Red Crossing Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Deep Sibling Affection, Section 1: Staff Officer Yuan. One sunny day in early September, Master Nan rose early. Today was the day his seventh concubine's brother, Yuan Zhenguo, the deputy chief of staff of the 39th Division of the National Revolutionary Army, was coming to Coconut Grove Town to visit his sister. He had said he would come more than half a year ago, but due to his busy military duties, he couldn't get away until now. Fortunately, the new residence for his seventh concubine in the Nan mansion had been completed, and she had just moved in last month. Master Nan ordered his servants to decorate with lanterns and streamers, preparing a grand welcome for him. He himself went out of the mansion to the main road to greet him. This was an exception; in the past, he had never personally gone out to greet even the county magistrate. Now, several villages on the other side of the mountain were heavily infiltrated by the Communists, and it was said that even the Black Tassel Society had defected to the Communists. Master Nan was accelerating the expansion of his armed forces so that he could protect himself should he be surrounded and attacked by the Communist bandits. He had plenty of money and could buy the necessary guns and ammunition from his acquaintance, Battalion Commander Cui. He needed to win over Chief of Staff Yuan; he was a graduate of a regular military academy and only twenty-five or twenty-six years old. His future was definitely much brighter than that of local warlords like Battalion Commander Cui. Master Nan wasn't worried that his recent beating of Yuan Ruyu would cause any unpleasantness between them. They were both sensible people, understanding each other's interests—that was the most important thing. Although he hadn't apologized to Yuan Ruyu these past few days, he had already sent her a considerable amount of valuable gold, silver, and jade jewelry—more than he had given to his fourth concubine, Li Qiuyue, in the past year. He believed Yuan Ruyu understood his intentions and wouldn't sabotage him at a crucial moment. Besides, doing so wouldn't benefit her at all. The problem was that the scars on Yuan Ruyu's face and body were difficult to conceal, and she might have trouble standing and walking now. He had visited Yuan Ruyu several times; her face and body were always wrapped in white cloth, making it impossible for him to get close even when she was naked. Later, he had to find other women to vent his desires. Now that Yuan Ruyu and her brother were reunited, they couldn't be prevented from having some private intimacy, could they? How should he explain her injuries to her brother then? After much thought, Master Nan sent someone to the county town to invite a renowned doctor specializing in external injuries to treat Yuan Ruyu. Surprisingly, the doctor returned after less than half an hour. He said that the seventh concubine's injuries were no longer a problem; she could walk without difficulty, and there were no scars on her face. Upon further inquiry, it was learned that Pang Xiaohu had healed her. The renowned doctor even praised Pang Xiaohu's medical skills highly, saying that he himself was far inferior to him. Nan Dechang was delighted and, as was customary, rewarded the doctor. That night, he stayed at Yuan Ruyu's place, stripped her naked, and had his way with her. Pang Xiaohu had greatly shocked Nan Dechang. Although he had mentioned studying medicine with a wandering doctor for several years when he was young, he had never expected Pang Xiaohu's medical skills to be so exceptional. According to the servants, Pang Xiaohu has been fair in his dealings since becoming the steward, resolving many troublesome matters, and even the elders in the manor are convinced of his abilities. If such a person is loyal and reliable, he should be given more important responsibilities. However, Nan Dechang is a cunning old fox who is adept at scheming against others; he will never easily trust anyone. He needs to observe Pang Xiaohu further, and if he discovers any ulterior motives or disloyalty, he must eliminate him as soon as possible. He never hesitates to deal with anyone who poses a threat to him. At noon, Yuan Zhenguo arrived. He wore a crisp woolen military uniform with the rank of colonel, and a gleaming black pistol hung on his belt. He rode a tall white horse, followed by two neatly dressed cavalrymen with long guns. Clearly, they were his guards. Yuan Zhenguo was handsome and clearly a promising young professional officer. Master Nan respectfully welcomed Yuan Zhenguo into the manor. Today, he specially invited the head of the Nan family and several local gentry from the town to attend the family banquet welcoming his maternal uncle, Deputy Chief of Staff Yuan. Except for the eldest wife, who was unwell (with back pain) and absent, all the other concubines and young masters and ladies of the mansion were present. Additionally, the head steward, Uncle Nan Qi, the head accountant Zhang Decheng (Manager Zhang), and the manager Pang Xiaohu were also invited to join the guests. The clan head and Master Nan exchanged pleasantries, and Yuan Zhenguo followed suit with some modesty. Then everyone took turns toasting and enjoying various delicacies. Master Nan even had someone invite a Qiong opera troupe from the county to perform at the mansion, staging nothing more than some old-fashioned stories of