The Road to Glory

Chapter 14 "You Weren't Bought to Be His Wife..."

Hou Xiao'an bit the tip of his chopsticks, staring blankly for a long moment before saying, "Sister A Yu, how do you know so much?"

Wen Yu's chopsticks, which were picking at the rice grains, paused slightly. Even without looking up, she could feel the gaze from the person beside her, sharp enough to bore right through her. She stirred the rice grains in her bowl and smiled as she replied, "My father used to run a small business in Luodu. I heard him talk about it so often that I picked up bits and pieces over time."

Xiao Li remained silent, but Hou Xiao'an lightened the mood with a joke: "With your understanding, Sister A Yu, you'd make a great businesswoman!"

Wen Yu said, "Times are tough. Being able to survive and reunite with my family is already a blessing from heaven. I dare not ask for more."

Hou Xiao'an, being the lively character he was, soon changed the subject to something else, and the conversation quickly moved on.

Throughout the meal, Wen Yu avoided making eye contact with Xiao Li. He seemed to have other matters to attend to, and after the meal, he informed Xiao Huiniang before heading out with Hou Xiao'an.

Wen Yu was still thinking about the bed situation. While helping Xiao Huiniang clean up the dishes, she brought it up: "I only found out today that the Second Master has been sleeping on the recliner by the fireplace these past few nights. I don't think that's a sustainable solution in the long run. What do you think, Auntie, about having another low bed made for your room? I could share the room with you and help take care of you."

Xiao Huiniang said, "I may cough badly, but my hands and feet are still nimble. I can manage my own daily needs. But you're right—with only two beds in the house, it's hard to accommodate guests occasionally. I'll ask the carpenter later to see if he can finish one before the New Year."

Xiao Huiniang was someone who acted on her thoughts promptly. After tidying up the house inside and out, she grabbed an umbrella and went out, saying she would ask a few widowed women if they were willing to take on embroidery work for handkerchiefs, and then stop by the carpenter's place on the way.

Left alone at home, Wen Yu put out the fire in the fireplace and lit a charcoal brazier instead. She charred a thin wooden stick and used it to sketch a few simple yet eye-catching embroidery patterns on the ground. Then, she picked up her needle and thread and began outlining one of the patterns on the corner of a handkerchief.

For simple embroidery like this, she could work freehand once she had a design in mind. But for the intricate fan cover that the Xu family had requested, the pattern was too detailed and complex. She would need to sketch the design on silk with ink first, let it dry, and then start stitching.

Thinking of brushes and ink, Wen Yu's hand paused mid-stitch. Right, she had forgotten to mention to Xiao Huiniang that they needed to buy brushes and ink.

Wen Yu glanced outside at the heavy snow falling like goose feathers. Weighing whether to go out and buy them now or wait until evening to tell Xiao Huiniang or the rogue, she decided it would be better to bring it up with the mother and son later.

Just then, there was a knock at the gate, accompanied by a woman's voice asking, "Auntie Xiao, are you home?"

Wen Yu set down her needle and thread to answer the door. Hesitating for a moment, she worried that the rash marks on her face might startle the visitor, so she put on a plain silk veil."Coming." She quickly descended the stone steps and opened the courtyard gate, seeing a young girl carrying a basket of laundry. The girl's hands and face were red from the cold, but her eyes were round and lovely. Upon seeing Wen Yu, confusion flickered in her gaze as she stammered, "Is... is this Auntie Xiao's house?"

Wen Yu nodded and said, "Yes, but she's out at the moment. If you need her, you can come inside and wait."

The girl hastily shook her head, extending the basket she carried. She was so nervous her words stumbled: "N-no need. I'm here to return Auntie Xiao's laundered clothes. My... my mother is ill and won't be able to take on any more laundry work until the year's end. Could... could you please tell Auntie Xiao?"

After speaking, she lowered her head, her face flushed to the tips of her ears, clearly unaccustomed to lying.

Wen Yu found the girl somewhat peculiar but didn't intend to pry. She accepted the basket with a slight nod and an acknowledgment.

Yet the girl didn't leave, looking at her again as if hesitating to speak.

Wen Yu had to ask, "Is there something else?"

Her veil concealed her features below the nose, leaving only her misty moon-like eyes that revealed neither joy nor sorrow as they regarded the girl.

The girl clenched her fists nervously, gathering immense courage before asking, "Are... are you that Xiao rogue's bought woman?"

Wen Yu was taken aback—first by the girl's immediate assumption she'd been purchased, and second by her term for the ruffian.

Rogue?

It seemed rather fitting.

She felt inexplicably amused yet puzzled, shaking her head as she replied, "No. Why would you think that?"

The girl mumbled, "Everyone nearby knows he's no good. They say he killed someone at eight and spent years in prison. After getting out, he spends all his time either in gambling houses or brothels... idle and shiftless. Auntie Xiao worries about his marriage, but with her son like this..."

She seemed reluctant to speak too harshly, simply adding, "What decent girl would want him? The neighbors say he'll probably end up with a brothel woman or buy a wife."

She glanced at Wen Yu again, indignantly adding, "Since you're not his bought wife, don't be fooled by his handsome face. I've seen girls crying after him multiple times, but he's heartless—won't even look at them."

