Destined

Liu Yuru's shop business was thriving, so she began expanding her operations and hiring more people. On one hand, she contemplated diversifying her product line beyond just rouge, while on the other, she aimed to increase production volume to sell not only in Wangdu but also across various other provinces.

Earning money from other provinces and spending it in Youzhou—this was the kind of merchant the government favored.

While Liu Yuru was busy with her business, Gu Jiusi dutifully spent his days at the Magistrate Office.

His colleagues didn't much care for him. For one, he wasn't a local, and secondly, everyone knew he used to be a wealthy merchant. As the saying goes, "a phoenix in reduced circumstances is not as good as a chicken," and everyone wanted to bully him a little for their own amusement.

They enjoyed commenting during meals that Gu Jiusi didn't act like a man, and when he patrolled the streets with his sword, they mocked his walk as effeminate.

But no matter how much they slandered Gu Jiusi, they couldn't stop other young women from admiring him. Every time he patrolled the streets, many girls would secretly follow and watch him from behind, which only fueled the anger of those around him.

Though Gu Jiusi faced exclusion at the Magistrate Office, he never complained. When Zhou Ye came to check on him and asked about his life, Gu Jiusi simply said, "Everything's fine."

Zhou Ye smiled. "Last time my father asked about you, I told him I'd arranged a job for you, and he scolded me."

"Why did he scold you?" Gu Jiusi looked puzzled. Zhou Ye seemed somewhat embarrassed. "I arranged this position for you privately without consulting my father. When he found out, he berated me, saying I was wasting your potential."

Zhou Ye glanced around before continuing, "My father said Uncle Fan wanted you to set an example—not as a merchant who trades favors with the government. If you donate money and we give you benefits, it becomes like buying advantages. Other merchants would see this and start making demands too. Uncle Fan wants you to be seen as a virtuous merchant who selflessly contributes his wealth to the government. That's why my father said you shouldn't live too comfortably—people need to see you enduring hardships. Once the war stabilizes and it's time to reward contributions, that will be your beginning. With your reputation for righteousness, my father can directly recommend you for an official position with a high starting point. Having you serve as a low-ranking guard now is wasting your time. You'd be better off studying more."

Gu Jiusi smiled without responding. Zhou Ye sighed, "I've held you back."

"How can you say that, Brother Zhou?" Gu Jiusi shook his head. "You can see my weakest point isn't studying—it's understanding human relationships and dealing with people. Placing me at the bottom to temper my character is exactly right. According to your father's plan, if I entered officialdom at a high position without experiencing the lower ranks, I wouldn't know how to handle these people and would suffer greatly later."

"After all, most people in this world are ordinary folks. I'm quite pleased with your arrangement. I'm just concerned—does my wife running her business affect Governor Fan's plans?"

"That's not an issue," Zhou Ye waved his hand. "Everyone knows your wife established herself through her own abilities—it has little to do with me. People are praising her products everywhere now. My mother keeps pressuring me to reserve the latest items from her. You must put in a good word for me when you go home.""Don't worry about that," Gu Jiusi said with a smile. "I'll speak with her."

As he spoke, warmth flickered in his eyes. Zhou Ye, observing from the side, couldn't help but remark, "It seems to me that you and your wife have grown closer recently?"

"Hmm?" Gu Jiusi was taken aback, then cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly. "Perhaps. Lately, watching how busy she is, I've come to realize she's quite different from what I imagined. To be honest, Brother Zhou," Gu Jiusi pressed his lips together, seeming a little embarrassed, "in the past, my feelings toward her were mostly guilt. I always felt I had wronged her and treated her well out of obligation. But these days, when I see her happy, I feel happy myself. So I often find myself wanting to do things that bring her joy. I'm not sure if that counts as closeness, but compared to before, I do feel we've grown a bit closer."

"Hearing you say that makes me feel rather troubled."

Zhou Ye sighed. Gu Jiusi looked puzzled as Zhou Ye's expression turned pained. "I'm already twenty-two, constantly traveling and never meeting someone who truly understands me. Listening to you talk like this makes me want to find someone to marry. But marriage should be with someone you love. I don't know when I'll be as fortunate as you, Jiusi, to meet someone who shares mutual affection."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi was momentarily stunned.

The phrase "mutual affection" felt unfamiliar to him, and he hurriedly clarified, "No, no, Yu Ru and I... it's not... it's not like that..."

Zhou Ye was confused by his denial. After a moment's thought, Gu Jiusi explained the whole story to Zhou Ye and sighed. "So, things between Yu Ru and me aren't as you imagine. To be honest, she's never really been my type—she's too gentle and reserved. I've always preferred women who are bold in love and hate, more unrestrained and daring."

"Yu Ru is a good woman," Gu Jiusi shook his head, explaining, "but she's just not the style I like."

