Protect Our Chief-Chapter 477 - 9: The Secret! Attracting Bees and Butterflies
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"Husband, in my heart, you are the best." A woman with outstanding appearance and good temperament nestled beside Wang Shouye, like a little bird depending on others, her tone filled with pride and encouragement, "You will definitely win the competition and become a disciple under Master Dan Ding. I believe that in the future, you will undoubtedly become an Alchemy Grandmaster."
This woman was none other than Lei Family’s legitimate daughter, Lei Lingyun.
From her adolescent years, she set her sights on Wang Shouye and battled through numerous rivals, finally achieving her wish of being with Wang Shouye.
Just before leaving Changning Guard, Wang Shouye and Lei Lingyun had a grand wedding, which became the topic of much gossip among all the noble families in Changning Guard.
"My dear, I am ultimately just an alchemist from a small place." Wang Shouye was not very confident, "Looking across the entire Longzuo County, how strong can I actually be?"
"This brother here speaks well. Nowadays, there aren’t many people with such self-awareness like you."
Upon hearing Wang Shouye’s words, a plump, average-looking man in luxurious attire next to him suddenly chimed in.
His eyes darted between Wang Shouye and Lei Lingyun, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "At your age, Brother, you should be diligently learning the alchemy skills, indulging in beauty now doesn’t promise much achievement in the future~"
"You fatso! Our affairs have nothing to do with you!" Lei Lingyun, standing out amongst many suitors, was not one to be underestimated, and she retorted immediately, "With your looks, it’s not that you don’t want to indulge in beauty, but rather can’t find any, right?"
"This..." The fat man’s expression froze, as if his sore point had been touched, but he stubbornly continued, "I, Qiaan Xuefu, am passionate about alchemy in this life, not distracted by beauty. Women, hmph, would only slow down my alchemy progress."
Qiaan Xuefu?
Wang Shouye’s heart skipped a beat, "Could this gentleman be a disciple of the ’Xue’ generation of the Qiaan Family?"
He also knew someone from the Qiaan Family’s Xue generation, the one currently managing Qiaan’s Trading Company’s Six Southern Guards, the Chief Shopkeeper, Qiaan Xue’an.
"You, young man, do have some insight." Qiaan Xuefu slightly raised his head, looking proud, "I am a direct-line offspring of the Qiaan Family, with a family ancestor who is one of the Celestial Human Realm Elders of the Qiaan Family."
The Purple Mansion Qiaan Family is famed for having Qiaan’s Trading Companies spread across Longzhou. Not only is it an old Purple Mansion Family, but also a wealthy household, holding a good relationship with the Purple Mansion Academy.
However, the Qiaan Family is extremely extensive, and their family members are too many to count.
Most of the family members of the Qiaan Family can merely secure a decent position within the trading companies across regions, only those like Qiaan Xuefu, who have a Celestial Human Realm Elder in their lineage, hold a relatively higher status.
Such stature when he steps out equals that of a legitimate son from an ordinary Celestial Human Family.
"So, it’s Brother Qiaan in person, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner." Wang Shouye gracefully raised his hand in salute, "I am Wang Shouye, from the direct vein of the Changning Wang Family."
"Changning Wang Family? Never heard of it..." Qiaan Xuefu slightly frowned and thought for a bit, "But never mind, since you’re quite sensible, you shall be my little brother henceforth. Once I become a disciple of Master Dan Ding, the family will assign the commandery city’s Pill Workshop to me to manage, and you can join my Pill Workshop by then. I’ll keep a good position for you."
"Ah this..." Wang Shouye was genuinely impressed, "Brother Qiaan must have prodigious talent in alchemy to be so certain about passing the assessment. My admiration has no bounds. If given the opportunity, I must learn from Brother Qiaan."
Wang Shouye always had a good temperament and disliked arguing with others.
Moreover, he empathized with the hardships his fourth brother endured in maintaining their household and was hence not contrary to bringing trouble outside, causing inconvenience to the family. Now that he’s encountered an opportunity to make connections, he seizes the chance to establish a tie or two to help the Changning Wang Family build better connections.
"Fair enough, fair enough."
Qiaan Xuefu had a genuine appreciation for such flattery and developed a liking for Wang Shouye, engaging him enthusiastically and showcasing his "great knowledge and experience".
"Little brother, do you know there are three places a man must visit in our Longzuo County city?" Qiaan Xuefu eagerly began to talk, "The first is the famous ’Liuxian Gate’. Let me tell you, the ladies in Liuxian Gate have wonderful looks and heavenly sounds, adept in the eighteen forms of art including instruments and song. Particularly the popular headliner ’Luo Hongyin’, she’s exceptionally skilled with the flute, and her piece ’Immortal Cave Heaven’ truly feels like a dreamlike fantasy, making one feel as though they have entered a fairyland. The most amazing part is that this Luo Hongyin is a late-stage Spirit Platform Realm cultivator..."
The more he spoke, the more energetic Qiaan Xuefu became, his face shining with a layer of oil.
Leaving Wang Shouye dumbfounded.
This... Liuxian Gate? The name of that place sure doesn’t sound reputable. What kind of person is this new friend really?
Though Lei Lingyun was quite displeased with Qiaan Xuefu, she shot silent daggers his way but eventually held her tongue.
