Chapter 21: Black-Hearted Lotus' Red Packet Group [11.1]
CHAPTER: End Of Mo Yao
Mo Yao was taken away by the police, and the credit goes to Wen Qing. She exposed the last call recording of Mo Yao, the recording of the scene with the police, as well as the evidence of her instigation of assault.
According to the law, acts based on threats are invalid. However, if she intentionally instigated it, she must be charged with intentional instigation! Due to valid evidence, Mo Yao was sentenced to a year of probation. Although the punishment wasn't heavy, she has to pay the price for her conduct.
After Mo Yao came out of the police station, she couldn't handle being in school even for a few days. Before, when she was ugly, others talked privately and often ignored her. But now, all the students were unscrupulously pointing at her, saying that she framed Teacher Qiao and that she has no self-respect. How could Mo Yao stand this? Thus, she angrily dropped out of school.
As she dropped out of school, many students high-fived in celebration, even the teachers were happy too.
Where could Mo Yao go after dropping out of school? Her house was sold by her gambler father, and she didn't know where he went with the money. Fortunately, she earned some money by advertising on Weibo before, and she always carried the card with her, so she didn't have to live on the street.
But that money was only enough for her to rent an apartment and for a few months of living expenses. It was easy to switch from thriftiness to luxury, but difficult to do vice versa. She was used to the rich life and didn't want to return to the past when she was satisfied with earning just 300 yuan, but her reputation on the Internet was already tarnished so no one was looking for her to advertise. The contract with the agency had also been canceled. She didn't want to go to school either, she couldn't learn anyway, she'd just be wasting money.
When Mo Yao was at her wit's end, she met the right man in her life. The man was called Xu Sheng. Handsome, rich, gentle, and considerate; he cared for her in every possible way, spending money generously, and buying all the things she liked without hesitation!
Mo Yao had never met someone so good to her, who would hold her in his arms, and spoil her like a princess. Mo Yao could not resist this gentleness and soon fell in love.
Mo Yao Yao couldn't help but feel lucky that she still had beautiful skin, otherwise, she may have been driven to the streets!
Xu Sheng was busy with work but he accompanied her whenever he was free. He bought her a villa, which was as beautiful as Ji Wenqing's house. He'd buy her beautiful clothes, jewelry, bags, etc., and even gave her a lot of pocket money every month. This kind of life made Mo Yao very satisfied as she thought it was compensation given by God after her hardships.
As for the red packet group, because she received a black packet from Grim Reaper from time to time, she gave up hope on the magical power inside. She uninstalled WeChat and even threw away her mobile phone. Although she was unlucky from time to time, her life went smoothly.
After living together with Xu Sheng for three months, Mo Yao found herself pregnant. She couldn't help rejoicing. As she was preparing to tell Xu Sheng the good news, she received an unexpected visitor at the villa!
"I'll kill you, you vixen! Bitch! You seduced my husband! You shameless whore! ptooie! I'll kill you!"
The person was Xu Sheng's real wife. She cursed and gave Mo Yao a good beating. Mo Yao was a bit stunned. Although Xu Sheng was eight years older than her, she never thought that he could be married. Now she was receiving a beating from his wife!
Mo Yao felt hatred and disheartened. Hatred because Xu Sheng lied to her, and disheartened because she was reluctant to give up Xu Sheng's kindness towards her, which was Xu Sheng's money to be exact. It let her enjoy such a glorious and rich life, how could she be willing to give it up!
Naturally, Mo Yao was no match for Xu Sheng's wife, and she couldn't get away with it. Suddenly, Mo Yao felt a sharp pain in her stomach as she felt liquid flow from below. "Ah, my child!"
When Xu Sheng's wife saw that this bitch was carrying a child, she got angrier. She threw a bottle of sulfuric acid at Mo Yao...
When Xu Sheng heard the news, he arrived as fast as he could. He saw a bloody ground, and Mo Yao, who looked unrecognizable, lying on the ground.
Chapter 22: Black-Hearted Lotus' Red Packet Group [11.2]
Chapter: End Of The Arc
Xu Sheng did not send Mo Yao to the hospital, instead, he called a family doctor to make a diagnosis and give treatment. Because if she was sent to a hospital, her large burns will inevitably lead to police intervention, and his wife's behavior will certainly not be concealed.
He didn't like his wife's brutal antics, but it was a business marriage. No matter which side was wrong, it would inevitably cause the stock market to fall into turmoil so he could only cover up for her. As for Mo Yao, he planned to compensate her later.
When Mo Yao woke up, she found out that she lost her child. Her beautiful face looked soulless as she almost went crazy. She cursed Xu Sheng, she felt that it was all Xu Sheng's fault. If Xu Sheng hadn't lied to her, she wouldn't have ended up like this!
Xu Sheng felt guilty about the situation at first, but he soon felt like she was acting unreasonably, and like a crazy woman. He couldn't stand it. Moreover, he used to like her because of her beauty but her appearance had changed. She now had a horrible burn on her face and her nose disappeared. He only felt sick when looking at her. Her former enchanting aura was long gone. After Mo Yao had wiped out Xu Sheng's last bit of guilt, he stopped coming.
When he was with Mo Yao, he never mentioned anything about his personal affairs. Now that he disappeared, Mo Yao couldn't find him.
When Mo Yao was with Xu Sheng, Xu Sheng gave her a lot of money but she spent it generously and didn't save at all! Now, she neither had the money nor a beautiful appearance. The villa Xu Sheng had left for her was under his name. She couldn't sell it even if she wanted to. What's the use of guarding a big house without money?
Wen Qing also knew how Mo Yao ended up but did not expect her to become so miserable. Although at first, she would send Mo Yao all kinds of black packets every now and then, she soon ignored the matter completely. Mo Yao's present situation had nothing to do with her.
When the task was completed, Wen Qing stopped paying attention to Mo Yao. She got a provincial science championship award after her college entrance examination, which made Ji Father and Mother happy. She threw a big feast and entertained relatives and friends. After the college entrance examination, as promised by Father, Wen Qing got a company to practice with, which was a cosmetics company.
