Zhang Mama echoed, "What Madam says is true..." but her eyes were intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Ning Shi.
Unlike the Fu family's money shop, the first money shop of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was located on Langhuan Street, the Baohao money shop was located on Chenghua Street, right in the middle of the street, where there was a steady flow of people and customers coming and going. Ouyang Yue, Chuncao and Qiuyue got off the carriage and were invited into the Baohao money shop by a young clerk.
The layout of this Baohao Money Shop can be described as a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle. The main hall is decorated like a regular money shop, but one side is divided into many small rooms, with tables and chairs in front for people to rest and wait. These people include young masters and ladies, as well as servants. They sit or stand quietly, mostly without saying a word, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The waiter who greeted Ouyang Yue as she entered couldn't help but smile and say, "Gentlemen, are you here to exchange silver or pawn something?"
Ouyang Yue withdrew her gaze and took out a black token: "Neither of them. Arrange a quiet room for me and have your manager come see me." The token Ouyang Yue picked up was the iron token that the leader in black had given her back then.
The young waiter was taken aback when he saw it, then his eyes widened, and he looked at it carefully again in disbelief. He then looked at Ouyang Yue in astonishment, as if it were an extraordinary thing for a young girl to hold such a token. But he did not dare to delay: "Honored guest, this way please."
The waiter's voice immediately changed, and even his attitude became more respectful: "Please follow me to the second-floor room, the 'Tian' room, esteemed guest."
The young waiter led Ouyang Yue to the second floor, which was significantly more spacious than the first floor. The rooms were larger, with only about a dozen rooms in total. The walls were decorated with flowers and plants, and landscape paintings hung on the walls, creating an elegant and pleasant atmosphere. If Ouyang Yue hadn't come up from the pawnshop on the first floor, she would have thought it was a calligraphy and painting gallery.
The waiter respectfully led Ouyang Yue to the innermost left room, and then immediately went downstairs to fetch someone.
Ouyang Yue stayed behind, clicking her tongue twice before standing up and heading towards the door. There, on either side, stood two vases. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were exquisite white jade vases, worth at least several hundred taels of silver. This money shop treated them merely as decorations. Looking around the room, she saw rows of mahogany furniture, a set of tables and chairs made of sandalwood, and teacups and other furnishings—each one was of the finest quality. Ouyang Yue sighed, "As expected of a money shop owner; they're incredibly wealthy."
At this moment, Ouyang Yue heard light footsteps outside and immediately returned to the table and sat down. Chuncao and Qiuyue also came back to their senses from their shock. The furnishings in this room were even better than the young lady's boudoir. They must be very rich!
"Ta-da!"
"I am Zhang Quan, the manager of Baohao Money Exchange. I apologize for disturbing you, esteemed guest."
"Come in."
Then a man dressed in a long gray robe, head bowed, walked in. Ouyang Yue paid special attention to his feet; his steps were steady and almost silent. If it weren't for her exceptional hearing, and the fact that he seemed to deliberately increase the volume of his footsteps, she probably wouldn't have noticed him at all. Just a manager at Baohao Money Exchange, yet he's a martial arts master? And who exactly is that leader in black?!
"I am Zhang Quan, and I will obey this honored guest's orders. However, according to the rules of Baohao Money Shop, could you please allow me to take another look at the Xuan token?" Zhang Quan lowered his head slightly, but his legs were straight and his shoulders were firm, clearly not someone who was used to hunching over.
Ouyang Yue smiled, took out the iron plaque and handed it to Zhang Quan. Zhang Quan took a look at it, his eyes flashed, and then he gently held it with both hands before bending down to present it to Zhang Quan.
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "It seems this iron plate is genuine."
Zhang Quan humbly replied, "Honored guest, you flatter me. This Xuan token is an important identification token of Baohao Money House. Only five were made, and there is a special way to view it that outsiders do not know. Moreover, these Xuan tokens were all personally distributed by the owner, so it is impossible for outsiders to possess them. Naturally, they are not fake."
Ouyang Yue said "Oh," and stroked the Xuan token. So what the black-clad leader and Leng Can said that day was true. Was this token really that powerful? Ouyang Yue's eyes flashed: "Alright, go find Leng Can. Tell him I need to see him and that he needs to come over immediately, no matter what it is, it's extremely urgent!"
Zhang Quan looked up at Ouyang Yue in surprise, inwardly wondering why this young lady addressed him by his full name and held a Xuan token. He had initially thought she was an imposter, but it seemed she must be someone of extraordinary status. He dared not be negligent.
