Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

"Girl, are you awake?"

He Hua pushed the door open and came in, smiling as she put down the water for washing. "Miss Hu is waiting for you in the yard to have breakfast together. Let me help you get dressed first."

After everything was packed up, Shen Nankui was led to Hu Wenyan's yard.

The guest room she stayed in was next to Hu Wenyan's, so she arrived in just two steps. Hu Wenyan had just gotten up and was sitting in front of the dressing table while Yu Wen was combing her hair. When she saw Shen Nankui coming, she smiled and waved, saying, "Sister Shen, how did you sleep last night?"

"I slept very well." Shen Nankui said as he sat down at the table.

"That's fine."

After Hu Wenyan finished washing up, the servants brought him breakfast.

After the two of them finished their meal, they were sitting on the couch talking when both Old Madam Hu and Madam Hu sent people to inquire about Shen Nankui's situation.

Shen Nankui was staying at the Hu family, so it was his job to pay a visit to the host. So, accompanied by Hu Wenyan, he went to these two places in person to report back.

Mrs. Hu is Hu Wenyan's mother. When she saw Shen Nankui, she was very close to her. She asked her in detail whether she was injured last night. She also comforted her for a long time and told her to live in the Hu family and keep Hu Wenyan company.

Old Madam Hu was in poor health and had been bedridden for many years. The person who wanted to see her was actually Old Scholar Hu.

Arriving at Wenxuan Hall where Mr. Hu lived, the old man was setting up a chess game. When he saw them coming, he just glanced at Shen Nankui indifferently, without asking her what happened last night. Instead, he pointed to the other side of the chessboard and said, "Miss Shen, how about playing a game with me?"

Before Shen Nankui could respond, Hu Wenyan's eyes widened.

"Grandfather, you are bullying me. You are an unparalleled chess player. Before you retired and returned to your hometown, you had few rivals in the court. How old is Sister Shen? Why are you making things difficult for her?"

Even she had to admit defeat in front of her own grandfather.

She considered herself to be very talented and her chess skills were not bad either. She had always been hard to beat among her peers. However, every time she played against her grandfather, she could never win a game no matter what. Even if she occasionally won, it was because her grandfather felt sorry for her and deliberately gave the game to her.

Old Scholar Hu waved his hand and said, "Just because you can't win doesn't mean others can't either."

Shen Nankui said with a smile: "Since you are interested, I will play a game with you. However, I am not very good at chess, so I am afraid that you will be embarrassed."

She sat down on the opposite side of the chessboard.

Seeing this, Hu Wenyan also ordered someone to bring a chair over and sat in the middle to watch the two play chess.

Mr. Hu played with the white pieces, and Shen Nankui played with the black pieces. The two of them exchanged moves back and forth.

A stick of incense has passed.

The game of chess is almost over, but the winner has not yet been decided.

Hu Wenyan had been paying attention to the movements of the black and white pieces, but even she couldn't tell which side had a better chance of winning.

Seeing that Shen Nankui had walked so many steps but remained calm and composed, not inferior to her grandfather in any way, she couldn't help but secretly give her a thumbs up.

"Sister Shen, you really are a hidden talent!"

Old Scholar Hu was not surprised by this situation, because when he played chess with Gu Yichuan in the past, the latter had praised Shen Nankui's chess skills several times. At that time, he did not believe it, thinking that how good could the chess skills of a young woman who was not well-versed in the world be?

Now that I see it, it is exactly as Gu Yichuang said.

Shen Nankui's chess style is not like that of people of her age who put all their thoughts on the table. Instead, she hides her intentions again and again, making it difficult for people to detect her true intentions. If people are not careful, they will fall into her trap.

Such sophisticated tricks are totally inconsistent with her age.

After half an hour, the game was finally decided. Old Scholar Hu won, but he did not look happy. He asked with a half-smile, "Did you really have no other options after that move just now?"

Shen Nankui said sincerely: "The black pieces are surrounded by enemies on all sides and are in a desperate situation. Mr. Hu is a great chess player and I am willing to admit that I am inferior to him."

Mr. Hu did not comment.

Although what she said was true, for some reason he always felt that she had something else up her sleeve.

However, the chess skills displayed by Shen Nankui today were also surprising enough.

Mr. Hu stroked his beard with a smile, his eyes full of admiration.

There was also a hint of admiration in Hu Wenyan's eyes when he looked at her. After all, not everyone could hold out for so long under their grandfather's hands. Even if she lost, it would be glorious.

Shen Nankui took in the expressions of the two people, but could not explain anything.

After all, in her last life, when she was alone and lonely, how could she have survived the long time if she didn't find something to do to pass the time?

The same is true for reading, embroidery, and chess.

……

In the next few days, old scholar Hu would play two games of chess with her every day, and Mrs. Hu was also always concerned about her living expenses. Since the master was like this, the servants of the Hu family also treated her with extra respect.

Shen Nankui was grateful for the Hu family's care for her, but she always had a doubt in her heart.

After two days, she couldn't hold back any longer and asked Hu Wenyan: "Wenyan, there is something..."

Before she opened her mouth, Hu Wenyan had already guessed it.

"Sister Shen, do you want to ask why no one in the Hu family asked about your divorce?"

Shen Nankui nodded.

The world has always been harsh on women. Although divorces are not uncommon, women who have divorced have always been criticized.

When she was in Lai'an Town, everyone saw what she did. The villagers knew her well and felt guilty because they had slandered her with rumors before. So this time, even though the news of the divorce spread, no one talked about it.

But in the Hu family, no one looked at her strangely, and she couldn't help but feel extremely curious.

Hu Wenyan smiled slyly, "Sister Shen, you don't know, actually... before my grandmother married my grandfather, she had also been married once, so my grandmother was a divorced woman. Who in the Hu family dares to criticize you?"

Shen Nankui suddenly realized that he didn't expect the reason to be this.

"Anyway, this matter is nothing to the Hu family, so don't take it to heart."

After Hu Wenyan finished speaking, he suddenly asked about another matter, "By the way, Sister Shen, didn't you say that Yanxia Pavilion is going to open a branch? I happen to be free this afternoon, so why don't I go with you to take a look?"

Shen Nankui came back to his senses and said with a smile: "I am naturally happy to have you accompany me."

Yanxia Pavilion has been run by Gu Qingrong and his wife for half a year, and the benefits are very good. Before the fire in the inn, Gu Qingrong had approached her and talked about opening a branch, and now he is selecting a suitable shop in the city.

Shen Nankui agreed with them that after they went to see the place together today, they would decide on a place.

The two of them took the Hu family's carriage and went to Yanxia Pavilion first.

Gu Qingrong and Liang had met Hu Wenyan several times and knew her. After greeting each other, they talked about business and then took a carriage to the pawnshop together.

On the way, Liang looked at Shen Nankui who was having a good chat with Hu Wenyan, and suddenly felt uncomfortable.