Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 136 - 131: Little Nine with Heaven-Defying Connections

Chapter 136: Chapter 131: Little Nine with Heaven-Defying Connections

Meng Qianqian touched her chin.

The bearded neighbor turned out to be a carpenter. His attitude toward Bao Shu didn’t seem malicious. Why would he get into a fight with Ji Li?

It must be Ji Li provoking him!

Next door, Ji Li, enduring the humiliation of being bare-bottomed, sneezed violently.

Meng Qianqian continued, "Grandma Feng, do you know which other neighbors live in the alley?"

Grandma Feng replied, "Almost all have moved away. Across from you, there’s a man who does iron flower forging, though he doesn’t stay around much. The carpenter is here more often."

Meng Qianqian recalled Spring Mama mentioning that years ago, many craftsmen lived in Fengshui Alley. If not for the murder case, this would surely be the busiest alley in the Capital City.

"Then there’s..."

Grandma Feng hesitated. "That’s all. That man probably won’t return, and you likely won’t run into him. They don’t like being disturbed, but you can say I sent you."

Meng Qianqian didn’t pursue who the man that likely wouldn’t return was. She nodded and said, "Thank you, Grandma Feng. May I ask how I should address him?"

Grandma Feng said, "His surname is Lei."

Meng Qianqian left Grandma Feng’s house, returned to her room, and prepared a basket of fresh fruits. She carried it to the end of the alley.

The courtyard gate was locked, but the distinct sound of chopping wood could be heard from inside.

Meng Qianqian knocked on the gate.

Initially, there was no response, but Meng Qianqian persisted and kept knocking.

Finally, the bearded man opened the gate with great impatience, an air of dominance emanating from him: "Are you looking to die?"

Meng Qianqian smiled and lifted the fruit basket. "Uncle Lei, I’m here to buy a bed."

The pleasantries didn’t matter; the key was to support neighbors’ businesses.

The man’s gaze shifted from the fruit basket and asked solemnly, "Did Grandma Feng send you?"

Meng Qianqian nodded.

Gripping his massive axe, exuding menace, he muttered, "That old bag really thinks her face still carries weight, huh?"

Meng Qianqian blinked and said, "It doesn’t?"

The man turned and walked toward the main room, "Come in."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

Carrying her basket, Meng Qianqian stepped into the courtyard.

The place fit the image of a carpenter—wood scattered across the ground, all split piece by piece with his axe. She was reminded of the long-lasting timber at Grandma’s house and wondered if it came from his labor.

His home was larger than Meng Qianqian expected. After passing through the hall, she saw an exceptionally spacious backyard with numerous unfinished carvings haphazardly arranged.

"Uncle Lei, are these commissioned works from others?"

"No."

He casually tossed a wooden carving of a gyrfalcon into the fire pit in the kitchen.

"Uncle Lei, that... are you giving it up?"

Meng Qianqian was startled.

Though incomplete, it was undoubtedly the most lifelike wood carving she had ever seen.

The man looked at it disdainfully and said, "It’s not done properly."

Meng Qianqian fell silent.

"There’s just one bed. Take it if you want."

He pushed open the storage room door. Inside the large room, there was only one bed covered with a cloth. Judging by its frame and size, it was likely a stepping bed.

Meng Qianqian thought a regular stepping bed would do just fine; after all, thousand-work beds were unavailable—they always required reservations three years in advance.

"This one will do,"

Meng Qianqian said.

The man gave her a surprised glance. "You don’t want to check? If you don’t like it, I won’t give you a refund."

Meng Qianqian smiled. "No need!"

The bearded man stated, "Five hundred taels."

Meng Qianqian was stunned.

The man frowned. "Too expensive? Fine, three hundred taels."

Meng Qianqian hesitated, "Uncle Lei..."

The man wasn’t very sure of market prices and guessed that the price wasn’t quite right.

After thinking for a while, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind. "One hundred taels."

Meng Qianqian: "..."

In the end, Meng Qianqian still paid five hundred taels. Paying just one hundred would make her conscience ache.

When Nanny Li learned of the bed purchase and heard it only cost five hundred taels, she was instantly alarmed.

A five-hundred-tael bed—how could that befit a wealthy family’s marriage bed?

The worst beds outside cost at least a thousand taels!

