The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

It can only be described as a fine bronze mirror, probably belonging to a young lady from a wealthy family in the southern Yan Kingdom.

What Boss Ding said was a mix of truth and falsehood, and Cheng Feng always listened selectively. Cheng Feng had bought a lot of things from Boss Ding in the past, and half of them were sent to his uncle to show filial piety. However, Wan Lianxing, who had seen good things, threw the things he sent on the ground on the spot, saying that he was trying to fool him with a bunch of junk. After that, he became more cautious and stopped buying things indiscriminately. Buying fake goods was a small matter, but he couldn't stand the embarrassment of giving them away!

Cheng Feng smiled and said, "Send someone to my residence to collect the silver, and also deliver the items there."

“Your Highness, it’s already the New Year, so I’ll offer you this agate and bronze mirror as a token of my respect.”

"Ha, I'll use your filial piety. Alright, I won't keep you from doing business here. I'll take Qingsheng somewhere else."

“Your Highness, the money your niece deposited with me needs to be settled annually. It’s almost the end of the year, so why haven’t I seen her? She hasn’t come to collect this month’s interest yet.”

"Wait a little longer. He Ye has been surrounded by matchmakers these past few days and it's inconvenient for her to go out." Cheng Feng said nicely, but in reality, He Ye was troubled by love. This man cried at least twice a day at home because of Chen Qingsheng. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the nerve to go see Chen Qingsheng and say some hurtful, provocative, and slightly seductive things to the pitiful, sickly Cheng Qingsheng. In all his years, he had never done anything so heartless. He was truly against his conscience to give his crazy niece to a sickly man.

Cheng Feng didn't linger. He took Chen Qingsheng and left Boss Ding's shop, heading towards Gaotou Alley.

On the way, Chen Qingsheng asked Cheng Feng, "Brother Feng, is the money in He Ye's account just going to be put with Boss Ding to make more money?"

Cheng Feng nodded, "It's been several years, the interest isn't high, but Boss Ding is a reliable person."

"I heard from He Ye that she can get several taels of silver in interest every month."

Cheng Feng nodded, saying dismissively, "This little bit of stuff is nothing. When He Ye gets married, we can put the dowry gold and silver into Boss Ding's place to manage. That's what money makes money. The few taels of silver she gets every month now is nothing."

It was only then that Chen Qingsheng realized how poor he was.

Just as Chen Qingsheng was feeling down, Cheng Feng spoke up leisurely, "Qingsheng, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're just unlucky. You can't even handle the wealth and honor that's right in front of you. You look down on He Ye, but look at all those discerning people who want to marry her. I just haven't made any arrangements. If I had, even princes and ministers would have chosen He Ye. With your skinny, old face, how did you end up being chosen by He Ye?"

After saying that, Cheng Feng shook his head, as if Chen Qingsheng were a rat that couldn't be brought to the table.

Chen Qingsheng looked at his clothes. His sister-in-law had made them for him; the fabric, style, and color were all quite good. Among ordinary people, he was dressed well. Even if he was pale and thin, even if he really looked old as Cheng Feng said, he wasn't ugly, was he? He was the most handsome of the three brothers in his family. He finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother Feng, am I really that bad?"

If he hadn't said those words, Cheng Feng wouldn't have provoked him. But his words gave Cheng Feng an opportunity. Cheng Feng turned to face Chen Qingsheng and carefully examined him from head to toe. Then he placed his hand on Chen Qingsheng's head, his hair being the most objectionable feature. "Qingsheng, I'm straightforward, but I'm telling the truth. Look at your hair, it's like dry straw, not even as smooth as a stray dog's fur on the street."

Coincidentally, just then a stray dog ​​was running along the street. It was a white dog, but its fur was already gray and bald, unlike the fur of a wild dog, which was obviously different from that of a domesticated dog.

Before Chen Qingsheng could react, Cheng Feng said, "Your face is even worse. You're not ugly, but you look old. Look at how many people are as dry as you. It won't be long before you get wrinkles. Your complexion is also bad, sallow and yellowish. You look like you're terminally ill. And as for your health, I don't need to say anything more. It's uncertain whether you'll be able to have children with a wife if you get married."

As Cheng Feng spoke, his gaze fell on Chen Qingsheng's lower body. Chen Qingsheng's face turned red, as if he had been stung by the heat. He also looked somewhat unwilling. Although he didn't have a wife yet, he wasn't that useless.

As a man, he was about to defend himself when he heard Cheng Feng say, "San'er, the fact that you don't get married shows that you have a conscience. If you did get married and just kept her at home, you would be delaying the girl's future. As for the continuation of your Chen family line, I hope Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen are watching over you from heaven and will protect your Chen family line from falling into your and your second brother's hands."

Chen Qingsheng was internally frantic. It wasn't that he didn't want to get married; he just didn't want to marry He Ye. He was physically weak, but that didn't mean he couldn't have children! "Brother Feng, He Ye and I aren't a good match, but that doesn't mean I can't get married. I'm not picky; I'll just find someone who's on par with me."

"Hmph! Lotus Leaf is blind, but are the other girls blind too? You must have heard from your sister-in-law, right? Just a few days ago, the four best matchmakers in the capital brought over fifty strong and healthy young men to Lotus Leaf. Every single one of them is more energetic than you! Every single one of them is more spirited than you! Every single one of them is younger than you! So many young men are still single, how could any girl possibly want a sickly guy like you? Third Brother, stop dreaming. I've seen through you. Good girls are practically begging to marry you, but you don't want them. You're destined to be a bachelor. Come on! I'll take you to Gaotou Alley for some spicy boiled chicken."

Chen Qingsheng was dazed as Cheng Feng put his arm around his shoulder and led him forward. His mind was filled with Cheng Feng's words. Ever since his health deteriorated, why was his brain not working properly? What did Cheng Feng mean? Did he think he couldn't find a wife if he didn't marry He Ye? That couldn't be right. He used to be quite a likable person. Did he become unpopular after he started begging?

Chen Qingsheng ate a meal with Cheng Feng listlessly, and then accompanied him to see another shop that was part of his dowry to He Ye. The location was indeed excellent. Cheng Feng said that the monthly rent for this shop would be forty-two taels of silver, and combined with the thirty-five taels he would earn from the shop on Denghua Street, that would amount to seven taels of silver. This was a huge sum for Chen Qingsheng, but it didn't shake his resolve. After parting ways with Cheng Feng, he went home to continue making lanterns, determined to get rich through his own hard work.

To make woodworking easier, two lanterns were lit in the courtyard early in the morning.

When the two Chen brothers returned home exhausted, the family meal had already been prepared by the servants.