money player

Xian Yaowen waved to Huo Zhixian, who walked into the pavilion and sat down next to him in a very natural and comfortable manner.

"Are you tired?" Sin Yiu-man asked.

Huo Zhixian gently shook her head, her fingertips slightly clenching the hem of her cheongsam, and replied softly, "Not tired... it's just that accompanying people to social events is a bit boring."

"You met quite a few people today?"

Huo Zhixian gave a soft "hmm", glanced at him quickly, then looked down at the tips of her shoes. Her voice was soft but clear: "I met several Manchu elders with Ms. Tang. Most of them were former members of the imperial family and representatives of various families in the Eight Banners."

"Have you encountered any problems?"

"Some people are quite critical of your lack of public appearance."

Xian Yaowen reached out and put his arm around her slender waist, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable intimacy: "Have you called Mr. Huo?"

"Hit."

When he hugged her like that, Huo Zhixian stiffened slightly, her cheeks flushed, and her voice softened.

"Excuse me for a moment." Fei Baoqi got up and left, not wanting to stay and be a third wheel.

As soon as Fei Baoqi left, Xian Yaowen gestured to Xie Tingyun to fetch two pairs of wooden clogs from the entrance. He casually put on a pair himself, then bent down slightly, lifted Huo Zhixian's foot, took off her leather shoes, and gently removed her thin socks. His movements were natural and proper. Only then did he carefully place her foot into the wooden clogs.

Huo Zhixian's foot suddenly touched the cool sole of the wooden clogs, and she subconsciously pulled back, her cheeks burning even more. She just lowered her head and dared not look at him.

Sin Yiu-man steadied her ankles, his voice low and gentle, tinged with a casualness: "Let's go for a walk."

The two left the courtyard one after the other, and the evening breeze suddenly brightened, carrying the faint aroma of food wafting from the shops along the street.

The wooden clogs clicked softly on the stone pavement, the sound particularly clear in the quiet evening. Xian Yaowen always kept Huo Zhixian on the inside, his hand loosely supporting her elbow, not overstepping his bounds, yet protecting her securely.

Huo Zhixian lightly touched the ground with her toes, and said somewhat shyly, "Won't it look a bit awkward to wear wooden clogs barefoot like this..."

Xian Yaowen glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Beautiful."

He paused, then added casually, "It doesn't matter if others see it; I'm the one who made you wear it."

A few street vendors dangled along the street, and the dim streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them. Huo Zhixian quietly moved closer to him, her voice as soft as the wind: "About what happened earlier?"

"The one who had some reservations?"

"Ah."

“No need to pay any attention to it,” Sin Yiu-man said calmly. “The Qing Dynasty is long gone. No matter how prestigious their surnames were, they are now just ordinary clients of ours, with financing amounting to only tens of millions of NT dollars. It’s not appropriate for me to get involved.”

Huo Zhixian nodded gently, her pace slowing slightly, her voice soft and gentle, "I understand, I'll make a few more trips and talk to them more."

"Please ask Tang Shunjun to put in a lot of effort; the kickbacks and bonuses aren't for nothing."

"it is good."

The two walked slowly along the streetlights, and a faint, sweet fragrance soon wafted in the evening breeze. Not far away, a tricycle was parked, a dim carbide lamp shining on the small iron cabinet. The vendor was scooping ice with a small iron spoon, and the "plop-plop" sounds were particularly clear in the night.

Xian Yaowen paused slightly, turning his head to look at Huo Zhixian: "Want to eat?"

Before she could answer, he had already led her towards the stall. The wooden clogs clicked a few times on the pavement before stopping beside the tricycle.

Xian Yaowen's gaze swept indifferently over the ice bucket encased in saltpeter. "What flavor do you want?"

Huo Zhixian glanced at the ice bucket. "I want the one with red beans."

"Excuse me, one and a half beans and two longans."

Upon hearing this, the stall owner quickly scooped up some ice balls with a spoon, put them in a small paper cup, and handed them over. Xian Yaowen took the cup, first handing the kidney beans to Huo Zhixian, then holding the longan himself, and slowly walked alongside her.