talented scholars and beautiful women. After the banquet, Yuan Ruyu finally had a chance to meet her younger brother alone in her room. She and Yuan Zhenguo had been separated for over ten years; in her memory, her brother was still a thin, frail boy of about ten years old. Now, facing this tall and strong man before her, she found it hard to believe that this was her own brother, and felt somewhat at a loss. Yuan Zhenguo's mother passed away when he was two years old, and his older sister raised him from a young age. She had long since taken over the place of his mother in his heart. His achievements were entirely due to the money his sister had raised by selling herself to pay for his funeral. That money allowed him to support himself in the provincial capital, complete his primary and secondary education, and later successfully gain admission to military academy. It was only after he joined the army that he learned from a fellow villager that his father had already passed away, and the touching story of his sister selling herself to bury him. He gazed at his sister's face; she was still as beautiful as a fairy, though a few strands of gray hair had appeared at her temples, and a few crow's feet had appeared at the corners of her eyes. Overwhelmed with emotion, he reached out his strong arms and pulled his sister into his embrace. The siblings wept bitterly together. Yuan Zhenguo had already met his nephew Nan Zhicheng and niece Nan Huizhu; he would no longer persuade his sister to leave the Nan family and go with him. He felt sorry for his sister and didn't want her to continue risking her life to find the family heirloom. Fate had been too unfair to her; he couldn't imagine how his sixteen-year-old sister had shouldered such a heavy burden. Yuan Zhenguo had lived in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, for over ten years, mostly interacting with educated people, and thus had absorbed many new ideas and concepts. He couldn't help but feel resentment towards his deceased father. How could he bear to place all the burdens on his daughter's shoulders? Why should the older sister sacrifice her own happiness to fulfill her younger brother's wishes? Chapter 2: The Man the Eldest Sister Likes. Yuan Zhenguo inquired about Pang Xiaohu from his sister. This steward of the Nan family hadn't spoken much at the family banquet, but he was too young to go unnoticed. Yuan Zhenguo felt that Xiaohu had been silently observing him. Yuan Ruyu told her brother that Pang Xiaohu was her great benefactor. She told him Pang Xiaohu's story, how intelligent and capable he was, and how he risked his life to negotiate with the robbers and rescue her son, Nan Zhicheng. Of course, she didn't mention how he had rescued her from the master's private prison. She feared her younger brother might turn against their master in a fit of anger, which would render all the pain and torment she had endured for over a decade futile. She blushed as she recalled how Xiao Hu had treated her injuries. Xiao Hu had seen and touched her entire body. She had been lying naked on the bed when Xiao Hu cleaned her wounds, applied medicinal powder, and bandaged them. To help her recover quickly, Xiao Hu came every day to clean, disinfect, and change her dressings. When she couldn't sleep at night, Xiao Hu would give her a full-body massage to help her fall asleep peacefully. Xiao Hu's technique was unique, often leaving her speechless with pleasure. If she hadn't possessed exceptional self-control since childhood, she might have screamed out. Whenever Xiao Hu massaged her, his older sister, Pang Juhua, would stand guard outside to prevent anyone from seeing them. Yuan Ruyu now obeyed Pang Xiao Hu completely, and her sister Pang Juhua had become her most trusted person, practically inseparable from her. However, whenever the master came to stay overnight in her room, she would always ask Pang Juhua to stay far away, as Pang Xiaohu had specifically instructed her to do so. Yuan Ruyu had privately mentioned to Xiaohu several times that she wanted to adopt him as her godson, but he had politely declined each time. He said that Master Nan was a very suspicious person, and if he found out, it might have a negative impact on her. She understood that Xiaohu was right, so she had no choice but to give up. Her sister's words piqued Yuan Zhenguo's curiosity, and he wanted to have a good talk with this Pang Xiaohu. Yuan Ruyu called Pang Juhua, who was working in the outer room, in and asked her to fetch Xiaohu. She also reminded Pang Juhua to be careful and avoid being seen by others. She knew that the master might specifically send someone to watch her and her brother, so she had to be careful. Usually, she was very careful whenever she had private contact with Xiaohu, trying her best to avoid the master's eyes and ears. Pang Juhua nodded in agreement and left. Just now, Yuan Zhenguo's attention had been focused on his sister, and he hadn't noticed the maids and old women in the outer room. The moment Pang Juhua was called into the inner room, Yuan Zhenguo's eyes lit up; he was immediately struck by her beauty. After she left, he couldn't help but blurt out to his sister, "Who is that woman?" Pang Juhua had her hair up and was dressed like a married woman. She possessed a particularly alluring charm that captivated Yuan Zhenguo. Her clothes were also quite unique; although there was nothing particularly flashy about them, he felt that