Wen Yu listened calmly and said, "Thank you for your concern, but you needn't worry. I'm just their servant."

The girl's mouth fell open, her mind slow to process this, before she uttered a flat "Oh."

After closing the courtyard gate, Wen Yu returned to her room, picking up her needlework to continue outlining the embroidery pattern without so much as a flicker in her gaze.

Xiao Li, concerned about Zheng Hu and Wang Qing's altercation, didn't even rest after lunch before heading to the gambling house.

But upon arrival, the manager informed him the proprietor was out, having gone to Drunken Red Chamber to check accounts, leaving word for Xiao Li to come find him there in the afternoon.

Xiao Li responded with a roguish smile to the gambling house manager, but the moment he turned and stepped outside, his eyes turned completely dark.Only a few brothers who knew his background understood just how much he detested the Drunken Red Chamber.

Following closely behind him at that moment, one of them asked, "Second Brother, do you want us to go with you?"

Xiao Li didn't pause his steps, merely saying, "I'll go alone. You all carry on with your duties."

"But..."

Xiao Li stopped and glanced at them, saying, "Last time I fought with Wang Qing, the Proprietor couldn't make a fuss. This time Tiger acted impulsively again—sooner or later the Proprietor will seize the chance to reprimand us. If you all come along, won't it look like I'm challenging him?"

Only then did the men relent.

Hou Xiao'an chased after him a few steps, pointing at himself as he asked, "Second Brother, what about me?"

Xiao Li slapped the back of his head, saying, "Didn't you find yourself a two-copper job?"

Hearing this, Hou Xiao'an grinned: "Alright! Then I'll take that as your permission to run errands for Sister A Yu!"

As the two brothers walked away, several hoodlums following Wang Qing stood under the eaves spitting out melon seeds and glared at their retreating figures. One of them sneered, "Look how happy that scrawny monkey is. What, is Xiao taking him to the Drunken Red Chamber to lose his virginity?"

Another nearby remarked sourly, "That Xiao has been riding high lately. Who knows how the Proprietor will finally settle the Chen Lai Zi matter? I heard that ever since Chen Lai Zi gave Xiao a girl to settle his debt, many gamblers have tried offering their sisters or wives when he comes to collect debts. He's really swimming in good fortune!"

This provoked even more discontent among the other hoodlums, who scoffed, "That bastard Zheng Hu claimed Chen gave him some pockmarked ugly woman—who'd believe that? I say the Proprietor is playing favorites. He favored Song Qin before, now he favors that Xiao. Poor Brother Wang has served the gambling house faithfully all these years. The He family in canal transport offered him an olive branch several times, but he never took it. And now he's ended up like this."

An older hoodlum suddenly interjected darkly, "You youngsters probably don't know what Xiao's mother used to do, do you? Who knows if he might be the Proprietor's bastard son..."

Xiao Li stood before the Drunken Red Chamber. No matter how many years had passed, the sight of that gaudily decorated plaque still felt jarring to his eyes.

He stepped through the main entrance. The madam initially approached with a practiced smile, but upon recognizing him, her expression immediately turned into a strained smirk as she eyed him and said, "Well, what an uncommon guest!"

Some courtesans in the establishment had initially moved to welcome him, but upon seeing this exchange, they hesitated and remained where they stood, exchanging uncertain glances.

Xiao Li lifted the corner of his mouth indifferently and said, "Madam, your establishment seems quite deserted. Not just visitors—even sparrows would be rare sightings here."

"You!" The madam glared at him furiously.

But Xiao Li paid her no further mind, striding directly into the main hall. He tossed a token toward the head enforcer stationed at the staircase and asked, "Where's the Proprietor?"

The Drunken Red Chamber was now also part of the gambling house Proprietor's assets. The head enforcer clearly recognized Xiao Li. After inspecting his duty token, he stepped aside and answered, "Heavenly Room Number Five."

Xiao Li headed upstairs. The earlier commotion seemed to have disturbed a guest in one of the rooms, as a door upstairs opened and a woman with striking features but noticeable crow's feet at the corners of her eyes emerged. Leaning against the railing, she yawned and said to Xiao Li, "Ah Huan, here on gambling house business again?"Xiao Li put on a smiling face and said, "I apologize for disturbing Sister Mudan's peace."

The woman also smiled. Though her youthful bloom had faded, she still carried an enchanting charm. Someone seemed to be calling from inside the room. Frowning slightly, she glanced back and said, "Remember to send my regards to your mother later."

With that, she gracefully returned to her room.

Downstairs, a young girl was flustered by the young man's wild yet handsome face. She quietly asked an older woman who had been in the establishment for many years, "Who is that gentleman? He seems quite familiar with Sister Mudan. Does he visit often?"

The older woman glanced at the girl and replied, "He grew up in this very establishment. What do you think—wouldn't he be familiar with the ladies here?"

The young girl let out a soft "Ah," then looked again at the young man's retreating figure, feeling a pang of pity in her heart.

So he was the son of a prostitute, born into a lowly status, forever beneath others.

Xiao Li pushed the door open and addressed the middle-aged man sitting by the window reviewing account books: "Proprietor, Zheng Hu—"

"How have you considered what I discussed with you last time?"

Boss Han set down the ledger in his hand and lifted his gaze to look at Xiao Li.

Author's note: