Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 11

It had been raining for several days in a row. When market day arrived, they could only gather half a basket of herbs. Nevertheless, Shen Ke decided to go to the market to sell them. Firstly, it could exchange for some goods, and secondly, he wanted to help the patients as much as possible.

 

Perhaps someone had heard that they had inexpensive medicinal materials here. In no time, they were all sold out. Just as the two were about to close their stall, a man suddenly appeared in front of them, around the same age, but followed by several strong men.

 

“Where are you from? Selling such cheap medicinal materials on the street, could they be fake? If someone dies from consuming them, can you bear the responsibility?” The young man questioned sharply.

 

The surrounding people gathered curiously, and Shen Ke explained, “These are not fake medicinal materials. I personally picked them from the mountains.”

 

“Then are you a doctor?” The young man demanded.

 

Shen Ke was silent for a moment, and the young man immediately pointed at him and said to everyone, “See? He’s a fake doctor! When it comes to matters of life and death, can you trust him?”

 

Whispers broke out all around, and some who had just bought medicine already wore regretful expressions on their faces.

 

“As long as it can cure people, he’s a doctor,” Liu Shu observed the smug look on the young man’s face and the people behind him, realizing they were deliberately causing trouble. He took a step forward, “Are you a doctor then?”

 

“My father is. He’s a well-known doctor in the town,” the young man said proudly, “Don’t let me catch you setting up stalls here again, or else I’ll report you to the authorities.”

 

Oh, so it’s a competitor. Shen Ke smirked, “Oh, then report us.”

 

“What did you say?” The young man looked at him in disbelief, “Aren’t you afraid?”

 

“If you’ve done no wrong, you have nothing to fear. Let the authorities decide whether it’s us, who are doing unprofitable business, or you, who are maliciously inflating drug prices, who belong in jail.”

 

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” The young man pretended to be calm, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes.

 

“According to Article 347 of the law, those who disrupt market order and inflate prices shall be punished with imprisonment of three to five years. We have visited all the pharmacies in town, and we know the prices of each medicine. Do you need me to explain the details to everyone?” Liu Shu raised an eyebrow.

 

Shen Ke unexpectedly glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

The young man’s face turned pale, his momentum weakened, and he took a step back. After a few whispers from the people beside him, he bravely lifted his head, pointed at Liu Shu, and cursed, “Just you wait for me! Don’t let me see you again!” With that, he arrogantly left with his men.

 

With this little episode over, Liu Shu let everyone disperse. Turning his head, he found that Shen Ke had already picked up his basket and was ready to leave. He caught up with him in three or two steps, smirking, “How come you never praise me?”

 

“You’re amazing,” Shen Ke said.

 

Liu Shu was feeling quite proud when he heard him say that, but then Shen Ke continued, “You look very intimidating when you bluff.”

 

“How did you know I was bluffing?”

 

“Article 347 of the law doesn’t even have that provision,” Shen Ke hit the nail on the head.

 

Liu Shu burst into laughter, pulling his arm and walking briskly, “I was just trying to scare him a little, didn’t expect him to be so clueless.”

 

“But what if he found out?”

 

“Well, even if he’s clever,” Liu Shu chuckled, “but judging by his demeanor, he doesn’t seem like a smart person. He openly revealed his background and brought people to disrupt our business. It seems he lacks brains. If it comes to a fight, I’m not afraid. I’m not someone to mess with.”

 

Shen Ke smiled, pondered for a moment, and said, “But he did say something right. When it comes to matters of life and death, I indeed cannot bear the responsibility. After all, I’m not a legitimate doctor. It’s better not to sell medicine anymore, especially since the weather is getting hotter, and we can’t gather two of the herbs.”

 

“Okay,” Liu Shu nodded, “but we need to think of a new way to make money.”

 

“Yeah,” Shen Ke pondered for a moment, then suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder.

 

“How much did we earn today? Can you give me the money?” Liu Shu asked eagerly.

 

“What are you going to do?” Shen Ke inquired.

 

“Just give it to me, you go wait for me at the dumpling stall, I’ll be back soon.” Liu Shu left but not before giving him some copper coins to buy dumplings, then disappeared in a flash.

 

With only a few copper coins left, Shen Ke didn’t know how long the other would take to return, so he ordered a portion first.

 

“Oh, it’s you. Where’s your companion?” the shopkeeper remembered him as soon as he saw him.

 

“He’s out running errands. Do you remember him?”

 

“I do, how could I forget? I almost thought you were going to dine and dash. You two are so good-looking, I remember you well. Several girls were eating and stealing glances at you,” the shopkeeper chuckled.

 

Shen Ke smiled faintly, sat at the table, and waited. Soon, more customers arrived, mostly female, occasionally sneaking glances in Shen Ke’s direction, followed by whispers.

 

After finishing the dumplings, Liu Shu still hadn’t returned.

 

Shen Ke waited for a while, feeling a bit worried.

 

“Oh, today’s really lucky. Just bumped into a very handsome man at the gambling den, and now I meet another one here.” A girl behind him said with a smile as she put down her bowl.

 

Shen Ke was stunned for a moment, wondering if she was talking about Wu.

 

He turned around and politely asked, “May I ask what the man at the gambling den looks like?”

 

“He’s fair-skinned, with big eyes, even better-looking than the young men from our village,” the girl bluntly replied.

 

Perhaps she was talking about someone else, but Shen Ke immediately thought of Liu Shu. He got up and headed to the gambling den, hoping for some luck.

 

The gambling den here was nowhere as big as those in the capital, so it took some effort to find. After asking for directions several times, Shen Ke finally found it tucked away in a corner. Before he even entered, he heard a lively voice saying, “I won, hurry up and pay up!”

 

“Xiao Wu.”

 

As Liu Shu turned around, he spotted Shen Ke and waved excitedly, “Akou, come here quick, we’re on a winning streak!”

 

Shen Ke looked at the pile of copper coins in front of him and the uncontrollable smirk on his face, “You should eat.”

 

“I’m not hungry.” Liu Shu was still excited. It had been a while since he last played dice, and his hands were itching. Plus, he was having a good day today, and he lost track of time.

 

Shen Ke waited for a while on the side, seeing him so excited, he said, “I’ll head back first.”

 

After finishing a round of gambling, Liu Shu looked around but couldn’t find Shen Ke’s figure. He reluctantly ended the game, collected the copper coins in front of him, and left. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Shen Ke standing outside like a wooden stake.

 

“Waiting for me?” Liu Shu smiled as he approached.

 

Shen Ke glanced at him and turned to walk away.

 

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I have some skills, I won’t lose money for sure.” Liu Shu hurriedly caught up, almost wanting to tell him he started gambling at the age of five.

 

“Once you step in here, few come out unscathed,” Shen Ke said coldly. “There are many who have lost their entire family fortunes. Even if you’re lucky and win big, it’s unlikely you’ll leave safely.”

 

“I know.” Liu Shu was familiar with these unspoken rules. But gambling used to be just for fun. If he won too much someday, he would deliberately lose some for fun.

 

“You know that, and you still go?” Shen Ke inquired.

 

“I want to earn a bit more for you,” Liu Shu handed him the money pouch, “We didn’t win much, just a few extra coins. It’s all yours.”

 

Although it was only a few coins, it was worth more than the herbs they had been selling for five or six days.

 

Shen Ke took out the money they earned from selling herbs from the pouch and returned the rest to him. “Buy whatever you need with this money. I don’t need it.”

 

Liu Shu weighed the money pouch in his hand, but looking at Shen Ke’s expression, for the first time, he didn’t feel as happy about winning money.

 

But this moment of gloom didn’t last long, and he soon cheered up again.

 

“Boss, give me a roasted chicken!”

 

“A serving of pig’s trotters!”

 

“Two packs of candied fruits!”

 

Passing by a calligraphy and painting shop, Shen Ke saw him indulging in snacks, so he went in alone. He looked around, then stopped in front of a piece of calligraphy, his gaze fixed on the signature.

