Thirteen-year-old Guo Mian was not telling jokes for the first time. He and his mother relied on each other for survival, and having grown up in such an environment, he naturally picked up the skill.
The Lin family organized this storytelling event purely to entertain their tenants, charging no fees. However, it also boosted their own business. Around the venue, there were multiple Lin family shops—clothing stores, knitting shops, snack stalls, furniture stores, and pickle shops. According to his mother, the Lin family was even planning to open a woolen sweater shop soon. While other shops closed at sunset, the Lin family’s stores remained open until the storytelling session ended, ensuring far better business than their competitors.
The Lin family had specially arranged this storytelling event for Guo Mian’s mother. The audience’s tips were not taken by the Lin family—every penny went to her, and she even received a guaranteed minimum payment. Grateful, his mother told stories tirelessly every night for an hour. Guo Mian understood that his mother’s nightly performances benefited both parties—a win-win situation, though the Lin family profited more. Still, if the Lin family had hired someone else, the same effect could have been achieved, leaving his family with nothing. His mother often reminded him to remember the source of their blessings, a lesson Guo Mian took to heart.
Today, however, his mother was unwell, her voice hoarse. The Lin family’s Second Elder Madam diagnosed it as a wind-cold invasion, requiring several days of rest. When Guo Mian went to inform the event manager, he saw that the day’s program had already been posted. He considered stepping in for his mother, but the segment she was supposed to perform was one he wasn’t yet familiar with. What if he stumbled through it? Hoping for a compromise, he approached the manager to discuss switching to another story. Unexpectedly, the Lin family’s patriarch, Old Master Lin, happened to be present and immediately agreed, even arranging for a revised announcement. Tonight’s performance would be a story Guo Mian had adapted from a book—one he hadn’t even shared with his mother yet. He had no idea how it would be received.
After hurriedly finishing his homework, Guo Mian rushed to the venue, relieved he wasn’t late. Otherwise, years of his mother’s and the event’s reputation could have been tarnished by his tardiness. As soon as he entered, he spotted Shi Binhua harassing Lin Fang while occasionally glancing at Lin Cui’e. The look in his eyes was utterly repulsive. Guo Mian had a favorable impression of Lin Cui’e—despite being a wealthy young lady, she was approachable, neither putting on airs nor bullying others. Recalling Shi Binhua’s usual behavior and seeing Lin Cui’e’s delicate features, Guo Mian immediately understood what was happening and intervened with a warning.
Shi Binhua, however, was unfazed and instead taunted, “Oh ho, if it isn’t Guo the Dog Egg? The announcement says you’re replacing your mother tonight—such filial piety! Who knew you were also a meddlesome mutt? What, playing the hero to curry favor with your masters for extra tips?”
Guo Mian remained calm and sneered, “As the saying goes, ‘Out of the mouth comes what fills the heart.’ Never thought Young Master Shi would so quickly admit to being a rabid dog barking nonsense. Fits you perfectly.”
Enraged, Shi Binhua signaled his servants to surround Guo Mian, clearly preparing for a brawl.
“Hmph, do you even know whose territory this is? Daring to cause trouble here?” Though young, Guo Mian had long shouldered the responsibility of supporting himself and his mother. He’d seen all kinds of situations to survive. Shi Binhua’s bluster was just that—his family might be wealthy, but they were mere merchants with no official titles. Every year, they had to bribe officials heavily just to stay out of trouble. While they might swagger in front of others, compared to the Lin family, they were a step lower.
“Where are the guards?” Lin Cui’e, who had been silent until now, suddenly barked. Her maid stepped aside as she spoke, revealing Lin Cui’e’s furious expression.
“Here,” a man dressed in shop attendant’s clothing immediately appeared at her side.
Lin Cui’e glared at the guard and demanded, “Why is the storyteller unprotected today?”
The man bowed. “This humble one was negligent. I will accept punishment afterward. Please, Young Miss and Sixth Miss, step aside to avoid accidental harm.”
Once Lin Cui’e led Lin Fang to safety, the guard signaled, and two more attendants swiftly appeared. Before Shi Binhua and his servants could react, they were seized and thrown out the door. Two guards remained stationed outside while the first guard returned, bowing his head. “Young Miss, Sixth Miss, how should we handle this?”
Ignoring the guard for a moment, Lin Cui’e asked, “Why wasn’t the storyteller assigned protection today?”
By now, Guo Mian had snapped out of his daze and quickly spoke up in the guard’s defense. “Young Miss, it’s not the guard’s fault. The assigned escort must have gone to fetch my mother and hasn’t returned yet. I came straight from school, so this brother here wasn’t informed.”
Lin Cui’e bowed slightly to Guo Mian. “Young Master Guo, you’ve had a fright. Please rest in the back hall first. Once this matter is settled, I will personally apologize.”
“I—” Guo Mian tried to protest, but the guard interjected with a bow, “Young Master Guo, no matter the reasons, this was my oversight. Please rest in the back hall for now.”
Knowing further words were pointless, Guo Mian headed to the back hall. The guard exchanged a glance, and two attendants followed discreetly behind.
Shi Binhua, now under the watchful eyes of two stern-faced attendants, couldn’t escape. Threats and pleas alike fell on deaf ears. Though usually arrogant, he was still just an eight-year-old boy. Fear crept in, leaving him panicked and helpless.