Leng Can had helped Ouyang Yue buy the shop before, but he left after it was done, and there was no way she could find him. So whenever she had something to do, she still had to come to Baohao Money Shop. However, in the past, in order to avoid being noticed, she went to the branch, so the manager of the head office was naturally not very clear about it.
A short while later, Leng Can rushed in like a gust of wind, looking at Ouyang Yue with a dark face.
He had just finished settling things at the shops for Ouyang Yue. As one of his master's twelve elite guards, what had he done before? He'd been doing things like going through fire and water! Now, he was running around doing all this for Ouyang Yue's few shops. In his opinion, a few helpers could have handled it, but Ouyang Yue seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for him, insisting he do it all himself. He'd just finished dealing with that, and now Ouyang Yue was giving him trouble again!
"What is it!" Leng Can's voice was cold, and his handsome face was also cold. Even Chuncao, who had met Leng Can before with Ouyang Yue, shrank back when he saw him like this, and Qiuyue even turned her body to the side to avoid him.
Ouyang Yue chuckled: "Leng Can, your name is Leng Can, but that doesn't mean you're cruel. You'll never be able to find a wife if you keep acting like this. Look how scared my two maids are."
Leng Can's face grew even colder: "Hmph! What does it matter to you whether I get married or not? Mind your own business!" Leng Can was very resentful. He used to follow his master and do important things. Now he was being made to fawn over a woman. He immediately felt looked down upon, so how could he possibly have a good attitude?
Ouyang Yue, however, didn't seem to care: "Alright, I've taken your kindness for granted. Let's get down to business. The shop is just finished, and the decoration needs to start immediately, the sooner the better. But we absolutely cannot cut corners just because we're in a hurry. It must be done according to my requirements. Here on Chenghua Street, I want to open a clothing store first. I've already found the female manager. Find her a place to live, preferably close to the clothing store. After she's settled, find a matchmaker. I need to select some people and start training them."
Leng Canhan said with a cold face, "That's all? Any manager or shop assistant could have handled this, but you insisted on sending me. It's a waste of my talent."
Ouyang Yue shook her head and sighed, "Leng Can, Leng Can, I'm not your master. I don't know much about your abilities. If you don't show me more, how will I know what you're capable of? When I don't know, I'll have to test your abilities against my standards. If you can't even do these things well, I'll naturally suggest to your master that we replace you with another attendant. Then you'll be free. If you really don't want to work for me, just do things half-heartedly, that'll do. Actually, I don't care who runs errands for me."
Ouyang Yue wore a faint smile, her bright eyes seemingly harmless, yet they made Leng Can want to slap her.
Over the years, Leng Can had never failed to complete any task assigned by his master, and the Twelve Guards never disobeyed their master's orders. If he were to do something and be immediately sent back, he would be utterly ashamed, even without punishment from his master. Ouyang Yue clearly knew he couldn't do it, yet she still infuriated him—it was infuriating!
Leng Can's face flushed red: "You did this on purpose!"
Ouyang Yue smiled and nodded: "Leng Can, you're really smart. I did it on purpose. Actually, I'm not very satisfied with you. You always have to argue with me. Sometimes things are already half done. I really wonder how your master made his choice?" As she spoke, she looked at Leng Can with great suspicion.
Leng Can's lips were pressed tightly together, his fists clenched. The Twelve Guards, who were usually ruthless in killing, were almost driven to a rage by Ouyang Yue: "You wait!" Leng Can suddenly took a deep breath, turned around and stormed off.
"Phew, Miss, you're so brave! The way he looked just now scared me so much I didn't dare to speak. I felt like my heart stopped beating. It was really terrifying!" Chuncao patted her chest, still shaken.
Qiu Yue nodded, her face pale. She had never seen anyone so frightening. In the brothels, the thugs were just a bit fierce and brutish, but they had a certain air of vulgarity. This person was so handsome, but just by pursing his lips and clenching his fist, he exuded an aura of overwhelming power, like a mountain pressing down on him. There was simply no comparison.
Ouyang Yue laughed and said, "He's just a paper tiger. Qiuyue, if you need anything in the future, just go to him directly. Don't be shy. If you can't find anyone to help you outside, it's good if you can contact me immediately. If not, just go to him directly."
Qiuyue was taken aback: "Ah? Looking for him? Miss can handle him, but I... I can't..." She was afraid of that person.
