Chapter 7 First Encounter in Shenjing
Having successfully escaped her arranged marriage, Lu Jinlan traveled happily, enjoying the scenery along the way. Ten days later, she finally arrived.
All three were sixteen or seventeen years old, a time when they were full of energy and vitality. The capital city was over a thousand miles away, but it felt like they had arrived in a nap. Upon entering the capital, everyone was filled with novelty. She simply took out two silver notes and gave them to Qing'er and Ximo as pocket money, to reward them for their meticulous care along the way.
When Lu Jinlan set off, she brought her entire personal savings with her, and also swiped Lu Jinzhao's 30,000 taels of silver notes. With ample funds, she simply found the largest inn in the capital and booked three superior rooms in one go.
The unfamiliar territory made even a bold girl like Xi Mo feel a little uneasy.
After the three settled in, Xi Mo said, "I once heard Steward Zou mention that your aunt is also in the capital and runs several silk shops. Since you are a junior, and you are in the capital, you should pay her a visit. We all share the same surname, Lu, so it would be good to help each other out in the future. Unfortunately, we came out secretly and don't have an address. I'd like to inquire about the Lu family who owns the silk shops and try my luck."
Lu Jinlan nodded slightly, and Qing'er, who was making the bed, chuckled, "It's not that complicated. Didn't Auntie send a cart of silk to our mansion during the New Year? The name of the shop was written on the box, something like 'Yun'? The first character is too complicated, I don't recognize it."
Lu Jinlan became interested. "Write it down, and we'll guess."
Qing'er scribbled out a character in a crooked and messy way, and after Xi Mo examined it for a long time, he could only make out the "king" radical on the left and the right side looked like a painting with several long waterfalls hanging below the mountain.
Xi Mo said, "If I really can't recognize him, I'll go and ask around for someone surnamed Lu who runs a silk shop called Yun."
Lu Jinlan leaned over, suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, "Let's inquire about Ruiyun Silk Shop, it should be the right place. Besides, our family also has several properties in the capital. I've met all the shopkeepers in the capital for my mother's birthday. You two take my seal and go to the shops together to say hello, that I've arrived, and if anyone from home comes looking for me, have them let me know."
Qing'er quickly said, "We've all gone out, what are you doing alone?"
"Me?" Lu Jinlan opened her folding fan with a swish. "I'll sit and drink tea, and enjoy the scenery of the capital."
Qing'er and Xi Mo exchanged a meaningful glance, thinking to themselves: They're probably not looking at the scenery, but at the man, aren't they?
After the two left, Lu Jinlan picked up her sword and found a teahouse on the street. While drinking tea, she kept an eye on the men coming and going, doing her daily tasks for the system.
She felt herself being thoroughly influenced by male-oriented content, becoming increasingly neurotic. As she read, she couldn't help but offer her opinions. She thought to herself that the capital city was indeed the most prosperous, far surpassing Yunzhou in terms of its grandeur and the people it produced; even the men there were exceptionally handsome.
"cough."
A soft cough interrupted her thoughts. Lu Jinlan looked up and saw a young woman of about fifteen or sixteen years old standing in front of her, smiling at her.
The man clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute. “Sister Ren, we can tell at a glance that we are kindred spirits. May I sit down and chat for a few minutes?”
Seeing that she was dressed in fine clothes and didn't seem like someone who would freeload, and with two maids following behind her, she must be from a prominent family. So Lu Jinlan nodded, "Please."
"My surname is Lu. I am new to the capital and am unfamiliar with the local customs and culture. You just said that we are like-minded. What do you mean by that?"
"So it's Miss Lu. My surname is Yan, and I'm a local. I noticed you were staring at the men passing by. To be honest, I also have a fondness for men. Aren't we kindred spirits?"
Lu Jinlan almost choked on her tea, then laughed and said, "Young Madam Yan, you misunderstand. I just enjoy watching, which is probably different from your hobby."
