Chapter 42: Usurping the Nest

The vendors, merchants, and laborers at the docks all left satisfied, and the many operations at the port began to run smoothly once more. Ning Hongwu was greatly pleased by this. As noon approached, he waved his hand and ordered the dock’s canteen to prepare extra meat dishes, and bought some wine for everyone to share.

At the table, Liu Shen took the opportunity to display his arithmetic skills. While everyone was drinking, he neatly summarized the dock’s accounts from the past month, presenting them with clarity. The rough men from the Qingsha Gang didn’t have any particular feelings about this; they merely thought, “This kid has something to him—much more than we realized.” Only Ning Hongwu felt as if he’d found a true treasure; his attitude toward Liu Shen grew ever warmer, with the intention of treating him as a close confidant and grooming him carefully.

Many at the table noticed this as well, and offered toasts either out of envy or in jest. Liu Shen, for his part, accepted every drink gladly, toasting each person in turn. Occasionally, he’d joke about how Qian You-sheng had crawled under the table, which only made the atmosphere livelier.

By evening, Ning Hongwu and the Qingsha Gang’s mid-level leaders returned to their respective halls, leaving the port’s affairs in the hands of Feng Jun and Liu Shen with full confidence.

After a long day of work, the next morning Liu Shen summoned Hu Dahai and Shen Hu, appointing them as foremen over the laborers. The position of foreman required little more than supervising the workers as they went about their tasks—a cushy job that sometimes allowed for picking up private gigs for extra money.

Hu Dahai and Shen Hu were moved to tears, calling him “Brother Shen” with heartfelt sincerity. Yet Liu Shen could sense that beneath their words lay a deep-seated respect and even fear. The change from “Brother Shen-er” to “Brother Shen”—these men, who just days ago were working and chatting at his side, now felt a pitiful distance between them simply because of their different statuses.

Watching the two leave, their backs stiff with awkwardness, Liu Shen sighed in melancholy. He realized it had been several days since he’d gone to the southern part of the city to visit the young mistress and strengthen their bond. Feeling restless and with nothing pressing to do, he mentioned it to Feng Jun and set out.

When he arrived at Tongda Hall, he found that both Yuan Xiaofei and the old physician Zhang were absent from the clinic, which puzzled him. The old shopkeeper, aware that he and the young mistress were friends, saw that Liu Shen didn’t seem to know what had happened and hurried over.

“Young Master Liu, the master has been gravely ill these days. The young mistress hasn’t been here at all lately. Doctor Zhang is at the Song household attending to him, and Yuan Xiaofei has gone along to help.”

“Master Song is gravely ill?” Liu Shen was taken aback, his brow furrowed. “When did this happen?”

“About four or five days ago,” the shopkeeper sighed. “Doctor Zhang says that after the young master’s early death, the old master became ill from grief, and his health has steadily declined. He’s not young anymore, and I fear his spirit has all but burned out…”

Hearing this, Liu Shen felt a pang in his heart. He clasped his hands in thanks and left Tongda Hall, heading straight for the Song residence.

During his last visit to the Song household, Liu Shen had learned that although Master Song greatly disliked him, he had nevertheless offered sincere help—guiding Liu Shen in his understanding of “power.” For that alone, Liu Shen deeply respected the man.

Yet he was also proud. Knowing that Master Song disliked him, he had refrained from visiting, not wanting to be a nuisance. He hadn’t broached the ambiguous relationship between himself and Pei Xueyan either. But setting aside pride, Liu Shen was both Pei Xueyan’s friend and a junior who had benefited from Master Song’s guidance. Now, upon hearing that Master Song was gravely ill, he was duty-bound—both emotionally and ethically—to pay his respects.

Moreover, judging by the old shopkeeper’s words, it seemed Master Song’s time was short. As a junior, Liu Shen had even greater reason to visit.

When he arrived at the Song residence, the guards at the gate barred his way, asking, “Who are you?”

