Chapter 55: When the Last Tie Breaks

The letter was soon delivered to Wei Lan’s hands.

The gist of the letter was that Zhao Xinlan had left, and Wei Wenyuan was beyond saving.

Zhao Xinlan instructed Wei Lan to take care of Wei Qing.

She also said that her past actions had been wrong, and that she had let Wei Lan and Wei Qing down.

 

Wei Lan’s mood didn’t fluctuate much when she saw the letter.

However, the fact that Zhao Xinlan had finally come to her senses and left meant she wasn’t completely beyond hope.

 

Wei Lan took the letter and walked to Wei Qing’s door.

She knocked gently.

 

Soon, Wei Qing opened the door from the inside.

Seeing it was Wei Lan, she quickly asked, “Sis, is there something you need?”

 

Wei Lan nodded slightly.

“Mm.

Mother has left.

This is a letter she left for you.”

“What?

Mother left?”

Wei Qing’s eyes reddened with worry.

She quickly took the letter to read it.

 

Wei Qing didn’t yet know that Wei Wenyuan had lost more money gambling.

To prevent Wei Qing from being deceived by Wei Wenyuan, Wei Lan said directly, “Wei Wenyuan lost another five hundred taels at the gambling house.

Mother must have finally seen what kind of person he is.

Leaving is a good thing.

But you, don’t let yourself be fooled by Wei Wenyuan.

He lost the money gambling; he has to bear the consequences himself.”

“But… is Mother going to be okay?”

Wei Qing was very worried about Zhao Xinlan and couldn’t help but redden her eyes.

“Don’t worry.

Since she left us a letter, leaving Wei Wenyuan must have been a decision she made after careful thought.

People often become stronger than before when they reach their lowest point.”

Wei Lan reached out and patted the young girl’s shoulder, comforting her.

 

Wei Qing nodded.

As if remembering something, she rubbed her slightly reddened eyes and said, “Sis, come in with me.”

 

Wei Lan didn’t know what the young girl wanted to do, but she followed her into the room.

 

Wei Qing put the letter on the round table, then took out a small embroidered pouch.

She opened the pouch and handed it to Wei Lan.

“Sis, this is what I earned from making embroidered pouches this past month.

It’s not much, just three taels of silver and two hundred coins.

It’s all for you.”

 

Wei Lan was stunned by the young girl’s action.

No, she wasn’t short of money.

“Keep this for yourself.

I don’t need silver.”

Wei Lan felt it was good that Wei Qing could earn her own silver; at least it gave her something to do to pass the time.

“But I’m living here.

Don’t I need to contribute to the household?

This amount is very small, but I’ll work harder to earn more in the future.”

Wei Qing had everything good at the Lu residence, and the servants treated her well.

But she could see that her food, clothing, and daily needs cost a lot of silver.

Wei Qing wanted to earn money quickly, so she wouldn’t be freeloading at the Lu residence.

 

Wei Lan shook her head with a smile.

“The residence doesn’t need your contribution.

I don’t need silver either.

Keep the silver you earn for yourself.

You don’t need to have any mental burden staying at the Lu residence.

This is your home.”

“But…”

Wei Qing was still a little uneasy.

“No buts.

I really don’t need silver.

Alright, I have to go carve jade.

I can’t chat with you anymore.”

Wei Lan said goodbye to Wei Qing and went to her workshop to work.

 

Wei Qing looked at the silver in her hand.

It was true, it was too little.

But she could save it for her sister, and when her sister needed it, she could give it to her then.

 

***

 

On the other side, Wei Wenyuan went out and had a doctor stop the bleeding on his severed finger.

Then he sold the family home for over five hundred taels of silver.

He thought about taking the silver and running away before the gambling house people came to collect the debt.

 

After doing everything, he ran home to find Zhao Xinlan, only to discover she was no longer there.

 

Originally, Wei Wenyuan had planned to take Zhao Xinlan with him.

After all, he would need someone to wash his clothes, cook for him, and manage the household on the road.

But now, after shouting in the courtyard for a long time without seeing anyone, Wei Wenyuan was furious.

“b*tch!

Where have you gone, you b*tch?

Zhao Xinlan…”

Wei Wenyuan shouted in the courtyard for a good while longer.

However, there was no response.

 

He sat on the ground, feeling lost and helpless.

And just as Wei Wenyuan was preparing to run away and leave the courtyard, the gambling house people, hearing the commotion, came again.

 

The gambling house had connections with several pawnshops and resale shops in Panyang City.

The gambling house would inform these places in advance.

If someone in debt sold off their assets, these places would send someone to notify the gambling house.

