Do you want to come with me?

The supervisor originally wanted to ask Shen Tang why she was buying Old Chu. That old fellow wasn't very likable, but after hearing the bookshop owner's words, he understood.

His expression softened with a bit more kindness.

"You want to buy Old Chu? Alright, we can discuss the price." He proactively lowered his asking price. "Three taels, what do you say?"

Bookshop Owner: "Three taels? That's too expensive!"

The supervisor clacked his abacus, pulled out a thick, yellowed old ledger, and opened a page. "Originally, it was five taels, but I'm offering three now because we've known each other for years. Here, take a look. When Old Chu was bought back then, it was only one tael and two mace!"

Owner: "How could it be so expensive?"

The supervisor snorted. "Do you think the market was the same five years ago? Nowadays, you can get a presentable girl for two hundred wen if you haggle. This market price, you couldn't have imagined it five years ago. They weren't even at war then. Buying someone would cost at least five taels, better ones ten or twenty taels! Old Chu's batch was sold cheap because they had contracted the plague, and even then, it cost one tael and two mace."

According to the rules of the entertainment districts, it was normal for even the registered performers and servants to be marked up three to five times their original price. If it was a top performer or a popular rising star, a markup of a hundred times was common. Otherwise, how would they make money?

Old Chu, bought for one tael and two mace back then, would now sell for at least four taels and eight mace. The supervisor asking for three taels was very conscientious.

This wasn't entirely out of consideration for the bookshop owner.

As a commoner, he had his shrewd, deceitful, and greedy side, but he also had a soft, kind, and warm side.

Upon hearing that Shen Tang was here to redeem "Grandpa," his first reaction wasn't to seize the opportunity to gouge her, but to imagine a deeply moving family drama – complete with a fallen family, separated bloodlines, a long-awaited reunion, and the joy of family togetherness, all popular elements.

Old Chu had been working in the Moonlit Pavilion's kitchen for five years since he was bought. He had been diligent and error-free all these years, and his hands were still nimble. Apart from being taciturn, having a strange temper, being unsociable, and not trying to curry favor, he had no other major flaws.

Now that his family had found him and wanted to redeem him to care for him in his old age, it was a sign that Old Chu's hardships were finally over. This was his good fortune. He didn't need to do anything wicked for a little bit of money and prevent a family from reuniting. It was also a way to accumulate good karma.

Seeing the bookshop owner hesitate, the supervisor added, "Don't make things difficult for me either. If I accept too little, I won't be able to explain it to my superiors."

The owner sighed, knowing the price couldn't be negotiated further. Shen Tang, who had been quietly standing by, took out several pieces of silver from her money pouch and placed them before the supervisor. "Please weigh them and see if it's enough."

Seeing her willingness, the supervisor felt a good impression of her.

He secretly marveled, This is truly a filial child.

Beautiful and filial, Old Chu would be blessed in his old age.

He accepted the silver pieces and carefully weighed them. Finding that there was a little extra, he took out a pair of scissors and cut off some of the silver. Only when it was exactly three taels did he tidy up the silver shavings and take out Old Chu's indenture. He said, "It's still early. Young Lady, do you want to go to the Prefectural Yamen to transfer the ownership?"

Shen Tang shook her head. "No."

The bookshop owner retorted, "Her Grandpa! What ownership needs to be transferred?"

Shen Tang: "..."

She didn't go to transfer ownership simply because her original body was also undocumented!

Earlier, these two had only imagined Old Master Chu as her "Grandpa," but now they were openly saying it???

The supervisor slapped his forehead. "Right, I almost forgot about that. But we'll have to find time to get you a proper registration later."

Shen Tang's lips twitched. "Mm, I'll remember."

The supervisor beckoned to someone. "Go, go to the kitchen and call Old Chu over. Tell him his granddaughter is here to take him home to enjoy his old age."

As for whether the bought and sold Old Master Chu had any opinion...

That wasn't important.

