Chapter 577: Chapter 577: A Sudden Accident

The Meng Family’s business was spread throughout Cangyun Country, but they had not yet ventured into the shipping industry.

To prove his capabilities, Lu Shaoyuan entered into talks for a partnership with the head Store Manager of shipping in the Capital City.

The Store Manager was known as Jiang Shanglong, and every merchant vessel leaving the Capital City required his approval.

This Jiang Shanglong was over seventy years old and had an extremely difficult personality. In his earlier years, he’d even had a small falling-out with Mrs. Meng over the transportation of grain.

He had once declared that he would never do business with the Meng Family, but Lu Shaoyuan, unwilling to pass up such a golden opportunity, visited the Store Manager’s home multiple times and finally won Jiang Shanglong’s admiration.

That night, under a bright moon, Jiang Shanglong booked the largest restaurant in the city to host a celebratory banquet for his new partnership with Lu Shaoyuan.

Jiang Shanglong invited his three deputy managers, as well as two accountants who would be responsible for liaising with Lu Shaoyuan in the future.

"Second Young Master Lu, you are young and promising, with an upright and honest character. I am more than happy to partner with you in the shipping business." Jiang Shanglong’s graying beard curled up as he smiled, his normally stern, square-jawed face now flushed and beaming.

Lu Shaoyuan clasped his hands. "Mr. Long, you flatter me. In the future, I will have much to learn from you regarding shipping matters."

The more modest Lu Shaoyuan was, the more Jiang Shanglong liked him, stroking his beard and laughing heartily.

"I’m getting old, so I’m no match for rising stars like you. Your mother is a formidable woman. Back then, when I was in my prime, I had quite a temper. We argued until we were red in the face and even flipped a table. Thinking back now, it really wasn’t worth it. I’m a good two decades older than her, too. I was also in the wrong back then, so your initiative in making peace has resolved a lingering regret for me."

As Jiang Shanglong spoke, he clapped Lu Shaoyuan on the shoulder. "You must manage the business well. When I can’t work anymore, I’ll be counting on Second Young Master Lu’s protection."

Lu Shaoyuan stood up, raised his cup, and bowed. "Since all you elders are willing to entrust the shipping business to me, this junior will certainly not disappoint. We’ll make money together in the future, and I’ll ensure none of you lose out!"

Jiang Shanglong and the others cheered and clapped, while Lu Shaoyuan downed three cups of strong liquor in a row to show his determination.

This act earned him even more of Jiang Shanglong’s praise. When it came to business, he liked dealing with straightforward people, and Lu Shaoyuan was exactly to his liking.

After this meal, Jiang Shanglong would hand over the seal representing all shipping business at the Capital City’s ports to Lu Shaoyuan, and Lu Shaoyuan would join the shipping business for the price of thirty thousand taels of gold.

From then on, whenever they transported goods, Jiang Shanglong would take a thirty percent cut, and the rest would belong to Lu Shaoyuan.

In fact, before Lu Shaoyuan made this decision, Mrs. Meng had reminded him that Jiang Shanglong originally came from a background of pirates and had later seized an opportunity to build his business.

But Mrs. Meng worried that their fundamental nature was still that of pirates, and she feared Lu Shaoyuan would be taken advantage of.

Besides, the Meng Family’s business was vast and prosperous; it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t get into shipping.

But Lu Shaoyuan didn’t think so. He had a feeling that the waterway business would become extremely profitable in the future. His ambition wasn’t just to open shops and make money in Cangyun Country, but to take his trading skills to the surrounding nations as well.

Moreover, traveling by water was much faster than using the official roads. Once the deal with Jiang Shanglong was settled, it would be they themselves who benefited most from the convenience.

At that moment, Lu Shaoyuan was drinking cup after cup, his spirits high as he drank with Jiang Shanglong and the other shopkeepers, and he gradually became drunk.

Suddenly, a servant burst in from outside, looking flustered. Lu Shaoyuan squinted his drunken eyes to see that it was one of Jiang Shanglong’s trusted confidants.

After entering, he whispered a few words in Jiang Shanglong’s ear.

Jiang Shanglong’s expression changed. He slammed down his cup and roared, "Nonsense! Tell her to get lost, or see how I punish her!"

The servant said a few more words, and Jiang Shanglong slammed his hand on the table. "Truly lawless! I’ll go take a look."

He stood up and said to Lu Shaoyuan, "Young Master, I have a family matter that I must go handle urgently."

Lu Shaoyuan quickly rose and clasped his hands as well, sounding a bit tipsy. "Please go ahead, Mr. Long. This junior will be leaving shortly as well."

