CH 1.1

In the sixth year of Yongshun in the Qi Dynasty, on the fifth day of March.

Only three days were left for Ruan’s shop to settle the payment.

The Ruan family’s business this time was done on the black market. According to the rules of the Yangzhou black market, if the payment could not be settled on time, all the property of the Ruan family’s business would be handed over to others.

Ruan Longling, the owner of the Ruan family business, tried every method to borrow money to settle the payment, but a thousand tales were still missing. She was so worried that she went through account books for several sleepless nights in a row to check whether she had missed something. Suddenly, she caught a point from an account book.

[TL Notes: Tael is a Chinese measure of weight that has been used as money in ancient China.]

The Liu family, on Huaihua Street in the north of the city, owed the Ruan family more than 800 taels of silver over these years. As long as she could get that money, the payment issues could be solved without any difficulties. However, the person who went to collect money came back without success giving Ruan Longling a headache.

“The second room of the Liu family refused to admit it, saying that the second room had never borrowed money from Ruan’s house, and even falsely accused us that we had no rules and that we were chasing the wrong person for the debt.”

“Boss, you have been engaged to the eldest son of the Liu family, Liu Chengji, since you were young. You have subsidised the eldest son of the Liu family for many years. Maybe you mistakenly made the wrong account and mistakenly credited the money given to the eldest son to the second wife,” another servant said.

Ah Xing, a loyal maid of the Runa family, said with a frown when she heard this, “Are you actually a dead person? How can they deny the IOU written in black and white!”

“They recognised it, but she also said that the Ruan family will marry into the Liu family in the future, and she is the future husband’s aunt, and Boss Ruan should respect elders.” The little servant raised his eyes and looked at Ruan Longling anxiously. He quickly lowered his head and shrugged his shoulders, murmuring, “And that money… just treat it… just treat it as the boss… honour the elders in advance.”

The servants, who were standing all over the ground, dared not show their anger at hearing such words.

The rain had just stopped, and the rainwater was falling drop by drop from the wooden roof to the stone steps of the building. There was a woman, with a little tired face, sitting in the official hat chair above the stone steps. Although she had faint dark circles under her eyes, they couldn’t hide her beauty.

That woman was Ruan Longling, who was in charge of Ruan’s business. Hearing the servant’s words, Ruan Longling’s face became more and more gloomy, and suddenly she clenched the armrest of the chair and stood up with a sneer. “Ah Xing, go find fifty strong servants, tell them to take some sticks and follow me to Huaihua Street.”

Although the Ruan family was doing serious business, it was quite awkward when facing malicious rogues who owed credit. It was common to use evil to control evil, and it was not uncommon to see blood.

Ah Xing knew that there would be a serious conflict if they went to the Liu family, so she tried to pursue Ruan Longling with a low voice. “Think twice, my boss. You are going to marry into the Liu family. How can you go to your fiancé’s house to collect debts? Besides, Liu Sheshi is the head of the Liu family now, and she was notorious for taking vengeance. If you offend her before marriage, it is inevitable that she will not retaliate against you after you marry into the Liu family.”

Speaking of Liu Chengji, Ruan Longling suddenly remembered the day he went to Beijing to rush for the exam. The two had been engaged since they were young, and they had known each other since childhood. Although they were not married yet, they had a strong affection for each other. The two families, the Ruan, and the Liu made an agreement with each other before Liu Chengji went to Beijing. Whether Liu Chengji passed the exam or not, they would get married when he returned.

She and Liu Chengji were in love with each other. However, unexpectedly, such a thing happened before they got through the door. If this problem could not be handled this time, she would face more serious problems after getting married.

Did the Liu family help the Ruan family when they had difficulties, or did the Liu family provide money for the Ruan family’s business? No. So why should Ruan Longling let the Liu family bully her? ‘Today’s debt of the Liu family must be collected!’ Ruan Longling thought with frustration.

“What are you still doing here? Why don’t you go order people now? Waiting for people from the black market to bully us to close the shop?” Ruan Longling scolded Ah Xing.

As the only female proprietor among many merchants in Yangzhou, Ruan Longling had always acted vigorously and resolutely. After being reprimanded like this, the servants dared not say a word, and they all shrugged their shoulders and got ready to go to the Liu family house. Everyone hurried to the Liu family on Huaihua Street in the north of the city.

At that time in the Liu family, Liu Sheshi was leisurely laying on a couch, eating melon seeds happily. She couldn’t help but flash a proud smile from time to time. After all, she not only got rid of a huge debt but also gave the bride who was about to enter the big room a disarm.

What kind of character was Ruan Longling? She was the “Lady Linglong,” as everyone called her in Yangzhou City.

[TL Notes: The meaning of “Lady Linglong” can be taken as “Elegant Lady.”]

The Ruan family’s business was not very promising in the past. They went through multiple ups and downs as a result of the intense competition among merchants in Yangzhou City. However, since Ruan Longling took charge of the Ruan family business at the age of twelve, the Ruan family soon established itself in Yangzhou City. Only five years had passed since then, and the Ruan family was now among the top five businesses in Yangzhou City. Not only did she open various shops, but she also even set up a pulpit.