The Qiaan Family was massive and powerful, not someone she could afford to offend; she couldn’t selfishly bring resentment to the Lei and Wang Families.
"Hmph~" Lei Lingyun huffed and pouted, "Husband, I’ll go gather intelligence about other competitors for you."
With that, she turned and left.
She couldn’t stand it anymore. If she stayed and listened any longer, she feared she might lose her temper and commit murder.
Seeing Lei Lingyun’s silhouette, Qiaan Xuefu was quite envious: "I must say, my little brother is quite fortunate. The wife arranged by your family has first-rate temperament and looks."
He was already in his thirties and still unmarried. Quality women of equal status didn’t fancy him, and ordinary women of equal status... uh, also didn’t fancy him. Thus, the marriage had been delayed until now.
"It wasn’t arranged by the family." Wang Shouye honestly shook his head, "Lingyun waited for me for over ten years. I was moved by her true feelings, so I married her."
"What?" Qiaan Xuefu’s eyes widened, "You and sister-in-law actually fell in love freely? And sister-in-law was the one who pursued you?"
"Yes, Lingyun had a really hard time." Wang Shouye continued honestly, "She defeated many competitors. Actually, I really admire her persistence and seriousness."
This, this, this...
Qiaan Xuefu took two steps back, his face full of disbelief.
What kind of life is this Wang kid living? Not only was his wife chasing after him, but she even stood out from a heap of competitors over the course of more than ten years.
"Brother, please tell your old brother, do you have any secret tips?" Qiaan Xuefu’s attitude changed immediately, he began to flatter with a big smile, "No, no, no, as long as you’re willing to teach me, you’ll be the big brother from now on."
"There are some secrets." Wang Shouye pondered for a moment and then said.
"Brother Wang, you’ll be my big brother from now on, anyone who dares to provoke you is provoking me, Qiaan Xuefu." Qiaan Xuefu looked excited, "Hurry, hurry, hurry, teach me your secrets, let me experience the taste of life’s peak."
"Just study alchemy seriously." Wang Shouye said honestly, "All those girls say, ’Shouye looks so serious and handsome when he’s practicing alchemy, I really like him.’ And there’s one girl who said, ’I want to quietly watch Shouye practice alchemy seriously all my life, he’s really enchanting.’ But this is quite troublesome, there are too many girls watching you every day, it’s really annoying."
"Ah, is it that simple?"
"Yes, it’s that simple." Wang Shouye nodded seriously.
Qiaan Xuefu looked bewildered.
It sounds so reasonable. But somehow it seems off. He, Qiaan Xuefu, also looks very serious when practicing alchemy, right? Why has no girl said such things to him?
Not to mention girls, he hasn’t even seen a single female fly.
"Is this gentleman also an alchemist, here to participate in Master Dan Ding’s disciple selection conference?"
At this time, a bright and coquettish voice suddenly sounded beside them.
The two turned their heads simultaneously and saw a beautifully dressed noble lady, looking at Wang Shouye with a slight blush, and asked, "May I trouble you for a moment, do you know the inside questions for the preliminary selection?"
"This... I’m sorry, miss, I don’t know." Wang Shouye said helplessly, "Master Dan Ding’s disciple selection is such a serious matter, how could there be a..."
"I do have some inside questions." The noble lady blushed, her eyes hopeful, "If you don’t mind, I can share them with you."
"This..."
Wang Shouye was shocked, how could there be insider information leaking from a disciple selection of an exalted master?
"Yuwen Nianjing, is it you?" Qiaan Xuefu realized and shouted angrily, "Showing off with a few questions you got through your family background, trying to please a man, don’t you have any shame?"
"So it’s you, Qiaan Xuefu." Yuwen Nianjing looked him over and then recognized him, her expression unfriendly, "What business is it of yours whom I please? I heard you’ve been rejected several times recently on blind dates. Could it be, you’re burning with jealousy, twisting your nature?"
Although the Yuwen Family is just a Sixth-Grade Noble Family, it had only recently fallen from the Purple Mansion rank, and its foundation remained quite strong, so naturally, they weren’t afraid of offending Qiaan Xuefu.
Moreover, both of them were representatives of the younger generation in Longzuo County City’s alchemy world, so naturally, they had crossed paths before.
"Heh, it’s just that this young master doesn’t think much of them. Let me warn you, my brother already has a family, don’t go after him." Qiaan Xuefu said angrily.
What? He has a family?
Yuwen Nianjing couldn’t hide her disappointment.
After all, she, a noble family girl, wouldn’t do anything as disgraceful as taking someone else’s husband. Seeing Wang Shouye nod in acknowledgment, she could only leave dejectedly, casting a wistful glance back.
Watching Yuwen Nianjing’s back, Qiaan Xuefu spat and said, "I heard she declined some young men during an outing and hunt, claiming to be dedicated to alchemy. I thought she was serious. Unexpectedly... huh, she’s a vixen at heart."
"Sigh~ Women are troublesome." Wang Shouye shook his head helplessly, "No matter where you go, they just circle around you, there’s no moment of peace."
"Yes, women are troublesome."
Qiaan Xuefu gritted his teeth, trying hard to control his expression.
God knows, when he said that, he was so jealous he could almost cry.
He couldn’t help but shout silently in his heart: God, save me~ I really want to experience the feeling of being surrounded, of not having a moment of peace!!!
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