The villagers in the small village surrounded the man, pointing fingers at him and saying that he was daydreaming. They said that in Shen Yuning's shop nowadays, it would only take a few months to earn a hundred taels of silver.
Actually, they were all rural folk. They didn't dare to be too presumptuous in front of this well - looking man. But while one person alone might be timid, a group of people had no such fear. Once one person started scolding the man for being shameless, the rest of them joined in the condemnation.
Although Shen Yuning wasn't from this small village, she had lived with them for two years. Almost every family in the small village had someone working in the dye - house. Moreover, it was heard that Shen Yuning planned to open another dye - house in a different location next year. With the expansion of the business, not only the people in their small village but also those in the neighboring big village would have jobs.
Thus, everyone regarded Shen Yuning as one of their own and naturally looked down on Shen Jingui, who wanted to take her away.
The man took a step back, his eyes fixed on Shen Yuning with a heavy look, seemingly confused as to why these people were so opposed.
Seeing this, Shen Jingui quickly shouted, "Don't act recklessly! Do you know who he is? He's the famous Master Wan of the Wan family!"
The villagers didn't know about the Wan family, so they weren't afraid. However, due to Shen Jingui's intimidation, their noise became much quieter.
They didn't know, but Shen Yuning did. The Wan family was one of the most well - known merchant families in the business circle of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Apart from the imperial merchant Qiao family, the Wan family was the richest, said to be as wealthy as a country.
Although the social hierarchy in the Great Zhou Dynasty was quite strict, and merchants ranked at the bottom among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, outstanding merchant families like the Wan family, which had once caught the emperor's eye, couldn't be underestimated.
Master Wan had a very shrewd look in his eyes. He didn't care about others' remarks. He just stared intently at Shen Yuning. Seeing her serious expression, he knew that this little girl recognized his identity. At this moment, he felt quite self - satisfied, thinking that this trip was worth it as he could get this knowledgeable girl.
Seeing his look, Shen Yuning felt even more annoyed. She wondered where her elder brother, Shen Jingui, had found this man from the Wan family. The Wan family was a large and powerful clan. There must be more than just one master, and the head of the family probably wouldn't look so young. This one was probably from a branch of the family.
But now she was in a weak position. Even if he was just from a branch, she couldn't resist him.
Her face darkened slightly. "Since you're from the Wan family, you should value the family's reputation more. Isn't what you're doing just like a bully forcing a civilian girl? The government in Yun County has been cracking down on the buying and selling of women very strictly. Aren't you afraid of dragging the whole Wan family into trouble?"
Hearing this, Master Wan was slightly taken aback. He sized Shen Yuning up and down, and his interest seemed to grow stronger. He waved his hand, and two of his attendants came forward and handed him a bundle.
Master Wan opened the bundle and took out a scroll from it. It was a small and delicate object. When he slowly unfurled it, everyone couldn't help but let out exclamations.
It wasn't a scroll but a small embroidered screen. On it was a nine - heavenly goddess wearing a colorful phoenix robe, with a seven - colored silk ribbon hanging on her arms. Her colorful skirt trailed on the ground and disappeared into the celestial clouds.
What was most amazing was that the goddess had a perfect figure, but her face hadn't been embroidered. The empty space was both a pity and a source of endless imagination.
Such an outstanding embroidery would amaze ordinary people, especially Shen Yuning, who had loved embroidery since childhood. Different from others' regret, all she could think about was taking the embroidered screen and embroidering the goddess's face herself.
Master Wan smiled. "I've been searching for many days. Now that I'm in the area of Yun County, I heard about a highly skilled embroideress. It really took a lot of effort to find you..."
Hearing this, Shen Yuning's expression softened a bit. "In that case, Master Wan, why do you beat around the bush? With such outstanding embroidery skills, are you afraid that I won't complete this embroidered screen for you?"
Master Wan shook his head. "Miss, you don't know the origin of this embroidered screen. Three years ago, I was traveling in the mountains. One night, I was stranded on the mountain top and couldn't go down. Cold and hungry, in a daze, I had a dream that a nine - heavenly goddess came down to the mortal world and spent a wonderful night with me. Although it was just a dream, the next day, this embroidered screen was placed in my arms."
Such a strange story was something none of the people present had ever heard before. They were all stunned and couldn't say a word.
Old Man Zhang was the first to get angry. He picked up a broom and waved it at Master Wan. "You're so disgusting! What wonderful night together? I think you're dirty - minded. With so many people around, aren't you ashamed? Get out of here quickly!"
He moved quickly. Master Wan didn't have time to react and took two steps back in a hurry. He was supported by his two attendants and managed to steady himself. He glared angrily. "Why are you so unreasonable, old man? Every word I said is true. How come it sounds so filthy in your ears?"
Shen Yuning looked embarrassed. The man in front of her dared to spout nonsense here because he thought she was alone and helpless. If it were the former Xue Yuning, even if this man had a lot of courage, he probably wouldn't have dared to be so presumptuous.
