Back to the Ning’s home.
Ning Shu heard a few concubines seemed to be arguing. Seeing him return, the eldest concubine regained her composure: “You’re back?”
He nodded and asked, “Auntie, what’s wrong?”
The third Mrs. immediately seemed to have found her backbone and walked over, weeping: “Xiaoshū, is it right for your elder mistress to ask me to bring out my dowry? ” She dabbed at her tears and said, “That was my mother’s dowry to me, the only thing she left me!”
The young man’s lower back and legs ached. He strained to hear the sharp shouts ringing in his ears. Gritting his teeth against the discomfort, he asked, “What’s going on?”
The third wife’s eyes darted about, but she could only sob pitifully. She caught a glimpse of several red marks on the young master’s neck from the corner of her eye and couldn’t help but show an expression of astonishment.
The eldest aunt glanced at the third aunt and said calmly, “It’s just that your father had a slight issue with his business. I didn’t mean to pressure her into giving it up.”
“The third wife, startled, burst into tears and said: “Oh my sister, it’s not that I don’t want to give it. It’s just that this is my mother’s dowry. Of course I want to help Ah-hong, but I really don’t have much money…”
Second Aunt watched coldly.
Ning Shu couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. If it were usual, he would definitely ask thoroughly. But now, he couldn’t spare any extra thought.
I think Ning’s father must have encountered some serious business problems, perhaps even insurmountable ones. Otherwise, even if things were difficult, they wouldn’t take all the valuable possessions with them.
He couldn’t help but feel a little agitated as he listened to his third wife weep in his ear.
I couldn’t help but speak up: “Since it’s the third aunt’s dowry, let’s just forget about it. I have many valuable things in my room. Third Aunt, come to my room and take those things. Maybe they’ll be enough?”
The young man walked ahead, and his aunt followed him upstairs.
Ning Shu’s room did indeed have quite a few good things, after all, he was the most favored one in the family. He took out all sorts of small trinkets from foreign shops and put them together in one place.
“I wonder if these are enough?”
The stepmother watched as the young man brought out all the valuables. For a moment, she felt that their previous argument had been foolish and ridiculous. She let out a soft sigh and said, “Sister always keeps some things. I’ll take some to sell, and you can keep the rest.”
“Ning Shu shook her head. “I don’t really use these things on a daily basis, so you can take them all.” ”
<>
The mistress’ eyes turned red, her life in the Ning family had been quite refined before. But these days, she dressed much simpler and more plainly than usual. The second mistress was the same.
She clutched her handkerchief and burst into tears: “A-hong won’t let me tell you, but your father has been having trouble with his business lately. Because he offended someone before, that person is now in a position of power and is retaliating against your father. He’s short on funds, and our family really doesn’t know what to do…”
Ning Shu couldn’t help but be a little stunned. He hadn’t been paying much attention to the Ning family lately. Naturally, he wouldn’t have noticed the changes at home. For a moment, he felt a bit guilty and added, “Is there anything else I can do to help?”
Aunt Mei shook her head; to her, the fourth young master of the Ning family was still just a child. Seven years younger than her daughter, what could he possibly do?
Not knowing what she was thinking, she moved her lips and hesitated before saying, “I heard a car horn just now, who brought you back?”
Ning Shu pursed her lips, her body inexplicably softening again, and her voice followed suit, lowering to a whisper as she spoke: “…It’s Shao Shuai Fu.”
Ning Shu was taken aback.
The aunt seemed to realize she had said something amiss, mumbled “nothing” and then took all those things out.
She felt a little confused. What reason did Fu Shaoshuai have to help her Ning family so much?
After the elder mistress left, Ning Shu took off her clothes. Her fair skin was covered in marks. Especially on her back, it seemed to have been overdeveloped…
The general’s physical strength…including other aspects, is exceptionally gifted.
Ning Shu simply couldn’t hold on. In the end, she was completely overwhelmed by Fu Shaoshuai in bed. They tried several… positions, and the general’s rough breathing made it clear he wanted to die within her body.
Her cheeks flushed again.
The young man sat on the bed, a little lost. Would you ask him if he regretted it?
Actually, he was a little bit regretful.
…it was all for a task, really….
In fact, Ning Shu didn’t know why she did it. It was as if something had taken control of her. She had just followed the general to bed… He couldn’t help but purse his lips.
If this were to happen in his past life, he wouldn’t even dare to think about it.
Ning Shu couldn’t help but cover her heart, it was a strange feeling. A little uneasy, yet also excited.
He closed his eyes, refusing to dwell on his entanglement with the general.
