Chapter 121: The Highly Respected Head Ding

Nixia Silk Shop, backyard.

“Third Mistress, Second Mistress and Lord Li have arrived.”

“Please invite them in.”

Lin Hansu took one last look at the bedroom, turned and walked out, gently closing the door behind her.

The backyard of the silk shop was not large, with a main house of three rooms: a bedroom on the right, a reception hall in the middle, and a study on the left.

Besides the main house, there were two side rooms on each side.

In the small courtyard, a Japanese maple tree was planted.

It was autumn, and the tree was covered in red leaves, exceptionally beautiful.

The backyard and front yard were separated by a storeroom, and at this moment, the festive gongs and drums in the front made the backyard seem even more peaceful.

From the selection of the site to the purchase of furniture for the silk shop, Granny Zhang handled everything herself.

Granny Zhang not only understood her unspoken thoughts but also worked quickly and reliably.

The longer time passed, the more Lin Hansu felt she couldn’t do without her.

Lost in thought, Granny Zhang led in her second elder sister, Lin Maimu, and brother-in-law, Li Han.

No one knew about Lin Hansu’s connection to this silk shop business except Lin Dafu. Her second elder sister, however, somehow heard about it from their father and specifically came today to celebrate.

The two sisters linked arms as soon as they met. Lin Maimu looked around and sighed, “Third lass is always busy. She has a pile of duties now, and still has time to open a silk shop~”

Lin Hansu smiled without speaking.

The three entered the hall, and Granny Zhang placed the already prepared meal on the dining table, then closed the door and left.

After a brief chat, Li Han, who had been mostly silent, suddenly said, “Your Highness, this official remembers—”

“There are no outsiders here. Brother-in-law, why do you keep calling me Your Highness? Are you trying to embarrass me?”

Hearing her say this, Li Han chuckled and changed his address, “Third Mistress, your humble brother remembers that Ding Suian, who is currently quite prominent, originated as a guard in your mansion, correct?”

The wine cup in Lin Hansu’s hand paused slightly. She calmly replied, “Yes, he was originally a guard in the Prince’s Mansion. At that time, he bravely saved me once. But now he has been promoted to a Dutou of the Elite Cavalry. Why do you suddenly ask about him, brother-in-law?”

“It’s like this. My colleague, Lord Zhang, who serves as a Yuanwailang of the Department of Finance, coincidentally met Head Ding at Your Highness’s mansion a few days ago and was quite impressed. He wishes to arrange a marriage for his young daughter. Your humble brother heard that Head Ding is unmarried, so he thought of asking Third Mistress to act as a matchmaker to facilitate this auspicious event~”

“.”

Her full chest rose and fell quickly, but Lin Hansu swiftly controlled her emotions. Her Phoenix eyes drooped slightly to prevent her second elder sister from noticing any clues in her eyes, but her tone still uncontrollably turned cold, “When did my second brother-in-law also take on the role of matchmaker for the Ministry of Revenue?”

“Hehe, Third Mistress is joking.”

The somewhat sharp reply made Li Han feel a bit surprised.

Lin Maimu on the side had already interjected, “Hansu, don’t tease your brother-in-law. A colleague entrusted him, so he’s helping to ask. Besides, if this matter succeeds—”

Before she could finish, Lin Hansu rudely interrupted, “This matter cannot succeed!”

She finally couldn’t control herself.

Li Han and Lin Maimu both sensed the abnormality now, looking at Lin Hansu in confusion.

Lin Hansu drank a cup of wine, using the flush on her Face from the alcohol to conceal the angry blush rising on her porcelain-white cheeks.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, she proactively said, “Head Ding already has someone in mind.”

“Ah? The daughter of which esteemed official?”

“Not an esteemed official’s daughter, but his childhood sweetheart~”

Although unwilling to say it herself, the only reasonable way Lin Hansu could think of to refuse was to use Ruan Ruan as a shield.

