NOVEL WEB Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Eccentric Scholar
"Take me to this shop, please."
Jiang Huaiyu pointed to a listing in the ledger, her finger resting on a shop located on Qinghua Street in the western part of the city. It wasn't the prime location of Qinglong Avenue itself, but it was on a street that branched off from it, ensuring steady foot traffic. The size was just right for her needs. The price, however—500 taels of silver—was enough to make her heart ache.
Still, she reminded herself, you can't catch a wolf without risking the bait. While partnering with Qin Ziqin had been a strategic decision, and collaborating with Princess He Linglong had undeniable perks, it also came with risks. She needed something she could fully control—a sanctuary from the obligations and uncertainties that came with powerful allies. This shop would be her third "rabbit warren," a safe haven she could rely on should things ever go south.
When she arrived at the shop, its current owner was just locking up.
"Master Wang, wait a moment!" the broker called out. "This lady is here to view the property. Since you're here, it'll save you a trip later if she decides to buy."
The man, known as Scholar Wang, was around forty years old but carried himself like someone far older. His clothes were neat and proper, but his demeanor was stern, even aloof. His gaze lingered on Jiang Huaiyu for a moment, an almost imperceptible sneer in his expression. After a brief pause, he nodded grudgingly. "Fine. Come in."
The interior was modest, with an empty, rectangular main room roughly ten square meters in size. It was spacious enough to house several shelves or tables without feeling cramped. There was also a small back room that could serve multiple purposes, depending on the business. Though the shop lacked an attached courtyard, it was more than serviceable for Jiang Huaiyu's needs.
"I'll take it," she said after a quick survey.
The broker beamed, her smile as broad as the sky. "See, Master Wang? I told you she was decisive. A great shop like this speaks for itself!"
"Humph. Just a woman," Scholar Wang muttered under his breath. His voice was low, but Jiang Huaiyu caught it.
The broker, oblivious, continued cheerfully. "So, the agreed price is 500 taels. Shall we finalize the contract now?"
"Five hundred taels?" Wang's demeanor shifted, his neck stiffening as he raised his voice. "Who said I'd sell it for that? This shop is worth six hundred taels!"
The broker froze, her cheerful expression faltering.
Jiang Huaiyu raised a delicate brow. The sudden price hike was an obvious attempt at extortion. "An extra hundred taels for no reason? For that price, I could buy a shop on Yunlin Street."
Scholar Wang puffed out his chest, his tone dripping with disdain. "Five hundred for others, maybe. But for a woman like you, who doesn't even know her place, six hundred is a bargain."
Jiang Huaiyu's initial irritation gave way to amused disbelief. She wasn't about to waste her time arguing with this fool. Turning to the broker, she said calmly, "Let's look elsewhere. Clearly, this shop isn't worth the trouble."
She made to leave, but Wang, emboldened by her retreat, sneered, "Women should be at home, sewing and raising children, not parading about like this. It's indecent!"
Jiang Huaiyu stopped mid-step. Slowly, she turned back to face him, her expression a mix of amusement and cold disdain.
"Master Wang," she began, her voice deceptively gentle, "you've read the classics, haven't you? Surely, you know even the saints owe their existence to the women who bore them."
Wang looked startled but quickly regained his composure, scoffing. "Exactly! And that proves women belong at home, raising the next generation of great men."
Jiang Huaiyu's smile sharpened, her eyes glinting with icy determination. "If that's your interpretation, it only proves one thing: you've wasted your years of study."
Wang bristled. "How dare—"
"Allow me to educate you," Jiang Huaiyu cut in, her voice rising just enough to command attention. "The mothers of saints and sages taught us that women can nurture and lead. Take General He Lanyue, whose mastery of strategy and warfare won countless battles. Or Scholar Qi Yun, the first female top scorer during the Yun Guang reign, whose words still inspire generations. These were women who stepped out of the confines of the home and shaped history. And you—what have you achieved that gives you the right to dismiss half of humanity as unworthy?"
Wang's face turned beet red, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"I came here with honest intentions, ready to pay your asking price without haggling," Jiang Huaiyu continued, her tone cutting. "But you, a supposed scholar, chose to act like a common swindler. If there's anyone here disgracing themselves, it isn't me."
The broker stood to the side, utterly gobsmacked. Wang's reputation as a pompous, self-important scholar had preceded him, but she'd never seen anyone shut him down so decisively.
Wang, sputtering with rage and humiliation, staggered back. "Uncultivated! Incorrigible! Women like you are the downfall of society!" He stumbled out of the shop, his retreat almost comical in its haste. The broker watched him go, shaking her head in bemusement.
"Well, that was something," she said, turning to Jiang Huaiyu. "How about I find you another property? I'll pick only the best, and I promise you won't have to deal with anyone like him again."
Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly, her earlier frustration melting away. "That sounds like a good plan. Just make sure the next seller has a better temperament."
"You have my word!" The broker thumped her chest with enthusiasm. "I'll have some excellent options ready for you by tomorrow."
As Jiang Huaiyu left the shop, her lips curved into a wry smile. This was exactly why she wanted her own burrow. Independence was the only way to ensure she wouldn't be at the mercy of fools like Scholar Wang.