her attire was both dignified and sexy, in no way inferior to the wealthy ladies and young women of the provincial capital. He didn't know that these clothes were extraordinary, the masterpieces of Pang Xiaohu, a guy who had worked as a fashion designer for half a year in the 21st century. Yuan Ruyu glanced at her brother and said, "She is Pang...""Xiao Hu's older sister, my maid. Her name is Pang Juhua. What's wrong, Zhenguo? You've taken a fancy to her?" Yuan Zhenguo quickly denied it, saying, "No, no." But his blushing face betrayed his thoughts. Yuan Ruyu sighed and said, "Pang Juhua is a good woman, gentle and hardworking, and honest and reliable. It's a pity she's already married; her husband is Old Dong, the accountant in the bookkeeping office." Yuan Zhenguo was deeply disappointed, but he tried his best to hide his feelings and changed the subject. Pang Xiaohu arrived. Yuan Ruyu formally introduced him to her younger brother again. Xiaohu and Yuan Zhenguo hit it off immediately, becoming fast friends and talking a lot. They chatted happily, and even Yuan Ruyu, sitting to the side, felt she couldn't get a word in edgewise. Yuan Zhenguo was a young man with a modern education, a rising star in the army, and the person Xiaohu had met since his transmigration with whom he shared the most common ground. Yuan Zhenguo also liked this handsome young man who had just turned thirteen; his quick thinking, profound knowledge, and upright character all delighted him. He was immersed in the joy of finally finding a kindred spirit. Before they knew it, it was already dark. Xiao Hu got up to take his leave, but Yuan Zhenguo insisted on keeping him, wanting to talk with him by candlelight. At this moment, Yuan Ruyu asked Pang Juhua to bring them a plate of snacks as a late-night treat, and she personally warmed a pot of wine for them. Yuan Zhenguo's heart stirred, and he said, "Brother Xiao Hu, we hit it off immediately, why don't we really become sworn brothers today?" Xiao Hu saw that Yuan Ruyu was a little hesitant, but Yuan Ruyu immediately said, "It's alright, the master won't know if you become sworn brothers in private. Even if he did, he shouldn't suspect anything about a sworn brotherhood between men." Xiao Hu thought this was a good idea and nodded in agreement, much to Yuan Zhenguo's delight. Thus, the two young men, meeting for the first time that day, became sworn brothers. The next day, Pang Xiao Hu woke up very late. He and Yuan Zhenguo had both gotten drunk the night before, and it was his elder sister, Pang Juhua, who helped him back to his room. In the middle of the night, Pang Xiao Hu woke up in a cold sweat. He had a nightmare in which his elder brother, Yuan Zhenguo, led troops to suppress the Communists and engaged in a fierce battle with the Red Army women soldiers led by Pang Qionghua. Due to insufficient ammunition, they were completely wiped out, with only Pang Qionghua carrying the wounded Red Army women and escaping. Later, Yuan Zhenguo was promoted to major general and deputy division commander for his military achievements. The anti-communist headquarters in the provincial capital specially sent a deputy commander to award him a medal, and local gentry such as Nan Dechang held a banquet to celebrate. After the celebration banquet began, Master Chu and several servants dragged two women in from outside. Xiao Hu recognized them immediately as Pang Qionghua and Sister Hong. After hiding in the mountains for several days, they couldn't bear the hunger and went down to find food, only to be captured by Master Chu's henchmen. Pang Qionghua was already covered in blood and bruises. Sister Hong's clothes and pants were torn to shreds, her breasts, buttocks, and thighs exposed. The scratches on her body and the filth between her legs showed that she had just been raped by Master Chu and his henchmen. The deputy commander in charge of the anti-communist campaign was overjoyed. He wanted to force these two female communist bandits to confess their crimes on the spot and declare their withdrawal from the Communist Party. He said that as long as they confessed and withdrew from the Party, they would be spared. However, Sister Hong spat bloody saliva in his face. Enraged, the deputy commander drew his pistol and fired three shots, all hitting Sister Hong's bare chest. Sister Hong fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. Although she was dead, a faint smile remained on her face. Just then, Pang Qionghua suddenly leaped up from the ground. She kicked Master Chu to the ground, pounced on him, and snatched the pistol from his hand. She immediately raised the gun and fired repeatedly at the crowd around her. The deputy commander, Yuan Zhenguo, Nan Dechang, Master Chu, and others were all hit and fell into pools of blood. Finally, laughing, she raised the gun to her own temple. Pang Xiaohu burst into tears, looked at Pang Qionghua, and cried out, "Sister!" Then he woke up from his nightmare in fright. "Xiaohu, sister's here." It was the voice of his eldest sister, Pang Juhua. She hadn't left after helping Xiaohu to bed last night. She cleaned his room, washed his clothes, and then poured him a bowl of water and sat by the bed to feed him. Later, she herself leaned against the wall and fell asleep next to Xiaohu. Xiaohu was panting heavily, still thinking about that nightmare. "Xiaohu, why are you sweating so much? Are you sick?" "Pang Juhua reached out and touched her younger brother's forehead, asking, 'I'm fine, sister. I just had a nightmare.' Xiao Hu sat up in bed, hugged his sister, and pressed his face against her chest. After a while, Pang Juhua got up to bring Xiao Hu a glass of water. After drinking it, he lay down and fell asleep again. This time he slept soundly until it was broad daylight the next day. 