Huo Zhixian held the slightly cool paper cup and ate with a small wooden spoon. The sweet but not cloying milky aroma melted in her mouth, and the restraint and unease she had felt earlier seemed to have faded a lot.

Xian Yaowen scooped up a dried longan and brought it to Huo Zhixian's lips, "Try mine."

Huo Zhixian's cheeks flushed slightly, and she subconsciously opened her mouth slightly to take in the sweet and soft dried longan. The sweet taste melted on her tongue, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she murmured an "Mmm," not daring to look at his face for long.

Looking at her slightly flustered yet obedient appearance, Xian Yaowen gently wiped the corner of her mouth, which had a little bit of smear on it, with his fingertips, and said in a nonchalant tone: "You're such a grown-up, you can still get smears on your mouth when you eat ice cream."

Huo Zhixian's ears burned instantly when he touched her. She quickly took a half-inch back, lowered her head, and sipped her ice cream. Her voice was barely audible: "It wasn't on purpose."

The evening breeze carried a faint, sweet fragrance from the street, and the sound of wooden clogs treading on the pavement was soft and delicate.

Seeing her with her head down and her ears reddened, Xian Yaowen had a faint smile in his eyes. He stopped teasing her and just walked slowly with her. A little bit of the pudding in his hand melted and seeped down the side of the cup.

The two walked quietly, the streetlights falling on them, bringing their figures very close together, making it feel incredibly warm.

Huo Zhixian hesitated for a moment, then gently raised her own bottle of Pupu to his lips, her ear tips still burning: "Then... you should try mine too."

Xian Yaowen lowered his head and gently took a small bite from her hand, the cool, sweet, and soft milky aroma spreading in his mouth. Looking at her cautious and submissive appearance, he chuckled softly, then scooped up a spoonful of his own milk and brought it to her lips again: "Mine is more generous with the filling, it'll be sweeter."

She obediently opened her mouth and ate it; the cool sweetness mixed with an indescribable warmth spread all the way to her heart.

The two walked slowly under the streetlights, taking turns eating, the sound of their wooden clogs crisp and clear. The evening breeze was gentle, and even the streetlights seemed to soften.

As the little paper cups happily searched for the trash can to play with, the two of them squeezed into a narrow alley where they could only pass sideways. One of them leaned against the wall on one side, turned their heads to each other, and their lips met.

The moss on the wall, caught by spiderwebs, slid down the chalky surface with a soft rustling sound. A mud snake twisted its body and hurriedly slithered past the hem of their trousers. The two didn't kiss, only their lips intertwined, their tongues lightly clashing, leaving their previous impeccable decorum behind in the evening breeze.

On their way home, both of them were a bit disheveled. Huo Zhixian had two green moss stains on her buttocks, while Xian Yaowen had a few grayish-white wall paint stains on his back.

But Huo Zhixian felt incredibly sweet inside. In the midst of the chaos and entanglement, she had firmly touched Xian Yaowen's taut abs through his thin shirt.

Back at the Xian residence, the two went to their respective rooms to change into fresh clothes. They entered the dining room one after the other, their disheveled and wildness from outside largely gone, leaving only a faint warmth that could not be hidden in each other's eyes.

Only two wall lamps were lit in the dining room, providing just the right amount of soft light.

There were still quite a few people eating: Quan Danru, who was getting off work; Wang Youjia, who was returning from a business dinner; and his four mahjong partners, Fei Baoqi, Madam Lan, Tang Yiying, and Li Moyun.

The round table was laden with dishes, each one exquisitely presented. Specially prepared for Quan Danru were chopped chili bighead carp head and Dong'an chicken; for Li Moyun were stir-fried shredded pork with vinegar, four-happiness meatballs, and fermented bean curd; Huo Zhixian's favorite was fresh shrimp and tofu casserole; and there were also several home-style Cantonese dishes and seasonal vegetables that everyone could enjoy.

Quan Danru sat at the lower end, dressed in a neat shirt dress, her hair combed neatly, her eyebrows and eyes carrying a hint of the straightforwardness of a Changsha girl, yet her proper demeanor made her appear exceptionally dignified.