Wen Qing took out a beauty pill, grounded it into powder, and asked the company's technicians to study its composition and make cosmetics according to its composition. After six months, the study was successful.
After being put on the market, it quickly became popular all over the world because of its good cosmetic effect. Originally, it was only a trivial subsidiary of Ji Group, but it suddenly rose beyond the parent company and became a world-famous enterprise.
Ji Father was proud of his daughter's achievements and gave the company to Wen Qing with confidence.
Wen Qing had a successful career and became a well-known woman but she never got married. Ye Tian had repeatedly proposed to her but she refused. Ji Father and Ji Mother urged her several times, but finally gave up. Later, Wen Qing adopted two orphans, a boy and a girl. She fostered them carefully, and ultimately left the company to them.
Wen Qing didn't leave the world until Ji Father and Ji Mother died. She died at the age of sixty.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! At first, I was blinded by hatred, and only thought of revenge on Mo Yao. I forgot the love of my parents. I didn't expect you to take care of them so well, not only did you strengthen the company, but you also gave them joy at their old age."
"Don't mention it, this is what I should do."
After sending female ghost Ji Wenqing to jump into the reincarnation pool, a golden light enveloped Wen Qing, making her want to moan in comfort. This was the power of merit. Every time she finished a task, she would receive the power of merit from the client. Wen Qing didn't know what the power could be used for, but every time she received it, she'd feel extraordinarily comfortable. All her tiredness would be swept away, and she would feel as if her soul had been strengthened.
After absorbing the power of merit, Wen Qing fisted her hand in thin air and spread it out again. There were two golden keys in her palm, one written Terrifying Black Packet and the other, Cultivating Red packet. The former was the golden finger that she took with her when she went to complete the task, and the latter was the one she snatched from Mo Yao. However, it was hers now. She flung them as they turned into meteors and flew into the Vanity Space. Together with the other two keys, they hung in the dark space, sending out a golden halo, just like the stars in the night sky.
Wen Qing lived in this space, which she named Infinite Space. It appeared as an ancient courtyard, surrounded by a thick fog. The entrance gate had a small alley hidden among the fog; she didn't know where it led.
There were three rooms in the yard. The one on the left was the space with golden fingers, which she named Vanity Space. The next two rooms were where she rested and entertained her guests. She usually received guests in the yard, namely, clients.
TL Note: It's the end of the first arc, Black-Hearted Lotus' Red Packet Group. Black hearted lotus is a beautiful person with a malicious heart.
Hope you enjoyed the arc. Stay safe.
Next Arc: The Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System
Chapter 23: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [1.1]
Chapter: Change The Status Of Women
After absorbing the power of merit, Wen Qing fisted her hand in thin air and spread it out again. There were two golden keys in her palm, one written Terrifying Black Packet and the other, Cultivating Red packet. The former was the golden finger that she took with her when she went to complete the task, and the latter was the one she snatched from Mo Yao. However, it was hers now. She flung them as they turned into meteors and flew into the Vanity Space. Together with the other two keys, they hung in the dark space, sending out the golden halo, just like the stars in the night sky.
Wen Qing lived in this space, which she named Infinite Space. It appeared as an ancient courtyard, surrounded by a thick fog. The entrance gate had a small alley hidden among the fog, but she didn't know where it led.
There were three rooms in the yard. The one on the left was the space with golden fingers, which she named Vanity Space. The next two rooms were where she rested and entertained her guests. She usually received guests in the yard, namely, clients.
The yard was always in spring, and a huge peach tree covered half of the yard with everblooming flowers and pleasant scenery. Under the peach tree, there was a strange stone named "Past Life Stone", which Wen Qing could use to watch the client's past life. There was also a well in the courtyard, which was called the reincarnation pool. The clients that had lost their obsession are reincarnated there.
Everything in the Infinite Space was under Wen Qing's control, controlled specifically by her mind. Now she was lying on a rocking chair under the peach tree, refreshing her spirit by closing her eyes, waiting for the next client to come.
While Wen Qing was having a comfortable sleep, she heard the evocation bell ringing at the gate of the courtyard.
Someone was coming.
Wen Qing stood at the door of the yard and looked at the woman who came at the end of the path. She was dressed in an ancient costume, with long, waist-length hair. She looked slim and somewhat fragile. Beautiful in appearance, and had clear eyes that seemed to be filled with gentle water and light. However, her chin was slightly low, and she walked with a crooked shoulder, which made her look somewhat submissive. Wen Qing, therefore, concluded that she was a gentle and timid girl.
Wen Qing led her to sit down in the courtyard then took a pot of tea out of thin air and made her a cup. The quiet woman asked with surprise, "Are you a fairy?" She looked around again. The scenery was like fairyland, and she couldn't help but sigh. "I never thought I would come to fairyland after death."
Wen Qing gave her a gentle smile. "I'm not a fairy."
"In paradise, even if you were not a fairy, you must not be an ordinary person."
This time, Wen Qing did not refute, and instead asked, "What is your wish?"
"Wish?" The woman was dazed.
"Yes, the people who come here have an unfinished wish or unforgettable obsessions which I help fulfill."
After listening to Wen Qing's explanation, the woman hesitated and shook her head, "I do not have any last wish."
Wen Qing looked at her. She looked calm, and it didn't seem like she was lying. Wen Qing smiled, "The people who come here certainly have an obsession. It might be hidden deep inside, thus you are not aware of this obsession, so think carefully about it again."
The woman thought for a long time but still shook her head. "I was born as a courtesan. I started receiving guests at the age of eleven, and died at the age of seventeen. I was despised and humiliated all my life. Now I am finally out of my misery, and I have no wish in this life. I only wish for peace and joy in the next life, instead of bitterness."
Even though she had seen her past from the dead stone, Wen Qing still felt distressed for her when she saw her unwavering emotions. She thought about it and asked, "Do you want to know who your biological parents are, and why they abandoned you?"