“Is that so?” Lin Maimu seemed unwilling to give up and added, “Hansu, you can first ask for his own opinion. A man should prioritize his career. Although Lord Zhang’s rank is not high, the position of Yuanwailang of the Department of Finance is very important and would be a great help to Head Ding.”

“Second Sister, stop talking! Head Ding’s childhood sweetheart is Ruan Guofan’s daughter, the owner of Zhangtai Willow. When it comes to future assistance, she might not be inferior to that Lord Zhang.”

As a top-tier pleasure house parachuted into Central Heaven, Zhangtai Willow couldn’t have opened without a powerful patron backing Ruan Guofan.

This was common knowledge.

Fearing her second elder sister would persist, Lin Hansu added another point, “That young lady Ruan is pure and romantic, and we’ve become close friends. I regard her as a sister. If I were to play matchmaker for Head Ding, wouldn’t I be helping an outsider steal my own sister’s husband?”

The last sentence was spoken with particular indignation.

Throughout her entire speech, only the phrase ‘helping an outsider steal my own sister’s husband’ was genuine.

However, it was her true feelings spoken to her second elder sister, Lin Maimu.

“Chief, I’ve found out.”

“Speak.”

“This street-cleaning silver was originally a policy introduced by the Tianzong Prefecture Yamen in the 27th year of the Zhengtong era. To raise money to clean up street filth, it was based on voluntary contributions, asking highly respected individuals to solicit donations from wealthy merchants within the ward.”

Voluntary again, huh?

That ‘Third Master’ covered in tattoos clearly looked like a ‘highly respected individual’.

Li Si, with his entire fortune consisting of a carrying pole and a broken table, clearly looked like a ‘wealthy merchant’.

Most oppressive policies seem to have good intentions at their inception.

Over time, without effective oversight, they turn into this monstrous state.

“Old Wang, let’s go, a trip to Cai Ji Rouge Shop~”

Cai Ji Rouge Shop.

“Extortion? Nonsense! To keep the streets of Honglu Temple Ward clean and tidy, our humble shop voluntarily pays twelve taels of street-cleaning silver every month.” The shopkeeper Cai of the rouge shop, upon learning the reason for Vice Dutou Wang of the Military Patrol Post’s sudden visit—that he was there to uphold justice for him—couldn’t help but laugh. In that smile, there was clearly a hint of undisguised mockery.

Shopkeeper Cai’s attitude completely caught Wang Xigui off guard. He couldn’t help but turn his head to glance at Ding Suian, who was standing behind him, simply disguised as a Soldier.

After a quick exchange of glances, Wang Xigui said again, “Shopkeeper Cai, don’t be afraid. With our Military Patrol Post here, just tell the truth.”

“Hahahaha~” Shopkeeper Cai let out a burst of inexplicable laughter, then pulled out five silver notes, each worth one tael, and handed them over. “Our humble shop is open for business; we don’t wish to invite trouble. Vice Dutou Wang, please take this small token of appreciation, treat your brothers to some tea, and go look around elsewhere.”

This was treating them like beggars looking for handouts.

More importantly, when the ruffians came, he gave twelve taels; when the Vice Dutou of the Military Patrol Post came, he only gave five taels.

It wasn’t that Ding Suian thought it was too little, but it was clear that in Shopkeeper Cai’s eyes, the ruffians held more weight than the Soldiers.

Damn it, Honglu Temple Ward was their Elite Cavalry’s territory.

The next day.

The second day of the ninth lunar month.

A light rain caused the temperature to drop sharply.

The bleak autumn chill in Central Heaven grew stronger.

The Nixia Silk Shop, on its second day of business, was bustling with customers.

At noon, a window on the second floor facing the street was opened halfway, and a carp lantern was hung.

Ding Suian saw it from afar and turned into the quiet back alley of the Military Patrol Post.

The alley was empty and deserted. Ding Suian had only walked a dozen steps when he stopped before a door.

‘Thump~ Thump~ Thump~ Thump-thump~’

‘Creak~’

After three long and two short knocks, the door opened. Granny Zhang first slipped inside, then poked her head out to look around before closing the door and latching it.