"No, I have to go check it out!"

Nanny Li took Nanny Wan, Nanny Hu, and Lady Du to the bearded man’s house to see the bed.

After examining it, the four said nothing.

"Do you want to return it?"

The man asked.

Nanny Li stammered, "N-no... no returns!"

The three left, legs weak.

"Has our young lady... scammed him?" Nanny Wan felt guilt nibbling at her conscience for the first time.

"It’s really only five hundred taels?" Lady Du muttered awkwardly.

Nanny Hu said, "When the madam married into the Lu Family back then, even the thousand-work bed we moved couldn’t compare to this one."

Nanny Li cleared her throat and timidly said, "D-d-don’t... talk about it... Let’s, let’s... head back."

The days grew warmer, and the wedding day approached.

Meng Qianqian found herself quite idle. Apart from practicing martial arts daily, she spent time with Bao Shu, occasionally visited Grandma’s house to sit and repair her stove.

As thanks, Grandma Feng gifted Meng Qianqian a skeleton.

"I’ve treasured it for years. I couldn’t bear to give it to anyone else."

Meng Qianqian politely smiled. "Th-thank you, Grandma Feng."

One day fell on the rest day for civil and military officials. It was also the day Meng Qianqian had an appointment at the Lin Family’s residence.

Meng Qianqian invited Yu Li along.

Yu Li said, "I’m supposed to come too?"

Meng Qianqian responded, "Doesn’t cousin want to go?"

Yu Li quickly replied, "It’s not that. I’m just worried that if everyone is female, I might feel out of place."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly and said, "There won’t be outsiders this time—just Lady Lin’s family."

The Lin Family.

Lady Lin issued orders last night, emphasizing that today’s guests were distinguished and must not be treated with any disrespect.

She even made her husband stay home and forbade him from going anywhere.

"Do we really need to do this, dear?"

"Just this once!"

Early in the morning, a maid came to report that the guests had arrived.

Lady Lin cheerfully went to greet them, but upon seeing the visitor, her face darkened. "Why is it you? I don’t recall inviting you!"

Lady Zhou smiled smugly. "It doesn’t matter if you invited me; I insist on coming."

Dressed as a maid, Zhou Nanyan leaped off the carriage. "Auntie Lin!"

Lady Lin immediately changed her expression, grinning broadly. "Oh, it’s Yan’er! Quick, come inside!"

Zhou Nanyan chuckled and linked arms with Lady Lin.

At this moment, Meng Qianqian and Yu Li arrived.

Tan’er didn’t come—she had followed Uncle Meng and the others to the Governor Mansion to install the marriage bed.

Meng Qianqian brought along Ban Xia.

Zhou Nanyan’s eyes lit up, and she quietly whispered, "Sister Meng, Ban Xia!"

Meng Qianqian smiled lightly.

Ban Xia quickly bowed, "Lady Zhou..."

Zhou Nanyan interrupted her and whispered, "It’s fine, it’s fine. Today, I’m just a maid."

"Lady Lin, Lady Zhou," Meng Qianqian greeted the two ladies with a bow as a junior.

Yu Li politely clasped his hands and said, "Lady Lin, Lady Zhou."

Lady Lin smiled as she assessed Yu Li, then instructed the servant nearby, "Take Young Master Yu to the study."

Yu Li didn’t think too much about it and followed the servant.

Outside the study door, the servant respectfully announced, "Master, Young Master Yu has arrived."

Yu Li froze for a moment. Master? Could it be Lin’s father?

He thought he was meeting Lin’s son.

"Come in."

A dignified voice echoed from inside.

Yu Li steadied himself and stepped through the door, following etiquette, avoiding direct eye contact, and catching a glimpse of the figure behind the desk—a presence commanding silent awe.

He bowed and said, "This junior greets Master Lin."

Lin’s father seemed to hold an official position, though Yu Li wasn’t sure exactly what.

Lin Zhengliang scrutinized him briefly and said, "So, you’re Yu Li?"

Yu Li replied, "Yes."

Lin Zhengliang gestured to the small desk across from him. "Let’s begin."

Yu Li hesitated, "Hmm?"

Lin Ji spoke sternly, "An exam! How else will I know your academic merit? Whether you’re qualified to enter the Imperial College?"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.