Chapter 486: Slap in the Face

Xiao Zong raised his hand and pointed to Yu Er beside him, "Ask Yu Er about this; she'll explain it more clearly."

"Our shopkeeper is thirty years old, she likes quietness, and is taciturn," Yu Er said.

Chen Wuji was slightly surprised, "A thirty-year-old brothel madam?"

"Our shopkeeper dislikes being called madam or mother, and always insists we call her shopkeeper," Yu Er said. "The previous shopkeeper had no children; this shopkeeper is his niece, adopted by him, and then inherited the shop."

"Uncle, have you ever expressed your love to her?" Chen Wuji asked.

"These past few days I've said it every time I see her, trying different ways," Xiao Zong's face flushed, and he suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

Chen Wuji nodded and then asked Yu Er, "What does your shopkeeper like?"

"Playing the zither, reading, making incense," Yu Er said. "Moreover, she has a fixed schedule for these activities: each morning she burns incense and reads, in the afternoon she practices the zither, at dusk she makes incense, and at night she manages the shop's affairs."

"She sounds like a refined and tranquil woman." Chen Wuji thought, then told Xiao Zong, "Uncle, I don't have much experience in this either, but I have a few clumsy methods—feel free to try them if you want."

"No experience? With no experience you'd have three wives and four concubines, yet my daughter could only rank fifth?" Xiao Zong shouted. "It's only because you're strong now; otherwise I'd definitely oppose this marriage. Our Xiao family may be... well, compared to your Chen family, it's indeed a case of marrying up."

"In short, you must come up with a good idea for me."

Chen Wuji shook his head. "The Chen clan has long since declined; there's no talk of marrying up. I really lack experience; my many beauties are just due to my charm—I myself haven't really put much thought into it."

In this regard, Chen Wuji actually does have some experience, but it's not particularly brilliant; the chances of success are unknown, so I can only tell him to try it himself.

Xiao Zong's eyes widened, and he silently picked up his tea cup.

"This first move, Uncle, you need to change your image a bit, tidy up, shave your beard—few women would like a wild, unrestrained, sloppy old man." Chen Wuji said.

Xiao Zong glared with his big and small eyes, tugged at his messy beard, and asked, "Do I look that bad?"

"Anyway, you're not good-looking."

"Fine, what else?"

"The second move is to cater to her tastes; since the shopkeeper here likes playing the zither, reading, and making incense, Uncle, you might also study these fields a bit more—perhaps give her some rare books, zither scores, and incense recipes, etc."

Xiao Zong's eyes lit up. "Look, look—I knew you, kid, had something."

Chen Wuji stared, stunned. "Just this, and that counts as having something?"

Xiao Daye also seems to be someone with little experience.

"These are just proper superficialities."

"The third move is to show concern and ask after her welfare, to be utterly caring—no woman dislikes being loved." Chen Wuji took a sip of tea, "That's all I can think of. Uncle, give it some more thought; I see it's getting late, I should go."

He needs to slip away.

He really is a bit afraid of this elder's relentless nagging.

"What do you mean 'go'? Tonight Miss Ruo Su is coming out of her chamber to do her hair—won't you join the fun?" Xiao Zong asked.

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly. "Uncle, have you forgotten I'm practically your son-in-law? How could a father-in-law and son-in-law go to a brothel together?"

"What's the big deal? Isn't that quite normal?" Xiao Zong countered.

Chen Wuji: ……

Is it that he doesn't understand the customs of Da Yu?

Does this situation also count as normal?

Chen Wuji turned to ask Yu Er, "Is this really considered normal?"

"It really is normal; many fathers and sons come together," Yu Er said.

Chen Wuji admitted he was indeed ignorant and narrow-minded—such a thing could actually be considered normal, it's outrageous!

"I'm not joining the fun; I have no interest." Chen Wuji waved his hand and got off the couch.

At home, my lovely wife and concubines are far more fragrant than these women.

"Boring kid, Miss Ruo Su is both talented and beautiful—tonight will surely be extremely lively." Xiao Zong also got off the couch, "Since you insist, I won't persuade you further; otherwise I'd seem like a disreputable uncle. I'll see you out, Deputy Commander."

"Uncle, you'd better rest. Also, go back early, or else your daughter will have people sent to drag you back." Chen Wuji laughed and waved his hand.

He still needs to think it over—how to explain this to Xiao Yuji when he gets back.

Leaving Yu Er's courtyard, Chen Wuji had just turned the corridor when he bumped into a group of people face-on.

Chen Wuji didn't know these people, but they seemed to know him.

Several Jin Yi Gongzi smirked ill-intentionedly, stepped forward, and clasped their hands in salute to Chen Wuji.

"Isn't this Grand Colonel Chen? You're also here to visit the brothel, is it for Miss Ruo Su?"

"I never expected Miss Ruo Su's fame to reach even us, the constantly busy Grand Colonel Chen? I thought today would be especially dull, but with Grand Colonel Chen here, I suddenly became interested."

"Deputy Commander Chen killed Young Master Shi—what's so hard about knowing Miss Ruo Su?"

Chen Wuji looked at them expressionlessly; their words were so brazen, clearly they came with ill intent.

But what puzzled him was, what connection does killing the Shi family's young master have with this Miss Ruo Su?

Shi family women would absolutely never be in a place like this.

"If you're going to fart, at least make it a bit clearer—what relation does the Shi surname have with Miss Ruo Su?" Chen Wuji asked, drooping his eyelids, while wondering what these people's identities were.

Since he confiscated the Shi family, hardly anyone in Hezhou City dares to speak to him like this.

Although he has no official title, he is now truly the Lord of Hezhou.

These brats actually dare to come up and slap him in the face with their arrogance, appearing to have some status.

"Yo, it seems Deputy Commander Chen didn't know—looks like just a coincidence." A young Gongzi showed no restraint in mocking Chen Wuji, pointing at him and laughing loudly: "Miss Ruo Su is someone Shi Gongzi loved but couldn't have; she'd rather entertain guests in a brothel than bind herself to Shi Gongzi. I originally thought Deputy Commander Chen was planning a 'kill to win hearts' move—first kill Shi Gongzi, then take Miss Ruo Su, just to put on a show for the Shi family."

"Being able to vie for a woman's affection with Grand Colonel Chen and snatch a girl—today we've gained face, and later over drinks we could claim to have defeated Grand Colonel Chen. I heard Grand Colonel Chen is so poor he's even grabbed the city's grain merchants; his purse probably doesn't have much silver to compete with us."

At once someone nearby feigned shock and shouted, "De Zhi Xiong, what nonsense are you spouting? Aren't you afraid Grand Colonel Chen will kill your whole family and then kick your family's heads like a ball?"

"Impossible—Grand Colonel Chen isn't that kind of wanton killer who slays people for no reason; that would tarnish his reputation. If he really did that, who would dare follow him afterward?"

Chen Wuji raised his hand and waved away the incoming fumes of alcohol, "I'm really idle, actually wanting to hear what a dog's bark could produce. I have no interest in playing a 'kill to win hearts' game with the Shi surname, but toward you guys I suddenly have some interest."

"Without a doubt, first beat them half to death to sober them up."