Xie Zhinuan stood up, “I’ll go take a look!”
Shopkeeper Chen wanted to follow, but Xie Zhinuan raised her hand to indicate he should not, “I’ll go alone.”
“Yes, yes!”
Xie Zhinuan stepped outside the gate and walked over to the mule cart.
The man sitting on the mule cart immediately got down, visibly nervous and flustered.
Xie Zhinuan smiled at him and reached out to lift the curtain.
Dong Sheng was bound tightly, sitting dejectedly in the corner. Suddenly exposed to light, he turned his head to look. Seeing it was Xie Zhinuan, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned his head away.
“What? Are you ashamed of yourself, or is it me you can’t bear to look at?” Xie Zhinuan said with a stern voice.
Chapter 462