In Ning Shu’s eyes, the Ning family had a certain standing in Linhai. What kind of crisis did her father encounter this time that forced him to sell things at home?
The youth felt weak in his legs and waist, and when he went to take a bath, he could feel the tiredness all over his body.
My mind, a little dazed, wondered how I had gotten in here….
Why doesn’t the general look tired at all. If he hadn’t been so exhausted, he almost fainted, otherwise, the other party might not have let him go.
After taking a shower,
Ning Shu wiped her hair and went downstairs. Seeing a figure sitting in the hall under the lights, she was slightly surprised.
He is Ning’s father.
Ning’s father looked much older than before. He was on the phone at the moment, but every time he hung up, his face wore an expression of weariness.
Then he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Ning Shu looked at the middle-aged man’s white hair, which had increased by a few strands, and couldn’t help but feel a bit sad.
He walked over and called out to Father Ning.
Father Ning looked over and showed a surprised expression, saying, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Ning Shu sat down and said, “Father, I already know.”
Ning’s father wore a stiff expression. In front of his son, he always had to be strong. He didn’t want to show his vulnerable side to his son.
“I have found a solution, you don’t need to worry, just study at home well, and I’ll figure out how to manage my business later.”
Ning Shu witnessed firsthand how the other party was rejected by the phone call. How could she possibly believe it?
He let out a soft sigh.
“Father, I’ve grown up and can take care of myself now.”
Ning’s father coldly said: “I am the head of this household. Even if there are difficulties at home, you have three older sisters above you. It is not your turn to meddle.”
He said impatiently, “Well, it’s late. Go to sleep. Don’t read any of that trashy newspapers; they’re full of nonsense.”
Ning Shu opened her mouth.
Ning’s father thought he had seen it in the newspaper. He saw that Ning’s father didn’t want to talk to him much.
Got up and went upstairs.
At the foot of the stairs stood an auntie. Seeing him come, she wiped her tears and said, “Fourth Master.”
Ning Shu whispered, “Mother, why are you crying?”
Auntie said, “Your father is doing this for your own good. Don’t blame him. I’ve taken care of this household for ten years, and he cares about you the most. He just feels sorry for you and doesn’t want you to get involved. Don’t blame him…”
Ning Shu gently patted her back, pursed her lips and said, “I don’t blame him….”
Aunt nodded and said, “Fourth Master, from now on I won’t be able to serve you. You must take good care of yourself. Though the mistresses sometimes disagree, they are not bad people at heart. We are all still a family…”
Ning Shu couldn’t help but be surprised and asked, “A Ma, where are you going?”
He was feeling a little under the weather. Auntie Amma was, after all, the most caring person in this house towards him. Of course, he knew these concubines weren’t bad people. Father Ning was a smart businessman who knew what kind of women wouldn’t bring trouble to the Ning family.
Although the other women treated him politely, they always kept their distance.
“Amma wiped away her tears and said, ‘Something has happened back home, I have to go back. In the future… if there’s an opportunity, I will come back and see Fourth Master.'”
She looked a little evasive, but she was touching his hand, instructing him about something, her voice soft.
Ning Shu didn’t speak.
He wasn’t stupid. When trouble struck the Ning family, it was always the wives who sold their possessions. But now, at this precise moment, his mother suddenly wanted to leave. Ning Shu didn’t believe there was no connection between the two events.
He remembered that his mother’s hometown was almost deserted and her relatives were quite distant. His mother would be even less likely to leave the Ning family at this time, so the only possibility was that she had to leave them.
Perhaps Mama wanted to stay, taking nothing with her. But the Madam was a proud woman, and besides, with one more person, there would be that much more expense for food, clothing, and shelter on the Ning family.
Ning Shu’s heart couldn’t help but feel a little heavy.
The Ning family wasn’t particularly influential in Linhai before, but they weren’t struggling to make ends meet. But now, everything has changed drastically in such a short time.
He couldn’t help but whisper, “Mother, you don’t have to leave.”
Ama looked at him with a hint of panic and helplessness, “Fourth Master…”
Ning Shu held her hand, as if resolutely said: “You don’t have to leave the Ning family, I will figure something out…”
…..
The Ning family’s driver was gone, and the car was unmanned. He could only call for a rickshaw and stopped in front of the pawn shop.
The youth stood at the door for a while, his expression struggling.
Then he went inside.
“Well, what are you looking to sell?” a man emerged from the pawnshop and inquired.
Ning Shu took out what was in her hand and her eyelashes trembled slightly, “How much is this worth?”
That man looked at the thing in his hand, his expression slightly solemn, and revealed an astonished look.