Yan Shao Niang disagreed, "That's not quite right. Look, this is just the first step. Once you have the first step, there will be a second and a third. It's only a matter of time. It's natural for women to be lustful. There's nothing to be ashamed of. The brothels in the capital are full of men who offer themselves for money and women who spend lavishly for lust. Everyone gets what they want. It's perfect. Lu Shao Niang, don't be shy. Tell me what kind of man you like, and we can have a chat."
Lu Jinlan rubbed his temples and said calmly, "I like handsome men. As for physique, they should be tall and of moderate build. I don't like those who are too skinny or too muscular; thin muscles are best."
"Excellent taste!" Young Lady Yan immediately gave a thumbs up and praised, "Great minds think alike. Too thin is like old cured meat, with no juice at all, and it gets stuck in your teeth when you chew it. Too much muscle is like overcooked braised pork, with the fat still there, making it greasy. Not too fat and not too thin is just right, and it's comfortable to use."
"..." Lu Jinlan didn't know how to respond; the more she listened, the more something seemed off. This young master Yan had such a strong maternalistic air about him. If she were given a male-oriented system, she would definitely be able to use it with unparalleled skill.
Yan Shaoniang continued to express her opinions on men, saying, "Actually, it's not just about looks and physique; a good man's character also varies in quality."
Oh no, after commenting on appearance, they're going to comment on personality too? Lu Jinlan muttered under her breath, "Isn't it a bit too much for us women to evaluate men from every angle?"
"Ouch!" Lu Jinlan was punched by the system for the first time in a long time.
The customer service representative warned: "Making you inexplicably self-reflect goes against the spirit of male-oriented content, so I'll deduct five points."
Young Madam Yan was startled. "Young Madam Lu, what's wrong?"
"It's alright, you spoke so well, I couldn't help but applaud you." Lu Jinlan slammed her fist on the table. "Actually, when it comes to personality, I also have my own insights."
Please enlighten me.
Lu Jinlan rubbed her shoulders and said helplessly, "Personally, I don't like docile and weak women."
Yan Shao Niang's eyes lit up. "Brilliant! I think so too. Too docile and you have no personality, too weak and you're boring."
"Of course, I don't like people who are too stubborn either; it's tiring."
"That's right, stubborn as a mule, who cares?"
Lu Jinlan nodded and said, "It would be best if one were calm with a touch of gentleness, and gentle yet resilient. One should have thunder in one's heart but a calm face, be well-read, unperturbed by honor or disgrace, and preferably also be witty."
Yan Shaoniang was stunned. "As you said, he is indeed exceptional. But the qualities you described are more like those of a woman. Are there men like that in this world? How many men are literate? Most of them want to marry a rich woman and live a life of luxury, raising children and having daughters. In the end, they all depend on us women to make a living."
In an instant, many thoughts welled up in Lu Jinlan's mind. Wasn't the reason why men didn't go to school because of the idea that education was useless for men, since they would get married sooner or later anyway? From a young age, they were told to marry a good woman, and male schools taught them every day how to be thrifty, manage the household, and serve their wives. What a load of crap!
Furthermore, does society provide men with equal job opportunities? Many positions simply don't hire men; promotions and important appointments are only given to women. In this situation, most men are left with no choice but to be dependent and dependent. [Author's Note: There is a note here.]
That's what she thought, but she didn't dare say a word. If she did, the system would beat her until her health bar disappeared, killing her on the spot.
She pursed her lips and took another sip of tea.
Yan Shao Niang then asked, "By the way, Lu Shao Niang, what do you think of gold diggers?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and said, "To be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with loving money. Being materialistic isn't robbery. If you sisters don't like a man, you can just not date him. He's not forcing you to give him money. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. It's a bit unfair to enjoy something while complaining. Do you want to get something for nothing?"
Yan Shao Niang nodded thoughtfully, "That does make some sense, but aren't you afraid of encountering someone like that yourself?"
Lu Jinlan smiled and shook her head. "I am quite wealthy, so if he's only after money, he certainly won't be disappointed. I also consider myself to have some talent, so even if he initially stayed by my side for money, he'll discover my other merits. What about you? Are you afraid that he only wants your money, or is it that you have nothing else to offer besides money?"
