Chapter 281: Truly Don't Know

 Chapter 281: Truly Don't Know

"Which girl did you get involved with, following you all the way to the theater?"

Hearing the teasing voice of his friend, Fang Liangji rolled his eyes: "I’m not like you, always flirting around. I don’t even know the people following me."

Sun Yongyi waved his fan and laughed, "Don’t speak too definitively. Think carefully, maybe it's some young lady from a good family who has taken a liking to you. Since you’re about to be betrothed, she probably couldn’t sit still and might come looking for us here."

Fang Liangji didn’t bother with his teasing friend and turned to look at his younger uncle, who was sitting in the main seat, sipping tea.

Although he called him his younger uncle, they were actually the same age, and he was even a few months older.

"Uncle, I really..."

Fang Liangji knew that the direct descendants of the Fang family placed great importance on etiquette and personal character. He wanted to explain himself, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his uncle raised his hand to interrupt.

Fang Hao casually set down his teacup, and the glint in his eyes made even Sun Yongyi, the son of the Chamber of Commerce president, hesitant to underestimate him: "These small matters, you don't need to explain to me."

Fang Liangji smiled wryly and said no more.

His family was just a branch of the Ji Guang Fang family, distanced by several generations. Nowadays, they could only do business in Zhongzhou by relying on the favors of their ancestors. Although they exchanged gifts with the direct family, they were not particularly close.

Some things were better left unsaid.

The direct family may have hoped to grow closer, but they also knew that without the right leverage, the direct family wouldn't bother with them.

He never expected that, during this engagement with the Li family, the direct family would send someone—no less than the head of the fifth branch.

Fang Liangji took a cautious glance at the serious-looking fifth master of the direct family. He had heard many stories about him, particularly that he had taken over the fifth branch at a young age after losing his father. Despite being only eighteen, he was already a juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) and had managed the family’s affairs efficiently, earning the respect of all.

Hearing such stories always left him in awe.

Fang Hao paid no attention to the other two in the room. His gaze remained fixed on the downstairs scene, his eyes gleaming.

The rules in Zhongzhou seemed to be rather lax—those young ladies actually dared to come to a theater so openly!

Downstairs, after some persuasion from the staff, Dong Yuanyao finally accepted the reality that all the reserved private rooms were taken, and they were left with no choice but to sit in the main hall.

Not wanting to attract more attention, Daohua gently tugged at Dong Yuanyao's sleeve, saying, "Let’s just find a corner and sit there."

Dong Yuanyao, though reluctant, had no other option and reluctantly agreed with a "Hmm."

Finally, Daohua and the others sat in the far corner of the hall.

The staff brought tea and snacks, preparing to leave when Daohua stopped them.

She placed a silver coin on the table and looked at the staff member. "I want to ask you something."

The staff glanced at the silver coin before looking away, giving a forced smile. "What does the young master wish to know?"

Daohua asked, "Do you know the son of the Fang family?"

The staff member, hearing the question, quickly took the silver coin and hid it in his sleeve, answering, "Yes, the young master from the Fang family is here today. He’s in a private room upstairs, listening to the play."

If the inquiry had been about an official family, he would have been more cautious. But as it was about a merchant family, there was little to avoid.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged a look. "Which private room is he in?"

The staff member looked up toward the second floor and pointed, "It’s the one next door."

Both Daohua and Dong Yuanyao turned around just in time to meet the gaze of Fang Hao and his companions, who were looking down at them from the second floor.

Seeing them, Fang Hao and his companions were momentarily surprised. They had only heard the voices earlier and hadn’t seen the people.

"Oh, those two young men are quite handsome," Sun Yongyi remarked teasingly, winking at Fang Liangji.

The four maidservants were in male clothing, so it was obvious that those two young men were also disguised.

Fang Liangji furrowed his brow. Although he hadn’t paid much attention earlier, now he tried to recall. But in the end, he still couldn't recognize them.

"I really don’t know them."

Someone like him, if he had met them before, would definitely have remembered.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao looked back at the private room and then quickly turned away.

"It looks like they’re just here to watch the play," Daohua murmured.

At that moment, the stage featured a grandfather and his granddaughter.

The grandfather played the zither while the granddaughter sang a song.

Daohua, curious, looked at Dong Yuanyao. "Isn't this a theater? Why is there singing?"

Dong Yuanyao snorted lightly. "Men, aren’t they all fond of pretty young girls? The theater is a business; they’ll do whatever makes money."

"See, that girl singing—those big, watery eyes are so captivating. After the song is finished, she’s bound to receive a lot of tips."

After a pause, she glanced at Daohua. "Still want to test your future brother-in-law?"

Daohua glanced at the singing girl on stage. "How do you want to test him?"

Dong Yuanyao grinned. "Use a beauty trap! Look, the beauty is already ready."

Daohua furrowed her brows. "This doesn’t feel right. She’s singing to earn a living."

Dong Yuanyao scoffed. "Yes, the girls at ordinary teahouses might be doing it because they’re struggling and have no other choice. But the ones at this theater? They’ve been specially trained."

"Do you really think such naturally gifted singers are everywhere?" She looked at the girl on stage again. "Look at those eyes—doesn’t it seem like she’s trying to steal your soul?"

Daohua looked carefully and nodded. "You’re right, her gaze is indeed mesmerizing."

Dong Yuanyao smirked. "Girls like that aren’t from poor families. I’ll tell you the truth. I’ve been to this theater a few times, and every time, the girls singing are different."

"These girls have sharp eyes. As soon as they spot a man who’s smitten and weak-willed, they latch onto him and don’t let go."

Daohua was impressed by her knowledge. "Dong Yuanyao, I didn’t know you were so well-versed in this!"

Dong Yuanyao proudly smiled. "I’ve seen a lot, naturally learned a lot."

Daohua laughed. She didn’t find anything wrong with knowing such things. Observing the world and learning more about human nature could expand one’s horizons and temper the mind—it was all good.

Dong Yuanyao, seeing no objection from Daohua, smiled more deeply.

She knew that Daohua was someone who wouldn’t be repulsed by these things, nor would she try to lecture her about being too forward for a woman.

Her judgment was spot on—Daohua was a true confidante.

Dong Yuanyao asked again, "So, what do you think? Do you want to test him?"

Daohua glanced again at the charming girl on stage, then hesitated. "How do we test him?"

Dong Yuanyao smiled. "Give that girl some silver and have her seduce your future brother-in-law. We won’t have to lift a finger. If you want to keep your distance, you could even hire someone else to do it."

(End of this chapter)