Once Guo Mian was out of sight, Lin Cui’e ordered, “Escort Young Master Shi home personally and report today’s incident truthfully to his father. Say nothing more.”
With Shi Binhua sent away, his reserved private booth became vacant. After consulting Lin Cui’e, the attendants cleaned it up, and she led Lin Fang inside. The storytelling had already begun. Guo Mian sat center stage, his performance vivid and expressive—rising and falling in tone, sometimes eliciting roaring laughter, other times drawing sighs. At particularly poignant moments, some audience members even dabbed their eyes with handkerchiefs. His mother’s voice was a rich contralto, while Guo Mian, in the midst of puberty, had a uniquely captivating tone despite his changing voice.
During the intermission, Lin Fang finally had a chance to snack and drink. She wanted to discuss the story with Lin Cui’e but noticed her staring blankly at the stage—specifically, the spot where Guo Mian had been sitting.
Playfully, Lin Fang stood in front of Lin Cui’e, blocking her view. Lin Cui’e looked up, puzzled.
“Haha,” Lin Fang teased. “The handsome lad has left. Are you pining alone?”
“Such nonsense from a little girl,” Lin Cui’e scolded, though her face reddened. She picked up her teacup to hide behind a sip.
Hmm? Interesting. She was just teasing, but the reaction was excessive. Heh, Auntie was fifteen this year—prime marriage age. As for her background, she was the beloved younger sister of Old Master Lin, either the richest or second-richest man in town. Raised and educated by the talented First Madam Lin, she was both beautiful and accomplished. With such qualifications, she’d had no shortage of suitors, yet she’d shown no interest. Could it be… she’d taken a liking to this scruffy boy today? Hah, how amusing.
*Thwack!* A flick to the forehead. Lin Cui’e glared. “That scheming grin—what are you plotting now?”
“Hehe, Auntie, Fang’er was just wondering… are you planning to find me a little uncle?” A *little* uncle indeed—Guo Mian was two years her junior.
“Nonsense! How dare you meddle in your elders’ affairs?” Her tone was stern but lacked conviction.
“Giggle—” *Now* she remembers she’s an elder. Lin Fang wasn’t intimidated and kept teasing. “Did Fang’er hit a nerve? Should we call this reaction… flustered denial?”
Exasperated, Lin Cui’e pinched her niece’s cheeks and stretched them comically wide, venting her frustration before turning to the sliced fruit her maid had prepared, ignoring Lin Fang.
Knowing when to stop, Lin Fang popped a grape into her mouth—sweet and tart, her favorite—and quietly waited for the next segment.
After the performance, as they exited the courtyard, they found Da Lang (Old Master Lin) smiling by the gate. He’d been waiting the whole time but hadn’t entered to disturb them.
“Father!” Lin Fang stumbled into his arms.
Scooping her up, Da Lang chided, “Goodness, no need to be so excited. You might’ve fallen.”
Lin Cui’e was pleasantly surprised. “Elder Brother, you came to fetch us?”
“Indeed,” Da Lang beamed. “You handled that Shi brat perfectly. How dare he cause trouble on our turf? When his father comes to apologize tomorrow, I’ll make sure you’re properly avenged.”
Lin Fang frowned. “Father, I heard the Shi family rivals ours in wealth, and they’re notoriously arrogant. Why would Shi’s father apologize?”
Hoisting Lin Fang onto his back, Da Lang explained as they walked home. “The Shi family built their fortune on herbs under the old patriarch, who had only one son. He hoped his son would study for an official rank to shield their business, but Shi’s father cared only for trade, abandoning education after barely passing the child scholar exam. Now, running the family business, he’s felt the sting of lacking rank. So, he pins his hopes on his son. If today’s incident is recorded as misconduct, it could ruin Shi Binhua’s future. Even if unwilling, Shi’s father will have to apologize to salvage his son’s prospects. Understand?”
Lin Fang had read about this—those with official ranks enjoyed half-tax exemptions, immunity from corvée labor for their immediate family, and smoother dealings with officials—all crucial for merchants.
The Shi family had only one heir for two generations. If Shi Binhua was disqualified for poor conduct, they’d have to wait for *his* son to attempt the exams—an uncertain prospect. Better to protect Shi Binhua now.
Lin Cui’e and Lin Fang had left in a hurry, avoiding Madam Zhong’s notice, so they’d taken neither carriage nor attendants. After the Shi incident, the guards took no chances—a carriage was readied with two female guards waiting to escort them home.
Seeing the patriarch himself had come, the guard captain approached for instructions. Da Lang initially planned to ride ahead with his sister and daughter, leaving the maids to follow by carriage. But feeling Lin Fang’s steady breathing on his back—she was nearly asleep—he ordered another carriage. He carried his daughter inside, joining Lin Cui’e in the first carriage with two male guards, while the female guards escorted the maids in the second.
By the time they arrived home, Lin Fang was already sound asleep. Da Lang carried her directly to her room, where Nanny Liu quickly wiped her face and changed her clothes without disturbing her. Both amused and heartbroken, Da Lang thought to himself—such a tiny child, yet her days were as packed as any grown-up’s.
After briefing his wife about the day’s events, Lin Cui’e returned to her quarters. The moment she stepped inside, her expression darkened at the sight before her.
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