Chapter 168: Yesterday’s Newlyweds Become Today’s Has-beens
The next day, Cao Weida went to Rui Mansion and discussed it with Old Master Rui.
In the afternoon, a red sedan carried Ru Qiulan to the second courtyard of the siheyuan in Sesame Hutong.
Before Ru Qiulan got married, only Old Master Rui had tears in his eyes and was reluctant to part, while Rui Dajia and his wife watched coldly from the sidelines, even with impatience, as if sending off a broom star.
After all, in their eyes, the second son’s wife was gone, and once Old Ru Beile died, all the family property would be theirs.
That night, Cao Weida finally enjoyed Feng Laizi’s charm; the taste was indeed memorable.
On the third day, Ru Qiulan was also brought in by him, and then a person who was both expected and unexpected suddenly visited.
“Cao Sang, congratulations, congratulations, a small gift, not much but heartfelt.”
“Mei Ze Jun, how come you didn’t notify me in advance? I could have come out to welcome you properly!” Cao Weida greeted him with a full smile, guessing in his heart that this visit must bring good news.
Pretending to be displeased, Meize Heiba said, “Cao Sang, you’re not being friendly. You don’t treat me as a friend. Such a joyous event as taking a concubine, how could you not notify me?”
“What, if I thicken my face to come ask for a cup of wedding wine, Cao Sang isn’t welcome?”
“Mei Ze Jun loves to joke. I’m so happy I can hardly stand it; how could I not welcome you?” Cao Weida hurriedly waved his hands and smiled wryly, “As you can see, I didn’t invite anyone. Mainly, I take concubines every few days; I can’t hold a banquet every time. Outsiders would think I’m scamming for gift money.”
This explanation made Meize Heiba laugh heartily. “With that approach, you really do seem like you’re scamming for gift money.”
“But anyway, China has a saying: graceful ladies are loved by gentlemen. Oh right, and another one: food and sex, nature!”
“We’re all men, I get it! When you meet a girl you like, you naturally want to make her yours. Anyway, it’s not like you can’t afford it.”
Liking women is good; people with weaknesses are easier to control. If he were desireless, he wouldn’t feel secure.
“Hehe, indeed a fellow man!” Cao Weida winked, then gestured invitingly: “Please sit. With a distinguished guest at the door, I must have a good drink with you.”
“But, by our Chinese tradition, newlyweds can’t step out of the bridal chamber when they first enter; they can’t come toast guests. Don’t pick on that.”
“What kind of talk is that from Cao Sang? Being in China, we naturally follow Chinese traditions. Besides, two grown men drinking, having a woman join wouldn’t be fun anyway.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Mei Ze Jun. Here’s a toast to you.”
The two clinked glasses back and forth. With some drunkenness setting in, Meize Heiba finally got to the point: “Cao Sang, today is your big day. We’ll keep it brief so as not to disturb your wedding night, or your sister-in-law might blame me for being inconsiderate.”
After the teasing remark, which made Cao Weida awkwardly rub his nose and laugh heartily, he then said, “I came today for another matter. I assume you know what it is.”
Cao Weida nodded. “It’s about the cooperation we discussed last time, right?”
In his mind, he grumbled that even a fool could guess: what else would Meize Heiba want with him besides cooperation?
“Exactly.” Having drunk a lot, Meize Heiba poured a cup of tea, took a sip to moisten his somewhat dry throat.
“After our last talk, I reported it to the officers. I should have come yesterday, but as you know, such a big incident happened the night before last; all of Beiping was in chaos, and the officers were at their wits’ end.”
Cao Weida looked odd. “Mei Ze Jun, if I remember correctly, your navy has always been tense with the army, right?”
“Shouldn’t you be gloating over their misfortune instead of worrying for them?”
Meize Heiba smiled wryly. “Because one of our navy’s major generals also attended the banquet and unfortunately died. The whole top brass went mad, so…”
“Cao Sang, outsiders don’t know about this at all. I truly treat you as a friend, so I’m telling you. You mustn’t let it slip.”
“Uh, rest assured, I absolutely won’t say anything. I’m tight-lipped.” Cao Weida felt odd inside. Good grief, Wu Jingzhong and his crew actually killed a navy major general?
That rank was the same level as that old ghost Dai Li.
Wu Jingzhong and the others probably didn’t even know they’d killed a major general. Otherwise, with that show-off bald guy’s personality, he’d have put it in the papers, wanting everyone to know.
Of course, Cao Weida wouldn’t breathe a word. If news leaked, wouldn’t it scream that he was the source?
