Chapter 85: That Shameless Scoundrel

Wu Laojiu was not a selfish man, and besides, looking at Tang Renji’s tedious “流水账” was unbearably painful. Therefore, he didn’t mind teaching Zhao Ziping a thing or two about the future’s “double-entry bookkeeping” and the method of recording credits and debits on opposite sides. It wasn’t anything high-level—just a way to improve the professional standards of the Tang accounting office.

Of course, he couldn’t teach all the details at once; it depended on Zhao Ziping’s aptitude to absorb as much as he could.

Zhao Ziping was impressed. Everyone thought this deputy’s nephew was just a figurehead, but to their surprise, his skills were top-notch. He listened attentively, and in no time, his master called him over.

“Well, well…”

Wu Ning, at last after five years, finally had a chance to show off his true talents.

“Well, well, as accountants, we don’t just help the master’s family calculate accounts accurately and know whether they’re losing or making money. In fact, we are the bedrock of the entire business.”

Pointing at the ledger, he continued, “By separating and summarizing each income and expense item, it’s like drawing a map for the shop’s operations.”

“When it comes to which item is overspending, which is surplus, which fabric yields the highest profit, and which the least, the master can see it all at a glance. This gives a fundamental direction for future business and allows timely adjustments.”

“This is very important. Do you understand, Brother Zhao?”

“Understood, understood.” Zhao Ziping nodded vigorously. “Master truly has foresight!”

“Of course.” Wu Ning beamed. “This is the basic literacy of our accounting office.”

Just as he was basking in pride, a female voice, very familiar, came from beside him.

“The characters in the ledger are too small. Sir, you might not see clearly. Shall I light a lamp for you?”

Wu Ning was engrossed and didn’t even look up. “It’s no trouble. My eyesight’s fine!”

“Still, let me light it. If you strain your eyes and lose your sight, the shop can’t afford that.”

“No need!”

“Please light it!”

“Hey.” Wu Ning was annoyed, suddenly looking up with displeasure, “I said you’re annoying—”

He was immediately silenced, his face full of terror.

“Miaomiao, miaomiao, miaomiao…”

Qin Miaoniang stood with hands on her hips, clutching a feather duster, thinking: You lecherous rogue, you finally look up?

She shouted hoarsely in a coquettish tone, “I’ll beat you to death, you scoundrel!”

Swinging the duster, she aimed it straight at Wu Ning’s pockmarked face.

Wu Ning, ever “alert,” saw the small duster coming down on his head and, thinking quickly, grabbed Zhao Ziping’s lapels to shield himself.

Smack!

Zhao Ziping: “Ah!”

Qin Miaoniang was far from satisfied with just one strike and raised her arm to strike again.

Wu Ning ducked and blocked.

Zhao Ziping: “Ah… ah!”

What was going on? Little Comrade Zhao was utterly baffled. He just wanted to be hired as an accountant, not be a human shield for a feather duster!

Unfortunately, Miss Qin had already lost all reason, her mind filled with memories of Wu Ning’s past misdeeds, including that disgraceful rainy day in the guest room of the Wu family.

She felt no guilt toward little Zhao; instead, she was furious that he had taken the duster’s blow meant for Wu Ning.

Pointing at Zhao Ziping’s nose, she snapped, “You, step aside! What mischief are you making?”

Then glaring at Wu Ning, “You, don’t hide!”

Zhao Ziping thought, what a fierce young woman.

Turning to Wu Ning, he remarked, “Your lady? Poor upbringing, huh?”

Smack!

“Ah!!”

Qin Miaoniang was both embarrassed and angry. “Who’s his lady?”

Pointing at Wu Ning, she growled, “Don’t hide—today I’ll beat you to death, you scoundrel!”

“I won’t!” Wu Ning shrank further behind Zhao Ziping.

In this situation, whoever comes out is the fool.

“Put the duster down if you dare.”

“Come out if you dare.”

“Put it down.”

“Come out.”

“Put it down?”

“Stop!” Zhao Ziping roared, “I’m coming out!!!”

He broke free from Wu Ning’s grip and dashed out in two strides to the side of Shopkeeper Qian, slipping behind him and peeking out cautiously.

“Carry on!”

Damn! Wu Ning cursed.

With his shield gone, he just wanted to find a place to hide from the storm—but Miaoniang gave him no chance.

Seeing the “meat shield” disappear, she perked up and started swinging the duster again.

“I’ll beat you to death! For pretending to be blind, for lying, for bullying me!”

“Ah!!”

“Don’t hit here!”

“It tickles!!”