'Xiao Hu, you're up? Come and eat something?'" "Eldest sister Pang Juhua pushed open the door, carrying a bowl full of rice and a small plate of vegetables. Although they were just common vegetables, they were freshly stir-fried in coconut oil, hot and fragrant, very tempting. Coconut oil is saturated fat, and by today's standards, it's not a very healthy cooking oil. But in the 1930s, when food was scarce and malnutrition was widespread, it was a valuable commodity. Xiao Hu's stomach was already rumbling. He gave his older sister a grateful look, picked up the bowl, and began to eat heartily. Pang Juhua poured a large bowl of water for her younger brother and placed it on the table, then sat beside him watching him eat, patting his shoulder and back as she did so. Xiao Hu had been growing very fast lately, becoming more and more like a man, and his height was almost catching up with hers. Pang Juhua was the closest person to Pang Xiao Hu in this timeline, but she rarely spoke to her brother when they were together. They seemed to have a telepathic connection, understanding each other without saying a word." Xiao Hu noticed that his eldest sister looked very beautiful today. She was wearing the pretty floral dress she usually couldn't bear to wear. Xiao Hu had asked someone to buy the fabric for her in the county town, and then Pang Juhua had personally designed and cut it for her. It looked elegant and fit her perfectly. Her thick black hair was also neatly combed and piled up on her head, adorned with a white wildflower. Her face also looked particularly smooth, with a faint blush. Xiao Hu thought: She might have had her face threaded. Face threading involves rubbing a ball of hemp thread on the face to remove facial hair. It's a popular folk beauty method. According to local custom, only married women can have their faces threaded. "What's wrong with my eldest sister today?" Pang Xiaohu was a little puzzled. But he quickly figured it out: women dress up for those they love. Last night, while Yuan Zhenguo was chatting with him, his elder sister had been serving him the whole time, though she hadn't said a word. Yuan Zhenguo was only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, tall and handsome. If this were in later times, he would definitely be pursued by a large group of young women wherever he went. It seemed his elder sister was captivated by him. Pang Xiaohu now wielded considerable power in the Southern Mansion; even the head accountant, Zhang Decheng, often sought his help. He privately asked Zhang Decheng for assistance in arranging for his brother-in-law, Old Dong, to manage a general store owned by a gentleman in Yudong County. Dong Yifu was overjoyed; with his own abilities, he didn't know when he would encounter such a good opportunity. Now, he treated his brother-in-law with the utmost respect, like a servant before his master. Actually, Xiao Hu felt that Dong Yifu was unworthy of his elder sister and only wanted to get rid of him from her side, as far away as possible. The problem was, his elder sister was a mature woman. Although she didn't like Dong Yifu, she couldn't be left to live a life of widowhood, could she? Xiao Hu had been secretly worried about this. Now he discovered that his elder sister had someone she liked, and he also thought this person was quite good. So he had an idea: he would find a way to make Dong Yifu leave his elder sister voluntarily, and also make Yuan Zhenguo fall in love with his elder sister as soon as possible. Not only did he have to fall in love with her, but he had to make him love her wholeheartedly, and eventually marry her! Yuan Zhenguo and his elder sister's social status was too disparate, and his elder sister was a married young woman. Most people wouldn't even imagine that the two of them could be together. But Pang Xiao Hu didn't believe in such superstitions. Relying on his knowledge and experience, he was determined to make the impossible possible and successfully bring the two of them together. This was all for the lifelong happiness of his beloved elder sister! Of course, this would only work with his eldest sister's cooperation. Xiao Hu leaned close to his sister's ear and whispered his plan. Pang Juhua's face immediately turned red, and she protested softly to her brother, "Xiao Hu, stop talking! It's so embarrassing!" She covered her face tightly with her hands, looking extremely ashamed. But inside, she was overjoyed; what woman doesn't like a handsome and dashing man? Xiao Hu stared at Pang Juhua's shy appearance for about half a minute. Then he gently pulled her into his arms and said, "Elder sister, I will make you the happiest woman in the world!" Hearing this, Pang Juhua couldn't stop her tears from flowing. She was held tightly by her younger brother, feeling her whole body burning hot, as if she were melting. Section 3: A Surprising Business Move There were four young ladies in the Nan family. Except for the youngest, Nan Huizhu, the other three were already married. Nan Dechang finally accepted the advice of his eldest mistress and didn't continue to mention