To travel across provinces, Zeng Shuyi had to be honest with her family, but they definitely wouldn’t agree.
However, both buying train tickets and staying at the guesthouse required an introduction letter, which Zeng Shuyi couldn’t get.
Fortunately, Zhao Lei had the connections and managed to get a family visit introduction letter.
Zeng Shuyi still told her family she was going to the countryside to collect grain and sell goods.
This time, though, her mother wasn’t very approving.
“Shuyi, you’re always hanging out with the Zhao Family Brothers. Lots of people have started talking behind your back,” Lin Jiazhen frowned. “You’re the eldest daughter-in-law now, and Ming and the Zhao Family Brothers aren’t relatives. Being together all the time isn’t really appropriate.”
She paused, then cautiously asked, “Or… is it that you have feelings for those brothers?”
Lin Jiazhen had met Zhao Fu, though they weren’t close.
The young man looked a bit simple, but his words and actions were anything but foolish; he was quite warm toward her.
“Mom, no, that’s not the case. I’m just doing business with them,” Zeng Shuyi said firmly, fully focused on making money. What matters was business, not romance.
Ming took a moment to calm down.
She still didn’t have time for such things.
“Men and women spending a lot of time together—if you have no feelings, others might. What if someone harbors ill intentions toward you? You’re a young lady; how could you be an opponent? I worry about you,” Lin Jiazhen fretted over her daughter at every turn.
Zeng Shuyi understood what her mother meant and why she had such worries.
She herself had felt uneasy when she first decided to go to the countryside to sell goods.
But she trusted her own judgment.
She’d known the Zhao Family Brothers for over a year.
“Mom, Brother Zhao Lei is already talking about marriage with his girlfriend. He’s a respectable guy. Don’t think badly of everyone. Brother Zhao Fu is even more reliable. Who’s been gossiping about you? Should I go talk to him?”
“Sit down!” Lin Jiazhen grabbed her daughter’s hand. “You’re so impulsive—who are you really like this with?”
She knew she couldn’t stop her daughter.
After all, among the family’s four children, only the two girls really listened to their parents.
The other three were out of control.
“Mom just wants you to be more careful. You have to keep your guard up. You’re so pretty, understand?”
“I know, Mom. I carry a firearm with me.”
“You! Why do you carry a firearm?” Lin Jiazhen worried again.
Zeng Shuyi listened to her mother ramble on and on.
She felt like there was something more her mother wanted to say.
“Mom, what’s going on with you today? Just say it. If I can’t do it, I’ll say no right away.”
Lin Jiazhen hesitated, then leaned closer and said, “Shuyi, what do you think of Chaoyang?”
Today, Wang Chaoyang’s mother had come to see Lin Jiazhen.
She said their two children grew up together and were both self-employed.
From age to everything else, they got along well.
Qiu Hongxia’s intention was clear: her son Wang Chaoyang liked Zeng Shuyi and wanted to ask the Zeng family’s opinion.
People had already said Wang Chaoyang liked Zeng Shuyi before, but the Wang family hadn’t been explicit or shown any signs.
The Zeng family, being the bride’s side, naturally hadn’t taken any action.
Now that Qiu Hongxia took the initiative to come, Lin Jiazhen thought Wang Chaoyang was a decent person and could mention it to her daughter.
“Chaoyang is handsome, hardworking, and respectful to elders. I’ve watched him grow up. Today his mother mentioned that he likes you. I think he’s quite good, so I want to ask how you feel.”
If her daughter could marry into the Wang family, the two families would be close and familiar with each other. Lin Jiazhen was increasingly pleased by the thought.
Zeng Shuyi was stunned for a moment. Wang Chaoyang had never told her about this. Why such sudden news?
Meanwhile, back at the Wang household, Wang Chaoyang was not happy to learn his mother had approached the Zeng family.
His face flushed with anger.
“Mom, why did you take it upon yourself to go see Aunt Lin? Shuyi and I have nothing going on. You do this so suddenly—how am I supposed to face her later?”
“I just wanted to cheer you up,” Qiu Hongxia said. Ever since the money was borrowed secretly by the eldest son, she had seen her youngest son sulking every day. She and her husband feared he would hold a grudge and wanted to make him happier by approaching Lin Jiazhen. “Why are you so upset? Your dad and I both know you like Shuyi. If she feels the same, wouldn’t that be great?”
“But what if she doesn’t?” Wang Chaoyang had previously asked the family for money with the ulterior motive of buying gifts to win Shuyi’s favor.
Recently, he’d noticed her growing distant toward him. He knew she didn’t have feelings for him and was trying to find ways to make her care. Now his mother’s move only made things worse—how was he supposed to face Shuyi?