"What are you afraid of? He's not one of my men, just someone his master sent to help. His master needs your help, so I'll use him if I can. That's called making good use of resources. Qiuyue, don't be afraid of him. Just ask him for anything. His master told him to cooperate fully, so of course he wouldn't dare disobey," Ouyang Yue said dismissively.
Qiuyue said weakly, "Is this alright...?"
"What's wrong with that? Don't be afraid to mess with him. With such a skilled errand boy, don't be shy. It would be best if I could find a way to subdue him; that would make things much easier." Thinking this, Ouyang Yue's eyes brightened, as if she was considering the possibilities.
In the room next to the private room to the left of Ouyang Yue, a man dressed entirely in black was sitting. Hearing this, a smirk played on his lips. Two other men in black stood beside him. One of them snorted coldly. The leader of the black-clad men raised an eyebrow and looked over. The man immediately lowered his head and said, "Master, this Ouyang Yue is truly insatiable. She thinks she can subdue the Twelve Guardians so easily? She's utterly absurd!"
The leader in black smirked, "Don't you think her ideas are different from ordinary people?"
The man scoffed, "She is indeed different from ordinary people. Each of the Twelve Elite Guards is an elite, and even the Imperial Guards cannot compare to her. She dares to send her to run errands; she is courting death!"
Another man in black suddenly said, "Leng Han, watch your words!"
Startled, Leng Han immediately knelt down: "Please forgive me, Master. I know I'm guilty!"
The leader in black was not wearing a mask today; only the collar of his hood was pulled down, covering his eyebrows and eyes, revealing a pair of bright red lips. At this moment, his lips were slightly pursed, yet they were as vibrant as if they had just drunk blood, and at the same time, they looked extremely alluring and eerie. After a while, he said in a low voice, "There are always people more capable than you, and there are always higher levels to reach. If you were to fight this woman, who do you think would win?"
Leng Han narrowed his eyes and lowered his head without speaking, but his expression clearly showed disdain. Suddenly, the black-clad leader said coldly, "You will lose!"
Leng Han looked up in surprise. The black-clad leader's voice was even colder: "Because you underestimated women, and this woman at that. If it really came down to a fight, you would die a horrible death!"
"master!"
"Don't believe me?"
all
The leader in black raised an eyebrow, saying nothing more nor telling Leng Han to get up. Leng Han's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of light flashing within them. The other man in black shook his head. Leng Han was impulsive; he'd seen that woman before, and her temperament… if Leng Han got involved with her, he'd definitely suffer!
Not long after, the sound of a door opening came from the next room, followed by Leng Can's suppressed and annoyed voice: "It's done."
Ouyang Yue looked at Leng Can's angry glare and chuckled, "Good! You're indeed a capable person, even faster than I expected. There's another matter you need to handle well. After my Meiyi Pavilion opens, my maid Qiuyue will be in charge there. You must secretly help her, and you can't refuse to help her if there are any difficulties, understand?"
Leng Can coldly stared at Qiu Yue, making Qiu Yue shrink back in fear.
Ouyang Yue frowned: "Leng Can, look at yourself! A man should have gentlemanly manners. How can you scare a little girl like that? You'll never be able to find a wife if you act like this. Aren't you afraid of sleeping alone and howling like a wolf every night?"
Leng Can's chest heaved with anger, and his eyes glared: "I, Leng Can, am handsome and capable, and a trusted subordinate of my master. I can find any woman I want, so don't worry about it. Besides, I, Leng Can, have sworn to be loyal to my master forever, so there's no need for me to consider marriage and children."
Ouyang clicked his tongue twice: "You're putting it nicely now. Men are animals that think with their lower bodies. You're still a young man. When you have a woman and know what it's like to be with a woman, will you still say that? Who would believe you!"
Leng Can had been pondering Ouyang Yue's words, "Men are all driven by their lower instincts," but after she finished speaking, he finally understood what she meant. His healthy wheat-colored skin immediately turned deep red, and he seemed to be breathing heavily through his nose: "You...you female hooligan! You, an unmarried young lady from a prestigious family, how dare you speak so vulgarly! You have no shame!"
Ouyang Yue waved her hand: "Don't be so innocent. Haven't you ever thought about it yourself? You must have seen erotic pictures, right? You're not exactly young anymore. You really haven't done anything? I don't believe it, unless you're sick!"
Leng Can angrily retorted, "You're the one who's sick. I'm perfectly normal. What's so special about erotic pictures? I even went to a brothel when I was completing a mission..." At this point, Leng Can suddenly widened his eyes and shut his mouth tightly.