"You're right," Zhou Ye nodded thoughtfully. "Given your temperament, your wife is indeed too gentle. She doesn't seem like someone you'd typically favor. But the fact that you care for each other is still far better than couples who live as strangers."

As they were talking, a young beggar rushed over and anxiously reported to Gu Jiusi, "Brother, it's bad! Madam Du... Madam Du has taken people to cause trouble for Sister-in-law at her shop!"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi immediately broke into a run, sprinting toward Liu Yu Ru's shop. Zhou Ye followed close behind. "She's too soft-hearted," Gu Jiusi fretted, "and that Madam Du is a shrew. She's bound to suffer this time!"

Madam Du was the proprietress of the Apricot Blossom Pavilion.

Born and raised in a brothel, she grew up in a world of chaos and vice. In her youth, she was known for her sharp tongue, capable of reducing a man to tears with her public scolding. Though she had no roots in Wangdu, she managed to establish a brothel there, making her a figure of some influence.

She was close friends with Yang Xu, the owner of another Rouge shop named Yang's. Recently, Liu Yu Ru's Rouge had surged in popularity in the city, significantly impacting Yang Xu's business. In response, Yang Xu enlisted Madam Du's help to deliberately cause trouble for Liu Yu Ru.Aunt Du knew of Liu Yu Ru. She had made inquiries - a young woman newly married, who had come from Yangzhou to seek refuge. Such a young lady from a respectable family, still tender in years and always mindful of propriety and refinement, would naturally be quite thin-skinned. It so happened that one of Aunt Du's "daughters" had developed an allergic reaction to river shrimp, breaking out in numerous red bumps on her face. Seizing this opportunity, Aunt Du gathered the women from her establishment and went directly to sit outside Floral Visage's shop, beginning to loudly voice her grievances.

When Liu Yu Ru heard about Aunt Du causing trouble at home, she hurried over immediately. Arriving at the shop entrance, she saw a crowd of gaudily dressed women surrounding Floral Visage's doorway. Aunt Du stood at the front, holding Yin Hong back from entering while shouting at her: "Our girl used your rouge and now her face has become like this! Shouldn't you take responsibility and compensate us?"

"Please wait a moment," Yin Hong said, flustered by the crowd surrounding her. "This matter needs to be handled by our proprietor."

"Wait, wait, wait! Your proprietor doesn't even dare show her face - probably guilty conscience, sending you to brush me off. My girl depends on this face to make a living! How is she supposed to go on with her life, suffering like this at such a young age?"

"No, that's not it," Yin Hong said anxiously. "My proprietor is on her way..."

"Floral Visage's rouge ruins faces! The big shop bullies customers!" Aunt Du completely denied Yin Hong any chance to speak, raising her voice to shout: "When something happens, no one takes responsibility! They're just letting my girl's face rot! Everyone passing by, come judge this fairly!"

Yin Hong's voice was soft and she kept getting interrupted by Aunt Du. The surrounding crowd couldn't hear what Yin Hong was saying, only Aunt Du's loud shouts. Seeing a young girl with a face full of red bumps standing nearby looking miserable, people's sympathies leaned in that direction, and they began pointing and muttering about Yin Hong.

When Liu Yu Ru stepped down from the carriage, this was the scene that greeted her. She hurried forward and said to Aunt Du: "Madam, I am the proprietor of Floral Visage. My surname is Liu..."

"Who cares about Liu or flowers! Today you just pay up! My girl's face is ruined, her life is over! Think carefully about how much you need to compensate!"

Yin Hong was becoming frightened. She whispered to Liu Yu Ru: "Madam, this woman is too difficult to deal with. Let's just pay and be done with it..."

Liu Yu Ru remained silent, saying nothing.

Paying compensation would be simple enough, but once they paid, it would mean admitting their products were at fault. Moreover, she had always built her reputation on making people feel that Floral Visage was a shop of refinement. These women today, with their crude speech and appearance, and their rather... questionable status...

If this matter wasn't handled properly today, everyone's impression of Floral Visage would become that such women also used their products. Whether people would still regard Floral Visage as a symbol of respectable living would then become uncertain.

"Speak!" Aunt Du pressed forward aggressively when she saw Liu Yu Ru remaining silent. "What, trying to weasel out of paying?!"

"Aunt Du," Liu Yu Ru thought for a moment before collecting herself and finally speaking: "If this is indeed my shop's responsibility, then naturally we should compensate. But before compensation, I need to clarify..."

"You just don't want to pay, right?!"

Aunt Du raised her voice, shouting angrily: "You little slut with your smooth talk! Everyone listen to what she's saying! She says it's not her responsibility! If using your product ruins someone's face, whose responsibility is it if not yours? Is it my girl's fault? You worthless little hussy..."A torrent of extremely foul language poured from Madam Du's mouth, causing Liu Yu Ru's face to flush red then pale white.