That way, the gambling house could send people to collect the debt early and prevent the debtors from running away.

 

The same thing happened to Wei Wenyuan this time.

The owner heard that Wei Wenyuan had sold his property, so he brought his people to Wei Wenyuan’s courtyard to block him.

And sure enough, they found Wei Wenyuan sitting dejectedly in the courtyard.

 

The owner glanced at Wei Wenyuan and said coldly, “I heard you sold your property.

Good.

At least you can pay off your gambling debt.

Hand over the money.”

 

Wei Wenyuan wanted to cry.

How had he been found so quickly?

He had been planning to run away with the money.

Now it was all over.

“Boss, could you give me a few more days?

Just two more days.

I’ll definitely bring you the silver.”

Without that five hundred taels, he really wouldn’t be able to survive.

“Stop putting on an act with me, you old bastard.

You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.

Search him.”

 

After the gambling house owner finished speaking, the thugs swarmed forward.

Sure enough, they found five hundred taels in silver notes and an additional twelve taels in loose silver from Wei Wenyuan’s clothes.

All this money was taken by the thugs and handed to the gambling house owner.

 

Wei Wenyuan saw that even his loose silver had been taken and almost exploded.

“That dozen or so taels of silver were mine!

Why are you taking those too?”

“Yours?

None of it is yours.

That bit of silver is just the interest.”

With that, the gambling house owner called to his men.

“Let’s go.”

 

The group left the small courtyard in a noisy crowd, leaving Wei Wenyuan alone, crying uncontrollably.

But no one cared anymore.

 

***

 

Several more days passed.

Finally, five hundred copies each of the second and third volumes of Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household were printed.

Of course, another three hundred copies of the first volume were also reprinted.

But Wei Lan had someone inform the various bookstores not to sell them just yet.

She had a new idea.

 

The bookstore sent people to ask Lu Zijin for her opinion.

Lu Zijin told them to follow Wei Lan’s arrangements.

After all, the bookstore was only a small business for the Lu residence; letting Wei Lan play around with it was fine.

Lu Zijin realized that her current state was a bit like King Zhou being bewitched by Daji.

Whatever Wei Lan wanted to do, she indulged her.

 

Thinking this, Lu Zijin was amused by her own thought.

“Go back and tell the managers of the various bookstores that if the master has any requests, they are to follow the master’s instructions.”

Lu Zijin looked up and said.

After speaking, she resumed writing.

“Yes, this lowly one will go relay the message to the various bookstores.”

The servant quickly bowed and withdrew.

 

Soon, Wei Lan had the main branch of the Lu family bookstore make some arrangements.

She was going to hold a signing event.

A book signed in person by the author would sell for five taels of silver, four taels more than the regular price.

 

Wei Lan thought for a moment and wrote promotional copy on paper:

Wei Lan, the author of ‘Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household,’ will be holding a signing event tomorrow morning.

Those who participate in the signing event and queue up can receive a personally signed copy from the author, along with a random small gift.

(Note: Books purchased at the signing event are priced at five taels each.

Books not purchased at the event are still one tael each.)

 

The manager of the main branch of the Lu family bookstore, Qu Qiushui, was a capable female Qiankun.

She was skeptical of Wei Lan’s so-called signing event.

After all, people weren’t fools.

One tael of silver for a storybook was already expensive enough.

Who would be such a fool as to buy one for five taels?

“Ah, what are we going to do?

And the young lady actually agreed?

The master has talent, and the storybook she wrote is good, but there definitely won’t be many people willing to spend five taels of silver on a storybook.

What are we going to do?”

Qu Qiushui sighed.

“Manager, don’t worry too much.

Let the master hold her signing event.

Then she’ll see.

If no one comes, we’ll just have to sell them for one tael each.”

The assistant quickly comforted her.

 

Qu Qiushui sighed and said, “I suppose that’s all we can do.”

 

She arranged for servants to clear an area in the shop according to Wei Lan’s instructions, setting up a large desk.

The storybooks were neatly stacked in piles on either side of the long desk.

 

After that, she had the time and price of the signing event posted on the bulletin board outside the bookstore.

However, Qu Qiushui was not optimistic, thinking Wei Lan was just making trouble for nothing.

How many fools were there waiting for her to scam?

 

At that moment, in the City Lord’s residence, several of Lu Shihuai’s friends came over to play.

“Shihuai, have you heard the news?

Wei Lan is holding a signing event tomorrow morning.”

One of the young girls said excitedly.

“What’s a signing event?”

Lu Shihuai had never heard of it before, so she asked.

“We’re not sure either.

It probably means Wei Lan will be at the main branch of the Lu family bookstore, and a signed copy will cost five taels of silver.