Miss Huizhu's marriage to the county magistrate's son. He even promised to pay for her to study in Guangzhou, the provincial capital. Yuan Ruyu specially brought Nan Huizhu to thank Pang Xiaohu; it was thanks to him that she had pleaded with the eldest mistress last time. The mother and daughter were currently...Time was filled with excitement as Miss Huizhu packed her bags; in a few days, she would be setting off. Nan Dechang now had his own plans for Huizhu. Huizhu was as beautiful as her mother, and if she could marry a powerful and influential official, it would be a great help to the Nan family. Therefore, he was willing to spend money to send her to school; only in this way could she snag a wealthy husband. These days, the eldest daughter, Nan Huiying, hadn't been idle either. She kept coming to Xiaohu for favors, all trivial matters. Each time, she used the name of the eldest mistress, and Xiaohu couldn't help but do his best to handle her affairs. However, today she came to see Xiaohu about a matter concerning her family's business. After hearing about Pang Xiaohu's various abilities from the eldest mistress and others, she suddenly thought of asking him for advice on her family's business. In the past two years, due to the turbulent times and local unrest, business had become increasingly difficult. She was desperate and grasping at straws; perhaps this little prodigy could come up with a brilliant solution that no one else had thought of? Thinking of this, she immediately went to ask her father, Nan Dechang, to invite the steward, Pang Xiaohu, to her husband's house to help her for a few days. Because she was the eldest mistress's biological daughter, she held a high position in the Nan household. Although she was married, her father had always treated her well, and he agreed to her request without hesitation. After spending a few days with her, Pang Xiaohu found Nan Huiying to be a straightforward and easy-going woman. Coupled with the influence of the eldest mistress's master, he felt even more obligated to help her. So, he quickly packed his things and went with her in a carriage to Yudong County. They arrived at her family's inn around dark. Pang Xiaohu saw that it was indeed a good location: large, with two main roads nearby, and not far from the county government and market. The inn employed a dozen or so staff and a bookkeeper. Huiying first had Xiaohu sit down at a table, ordered a pot of good tea, and then took her leave. While sipping tea, Xiao Hu observed the shop's operations, occasionally getting up to walk around. Having held numerous professions in his previous life, he was adept at understanding many things and quickly grasped the basics. After a moment's thought, he identified several areas for improvement. A while later, Huiying led in a plump man in a long robe. She introduced him to Xiao Hu as her husband, Liang Yongfu, the owner of Liang's Inn and the Liang's Silk Shop across the street. Liang Yongfu appeared to have already eaten dinner and drunk some wine, his face glowing. Although only in his forties, he was already balding and quite overweight, walking with a slight tremor. He spoke very kindly, seemingly showing great respect for his wife, Nan Huiying. Huiying had already told him she wanted to ask Pang Xiaohu for help, and he politely bowed to Xiaohu, saying, "Mr. Pang, you are truly young and promising. I have long admired your name; it is a pleasure to meet you." Because Huiying was very capable and diligent, she usually managed the inn, while Liang Yongfu only cared about the silk shop. Since taking a concubine, he had simply handed over even the silk shop to his wife, becoming a hands-off manager. He only came to her when he needed money. His family's business was originally mediocre, but after marrying this wife, his inn began to prosper, earning more and more money, and he was always beaming with joy. Although the business had faced some difficulties in the last two years, it was still much better than before he married Nan Huiying. It was just a pity that this wife couldn't bear children. In front of Xiao Hu, Liang Yongfu said to his wife, "Mr. Pang, if you come up with any good ideas, feel free to go for it. Even if you have to tear down and rebuild this shop, I have no problem with it!" He also told Xiao Hu that if he made money, he would reward him handsomely and wouldn't be stingy. Actually, he knew his wife's personality very well; she was extremely cautious in business and certainly wouldn't take too much risk. Therefore, he felt comfortable entrusting the entire business to her. After saying this, he instructed Nan Huiying to treat Mr. Pang well, then bowed to Xiao Hu and took his leave. He was eager to get back to his concubine's warm bed. Although Nan Huiying was beautiful, he had been married to her for over ten years, and he had long lost interest in her. His concubine was a seventeen-year-old girl, incredibly fresh and young, and he had been spending every night with her, indulging in passionate lovemaking. Nan Huiying watched her husband's departing figure and pouted. She knew perfectly well why her husband was in such a hurry to leave; she had just dragged him out of that vixen's room with great effort. She suddenly wondered: why must women be faithful to their husbands and not sleep with other men? She looked up at Pang Xiaohu sitting in front of her, her face unconsciously flushing. Xiaohu didn't waste any time and immediately