Chapter 6: Emptying the Wen Household  

Wen Li set down her chopsticks and asked with a worried expression, “Has the Wen family gone bankrupt?”  

Zhao Lanzhi answered quickly, “Of course not.”  

“If not, then why have you turned to robbery?” Wen Li widened her eyes in shock as she looked at the Wen couple.  

“Wen Li, what are you talking about?” Zhao Lanzhi slammed the table angrily, nearly tearing into her on the spot. From the moment Wen Li had entered, she hadn’t spoken to them properly, and Zhao Lanzhi had already held back repeatedly.  

Wen Li shrank her shoulders as if frightened, speaking in a pitiful tone, “What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?”  

Shen An patted her back reassuringly, his sharp gaze sweeping toward Zhao Lanzhi like a hidden blade, making her tremble in fear. She nearly stood up to bow and apologize.  

Wen Zongming finally understood—Wen Li had come with ill intentions from the start. Though Shen An barely spoke, he was clearly backing her up.  

Today, as long as Wen Li nodded, any condition could be negotiated. If she didn’t, then nothing would be discussed.  

He never expected Wen Li to hold such high regard in Shen An’s eyes.  

Rather than trying to please Shen An, it would be better to coax his estranged daughter properly.  

“Lili, your father wouldn’t bring this up unless it was absolutely necessary,” Wen Zongming said, as if there were some unspeakable hardship.  

Wen Li nearly gagged at the word “father.” She put on an even more troubled expression than Wen Zongming and said, “But marrying into the Shen family was already beyond my station. How could we possibly ask Shen An for help now?”  

Zhao Lanzhi, lacking any tact, blurted out, “But your marriage to the Shen family was a Luck-bringing marriage! Look at Shen An—his health has improved so much since then.”  

Wen Li nodded in agreement. “Yes, Shen An’s health has gotten much better. I married into the Shen family without a single dowry, so now I’m even less worthy of him.”  

The Wen couple exchanged glances—was she implying they needed to compensate with a dowry?  

“Shen An, back then, this…” Wen Zongming stammered, unable to come up with a decent justification.  

Shen An raised a hand, feigning helplessness. “I don’t mind, but I’m afraid the elders in the family might have something to say about it later.”  

After all this talk, they just wanted money? He hadn’t even managed to squeeze a penny out of Shen An yet, and now they had to pay first?!  

“Lili, you don’t understand the Wen family’s current situation—we’re barely scraping by,” Wen Zongming began to cry poverty.  

Wen Li ignored his act. If they were so broke, how could they afford to let Wen Yan splurge in Hong Kong?  

“Mr. Wen, I heard your daughter lost several million in Macau the day before yesterday and went on a shopping spree in Hong Kong yesterday. If money’s tight, perhaps you should rein in her spending. I’d hate for rumors to spread and banks to stop lending to you.” Shen An propped his head lazily against his hand, reclining in his chair like a docile lamb.  

But Wen Zongming saw a wolf looming over him—this was an outright threat. With just one word from Shen An, who would dare lend to the Wen family?  

“The money Wen Yan spent is nothing compared to what Lili’s dowry should be. Lili is my only flesh and blood. If not for the family’s mismanagement, her dowry wouldn’t just be lavish—it wouldn’t be shabby at all!” Wen Zongming slammed the table resentfully, as if he wanted to punch himself for his incompetence.  

Shen An didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure what Wen Li was scheming, but his role was simple—obey, watch her take charge, and back her up when needed.

Wen Li looked at Wen Zongming with a moved expression: “Since Mr. Wen has said so, of course I won’t ask for any lavish dowry. Just let me pick a few things from your study.”

Wen Zongming froze. The items in his study were all rare collectibles he had acquired from various auctions, each worth a small fortune.

“I heard Mr. Wen has a few unique pieces that even auction houses offered high prices for but couldn’t get. Don’t go too far, Li Li,” Shen An remarked in a low, husky voice.

