Volume 1, Chapter 46: Sister is truly beautiful and kind-hearted, I love her so much

Su Ying'er frowned deeply as she looked at Fan Xiu.

This Fan Xiu was not nearly as handsome as Guo Xiulan had described; at least among the people Su Ying'er had seen, he could only be considered thoroughly ordinary.

However, she did not pay much attention to appearance.

Appearance was something largely determined by genetics. Born into an impoverished family of utterly ordinary people, how could one possibly produce a strikingly handsome son?

The reason she was frowning was because this person, picking his nose and acting as brazen as a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, was truly a provincial imperial scholar who had passed the imperial examinations and invented the chilled cold-skin noodles?

At that moment,

she suddenly noticed a pair of eyes looking at her.

Turning her head, she saw a plainly dressed woman standing quietly behind Fan Xiu.

"Did she discover this place? Probably not, she shouldn't be able to see through here."

Su Ying'er thought to herself while taking a careful look at the woman.

Although the woman had delicate and pretty features, they were made to look rather ordinary by her plain, coarse cloth garments. If she were to dress up, she might well turn out to be a beauty.

Yet for some reason, Su Ying'er felt she had seen this woman somewhere before.

She just couldn't recall where for the moment.

Downstairs.

Ying glanced briefly at Su Ying'er up above, then looked away.

As the commander of the Blood Feather Guard, she could sense such blatant staring even without using her eyes.

Judging by Su Ying'er's expression, however, she apparently hadn't recognized her.

That was good enough.

Ying withdrew her attention from Su Ying'er and looked down at Fan Xiu, who was sitting on the ground and making a scene.

"You tell me to leave, and I'll just leave?"

Fan Xiu sat on the floor, picking his nose as he said, "Who do you think you are? You want to boss me around? Do you think you're some kind of chief palace eunuch?"

"You!"

Liu Wenyan glared furiously at Fan Xiu. "You're the chief palace eunuch! Scum of the literati like you are simply not qualified to see Miss Ying'er! If you know what's good for you, get lost immediately and stop bringing shame to our Zhiyuan County!"

Fan Xiu rolled his eyes and laughed. "You actually know how to talk about bringing shame to scholars? You son-of-a-bitch, conspiring with a bunch of good-for-nothings to ruin my business—am I anywhere near as dark-hearted as you?"

"Vulgar! You utterly vulgar wretch!" Liu Wenyan cursed breathlessly with rage.

Fan Xiu cupped his fists in mock salute and said, "Much obliged! I am vulgar, but your heart is black, and your backside is black too! Do you know why the sky outside has grown so dark? Because you are far too black! You're pitch black from head to toe!"

Upstairs.

Hearing Fan Xiu's unreserved barrage of curses, Guo Xiulan couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"This Scholar Fan is truly an incorrigible rascal. I'm afraid Scholar Liu is going to be infuriated to death," Guo Xiulan whispered.

Su Ying'er frowned. "Is he truly an imperial scholar? Why does he lack any literary refinement whatsoever when he speaks, acting more like a market ruffian?"

Guo Xiulan blinked and replied, "Perhaps it's because he grew up right in the marketplace. Without a few streetwise methods, how much would he have suffered?"

Su Ying'er nodded.

Indeed.

"Bastard!"

Liu Wenyan shouted angrily, "You base scoundrels, how dare you humiliate me so! Zhao Da, Zhang Feng, beat him out of here!"

Immediately following his command,

several scholars trailing behind Liu Wenyan closed in around Fan Xiu.

Ying instantly materialized in front of Fan Xiu.

Her sole purpose in accompanying Fan Xiu was to protect his safety. Whatever Fan Xiu chose to do was his own affair, but he was not allowed to get hurt!

Fan Xiu chuckled and said, "Want to start a brawl? I'm certainly not afraid, but are you gentlemen quite sure you want to fight inside the Drunken Immortal Manor?"

At that moment,

Madame Ma Sanniang, the proprietorship madam who had been cracking melon seeds and watching the commotion from inside, swayed her hips as she hurried out.

"Scholar Liu, starting a brawl in a place like this isn't very appropriate, is it?" Madame Ma said, flashing a broad, ingratiating smile while fluttering her handkerchief.

Liu Wenyan quickly cupped his hands. "Proprietor Ma, it is not that I wish to start trouble, but this man is utterly infuriating."

The backing of the Drunken Immortal Manor was terrifying.