The woman was surprised for the second time. "Ma said that my mother was a courtesan, she died due to casualties during childbirth. They don't know which client my father is. Why? Is there something else in my life?"
"Come and see it for yourself." Wen Qing waved her hand and sent an image between the woman's brow, which was part of Wen Qing's interception from the stone of death.
After looking, the woman suddenly burst into tears, "Stealing dragon and exchanging phoenix? That's it. That's it…"
She suddenly looked directly at Wen Qing and asked, "You just said you would help me complete my wish. Can I wish for something?"
"No problem. "
"She abandoned me because I was born a female, I was looked down upon. She thought of me as a worm. Please help me change the status of women. Don't let more daughters be ruined like me."
Wen Qing saw her eyes changed. She thought she would resent her parents when she knew her unfortunate life experience. Unexpectedly, her wish was to help women all over the world!
Xu had seen Wen Qing's doubts, and the woman laughed, "So what if I bewail? The hardships I have suffered will not be eliminated from my memory. On the contrary, other women who have not been abused are more worthy of help. Instead of wasting this desire to retaliate against others, it is better to do something good for other women."
Chapter 24: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [1.2]
Chapter: Stealing The Dragon And Exchanging The Phoenix
The kindness this girl possessed was very moving. Wen Qing replied with a severe countenance, "Well, I will do as you wish."
When she finished, the woman fainted. Wen Qing picked her up, placed her on the soft couch, and entered the Vanity Space.
Winter in Jiangnan was chilly and clammy. A piercing, chilly wind licked Wen Qing's small blue face as if it wanted to take away her last trace of temperature.
Wrapped in swaddling clothes, Wen Qing had been thrown at the gate of Bai Brothel. She was born at Chou Hour, and now it was Mao Hour. That is to say, the original Xu Wenqing had been lying in the cold for four hours. It was great luck that she wasn't dead yet!
Wen Qing couldn't stand the cold. She took out a thick blanket from the space and put it on her body. Although she blocked the cold wind, she couldn't recover her body temperature, so she had to wait for someone to save her.
This time, the world was of a novel set-up. The female protagonist was named Li Jia, who transmigrated with the help of the Imperial Harem System. Moreover, she was transmigrated into the chaotic era of the Nine Lords' War. But this novel was different. The female protagonist transmigrated as the hostess of neither the 4th, 8th, nor the 9th lord. She transmigrated as the woman of prince Yin Reng—the secondary consort, Lin Jia.
Xu Wenqing was Li Jia's daughter.
The original owner was already pregnant before Li Jia transmigrated. She was framed and almost had a miscarriage. After transmigrating, she kept a low profile and finished the task given by the system to win Yin Reng's heart.
Yin Reng didn't have any children at that time and extremely valued the baby in her belly. If she gave birth to the first son of the family, her position would be more stable. However, the system told her that it was a girl.
Li Jia was disappointed. Fortunately, everything in the system was all-encompassing. On the night of her labor, she finally saved enough attribute points and exchanged them for the skill called Stealing Dragons and Exchanging Phoenixes. By which, the girl who should have been born would become a boy.
The system didn't have the ability to defy the Heavens and change the gender of the baby. It just switched the girl Li Jia gave birth to with another child. This was the so-called Stealing the Dragon and Exchanging Phoenix. At that time, Li Jia wasn't aware of the fact that the child she had from the Stealing The Dragon and Exchanging Phoenix skill was not her own. She was only immersed in the joy of having a stable status.
The daughter she exchanged from the Stealing The Dragon and Exchanging Phoenix skill, appeared thousands of miles away at the gate of a brothel in Jiangnan.
"I was born as a courtesan. I started receiving guests at the age of eleven and died at the age of seventeen. I was despised and humiliated throughout my life…"
At the recollection of Xu Wenqing's bitter experience, Wen Qing couldn't help but feel distressed. As a noble-born daughter, she was abandoned because she was a female. She fell into a brothel and was ravaged until her death. Li Jia didn't mean to abandon her intentionally. She wanted to ascend her status, so she used the Stealing The Dragon and Exchanging Phoenix skill on her own child. It was obvious that the child was nothing more than just a tool to her.
However, Wen Qing had nothing to do with Li Jia, and Xu Wenqing didn't say that she wanted to get back at her. There's also a possibility that Xu Wenqing would be sad if she made an unnecessary move. The ancient filial piety; Li Jia gave birth to her but abandoned her, but Xu Wenqing didn't disrespect her, she still cared for her own flesh and blood.
Let it be, she only needs to fulfill Xu Wenqing's wish.
At about eight o'clock, the day was slightly bright but the brothel started business late. The winter day was cold and there were no pedestrians on the street. Wen Qing was still lying on the ground, on the verge of being numb by the cold.
A little while later, Wen Qing heard light footsteps. She turned her head to look, and it turned out to be a faltering, old beggar. When he saw Wen Qing, he rushed over, his pair of rough hands touched her cold face as he sighed, "Which parent would be so cruel, throwing their child out here in the cold?"
He wrapped the blanket over Wen Qing a little tightly, but he didn't take her away. "Baby, it's not that this old man doesn't want to save you. This old man can't even feed himself, you can't live with me. Although this is not a good place, you can always have a bite to eat here..."
Wen Qing changed her plan. Instead of falling into a brothel, she might as well follow this beggar. At least, his reputation was satisfactory.
So, when the old beggar was just about to leave, she burst into tears. Because of suffering from the cold and hunger, her voice was as weak as a kitten's which sounded very pitiful.
The old man was moved with sympathy. He returned and picked her up. "Let's just take you first. If I can't keep you in the future, I will find you a good family. It's better than staying in such a filthy place."
Chapter 25: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [2.1]
Chapter: Her Journey
The old man was dressed in rags, his clothes not fit for the cold. His lips had turned purple from the cold weather, but he still untied his clothes and wrapped Wen Qing inside them. He warmed Wen Qing with his body temperature.