Ouyang Yue's eyes flashed, then quickly disappeared, and she laughed, "Oh, so you've been there too? You talk like such a gentleman, but it's all the same."
Leng Can was so angry that he didn't say anything. Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly: "Alright, from now on you just need to take care of Qiu Yue more. Her words are my words, and my words are your master's words. This isn't something I said, but something your master agreed to."
Leng Can pursed his lips and remained silent.
Ouyang Yue stood up and said with a smile, "Chuncao, Qiuyue, let's go. I'm hungry too. Let's find a place to get something to eat and forget about everything else."
Leng Can remained motionless with a cold expression, while Ouyang Yue walked past him with a smile, leaving with Chuncao and Qiuyue.
Next door, the black-clad guard frowned and said, "Master, if this continues, Leng Can will be provoked by Ouyang Yue again, and might he leak the organization's secrets." The black-clad guard's hand was on the sword he carried. When Leng Can mentioned the mission earlier, he almost drew his sword and rushed over, but his master stopped him.
The leader in black didn't care: "I'd like to see how much trouble she can cause. You know that Leng Canruo really leaked the secret, so he should be punished according to the rules!"
The black-clad guard's face darkened slightly. Perhaps even he himself hadn't realized that his master was showing unusual leniency towards Ouyang Yue. In the past, his master would have certainly ordered him to kill Ouyang Yue. His face remained cold, a glint of icy glint flashing in his eyes.
Ouyang Yue, along with Chuncao and Qiuyue, left Baohao Money Shop and soon arrived at Babaozhai by carriage. Babaozhai was a well-established restaurant in the capital, renowned for its eight unique dishes, attracting a constant stream of customers.
"Miss, this place is indeed famous; there are so many guests," Chuncao said with a smile as she helped Ouyang Yue down.
"Hmm, let's go in and reserve a table." Ouyang Yue led the way and saw a man in a crane-colored robe who looked like a manager, calculating with an abacus. It seemed that the business was doing quite well, as his face was beaming. Ouyang Yue said, "Manager, are there any rooms available now? I'd like a private room."
When the innkeeper saw the guest arrive, he immediately smiled and said, "You've come at the perfect time. There's just one private room left. I'll take you there right away."
"I want that private room! Here's the money!" However, just as the innkeeper came out and Ouyang Yue took a step, a domineering female voice suddenly came from behind her.
Two silver ingots were immediately smashed on the counter, gleaming white!
Ouyang Yue turned her head upon hearing the sound, and upon seeing the person who had come, she pursed her lips, her eyes narrowed, and a hint of coldness appeared in them!
☆、065, another rip-off!
Today, Mu Cuiwei was dressed in a pinkish-purple gauze dress, her figure slender and graceful. At this moment, she was puffing out her chest and sneering at Ouyang Yue. Her hair was styled into a crooked bun with three pearl flowers, the pearl and jade tassels swaying and making a crisp sound, which made Mu Cuiwei's expression even more lively, especially her eyes, which were full of provocation.
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, her eyes shifting slightly as they landed on the woman in red standing beside Mu Cuiwei.
The woman in red had a stunningly curvaceous figure, with a prominent bust and shapely hips. Despite her young age, she already displayed remarkable potential. Her features were striking: slightly raised willow-leaf eyebrows, peach-shaped eyes, a small, slightly upturned nose, and red lips that curved into a faint smile. When she smiled, she exuded captivating charm. Three pink crystal peach blossom tassel hairpins adorned her hair, resting near her lips and cheeks, their beauty complementing her features perfectly. She was truly a charming young woman. Compared to Mu Cuiwei, the woman in red possessed a greater degree of flamboyance and allure.
When the woman in red saw Ouyang Yue looking over, her peach-blossom eyes curved slightly as she smiled charmingly at her. Out of politeness, Ouyang Yue naturally smiled back, but her eyes, like the woman in red, were devoid of emotion.
Mu Cuiwei frowned slightly, but took a step forward and deliberately smiled, "It's true that timing is everything. We just happened to have booked that private room. Miss Ouyang is really unlucky. Why didn't you pay first?"
Ouyang Yue turned to look at the manager of Babaozhai and said in a low voice, "So this is how the renowned Babaozhai in the capital does business?"
The manager of Babaozhai's expression changed slightly. Ouyang Yue's words clearly didn't mean anything good. He immediately smiled and said, "What are you saying, sir? Babaozhai welcomes guests from all over the world. We have always been honest and trustworthy, and we treat everyone fairly, young and old."
