章 4: Three beauties
Even though the confinement period had ended nothing seemed to be different for Wan Wan apart from the fact that her meals were regular and that she had more freedom to roam around the estate, then again why would she do that? Wan Wan thought that for females of this era their whole lives were spent in confinement! Especially those in the higher echelons of society, going out too much meant you were frivolous, uncultured and ill-mannered, this is applied even to married women So most families didn't let their women go out a lot.
Wan Wan wanted to go sightseeing and run around in the streets holding candied Cawthorn sticks, like in those period dramas. However, she knew better, there were plenty of things she needed to be careful of considering her status. She comforted herself there would be plenty of chances to do so in the future when her position stabilised.
After nearly dying of boredom Wan Wan decided it was time to jump-start her business. She had been delaying it for too long and small cases containing the lip balms and lose powders along with jade bottles of scented oils and rose water were starting to pile up in her courtyard, Wan Wan was starting to run out of space to hide them. Besides the smell of the flowers and fruits seemed to hang in the air of her courtyard, it was only an amount of time until someone notices.
"Xiaomei, how much money have you gathered from selling my things?" Over the past few days, Wan Wan had Xiaomei sell her jewellery. Setting up a shop was too risky and the chances of her getting caught were too high. Unlike other protagonists from web novels Wan Wan did not overestimate her ability, nor did she have any faith in the human heart, the human heart was hard to comprehend and how long could one stay truly loyal.
Wan Wan thought that she could start up a pop-up shop. Now here comes her unique selling point; because the shop would appear only once in a while and in random places that meant the products would be rare increasing the demand and gave off a vibe of elitism. Although her business strategy was crude and a bit rough it would do, and work too.
"470 taels, master" 470 taels was not bad. Xiaomei had only managed to sell a fifth of her master's jewellery. If she sold some more off she would have nearly a thousand taels in about two weeks or so, but they had to be discreet to avoid arousing unwanted attention.
Wan Wan also thought it wasn't bad, she just thought that Wang Zhi Ruo was too bad at saving. According to account books in her dowry held ten thousand taels of silver and ten thousand taels of gold. This was quite the sum... it's just that there seems to be little to no trace of it today. Merely five hundred taels were left, this great aunt of her had to be the greatest squanderer she had ever encountered! Wan Wan felt like getting on her knees and kowtow to her when the roof over her head, her meals and most clothing were provided by the household where did she spend her money? Wan Wan didn't want to know the answer...
"Good, good you have done well. Keep ten taels for yourself." For Xiaomei ten taels was not a small amount. It was more than what she earned while serving her elitism for the past four years. Before she could refuse Wan Wan glared at her to silence her.
"Dress me up in some monotone clothes, today we will go out." Wan Wan was going out to scout for someone she could slowly nurture into her subordinate. Only then would she be able to properly start her business. Of course, this isn't what she'll be telling the (temporary) Madame.
"Ah? You want to visit the market?" Gu Jin glanced at the obedient looking woman. She was undeniably a peerless beauty, one could say the same about every other woman in the Lifu. However, Wang Zhi Ruo had a certain charm about her that set her apart from the rest. Currently, she wasn't wearing any makeup. Slightly arched eyebrows framed her Phoenix eyes, full pink lips and heart-shaped face. She reeked an essence of superiority, it made Gu Jin slightly uncomfortable. She was the main wife while Wang Zhi Ruo was the lowly concubine, why should she feel intimidated?
So far in the estate, she had only had one encounter with her. Wang Zhi Ruo seemed like the complete opposite of what Fengge had described. But one should not be fooled, Gu Jin was from a medical family one which had many scheming and sharp-tongued women in the inner courts. She had met many two-faced women in the past she didn't believe that any of the Fengge's concubines could outsmart her, it was only a matter of time until she chased all of them away.
Gu Jin was a bit wrong here, what could the small infighting of a small medical family compare to the wicked and sinister actions of a powerful family of the 21st century? Wan Wan had seen it all, she was almost poisoned to death and kidnapped during her high school days! She doubted that Gu Jin could match her at all, one of those wicked imperial concubines from the palace would most likely be able to level her, talkless of Gu Jin!
