Chapter 51

For those noble clans and powerful families, this hundred-plus gold meant nothing.

But in this village, this hundred-plus gold was a massive fortune.

After breakfast, Duan Yu loaded all the animal skins he had hunted over the past two days onto the ox cart.

"Shitou, Hunu, I'm not going into the mountains today; I'm going into the city to deliver these animal skins."

"You guys stay home and train, and watch the house."

Duan Yu said while organizing the ox cart.

"Don't worry, Big Brother."

Shitou patted his chest with a thud.

Looking at the four guys who were like little calves, Duan Yu felt much more at ease.

At least if that so-called Master Zhang came now, with Shitou and the others there, he certainly couldn't do anything to Diao Chan.

After sharing a tender moment of farewell with Diao Chan, Duan Yu drove the ox cart toward Jinyang City.

East of Jinyang City.

In front of a luxurious mansion stood two huge stone-carved mythical beasts.

Hanging above the porch was a plaque with large gold-leaf characters on a vermilion background.

The plaque was inscribed with the two large characters: "Wang Residence."

Below the porch were two massive vermilion doors, with two smaller open doors on either side.

Several servants holding staves stood on both sides below the mansion's steps.

Master Zhang, dressed neatly and elegantly, was walking out of the small door with two members of his music troupe.

Before the three of them could descend the steps, a luxurious light carriage stopped in front of the mansion.

In front of the carriage was a black steed, and behind it followed four sword-wielding knights.

After the carriage stopped, the driver and attendants placed a small stool beside it.

A young man dressed in fine silk robes stepped off the carriage using the stool.

He happened to run into Master Zhang, who was walking out from the door.

"Oh? Where is Master Zhang going?" the young man asked.

Master Zhang hurriedly bowed, cupped his hands, and saluted the young man, saying, "Young Master."

"This old servant found a good candidate for a dancing girl the day before yesterday, paid the deposit, and am going to pick her up today."

"Oh?"

The young man raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "In the vicinity of Jinyang, can anyone really surpass the dancing and singing girls in my household?"

"Master Zhang hasn't encountered a satisfactory dancing girl in years, have you?"

Master Zhang nodded.

No matter how beautiful a face is, there is always a time when it grows old.

Moreover, dancing and singing girls cannot always be familiar faces.

These troupe masters who serve others, besides teaching singing and dancing, spend their days looking for suitable singing and dancing girls.

Master Zhang's footsteps had covered all the human traffickers in Jinyang, including the east and west markets, over the years.

But the number of suitable singing and dancing girls he could find was becoming fewer and fewer.

If this continued, he would sooner or later face the danger of being expelled from the mansion.

By then, falling into the life of a low-class troupe master wandering the streets would not be as comfortable as being in the Wang family.

If things went poorly, he might lose his life if he encountered bandits on the road.

And the woman in the painting was, in Master Zhang's opinion, the most beautiful dancing girl he had found in all these years.

Her age, figure, and family background were just right.

"This time, it wouldn't be some crooked melon or cracked date, would it?"

The young man teased, and Master Zhang could only smile apologetically and say, "Replying to the Young Master, this time it is absolutely a face that could topple a city or a country."

"Tsk tsk." The young man smacked his lips.

"Topple a city or a country?"

"Hehe." The young man said with a smile, "Master Zhang really dares to say that."

"Come, come, let this young master see what kind of face could topple a city or a country."

Master Zhang dared not be negligent.

Simply because the person in front of him was surnamed Wang.

He was a noble person in this mansion.

And he was Wang Yun's son, the eldest son, Wang Gai.

A single word from him could determine his life, death, and fortune.

While speaking, Master Zhang took out the scroll from his sleeve.

In the painting, Diao Chan was crouching by the river, dressed in coarse hemp clothes, wiping sweat with one hand and carrying water with the other.

Although her clothing was shabby, the painting was vivid, unable to hide her graceful figure and charming face.

Just one glance.

Wang Gai was captivated by the Diao Chan in the painting and was stunned for several breaths.

"Young Master?" Master Zhang tried calling out.

"Ah!" Wang Gai finally reacted, looking at Master Zhang in surprise and asking incredulously, "Who... who is this woman in the painting?"

Master Zhang immediately replied respectfully, "Replying to the Young Master, this woman in the painting is a commoner from Wucun Township."

"This painting was drawn by a painter in the city who happened to see her while out for inspiration."

"This old servant found it in the painter's shop, then found that Wucun Township, and only after several inquiries did I find her."

"This girl is now eighteen, but she is not yet married."

"She has no father or mother at home and is being raised by her aunt and uncle."

"Her uncle is named Li Gouer, an idler in the village, and her aunt is bedridden year-round; the family is poor."

"As for why she isn't married, this old servant inquired among the villagers; it is only because this young girl named Diao Chan is beautiful, so the bride price requested was high, but that Li Gouer is greedy for money and wanted so much that no one could afford it."

"This old servant used one gold to sign a contract with that Li Gouer to buy this girl, Diao Chan, into the mansion."

Master Zhang explained.

"Good, good, good!" Wang Gai nodded with a smile, "One gold is well worth it."

"In that case, you go and bring people, then send her directly to me."

Wang Gai reached out and patted Master Zhang's shoulder, saying with a smile, "Rest assured, I will absolutely not treat you poorly."

"In the future, in this mansion, if you have any matters, just come find me."

"I will strictly follow the Young Master's order."