Jiang Shanglong said to the deputy managers beside him, "Accompany the Second Young Master for me. There must be no neglect."

A round-faced deputy manager immediately stood up. "Rest assured, Mr. Long. We will take good care of the Second Young Master."

Jiang Shanglong left in a hurry.

The remaining deputy managers began to drink with Lu Shaoyuan in turns.

Toward the end of the drinking, they asked with a laugh, "We hear the Second Young Master will soon be engaged to the Princess. When can we expect to drink at your wedding feast?"

At the mention of this, Lu Shaoyuan was filled with boundless joy.

He immediately raised his cup with great enthusiasm. "When the time comes, I will definitely invite all you elders to the banquet!"

Everyone laughed. "Then we’ll be waiting!"

After another round of drinks, Lu Shaoyuan was even more drunk than before. He tried to get up and leave, but stumbled all the way and fell before he even reached the door.

The deputy managers rushed to help him up. The round-faced shopkeeper then ordered Lu Shaoyuan’s attendant, who was standing at the door.

"You, hurry and find the innkeeper. Have them brew some sobering soup and send it to a guest room. The Second Young Master is far too drunk. We’ll help him to a room to rest for a while. He can’t leave like this."

The attendant hurried off.

Lu Shaoyuan was practically dead weight as he was helped into a room and laid down.

He lay on the couch, watching the purple bed curtains sway, and remembered a purple dress that Shen Ningning had once liked.

A drunken flush appeared on Lu Shaoyuan’s handsome face, and his smile was as sweet as honey.

’The major shipping deal is settled. Now I have more confidence to get engaged to Shen Ningning.’

’She loves beautiful jewelry and dresses so much. In the future, I’ll give her all the money I earn.’

Lu Shaoyuan had it all planned out. Whether he was with Shen Ningning for three years, five, ten, or even thirty, he would always treat her with the same sincere passion as he did now.

There would never be another woman besides her.

Suddenly, he felt someone taking off his clothes. Lu Shaoyuan, dazed with drink, turned his head to look.

His vision was blurry and swaying, but he could still make out a fair-skinned girl wearing a silk gauze dress.

Lu Shaoyuan propped himself up on one arm and pushed her away, slurring his words. "Don’t need... any service. Where are... where are my men?"

The girl said, "The Second Master’s servant went to have sobering soup prepared. They asked this servant to come help the Second Master change his clothes. You see, you’ve thrown up on them."

Lu Shaoyuan was confused. ’Did I throw up?’

He looked down and saw a stain of some sort on his sleeve.

He obediently let the maid remove his outer robe, after which he lost all his strength and collapsed back onto the couch.

For some reason, the temperature in the room made him feel hot and thirsty.

"Bring me water."

The maid brought a cup of cool tea. Lu Shaoyuan drank it with great relief and asked for another.

Finally, he collapsed on the couch, completely unconscious. The girl leaned in and called softly, "Second Young Master... Second Young Master?"

Lu Shaoyuan didn’t stir.

The girl looked back at the door, where someone had opened it a crack and was peeking inside.

The person outside nodded. The girl then climbed directly onto Lu Shaoyuan’s bed and lowered the bed curtains.

「The next day.」

Shen Ningning, at Ye Shangyi’s invitation, went to the largest restaurant in the city for a meal.

She sat in the private room for a long time, but Ye Shangyi never arrived.

Suddenly, a scream came from the room next door.

Shen Ningning quickly ran over to see what was happening. The shriek was so wretched that it drew out the waiter and the guests from the surrounding private rooms.

Everyone gathered at the doorway to watch, and those at the front were pointing and whispering—

"He looked so respectable, but he’s a beast in fine clothing."

"Miss, don’t cry! Report it to the authorities quickly!"

A woman’s sobbing could be heard as she cried, "My innocence is gone!"

Shen Ningning frowned slightly. ’Could another lecher be causing trouble right under the nose of the Imperial City?’

Suddenly, someone said, "Huh? That man... doesn’t he look like the Young Master from the Meng Family?"

A man, hastily pulling on his clothes, rushed out.

And ran right into Shen Ningning.

The young woman’s beautiful eyes widened in shock, and astonishment filled Lu Shaoyuan’s gaze as well.

Standing before Shen Ningning, his clothes were in disarray. He had only thrown on an outer robe, and scratch marks from fingernails were visible on his chest.

The people nearby recognized him. "It really is the Lu family’s Second Master!"

"Ningning, it wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!" Lu Shaoyuan said frantically, rushing to explain.

However, Shen Ningning’s gaze went past him to the woman behind. Her hair was disheveled, and she was kneeling on the floor with her back to the crowd. On her fair shoulders, there was a bite mark.

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