Chapter 74: First Love
Su Shengsheng's biological mother, Concubine Wei, gave birth to baby girls one after another. She was deeply afraid that giving birth to another daughter would cause her husband's family to divorce her, so she took refuge in the imperial tutor's mansion and sought asylum.
After Aunt Wei gave birth, she found out that it was indeed a daughter. She was afraid that if she took Su Shengsheng back home, her husband's family would make things even more difficult for her.
She begged her elder sister, who had married into the Su family and had a son, to adopt Su Shengsheng.
At that time, Aunt Wei said that she could not live happily anymore, and Li was gentle by nature, so how could she not agree?
After Aunt Wei returned home, she lied that she had given birth to a baby boy, but unfortunately the baby died.
Because the husband's family had great faith in the Su family's character and were worried that visiting them to inquire might give them an excuse to question the boy's death, the matter was left unresolved.
Soon, Aunt Wei finally gave birth to a son, and the matter was glossed over.
It was not until today that Ji Yanli learned this secret from Li Xiang. His uncle Li had never known about it before.
At that time, Li saw that her sister was determined to abandon her daughter, and she also felt pity for the child's miserable life. She didn't even have breast milk when she was born.
At that time, she wanted her sister to give the poor child a name, so as to complete the fate between them as mother and daughter.
Who knew that Aunt Wei was resentful of her fate for having given birth to five daughters in a row.
Therefore, he paid no attention to the baby who had just been born and just casually said that he had given birth to a baby.
In her heart, the names Zhaodi and Laidi were already common, and her only desire was to give birth to a baby boy.
Seeing Su Shengsheng abandoned like this, Li felt pity for her.
She saw that the baby had gentle features, a fresh temperament, and a voice like a bamboo musical instrument - the sheng, so she added the word "bamboo" to the baby's name and named him Sheng'er.
Aunt Wei mistakenly thought that everyone had given birth to a son, and she tacitly agreed to this name.
It is also amazing that Su Shengsheng got her name from this.
Li truly loved this baby girl who never cried or made a fuss and was always smiling. She did not want her to feel sad after knowing her life story, so she treated her as her own daughter. Over time, even the Su family gradually forgot about the past.
If not... this secret would probably be buried forever.
In the private room
Su Shengsheng didn't care and exchanged seats with him when he stood up.
Ji Yanli's original situation was already in trouble, but Su Shengsheng was left with a sure win.
Ji Yanli wanted to refuse, but seeing Su Shengsheng's determined expression, he had to get back into the game.
However, as the game progressed, he discovered that she could easily break even the situations that Su Shengsheng had personally arranged.
"Emperors have their own ways, each serving their master. But if one goes against the will of Heaven, then naturally, there will be no recourse. Those who incur the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people will never escape Heaven's punishment."
The class system here is strict, and such remarks are undoubtedly rebellious.
Even if Ji Yanli could accept the new idea, Su Shengsheng did not dare to express it too directly and could only point it out vaguely.
The storyteller outside was talking about how the monster was brought back and allowed Tang Monk and his disciples to continue their journey to the west.
Su Shengsheng said: "In fact, life is a practice. Everyone fights monsters and levels up."
At this point, she has begun to turn the tide and gradually erode Ji Yanli's shop.
"Master Ji has a way out, but many ordinary people don't."
Ji Yanli was stunned when he heard this, and then said helplessly: "Yanli does not regard the young lady as a retreat."
After Su Shengsheng took over his last shop, she smiled slightly and said, "I know you have no talent for business!"
She shook the cards in her hand, and then casually picked up the tea beside her.
Seeing Ji Yanli's silence, she stopped teasing him: "Master Ji has the world in his heart and a sincere heart. He will not choose to stay out of trouble just because the court is dark."
When he looked up at her, Su Shengsheng smiled and said, "But in the eyes of outsiders, I am the cause of the trouble that has ruined the young master's ambition."
Ji Yanli was speechless.