The way he casually called her “Li Li” with that lazy drawl made Wen Li’s ears tingle. Since when did he start calling her that?

“Then I’ll just go pick a few things. Mr. Wen won’t mind, right?” Without waiting for Wen Zongming’s approval, Wen Li had already stood up and headed toward the study upstairs.

Wen Zongming couldn’t very well stop her and could only pray silently that she wouldn’t recognize his most prized collectibles.

Half an hour later, beads of sweat formed on Wen Zongming’s forehead as he waited, while Shen An’s smile only grew wider, showing no trace of impatience.

“Li Li’s taking so long. Lan Zhi, go check on her,” Wen Zongming signaled to Zhao Lanzhi with his eyes.

Shen An immediately raised a hand to stop her. “No need. Let her take her time.”

With Shen An’s word, no one dared to rush her.

The sound of a door opening came from the study upstairs. Shen An’s lips curled into an irrepressible smile as he called the driver outside. “Uncle Li, come in and help the young madam carry her things.”

Wen Zongming had a sinking feeling. He looked up to see Wen Li emerge with an enormous bag—so large it could practically fit her entire body—strapped over her shoulder, stuffed to the brim. The clinking of jars and bottles colliding could be heard as she walked.

Under her arms, she also carried several scrolls of calligraphy and paintings.

Shen An nearly burst out laughing at the sight. He had expected her to be bold, but not this bold.

He stepped forward to take the scrolls from under her arms and casually hefted the bag on her shoulder, whispering in her ear, “Did you loot the entire Wen family?”

Wen Li shook her head and whispered back, “Not quite. There was a solid gold Buddha statue on the desk—too heavy, so I left it.”

Shen An chuckled in approval. “Smart. A mere million-yuan trinket isn’t worth tiring our Li Li over.”

His warm breath tickled the tip of her ear, making Wen Li subtly lean back to avoid it.

Wen Zongming soon followed them upstairs. One glance at Wen Li’s haul made his heart sink. Through gritted teeth, he asked, “Isn’t it heavy?”

“Not too bad. I left the heavy stuff behind,” Wen Li replied, flashing her first genuine smile of the day.

Seeing her satisfaction, Shen An said to Wen Zongming, “Mr. Wen, I’ll have my assistant personally deliver the new contract to your home tomorrow.”

“Ready to go home?” Shen An asked, reaching for the bag on her shoulder.

Wen Li pushed his hand away. “I can carry it.”

“Fair enough. I’m not in the best health, so I probably can’t manage. Uncle Li is waiting outside,” Shen An declared shamelessly.

“Where did you find this bag?” Shen An asked curiously.

“Asked the housekeeper for it.”

The Wen couple could only watch helplessly as the two headed for the door—Shen An strolling leisurely with the scrolls in hand, while Wen Li staggered under the weight of the bulging bag. Their casual banter made it clear they didn’t spare the Wens a second thought.

Wen Zongming’s face turned livid with rage. He fumed inwardly: If you can’t carry it, then take less!

In the car, Wen Li rummaged through the bag and asked curiously, “Which ones are the unique pieces?”

Shen An’s slender fingers pointed at a few items. “Why did you take so much?”

“You specifically reminded me that Wen Zongming’s study had rare pieces, didn’t you want me to take them? I don’t know much about these things, so I just took them all.” Wen Li wasn’t particularly interested in these items; she simply didn’t want the Wen family to profit undeservedly.

“Did we break even?” Wen Li asked, weighing a porcelain piece in her hand.

Shen An pointed at the object she was holding and said, “Imperial porcelain, worth ten million.”

Wen Li quickly set it down, and Shen An added, “Those rare pieces range from tens of millions to two hundred million.”

Suddenly leaning closer, a sly glint in his eyes, Shen An whispered softly by her ear, “So, Mrs. Shen, you’ve hit the jackpot this time.”