Chapter 75: Utterly Shameless
Although the prefecture capital was prosperous, it would fall into a brief silence in the early morning. After all, this was a chaotic world, and there was no need to risk your life just for a stroll. Of course, there were exceptions, such as the Juyin Auction House. Given its considerable wealth, it always needed guards.
However, tonight, the guards were not the only ones who were sleepless at the Juyin Auction House!
Liu Yingyue sat on a stool, lost in thought. Because she was a lady from a prominent family, her posture was proper, her head held high, and her chest out. Her葫芦-shaped figure was fully displayed beneath her red qipao, and her slender, beautiful legs were revealed from the high slit of her skirt. Her skin was like snow, as if flowing with radiance.
“Do I really still have a chance to develop slowly?”
Although she had made up her mind, Liu Yingyue still lacked confidence. After all, she only had a year left. Even if she managed to get rid of that Duan by some stroke of luck, she would have no time to manage the auction house. If she couldn’t deliver a satisfactory report, the outcome would remain unchanged.
Liu Yingyue was not afraid of marriage, but she feared a union based on interests, marrying someone she didn’t like. She also feared letting down her father’s painstaking efforts.
“This damnable Duan Feng, he’s done so many unconscionable things, and yet the heavens don’t strike him down with lightning. Didn’t they say that good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished?”
Liu Yingyue couldn’t help but complain. She knew that her only hope of being saved now was for Duan Feng to die suddenly. Whether it was a natural disaster or a man-made calamity, the sooner he died, the better!
On the other side, Duan Feng was also restless. He was drinking alone in the guest room, drowning his sorrows. Of course, it wasn’t because he was being cursed, but because he was angered. He didn’t expect such a young, inexperienced girl to dare to oppose him.
“Someone, call Afeng here and tell him I have something to see him about!”
Duan Feng, feeling bored after drinking, called out towards the door.
Not long after, a young man, around thirty years old, walked in.
“Father, why are you still not resting so late?”
Afeng asked with a fawning smile as he sat in the chair beside him.
“Rest what? How can I sleep if I can’t get this off my chest?”
Duan Feng reprimanded him, then took another sip of his drink.
“Father, have you encountered something troubling? Would you tell me about it?”
Afeng asked curiously.
“Isn’t it about the auction house?”
Duan Feng then proceeded to explain the whole story.
“What? Dozens of bottles of Nine Nether Demonic Cat’s pure tears at once? It can’t be fake, right? I heard that the Nine Nether Demonic Cat has become extinct in the wild. I’m afraid even the HuXiao Sect doesn’t have that much power!”
Afeng was the first to question it.
“Who says so? And looking at that young man’s appearance, with his fair skin and delicate features, neither masculine nor feminine, he doesn’t look like a master. Who knows where he got it from.”
Duan Feng agreed, then added, “But that has nothing to do with me. What angers me the most is that stinky girl Liu Yingyue. Relying on her Liu family bloodline, she’s been opposing me everywhere since she got here. It’s simply infuriating!”
“Sigh! Father, calm down. Who can we blame? She’s the Ninth Miss of the Liu family. No matter how much we do, we’re just servants. Our status is decided from birth!”
Afeng consoled him.
“You scoundrel! What servants? I’m the deputy shopkeeper! I’ve been managing this auction house for decades, working tirelessly. How can she, a mere vase, compare to me?”
Duan Feng was furious.
“Yes, yes, yes, I’m sorry! Father! It’s my fault!”
Afeng trembled with fear and quickly stood up to apologize. In his heart, however, he was utterly disdainful. “Managed for decades? More like cheated for decades, you old man!”
“No, I can’t swallow this insult!”
Duan Feng became more and more angry as he thought about it. He turned to Afeng and asked, “Afeng, do you want to marry Liu Yingyue?”
“Yes! Of course, I do! My son, I dream about it every night!”
Afeng admitted without hesitation, showing Liu Yingyue’s charm. However, he immediately became a little dejected. “But what’s the use if she’s unwilling?”
“As long as you want it, I guarantee she’ll be willing tonight!”
Duan Feng revealed a cunning smile.
“Really? That would be great! But the problem is, I’m already married and have a family. I can only marry her as a concubine!”
Afeng hesitated again.
“Marrying her as a concubine is already giving her face!”
Duan Feng sneered, then ordered, “Gather all our people and have them on standby!”
“Father! What do you want to do?”
Duan Feng cautiously inquired.