began discussing with Huiying his observations and suggestions. He first proposed some inexpensive yet effective improvements, thinking these would be more readily accepted by Nan Huiying. First, the guest rooms needed improvement. Currently, two larger guest rooms were reserved for ordinary travelers. Due to a shortage of beds, many people slept on the floor, and the rooms were filthy. Five single rooms were used to accommodate wealthier merchants, but those rooms were also cramped and far from comfortable. Xiaohu suggested dividing a temporarily unused warehouse into individual rooms using bamboo curtains. He also proposed hiring a carpenter to make some bunk beds and shelves for luggage, which would greatly save space and at least double the inn's capacity. He drew up designs for a bunk bed and luggage rack for Huiying. The bunk bed included a fixed wooden ladder for passengers to climb up and down, as well as hooks for hanging mosquito nets. The luggage rack could be used for storing odds and ends, and also served as a simple table and wardrobe. The area around Yudong County was covered with dense forests, timber was cheap, and there were plenty of carpenters, so wages wouldn't be too high. Xiaohu also suggested improving the service quality. First, the appearance of the staff should be improved; they must wear uniforms. The cheapest fabric could be used for the uniforms, but they must be neat in style and uniform in color. This would give guests a refreshing feeling and increase their sense of security. Xiaohu casually drew up designs for men's and women's uniforms for Huiying. These designs wouldn't be unusual in the 21st century, but they were unprecedented in the countryside of the 1930s. Additionally, the latrines should be expanded, with separate men's and women's toilets; these wouldn't cost much. Xiao Hu proposed contracting out all the outhouses to vegetable farmers near the county town, in exchange for the right to obtain fertilizer (manure) from them. He separated the urination and defecation areas in the men's toilet, so those who only needed to urinate wouldn't have to endure so much stench. This would also increase the utilization rate of the men's toilet. To be honest, the thing Xiao Hu hated most after transmigrating was going to the toilet. If conditions allowed, he would definitely have invented a Western-style flush toilet much earlier. Because he was afraid that Nan Huiying wouldn't be able to accept too many new things at once, or that she would be frightened by his ideas, Xiao Hu only told her this much for now, and would tell her about the other ideas after a few days, depending on the progress. Although Nan Huiying had already had high expectations for Pang Xiao Hu, she was still completely shocked by the novel improvements he came up with. This Pang Xiao Hu, was he some kind of deity descended to earth? Even a deity couldn't come up with so many good ideas all at once! She had been running this inn for almost ten years, so she naturally knew that the methods Xiao Hu mentioned were simple and easy to implement. Why hadn't she even thought of one of these things all these years? Now, her eyes were filled with nothing but admiration for Xiao Hu; this was the kind of man she should marry! She couldn't help but regret marrying that fat Liang Yongfu. But then she thought, Pang Xiao Hu wasn't even born when she got married! Ugh! What was she thinking? How embarrassing! Chapter 4: A Brand New Business Liang Yongfu was too busy being intimate with his concubine to care about what his wife was doing. His parents had initially been afraid that their daughter-in-law would be jealous and cause a scene at home, hindering their son and concubine's plans to have a child. After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Nan family, and they couldn't afford to offend her. Now, seeing her busy with the inn all day and having no time to interfere with their son's great cause of continuing the Liang family line, they were overjoyed. More than a month passed, and Liang Yongfu finally grew tired of it. No matter how alluring and charming a woman is, a man will eventually tire of her. Lately, when he was having sex with his concubine, he often drifted off into thought, either about the shop's business or his first wife, Nan Huiying. He hadn't had a chance to sit down and talk to Nan Huiying lately, and wondered how she was doing. Besides, although his concubine was delicate, her figure couldn't compare to Nan Huiying's. Especially her firm, large breasts, which Liang Yongfu longed for. That day, after dinner, Liang Yongfu went out for a walk with a friend and had a few drinks at a small tavern in the county town. He overheard two out-of-town merchants chatting at the next table, praising the business of a newly opened inn near the county government, how shrewd and capable the owner was, and how beautiful and gentle the proprietress was—a perfect match, admired and envied by passersby, and so on. Liang Yongfu found it strange: there was only one inn near the county government, and that was his family's; he hadn't heard of a new inn opening. What was going on? Suddenly, he thought of...He saw Pang Xiaohu and his wife, Nan Huiying. Could the two merchants who had been discussing the boss and his wife be them? Liang Yongfu felt a pang of jealousy: his wife looked young, but she was actually old enough to be Pang Xiaohu's mother. Could she really be having an affair with Pang