The old man's body odor was unbearable but Wen Qing was very grateful. He had nothing to eat nor wear yet he still picked her up, who would just be a burden to him. She sighed in her heart: There are still many good people in the world.
She took out two golden beans from the space and held them in her hand. She let the old man 'inadvertently' see them for basic necessities. Before she came, she chose the Apocalyptic Dimension golden finger, which came in handy. This Dimension golden finger was for the hostess. It was filled with a large number of materials collected in the last world, which was just what she needed at the moment.
The old man held the baby in his arms. Instead of staying outside, he went back to his home with her— a ruined temple.
He placed Wen Qing on a haystack and started a fire in the middle of the temple. All sides of the broken temple gradually warmed up. The old man burned some hot water with a damaged bowl and fed it to Wen Qing.
"Baby, drink some and fill your belly first. Grandpa will ask for some rice gruel to feed you later."
The old man surnamed Qi neither had a wife nor a child. He was a lonely man. He picked up a baby from the street. Although it was a female infant, he wanted to love it dearly as his granddaughter.
Wen Qing took two sips from the broken bowl and stopped drinking, for if she drank too much, she would urinate. She didn't think it was possible to change her clothes now, and wearing wet clothes in winter would kill her.
Old man Qi muttered to himself, "This kid is obedient. She doesn't cry or make trouble. Why did your parents act cruelly and threw you away?" He said as he touched Wen Qing's swaddling clothes. "This material is also something that the rich would use. They couldn't afford to raise you? Could it be that a big household had fallen into trouble and had to put you there?"
Wen Qing took advantage of her swaddled clothes. She showed her little hand while turning over, and when she spread it out, golden beans were exposed.
"Huh? This is..." Old man Qi froze in shock. He hurriedly put away the golden beans and looked around. He released a sigh of relief after confirming that he was the only one who saw it.
"Looking at it this way, you are indeed a child of a victim family. Your parents must have taken the trouble to leave you with money so that you wouldn't be thrown away. Let it be, it is also fate that we met. This old man ought to take good care of you, and maybe your parents would be able to identify you in the future..."
The fire was warm as the old man rambled, so Wen Qing couldn't stay awake and gradually fell asleep.
When she woke up again, Wen Qing found that she was no longer in the broken temple, but a farmhouse. Old man Qi had also replaced his patch-covered shirt with a brand-new blue coat and was standing in front of a stove, cooking.
The air was thoroughly filled with the sweet smell of rice that Wen Qing could not help but swallow her saliva. Old man Qi saw that she had woken up and cheerfully smiled. "Baby woke up? Grandpa cooked porridge for you to eat."
Well, it was porridge. In the end, Wen Qing only drank rice gruel. She was too young to eat porridge. But just drinking rice gruel was not enough, so after a few days, Old man Qi brought back a goat and gave her boiled goat's milk to drink. Although goat's milk had a peculiar smell, there was no other way. In order to survive, she drank it with a bold face[1].
Under the care of Old man Qi, Wen Qing gradually grew up. The old man also took her to the village scholar's house to give her a name, which was Wenqing but with the old man's surname, Qi; Qi Wenqing.
Old man Qi had been famished for many years, and his health has long deteriorated. Without Wen Qing's two golden beans to improve his life, he would not have survived that winter. But even so, old man Qi did not live too long, when Wen Qing was two years old, he died.
Before his death, he handed Wen Qing to the scholar family. He also gave them the rest of the money from the golden beans. He knew that the family consisted of good people and that they would not treat Wen Qing badly, so he felt at ease.
However, Wen Qing didn't stay at the scholar's house. She had a plan, but she was too young to leave her grandfather alone, so she didn't leave then. Now, her only concern had passed away. Therefore, Wen Qing left Xinghua Village after Old man Qi's funeral.
Because her dimension could also carry people, she secretly climbed into a bullock cart going to the city and then went into the space. When the bullock cart moved, she moved with it as well. After she arrived in the city, she got into a carriage and was taken to the dock. To Guangzhou...
Wen Qing promised Xu Wenqing to change the status of women in the world, this was easier said than done. How could the male domination and female subordination[2] tradition established for thousands of years be changed so easily?
Overthrowing feudalism and the establishment of a modern state of equality between men and women would be the most fundamental approach. It was simple and crude, but it was simply unrealistic to do so. The economic base determines the superstructure, and the people of the Qing Dynasty were still in an era of small-scale peasant economy depending on how the wind blew, which can't be overthrown all at once but could only be infiltrated and changed step by step.
Therefore, it was a good way to emulate Wu Zetian[3] as a female emperor. During the Wu Zetian period, although there was no fundamental change in women's status, it was much better than other dynasties. Women could make public appearances, enter the palace as officials, and even raise their heads and keep male concubines… Women could do what men do; the emperor was a woman, who dares to say anything?
However, the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was relatively open, and Wu Zetian had worked hard to become emperor. In the Qing Dynasty, where people's thoughts were more conservative, it was more difficult for her to become emperor. But even if it was difficult, how do you know you won't succeed if you don't try?
Her trip to Guangzhou this time was not the ultimate goal. Her ultimate goal was to go overseas and travel around the world in preparation for a rebellion- oh scratch that, to find a reasonable excuse for reformation.
Therefore, Wen Qing didn't stop at Guangzhou, but instead boarded a ship to Nanyang and started her journey overseas.
She had her space so she didn't have anything to worry about, including eating and clothing. Everywhere she went, she searched for local specialties, such as jadeite and jade in Southeast Asia, gems and crops in America, machinery and steam engines in Europe, and so on. In any case, her space was infinite.
She spent fifteen years, almost all over the earth. During this period, she got filthy rich. The most valuable thing to her, however, was her acquired significant growth in knowledge and experience, this intangible harvest.
