Side Story 2: The Su Sisters

Suzhou, Chengxi.

Everyone knows that Old Man Su, who sells incense beads, has two daughters.

Both sisters were renowned beauties in the surrounding area, and they always attracted attention whenever they walked down the street.

Shen Changyin, the eldest son of the Shen family, one day accidentally bumped into Su Shiyu and saw that she was beautiful and had a slender figure.

He was instantly smitten and immediately asked a matchmaker to propose marriage to Su Shiyu.

Unfortunately, Su Shiyu already had someone she loved, so Old Man Su refused the marriage proposal.

Moreover, although Shen Changyin comes from a wealthy family, he is far too philandering.

He was not yet married, but he already had three concubines in his household.

Even if Shiyu wanted to marry him, Old Man Su wouldn't agree.

That day in the teahouse, Su Shiyu was talking to her sweetheart Meng Yu with her head down.

In the private room upstairs, Xie Songyi stood by the railing. His gaze inadvertently swept over her downstairs, and with just one glance, he felt a slight stirring in his heart.

But he quickly sensed the tender affection hidden in her eyes, which clearly indicated that she harbored feelings for the man beside her.

The man had a scholarly air about him and was handsome. He looked at her with affection, and the two seemed well-matched.

Seeing this, Xie Songyi felt only regret.

He regretted that he would never be able to find a woman he loved and be with for life.

Seeing his master staring at the woman, the attendant stepped forward and said, "Sir, shall I go and find out which family she belongs to?"

Xie Songyi waved his hand.

To avoid the Lin family, he traveled for more than half a year and learned the pain of not being loved.

How can we separate lovers for our own selfish desires?

Yes, Xie Songyi quietly suppressed the thought that had just arisen in his mind.

He took one last look at the woman, then turned and walked downstairs.

Lin sent word that she was going to give birth today, and it was only right and proper for him, as her husband, to go back and see her.

He casually went downstairs, only to see the woman in front of him suddenly turn her head and about to bump into him.

He quickly reached out and supported her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, young master."

After Su Shiyu finished speaking with Meng Yu, she got up to leave, but then suddenly remembered something and turned around, almost bumping into a young master.

She looked up and saw a strange man. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly apologized.

Seeing her flustered and blushing appearance, Xie Songyi smiled, nodded slightly, and then lifted his foot.

But when he reached the door, he glanced at the man who was staring in his direction without making a move, and frowned slightly.

She thought to herself that the man was probably not a good one.

Three days later, Su Shiyu woke up from her coma and found herself on a ship.

"Meng Yu?"

Su Shiyu felt a slight headache.

Meng Yu was not seen nearby.

Yesterday, she sent Meng Yu some loose silver so that he could go to the capital to take the imperial examination.

How did I end up here?

Just then, a middle-aged woman came in and said, "Oh, you're awake."

"Who are you?" Su Shiyu noticed that the woman's attire resembled that of a brothel madam.

“Your young master has sold you to us, taking one hundred taels of silver and leaving on his own. From now on, you will call me Mother Liu.”

"The ship has just docked. Come with me and get off the ship. Mom will show you the prosperity of the capital."

As the madam spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes as she looked at Su Shiyu.

This is a money tree!

Su Shiyu was filled with anger and resentment, but she was too weak to do anything but let the madam order her men to help her off the boat.

Thinking of how Meng Yu had treated her, Su Shiyu's tears streamed down her face.

Just then, a tall horse blocked her way, and the man on horseback asked her with a smile, "Miss, would you like to come with me?"

Xie Songyi reached out his hand to her, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

She knew that day that the man was not the right one for her.

No sooner had he boarded the boat than he saw the man carrying her onto the boat as well.

She looked unwell, as if she had fainted.

Upon further inquiry, Xie Songyi learned that the man had sold her to a madam so that she could go to the capital to take the imperial examination.

He remained silent for a moment after hearing this, and did not allow his attendants to rescue her.

He was waiting, waiting for her to come to her senses and, under pressure, choose him.

For many years afterward, Xie Songyi was incredibly grateful that he had harbored those wicked thoughts back then.

When Shen Changyin learned that Su Shiyu was missing, he was furious and slammed his fist on the table in a rage.

He couldn't swallow this insult, and his gaze shifted to his sister, Su Wanyun.

Since the younger sister won't do, then I'll marry the older sister!

He deliberately implicated corrupt officials, causing Old Man Su to be unjustly imprisoned and forcing Su Wanyun to marry him.

To prevent Su Wanyun from escaping as well, Shen Changyin simply sent people to guard the Su family's gate tightly, cutting off any possibility of her running away.

When Su Wanyun's sweetheart returned from his business trip, he only saw the Su family decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Su Wanyun had already been taken to the Shen family in a sedan chair, leaving her with no room for maneuver.

After a long time, Su Wanyun received a letter from the capital.

The letter was written by her younger sister, Su Shiyu. She said that she had met a man who treated her very well, and she often felt guilty for not being able to make her her legal wife.

Su Wanyun looked at the letter, a faint smile appearing on her lips. But as she smiled, she started to cry again.

At that moment, Shen Changyin, embracing his concubine and reeking of alcohol, came into her room. She hurriedly put away the letter.

Given Shen Changyin's personality, if he knew that his younger sister was living in a marquis's mansion in the capital, he would definitely shamelessly try to curry favor with her, causing trouble for her.

Su Wanyun later secretly wrote a letter back to Su Shiyu, instructing her sister that if she was safe and sound, there was no need to send any more letters.

With her father in her care, she has nothing to worry about.

Her daughter, Qingnian, had just gotten engaged to the son of her close friend, Yang, a marriage arranged by their father, Old Man Su.

In her letter, she also mentioned that the child, despite his young age, seemed very composed and sometimes looked like a little adult.

I wonder if I'll like her Nian'er in the future.