"Yes, Madame. Zhi Ruo has not been out in a while and wants to buy some sweets and cosmetics." Gu Jin studied her for a while. What harm could it be? She could easily send her maidservant to do it but she didn't think too much about it.
"Very well, do not stay out too long, take mama Liu and mama Fei with you." Gu Jin still wanted to take precautions and had her husband's spies accompany her.
"Yes, Madame."
"Xiaomei, pay attention. Keep close, we need to lose those burdensome mamas." Wan Wan instructed Xiaomei. It appears the odds were in her favour today, the market was full and busy, they wouldn't be blamed if they 'accidentally' got lost.
"Okay, now!" A large group of scholars surged out of a tea house at this moment, this was the best chance! In a blink of an eye both the master and servant vanished from the eyesight of the mamas.
When they were a good distance away that even Wan Wan couldn't see the mamas did she relax. The master and maidservant pair went around sightseeing and bought a few sweets while Wan Wan kept a lookout for any potential candidates.
Meanwhile, three sisters standing nearby carried hopeless looks on their faces.
"Jiejie, what should we do? Are we really going to discard of mothers body in such a disrespectful manner? I can't accept it! I won't!" The youngest of the three shed bitter tears.
"Stop crying! Let's try one more shop if they refuse us then... we'll have to accept Lady Fang's offer..." The oldest of the three tried to keep a strong facade for her younger sisters if she appeared weak in front of them they would lose all hope. She had to be strong!
"L-Lady Fang?! I-I don't want to be a courtesan! If only Uncle had not been so despicable! Mother wouldn't have... wuwuwu" The oldest could only sigh helplessly, what could she do? They went to the shop to try their luck. It wasn't long until they were chased out with a broom, with such shabby and smelly appearance no one would want them around. In fact, the three sisters had outstanding looks, one that few could match! If they were not so good-looking how would they have managed to catch the attention of the owner of the biggest business in the red light district? Lady Fang was quite a big name in the trade, very few would dare to help them since she had already laid claim on them.
They had caught Wan Wan's fancy for a while and she had been observing them quietly from afar. She had caught a glance at the fair and smooth skin under the dirt they'd smeared on their faces. Their situation was tragic enough so Wan Wan decided to sweep in and play prince charming.
"Aiya! They shouldn't treat young girls like that! Aiyoo, are you okay? Where is your mother?" Like a neighbourhood-aunty, Wan Wan swooped in. The three girls discreetly assessed her appearance, there had been a few people with bad intentions that had done this in the past. Judging by clothes and her married hairstyle they deduced that she was a decent person.
"Madame. We are okay... it's just that... don't know if I should say..." The oldest spoke first. Although the way the lady had approached them was a bit strange her expensive clothes told her that the lady had money.
"No, no. Go ahead, you remind me of my younger cousins let me see if I can help."
"Ah that... Our mother passed away and yet we do not have any money to bury her... Asking madame if she can help, even a few coins would do!" The eldest dropped to her knees and sobbed. Aiya, it was truly a pitiful sight. Such filial children!
"Aiyoo, don't kneel! You'll make others think I'm bulling you! Here, there are a few taels in here, take it." She handed her a pouch with about twelve taels inside, that would be more than enough for them.
"Thanking Madame. Madame is benevolent and kind-hearted. May the heavens bless you with ten-thousand years of happiness." A three of the sisters kneeled and kowtowed with tears running down their faced. Just when all had nearly failed and being reduced to a courtesan, like an angel sent from above the lady appeared and sponsored them.
"Aiyoo, stop all this." On the outside, Wan Wan looked like a kind-hearted benefactor, but on the inside, she was bashfully smiling. Too silly.
"Ah, yes! What are your names?"
"This lowly one is called, Li Hua." The oldest curtsied, just by looking at her bearings one could tell her background couldn't be very low. "These are my younger sisters, Li Mei and Li Rong"
"Good, good. Naturally, you were all named very well. Indeed as beautiful as flowers! Hurry along and bury your mother, perhaps one day we might meet again."
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