In the main hall, Lin Hansu, who had already changed into an autumn shirt with a mink collar, heard the familiar footsteps but did not turn around.

She continued to arrange the sliced beef belly, lamb spine, and cicada-wing-thin mandarin fish fillets from the food box onto plates on the table.

In the center of the dining table, a small clay stove was placed, with a clay pot bubbling atop it.

The thick autumn shirt still couldn’t conceal Lin Hansu’s graceful figure.

From behind, her tall figure narrowed sharply at the waist into a slender curve, and with the full peach-like hips below, it created a perfect waist-to-hip ratio.

Outside, the autumn rain was slightly cold; inside, steam diffused. Her back, holding a ladle, materialized the image of peaceful and prosperous living.

Perhaps hearing the footsteps stop, Lin Hansu turned around and saw Ding Suian standing at the doorway, looking at her. She couldn’t help but curve her eyebrows and smile brightly, “Why are you standing there foolishly? Come in!”

Ding Suian stepped inside, looked at the items on the table, and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh, does elder sister’s hometown also have the custom of eating hotpot?”

Lin Hansu took the towel from Granny Zhang, and while wiping a little rain from his clothes, she said, “A few days ago, I was chatting with Ruan Ruan, and she mentioned that in early autumn, when it gets cold, you used to love this method of cooking meat in boiling water. So I had some ingredients prepared to satisfy your craving.”

The two sat around the table, like an ordinary married couple.

“…That Shopkeeper Cai doesn’t know what’s good for him, treating the Elite Cavalry like beggars.”

Ding Suian was quite displeased as he spoke of this matter.

Lin Hansu swallowed her food, elegantly dabbed her not-so-dirty lips with a silk handkerchief, and replied, “It’s normal. If you provoke those ruffians, they’ll splash your shop with excrement or cause trouble every now and then. Even if they’re caught and taken to the Yamen, they’ll be released after a few days. It’s better to give them some silver for peace of mind.”

Ding Suian, however, said, “I couldn’t control it before, but now Honglu Temple Ward is the Elite Cavalry’s territory; it’s not for ruffians to act like big shots here. Besides, there are nearly two hundred large and small shops in the ward. If each shop pays ten taels a month, just Honglu Temple Ward alone would bring in two thousand taels a month. How much would that be for all of Central Heaven?”

Over time, not only does affection grow, but one also understands the other better.

Hearing this, how could Lin Hansu not see Ding Suian’s intentions? She chuckled, “Are you short on money?”

Ding Suian said, “It’s not about money; it’s about this grievance.”

Lin Hansu picked up a piece of lamb with her chopsticks and placed it in Ding Suian’s bowl, advising, “If you need money, I’ll give it to you. Why bother getting angry with others?”

Although these words were heartwarming, he couldn’t lose Face!

I am an independent man!

“Getting angry with yourself easily leads to breast cancer; it’s better to let others get angry.”

Ding Suian occasionally blurted out incomprehensible words, which Lin Hansu had grown accustomed to.

Ever since the day Madam Wu was killed at Jintai Temple, these two had been in a relationship where he would kill, and she would bury the body; he would do evil, and she would assist.

Seeing that Young Master had made up his mind, she gave up on trying to persuade him and leaned her chin on her hand, pondering how to handle this matter and its aftermath.

“Young Master, what are your plans?”

Lin Hansu prepared to exchange ideas.

“Yesterday I met Shopkeeper Cai. Since they are willing to pay the street-cleaning silver, then changing the recipient in the future shouldn’t be a big problem.” Ding Suian stood up, spun around flamboyantly, and chuckled, “Originally, the Tianzong Prefecture Yamen’s policy was to have highly respected individuals in the ward collect it. Elder sister, do I look like a highly respected individual?”

Lin Hansu burst out laughing, her moist Phoenix eyes gazing at him, saying, “During the day, you’re perfectly behaved and proper, but at night, you’re mischievously overflowing with wickedness~”