TL Note:
[1]: 硬着头皮: toughen one's scalp—brace oneself； summon up courage； put a bold face on
[2]: 男尊女卑 male domination and female subordination； treatment of females as inferior to males；male superiority
[3]: Wu Zetian, alternatively named Wu Zhao, Wu Hou, and during the later Tang dynasty as Tian Hou, was the de facto ruler of China, first through her husband the Emperor Gaozong, and then through her sons the Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong, from 665 to 690. She subsequently became empress regnant of the Zhou dynasty (周) of China, ruling from 690 to 705. She was notable for being the only female monarch in the history of China.
Chapter 26: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [2.2]
Chapter: The Goal Now Is— The Capital
Kangxi[1], forty-five years. Wen Qing, the fallen wild phoenix, finally returned to the Qing Dynasty, and the capture of the Kowloon headquarters had already begun.
Xinghua village. Cicadas were singing and the summer breeze was refreshing. A few naughty boys were playing in the stream by the village. Suddenly, a continuous 'clatter clatter' sound was heard, followed by a carriage coming in from the village entrance.
A well-dressed, charming teenager jumped out of the carriage and cupped her one hand in the other in front of her chest, and asked, "Excuse me, Where does Li Changchun and Li Xiucai live?"
To the boys, this was a stranger that looked noble and respectful. They couldn't answer and pushed each other to respond.
The teenager, Wen Qing, who had just returned from overseas, smiled and grabbed a handful of sweets, gave it to the children, and asked, "Can you tell me where Li Xiucai's home is?"
The children were conquered by candy. They got bolder and showed her the way while giggling. Bringing them to Li Xiucai's doorstep, they yelled, "Grandpa, you have guests coming!" Then they ran away, giggling.
Li Xiucai's family came to open the door but saw an unknown teenager standing outside.
"You are?"
"Grandma Li, it's me, Wenqing! Qi Wenqing. When I was a child, I lived next door to your house with my grandfather."
The family was surprised as well as delighted. They quickly welcomed Wen Qing in. "Oh, it is really Wenqing! Your face still looks the same as when you were a child! Where have you been all these years? After your grandfather's funeral, you were gone, the villagers went searching for weeks but did not find you. They said that your grandfather couldn't bear to leave you so he took you along. "
Wen Qing smiled. "Everyone was worried. I was carried away by a kidnapper to Guangzhou. By chance, I followed a ship to Nanyang and then I went to many places. I just came back this year. I could still vaguely remember some childhood memories. I have inquired many times before I finally found this village."
Wen Qing explained her whereabouts during the past years in a few words. After going missing for fifteen years, she had to fill in the blanks, otherwise, she would be of unknown origin.
Hearing this, the Li family lamented that the child had an ill fate, having been abducted and lived abroad. They didn't ask more questions because they were afraid she would feel aggrieved. They only told her that she should stay here in the future now that she had returned home.
Wen Qing politely declined and sent her gifts one by one. All kinds of precious stones, pocket watches, peep shows; all kinds of rare things filled the table, which made the Li family dazed. When they returned to their senses, they could tell that it was too expensive.
"Grandpa Li, take it. These are rare and priceless. When I was a child, you took care of us in many ways, this is nothing."
The Li family could not refuse and simply accepted it. Wen Qing spent a few days in Xinghua village repairing the tomb of Old man Qi, paying money to the village to build a village school, and entrusting the Li family to complete the household registration before leaving towards the North.
This time, the goal is— the capital.
The early autumn drizzle brought with it some coolness. Wen Qing was wearing a trench coat, standing on a pair of boots, and holding a transparent umbrella while treading on the streets of Beijing.
Dressing as a foreigner had attracted many people's attention, inciting an assurance second glance from them. Wen Qing did not care, she was deliberately dressed like this so that people could see her "returned from overseas" identity.
Wen Qing's dress-up looked good, it could be described as beautiful enough to cause the fall of a city or a state[2]. Although she dressed strangely, she looked tall and spirited. Pedestrians on the road had their gazes fixed on her and head-bumping incidents would happen from time to scene was being seen by several dignitaries on the third floor of the Hongyun building.
"Ninth Brother, is that a French woman? The dress she's wearing is much like Zhang Cheng's tuxedo."
"Zhang Cheng is a Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes, French women must be too. This woman has black hair and black eyes, she is from here. However, I am curious about the umbrella in her hand. That transparent material is unheard of!"
"Since you're curious, go down and ask her where she bought it from!"
"Tenth brother, don't be abrupt, she is a stranger. Let's observe her for a while."
"Eighth brother, you are too careful. You don't want to ask? Wait then, I'll ask! "
TL Notes:
[1]: The Kangxi here is the current era. The Kangxi Emperor (5 February 1654 – 20 December 1722), given name Xuanye, was the fourth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The Kangxi Emperor's reign of 61 years (from 1661 until 1722) makes him the longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history (although his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, since he ascended the throne at the age of seven, actual power was held for six years by four regents and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
[2]: 倾国倾城 capable of causing the downfall of a city or state (idiom); fig. (of a woman) devastatingly beautiful
Chapter 27: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [3.1]
Chapter: Ten Thousand teals umbrella; hundred thousand teals shop
Wen Qing looked at the surrounding restaurants, and noticing that the most magnificent was the Hongyun building, she raised her feet to enter there.
The lobby on the ground floor that was originally lively immediately became silent when they saw her entering, immediately followed by whispers and critical remarks. Wen Qing pretended not to hear and directly headed to the second floor. The second floor was much cleaner. She chose a seat by the window, and Xiao Er paused before rushing to greet her.
"Madam, what would you like to eat? "
It's not that women do not come to the restaurant, but it was the first time that he'd seen someone dressed so strangely.
Wen Qing looked faintly, "Pick a few of your signature dishes and send them."
"All right! Just a moment, madam! "
Xiao Er had just left, and an uninvited guest came and sat on the seat opposite to hers. He was a young man with big eyes and bushy eyebrows, wearing luxurious clothes. She could tell from the first glance that he was either very rich or a noble. He smiled and asked, "Lady, where did you buy this umbrella?"