Qiu Hongxia was oblivious. “How could she not? You grew up together and sell goods together. If she’s willing to associate with you, she definitely has feelings.”
Wang Chaoyang was speechless.
Qiu Hongxia went on as if trying to convince her son. “Chaoyang, don’t be anxious. Lin Jiazhen was very happy when I told her. The Zeng family is willing to marry into ours. You’re Mom’s youngest. I still hope you’ll take care of us. It’s all for your own good. You’re not a kid anymore—you should settle down and have children.”
Wang Chaoyang sank to his knees in helplessness.
Between hiding the money borrowing from him and now going to the Zeng family behind his back, he felt utterly powerless.
It was like carrying a heavy burden on his back. Whenever he almost stood up straight, the weight pressed down until he couldn’t breathe.
Elsewhere, Zeng Shuyi stared seriously at her mother. “Mom, Wang Chaoyang is a pretty good person—he’s delicate-looking and has a good character. But I don’t want to marry him.”
“Why not?”
Zeng Shuyi explained, “I’ve thought about this before. If it was just Wang Chaoyang himself, maybe I’d be interested. But think about his whole family—six siblings in total. How many actually visit Uncle and Aunt Wang during festivals?”
“Everyone knows how the Wang family is. Don’t the people in our alley know too?”
Regarding marriage, Zeng Shuyi had seen her second sister’s forced compromises, her eldest brother and sister-in-law’s differences before and after marriage, and even her mother’s constant tolerance. She understood marriage wasn’t just about two people being compatible—it was about the families behind them.
The Wang family used to be the poorest in Wutong Alley because they had so many members, and Wang Chaoyang’s parents had little skill or means.
Later, Wang Chaoyang’s older siblings gradually worked and married, but each fought with the family. It was said that the Wang family quarreled behind closed doors, but Wutong Alley had no soundproofing, so everyone heard bits and pieces.
The Wang siblings all looked down on their poor family and feared being dragged down. Once they had their own households, they refused to support their parents.
Only after Wang Chaoyang made some money in business did the older siblings come back frequently—often to ask for money, as Zeng Shuyi had overheard several times.
With so many selfish siblings and clueless parents, Zeng Shuyi had no desire to marry into that family.
Her own family was noisy enough, so she envied the kind of big harmonious family where everyone loved each other. If possible, she hoped her future in-laws would be a mostly peaceful big family.
Lin Jiazhen pondered for a moment, understanding her daughter’s meaning, though still hesitant. “But Shuyi, if you marry Wang Chaoyang, it’s just him—not his whole family.”
“What if I marry him—can I just ignore his big family?” Zeng Shuyi was clear on what kind of marriage she wanted. She definitely wouldn’t consider Wang Chaoyang. “If the Wang family brings this up again, you can refuse directly. If you feel awkward, I’ll say no myself.”
Lin Jiazhen agreed. “Ah, I thought you’d consider it.”
Zeng Shuyi smiled, “Mom, are you really in such a hurry to get me married?”
“Yes, very eager. Is that okay?” Lin Jiazhen patted her daughter’s back and began reminding her to be careful when going to the countryside.
Listening to her mother’s nagging used to annoy Zeng Shuyi, but now she liked hearing it. After packing her things, she took the train with the Zhao Family Brothers the next afternoon.
It was Zeng Shuyi’s first time on a train, and everything fascinated her.
Zhao Fu was distracted, “Shuyi, look outside! So fast! I can’t even see the mountains or trees clearly.”
Zeng Shuyi also stretched out to look. “Yeah, it’s really interesting.”
Zhao Lei, the eldest of the three, stayed alert. Seeing many people looking at Zeng Shuyi, he stood and said, “Shuyi, sit by the window.”
He leaned in, whispering, “Don’t just watch the scenery. I’ve taken the train before—there are not only pickpockets but also traffickers.”
Hearing this, Zhao Fu was scared. Zeng Shuyi stopped staring out the window and sat tensely.
They bought hard-seat tickets—twelve and a half yuan each—several days’ worth of profits. They couldn’t afford sleeper tickets.
Fortunately, the journey wasn’t far. That night, the Zhao brothers took turns sleeping and safely arrived at the train station by eight the next morning.
After exiting the station, Zhao Fu urgently ran to the restroom.
Zeng Shuyi and Zhao Lei squatted by the roadside when someone approached. “Handsome young man, pretty girl, do you want to stay somewhere? My place is cheap and clean, much better than the guesthouse.”
One person spoke up, and soon others came to pitch business. Zhao Lei asked the price. Learning it was only 0.8 yuan a night—half the cost of the guesthouse—he was tempted.
Zeng Shuyi also wanted to save money, but her mother’s many warnings flashed through her mind. Since she and the Zhao brothers needed two rooms, they decided she would stay at the guesthouse, and the Zhao brothers would stay at the Black Hostel.
