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墨書 Inktalez
Three days later, the County Magistrate concluded the case, labeling the Accountant as an insider, while those few scoundrels were said to be newly arrived bandits in town.
You wisely supplemented a thank-you letter with a fifty-tael silver note. Then, you sent a few younger sisters to the fabric shop to work, spreading your own rumors among the female workers. There was no need to be explicit; being vague and ambiguous made it seem more credible. The rest depended on how these female workers would interpret it.
Soon, word spread that you, a widow, had the audacity to travel thousands of miles with your younger siblings to Wuchang to make a living, implying that you must have sought refuge with the officials. People speculated that you must have had an affair with the County Magistrate; otherwise, how could your minor case—one without any deaths or lost money—be resolved in just three days amidst so many pending cases in Wuchang?
The fabric shop that you and your sisters had planned for so long finally opened at this time. With this half-true rumor and a few clever assistants hired, no one dared to cause trouble for your business. As newcomers without any foundation, you could only pave the way with money, but that was not a long-term solution. You either had to genuinely attach yourself to a powerful figure or leverage someone else's influence.
You chose the latter; reputation meant nothing to you compared to tangible benefits and deterrence against evil forces. The one hundred taels given to the County Magistrate was the best money spent in Wuchang. He used your petition and thank-you letter, along with the case files, to report to the court and earned commendation from his superiors. If anyone discovered he had accepted bribes at this juncture, his reputation would be ruined.
Thus, he worked hard to maintain his image, preferring to bear the label of a romantic rather than be seen as a shameless money-grubber. Whenever someone inquired about it, he would respond ambiguously, saying, "Officials should be good and act as parents to the people," claiming he merely did what any lord should do for a pitiful person like you.
When someone came to inquire about you, you simply smiled and handed over your Tutor's recommendation letter: "I need to support my family and don't have time for idle chatter." You made it clear that if they wanted gossip, they should hire you as a teacher. Even if there were no daughters or sisters at home, you could still teach their mothers every three days for half a day.
Before long, your teaching schedule was fully booked, bringing in substantial monthly income. After classes ended, the host family would send someone to escort you home. After all, everyone understood the unspoken agreement.
Only the very first family had never pried into these private matters. Liang Feng was rarely home; he was either transporting grain or bringing salt from elsewhere. However, whenever he was around, he would always see you off.
As the sun set, he walked beside you at a leisurely pace, sharing amusing stories from aboard ships. It was obvious that he had feelings for you; even the keen-eyed could tell. But you played coy—not because you disliked him but because your experiences taught you not to act impulsively; everything needed careful consideration of gains and losses.
You had just spread some tales about a tragic widow whose soul resonated with that of the County Magistrate while adhering strictly to propriety. Those who once did not know you now respected you more; those envious of you dared not act recklessly. Your dealings became much smoother as a result.
Tutor brings you a stable income, and the workshop has just gotten on track. Third Brother's marriage is also showing signs of progress, so you'd better not cause any trouble at this time.
The road has come to an end, and ahead is your home.
The young man stands before you, his gaze intense, burning into your consciousness.
"There’s a helmsman, a bowman, and countless crew members on the ship. If you have time, I can take you aboard to have a look. The Coilia nasus is very fresh this season; it tastes even better on the boat."
He is sturdier than any horseman or Long-term Laborer you've ever seen. He is also more handsome than any man you've encountered.
Unfortunately, he is not a poor scholar who can be easily manipulated. If you were to impulsively sleep with him, it would not be something that could be settled with just two taels of silver.
You smile and say, "Thank you, but I get seasick," before turning to head home.
After closing the door and leaning against it, you finally let down your guard and take a deep breath.
That smooth neck, the broad chest straining against the coarse fabric of his clothes, the narrow yet powerful waist… and the overwhelming aura that hits you from afar lingers in your mind.
Is this what Hormone feels like?
Your heart races like a drum.
You were so close to losing control.
That was a close call…
The coastal Wokou have escalated their activities; some pirates from this dynasty have mingled among them, slaughtering their own countrymen without respite.
Third Brother has taken the initiative to express his desire to open a branch in the southeastern coastal area.
This aligns perfectly with what the boss has in mind; although chaotic, the southeastern coast still has a solid foundation and remains prosperous. Such places are in dire need of banks, but he is getting old and his son is timid.
The boss is extremely excited and promises Third Brother that if he succeeds, he will marry his daughter to him. This marriage proposal has been mentioned verbally several times already, but they have yet to see each other; Third Brother no longer takes it seriously and only asks for another favor from the boss.
That day when you returned home, you saw someone in the yard practicing with knives and guns.
Fourth Sister and Sister Five clapped in delight; upon seeing you arrive, they hurriedly informed you that this was Third Brother's Martial Arts Master.
The man stopped his movements and greeted you respectfully.
You noticed your two younger sisters with flushed cheeks, clearly smitten, and teased them saying, "Why did he only bring one?"
"This one was hard-earned by Third Brother!"
"Yes, yes, just having Master Luo is enough!"
After your ordeal, you considered hiring some muscle, but without long-term contact and understanding, you were hesitant to choose anyone casually.
After all, hired thugs could pose another threat to you few weak women.
Third Brother had the idea of finding a bodyguard.
Money could be transferred between banks with receipts, but if the silver reserves in two places differed too much, a convoy would need to escort cash. The Jin Merchant has a history of over a hundred years, selecting only the best people. Indeed, one of them is worth ten others.
In the past, Third Brother had little capital to make demands, but this time he faced numerous challenges when opening a branch. He asked his boss for someone to keep at home.
First, it could help train his family members physically; second, when there are ruffians around, having someone to back him up; third, he has considerable experience, and while he is at home, you can take in some children who have no prospects and raise them as loyal thugs from a young age.
Third Brother packed his belongings just as Second Sister returned with fine wine and meat.
For the farewell dinner, Master Luo wisely excused himself so that your family could have a good conversation.
If Third Brother can succeed in this marriage and align with the Jin Merchant, your family would naturally have more support; if it doesn't work out, Third Brother's experiences will ensure he won't fare poorly in the future.
Several sisters are involved in business; aside from selling cloth, they also tailor clothes and socialize effortlessly with noblewomen. They manage their staff well and are not intimidated by troublemakers.
After several rounds of drinks, you reflect on how you never imagined being where you are today when you were once slaves and servants. Relying on your hands, brains, and extraordinary luck, you've made it step by step to this point; the future still holds promise.
This family has gradually taken shape.
Months after Third Brother left, you exchanged the land and shops from your former home for cash and flew back to Wuchang with the newly opened banknotes.
Along with the silver came a letter from home; Third Brother mentioned that he had established his own influence along the coast, filled with pride in his words. He also said that the court had sent troops to eliminate bandits, but his mindset was vastly different from before; he felt that a few more years of chaos wouldn't matter.
He was no longer that helpless little Household Servant. Now in Gusu City, everyone knows him as the head of the bank; without him, no silver could be transferred out. However, his methods of accumulating wealth through lending and debt collection were ruthless as well.
In this world, men find it easier to rise up; you hope that Third Brother can benefit the family further but dare not hold too many expectations. He is like a kite released into the wind, soaring high without knowing where it will land.
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