“What do I want to do? Tonight, I’m going to take you to propose marriage, so shouldn’t I gather more people to make it lively?”
Duan Feng retorted.
“Yes, yes, yes! I’ll go right away!”
Afeng was overjoyed and scurried off. The thought of Liu Yingyue’s葫芦-shaped figure and sensual beautiful legs made him unable to wait a moment longer.
…
“Shopkeeper, Deputy Shopkeeper Duan is here!”
After sitting for a while, the maid outside suddenly reported.
“Here again? Not sleeping at night, is he because he’s done too many bad things and can’t sleep!”
Liu Yingyue subtly mocked him before inviting him in.
Duan Feng entered again, this time accompanied by Afeng.
Liu Yingyue’s delicate eyebrows knitted slightly. It wasn’t like they were going to war; why did father and son need to come together?
“Uncle Duan, Brother Duan, please sit! You’re not sleeping so late, what can I help you with?”
Liu Yingyue politely asked.
“Isn’t Shopkeeper Liu also not sleeping? Do you have something troubling you? Why don’t you tell Uncle and let him listen!”
Duan Feng sat down and feigned ignorance.
As for Afeng, he didn’t speak. As soon as he entered, his eyes were fixed on Liu Yingyue’s slender, fair legs beneath her skirt, showing no attempt to hide the lecherous expression on his face.
“How does Uncle Duan know I have something troubling me?”
Liu Yingyue asked without answering.
“Niece, don’t try to hide it. Others may not know your situation, but Uncle Duan knows it well. Two years ago, you went bankrupt with a branch in the north. According to the rules of the Liu family, you should have been married off. In the end, it was only because your father temporarily relinquished his position as Clan Leader that you were saved.”
Duan Feng spoke with a half-smile, talking eloquently.
“So what? That’s not a secret!”
Liu Yingyue’s expression turned cold. After all, no one liked having their wounds exposed.
“As far as I know, the Liu family’s Old Ancestor only gave you three years, right? Once you fail to deliver a satisfactory report by then, you’ll have to marry obediently. More seriously, your father will permanently lose his position as Clan Leader.”
Duan Feng said mockingly.
“What exactly do you want to say? Did you come all this way late at night just to pick at my scars?”
Liu Yingyue said with disgust.
“Of course not, I’ve come tonight to propose, and I want you to be my daughter-in-law!”
Duan Feng stated directly.
“Are you kidding me? Doesn’t your son already have a wife and family?”
Liu Yingyue asked in disbelief.
“It’s fine. It’s normal for men to have three wives and four concubines. You can be his concubine!”
Duan Feng explained dismissively.
“Are you suffering from delirium? Even if I, Liu Yingyue, am in a fallen state, I am still the Ninth Miss of the Liu family. How could I marry him as a concubine? Moreover, I don’t even like him!”
Liu Yingyue was straightforward.
“Don’t refuse so quickly. If you marry my son, can your father regain his position as Clan Leader?”
Duan Feng calmly tempted her.
“What? How dare you say that? Can you, a mere deputy shopkeeper of a branch, decide the Liu family’s Clan Leader?”
Liu Yingyue’s beautiful eyes widened.
“Perhaps I really can? If my information is correct, the requirement the Liu family’s Old Ancestor gave you was that as long as you can double the profits of this Yongning Prefecture branch within three years, your father can get his position back as Clan Leader, right?”
Duan Feng calmly inquired.
“You know quite a lot!”
Liu Yingyue gritted her teeth slightly, realizing that this old guy had been eyeing her for a long time.
“Thank you, Ninth Miss, for your compliment. It is our duty as servants to worry about the Liu family, so it is purely out of goodwill that we understand a little of the situation.”
Duan Feng embellished his actions before continuing, “So, as long as we can double the profits of our auction house within this year, your father can regain his position as Clan Leader, right? And with Ninth Miss’s talent, if the clients’ safety is guaranteed, this should not be an impossible goal, right?”
“Nonsense! If the clients’ safety could be guaranteed, why would I be so worried?”
Liu Yingyue said irritably.
“I can guarantee it! As long as you marry my son, I can guarantee it! Shopkeeper Liu is a filial daughter. I don’t think you would refuse, right?”
Duan Feng said as if making a solemn pledge.
“So that’s what Uncle Duan was waiting for!”
Liu Yingyue was stunned for a moment, then she laughed in anger. A shamelessly traitorous family member was actually using “turning over a new leaf” to bargain with the master. He was truly shameless to the extreme!