Anyway, it’s posted outside the Lu family bookstore.”

 

Lu Shihuai was thoroughly confused.

Her friends didn’t really understand what it meant either.

But it seemed like a good thing.

Maybe they could buy the second and third volumes tomorrow.

 

Thinking this, Lu Shihuai said, “Five taels isn’t expensive.

I’ll buy them.

I want to collect the whole set anyway.”

“Me too.

But I don’t know if I should go myself tomorrow.

After all, Wei Lan will be at the bookstore.

I’m quite curious what she looks like.”

“Ah, me too, me too.

So I plan to go myself tomorrow, just bring a few servants to accompany me.”

 

Lu Shihuai was also a bit curious about what Wei Lan looked like.

They had always gossiped about Wei Lan, but they didn’t actually know what she looked like.

“Then… maybe I’ll go too.

I’m really curious what kind of person could write a character like Cui Niang.”

“Yeah, she’s resolute and courageous.

I love Cui Niang.”

Her friend agreed.

 

***

 

At the same time, in Fuqu Pavilion of the Lu residence, Wei Lan had the maidservants help her attach tassels to the bottoms of bookmarks.

 

The card stock had been specially made by Wei Lan at the bookstore.

On the bookmarks, she wrote lines from the book that she found meaningful.

Then she had someone buy a lot of tassels from the Eastern Market.

She had the maidservants punch holes in the bookmarks and tie on the tassels.

A convenient and beautiful bookmark was thus made.

 

These were considered merchandise to go along with the book.

After all, for five taels of silver, she couldn’t just give them a signature.

 

So, early the next morning, Wei Lan took Xi Ye and Si Yun to the main branch of the Lu family bookstore.

 

Qu Qiushui quickly came out to greet Wei Lan.

“Master, this way.

Everything has been prepared according to your instructions.”

 

Wei Lan nodded with satisfaction.

“Good.

Well done.

Later, find a few servants to come and maintain order.

Those participating in the signing event need to queue up.

After getting their signatures, they can go to the front counter to pay.

Remember, the signing event books are five taels each.”

 

Qu Qiushui’s face twitched.

No, did the master really think there would be fools queuing up?

Qu Qiushui felt a mixture of emotions, but on the surface, she remained very respectful.

“Alright, I’ve noted everything.

I’ll go give some more reminders to ensure everything is perfect.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Wei Lan said, then instructed Xi Ye beside her, “Stand next to me later and help maintain order.

As for Si Yun, you’ll help me hand out the books and bookmarks.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, this servant understands.”

 

With everything arranged, Wei Lan walked to the inside of the long desk and sat down, waiting for people to arrive.

 

Qu Qiushui shook her head.

The master was really high-maintenance.

And the young lady actually indulged her antics.

But this also proved that the master was truly favored.

Otherwise, how would a live-in wife have the authority to manage business matters?

 

Just as the hour of the day began, a few people arrived at the shop.

Among them were Lu Shihuai and her four friends.

They had arranged to come early so they could buy the books early, so they arrived very early.

 

This time, none of them had sent servants; they came themselves, accompanied by only a few attendants.

 

Qu Qiushui recognized Lu Shihuai at a glance.

This was the City Lord’s daughter.

She quickly came over and cupped her hands.

“Might I help you young ladies with anything?

I can show you around.”

“Oh, we’re here for the signing event.

How do we participate?”

Lu Shihuai asked.

 

Qu Qiushui looked at Lu Shihuai and her four friends with a complex expression.

So there really were fools willing to participate?

“Young ladies, please follow me.

Just queue up when the time comes.”

 

Wei Lan’s area was in the back of the shop, so the young girls hadn’t seen Wei Lan and the others.

Now, led by Qu Qiushui, they saw the person sitting behind the desk.

 

Wei Lan saw people arriving and greeted them with a smile.

“You’re all so early!

First, please sit here.

Those behind, please form a queue.

I’ll get to you shortly.”

“Okay.”

Lu Shihuai was the first to sit down.

She was a bit shy, her earlobes slightly flushed.

She hadn’t expected Lu Zijin’s live-in wife to be this good-looking.

No wonder Lu Zijin had married her.

“Um, are you Wei Lan?”

Lu Shihuai asked softly.

 

Wei Lan smiled and nodded.

Seeing the young girl blushing, she comforted her with a smile.

“Don’t be nervous.

We have the first, second, and third volumes here.

Which volumes would you like to buy?”

“I want all three!”

Lu Shihuai quickly said.

She already had the first volume, but for some reason, she just wanted to buy it again!

“Alright.”