"Oh." Ouyang's voice was flat: "Is this truly a matter of integrity? Well then, since I was the first to arrive and book the room, isn't this private room mine?"
The manager of Babaozhai immediately nodded and said, "Miss is right..."
Seeing this, Mu Cuiwei immediately interjected, "You can't say that! In business, speed is everything! It's all about cash on delivery. We've already paid, so the private room is naturally ours. It seems Miss Ouyang will have to wait. How about this: we've already paid, so we should use the private room first. You see, Miss Fu and I are just two women, and we don't eat much, so we'll leave you some extra food. We'll also cover the cost of the private room. Miss Ouyang can use it later. You can eat and use it without spending a single penny—you're getting a great deal! Miss Ouyang, I'm sure you won't mind waiting a little longer!" Mu Cuiwei chuckled, her face filled with malice.
The manager of Babaozhai's expression changed, and Miss Fu in red was also startled. However, Ouyang Yue, who was the person involved and was humiliated by Mu Cuiwei for only picking up leftovers and only worthy of using their used items, only raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes filled with a smile, and her expression remained unchanged.
Chuncao and Qiuyue, standing behind Ouyang Yue, looked indignant. Chuncao clenched her fists, ready to retort, but seeing Ouyang Yue remain silent, she gritted her teeth and held back. Mu Cuiwei's words were utterly insulting; wasn't "picking up leftover vegetables" a euphemism for beggars?
The manager of Babaozhai was secretly alarmed. A young lady of Ouyang's age was at the height of her youthful vigor. Moreover, judging from her conversation with Mu Cuiwei, he had already guessed that Ouyang Yue was the infamous Ouyang Yue, considered the most ugly of the three in the capital. However, Ouyang Yue's reaction was completely unexpected. He had assumed that, given the rumors surrounding this Miss Ouyang, she would definitely be arguing with Mu Cuiwei, perhaps even coming to blows—such a reaction would be normal for someone like Ouyang Yue, who had come to cause trouble over her sister's marriage.
Let alone Ouyang Yue, even Mu Cuiwei's words just now would have been unbearable for the manager of Babaozhai, a man who had seen much of the world and considered himself to be of strong will and capable of forbearance. There were many prominent young men and women in the capital, and countless conflicts arose each year, because they were mostly proud and arrogant, and none would yield to the others. He had never seen someone so openly humiliated and still greet others with a smile, as if watching a play. The manager of Babaozhai was startled; this Miss Ouyang was indeed far more impressive than she had heard of, and definitely not an ordinary woman!
Ouyang Yue's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. She said, "Therefore, the sage puts himself last and yet comes first; he puts himself outside and yet survives. Humility and modesty attract many followers; arrogance and haughtiness drive many away. Miss Mu is so eager for this private room, she must have important business to attend to. I've only heard of the renowned Babaozhai and wanted to try it; I'm not in a hurry to make everyone unhappy over a meal. It's alright if Miss Mu has this room today, please." With that, Ouyang Yue smiled, a humble curve appearing at the corners of her lips, immediately winning the favor of the guests who were originally dining in the main hall of Babaozhai and had been craning their necks to see what was happening. They, however, were utterly contemptuous of Mu Cuiwei's behavior.
Ouyang Yue made it very clear: it was just for a meal. They weren't commoners coming here to save money; why rush to eat in one day? They were just trying something new. Mu Cuiwei, on the other hand, threw money at people, made malicious mockeries, and insisted on this private room. She lacked humility and appeared vulgar. Compared to Ouyang Yue, there was simply no comparison!
Mu Cuiwei's face flushed as she looked at the expressions on everyone's faces, her eyes coldly fixed on Ouyang Yue.
What humility and virtue? How could Ouyang Yue possibly possess such virtue? If she did, would they have forced her to kneel and apologize in public back in the Ning Mansion? Ouyang Yue is nothing but a vicious woman with a wolf in sheep's clothing. What hypocrisy is she putting on this act of magnanimity and humility? And she's even using this hypocrisy to embarrass me. Mu Cuiwei's eyes were like those of a predator, ready to devour me!
"Does Miss Ouyang truly understand the way of humility? If she does, where did she get the reputation of being the most ugly of the three? Miss Ouyang is becoming more and more fickle and hypocritical." Mu Cuiwei sneered and said, "Or is it that after meeting Miss Fu, Miss Ouyang realized that her wealth could not compare with that of the eldest daughter of the number one imperial merchant in the capital, and felt ashamed, so she made up an excuse to deceive others and ran away in a sorry state."