From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"Hey, isn't this that guy's lover from that family?"

"Here we go again, it really happens every single day."

"Hehe, that woman just standing there makes me feel so aroused. If I were her lover, I wouldn't just come every day, I'd want to be soaking in her honey pot every moment!"

"Pah! Aren't you afraid of being drained dry by that vixen? Besides, how can a stinking coachman like you compare to her? Haven't you heard? She's a stable boy in the Marquis's mansion!"

In Sweetwater Lane, a few shirtless, rough-looking men and a few old women were chatting idly at the alley entrance. When they saw Chen Shi walking by, they couldn't help but laugh.

It was one thing to say something to them, but to insult Cui Nong enraged Chen Shi, who was about to step forward and argue with them.

"What are you dawdling for? Let's go home for dinner!"

Just then, the door inside opened, and Cui Nong poked her head out and called out to him.

Chen Shi glared at those people before he stepped forward.

"Oh, time to go home for dinner."

"Eat? Let's eat that vixen's honeyed drink instead."

"Hehe, I want to eat it too."

"Eat shit!"

……

A group of people stared at the slammed courtyard gate and launched into another round of unrestrained mockery and ridicule.

"Sister Cui Nong..."

"Why bother arguing with them? They're a bunch of useless, hopeless bastards destined to be trampled in the mud and left with nothing but gossiping about their wives."

Cui Nong gave a soft snort, but there was no anger on her face.

Clearly, she had long since gotten used to it and had come to terms with it.

Seeing that Cui Nong didn't seem to care, Chen Shi didn't say anything either. Besides, he felt that Cui Nong was right; there was no need to waste time and energy on these people.

"By the way, how's the martial arts thing going?"

Back inside, Cui Nong asked a question.

"The application was approved, but..."

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment before giving a general account of the situation.

"Why am I so unlucky? I had to run into my nemesis."

Cui Nong also sighed, then waved her hand and said.

"But what's done is done, there's no point in thinking about it anymore. Fortunately, it's a legitimate martial art, and for now, just getting it to the next level is enough! Come on, show me how you practice."

"All right."

Chen Shi hesitated slightly before setting up the first stance of the Elephant King Pole.

His morning practice had already depleted his breakfast, and he was still very hungry. If he continued to practice, he was afraid he would hurt himself.

But since Cui Nong wanted to see it, he had to show it off, even if it meant getting even hungrier.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chen Shi could no longer hold on, and his stomach was rumbling like a drum.

"That's amazing."

Cui Nong's eyes widened. She had never seen anyone practice martial arts before, and she never expected that the energy expenditure would be so great.

Then, with a smile, she brought out a whole roast goose from the kitchen.

"Eat."

"Sister Cui Nong..."

"What, I'm treating you to a roast goose, and you're going to treat me like a stranger?"

"No, it is me. Thank you, Sister Cui Nong."

Chen Shi didn't know what to say, so he simply stopped talking, grabbed the roast goose, and started gnawing on it.

He was starving.

Cui Nong sat to the side, watching Chen Shi wolf down his food, and couldn't help but smile.

Then she brought over a plate of steamed buns, poured a bowl of water, and gently fanned him with a palm-leaf fan.

Chen Shi felt as if there was a ravenous monster burning inside his stomach, and he couldn't care less about anything else, he just ate like crazy.

After a whole roast goose, seven or eight steamed buns, and a large bowl of water to soothe his throat, Chen Shi finally felt better.

Looking at her now, her belly was only slightly protruding.

"That's amazing."

Cui Nong opened her eyes wide in surprise again, then looked at Chen Shi with anticipation.

"Have you noticed anything, like feeling stronger?"

"……No."

Chen Shi pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Cui Nong frowned, then smiled. "That's right, it won't work so quickly."

"Anyway, from now on you'll train here, and I'll provide you with plenty of food! Try to reach the rank in two months!"

"don't want!"