Xiaohu? The more Liang Yongfu thought about it, the more uneasy he became. After bidding farewell to his friends, he returned home, changed into a gray robe he didn't usually wear, put on a felt hat, and pulled the brim low. Then he headed towards his inn, ignoring even the concubine's sweet calls behind him. When he arrived, he found that his silk shop and inn had been completely renovated. A new archway had been erected, with gold-lettered plaques on both sides: one reading "Liang's Silk Shop," and the other "Xi Shi Inn." There was also a couplet: "Colorful brocade weaves the South of Guangdong, a hundred years of elegance surpassing Xi Shi." Liang Yongfu thought to himself: This must be Pang Xiaohu's doing. Including his great-grandfather's generation, the Liang family had indeed been running their business in the county for nearly a hundred years. Liang Yongfu was educated. After careful consideration, he realized that although the couplet initially seemed vulgar, it perfectly catered to the moods of passing merchants. This Pang Xiaohu truly lived up to his reputation as a child prodigy. He noticed that the staff working there were both men and women, most of whom were young people he had never seen before. They wore uniform dark blue clothes with bright yellow belts around their waists, making them very conspicuous. This alone made all other inns within hundreds of miles pale in comparison. He walked to a table and sat down, and immediately a waiter came over with a smile to greet him. He first served him a cup of hot tea, and then introduced him to the various services offered by the inn. Many of these services were things he had never heard of before. For example, guests could leave their money or women's valuable jewelry at the counter for free safekeeping, and could retrieve them at any time if needed. Every evening, guests can pre-order meals for the next day, with no problem preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The kitchen will then cook the food and have the staff deliver it to their rooms. If they're worried about oversleeping, a staff member will come to wake them up on time. The inn also offers sewing and laundry services at reasonable prices. He asked the staff member to show him the rooms. He was astonished by what he saw. Where there used to be only five single rooms, there were now twenty! Although the extra rooms were only separated by bamboo curtains, they were neatly arranged, clean, comfortable, and convenient. Wooden shelves had been added for guests to store luggage and other items, making them both practical and space-saving. Even the large shared rooms for ordinary guests were completely different. The beds were all bunk beds, doubling the capacity. Everything was spotless, and maids were constantly cleaning and tidying. Because of the well-arranged layout, even with twice the number of guests, it didn't feel crowded like before. According to the waiter, nearly a hundred men and women living on the surrounding streets now work directly or indirectly for the inn and silk shops. Competition among them is fierce; anyone who doesn't perform well will be dropped. A while ago, they even hired many children to solicit customers throughout the streets. Now, because "Xi Shi Inn" and "Liang's Silk" are already famous and attract merchants daily, they no longer need to put in the effort to solicit customers. Liang Yongfu finally found his wife, Nan Huiying, and Pang Xiaohu in a small room marked "Manager's Office." Xiaohu was teaching his wife a new method of bookkeeping, and Nan Huiying was learning very diligently, a sight that greatly moved Liang Yongfu. Xiaohu wore glasses and had grown a dark mustache. He looked much older than his actual age; no wonder the merchants mistook him and Nan Huiying for a couple. Liang Yongfu breathed a huge sigh of relief. Nan Huiying explained the inn's income and expenses for the past month to her husband. After deducting expenses, the profits were more than three times what they used to be. According to Pang Xiaohu, the inn had reached its profit limit; to earn more, they needed to increase investment, either by expanding the store and business scope or by opening a branch elsewhere. Liang Yongfu had loved business since childhood, but he wasn't particularly successful. However, he was a smart man and never hesitated to make decisions. In his view, without Pang Xiaohu's help and advice, it would be difficult to even maintain the status quo, let alone expand the business. The current business operations and customer attraction techniques could be easily copied by anyone, and then customers wouldn't just come from here. He immediately proposed giving Pang Xiaohu a quarter of the inn's shares. He wouldn't need to come to the store every day to help; he would only need to offer occasional advice. Pang Xiaohu politely declined but accepted the agreement. To be honest, he had indeed put in a lot of effort for the Liang family's business these past few days, so this compensation was reasonable. Fearing things might change if he delayed, Liang Yongfu immediately went out to find someone to write a written agreement and invited a respected neighbor to be a witness. He and Xiao Hu signed and sealed the agreement on the spot, and then held a celebratory banquet. His worry was that if he didn't resolve the matter quickly, other businessmen, upon learning the truth, would offer high prices to hire Pang Xiao Hu to advise them, leaving