Yan Shao Niang guiltily looked away. "Well... I do have some talent, of course. Besides, what does love have to do with talent? Romance is more important. I don't force men, but I haven't met a man who doesn't like me yet."
Lu Jinlan smiled but didn't say anything. Suddenly, Yan Shaoniang stared blankly at the street. "Young Madam Lu, please sit for a moment. I've found a gem. Let me go and get him."
Yan Shaoniang quickly ran to the other side of the road and blocked the way of a young man in white.
The young man had his back to Lu Jinlan, so she could only see his tall and straight figure. Their conversation could be faintly heard; the young man's voice was deep, clear, and quite pleasant to the ear.
"Please forgive my intrusion, but I find it inconvenient for a handsome man like you to travel alone. May I ask where you are headed, sir? My carriage is parked nearby; I'll escort you there, how about it?"
"Then, thank you for your trouble, young mistress."
"No trouble at all!" Young Madam Yan was overjoyed and quickly called two maids to fetch the carriage.
The young man then said, "I have walked for a long time and am a little thirsty. May I ask you for a cup of tea, young lady?"
"Of course!" Young Madam Yan ran into the teahouse as if she were being chased by a dog to get some tea.
Lu Jinlan sighed softly, thinking to herself, "This young master is a bit too much, what a pity..." In her peripheral vision, a white shadow flashed, and the young master quickly turned into an alley.
Lu Jinlan hurriedly dropped off the tea money and followed after them as if possessed.
She followed him quietly, keeping a respectful distance, and he didn't notice. It wasn't until the young man entered a study that Lu Jinlan glanced at the sign and followed him inside.
"Boss, do you have the 'Detailed Explanation of Military Strategy' from the first year of the Tianhe era?"
The shopkeeper, with his completely white hair, carefully sized up the visitor. "You have a good eye. This book has been out of print for a long time. I'm the only one in the entire capital who has a copy. But it's only for loan, not for sale. The deposit is twenty taels."
Twenty taels was an astronomical price, but the young master seemed unconcerned and hurriedly replied, "I have twenty taels."
The boss waved his hand, "I haven't finished yet. You can only borrow with your student status. Otherwise, if you borrow and don't return it, who am I supposed to ask for it back from?"
"Student registration?" The young man seemed perplexed.
"Yes, are you borrowing it for your older sister or your younger sister? Bring their student registration certificates."
"I'll borrow it myself." His voice trailed off.
"Yourself? Young master, you are indeed handsome, but can you even read military texts? A male student's degree doesn't count."
Lu Jinlan hid behind the bookshelf, watching the young master's troubled expression, and sighed inwardly: No wonder Young Lady Yan was like that just now, she truly has an unparalleled beauty.
Even though he looked displeased at the moment, he still stirred the heart and soul, like drinking wine, inexplicably intoxicating.
The young master hadn't given up yet, and sincerely negotiated, "I'll use one hundred taels of silver as a deposit, and I'll return it in half a month."
The old lady waved her hand, somewhat displeased, "There's no room for discussion. This is a book for women, so don't cause trouble."
Lu Jinlan stepped forward gracefully and said, "I would also like to borrow this book. However, I don't have my student registration certificate with me, but I do have a selection qualification notice from the Royal Academy. Is that alright?"
A note from the author:
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Important Note: This article does not advocate for equal rights, but it will engage in in-depth discussions. All discussions about equal rights are for practical significance; only the genders are reversed in this article. It is important to understand that matriarchal societies have never existed, but patriarchal societies have long existed. Acknowledging the correctness of privilege is tantamount to acknowledging inequality. Lu Jinlan, who supports gender equality, will not engage in gender discrimination, but she will not promote equal rights either, because there are broader issues to be addressed that concern all of humanity.
Additionally, this article will frequently use the term "they," assuming women are the primary sex. If there is one woman among three to five people, they will also be referred to as "they." If all are men, they will be referred to as "them." This is a special note to avoid confusion.
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