Chen Shi shook his head, then took out a piece of silver from his pocket and placed it on the table.

This was a gift from Gu Chengze that day.

"What do you mean by that?"

"My food expenses for the past two months."

"Pah! Who asked for your money for food? Do you think I can't even afford to feed you a meal!"

"If Sister Cui Nong doesn't accept it, even if I'm punished by Granny Ze, I won't come!"

Chen Shi looked resolute and then continued.

"Moreover, we can't eat like we did today, otherwise we won't have enough money. I just need a few pieces of coarse bread every afternoon."

"you……"

Cui Nong opened her eyes wide, then shook her head helplessly and put the silver away.

Chen Shi's stubbornness exceeded her expectations.

"You have enough money to buy so many flatbreads. Alright, alright, just keep eating with me as usual."

"Um!"

Chen nodded vigorously and grinned happily.

Looking at Chen Shi's appearance, Cui Nong smiled, but felt a wave of helplessness washed over her.

Since they weren't practicing martial arts, after a short rest, Cui Nong continued to teach Chen Shi how to please women and what he needed to pay attention to in order to establish himself in the Jing'an Marquis's mansion.

"Let's continue talking about this 'small' thing. It's called patience, but it's actually about putting effort into a woman, catering to her preferences, playing hard to get, and knowing the priorities. There are many tricks to it."

"Let's take it one step at a time. First, I'll teach you how to read between the lines. As the saying goes, you need to have a target. If you can't read between the lines, you won't know her current intentions, so where will you put your efforts? Moreover, as a servant in the Marquis's mansion, reading between the lines is extremely important."

……

It must be said that Cui Nong was truly a good teacher, explaining things step by step, making complex concepts easy to understand, and readily providing numerous examples. Even a blockhead like Chen Shi would have grasped the concepts, let alone someone who wasn't stupid.

In just half a day, Chen Shi felt that he had benefited greatly.

In an instant, Cui Nong's image in his mind became even more radiant.

After all, all teachers, regardless of their background, deserve respect.

"Sister Cui Nong, I'm going back."

As the sun began to set, Chen Shi got up and left, just like before.

Sweetwater Lane is not far from Ronghua Street, where the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion is located. Chen Shi jogged all the way and returned to the mansion before the side gate closed.

"Chen Shi, you're finally back!"

Just as they arrived at the stable and were about to feed and water the horses, the foreman hurried over.

"Put your work aside, your wife is calling you!"

"Mrs……"

Chen Shi was taken aback. Which lady? There are several ladies in this household.

The masters of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion were addressed differently depending on their status, and the women alone were divided into four ranks according to their seniority.

The first rank naturally belongs to that high and mighty matriarch, who is the former Marquis's legal wife and the current Marquis's stepmother.

The second rank consisted of three wives, who were the matriarchs of the three branches of the Jing'an Marquis's household.

The third rank consists of the wives, who are usually addressed as "Grandma So-and-so." They are the legal wives of Gu Chengze's generation.

The fourth class consists of unmarried young ladies. In terms of status, they are equal to the third class, being of the same generation, only slightly younger.

The steward was too anxious to say which grandmother had summoned him or what it was about, and Chen Shi didn't dare to ask any further questions.

"Come with me."

As soon as they left the stable, a well-dressed and pretty maidservant stood waiting outside the gate. She said something and then walked forward.

This is the master's personal maid, ranked as a second-class servant, on par with the stewards.

Chen Shi dared not say more and quickly followed.

After passing through several corridors, led by the head maid, they went straight into the ceremonial gate.

The ceremonial gate, also known as the second gate, leads to the inner courtyard!

It is where the masters, ladies, and young ladies live.

Chen Shi, a male servant, immediately lowered his head, not daring to look around.

Once they entered a courtyard, the head maid went in and told Chen Shi to wait at the door.

"Let him in."

A moment later, when he heard a sound coming from inside, Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat.

It's Grandma Ze!