“My surname is Liu,” Liu Shen replied, frowning slightly as he glanced at them. “I’m a friend of your young mistress. I heard Master Song is gravely ill and have come to pay my respects. Would you please announce me?”

The two men exchanged a glance, and one of them said, “Wait here; I’ll go inform them,” before running into the house.

Shortly after, he returned—this time with Xiao Yuhong behind him. At the sight of Liu Shen, she beamed and waved him over, calling, “Brother Shen, over here!”

“I may go in now?” Liu Shen asked. Seeing the guard nod, he followed Xiao Yuhong into the Song residence.

Glancing around, Xiao Yuhong lowered her voice and said, “Brother Shen, you haven’t come to see the young mistress these past few days. She’s been complaining about you.”

“Oh?” Liu Shen raised his eyebrows in surprise, half amused. “Something came up and delayed me, but as soon as I finished, I hurried here.”

He ruffled Xiao Yuhong’s hair and asked softly, “Tell me, how exactly has the young mistress been complaining about me?”

“The master’s been ill for days…” Xiao Yuhong replied mischievously. “The young mistress has her hands full at home, and just last night she was complaining to me, saying you weren’t around when she needed you most.”

Liu Shen could only chuckle awkwardly. “There was trouble at the docks. I really couldn’t get away. As soon as things settled, I came right over.”

“That’s not my concern…” Xiao Yuhong grinned slyly. “You’ll have to explain yourself to the young mistress.”

Liu Shen sighed, changing the subject. “Last time I came, there were no guards outside the Song house. Did the young mistress arrange for them?”

“Not exactly…” Xiao Yuhong glanced around again before lowering her voice. “Quite a few people have come to visit the old master these days—even the young mistress’s family. Those guards were brought by her relatives.”

“Her family?” Liu Shen’s brow furrowed. “Why are they here?”

He had known Pei Xueyan for half a year and understood her background well. The Pei family were merchants from neighboring Xiyang County, well off by most standards. Her parents favored sons over daughters, and as the third daughter, Pei Xueyan was neglected, especially after her brother’s birth.

A few years ago, the Pei family’s business ran into trouble. The family patriarch consulted a fortune-teller, who claimed Pei Xueyan’s destiny was to blame. At the time, the Song family’s only son had recently died, and Master Song was desperate to find a bride to ward off ill fortune. Upon learning of this, the Pei patriarch leapt at the chance to “sell” Pei Xueyan to the Songs—not marry, but sell.

Master Song had given the Peis a betrothal gift and settled one of their debts, while the Pei family provided not a single dowry item. Even Pei Xueyan herself would joke that she had been sold to the Song family.

Xiao Yuhong looked around once more and said softly, “The young mistress’s father, mother, and brother are all staying at the Song estate. They say that since their in-law is ill, and they’re all family, it’s only right for them to help care for the young mistress and Master Song.”

“Family?” Liu Shen gave a cold laugh, suspicion stirring in his heart.

Pei Xueyan had been part of the Song household for nearly two years, yet her family from the neighboring county had never visited. Now, with Master Song gravely ill and near death, they had suddenly shown up? And insisted on staying to “help” take care of Pei Xueyan and the old man?

Wine reveals true faces, and wealth tempts the heart. The Songs had settled in Heyang County only recently. After Master Song’s only son died, there was no heir left; the only one with a claim to the estate was the widowed daughter-in-law, Pei Xueyan.

Now that Master Song was bedridden and his days numbered, Pei Xueyan was poised to inherit everything. Suddenly her family came to “visit” the daughter they had sold, now posturing as affectionate in-laws.

If the Pei family had no designs on the Song fortune, it would be hard for anyone—let alone a dog—to believe it.

“Brother Shen…” Xiao Yuhong whispered timidly, “I don’t like the young mistress’s relatives. There’s something strange about them.”

Liu Shen knew she was still young and couldn’t grasp the complexities of human nature. He patted her head and smiled, “Don’t worry. I don’t like them either.”