With a mournful face, he said, “Actually, I’d rather Mei Ze Jun hadn’t told me. If it leaks, I’d be in deep shit—not shit but still smeared like it.”
Meize Heiba chuckled in amusement. “Rest assured, Cao Sang. No one will spread this. Even if it does get out, it won’t be pinned on you.”
This matter had no real intelligence value anyway; it was just about the little devils’ navy’s face. He believed Cao Weida was smart enough not to do something so foolish.
“Alright, let’s drop this and talk cooperation.”
“On behalf of the officers, I fully represent the Great Japanese Empire’s navy in Beiping, Tianjin, and other areas to reach a business cooperation with Cao Sang. Next, the profit split details.”
After Meize Heiba stated his demands, Cao Weida nodded. “Personally, I have no objections, but since it’s full commercial cooperation between your navy and the army, I need to report to the army side.”
“Once they work out a reasonable split plan, I’ll relay it promptly.”
It was amusing: the Japanese Army’s army and navy had always been at odds, each hoping the other failed. Even agreeing on a common profit goal for trade routes, neither would sit down face-to-face; they needed a middleman to pass messages.
And that middleman was naturally Cao Weida.
“Then I’ll trouble you, Cao Sang. In the future, please take good care of business for us.”
“No, no, Mei Ze Jun, you’re too polite. Helping you is my honor. Your trust in me means I’ll do my utmost!”
After seeing off Meize Heiba, Cao Weida leaned back in the chair and smoked.
Ru Qiulan, wearing pajamas, came over with a bowl of hangover soup. “Master, have some hangover soup to warm your stomach.”
“Drinking alone isn’t fun.” Cao Weida grinned mischievously, pulled her into his lap, stroked the silk pajamas feeling the undulating tactile sensation, and planted a hard kiss on her face.
“Come on, here’s your chance to please your master. Your master doesn’t like domestic; he prefers imports.”
The first time she heard “import,” Ru Qiulan really thought it meant foreign goods. But after Cao Weida’s words and demonstration, she fully understood what “import” meant.
Hearing the master say it again now, how could she not know?
She gave him a flirtatious glare, her jade-like fingers pushing his face away.
“Tonight is Sister Liu’s. I dare not break the rules.”
“Want ‘import’ hangover soup? Let Sister Liu feed you herself.”
“A moment of spring is worth a thousand gold; don’t keep Sister Liu waiting.”
Hiss~~
Cao Weida drew in a sharp breath inwardly. Ru Qiulan truly matched Feng Laizi’s style, especially both trained in wealthy families—that innate nobility plus her unique mature allure was utterly tempting!
But thinking of tonight’s task, he pecked viciously at her alluring lips.
“I’ll let you off today. Starting tomorrow, see how I deal with you!”
Thirsty from the tease, he grabbed the bowl and downed it, then slapped her rear as he stood, sending ripples.
“Alright, off I go to be the groom~~”
Walking out, he hummed a ditty: “New bride every day, new groom every night, mother-in-laws across the nation~~”
“Pah! Nasty master, dreaming big.” Ru Qiulan rubbed her rear, her eyes rippling like autumn waves, gave him a flirtatious glance, and swayed back to last night’s bridal chamber.
She was reluctant, after all, her first taste of forbidden fruit was addictive, but yesterday’s new became old, today a new one joined; she could only guard an empty bed.
Cao Weida arrived at the new chamber, where Liu Rusi sat on the bed in a bright red qipao.
Her jet-black glossy hair was coiled in a bun, fixed with a hairpin; slight movement made the pearls on it sway.
Today’s Liu Rusi wore light makeup; under her slender willow-leaf brows, a pair of shy yet joyful eyes looked at Cao Weida.
“Beauty, waited long?” Cao Weida sat on the bed edge, lifted her chin, and smiled at her.
Liu Rusi bit her rouged red lips. “Brother Weida…”
Cao Weida pressed a finger to her red lips. “From now on, call me Master. Come on, say it.”
“M-Master~~” Liu Rusi said shyly with a hint of coquetry. Since joining the Military Statistics Bureau, she’d never imagined marrying someone as a concubine.
She didn’t know what the Military Statistics Bureau and her father would think if they found out.
But she didn’t regret it, even if it all stemmed from a moment’s impulse.
Now she was glad for that impulse. From the master, she felt an unprecedented safety; his care and pampering made her heart move body and soul.
“Master, it’s late. We should rest.”
These words were undoubtedly the charge signal. Cao Weida pulled her into his arms.
In the next room, hearing the whimpers by her ear, Ru Qiulan rubbed her legs together involuntarily in bed, her nose emitting intermittent hums. She tossed and turned for a long time without sleeping.
