CHAPTER 490: CHAPTER 490: INSTIGATION

Wan Lifang immediately straightened his back upon learning that Nanny Yao and her companions were servants, smiling and saying, "Nanny speaks too seriously, these servants are also people. Though they may not be held in the same regard as those of good register, their food, clothing, and overall living standards are much better than that of many peasants."

Nanny Yao and the six men were all dressed in new clothes, which looked much better than his half-washed attire. As Wan Lifang spoke, his tone became increasingly sarcastic.

Master Yang caught onto this, laughing as he said, "Nanny Yao, it’s rare for Young Master Wan to think so highly of us servants. Don’t you have three sets of brocade clothes in hand? How about gifting one to Young Master Wan?"

Nanny Yao quickly responded, "Master Yang reminds well, I will go back and fetch them immediately."

Once Wan Lifang heard the words ’brocade clothes,’ his eyes lit up. Although he felt it was somewhat inappropriate to accept such fine clothes upon first meeting, he kept silent and said nothing.

After Nanny Yao fetched the clothes, he pretended to refuse, "Nanny is being too polite. Such fine clothes are too generous for me to accept without feeling undeserving."

Nanny Yao smiled and said, "Why speak of undeserving? Young Master Wan is the son of a Scholar, and it is only fitting he wears such fine clothing. This was bought for our young master, just that an extra set was purchased. Moreover, our young master enjoys making friends; knowing that these clothes are gifted to a scholar, he would surely be delighted."

Wan Lifang was so flattered that he could hardly contain himself, and seeing the true value of the brocade clothes, he couldn’t resist accepting them, "Thank you, Nanny. May I ask which noble family you serve? So that when I visit your masters’ lands, I may express my gratitude in person."

Nanny Yao replied, "We are from the Jiangnan Yao Family."

"Jiangnan Yao Family," Wan Lifang was shocked. The Jiangnan Yao Family was a noble family with centuries of heritage. The current Family Head held the position of Minister of Rites in the Capital. If he could establish connections with the Yao Family, it would not just be his scholarly pursuits but even an official position that would no longer be a concern.

Wan Lifang was thrilled, his face glowing red, immediately pouring wine for Nanny Yao and the others, personally attending to them.

Nanny Yao and Master Yang exchanged smirks. The man was ridiculously easy to deceive. Just a few words and he believed them. Had Wan Lifang thought for a moment, he might have wondered if servants of a noble family like the Jiangnan Yao Family would end up in a remote place like this.

Blinded by the lust for power and wealth, Wan Lifang hadn’t considered the likelihood of deception, whereas Mrs. Ni, more astute, asked, "Nanny Yao, what brings you to Qingfu Town?"

Nanny Yao maintained her smile, but Wan Lifang rushed to speak, angrily chiding Mrs. Ni, "You lowly servant, this is no place for you to speak! Quickly get out of my sight."

If a servant offended a noble, and disrupted his chances of rising in status, he would have no qualms about selling her entire family.

After being scolded, Mrs. Ni had no choice but to leave and busy herself in the kitchen.

Wan Lifang quickly apologized to Nanny Yao: "Please don’t be offended, Nanny. The servants don’t know any better."

Nanny Yao chuckled, "It’s fine, there’s really nothing that cannot be spoken. A senior member of the Yao Family Clan does not enjoy the busy lifestyle of Jiangnan and has chosen seclusion in the neighboring county. We came on behalf of our masters to visit this elder, and on our way back we thought to rest here for a few days."

Rest for a few days?

This meant that Nanny Yao and her group would not be leaving any time soon.

"That is wonderful, Nanny Yao and Master Yang should stay and make yourselves at home with us, and let Lifang take good care of you."

Wan Lifang got stone drunk that very night with Master Yang and others.

In his drunkenness, he spilled all the dirty laundry of his own home and then started on Gu Yumei, cursing her fiercely: "That little wench is too damn worthless, my Wan Family is a Scholar’s home. Marrying her, a famine refugee, was already an act of condescension, and she even dares to break off our engagement, really thinks she’s some rich young lady?"

He then cursed the Gu, Qin, Luo, and Tian families: "Still dare come to my door seeking justice? What justice? My Wan Family is one of only two Scholar families in Qingfu Town, we are the justice! Ugh, a bunch of stinking beggars who fled here, you piss me off and I’ll hire someone to deal with you, sell your girls into brothels, and make your families lose all face."

Having heard all this, Nanny Yao and Master Yang were secretly delighted; with Wan Lifang having this intent, it would be much easier to manage.

The next day, when Wan Lifang sobered up, he had no memory of what he’d said the previous night. Yet Master Yang and Nanny Yao came to find him.

As soon as Nanny Yao sat down, she got straight to the point: "Young Master Wan, last night you told us you wanted to trick out the girls from the Gu Family and have us take them to Jiangnan. We agreed. When might you have time to bring out Miss Gu?"

Wan Lifang was dazed and asked in shock, "Nanny Yao, what are you talking about? When did I say such a thing?"

"You seem reluctant to admit it, Young Master Wan." Nanny Yao produced a deed and handed it to Wan Lifang: "Take a look at this, this is the contract you signed with us last night. It’s all written in black and white; you already sold Miss Gu to us, promising to deceive her out within five days. If you can’t do it, your family mansion will be mortgaged to us."

Wan Lifang collapsed to the floor with a thud, staring at the deed and the handprint on it, then looking up at the grinning Nanny Yao and the smug-faced Master Yang, he finally understood: "You... you’re setting me up!"

Enraged, Wan Lifang stood up, pointing at them and bellowing: "Get out, get out of my house, you bandits! If you don’t leave, I’ll call the officials to arrest you!"

With a bang, Master Yang kicked Wan Lifang down with his foot, pulling out a knife and waving it: "Young Master Wan, you want to deny a written contract? You think we’re easy to bully?"

Master Yang sneered: "Let me be frank with you, we are people who have licked blood off our knives, you’d better be sensible. If you dare to disobey... heh, making your entire family disappear is just a matter of one night’s work."

With those words, the knife in his hand sliced through the air, and with a hissing sound, Wan Lifang’s arm was cut open.

"Ah!" Wan Lifang screamed in terror, wetting his pants.

With a look of disdain, Master Yang frowned and scolded: "What a coward, scared into peeing yourself."

Nanny Yao raised her hand to stop Master Yang from speaking further, looking at Wan Lifang: "Young Master Wan, we’re not unreasonable people. Let’s consider this a partnership. As long as you trick out the girls from the Gu Family, we’ll give you ten taels of silver as a reward, how about it?"

The generous man had given them three hundred taels of silver to handle this matter, clearly stating one hundred taels were for buying over Wan Lifang. But after drinking with Wan Lifang last night, they felt he wasn’t worth the hundred taels of silver; even ten taels was generous.

They further coaxed Wan Lifang: "Didn’t the Gu Family make you lose face? It would be better to collaborate with us. You get to take revenge and get silver, isn’t it a great deal?"

Wan Lifang was originally frightened, but hearing this, he found it made sense... Yes, the Gu Family dared to break off the engagement, turning him into a laughingstock of the town. What could possibly go wrong with him ruining the Gu Family? It was what the Gu Family People deserved.

With this thought, Wan Lifang agreed: "Alright, I’ll cooperate with you. But Gu Yumei is greedy; to lure her out, it’s going to cost a bit."