Wei Lan nodded and reached out to take the three books that Si Yun handed her.

Wei Lan opened the first page of the book and asked, “Would you like me to write your name?

And then I’ll write a short message.

Or is there something specific you’d like me to write?”

 

Lu Shihuai hadn’t expected this and didn’t know how it worked.

Just listening to Wei Lan talk to her made her feel dizzy and dazed.

“I don’t really know.

Just write whatever you want.

Oh, my name is Lu Shihuai.”

 

Afraid Wei Lan might not know which characters her name used, Lu Shihuai even used her hand to trace them out.

“Okay.”

Wei Lan smiled.

 

Then she wrote on the title page:

To: Lu Shihuai.

May you have peace and joy, and may everything go well for you.

 

The next two books had similar content.

Wei Lan wrote quietly.

Lu Shihuai and the young girls behind her were all looking at Wei Lan.

Especially the girls further back, who were whispering among themselves.

 

After Wei Lan finished writing, she let the ink dry slightly, then took out a few bookmarks with different messages.

“These are also merchandise that come with the signing event.

One bookmark per book.

There aren’t many people right now, so you can choose for yourself.”

“Oh, okay.”

Lu Shihuai had been looking at Wei Lan the whole time.

Only when Wei Lan said this did she snap out of it.

She picked out three bookmarks.

“I’ll take these three.

Thank you.”

Lu Shihuai was still a bit shy, her ears red.

“Alright.

The signatures are also dry.

Next in line, please.”

Wei Lan neatly stacked the three books and handed them to Lu Shihuai.

 

Lu Shihuai took the books and bookmarks, but she didn’t want to leave.

 

She thought she could look at Wei Lan a little longer.

Her friends hadn’t left yet either, so she could say she was waiting for them.

 

Wei Lan chatted and laughed with the young girls as she signed.

One of the young girls ran out of the bookstore and went to the teahouse across the street.

“Hey, the second and third volumes of Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household are out!

Wei Lan is doing a signing event at the main branch across the street.

She’s really pretty, and her voice is so gentle.

I want to go through the line again, just to talk to her a little more.”

 

The young girl’s words naturally attracted the attention of others in the teahouse.

Most of the people in this teahouse were young.

Hearing there was excitement, many wanted to go see.

But the young girl’s words shattered some doubts.

“It’s just a bit expensive, five taels a book.

But I think it’s worth it!

You even get to say a few words to Wei Lan.”

The young girl had an expression like she was going to throw more money at it.

This successfully piqued the curiosity of several of her friends.

Moreover, some wealthy guests sitting in the private rooms of the teahouse heard the commotion and came out.

They had nothing better to do anyway, and they weren’t short of silver.

It might be fun to join in.

 

So, half an hour later, the original line of five or six people had become two lines of about fifty people.

 

Wei Lan felt this was enough and said to Xi Ye, “Xi Ye, go tell Qu Qiushui not to let any more people in for the signing event.

This many people will take us until noon.”

“Yes, master.”

Xi Ye quickly went to find Qu Qiushui, who immediately followed the instruction.

 

Qu Qiushui truly hadn’t expected that there would be this many fools willing to come and buy the expensive books.

This master of theirs was no ordinary person.

No wonder the young lady had chosen her; she could make money just like the young lady.

 

Meanwhile, Wei Lan was chatting with a well-off older sister.

This sister was clearly a rich heiress.

To chat with Wei Lan a little longer, she ordered ten copies of each volume herself.

That way, Wei Lan would spend more time with her.

 

Because she ordered so many books, Wei Lan did spend a longer time with her.

By then, Lu Shihuai and her friends still hadn’t left.

Seeing this woman’s operation, Lu Shihuai grew anxious.

“I should have ordered more too.

Then I could have talked to her longer.”

“Exactly, exactly.

Her voice is so pleasant.

I envy Lu Zijin so much.

I can only imagine how gentle she is when talking to her wife.”

“Me too, me too.

Could she and Lu Zijin possibly divorce?

I’m so jealous.”

“I’m jealous too.”

“Then maybe we should come back this afternoon?”

Lu Shihuai suggested.

 

Her friends all nodded in agreement.

 

Just then, the well-off sister was also asking Wei Lan, “Will you be signing this afternoon?

If you are, I’ll come back.”

“Yes.

If you need to, please come back.”

Wei Lan said politely.

“Good.

I’ll go home at noon and think about what else I want you to write.

And those bookmarks, I want to collect the whole set.”

The rich heiress said.

“Alright.

I’ll be waiting for you.”

Wei Lan smiled.

 

Not far away, Lu Shihuai’s friends said sourly, “She’s smiling at someone else.