All the profanity she had heard in her entire life couldn't compare to what she heard in this quarter hour.

When Madam Du cursed, her voice was sharp and piercing. At first, she tried to maintain some semblance of reason, but soon descended into the crudest street vulgarities.

Passersby listened to Madam Du's cursing while watching Liu Yu Ru's face turn crimson, her entire body trembling with anger, and couldn't help but laugh.

There was an indescribable rhythm to Madam Du's cursing that made the onlookers roar with laughter, while Liu Yu Ru was too furious to speak.

If Madam Du were reasonable, she might have been able to argue back, but faced with such shameless behavior... what could she do?

As the crowd of spectators grew larger, Liu Yu Ru felt she could barely breathe.

Yin Hong quickly urged, "Madam, let it go, let's just pay the money. We can't afford to provoke this kind of person."

Liu Yu Ru pressed her lips together without speaking, her eyes fixed fiercely on Madam Du. The older woman sat cross-legged at the entrance, her lips flapping as she began fabricating stories about Liu Yu Ru's "romantic history," implying that the success of her Rouge shop was built on promiscuity.

Yin Hong angrily tried to trade insults with Madam Du, but was quickly shamed into retreat by the older woman's crude retorts.

Tears of frustration welled in Yin Hong's eyes. Liu Yu Ru stood at the doorway, clenching her fists, closing her eyes, and taking deep breaths.

She couldn't panic.

Faced with such a scoundrel, she mustn't panic.

If the other wanted to make a scene, she would make an even bigger one.

If the other wanted to curse, she would curse even louder.

Was it just about having a loud voice and dirty words? She wouldn't mind such vulgar language - her voice could be even louder.

Liu Yu Ru clenched her fists, making her decision.

She suddenly opened her eyes, rushed into the shop, grabbed a broom, and charged out toward Madam Du!

Seeing Liu Yu Ru charging out with the broom, Madam Du quickly scrambled to her feet, shouting, "Help! She's attacking me! Murder!"

"I'm beating the slanderous lies out of you, you vicious woman!" Liu Yu Ru roared, her voice reaching the loudest volume she had ever produced in her life.

Madam Du reached for Liu Yu Ru's broom, but Liu Yu Ru moved nimbly, kicking out as they began fighting.

The surrounding women scattered at the sight of Liu Yu Ru's desperate fighting stance.

Madam Du was chased around the shop entrance, crying as she ran, "How dare you hit someone my age! You vicious woman with a heart of poison!"

"Still better than your filthy mouth!" Liu Yu Ru immediately retorted angrily. "What else can you do besides curse? Bringing some prostitute to cause trouble at my door - did you think I was an easy target?"

"If you have a case, then let her come with me for examination! Did you purchase goods from us? Which Rouge product did you use, how did you use it, why did you get these rashes? Our products aren't available to just anyone. If you claim you bought them, show me the proof! You don't dare show it, don't dare get examined, just make a scene at my door - isn't this just a play orchestrated by Yang Xu to cause me trouble?"

"At your age, unable to earn money properly, only knowing these cheap tricks - serves you right to be rolling on the ground at this age! You and Yang Xu deserve to be poor your whole lives! Poor, old, and vicious - just looking at your faces makes me sick!""You little hussy, your tongue is truly glib. This old woman almost believed you."

"You old hag, stop your nonsense! I've already picked out a prime burial plot for you in the mass graves with some spare change. Hurry up and lie down so we can cover you with yellow earth. Winter is coming, and without soil to keep you warm, your bones will freeze!"

...

As both sides chased and fought, they continued hurling insults. Yin Hong joined the fray, and soon all the young women were embroiled in a chaotic brawl at the entrance.

Liu Yuru led the charge, brandishing a broom with such force and skill that she moved with the imposing aura of a great general.

Once someone starts cursing, the rest comes naturally. As she was being insulted, she learned from the experience. By the time Gu Jiusi rushed over, he saw Liu Yuru leading her group, broom in hand, chasing after Madam Du while unleashing a torrent of colorful curses without pause: "You wretched, short-lived old hag, stand still! If I don't make you cry your way home today, I'll renounce the Liu family name!"

Hearing these words and taking in the chaotic scene before him, Gu Jiusi felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue. He stood rooted to the spot, completely stunned.

Zhou Ye, who had arrived right behind him, was equally dumbfounded. The two men stared in shock at the spectacle. After a moment, Zhou Ye swallowed hard and said, "Jiusi, your wife is truly fierce and battle-ready—a real formidable warrior!"

Author's Note:

[Short Theater]

Gu Jiusi: I like girls who are bright and passionate, bold and unrestrained, capable of loving and hating fiercely.

Liu Yuru: Gu Jiusi, your girl is here!

Gu Jiusi: ...No... that's not what I meant.

Life can turn a girl into a shrew.

And love can turn a shrew into an adorable one.