Though the Liu family wielded a certain degree of connections and influence in Zhiyuan County, they were utterly insignificant compared to a colossal entity like the Drunken Immortal Manor.

If he dared to resort to violence inside the Drunken Immortal Manor, the Liu family would likely be wiped off the map by tomorrow!

Madame Ma covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled lightly. "I hardly think this amounts to anything serious. You are all imperial scholars of Zhiyuan County; there is no need to make things so terribly awkward."

Listening from inside just now, she had found Fan Xiu's verbal dressing-down of Liu Wenyan quite entertaining.

It had been a long time since she had witnessed such an amusing spectacle.

Liu Wenyan pointed a trembling finger at Fan Xiu and cried angrily, "I am ashamed to share the title of scholar with him! This man is absolute scum among the literati, yet he dares to harbor delusions of meeting Miss Ying'er! Throw him out at once, lest he stain the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!"

Fan Xiu turned his head toward Madame Ma, cupped his fists, and smiled politely. "This Fan greets Proprietor Ma. I have long heard of your esteemed reputation, and my visit to the Drunken Immortal Manor today is specifically to pay my respects to you, Proprietor Ma."

Upstairs, Su Ying'er couldn't help praising softly, "This young man knows how to be adaptable rather than simply acting like an unyielding rascal. Sister Ma has always valued a good reputation most; this fellow has quite hit her fancy."

Sure enough.

Upon hearing Fan Xiu's words, the smile on Madame Ma's face bloomed instantly like a flower.

What could possibly be more gratifying

than an imperial scholar showing one such courtesy?

"You are too kind."

Madame Ma chuckled, flicking her handkerchief. "Scholar Fan is far too polite. The chilled cold-skin noodles and Top Scholar's Fragrance you created are adored by the maidens here in the pavilion. I wonder if Scholar Fan might send some over for your elder sister in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Xiu was overjoyed.

He hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall.

"That is naturally no problem at all."

Fan Xiu replied, "It is my absolute honor that Sister Ma is willing to patronize my business. Sister Ma is truly as kind-hearted as she is beautiful. However, regarding these cold-skin noodles, I have signed an exclusive supply agreement with Patron Zhao, so they will likely need to be delivered through Patron Zhao's Tasting Pavilion."

Madame Ma beamed with satisfaction. "That is easily arranged. Patron Zhao is also an old and frequent patron of our Drunken Immortal Manor."

Watching Madame Ma not only refuse to chase Fan Xiu away, but actually offer to patronize his business and even exchange terms of endearment as sister and brother, Liu Wenyan felt a vein throbbing.

If this continued, these two scoundrels would soon be retreating to a bedroom to chat.

"Proprietor Ma!"

Liu Wenyan said in a deep voice, "Cold-skin noodles are such vulgar, common fare—how could they ever be permitted into the refined halls of the Drunken Immortal Manor? A person like this, unlearned and unskilled, who spends his time obsessing over bizarre, lowly crafts, ought to be thrown out immediately!"

Madame Ma turned to Liu Wenyan with a troubled expression. "Scholar Liu, you are a scholar, and Scholar Fan is also a scholar. How could I possibly dare to drive him away? Besides, guests who arrive at our door are patrons; how could I ever turn them away?"

Liu Wenyan insisted sternly, "Proprietor Ma, this Fan Xiu has abandoned scholarship to engage in commerce, bringing disgrace upon our generation of scholars. Such a rebellious wretch—how can he still be considered an imperial scholar?"

Hearing these words, displeasure instantly surfaced on Madame Ma's face.

"Scholar Liu."

Madame Ma assumed a sultry yet chilling smile. "I know you scholars pride yourselves on your lofty detachment, but I am a merchant myself. If Scholar Fan wishes to engage in commerce, I welcome him with both hands! But you, Scholar Liu—every single line between your words drips with mockery and disdain for merchants. Does that not mean you hold our Drunken Immortal Manor in complete contempt?"

Liu Wenyan's expression shifted drastically, and he hurriedly stammered, "Proprietor Ma, I harbor no such intention. It's simply that this Fan Xiu possesses no genuine talent; he merely lucked into passing the imperial exams, which is why he abandoned his studies to become a merchant."

Saying this,

he narrowed his eyes at Fan Xiu and challenged, "Proprietor Ma, doesn't our Drunken Immortal Manor have a rule that anyone who can compose a poem pleasing to Miss Ying'er is granted an audience with her? Why not let him try his hand at it as well, so everyone can see once and for all whether he has any real ability!"