A Tale of Golden Heiress: Lady Wanjin - Chapter 15

Upon returning home, after being forced by Lü Ping and Nanny Chen to eat two bowls of rice and several dishes, Wen Wan made her usual round to Old Master Wen’s place. Wen Wan had just finished reporting on the situation at the Anyang branch to the chairman when a servant came in to announce that Second Master Tu had returned.

Old Master Wen was even more excited than Wen Wan. “It must be about that matter!”

Wen Wan quickly dismissed the surrounding servants, leaving only her father, an old servant, herself, and Nanny Chen.

Sure enough, Second Master Tu soon entered the room. He was still wearing a long gown, having returned in a hurry without even changing. Old Master Wen leaned forward, unable to hide the urgency in his tone. “Second Master, how did it go?”

Second Master Tu’s words, “I have not failed in my mission,” eased the expressions of both Wen Wan and Old Master Wen.

“Master, there are too many eyes and ears in the residence. I was afraid word might leak, so I arranged for them to stay at Concubine Liu’s villa.”

“What are their backgrounds?”

Second Master Tu glanced at Wen Wan, remembering the young lady’s instruction before he left: “by any means necessary,” before replying to Old Master Wen. “One was tricked here. The other was snatched.”

Wen Wan, “…”

Old Master Wen, “…”

Unfazed by the father and daughter’s speechless reactions, Second Master Tu continued, “The one I tricked is from Xiaozhou Village, here in the city, looking for work. I asked around—he’s healthy, unmarried, has many brothers at home, and is dirt poor. I told him the manager of Yuxian Lou in Ping County was hiring, so he followed me here.”

Wait—

Wasn’t the manager of Yuxian Lou still owing the Wen family twenty taels for wine?

Wen Wan couldn’t help but give Second Master Tu a second look.

This man, who resembled Guan Gong, surprisingly had quite a few tricks up his sleeve.

“As for the one I snatched… I found him lying in the woods, covered in blood. Though he was nearly dead from his injuries, his robust build made him top-quality goods. I just forced a couple of bowls of herbal medicine down his throat and hauled him back in the carriage.”

Wen Wan’s mind was instantly occupied by the phrase “top-quality goods.”

So, heaven had taken pity on her and bestowed upon her a peerlessly handsome man with eight-pack abs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist?

Wen Weiming also became interested in the latter fellow. “In that case, it wasn’t snatching—we saved his life!”

If they leveraged this life-saving favor, this fellow might just agree to marry into the Wen family.

Wen Weiming calculated silently, feeling that the latter fellow held more promise.

Second Master Tu scratched his neck, his eyes drifting slightly. “He woke up yesterday and tried to run, so I hit him on the back of the head with a hammer—”

Well.

That confirmed it: Forcibly abducting a common man.

A flock of crows seemed to fly overhead.

Old Master Wen pursed his lips as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately gave up.

Wen Wan coughed lightly. “He’s not dead, is he?”

“No, his chest is still warm.”

Old Master Wen’s mood shifted rapidly. With a strained smile, he highly praised Second Master Tu’s actions of forcibly abducting a common man. “Second Brother Tu, you’ve worked hard. If it weren’t for Wan Niang, we wouldn’t have troubled you to make this trip.”

Though the process was rocky, they had managed to acquire two men after all.

Moreover, the risks involved in acquiring one man versus two were entirely different. Second Master Tu had taken great risks to give Wen Wan more options.

This was a favor Wen Weiming had to acknowledge.

Second Master Tu waved it off indifferently. “Between brothers like us, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Wen Wan had already risen to her feet, her eyes blazing with anticipation. “Father, I’ll go inspect the goods. Wait for my report.”

She had initially intended to let her father rest early, but seeing the anxious look on his face, she knew he wouldn’t sleep a wink without knowing the outcome.

But Old Master Wen refused, struggling to get out of bed. “No, have the carriage prepared now. I must inspect them personally. You’re young and inexperienced—I must oversee this for you.”

Wen Wan thought to herself: Oh, really? As if you have extensive experience in forcibly abducting common men?

Neither noticed that father and daughter had spoken in unison, both using the phrase “inspect the goods.”

Subtly influenced, Old Master Wen had unknowingly accepted Wen Wan’s… persuasion.

Half an hour later, at the Wen family’s small villa.
“This one may be healthy, but his features are far too ugly! Unacceptable! Unacceptable!”

With one sentence, Old Master Wen dismissed the young man who had come to the city seeking work.

Wen Wan lifted her lantern and stepped closer for a look.

Good heavens.

His features were so discordant that it was as if they were rebelling against each other.

His eyebrows clung to his eyes like slugs, his body was as thin as a bamboo pole, his teeth were yellowed, and he carried a pungent, sour odour.

Wen Wan pinched her nose. “This one can only be a backup option.”

The thought of sharing a bed with such a man made Wen Wan consider giving up for a moment: Forget it, forget it. Let the Wen family’s ultra-masculine old fools have the property. I’d rather earn money again than force myself to… partake.

Wen Wan promptly retracted her earlier “backup option” statement. “Let’s forget it. This one… I really can’t.”

Concubine Liu let out a sound of surprise. “He looked quite ugly this afternoon. Now at night… how can he be even uglier?”

She patted Wen Wan’s shoulder. “The hunter from West Mountain is much handsomer. I’ll snatch him for you tomorrow.”

Heh.

This courtyard of four or five people truly couldn’t muster a single normal person among them.

Wen Wan had initially worried that “snatching men” was too outrageous an idea to be accepted by ordinary people. Little did she know that whether it was Old Master Wen, Concubine Liu, Nanny Chen, or Second Master Tu, each was more ruthless than the last, even offering their own schemes and strategies.

“This one isn’t bad,” Old Master Wen said, already with Concubine Liu’s help, opening the second burlap sack. “Good looks, good figure, it’s just…”

Auntie Chen leaned in closer and sighed with regret, “A flaw in the fine jade—such a fine young man… why such a large birthmark on his face?”

Wen Wan stepped forward to look, her eyes lighting up.

A weight lifted from her heart, and she smiled sincerely. “This one… will do!”

What birthmark?
It was merely a bluish mark near the corner of his eye.

But even with this mark, it did nothing to detract from his handsome, well-defined features.

Look at those sharp sword-like eyebrows, narrow eyes, proud nose, and those rosy lips. In the dim lantern light, his skin was pale as jade, and his distinct eyelashes were faintly visible.

Wen Wan reached out and felt his arms, the smooth line of his shoulders, and his firm biceps.

A premium specimen.

Wen Wan felt her confidence return.

She was ready to fight the Wen family’s ultra-masculine old fools to the end!
Old Master Wen took in his daughter’s captivated expression and sighed inwardly: It’s over. My daughter takes after me—a sucker for good looks.

Old Master Wen coughed lightly and questioned Second Master Tu in detail about this man’s background. Second Master Tu wasn’t entirely sure. “Anyway, I found him by the riverbank. He was injured, seemed like he was being chased—”

Old Master Wen’s heart skipped a beat. “I hope he’s not some fugitive—”

“He said he wasn’t.”

Wen Wan: I also say I’m Liu Yifei.
Would you believe me?

Old Master Wen asked, “When he woke up briefly, did you interrogate him about his background?”

“Of course. He said he’s from Shou’an County, surname Zhao, and his family farms. Because he’s strong, he apprenticed under a master in a security bureau and learned martial arts. His convoy was robbed this time, and he fled all the way to Yangcheng.”

Good heavens.

Second Master Tu had traveled a hundred li in three or four days.

He had truly given his all.

(End of Chapter)