[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-28":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268648,4429,"Chapter 28","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>Twenty-Eight: The Young Master Has Gone Astray\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… have something you want to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it that obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi set down her bowl, looking at Ouyang Rong across the table with a mixture of amusement and exasperation—he had even held his chopsticks backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, the Young Master had been unusually quiet, ever since returning home the night before last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these two days, he ate only the dish closest to him. At first, Ban Xi had rushed over to report good news: the Young Master loved her newly prepared Goryeo-style meat rolls. But the next day, when Zhen Shi placed a plate of plain tofu before him, he refused to eat it—his chopsticks didn’t even touch the Goryeo dish. The Goryeo maid was left utterly bewildered, her little face sinking into dejection for hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just meals—he walked through Mei Lu Garden as if lost in thought. Zhen Shi sometimes had to call him three times before he responded, and his first reply was always, “Ah… okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi was a traditional beauty—never stepping beyond the inner gates, devoted to managing household affairs and raising children. In Mei Lu Garden, she continued this way: daily, she handled Ouyang Rong’s three meals, washing, and sleep. In her spare time, she had no social calls, no spring outings, no shopping—never showed her face outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply sat in the courtyard basking in the sun, cracking sunflower seeds, occasionally scolding the maidservants. Sometimes she recalled her youth, when she wielded swords and spears—but now she was the mistress of the household, and such unladylike acts were unthinkable before the servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embroidery and housework no longer fell to her. The only mildly enjoyable task was tidying the Young Master’s private study herself—no maidservant was allowed near this sacred space. She’d gently touch and examine his inkstones, brushes, paper, and scrolls. Though she could barely read beyond her own and the Young Master’s names, she couldn’t understand the texts, yet that didn’t stop her quiet pleasure in the ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond this, Zhen Shi’s happiest and most anticipated moment each day was sharing meals with the Young Master, listening to him recount strange tales from the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet beyond marriage matters, she never inquired about his official duties or personal affairs—she sat quietly beside him, eating, her sharp, alluring phoenix eyes carefully observing every subtle expression on the Young Master’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of the few joys in her daily life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhen Shi was adept at reading moods and keenly attuned to this beloved nephew—his slightest anomaly escaped her phoenix eyes. Now, as they dined together, seeing Ouyang Rong’s hesitation, she immediately spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, if you have something to say, say it. You’re not planning to throw your auntie out, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi snorted, reaching over to correct the chopsticks he held backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong looked slightly embarrassed. “I’d like to borrow some money from you, Auntie…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Borrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ll repay you—once my salary comes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi smiled faintly. “Aren’t all my funds yours? Just take what you need—why speak of borrowing? Your monthly salary is delivered by the government, your grain stipend and official farmland income are all managed by me. Have you forgotten?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong blinked, then nodded quickly. “Then… I’ll take some. You keep the rest—manage the household expenses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much? Don't take it all—I'm planning to go to the Western Market's horse stall in a few days to pick out a beautiful maid for you. That'll cost quite a bit. These Western maidens, Bodhisattva barbarians, and Goryeo maids are all exorbitantly priced now—those mindless rich merchants keep driving prices up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy a beautiful maid? I don’t need one. Auntie, don’t waste money chasing trends by keeping slaves—they’re pitiful people too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi nodded. “They are pitiful. That’s all the more reason to bring home several—let the Young Master care for them, give them warm beds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… That’s actually very logical. Just a bit taxing on the kidneys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s talk about this later.” Ouyang Rong sighed, waving his hand dismissively, then turned serious. “Auntie, give me ten guan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi hesitated only a moment, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll get it for you after dinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, silver circulated rarely; most transactions used copper coins and silk. One guan equaled a thousand wen and held considerable purchasing power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A healthy adult slave at the horse stall cost about six or seven guan—though prices had dropped due to the current famine. Before the floods, ten guan could buy nearly two hundred shi of rice. The elegant Mei Lu Garden where Ouyang Rong and Zhen Shi lived cost only four or five dozen guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no concept of real estate speculation—buying homes required household registration and status; even the wealthy couldn’t purchase freely. Strict social hierarchies effectively capped prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ouyang Rong’s salary: since Longcheng County had over six Battalion Commander, it was classified as a top county. As a proper seventh-rank county magistrate, his monthly salary was a little over two guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But officials’ pay wasn’t just cash—it included grain rations and assigned farmland, plus year-end bonuses and miscellaneous allowances. Altogether, his average monthly income was about four guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, the Zhou Dynasty’s official salaries were decent—but insufficient if one lived in Luoyang or Chang’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong dipped his finger in water and scribbled on the table, mentally calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi hesitated, then asked, “Why do you need so much money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate didn’t look up. “I’m going to Yuanming Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi froze. Ban Xi, standing nearby, also stared oddly. They’d lived in Longcheng long enough to know Yuanming Tower wasn’t just the county’s largest tavern—it was the venue where destitute yet virtuous and talented girls performed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, in truth, it was a brothel. But in the current Zhou Dynasty, brothels were still relatively respectable venues—many girls sold art, not bodies. Flirting and pleasure weren’t the main focus; instead, it was a refined gathering place for literati and wealthy merchants, highly favored among scholars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… the upright Young Master was going to a brothel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhen Shi and Ban Xi recalled the day the Young Master had accidentally revealed his peculiar tastes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful woman spoke solemnly. “Young Master, don’t go there. I’ll give you more money—tomorrow, go to the Western Market and pick a gentle, beautiful maid. Choose freely—even if she’s expensive. Some things… I understand. You mustn’t suppress yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“??? ” Ouyang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Longcheng County Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate, his purse now bulging, stood tall and strode into the deputy magistrate’s office in the West Hall, tapping the desk where the drowsy Deputy Magistrate Diao dozed off at his desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… My Lord, you’re here? Forgive me, forgive me—I’m getting old, dozing off.” Diao scrambled to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter. Just a small matter—I’ll be gone soon.” He paused, then nodded. “But Deputy Diao, you’re truly vigorous—reporting for duty before dawn to nap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…” Diao sighed. “My Lord, don’t tease me. I have only one wife, and I own no more than five sets of seasonal robes… Ah, what matter do you wish to discuss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong spoke calmly. “Two days from now, at Yuanming Tower. Summon every local gentry, wealthy merchant, and scholar with official merit you know—leave none out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diao blinked, then beamed. “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll arrange it immediately—have them prepare banquets to welcome you properly, My Lord! They’ve long admired you and begged me to arrange a meeting. I kept turning them down, thinking you were busy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Diao turned to leave, Ouyang Rong interrupted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You misunderstand. It’s not them inviting me—it’s me inviting them. Go, summon them all. These are all my subjects—I cannot favor some over others. I must properly… care for them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diao, who owned only five sets of seasonal robes, froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1311,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8f0510785dce8450cecffacfd5b7fa6f1f632a6624fa0a828df9aef091197876","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-29","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-27",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]