Today is Father’s Day in Brazil, the date is always celebrated on the second Sunday of August, so here’s an extra chapter for you folks!
There’s a whole story about how Father’s Day might have originated form a Babylonian myth/short story, but the origin of the date in Brazil is attributed to the marketing expert Sylvio Bhering, who wanted to attract more advertising partners to the newspaper he was a director at the time (Jornal O Globo) by advertising gifts to give your father. So he and his team created the whole thing of Father’s day on the second Sunday of every August to sell more ad space.
This way, please
Jin Liuli frowned, and couldn’t keep herself calm in her heart. Was he too fierce in his bidding this time?
Mo Xian clenched his teeth internally. Could it be that the person in the private room number one didn’t have 3000 taels at all? If it was like that, then why was he forced to come here and milk so little money?
The crowd waited for a while but nobody tried to raise the price. The surrounding people were becoming impatient, until one of them couldn’t bear it any longer and finally raised his voice to ask: “Shopkeeper Jin, no one else has made another bid, so 3000 taels should be the final price, right?”
Jin Liuli glanced at the person who just made the question, ‘Was 3000 really the highest bid?’ Yu Qingluo’s estimative was at about 10,000 taels.
How could the Ghost Doctor worth only be these few 3000 taels?
If they were in the capital, even 30,000 taels wouldn’t be enough for a person to make Yu Qingluo move her hands.
Yu Zuolin’s family wealth was vast, they didn’t have just this little pocket money.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Yu Feng’s voice finally sounded again: “3500 taels.”
Mo Xian secretly breathed in relief and, raising his sign again, shouted: “4000 taels”. This time he didn’t dare to raise the price too much. He was neither as cunning as Yu Qingluo nor was able to guess the bottom line of this person inside the private room of number one.
In any case, he raised the price as he received Jin Liuli’s hints.
Yu Zuolin’s face was turning pale, he swept his hands over the table throwing the teacup to the ground. He had a sullen expression on his face.
“Young Master, do you still want to make a bid?” Yu Feng asked him cautiously, he could see that his Young Master was about to explode in fury.
Yu Zuolin coldly laughed: “Bid.”
“4500 taels.” Once again the price shot up by 500 taels, the peasants below exclaimed in shock over and over, probably because it wasn’t usual for them to see a person spending this much money.
Mo Xian promptly understood the signal Jin Liuli just sent him with her eyes and smiled: “5000 taels.”
He was now sympathizing with the guest who had offended Yu Qingluo. He wasn’t sure what kind of hatred she had for him to put this much effort in scheming against him.
The corner of Yu Zuolin’s lips was pressed into a straight line, he said spitefully: “Add another 5000 taels.”
Yu Feng’s eyes widened at that: “Young Master.” is it really worth it?
“Bid.”
“Yes.” Yu Feng’s face turned bad, he stared directly at Mo Xian downstairs without blinking as he rose his voice to announce loud and powerful: “10.000 taels.”
10.000…? 10.000? 10.000?!
The crowd went into an uproar, all of their mouths went agape as they looked at the private room number one. Some were sticking their necks out as if they were trying to pry into the identity of this young master, extremely curious about just what kind of divine being was the one who could bid such a high price.
However, everyone’s eyes suddenly went towards Mo Xian once again. Their shining eyes were clear indicators that they were hoping for him to continue raising the price.
But what a pity, Mo Xian shrugged helplessly and said: “Sigh, I don’t have enough money to keep bidding. Forget it, maybe next time. Anyway, my finger was only scrapped a little when I was walking on the streets, even without the Ghost Doctor’s care it should also be able to heal.”
“…” the crowd felt like spurting some blood. Did he actually come to this auction and bid such a high price in this auction just because of some light chafe?
This time Yu Zuolin really felt the urge to crush Mo Xian to death. This man wasn’t sick nor in pain but instead deliberately acted to make his life more difficult. Could he be just playing around?
Yu Feng sighed inwardly, he was feeling that it was too bad that all this money was about to be pocketed by another person for no good reason.
If not for that frivolous man below, they wouldn’t have been forced into such a position. To be embarrassed in such a way.
“Young master, luckily we’ll be able to see the Ghost Doctor soon.”
Yu Zuolin closed his eyes slowly, suddenly regretting it. Paying 10.000 just to see the Ghost Doctor… It was too lamentable.