It was the tenth brother[1] Yin. Because the ninth brother was interested in this umbrella, he had volunteered to ask her.==============[阿哥 elder brother； big brother； son； title of a Manchu Emperor's son not yet of age]
Wen Qing glanced at him and said, "I made it myself."
"Ah? Then there won't be any place to buy it?" The disappointment was clear on Yin's face. He immediately turned his attention and leaned closer, "Or, Lady, how about you sell me the umbrella? You quote the price, I will not bargain!" He patted his chest to assure her.
"Okay." Wen Qing readily agreed, then stretched out a finger and waved in front of him.
"So readily! Girl, you are truly ... Such a strange umbrella costs only one or two pieces of silver. I can't let you suffer. I'll give you the twelfth okay ... "
"Ten thousand taels. "
"You're welcome, I'll give the money to you and take it! Eh? Wait, what did you just say? Ten thousand taels?!" Yin suddenly jumped up from the stool. His eyes widened, "Why don't you just rob me ah! What broken umbrella is worth ten thousand taels!"
Wen Qing looked at him in surprise, "No money? You don't have any money, What a wayward person. Also don't bargain here, scram~!"
Yin's face turned into an ugly shade of red, and he didn't know how to refute her. At that time, another voice came from upstairs, "Tenth brother, You are gone for a while! You're still taking it seriously!" Ninth prince, Yinyi, said as he descended from the upstairs with a cold face. He was followed by the 8th prince, Yinsi, who was adorned by a gentle smile.
When Yin heard him, he glared at Wen Qing, "You dare to make fun of me?"
"This thing belongs to me. I could place whatever price I wanted on it. If you feel it's too expensive, then don't buy it. How could you say that I am making fun of you?" Wen Qing was composed.
Yin was rendered speechless. She truly made sense.
"Girl, don't be offended, it's our brother who is at fault." Yinsi said with a smile to mediate the dispute. "It's just that my brother really likes this umbrella. I wonder if the girl could part with her cherished possession?"
Wen Qing looked at him with a faint smile, "You want the umbrella but don't want to pay money. You want me to give you this umbrella for nothing, don't you? You are really good at manipulation."
Yinsi who was good at controlling situations, also blushed as she finished talking. There was no denying that he actually meant that, but his intentions being said right to the face was still too embarrassing.
"However, it is also not impossible to gift it to you..."
Wen Qing's statement made Yinsi look at her with hope. He quickly said, "The girl has some demands... Let's hear it." At the thought of the tenth brother being beaten in the face for boasting just now, he silently swallowed the words that came to his mouth and changed them into a safer statement.
Wen Qing also didn't care, and readily pointed a finger out of the window, "Sell me the opposite shop the umbrella is yours."
"Impudent! " Yintang's face sank immediately, glaring at her, "I thought she was so audacious because she didn't know our identity. But she does know about us and still dares to disrespect us."
Hongyun building belongs to Yintang, also the shop opposite to Hongyun Building. Wen Qing asked them to sell the shop opposite to her, apparently knowing that the owner of these two places is the same person. Since she found out that the boss was the same person, how could she not know that the boss was the current ninth prince? After all, there's nothing wrong with doing business.
So in other words, this woman was clearly aware that the people standing in front of her were princes, and was still so arrogant. This made Yintang very angry. He was born noble and has never been looked down upon like this.
"That shop has been idle for half a year. Since it's idle anyway, it is better to sell it to me. We could negotiate the price." Wen Qing was smiling, not being frightened by him.
Sure enough, this woman has already inquired! But if this was the case, it was more infuriating.
Yintang smiled contrary to the anger he was feeling, "Okay! I will fulfill your wish. No-bargain price, hundred thousand teals!" He definitely mimicked what Wen Qing had said previously. Her umbrella costs 10,000 teals, then his shop's cost as 100,000 teals was not much compared to it. Yintang just said that in anger towards Wen Qing. He was sure that Wen Qing won't agree. This shop was worth 7 or 8,000 teals when it reached the top price of the day. She would spend 100,000 teals on it only if she was a lunatic!
"Deal! Tomorrow I have someone send the silver to your palace."
Chapter 28: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [3.2]
Chapter: Obsessed With Money
Unexpectedly, Wen Qing did not hesitate to agree! Yintang's trio was stunned, Yin couldn't believe it. "Are you stupid? The shop costs seven or eight thousand teals at best, and you're spending 100,000 teals to buy it! You are not mad, are you?"
Wen Qing smiled cooly. "I am not stupid. I have a lot of money to burn!"
The trio couldn't say anything more and looked at Wen Qing like she was a fool.
Wen Qing was not stupid. Did they think silver was easy to collect? She will give it out and get it back in the end, with interest! Even if the person was her uncle, she wouldn't spare them.
After Wen Qing settled her business, she enjoyed her meal without pressure. The food in Hongyun Building was quite good. And Yintang, the trio, was holding the umbrella, forced to walk away with muddled faces.
Outside of Hongyun Building, Yin asked, "Ninth brother, are you really selling the shop to her?"
"I'm not stupid, why would I not accept 100,000 teals for nothing, and let her be proud of taking advantage of us?"
"That sounds reasonable. Ninth brother, you are so powerful!"
Yinsi was not as optimistic as the two of them. "That woman is of unknown origin, we still have to be cautious."
"Send people to check her details, I want to see who dared to make fun of us brothers. Let's see if she has the backing of the emperor or not!" Yintang said coldly.
The next day, Wen Qing took a box containing one hundred thousand silver teals and sent it to Yintang's mansion. Yintang did not cause trouble and readily gave her the property papers and sent someone to help her go to the local authorities for the ownership of the household.
The ninth prince's people accompanied her, so naturally, everything went well and the formalities were completed sooner. There was a triple courtyard residence behind the shop. Wen Qing didn't even need to bother finding a place to live and was able to move in on the same day.
A few days later, Wen Qing quietly opened the shop. There were no firecrackers, no deafening sounds of gongs and drums, no invitations.
