CHAPTER 481: CHAPTER 246: AN UNINVITED GUEST (PART 2)

This person was none other than Sang Pingliang.

"May I ask if the young Miss is in?" Sang Pingliang asked the doorman with a smile.

"The young Miss?" The doorman looked at the man of advanced years who abruptly asked if the young Miss was present, and eyed him suspiciously, "Who are you? What do you want with our young Miss?"

What for? Of course, to seek help!

"My name is Sang Pingliang; please brother, go and inform the young Miss that Sang Pingliang is looking for her urgently!" As he spoke, he took out a piece of broken silver from his robe and, with a flattering smile, slipped it into the doorman’s hand.

Seeing the silver was about two or three mace in weight, the doorman weighted it thinking it was better than nothing and, with a gesture of his mouth to the side, said: "Stand there and don’t block the way, I’ll go ask for you!"

Sang Pingliang hadn’t even finished saying "thank you" when he saw the doorman stopped in his tracks, sizing him up and down, "Your surname is Sang? Don’t tell me you are related to the Mistress of our family?"

Besides the Mistress’s natal family, there didn’t seem to be other relatives or friends surnamed Sang in the Shi family. The advantage of being a doorman is precisely this - having a considerable understanding of the family’s social relationships.

"Ah? No, no, no!" Sang Pingliang, startled, hurriedly shook his head in denial. He joked, how could he dare to admit it? If Miss Wan knew about the things he had done, she would probably disown him in righteous indignation, not to mention tear him apart. It was still better to talk to the always smiling, warm-hearted, and amiable young Miss! The matter could only be resolved by shamelessly seeking help from the young Miss with a heart of Bodhisattva. As for Miss Wan, it was best she didin’t know!

"Not related then, not related. Why are you so agitated!" The doorman gave him an annoyed glance and turned to find someone at the second gate to relay the message.

As to why Sang Pingliang happened to appear here, this story started nearly two months ago.

At that time, Shi Fengju was recuperating in Handan, Sang Wan also went to Handan to take care of him. Gu Fangzi through Mrs. Wang interfered with the Shi family’s shipping business and then set her sights on Sang Pingliang and Mrs. Li.

Ever since that accidental encounter in the garden with Mrs. Li, Gu Fangzi had a clear view of what kind of person she was, and a thought stealthily emerged in her mind. Afterwards, she even sent someone to discreetly investigate in Yangliu Town’s Sihe Village, and upon learning of the disputes between Sang Pingliang’s couple and Sang Hong’s family, Gu Fangzi almost laughed out loud.

Such a ready-made person was right before her eyes; if she did not make good use of him, she would even look down on herself.

Thus, one noon, a carriage drove into Sihe Village, and a person alighted to knock on Sang Pingliang’s front door.

The visitor claimed to be Hu San, he bowed with a smile and said, "Are you Sang Pingliang, Second Master Sang? I have been sent by the young Miss of the Shi Mansion in Qingzhou. Is the Second Mistress present?"

"You’re looking for my wife?" Seeing that Hu San wasn’t even thirty, and considering his old woman was no beauty, Sang Pingliang felt it odd, but he had no other suspicions.

"It is the young Miss’s order for me to check on the Second Mistress. The young Miss and Second Mistress hit it off upon first meeting. Once the Second Mistress knows it’s about the young Miss, she’ll naturally understand!" Hu San said with an easy smile.

Although Sang Pingliang was somewhat dubious, he still invited Hu San into the house and called for Sang Rou to find Mrs. Li.

Mrs. Li, upon hearing Hu San mention the young Miss and listening to him describe the encounter with Gu Fangzi in the garden without error, and seeing him present a pair of gold hairpins as a gift, had no room for doubt any longer. She was both delighted and proud, praising Gu Fangzi profusely, her words of admiration flowing like a torrential river.

Hu San didn’t expect this woman to be so incessantly indiscreet when she spoke. Not wanting to interrupt, he had no choice but to smile along and also praised his Master a few times.

Still, Sang Pingliang’s mind wasn’t entirely muddled; knowing that Hu San wouldn’t have come all this way for a casual visit, to deliver a small gift, and to exchange a few pleasantries, coughed once to interrupt Mrs. Li and asked with a smile, "Brother Hu San, is there something else you wish to discuss?"

When Hu San heard this, it was like being offered a pillow while dozing off. He eagerly nodded, "Exactly! It’s like this, the Shi family’s shipping business is currently lacking someone to watch over the warehouse. The job of guarding the warehouse is simple: just make sure to lock the door when coming and going, patrol once in the evening, and stop any unauthorized entry or theft from the warehouse. But the person for this job must be trustworthy and one of our own, so that we can be at ease, right? The young Miss is now in charge of these matters, which is why she sent me to ask if Second Master is interested? First, since the young Miss and the Second Mistress have become fast friends, she knows your situation isn’t great, and this work is easy, earning some silver to help out the family is good; second, you are relatives of the Mistress, naturally trustworthy, and with the job in your hands, the young Miss can rest easy!"

"No problem, no problem at all!" Upon hearing it was a job with the Shi family, Sang Pingliang’s heart bloomed with joy, and what was there to refuse? Even if the job weren’t easy, having gotten into the Shi family’s business, and being Sang Wan’s own uncle, who would dare not to treat him with respect? If he did well in the future, made friends, expanded his connections, the prospects were bright. Wouldn’t that be much better than staying in this backwater village?

"The young Miss truly has a kind heart!" Sang Pingliang couldn’t help but praise Gu Fangzi and eagerly asked, "When do we start?"

In his heart, Hu San held disdain, thinking is this really the Mistress’s own uncle and aunt? So it appears the Mistress isn’t much either! No wonder the young master refused to marry her at all costs! To bring a girl from such a family home is simply shameful!