“Young master, no matter what, after waiting for so many days, we are finally going to see some results.” Noticing that his Master’s mood wasn’t right, he could only give him some words of comfort.
Yu Zuolin nodded. He was about to stand up when Jin Liuli’s pleasant voice sounded from downstairs.
“10.000 taels, is anyone going to bid more? Anyone else?”
After she spoke she waited for a while. Seeing that no one had made a sound again she then immediately smiled and announced: “Since no one is raising the price anymore then the wooden token shall be given to the guests on the private room number 1 for the sum of 10.000 taels.”
She had to admit, Yu Qingluo’s estimated price was right on point. Yu Zuolin was really able to take those 10.000 taels out.
Jin Liuli smile turned even brighter, she lowered her head and said to Da Wu: “Go to Master Yang and collect the wooden token of number 6 and deliver it to the guests over in the private room number 1, then give the money to Master Yang.”
Da Wu also smile, lowering his voice to answer: “Yes, shopkeeper.”
Complying with her orders, he couldn’t wait to rush upstairs even though his legs were sore from running up and down all over the place the entire day, it was still worth his effort.
Da Wu quickly knocked on Master Yang’s private room and Yang Yansheng handed him the token with a dazed look on his face.
Honestly, he didn’t expect that the final result would be such. Just what kind of terrible disease does the guest in the private room number one have that he is willing to spend 10.000 taels just to see the Ghost Doctor?
But the man sitting next to master Yang couldn’t hold himself from frowning, a pensive look was looming on his face. Why was he under the impression that the real purpose of this auction proposed by the shopkeeper was directed at the customer in the private room number 1?
Da Wu handed the token to Yu Zuolin and rushed away impatiently, not daring to delay any longer after collecting the money from him (YZL).
Yu Zuolin’s expression was a tad too scary, he looked like he was about to take a chunk out of Da Wu.
“Young master, shall we go?” Yu Feng sighed inwardly, put the wooden token away then proceeded to open the door for them and led his young master out.
When the two reached the arched door[1], Jin Liuli was already there waiting for them. Noticing their approach her face opened into a seductive smile, measuring Yu Zuolin up with her eyes.
This man was indeed elegant and graceful as jade, handsome and dashing[2], it’s one of those rare talented and bright men. No wonder this young general is the dream lover of many young ladies in their boudoirs.
However, compared to that man surnamed Ye she saw previously, he didn’t feel as impressive anymore.
Getting to see him just after witnessing Ye Xiudu made her few like his handsomeness was a step behind. In addition, she originally already didn’t have a good impression of this man who had tried to put an end to Yu Qingluo’s life many times before, 6 years ago.
Yu Zuolin glanced at her fleetingly, without urging her to move. He just raised his chin slightly, looking confident and unrestrained.
He’s used to seeing women around looking at him with those kinds of eyes. He knows that his looks aren’t bad, otherwise, why would so many matchmakers be hired to come to his household to try to propose to him in marriage?
So much that his chest was filled with pride when seeing these women’s scorching eyesights.
“This way, please.” Jin Liuli retracted her gaze, after judging him in her mind. She halted Yu Feng in his steps and then proceeded to guide Yu Zuolin alone towards the backyard.
Arriving at the door of the room where Yu Qingluo was, she took a piece of cloth and covered his eyes.
Yu Zuolin frowned, seemingly unhappy with this development. But since things have already reached this point, he could only stay still and let her continue. After all, he is not going to lose anything just because of a blindfold.
The two people inside of the room heard the sounds coming from outside and stopped their movements, their lips curved up as they directed their gaze towards the door.
Translated by C, The Apostle of Coffee
Edited by NoveLeo, Life is a Drama
Translator’s Notes
[1] I honestly forgot that there might be people who don’t know that there’s a lot of circular doors in these ancient Chinese houses. So I’ll leave a picture for you here!
If you saw Mulan (the Disney cartoon version) when you were younger, then they were depicted there as well.
[2] 玉树临风英俊潇洒 – here Jin Liuli uses a more poetic language. ‘玉树临风’ stands for something akin to ‘dashing, handsome, chivalrous and personable’. It comes from a poem from a Tang Dynasty poet’s Du Fu – 《饮中八仙歌》 ‘Ode to Eight Wine Immortals’. There’s a video with the poem and the translation under: https://youtu.be/pw9mr6vYfk4 (If anyone is interested you can check it out!)
Obviously Too Busy to Translate 
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