Shocking! In this matriarchal society, every man wants to marry me!

The night was dark, with only the moonlight casting a silvery glow on the ground. Zhong Tian, ​​who had just gotten up, felt a little dizzy. She calmed herself down and remembered that this was Xia Jin'an.

"Jin'an, you're still awake?"

His tone showed no sign of fatigue, indicating he had remained fully awake: "...Master, I am at your bedside..."

In wealthy families, there is always someone by the bedside to serve the master of the house while he sleeps. This person is always at his beck and call, serving him tea and water, and if the master of the house is in the mood, he can even take him to bed.

Zhongtian had only ever seen this kind of thing in period dramas, and he never expected Xia Jin'an to actually do it. However, doing so would not make Zhongtian feel honored, but would only give him a deep psychological burden.

This is oppression! This is exploitation!

"Don't get up, I'll go get some water myself." Zhong Tian insisted that Xia Jin'an not get up, and she went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water.

The cool water dispelled her thirst and gave her the mood to chat with Xia Jin'an.

Xia Jin'an knelt upright on the mattress on the ground, her head lowered, her thin body looking somewhat pitiful.

Nakata carefully chose his words: "...Kon'an, you don't need to be so attentive to me. I only took you in because I pity you. I won't stay here long. I have a house in town, and I'll leave once I've saved enough money..."

"You're leaving!" Xia Jin'an suddenly raised her head.

“Yes,” Nakata said, not intending to hide it. “This is the house my mother left behind when she went hunting. After I left, I left it here for you, so you will have a place to stay.”

The room was simple, and the moonlight shone on Zhongtian's face, draping a sacred veil over the girl's features. Her voice was soft but firm: "So, don't be afraid, don't worry, just get some sleep."

"Don't be afraid, don't worry!" But he was constantly filled with fear and worry.

In his youth, he feared he would not be favored by his master, so he learned the art of pleasing others for amusement. In his old age, he worried that his master would casually arrange a marriage for him. Now, he fears the gossip and malicious schemes of the world. Zhongtian has left him, and he has no one to rely on.

However, the girl's gentle tone temporarily soothed Xia Jin'an's somewhat frightened heart, and he thought that he could get a good night's sleep tonight.

Zhongtian slept very well. When he woke up the next day, it was already bright daylight. Xia Jin'an was also awake. Breakfast was already prepared, and he was embroidering something by the light.

"Getting up so early?" Zhongtian got up and washed up.

"It gets light early, so the meal is already prepared. The wallets the master needs can be embroidered tonight."

Zhongtian looked it over; the wallet was already taking shape, with a lifelike begonia flower on it.

"I'm really looking forward to it..."

After finishing his meal, Zhongtian went down the mountain. He first went to find Song Jinshu, and then to find Jinxia.

Jin Xia was followed by five ragged women.

At that time, Zhongtian asked Jinxia to find a few young beggars without disabilities, and he would give her two coins for each one. However, Jinxia only found five. She was a little embarrassed.

"It's alright, these people are enough." Some people become beggars not because of any family misfortune, but simply because they are lazy and would rather beg for money than do any work.

"What are your names?"

"Zhao Ping, Zhao An, Li Yu, Sun Li, Zhou Shu." There was even a pair of sisters among them. Zhong Tian memorized their names one by one.

“Go to Hongsu Shou’s place and get the wine. Go door to door and sell it at the original price. I promise you two coins for every jar of wine you sell, and the more you sell, the more you earn!”

The older twin spoke up: "Is it really that simple? You're not cheating, are you?"

"of course not!"

"Wait a minute..."

"Master, what's wrong?" Jinxia asked.

"Looking like this... you'll be kicked out." Just as a Buddha needs gold plating, a person needs fine clothes. No one will even glance at your things if you look like this.

Jin Xia said somewhat hurriedly, "Master, we don't have any decent clothes."

Nakata pulled out a string of cash from his pocket: "Let's go to the clothing store and buy some clothes."

This action surprised everyone, and a small voice came out: "Master, we haven't sold anything yet."

"It's alright, this is just an initial investment."

The clothes made of ordinary linen in the clothing store were very cheap, costing only 10 copper coins. For 6 people, it would cost 60 copper coins. Jinxia respectfully returned the remaining money to Zhongtian.

Nakata accepted the gifts without ceremony, sized up the six people, and found them to be quite energetic. Nakata nodded in satisfaction.

"Go!"

Song Jinshu leaned against the door, watching the six people bustling in and out, and looked at Zhong Tian with a smile.

"Do you really think they can sell the alcohol?"

Song Jinshu recalled Zhong Tian's knocking on the door early that morning, asking him how much wine he had stored.

Two years ago, 100 jars of wine were brewed and stored in the cellar. Zhongtian waved his hand and said he wanted to buy them all.

"Wait! Do you have that much money?"

Zhongtian took out all his savings, but could only take 40 jars. Because of the large quantity, after much persuasion, Zhongtian managed to get a discount of five coins per jar.

"You'd better think this through, lest you lose everything!"

"No problem, let's wait and see!"

At noon, these people returned, some looking dejected, while others were beaming with pride.

Jin Xia sold the most, five pots, and Zhong Tian gave her ten coins. Zhao Ping and Zhao An, the sisters, sold eight pots, and Zhong Tian gave them eight coins. Li Ping and Sun Li each sold three pots, and Zhong Tian gave them six coins each. Zhou Shu only sold one pot, and Zhong Tian also gave her two coins.

Zhou Shu looked down at the two coins, hesitated, and then found Jin Xia: "Sister Xia, I quit..."

Others also hesitated, for they could earn more than ten coins a day as beggars if they had a good harvest!

Nakata looked at them and encouraged them.

"It's only a morning. To sell things, you have to be shameless, sweet-talking, and hardworking. Most importantly, you have to know your target. This 'Red Crispy Hands Wine' is relatively expensive. You should choose wealthy families with some savings... Restaurants, families hosting banquets... you can try those."

Without hesitation, Nakata shared his experience: "Let's give it another try. If we can sell more than 10 jars tomorrow, we'll give you an extra three coins for every five jars we sell."

She used the money they had paid to buy another 20 jars, and Song Jinshu gave her 10 jars on credit.

A few scattered voices: "...Okay."

At night.

Li Yu returned first, having sold eight jars, and Zhong Tian gave her 16 coins. Sun Li then returned, selling six jars, and Zhong Tian gave her 12 coins. Zhou Shu also returned, selling five jars, and Zhong Tian gave her 10 coins.

Jin Xia was the last to return. She sold 11 jars, and Zhong Tian gave her 22 coins. Even though she earned the most, she wasn't happy.

After giving the money from the sale to Zhongtian, she said to him with some guilt, "Master, Zhao Ping and Zhao An didn't come back with us... They ran away!"