The next day, Wang Han changed into ordinary clothes early in the morning, and left the Shenwei General's Mansion with the doctor apprentice sent by the imperial physician and a house deed in hand.
On the way, watching the apprentice sent by the imperial physician carrying a medicine box and panting heavily, Wang Han sighed, took the medicine box from the apprentice's hands, and said, "Sigh! Your pectoral muscles are quite well-developed, how come you are so weak and have no stamina?"
"I've been frail and sickly since I was a child," the boy quickly said, his voice soft and gentle. He didn't seem to realize anything was wrong with Wang Han taking the medicine box from his hands.
"What's your name? How old are you?" Wang Han asked speechlessly. Just how much did the emperor and his ministers want to stuff a woman into his hands? (Request from a reader) More than a hundred maids were one thing, he could just open a shelter for them, to prevent these pretty girls from falling into the hands of those fifty- or sixty-year-old officials.
But wasn't this medical apprentice a bit too much? Although dressed as a young scholar, her delicate skin, frail hands, and slightly developed pectoral muscles made it clear to Wang Han that she was a young girl. If she were like the maids, Wang Han wouldn't have said anything and would have taken her in along with them. But Wang Han could still tell at a glance that she was a pampered young girl, of high status and wealth. And she certainly didn't come from a family that had fallen on hard times.
"Sir, my name is Zhou Fu. I am fifteen years old." The boy quickly answered when he heard Wang Han's question.
"Only fifteen? Feudalism is a killer!" Upon hearing this, Wang Han sighed inexplicably, leaving the girl bewildered.
After that, they walked in silence. Wang Han simply walked ahead in silence, and the young girl Zhou Fu followed closely behind, seemingly wanting to say something. She still remembered some of the instructions given before they left.
"Which bastard gave me this shop?" After walking for about half an incense stick's time, Wang Han finally arrived at the shop listed on the deed in his hand. When he saw the brothel directly opposite the shop, Wang Han immediately cursed angrily. Zhou Fu chuckled quietly, though she didn't know why Wang Han was so angry. However, she did know who had given it to him.
Wang Han stretched out his hand, half of which disappeared into thin air, leaving Zhou Fu dumbfounded. The next moment, Wang Han retracted his hand, now holding a thick stack of neatly arranged gift lists.
Wang Han blew a breath, and the gift list automatically flipped like leaves in the wind. Wang Han's eyes quickly scanned the gift lists, and then he took out one. This was a gift list with only one type of gift listed. It read, "Presented jointly by Prime Minister Zhong Shidao and Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing to Suyuan Restaurant, located in the middle of the main road in the capital."
"Zhong Shidao and Su Yuanjing, those two bastards! Sigh! I'll settle this score with you later." Looking at the two names on the list, Wang Han gritted his teeth and finally sighed. Although he had never met them, he already understood what they were thinking.
Zhong Shidao and Su Yuanjing were both loyal ministers of the Song Dynasty during this period. The brothel across the street, needless to say, was the one where Li Shishi worked. The two men didn't understand him, but that didn't stop them from plotting against him, and also against Emperor Huizong. As the saying goes, heroes love beauties, and this was happening right across from a brothel. If Wang Hanzhen were truly from this era, he might actually go in, unaware of Li Shishi's relationship with Emperor Huizong. Then, assuming his status as the Divine General, upon seeing Li Shishi, would the emperor allow him to enter, or would he allow the emperor to enter? Probably the emperor would. After all, Li Shishi's reputation as a courtesan was bad, and Emperor Huizong was actively trying to win him over. With those two old foxes stirring things up in court, Emperor Huizong, no matter how unwilling, would have no choice but to give in.
"Stop laughing, you muscular young man. Let's go inside!" Wang Han said irritably, looking at Zhou Fu who was snickering, and turned to walk into the Suyuan Restaurant. This Zhou Fu definitely knew about this too.
"You can't even be envious," Zhou Fu muttered under his breath when he heard Wang Han refer to him as a boy with well-developed pectoral muscles. Then he blushed.
"Are you two staying at the inn or just stopping by for a meal?" At the Suyuan Restaurant, the waiter greeted Wang Han and his companion warmly as they entered.
"Take over the shop," Wang Han said unhappily, handing over the deed.
Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly took the deed from Wang Han's hand, glanced at it, and then shouted loudly to the restaurant owner at the counter, "Manager, the owner has sent someone to take over the shop."
"Coming, coming!" Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately sprang to attention and rushed out from behind the counter. He ran to Wang Han and said with a smile, "Hello, I am the shopkeeper of Suyuan. We are open for business today because the original owner did not know when the Divine Might General's Mansion would send someone to take over the shop, so he ordered me to continue operating. After the new owner arrives, I will hand over the shop to the new owner and then await their instructions. If the new owner does not send anyone, I will go to report to the new owner."
"This is the shop's business record for today. Every transaction has been recorded and accounted for promptly since the shop opened. All the money earned is in the counter, just waiting for the new owner." After saying this, the shopkeeper handed over an account book. He continued, "If the new owner doesn't mind, we will continue to work for him."
"I don't care about these things. You all stay in this shop, and have the cook report to General Shenwei's mansion alone," Wang Han instructed.
"Yes, waiter. Go inform the kitchen." Upon hearing this, the manager quickly agreed and instructed the waiter. The waiter immediately ran to the kitchen.
Wang Han glanced at the crowded first floor of the restaurant and loudly addressed the diners, "Ladies and gentlemen, the restaurant is now closed for business. All food and drinks today will be on the restaurant's premises. We apologize for any inconvenience."
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