I’m so jealous.”

“I’m jealous too.”

“What good is it that my father is so rich?

Why doesn’t he marry a wife like Wei Lan for me?”

“I want one too.

Wuwuwu~”

Wei Lan didn’t pay much attention to this.

Signing events were a very common marketing or sales method in modern times.

It was common for authors to hold signing events to boost book sales.

Even celebrities held signing events to sell albums.

Simply put, it was a way of doing business.

 

A morning passed, and Wei Lan had written quite a few words.

 

Near noon, another wealthy sister arrived.

This one was very wealthy, ordering twenty copies of each volume.

This really put Wei Lan through the wringer.

Her hand was almost cramping from writing.

And this wealthy sister didn’t chat much with Wei Lan; instead, she started chatting with Xi Ye.

 

Seeing her master signal to her, Xi Ye had no choice but to awkwardly chat with her.

 

The wealthy sister was the female owner of a rouge shop in the east of the city.

Though not as wealthy as Lu Zijin, she was still very rich.

Several cities around Panyang got their supplies from her.

She was a true rich heiress.

 

Zhou Yufu was only in her twenties.

Her family had been poor, and she had been married off to the owner of a rouge shop to bring him luck.

Unfortunately, that Qiankun’s health was truly poor.

He died just a few days after the wedding, before they had even consummated the marriage.

 

That Qiankun had no living relatives.

Thus, Zhou Yufu luckily became a rich widow.

The Qiankun’s wealth and shop naturally became hers.

But she also had some skill, quickly drawing the rouge business from all around to herself.

“How old are you, young Qiankun?”

Zhou Yufu blinked at Xi Ye and asked with a smile.

 

Xi Ye felt her scalp tingle.

In the northern border, she had dealt with Qiankuns every day and wasn’t used to dealing with Kunzes.

Especially this female Kunze, who kept staring at her.

Her back was sweating.

“Well…

I’m 18.”

Xi Ye stammered back.

“18? 18 is a good age.

The prime of life, full of energy and stamina.”

Zhou Yufu covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and laughed softly.

 

Xi Ye’s face turned red.

What did she mean by that?

It felt off.

 

Xi Ye tugged at the corner of Wei Lan’s clothes, signaling her to write faster.

She couldn’t handle this.

“Oh, okay, almost done, almost done.”

Wei Lan wasn’t idle either.

Twenty copies per volume, sixty copies total.

Writing personalized signatures would take a while; it couldn’t be done that fast.

“Chat a little longer.

I’ve got quite a few here.”

 

Xi Ye wanted to cry.

She hadn’t been this scared even when fighting the northern barbarians on the battlefield.

She felt like this woman was going to devour her.

“Exactly.

Your master said so.

Won’t you keep your sister company a little longer?

Oh, my name is Zhou Yufu.

I have a rouge shop in the city.

Come find me when you have time.”

Zhou Yufu said to her with a smile.

“I don’t really use rouge.”

Xi Ye quickly refused.

“That’s fine.

You’ll get used to it.

Next time I come, I’ll bring you some.

I guarantee it will look good on you.”

Zhou Yufu smiled.

 

Xi Ye was awkwardly chatting while Wei Lan was relieved of the pressure.

She could just focus on writing and not have to awkwardly chat anymore.

 

Zhou Yufu then looked at Wei Lan.

“No rush.

Take your time.”

“Okay, okay.”

Wei Lan was indeed tired.

She had written so many words that morning.

 

Xi Ye, however, looked pitifully at Wei Lan and tugged at her sleeve.

 

Wei Lan blinked at Xi Ye and mouthed silently, “Hang in there.”

 

Xi Ye had no choice but to tough it out.

She awkwardly chatted with Zhou Yufu for a good while longer.

Finally, Zhou Yufu reluctantly stood up.

Before leaving, she smiled at Wei Lan.

“Boss Wei, not only are you good-looking yourself, but the Qiankun by your side is also very handsome.

Did you specially select her?”

“Just a coincidence.”

Wei Lan also smiled.

Finally, she had seen off this wealthy sister.

 

She signed for a while longer until the line was finished.

Only then did Wei Lan take Xi Ye and Si Yun out to eat.

 

Xi Ye sighed.

“She was terrifying.

She kept staring at me.”

 

Wei Lan was amused.

“Boss Zhou is a rich heiress, and she’s good-looking too.

What do you think?

Is your heart moved?”

 

Xi Ye shook her head vigorously.

“No, no!

I am the master’s person.

I don’t want anyone else!”

 

Wei Lan looked at Xi Ye with a smile.

“You’d better be.”

 

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