However, if she wanted to keep her embroidery workshop running, she couldn't afford to offend this Master Wan.
She had to muster up her spirit and reluctantly deal with the situation. "If Master Wan says so, the goddess on this embroidered screen may not be something an ordinary person can embroider. My ability is limited. It's just that my master is very skilled, so I have this embroidery skill. This kind of exquisite work is really beyond my ability. Please find someone else, Master Wan. As for the silver my elder brother asked you for..."
Shen Yuning glanced at Shen Jingui. Although she wasn't sure if Shen Jingui had spent all the money, she was certain that her elder brother was the head of the family. As a younger sister, she couldn't do anything about it. She could only brace herself and let it be.
"I'm willing to return it to you. I just ask you not to give him any more money in the future. The Shen's Embroidery Workshop doesn't belong to me. I really can't take out the money to fill his hole."
But Master Wan just shook his head. "Miss Yuning misunderstood. What I've been searching for day and night is not an embroideress who can embroider the goddess's face. Instead..."
He picked up the embroidered screen and showed it to everyone. "My fleeting relationship with the goddess has been lingering in my mind because of this embroidered screen. So, I decided to search all over the country to find that nine - heavenly goddess."
Everyone was confused, as if they were listening to an ancient myth told by their old grandmother. Some people even nodded secretly, sighing that this rich man was so lucky to have spent a night with a goddess.
But Shen Yuning already sensed something was wrong. She quickly reached out to push her second elder brother, signaling him to stop the man from talking nonsense.
But Shen Fugui was a bit slow - witted. He was still listening to the story with great interest and had no idea what was going to happen next. After being pushed by his sister several times, he still didn't know what she wanted him to do.
Master Wan took two steps forward and handed the embroidered screen to Shen Yuning. His face was sincere and emotional, like a man who had finally found the love of his life. "I've been searching for three years but couldn't find the beauty's trace. By chance, the eldest son of the Shen family saw this embroidered screen of mine. The eldest son was immediately amazed and asked me why I had a portrait of his younger sister."
When everyone took a closer look, the graceful and charming figure of the goddess on the embroidered screen was exactly like the gentle and beautiful Shen Yuning in front of them. Although the goddess on the embroidered screen didn't have a face, if Shen Yuning's face were put on it, it would be extremely harmonious.
For a moment, everyone couldn't help but nod.
Master Wan sighed. "A hundred taels of silver is just a small matter to me. I didn't think much of it when I gave it to him. I thought that if she was capable, I could take her as a concubine. But when I saw Miss Shen, I realized that the nine - heavenly goddess had really come down to the mortal world to be with me..."
Shen Fugui finally realized what this Master Wan was going to say. He wanted to step forward to cover his mouth, but it was already too late.
Old Man Zhang shouted loudly, "Shut up!"
But Master Wan refused to stop. He was only complacent and wanted to continue telling this secret history. In fact, he would spread this story wherever he went, because being able to have an affair with a goddess was something everyone envied.
Seeing Shen Yuning today, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy. He didn't expect that there would be such an outstanding girl among the common people. Moreover, she was actually the owner of the Shen's Embroidery Workshop.
The Wan family had been in business for generations, and they were good at judging people and shops. After seeing the embroidery workshop, he knew that the owner behind it was not an ordinary person. He also heard that the reason the owner opened the embroidery workshop was not just to make money but also to protect women and children from being bought and sold.
Master Wan didn't believe this kind of self - promoting thing at all, but not believing didn't mean he wouldn't do it. Why was the Qiao family able to be above the Wan family? It was because at the beginning of the founding of the country, the Qiao family had spent a lot of money to help the founding emperor consolidate his position.
Over the years, the Qiao family had declined, and it was time for the Wan family to become the imperial merchant. Unfortunately, compared with the Qiao family, the Wan family was just a little short of luck.
Now, Shen Yuning, the owner of the Shen's Embroidery Workshop in front of him, was the lucky fruit he had sown the seeds for.
As long as he claimed that this girl was the nine - heavenly goddess who had been with him, and considering the girl's reputation in Yun County, if he married her, the Wan family would no longer be the second - best forever.
However, with a clear and wise look in his eyes, just as he was about to open his mouth excitedly again, the embroidered screen in his hand was snatched away, and his neck was grabbed by someone else, making him unable to say another word.
The two attendants were greatly shocked. When they came to their senses, they quickly stepped forward to push the young boy away. But the boy was no ordinary lad. He actually had some martial arts skills. Not only could they not get close to him, but just looking at his fierce eyes made people tremble with fear.
Shen Yuning saw Master Wan pulling at the hand on his neck, his eyes rolling back so that no black pupils could be seen. It seemed that he was about to run out of breath. She quickly stepped forward and pulled the young boy.
"Xuanzhi, let go!"
Xuanzhi was dressed in black clothes and trousers, looking like an ordinary shop assistant. But his eyes were so cold that it sent shivers down one's spine. The cold light in his eyes could have sliced the man in his hand into pieces.