Shen Tang put away the yellowed indenture, which was covered in paper scraps, and secretly decided that once she learned her skills, she would consider this indenture as a tutoring fee for Old Master Chu, returning his freedom. She would be responsible for the old man's food and clothing, as she wasn't some devilish capitalist.

Therefore--

When Old Master Chu was sitting in the kitchen, numbly scrubbing the accumulated dishes and trays from the previous night, and heard the shout, his weather-beaten, aged face contorted for a moment. He thought he was hearing things and grabbed the messenger's hand to confirm multiple times, "Who? What granddaughter?"

The messenger chuckled. "Your granddaughter is here to redeem you and take you away. The old fellow's hard days are finally over."

The bewildered Old Master Chu: "..."

When he saw his "granddaughter," whom he had never met and who had appeared out of nowhere, his composure almost broke again.

You call this young gentleman a granddaughter?

The supervisor patted Old Master Chu's shoulder and said emotionally, "Old Chu, pack your things and go with your child. Don't keep your family waiting too long."

Alas, in this world, the most moving and precious scene was undoubtedly a family reunited, sharing their joy.

Just thinking about it was deeply touching.

Old Master Chu's face was blank.

Shen Tang looked at him with an equally blank expression.

"I've paid the redemption money. Do you want to come with me?"

She suddenly felt a little guilty. Thinking back, buying someone without their permission was a bit disrespectful to Old Master Chu.

Old Master Chu: "...You really want to take this old man with you?"

Shen Tang opened her mouth, inexplicably feeling that her next answer should be extremely cautious and not made hastily.

But then she thought, there was only one choice to this question. She had already paid the money; wouldn't it be a huge loss if she didn't take him away?

So, Shen Tang nodded heavily.

"Yes, come with me!"

Three taels of silver!

Can't skip stones anymore!

She had always taken advantage of Qi Shan's knowledge and wisdom for free. She hadn't paid a single copper for it, let alone three.

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere became stiff and incredibly awkward.

The bookshop owner felt something was off. Before he could figure it out, Old Mr. Chu reacted first. He nodded calmly, "Mm, alright. Allow me to pack my things. I'll be ready in a moment."

Watching Old Mr. Chu turn back to the rear courtyard to pack, the bookshop owner asked the supervisor, "Is this old man working here so hard that he's gone silly? He looks so dazed, like he has some kind of old-age illness. It's not good to take him back, he'll suffer too much."

The supervisor rolled his eyes. "We make dirty money, but we're not inhuman. If he doesn't work, he'll go hungry for a couple of meals; there's no need to beat him."

Unless it was something like running away and stealing money, then a beating was necessary to teach them a lesson.

Old Chu had been very obedient since he arrived. How could he have been beaten?

Meanwhile.

After watching Gong Cheng drink his medicine and fall asleep, the Male Courtesan and the youth left one after the other. As the wooden door behind them closed, his demeanor changed. His face, exquisitely handsome to the point of being sharp, gained a touch of authority.

He said, "I never thought Brother Yun Chi would be at a loss for words one day. Since he knows nothing, questioning him is a waste of time. We should investigate ourselves. Mr. Gu, send people to keep an eye on that Shen Tang... If this person is not problematic, that's for the best. The nine generations of the Shen Clan died unjustly. This person and Brother Yun Chi are the best proof of the people's loss of faith in Zheng Qiao's tyranny. In the future, when we raise an army to attack Zheng Qiao, it will be justified..."

The youth asked, "What if there is a problem?"

The Male Courtesan replied indifferently, "Then eliminate them, leaving no future trouble!"

He paused, then added, "Also, pay attention to news about that Wudafu from the Gong Clan. Report any information as soon as you get it."

The youth lowered his gaze and cupped his hands in acknowledgment, "Yes."

Today's update is quite early, isn't it?

Hehe (#^.^#)

Still asking for recommendation votes. And for Sister Tang, you can give her a red heart, a red heart (`), sending a kiss.

PS: Oh, right. If anyone has a book list, please help add this book to it. After it's put on the shelves, there should be a new book splash screen that needs to be unlocked or something.