When the news reached the ninth prince's mansion, the eighth and tenth princes were also present. Yintang hooked his lips up and said, "Come on, let's join in the fun."
Yintang's Hongyun Building was located in the most prosperous market in Beijing, and the shop opposite it was in a good position. Therefore, even if the opening of Wen Qing's shop was low-key, it still attracted a lot of people. Anyone who went in came out with a stormy face. Just as the trio arrived, they saw a man swinging his sleeves while leaving. The man criticized, "Profiteers!"
"Hey, it looks like she's not only cheating the three of us but also cheating other people!" Yin gloated.
Yintang scolded him as he glanced, "You are quite proud of being cheated."
The trio continued forward. After seeing the hoarding board hanging above the shop, they were shocked. The words inscribed on the board were— Obsessed With Money[1].
This was the first time they saw someone shameless to this extent, writing 'Obsessed With Money' on a glimmering hoarding board! It couldn't be decided whether to call her magnanimous or treacherous. The trio was shocked for a long time before they finally recovered, only to see what was underneath the board.
The door turned out to be made of glass! Two huge colored glass, eight feet high and six feet wide, smooth and level off, clear and transparent. The palace has never seen such a large piece of transparent colored glass! Seeing the colored glass doors, the trio had to weigh Wen Qing's significance again.
Only when they got close did they see that there was a line on each of the two glazed doors. On the left side— Buying or not, you have to pay a teal as an entrance fee. On the right side— The pauper with only a thousand teals is not allowed to enter.
No wonder so many people left with stormy faces. They had to pay one teal when they entered the door. Indeed, she was profiteering! One teal was enough for an ordinary family of three to live for half a year, which she could gain just as entrance fees. Isn't she a profiteer?!
"Interesting." Yintang was even more curious about this store. These two regulations prevent most people from entering, but this shows that the things here were rare. Because those who meet these two regulations must be rich or noble, if these people go in and don't get what they expect, who could possibly bear their anger?
"Come on, let's go in and see."
The trio pushed the door and went in. Against the side of the wall stood a table, the strange woman was leaning on the table, writing. When she heard someone come in, without raising her head, she said, "Thank you for your patronage, pay the money first."
Yintang scoffed. "Will I be short of money?" Then he raised his hand and threw ten pairs of silver in front of her.
Wen Qing readily picked them up and threw them in the bamboo basket under the table, but still didn't look up. "Sir could casually check the things. All the things here are only allowed to be seen but not touched, those who are interested can come to the checkout counter."
This perfunctory attitude caused Yintang's face to darken, but Wen Qing didn't look at him at all. His complexion then regained its original color. With a cold snort, he went around the shop. Yinsi and Yin had gone in earlier and were now facing the glass cabinets inside with marvel.
Everything in Obsessed With Money was placed inside glass cabinets, and people could simply look through glass if they wanted to see it. Fortunately, her glass transparency was very high and did not affect one's line of sight.
However, the things in the cabinets were so strange that they didn't even know what they were!
TL Note:
[1]: 棺材里伸手死要钱打 is an idiom in Chinese which means reaching out from the coffin demanding the money, which means Obsessed With Money. The name of the shop is 死要钱. So I guess it works that way too.
Chapter 29: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [4.1]
Chapter: Yin'e is always the one who gets swindled
Yin secretly pulled Yinsi's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Eighth brother, you read more books and are more knowledgeable than me, do you know what this is?" He asked as he pointed at something one and a half feet long and two fingers wide that had a handle underneath.
Yinsi whispered, "I don't know."
It was embarrassing! Their dignified prince brother, who received the best education from childhood, dabbled in astronomy, geography, and learned several foreign languages, didn't know anything that was in this store!
They forgot about Yintang. He was inwardly shocked but didn't dare to show it. It would be a shame to admit it.
They wandered around and finally found a familiar acquaintance in the corner! All kinds of precious stones were randomly thrown in this corner like they're just normal stones on the side of the road.
"Boss, what is the price of these gems?" Rare things were precious. Western gems were quite popular in the Qing Dynasty, and they were priceless. Therefore, at first glance, Yintang was moved. His mind was already planning on how to thrift and make a lot of money at once.
Wen Qing looked up to take a glance, even as she saw the trio, she didn't react. "Oh, that's 100 teals for a pound." They had no vision and chose the most useless thing in her store.
100 teals for a pound?! The people were stunned that gems were sold by pounds. It was really unheard of! A piece was worth more than 100 teals, okay?
"I will take them all!" They were cheap. The woman just came back from overseas and didn't know the prices of gems in the Qing dynasty. Yintang felt ecstatic because he had picked up a bargain again!
Wen Qing finally put her pen down, stood up as she moved her shoulders, and then walked towards them.
"Our shop items have a limited purchase. A person could only buy one article per day. The limited gem purchase is 1 pound."
Yintang's face darkened immediately, "You don't want to sell it all to me, so you just added this rule, right?"
"Correct. You saw through it?" Wen Qing said with a smile, her face clearly showing, 'I am purposeful, what can you do?'.
Yintang couldn't do anything to her. The store and the items belonged to her. What could he do if she didn't want to sell them? Although the details of this woman have been found, those were superficial. What did she do overseas? Who's behind her? He couldn't discover anything!
Yintang was ascertained that there must be other forces behind Wen Qing. Otherwise, how could a weak woman build such a shop in just a few days? Where did all these gems, colored glass, and various articles come from?
"All right! If it is just a pound then so be it." When he goes back, he will send someone to guard the door and wouldn't let anyone in. He will buy a pound today and a pound tomorrow. In the end, they will all fall into his hands. Yintang was gloating in his heart but his face showed nothing.
Wen Qing pretended not to see the expression on his face and turned to ask the other two people, "Do you also want to buy gems?"
Yinsi was intending to sell it to Yintang and nodded, "Yes, give me a pound too, and pack it with Ninth Younger Brother's."
Yintang accepted it unceremoniously. Anyway, the eighth prince had a percentage in his business so whoever takes it is the same.