Even if he wanted to defend himself, he was afraid that outsiders and his mother would think so.
Only at this moment did he suddenly understand why Su Shengsheng rejected him at the beginning.
It wasn't that he initially considered marrying her as a responsibility to save her from danger, nor was it that he was willing to stay here for her now.
But... she chose another path from the very beginning...
He has been quietly excluded from this path...
Even if they switched places, he still couldn't understand her feelings and still looked at her with a protective mentality.
Little did they know that she had grown into a towering tree that could shelter the Su family from wind and rain, and was no longer confined to the backyard.
"Yan Li has understood Miss's intentions." Ji Yanli slowly stood up and bowed, "It was Yan Li who failed the test. Yan Li will handle the matter of the engagement on his own and will not let Miss worry."
He is not the kind of person who would pester a woman obsessively. Knowing that a woman has made up her mind, he will not pester her again and again.
"The Ji family and my grandfather are old friends. If you don't tell me the truth, I'm afraid they'll think you're neglecting the Su family." Su Shengsheng also confessed, "Besides, my grandfather and father already have high hopes for you. If you come here now and ask to break off the engagement, I'm afraid my grandfather may not give up. He might even write to inquire about it."
"It would take two or three months for the letters to go back and forth. How can Master Ji concentrate on the imperial examinations?"
When Ji Yanli heard this, he understood why she had been keeping silent. It turned out that she had considered everyone.
He was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Su Shengsheng, "I have a plan in mind. After Master Ji leaves, I will handle it properly."
Although she was very thoughtful in everything, Ji Yanli still felt a little worried, but seeing that she was unwilling to say more, he didn't dare to ask any further.
If she said clearly that she wanted to do business when breaking off the engagement, I'm afraid the Su family would not agree.
Ji Yanli knew very well that this matter was of no trivial importance. If he continued to stay here, the Su family would definitely put pressure on Su Shengsheng to marry him.
However, if I really wanted him to leave, I would feel extremely reluctant.
"Can Yan Li stay here for another two months and concentrate on his studies?"
Although Ji Yanli is young, he has already begun to fall in love. Although he has decided not to embarrass Su Shengsheng anymore, he still feels reluctant to let her go.
Having said that, Su Shengsheng didn't want to interfere too much with others, so she just said calmly, "Mr. Ji, please do as you please."
Seeing that she was still distant, Ji Yanli bowed with a lonely look and left the private room silently.
…
"What? You actually lost six hundred taels in a bet?"
In the middle hall, Li was also shocked when he heard this.
All the female relatives turned their eyes to Li Xiang, whose face was flushed, with disbelief in their eyes.
When people from the gambling house came to collect debts, they originally thought that Bao Er's people did not keep an eye on the fourth room, and let him go out to gamble again.
But when I asked, I found out that it was Li Xiang who did it.
At this moment, not only Mrs. Li was shocked, but even Mrs. Su was stunned.
Old Master Su looked at me with a deep gaze, and he didn't speak for a long time.
Although the debt strictly speaking should not be borne by the Su family, seeing that such a big mistake happened when the wedding was being prepared, how could people not be angry.
Li Xiang's face flushed, and he looked nervously at the debt collector from the "gambling house" that Bao Da had found.
He was afraid that they would make a big fuss and make Old Master Su faint from anger.
However, when he saw Su Shengsheng, who claimed to give him a big gift, sitting beside him safely, he felt even more miserable.
The old housekeeper beside him saw that Old Master Su looked unhappy and said quickly, "Sixth Miss just bought a brand new house for me. I haven't moved in yet. Why not pawn it?"
The house that Butler Guo pawned in the imperial capital was purchased by Old Master Su specifically for the old butler. Strictly speaking, it was not bought with Su Shengsheng's money.
But how could Old Master Su use this money?
The debt collector seemed quite familiar with the situation. "The Su family is a well-known family. They wouldn't owe you such a small amount of money, would they?"
It was obvious that he had come here specifically to help, so it was difficult to get rid of him.
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