Upon smelling the familiar spicy aroma as soon as the food was served, she was slightly taken aback, and then a barely perceptible warmth flashed in her eyes.

As the bright red chopped chili peppers contrasted with the tender white fish, and the aroma of sour and spicy flavors filled the air, Quan Danru spoke softly, her tone respectful and sincere: "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Sin Yiu-man gently waved his hand, signaling her to start eating.

They were all old friends who had eaten together before, so there was no need to be overly formal or wait for the host to start eating first. Quan Danru picked up her chopsticks and carefully took a piece of fish belly. The taste was fresh, spicy, and mellow, with just the right amount of sourness. The familiar flavor spread, instantly evoking a sense of homesickness.

She looked at Sin Yiu-man, smiled faintly, and said nothing more.

Ever since Sin Yiu-man took her in as his personal secretary, she and her parents had all sorts of speculations in private—that she was nothing more than a hostage, a bargaining chip used by her husband to control her younger brother, Quan Xu; or that she might eventually become his secret lover, so that the Sin family could have even deeper control over her brother.

Throughout their time together, he never treated her with disrespect or coercion; on the contrary, he was considerate in every way, even taking her tastes into account when it came to food.

Quan Danru lowered her eyes, ate a mouthful of rice, and felt a slight pang in her heart. She couldn't tell whether she felt relieved or had a sense of gratitude that was hard to define.

She had long been prepared to sleep with her husband—no, she should say she hoped for it. When she brought it up herself, wanting to do something more important, she already had a thought in her mind—she wanted to stay by her husband's side as his concubine.

This idea was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but the result of countless deliberations.

The man's reputation for womanizing was hardly a secret to outsiders. She had heard many rumors and seen the various women who were with him.

She had been by her husband's side for quite some time, and gossip never spared someone of her status; her reputation had long been tarnished by the whispers of others. Now, leaving her husband behind, a woman so entangled in rumors had nowhere better to go.

Besides, she had never met a better man than her husband. Living with him, no matter how turbulent the outside world was, she would always feel at ease.

She doesn't need to rush, doesn't need to fight, and doesn't need to act coquettishly like others. Just like Wang Xiamin, she can stay quietly by his side, and when the time is right, her husband will naturally make a proper arrangement for her.

Xian Yaowen placed a Four Happiness Meatball into Wang You's dish, asking casually, "How much tea have you sold these past two days?"

Wang Youjia gently picked up a piece with chopsticks, first licking the sauce coating the meatball. The salty, savory, and slightly sweet flavor spread on his tongue. Then he took a small bite, carefully not letting the hot broth inside drip down. He chewed slowly, letting the aroma of the meat and the fresh juices melt slowly in his mouth.

After swallowing, she slowly spoke, "I haven't sold any tea these past two days, but I went to Huacha Company a few times and managed to poach someone from Tang Jishan."

"Oh, who is someone worth all this effort?"

Wang Youjia looked up at him, a faint smile curving his lips. "Tang Jinzhi, Tang Jishan's distant nephew, is a very talented young man. I want him to be the manager of Wang's restaurant."

"It wouldn't sound good if word got out that they poached people from Tang Jishan."

Wang Youjia gently stroked the edge of the chopsticks with his fingertips, his smile fading slightly, but he remained composed: "Talented people naturally choose their masters, let alone a distant nephew. He was just an insignificant member of a collateral branch in Tang Jishan's household, but he became a capable manager at Wang's. If others were to gossip, they would only say that he is sensible."

"It's good if you don't mind." Xian Yaowen said, picking up a piece of soft and tender fish lips for Wang Youjia with his chopsticks. "Since you believe that Tang Jinzhi is a talented person, you should be willing to give him authority and not let him be constrained in his work."

Wang Youjia gazed at the fish lip soaked in red oil on the plate, tapped the edge of the table lightly with his fingertips, and smiled slightly: "I understand. I know the difference between trusting those I employ and not employing those I don't trust. I have that much sense of propriety."

Xian Yaowen looked at her, his eyes filled with a gentle approval, and nodded slightly: "With your words, I am relieved."