Yin was in a dilemma. He didn't like the gems, instead, he was interested in the half-foot long thing just now. He pointed at the article and asked, "What is that?"
"I will tell you only if you are purchasing it. Don't ask if you are not buying it!" Her demeanor was quite vile.
Yin's temper suddenly flared up. He raised his chin and said, "I will buy it!"
"Thank you for your patronage, a thousand teals!" Wen Qing had a fox-like smile.
"Hey, say, you are just obsessed with cheating me, right? The other day it was a thousand teals for the broken umbrella and today a thousand teals for the thing that I don't even have knowledge about! Two pounds of gems cost a hundred, is this thing more valuable than the gems?"
"Exactly, this pile of precious stones is not as expensive as this one! I still gave you the preferential price. If the one next to you buys it, I will sell it to him for 10,000 teals."
Yintang, who was unjustly implicated, asked with a dark face, "Why ten thousand teals for me?"
"You have money!" Wen Qing's answer was very broad and smooth.
Yintang, Yinsi & Yin: "..."
"Didn't you say earlier that you would tell me what this is, this article that is more precious than that pile of precious stones?"
"Pay first then I'll tell you."
The trio's forehead formed lines. They finally understood why the name of the store was Obsessed With Money. Yes, this girl was clearly obsessed with money!
Yintang took out a thousand teals from his arms. "Here you go! Say it quickly."
Wen Qing counted the money, then opened the glass cabinet smilingly, took the article out, and stuffed it into Yin's hand. "The goods that have been sold will not be returned!"
Yin sighed."..." Why do I feel as if I am always swindled!
Chapter 30: Pampered Consort's Imperial Harem System [4.2]
Chapter: Fire Gun
Wen Qing gladly explained to him, "This is called a gun."
"Nonsense! I know what a gun is and it doesn't look like this!" The court had a special firearms battalion, in which soldiers were equipped with guns. They had gone there several times before. But that thing didn't work well. It would be too hot to hold after a few fires. The knockback was big, making the arm numb. It could also easily explode near the face. After they observed the new one, no one touched it.
Wen Qing's item was small and delicate, and its appearance was glowing with a black metallic luster, so it didn't look at all like a gun. What's more, it was nothing like the guns in the firearms battalion, okay!
Wen Qing glanced at him and said, "How can a thousand teal's worth fire gun be the same as those? Because you have better vision than both of them, I'll give you ten extra bullets. only 10 teals for each!"
Yin, "..." Selling a fire gun but not with the bullets. He was being deceived, right?
Yin wanted to say what had not been said until Wen Qing quickly put on a cold and ruthless expression, "The goods that have been sold will not be returned!"
Yin angrily gritted his teeth, this damn girl was annoying!
"Let's go!" Out of sight, out of mind[1]! -[眼不见心不烦- out of sight, out of mind. Saying that you do not want to think or worry about something when it is not visible to you]
Yintang and Yinsi also felt that the tenth prince had been deceived, but both of them had picked up a big bargain. They were secretly pleased in their heart. However, they didn't show they were delighted that their younger brother was deceived. It wasn't kind.
"Thank you for your patronage, come again next time!" Wen Qing smiled and sent them away then turned back to the counter to write.
She was writing a book called 《Biography of the Nations》, which mainly tells the history of development in western countries, expounds them from politics, economy, culture, and other aspects. It also gives a detailed narration of the problems encountered in each stage of their development and the advantages and disadvantages of the system. At present, it has been written in the British volume. Well, it could be sold after she finishes it!
She worked so hard to complete the task. Right now is the reign of order and prosperity. She couldn't start up a rebellion to match the emperor because this would only lead to people's suffering. So she could only take the road of peace. Fortunately, her identity could be used, but it was not enough. She had to show enough value and means to shock the world to the point where they ignore the fact that she was female.
Everything in her shop was manufactured imitating the materials in her space, except those which will be invented in the future. But whatever she could make, matched with the technological level of this era.
Everything in her shop could change an era, except for the pile of precious stones. For example, the fire gun that was bought by Yin. A country can't be strong without weapons, and the gun she made has reached the level after 200 years, which is the highest level that the world's top technology could reach presently. Once produced in large quantities, the military strength of the Qing Dynasty would be the first in the world!
After Yintang returned, he sent someone to guard Wen Qing's shop, and all the customers who were close to the shop were unceremoniously kicked out. Wen Qing was not annoyed, she was happy to have more time to write her book. Originally, her shop was not open to ordinary people, as long as it had the right people paying attention to it, it's fine.
The trio agreed that all those things in Wen Qing's store were to cheat people, and whoever bought them were foolish spenders. They single-mindedly bought all the gems in half a month.
Yintang bought all the gems, and proudly told Wen Qing about their value, just waiting to see her regretful and pained reaction. He didn't expect the reaction he got. She looked at him with a scoff.
"What is the use of those gems? You could neither eat them nor drink. If you pave the road with it, it would only hurt your feet. Yet you are still happy to treat it as a treasure!"
Eh? Paving the road with gems? Yintang's forehead was full of lines. This girl didn't know the value of the gems! Forget it, this girl is silly. She gave him money as well as precious stones. He shouldn't stab a knife into people's hearts.
Yintang thought Wen Qing was stupid, but Wen Qing felt that the cheap ninth prince was hopeless. She had given up hope for the consciousness of Yintang. He was a qualified businessman. She didn't expect him to see the value of benefiting the country and the people behind these things. Two people stood in their point of view and they felt that the other was foolish.
Yintang had been running to Wen Qing's shop for half a month, which has attracted the attention of others, including their suspicious emperor. So he took the time to warn him.
"How did I hear that you sold a shop for 100,000 taels? How? Is Your shop made of gold?" Kangxi didn't like the princes' cronyism[1], and Yintang's conduct of selling a shop for 100,000 teals. Intuition told him that there must be something fishy! He should have Yintang send him money.
TL Notes:
[1]:结党营私: form a clique to pursue selfish interests