The Gold-Eating Beast

Cui Ziqi came to visit Zheng Shanci and saw that Zheng Shanci was doing quite well here. He smiled and said, “Brother Zheng, let’s go for a drink sometime.”

He noticed that Zheng Shanci was different from those other pretentious scholars. Some scholars always act all high and mighty, while others are just the opposite, becoming sycophantic little people.

“Sure,” Zheng Shanci agreed.

Returning to his room from the Jin Yi Pavilion, Jin Yun was holding a set of red groom’s attire. “Young Master Zheng, this is the style of the groom’s attire you’ve chosen. Do you think it’s suitable? I’ve brought a tailor with me.”

On the tray were several pieces of groom’s attire. Initially, Zheng Shanci didn’t really feel like he was getting married in less than half a month. But when his hand touched the fabric, it was like a feather gently brushing across his heart—suddenly, the reality began to sink in.

He had traveled here, following the original plot’s trajectory, aiming to secure the position of Xinfeng County Magistrate and marry Yu Lanyi, all to adhere to the storyline. When he touched the smooth silk, it was light and thin, yet he felt a sense of reality from it.

“Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zheng!” Jin Yun called out to Zheng Shanci, who was staring blankly at the groom’s attire.

Zheng Shanci snapped back to reality. There were several sets of groom’s attire, all excellent. After carefully selecting, he chose a very simple outfit.

The tailor stepped forward to measure Zheng Shanci’s figure.

The tailor noted down Zheng Shanci’s measurements.

“All done, Young Master Zheng.”

Young Master Zheng was still a bit dazed.

He asked, “Will the style of the groom’s attire also be discussed with Yu Lanyi?”

The tailor laughed, finding the question odd. “Young Master Zheng, since you two are getting married, naturally Young Master Yu will also have his measurements taken and his wedding attire tailored.”

Zheng Shanci was taken aback, realizing he had asked a silly question. He smiled awkwardly, his ears turning a bit red. “I was being foolish.”

Looking at the wedding attire on the tray, Zheng Shanci’s heart was still not calm.

The tailor continued, “Young Master Zheng, since you’ve chosen this style, we’ll deliver the wedding attire in ten days.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Zheng Shanci let out a breath. He was really getting married, and to a man, no less. And to a villainous male character. He and Yu Lanyi were bound together unless they divorced.

He shivered. Yu Lanyi wouldn’t want a divorce. He’d feel it was a loss of face, and would probably make sarcastic remarks, or even give him a beating.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

Life seemed hopeless.

It looked like he had no choice but to train his body well, improve his escape skills, and strengthen himself. Maybe he could resist a bit when getting beaten. 

Yu Lanyi’s martial arts were taught by Yu Changxing, who was the deputy leader of the Emperor’s Imperial Guards… so Yu Lanyi was like a fake deputy leader of the Imperial Guards.

And a tyrant who liked to throw his weight around.

In the future, the financial power of the household and the maids and servants of the residence would also be under his control. Not that he didn’t want it, but Yu Lanyi’s domineering nature would just take it all over.

Jin Yun returned to the Marquis Mansion with the news. Yu Lanyi was poking at the wedding dress with a needle and thread. When he saw Jin Yun, his eyes lit up. “How did it go?”

“The young master had his measurements taken and chose a very simple wedding attire.”

“Ha, but it’s a wedding, naturally it should be something grand,” Yu Lanyi muttered. “And I heard from Dad that he’s already an official, a seventh-rank county magistrate. I’ve never seen such a small official.”

Jin Yun: “…”

“My dowry list, Dad gave it to me too. I’m going to hide it secretly and not let Zheng Shanci see it. Also, his salary will be managed by me,” Yu Lanyi said proudly. “If he goes along with me, I’ll let him live well. If he goes against me, I won’t give him food.”

Jin Yun felt sorry for the future young master and said, “Young Master, when the young master saw the wedding attire, he was in a daze. I had to call him several times before he came back to his senses. He even asked the tailor if the young master had wedding attire, which shows he’s thinking of you.”

Hearing this, Yu Lanyi’s mind flashed with scenes of Zheng Shanci pulling his sleeve and running, and Zheng Shanci putting a straw hat on his head, peeking through his eyelashes at Zheng Shanci’s back. His ears turned red.

“I’m so good, it’s only right for him to care,” Yu Lanyi said, sitting at the dressing table, looking at the ripples in his eyes, his mouth curving down to return to normal.

What’s there to laugh about? Is this a good thing?

No laughing allowed!

Yu Lanyi pretended to ask casually, “When we get married, will his parents come?”

“They probably can’t make it. The wedding date is too soon, they won’t make it in time.”

Yu Lanyi nodded and said, “Then after we get married, I’ll have to leave the Capital City?”

Jin Yun nodded heavily, saying with a sense of duty, “Young Master, don’t worry, I’ll be with you.”

Yu Lanyi: “…”

His heart ached again. He regretted not saving money earlier. Now he didn’t have a penny. Oh, the twenty taels of silver his elder brother gave him, he spent it on a roast duck meal and it was gone.

He still owed Jin Yi Pavilion a hundred taels of silver.

Forget it, he wouldn’t pay it back. By the time Jin Yi Pavilion came to collect the debt, he’d probably be out of the Capital City.

Yu Lanyi opened his jewelry box, and both Jin Yun and Yu Lanyi’s eyes were filled with a golden glow, their eyes almost sparkling.

“Sell them off,” Yu Lanyi said, unable to bear looking. He picked out twenty pieces of jewelry he liked and pushed the rest of the jewelry box away. “Find a place to sell them. I don’t want silver, just silver notes.”

Jin Yun was shocked. “Young Master, these are your favorite pieces of jewelry.”

Yu Lanyi: “Keep twenty pieces for appearances, sell the rest for silver notes to keep me company.”

And after selling the jewelry, with the silver notes, he could buy new jewelry. Yu Lanyi was calculating in his mind. He was too clever.

Jin Yun had no choice but to take Yu Lanyi’s jewelry box and find a place to sell them. Judging by Jin Yun’s skilled actions, it was clear this wasn’t the first time doing such a thing.

“Also, in the next few days, I need to visit my maternal grandmother’s house more often,” Yu Lanyi said. “I’m leaving the Capital City soon, so I need to show some filial piety.”

Jin Yun remained silent.

Yu Lanyi happily went out, leaving the wedding dress aside.

…

On the other side, Zheng Shanci was still entertaining guests from Jin Yi Pavilion. To be honest, he wasn’t looking around aimlessly. He was sitting in a resting area while the accountant went to the restroom. He caught a glimpse of Yu Lanyi’s name.

Yu Lanyi: Owes a thousand taels (crossed out), owes two thousand taels (crossed out), owes… owes a hundred taels.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

He almost spat out his tea.

The debts Yu Lanyi owed took up half the page.

This page was filled with dense records of Yu Lanyi’s past debts.

He calculated and realized he couldn’t afford it.

This was a money-eating beast.

He wanted to eat well, drink well, and have fun. As a county magistrate, his monthly salary was seven taels of silver.

Zheng Shanci fell silent.

That wasn’t even enough for Yu Lanyi to fill the gaps between his teeth.

He felt a bit troubled all of a sudden.