The next morning, Zeng Shuyi went downstairs to buy breakfast and saw the Zhao brothers sitting in the guesthouse lobby. They looked exhausted and worn out. She hurried over to ask what was wrong.
Zhao Fu’s eyes filled with tears. “Waaah, Shuyi, we’ve been scammed!”
Last night, Zhao Lei and the others followed the Black Hostel owner back. When they arrived, the owner took 0.8 yuan for the room but there were no lights inside. The owner said electricity cost an extra 0.2 yuan, the restroom was 0.1 yuan per use, and even bedding cost money.
Zhao Fu had never experienced this before and immediately argued with them. Zhao Lei realized they’d been cheated and asked for a refund, but the owner refused.
Zhao Fu fought with the owner, but several men suddenly rushed out and beat the brothers badly.
Zhao Fu wanted to report it to the police, but it was useless—they said it was a civil dispute. They tried to get a room at the guesthouse, but there were no vacancies. Two grown men couldn’t ask Zeng Shuyi to squeeze in, so they had to sit in the lobby until now.
“But he runs a Black Hostel—can’t we have him arrested?” Zeng Shuyi asked.
Zhao Fu was stunned, then angrily slapped his head. “I didn’t think of that. Damn it, I’m going to report him!”
Zhao Lei grabbed his brother’s arm. “Don’t bother. It’s useless. If he dares to solicit customers right outside the train station, he must have connections.”
Learning from this mistake, Zeng Shuyi understood the situation. She was angry but helpless—they were strangers in a strange place and greedy for a cheap deal.
The three ate a simple breakfast. Zhao Lei left his brother at the guesthouse to rest while he and Zeng Shuyi inquired around and finally found the Wharf Market.
Just as Zeng Xiangmin had said, it was a whole street lined with various goods. Zeng Shuyi was instantly excited, but when they asked prices, no one wanted to sell to them. They were just told to leave quickly.
They spent the entire day running through three markets, and no store was willing to sell to them.
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle.”
Zeng Shuyi’s stomach growled. There was no choice—they had to go back to eat.
The next day, the three went to the markets again, but this time they split up. Zeng Shuyi was more cautious, following local people from behind. They spoke dialect, with only a sentence or two of Mandarin she could understand. The markets also opened at night.
“Pretty girl, you’re back again,” one shopkeeper suddenly called out to her.
Zeng Shuyi, realizing the locals had noticed her following, smiled kindly at the man. “Big brother, I really want to know—how does business work here?”
The shopkeeper pointed at several men standing at the street corner. “See those guys? We have rules here. Only certain people can pick up goods on this street. I advise you to give up on this. The market’s a mess now. It’s not suitable for a pretty young lady like you.”
Zeng Shuyi didn’t understand why there were such rules. “Isn’t business about selling to whoever wants to buy? How can you force rules that only certain people get to buy? Isn’t that…illegal?”
The shopkeeper made a “danger” hand gesture. “You’re crazy. We’re just ordinary folks trying to make a living. We can’t afford to offend those people. There were no such rules before, but you’re out of luck—those guys only came last month. No one dares to do business with you. Go back where you came from, or you’ll bring trouble.”
Zeng Shuyi wasn’t about to give up so easily. “Boss, it’s so hard for me to leave the Zhao family’s place. If I just go home now, months of hard work will be wasted. I know you smart business people have your ways—can you show me the way?”
She pulled five yuan out of her pocket and placed it on the table.
The shopkeeper laughed when he saw the money. “Pretty girl, you’re really something.”
Zeng Shuyi didn’t get the meaning. Did he think the money was too little?
“Take your money back. I really can’t do business with you,” the shopkeeper waved her away. At that moment, the men at the street corner approached with dark faces. Seeing the situation, Zeng Shuyi quickly left.
When she met Zhao Lei and Zhao Fu again, Zhao Lei said they should return first. “I heard at the restroom just now that people are watching the place. We’ll come back tonight. Shuyi, you’re a girl. At night, Zhao Fu and I will check it out. If we can buy, we will. If not, we’ll find another way.”
Zeng Shuyi wanted to say she could go too, but it was her first time in a new big city and after the scam with the Zhao brothers. Plus, her mother’s warnings played on her mind. She decided not to show off and followed Zhao Lei’s advice to stay at the guesthouse.
Still uneasy, she tossed and turned all night. At first light, she eagerly went to knock on the door.
“Shuyi?” Zhao Fu, rubbing sleep from his eyes, cracked the door open just enough to confirm it was her. Then he opened it fully and pulled her inside.
Zeng Shuyi’s eyes widened at the sight of four large woven bags on the floor. “These are…?”