him with nothing. That evening, Liang Yongfu didn't go to his concubine's room but instead went to his first wife's room to have a late-night snack with her. He was particularly happy and drank several cups. Without waiting for his wife to clear the dishes, he, in his drunken state, went to pull down Huiying's pants. Although Huiying was unwilling, she didn't resist much, after all, he was her husband. Soon, her lower body was completely naked. Her face flushed, she was pressed onto the dining table by her enthusiastic husband and brutally fucked for nearly half an hour. Actually, these past few days, Nan Huiying had felt guilty towards her husband. For the past month, she and Pang Xiaohu had been working tirelessly, rising early and retiring late, and their feelings for each other had grown stronger. Many times, she unconsciously imagined him as her husband. Some guests mistook them for a couple, but she didn't correct them, finding it all sweet and comforting. Pang Xiaohu had been staying in the inn's manager's office, where he had set up a small bed. Every night, alone in her room, Nan Huiying thought of Pang Xiaohu sleeping in the manager's office, not her husband. Finally, one night, she sneaked into the small manager's office, slipped into Pang Xiaohu's bed, and committed adultery with him. In his previous life, Xiaohu was utterly powerless against beautiful young women, and with Huiying's outstanding looks and figure, he couldn't possibly refuse her. Nan Huiying was generous yet gentle and lovely, perfectly suited to Xiaohu's taste, easily making him his devoted follower. However, their feelings were quite different. For Nan Huiying, this was the first time in her life she had betrayed her husband, and she felt incredibly guilty. For Pang Xiaohu, however, it was just another woman. From a young age, Nan Huiying loved being a leader, often leading a large group of boys in play. As she grew older, she often hung out with the servants and craftsmen of the Nan household, drinking and gambling, hardly behaving like a typical young lady from a wealthy family. Strangely, as long as she didn't cause too much trouble, the matriarch and master of the house didn't really interfere. She was no stranger to men's bodies before marriage. As a child, she had "forced" the boys who followed her around to show her their penises, and she had also secretly watched the vulgar craftsmen bathe naked. However, aside from kissing an honest boy and touching a farmhand's penis (while he was asleep), she had never lost her virginity. Liang Yongfu was her first man, while Pang Xiaohu was her only other man. The inn and silk shop were now doing well, and she no longer needed to work from dawn till dusk every day. Driven by their illicit affair, the two frequently met in secret. Just minutes before Liang Yongfu found them during the day, they were still embracing and caressing each other. Xiao Hu planned to have his elder sister, Pang Juhua, resign from her job at the Nan Mansion. Having acquired Liang's shares, he was no longer financially burdened and therefore no longer needed to keep his sister risking her life in the Nan Mansion. Nan Dechang and his son were both lecherous men, and he worried that if his sister remained there, she would eventually fall into their clutches. Nan Dechang sent people several times to summon Xiao Hu back to handle the accumulated affairs of the mansion, forcing him and Nan Huiying to temporarily separate. Nan Huiying was a married woman, nearly twenty years older than Xiao Hu; she understood that there was no future for her and Xiao Hu, and their relationship was merely a temporary indulgence of lust. To be honest, aside from the matter of taking a concubine, Liang Yongfu treated his wife quite well. Nan Huiying couldn't stand seeing her husband being bossed around by that young vixen, so she actively seduced Xiaohu, genuinely harboring thoughts of revenge against her husband. After returning to the Nan family mansion, Xiaohu first visited the eldest mistress. He missed her dearly, and his affair with Huiying was partly due to her being the biological daughter of the eldest mistress's master. Several times, during their intimate moments, he imagined her as the eldest mistress in her youth. Of course, this was a secret he kept hidden deep in his heart, like his later obsession with his mother-in-law's jade feet—something he couldn't tell anyone. The eldest mistress was delighted to see him, saying, "You little rascal, you still have some conscience; you know to come back to see me."Then she asked him about the past month or so, and upon learning that her daughter Huiying's business was thriving with Xiaohu's help, her gaze softened. She then inquired about Xiaohu's martial arts progress, saying she would test him when she had time to see if he had improved. Xiaohu feigned happiness, but in reality, he was very guilty. He had been far too busy lately, juggling business and women, and had simply not found time to practice martial arts. Martial arts training was something that couldn't be taken lightly. He hadn't put in the hard work for so long; it wouldn't be easy to fool his master, and it seemed he would most likely get a beating. He thought to himself, which of these two things—neglecting his martial arts or sleeping with her precious daughter—would make his master angrier and give him a harsher beating? [To be continued]

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