 

“You have a good eye, young man. This is an original work by Lord Shen from the Hanlin Academy,” the shopkeeper, sensing his interest, explained in detail, “Do you know Lord Shen? He’s in charge of the Hanlin Academy, you know? His calligraphy is praised by both the Emperor and the Regent! It’s worth a lot! Since I see you have a good eye, I can offer you a discount and consider you a friend.”

 

“No need.”

 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Many people can’t even get Lord Shen’s calligraphy if they wanted to!” the shopkeeper insisted.

 

“No need, this is fake,” Shen Ke said.

 

The shopkeeper’s smile faltered, and his attitude changed, “Go away, if you don’t understand, then forget it. If it weren’t for you not looking like a rough person, who would even bother with you? Can you recognize Lord Shen’s calligraphy with just a glance? I bought this at a high price.”

 

Shen Ke shook his head and smiled wryly, then left the shop, only to bump into Liu Shu who was looking for him everywhere.

 

“Where did you go? Are you mad at me?” Liu Shu asked anxiously.

 

Shen Ke looked at his worried expression, and suddenly burst into laughter, “Okay, I’m not mad anymore.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“That’s good, then next time I—”

 

“Don’t make it a habit.”

 

“Okay.” Next time, I’ll be sneakier!

 

On the way home, Liu Shu carried the roasted chicken on a stick, slung over his shoulder, walking along smelling the fragrance, and begged Shen Ke to continue telling the story of the three women and the 105 men.

 

Under the faint twilight, Shen Ke’s clear voice flowed like a clear spring, rippling through the rural paths, rice fields, and Liu Shu’s heart.

 

Suddenly, Liu Shu looked up, watching the sun gradually set behind the mountains, feeling unusually calm and happy at this moment.

 

“Akou, I really like listening to your gossip,” Liu Shu said with a smile.

 

Shen Ke smiled, “As long as you like it.”

 

“Will you tell me stories in the future?”

 

“When is the future?”

 

“Even if we’re not together, when we’re far apart.”

 

“…Are you trying to make things difficult for me?”

 

“Well, kind of. If we’re not together, how can you tell me stories?” Liu Shu felt happy and content thinking about the happy days they would spend together in the future, but then began to feel sad about the impending separation.

 

Meetings always end in farewells.

 

…Wait, why did they have to part ways?

 

“Akou, do you want to make money?” Liu Shu asked eagerly.

 

“Of course, I do.”

 

“Then in the future, can you be my…” Liu Shu struggled to think of a suitable position for him at home. Perhaps a bookkeeper would be good? Finally, he gritted his teeth and blurted out, “Be my pageboy!”

 

“?” Shen Ke looked puzzled. “What do you need a pageboy for?”

 

“As decoration?”

 

“…”

 

“It’s not a big deal, I’ll study harder and read more books!” Liu Shu said determinedly.

 

“Then where will you get the money? Hiring a pageboy isn’t cheap,” Shen Ke reminded him.

 

When the current Emperor was still the Crown Prince, he was almost selected as a companion reader, but due to health reasons, he couldn’t go.

 

“It’s okay, I can work hard to earn money to support you! I can afford whatever you need, no matter how expensive!” Liu Shu said.

 

“Well, then you better work hard,” Shen Ke encouraged.

 

“I will, I can—”

 

“Gambling won’t cut it.”

 

“Ah!”

 

Thinking about the happy days they would spend together in the future, Liu Shu laughed happily again. Along the way, they met Auntie Zhu returning from the fields.

 

“What are you laughing about, young man? You seem so happy?” Auntie Zhu greeted with a smile.

 

“In the future, Akou will be my pageboy,” Liu Shu happily told her.

 

“Well, that’s good, being a pageboy is… what’s a pageboy?” Auntie Zhu laughed.

 

Liu Shu quickly explained to her, and she laughed, “That’s impossible, you’re both grown-ups, sooner or later you’ll get married. When Akou gets married, where will he find the time to be your pageboy?”

 

Liu Shu’s smile froze instantly—married? !

 

With a snap, the roasted chicken fell to the ground.