Chapter 124: Meeting Master Ning

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At the market, Ning Yaxin accompanied Xu Mo as he purchased more than five hundred pounds of tung oil, enough to fill ten wooden barrels.

Xu Mo had just paid and loaded the goods when Ning Yongqiang suddenly appeared.

After greeting Xu Mo, Ning Yongqiang walked over to Ning Yaxin and said, “Sis, Father wants you to come home.”

Ning Yaxin frowned slightly. “How did Father know I was back?”

“He has had people watching the city gates all this time,” Ning Yongqiang replied. “He knew the moment you entered the city, and sent me to find you.”

“I’m not going back,” Ning Yaxin said coldly.

“Zhang Zhishen has already left. You can go home now.”

“Left?” Ning Yaxin asked, clearly unconvinced. “When?”

“He left yesterday. Mr. Xu beat him black and blue, and he was too ashamed to stay any longer. So they left.”

Ning Yaxin fell silent, looking deeply conflicted.

“Come home with me, Sis,” Ning Yongqiang pleaded miserably. “Father said that if I couldn’t persuade you to return, he wouldn’t let me leave the house!”

Ning Yaxin still said nothing.

At that moment, Xu Mo came over and urged her, “Miss Ning, since Zhang Zhishen has left, you should go home. The affairs of the Ning Family Silk Shop and the Perfumed Skin Specialty Store still require your attention.”

“But, Young Master Xu, what about Gushan Village...?”

Xu Mo raised a hand to stop her. “Miss Ning, I’ll take care of everything in the village. Don’t worry. A new batch of laundry soap and scented soap will be delivered in a few days.”

He continued, “Miss Ning, bandits have already begun causing trouble outside the city. Gushan Village is far less safe than the city. If anything happens to you while you’re out there, I won’t be able to answer to your family. So please take my advice and go home.”

Seeing the sincerity in Xu Mo’s expression and tone, Ning Yaxin nodded. “All right, I can go back. But my guards will continue accompanying you. With them around, your deliveries will be safer as well.”

“No, Eldest Miss!”

A deep voice suddenly rang out behind Ning Yongqiang.

Xu Mo and Ning Yaxin turned to see a man dressed as a steward. His hair was slightly gray at the temples, and his steady, composed face suggested that he was a little over fifty.

“Steward Gao?” Ning Yaxin exclaimed in surprise before turning to Ning Yongqiang.

Ning Yongqiang answered helplessly, “Father insisted that Steward Gao come along.”

Steward Gao stepped forward, bowed to Ning Yaxin, and said, “Eldest Miss, Master says that several shipments of silk must be delivered to the neighboring counties tomorrow. We are short on manpower, so the guards will have to accompany the convoy to protect the goods.”

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With that, Steward Gao turned to Xu Mo and cupped his hands. “I’m sorry, Young Master Xu. We won’t be able to help you after all. Please forgive us.”

Xu Mo smiled faintly and shook his head. “It’s all right.”

Steward Gao nodded, then continued, “Young Master Xu, Master would like to invite you to the house. There are some things he wishes to ask you in person.”

“It won’t take too much of your time,” Steward Gao added.

Hearing that her father wished to see Xu Mo, Ning Yaxin immediately grew nervous. She hurriedly said, “Young Master Xu, it’s getting late. You should take the tung oil back to Gushan Village as soon as possible. Traveling will be inconvenient if you leave too late.”

Xu Mo was rather curious about what Master Ning wished to ask him. After thinking for a moment, he nodded to Steward Gao. “Then I’ll gladly accept his invitation.”

Steward Gao smiled and stepped aside. “Young Master Xu, this way, please.”

Xu Mo turned to Ning Yaxin and said with a smile, “Miss Ning, I should have visited Master Ning long ago. Since he has graciously invited me today, how could I refuse?”

With that, he followed Steward Gao into another carriage.

The group then left the market and headed toward the Ning residence.

During the journey, Ning Yaxin was extremely tense. She seemed to have already guessed what her father wanted to ask Xu Mo, and her heart began to race as anxiety filled her mind.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, Xu Mo arrived at the Ning residence.

After they entered, Steward Gao stopped Ning Yaxin. “Eldest Miss, Master wishes to speak with Young Master Xu alone. Please wait here for now.”

He then led Xu Mo through corridors and across courtyards until they reached Master Ning’s quarters.

The moment Xu Mo entered the courtyard, he caught the scent of traditional medicine.

Following Steward Gao, Xu Mo arrived outside a room.

Steward Gao pushed open the door but did not enter. Instead, he politely gestured inside. “Young Master Xu, please.”

Xu Mo nodded and stepped into the room.

The medicinal scent inside was even stronger, mingled with the fragrance of sandalwood. It smelled somewhat unusual, but not unpleasant.

Master Ning was reclining in a chair, covered by a thick quilt.

His face was pale, and his eyes were closed as he rested.

Only when he heard Xu Mo enter did Master Ning slowly open his eyes and rouse himself enough to examine the young man.

Outside, Steward Gao gently closed the door, leaving the older and younger men alone together.

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Xu Mo stopped five paces away from Master Ning, clasped his hands, and bowed. “Your junior, Xu Mo, pays his respects to Master Ning.”

“I had imagined you would be far more handsome and dashing. It turns out you’re quite ordinary.”

Master Ning’s voice was low, but Xu Mo could hear him clearly.

Xu Mo smiled faintly, taking no offense. He then asked, “May I ask why you summoned me here?”

Master Ning paused before asking, “Xu Mo, I hear you have been married for more than a year. Is that true?”

“Yes.” Xu Mo nodded.

“I also hear that you were once addicted to gambling, that you lost your entire family fortune, were expelled from the academy, and even mortgaged your wife. Is all of that true?”

Xu Mo frowned slightly, but admitted it openly. “It is true, but that was all in the past. Now I have already—”

“I know what you’re like now,” Master Ning interrupted. “There is no need to elaborate.”

Xu Mo was puzzled. “Master Ning, please speak frankly.”

Master Ning paused again, then asked, “Xu Mo, do you know why my daughter Yaxin refuses to marry Zhang Zhishen?”

Xu Mo said nothing. He knew Master Ning had not finished speaking.

Sure enough, the next moment Master Ning continued, “It is because of you!”

His gaze was sharp as he said this, though the intensity vanished almost immediately.

“Because of me?” Xu Mo asked, surprised.

Master Ning spoke slowly. “Our Ning family is at least moderately well established in Xizhou City. Yaxin is my only daughter, so I could never allow her to marry someone as a concubine...”

Xu Mo’s brow furrowed at once. “Master Ning, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Master Ning continued, “Xu Mo, I know that you advised the Gourmet Tower, and I also know that you invented laundry soap and scented soap. Though your past is disgraceful, it cannot be denied that you are clever—a rare talent.”

He went on, “Since you are an intelligent man, there is no need for me to beat around the bush...”

After a brief pause, Master Ning said, “If you wish to be with Yaxin, divorce your wife at once, then marry into the Ning family.”