Chapter 86 How Could You Go to a Brothel Behind Your Sister-in-law’s Back?

Noon, Zhenxiu Pavilion.

Inside Ning Yongqiang’s room.

With a loud bang, Ning Yongqiang slammed his palm on the table, his anger blazing. “Damn it! That Zhang Zhishen actually dared to embarrass my sister in public!”

After watching Wang Shunyang make a fool of himself, Ning Yaxin insisted on treating Xu Mo to lunch at Zhenxiu Pavilion to thank him for his help. During the meal, Ning Yongqiang learned what Zhang Zhishen had done and was instantly furious.

“No way! I have to teach that guy a lesson. Who does he think he is? This is Xinzhou, not their Heyang!” he said, rising from his seat with righteous indignation. He turned to Ning Yaxin and demanded, “Sister, tell me where he’s staying—I’ll take some men and deal with him right now!”

“Sit down!” Ning Yaxin’s voice was cold as ice, her tone sharp.

Ning Yongqiang immediately wilted, sinking back into his chair with resignation.

“There’s no need for you to make things worse,” Ning Yaxin snapped. “I’ll handle Zhang Zhishen myself.”

Ning Yongqiang pouted, but said nothing more.

At this, Xu Mo spoke earnestly. “Miss Ning, if you encounter any more trouble, just let me know. I’ll come to your aid whenever you call.”

“Thank you, Master Xu,” Ning Yaxin replied gratefully. “You’ve already helped me so much today. I can handle the rest on my own.”

Xu Mo nodded, dropping the subject of Zhang Zhishen.

Just then, a waiter arrived with their dishes and a jug of the finest wine Zhenxiu Pavilion had to offer. The food was set out, the wine poured. Ning Yaxin raised her cup to Xu Mo in a toast, downing it in one go. Xu Mo followed suit, emptying his cup with equal gusto. They exchanged a smile.

The three of them began to eat and chat. At first, the conversation revolved around Wang Shunyang—how ridiculous he’d looked atop the city wall, how disheveled he was when he left. Ning Yongqiang recounted these moments with the greatest enthusiasm.

Gradually, the topic shifted to the day’s promotional event.

“Master Xu,” Ning Yaxin asked, “do you think we prepared too few samples of the trial soap? They were all gone in less than a quarter of an hour.”

Xu Mo shook his head with a smile. “Miss Ning, it’s not that we didn’t prepare enough—it was the chaos that made them disappear so quickly.”

He had witnessed the entire scene when the trial soaps were handed out, and to be honest, he found it quite exasperating. It hadn’t been distribution—it was more like a scramble.

Still, Xu Mo didn’t blame Ning Yaxin. It was, after all, her first time organizing such a promotional event, and she lacked experience in these matters.

Ning Yaxin realized things had gotten out of hand and reproached herself. “Master Xu, it’s my fault. I never expected it to turn out like that... Don’t worry, next time I’ll make sure everything is organized—there won’t be another mess like today.”

Xu Mo shook his head again. “Miss Ning, it’s not your fault. There were simply too many people, and we were understaffed. It was impossible to maintain order.”

Ning Yongqiang suddenly interjected, “Sister, next time you hand out trial soap, why not do it at the entrance to the county yamen? Let’s see if anyone dares cause trouble there!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Ning Yaxin scolded with a frown. “You’d have your own sister thrown in jail?”

Ning Yongqiang grinned cheekily. “I was only joking, Sister. Why take it so seriously?”

Xu Mo, hearing this, was struck by inspiration. “Miss Ning, while we can’t distribute samples at the county yamen, we could ask the yamen officers to help maintain order.”

Ning Yaxin looked puzzled. “How do you mean, Master Xu?”

Xu Mo explained seriously, “I once met Head Constable Xiong Youli of the yamen. He’s a decent man, and we got along well.” Xu Mo almost laughed at himself—how could he say they got along? It was more that Xiong Youli got along well with money.

“So,” Xu Mo continued, “if we offer a little extra compensation, I think Head Constable Xiong would agree to help us maintain order.”

From his predecessor’s memories, Xu Mo knew that although yamen constables were government officials, there was no law in Liang that forbade them from taking private work. Besides, they weren’t paid regular salaries—only a small living allowance, known as ‘subsistence money.’

The amount varied across the country. In rich counties, a constable might receive twelve strings of cash a year, one per month. In poor counties like Xinzhou, seven strings was already considered generous—nearly half as much as in wealthier counties.

Therefore, Xu Mo reasoned that if they offered a bit more, Xiong Youli would not refuse. They could simply pick a day when Head Constable Xiong wasn’t on duty at the yamen, so as not to interfere with his regular work.

Ning Yaxin was delighted and nodded at once. “Master Xu, that’s a wonderful idea!”

After lunch, Xu Mo and Qin Mutou took their leave. They first returned home to fetch the mule cart, then went to the market to load up all the dried flower petals and spices they had ordered. Finally, they set off straight for Gushan Village.

By the time they returned to Gushan Village, dusk was falling and the sun was nearly set.

Upon hearing that Xu Mo and Qin Mutou had returned, Chen Miaoyi and Xu Hui hurried out to meet them.

Seeing Xu Mo travel-worn and weary, Chen Miaoyi quickly led him to the bedchamber, urging him to change out of his dusty clothes and wash up.

As soon as Xu Mo had changed, Chen Miaoyi brought him a bowl of water. “Husband, have a drink.”

Xu Mo took the bowl and drank eagerly. While he drank, Chen Miaoyi asked about everything that had happened at home, and Xu Mo answered each question in turn.

After he finished and set down the bowl, he reached for Chen Miaoyi’s hands and began to gently massage them.

Chen Miaoyi blushed at once, trying to pull away, but Xu Mo held her fast.

“Husband, it’s not even dark yet—what are you doing?” she said, bashfully lowering her head.

Xu Mo’s expression suddenly turned serious, his tone tinged with displeasure. “Miaoyi, did you forget to use the hand balm I bought you while I was away? Look at your hands—they’re cracked again.”

Chen Miaoyi quickly protested, “Husband, I did use it! These cracks were already there from before; they just haven’t healed yet.”

“Really? Let me see…”

Xu Mo took her hand and examined it closely. Then, catching her off guard, he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

“Oh!” Startled, Chen Miaoyi gasped, her face flushing red.

Xu Mo, straight-faced, declared, “Mmm! You have been using it—I can smell the balm’s fragrance.”

Hearing this, Chen Miaoyi blushed even more deeply.

Just as Xu Mo was about to pull his shy, crimson-faced wife into his arms, Xu Hui suddenly appeared at the door.

Her brow furrowed, her face stern, Xu Hui demanded, “Cousin, how could you sneak off to a brothel behind Sister-in-law’s back?”

“A… a brothel?” Chen Miaoyi’s eyes widened in shock, staring at Xu Mo in disbelief.