“It hurts…”

The Ning Cloth Shop turned into chaos, filled with Wu Ning’s screams akin to a slaughtered pig.

Shopkeeper Qian and Zhao Ziping stood by silently, stunned, forgetting even to intervene.

“What’s going on?” Shopkeeper Qian finally asked after a pause.

Zhao Ziping peered out halfway and said confidently, “From my judgment, this is definitely a personal grudge.”

He looked seriously at Shopkeeper Qian. “It’s about feelings.”

“Oh~!!” Shopkeeper Qian suddenly understood.

“Got it!” He turned and pulled Zhao Ziping away.

“Let’s go, nothing to see here.”

“Wait!” Little Comrade Zhao was dragged outside unwillingly. “Let me watch a bit more!”

Damn it, Wu Ning had shielded him from two dusters, and he was enjoying the show.

Meanwhile, Wu Ning and Qin Miaoniang were circling a pillar, with Wu Ning nearly cursing his fate.

“Old man, block her properly! Why’d you walk away?”

With no help forthcoming, he could only fend for himself.

“Miaoniang, listen to me.”

“I don’t want to hear your lies!”

Qin Miaoniang’s face flushed red, filled with the thought that Brother Ning was a big villain—no way would she listen.

“Stop!!”

When softness failed, he resorted to force.

“Too much!” Wu Ning pointed at Miaoniang on the other side of the pillar. “Where has such a fierce young lady ever been seen?”

Qin Miaoniang threw caution to the wind and glared with her almond-shaped eyes. “Today, I’ll show you exactly who I am!”

“Well then, tell me—what could I have done that rainy day?”

When both softness and force failed, reason was the last resort.

Drawing on his thespian skills, Wu Ning wore a helpless expression. “Besides pretending to be blind, I had no other way!”

“Lying is wrong. Especially lying to me is cruel.” Qin Miaoniang showed no signs of stopping.

Wu Ning thought, it seems I need an extraordinary move.

Taking advantage of circling the pillar, he deliberately stomped his foot.

“Ah!!”

He stumbled and fell heavily onto the floor, his large frame hitting the tiles with a thud.

Damn!

His technique was poor; he really fell.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch…”

Wu Ning clutched his leg, moaning pitifully.

“That’s it, it’s broken!” Qin Miaoniang stopped in shock, seeing him writhe in pain. She thought, did he really break it?

“Hey.” She leaned in, probing. “Stop pretending. I saw clearly you didn’t hit it at all.”

“I fell, I fell, I fell!” Wu Ning’s face scrunched like a steamed bun. “It hurts.”

“Did you really fall?”

Qin Miaoniang panicked and crouched down. “Where did you fall? Does it hurt?”

“Hurts, hurts…” Wu Ning kept up the act, stealing a glance at her flustered face, calling out in pain while reasoning.

“Besides pretending, if I had admitted it early, you’d have hit me for sure. Then this leg would’ve been broken long ago.”

“Nonsense!” Qin Miaoniang truly believed his leg was broken, tears swirling in her eyes.

“I just wanted to vent, not to break your leg.”

She wiped her eyes and suddenly tried to stand. “I’ll get the doctor.”

“No!”

Wu Ning grabbed her small hand. “Sit with me a while.”

With a gentle pull, he sat her down beside him. “You crying like this makes my heart ache; it feels like my leg doesn’t hurt so much now.”

“Maybe… it’s not broken.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

Wu Ning nodded, settling beside Qin Miaoniang. “That day, I really didn’t mean to barge in. But I was already inside when Xianglan shouted ‘lecherous rogue.’ What else could I do? If I didn’t pretend to be blind, not only would my reputation be ruined, but you’d hate me forever, wouldn’t you?”

“…” Qin Miaoniang wanted to smile but felt pain looking at his leg. “So you won’t hate me forever now?”

“Would I?” Wu Ning countered, “Would you really hate me forever?”

“Pfft.” Miaoniang finally laughed and gave Wu Ning a hard shove. “Of course not—I just hate you!”

“Ouch, ouch…”

“Nonsense, I wasn’t even hitting hard.”

“It really hurts.”

“Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere. Especially here,” he said, tapping his heart. “Because my sister’s going to hate me forever.”

“Heh… you’re just making up lies again.”

At the door, Zhao Ziping pressed his face against the curtain crack, covered in goosebumps.

“This shameless scoundrel!”

Even he could see the shameless wretch inside was faking it, but the young lady believed him all the same.

And you wretch, can you please let go of her hand? Why won’t you ever let go once you grab on?

—End of pages.