"The 29th of this month is an auspicious day according to the Chinese almanac, and it happens to be a Saturday. I plan to hold the banquet on that day."

Xian Yaowen turned to look at the calendar on the wall. August 29th was an auspicious date for marriage and weddings, a day when everything would go smoothly. He looked away and focused on Wang Youjia's face, his tone gentle yet earnest: "The date is well chosen. I'll listen to you."

Wang Youjia's smile deepened. He picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped his mouth. His voice was soft yet firm: "Then it's settled. I'll take care of the rest of the trivial matters."

"it is good."

Finished eating.

Xian Yaowen went into the study, took out a set of Fei Baoshu's old clothes for Fei Baoqi, and then personally drove to a secluded place on the outskirts of the city.

The night was deep, and starlight filled the sky. Xian Yaowen was in control of the steering wheel, while Fei Baoqi lay down and wet the gear lever to test its performance. The car bumped and sped along the way, finally arriving at a secluded spot, where the two worked together to test the car's shock absorption performance.

9:30.

After washing up, Xian Yaowen quietly lay down on the bed. On the other side, Wang Youjia was leaning against the soft pillows reading a book. Hearing the noise, he looked up and glanced at Xian Yaowen's slightly damp hair and tired face. He said with a hint of jealousy, "Why today?"

After saying that, she closed the book and casually placed it on the bedside table. She gently turned over and obediently snuggled into Xian Yaowen's arms, pressing her face against his slightly cool chest.

Sin Yiu-man gently stroked her hair. "Just a coincidence."

Wang Youjia's hand gently stroked up and down, his fingertips carrying a touch of tender affection, as if soothing, or perhaps silently showing closeness. "I won't ask how you got involved with Fei Baoqi, but you still need to be careful."

She paused, lowered her voice even further, and reminded him with a hint of soberness, "With so many people around, don't give others something to talk about and cause trouble for no reason."

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Xian Yaowen slipped his left hand inside her pajamas. “Do you need some time to get into the mood?”

“No need.” Wang Youjia rolled over and straddled his stomach, her eyes full of seductive charm. “I’ve been waiting for you for over an hour, and I’ve already prepared everything I needed to.”

The room was quiet, with only the faint chirping of insects outside the window and the two people's rapid breathing intertwined.

The next day.

Xian Yaowen sat in Song Chengxiu's office, continuing with his unfinished report.

Song Chengxiu was not there; he went to Tamsui Port with Long Xuemei to accompany the US military procurement representative in a random inspection of canned pineapples.

North Korean spies behind enemy lines are quite capable. A week ago, they attacked a US military transport convoy in the suburbs of Seoul. They didn't destroy many of the cars, but somehow they caused significant damage to the canned fruit being transported.

Yes, it's about balancing the accounts, everyone understands.

Someone oversold supplies, and the accounts couldn't be balanced. So they had to create a loophole for the North Korean agents, exaggerating the losses a little, only ten times over. Basic procedure, don't be silly.

Five times the amount was used to balance the books, and the other five times was taken from the warehouse and sold on the black market. As a result, the supply of canned fruit was insufficient, so they had to place an urgent new order. Prince Trading was lucky enough to "pick up" an order for canned pineapple.

Because the order was unusual and involved the interests of multiple parties, Long Xuemei had no choice but to follow up on it herself.

Coincidentally, Sin Yiu-man was reviewing the import and export accounts of the Crown Prince Trading Company. The Crown Prince Trading Company's business was very diversified. Apart from the import and export trade that the government was allowed to do, it would take whatever it could get its hands on, including textile raw materials, chemical raw materials, metals and mineral products, timber and pulp, industrial machinery, and consumer goods. It would not let any mistake go unpunished, and even for one-off trades, it would wade through the waters.

For example, a batch of urgently needed cotton was not imported from familiar sources like the United States, India, and Egypt, but instead sent to Pakistan to contact Muslim business families in Karachi.

Pakistan's import and export trade is highly concentrated in the hands of a small number of Muslim business families in Karachi. They are currently the absolute mainstay of Pakistan's foreign trade. Opening up this channel is equivalent to tearing a hole in Pakistan's import and export trade. (End of this chapter)