Her Imperfection for Wifehood - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The people at the manor were lively and joyous, filled with laughter. However, the An family mansion was shrouded in gloom, with everyone looking worried and deeply anxious.

The Board of Works published a brief overview of the arms smuggling case in the newspaper. This meant that the seizing of An Corporation’s machinery was also known to the public.

Sixth Master Ma’s pawnshop was the largest in Shanghai. Lao Li and Wanyun, carrying a carload of items for pawn, naturally chose Ma Ji Pawnshop, which could afford high prices.

Lao Li had inventoried two boxes of items overnight and handed the list to An Jing for review.

Lao Li was very clear about what could be pawned, what could not, which items had special sentimental value, and which were mere decorations. So An Jing just scanned the list and nodded her approval.

Before coming to Ma Ji Pawnshop, they had visited two antique collections to get an appraisal for a few well-known jade pieces and calligraphies.

Time was pressing, and they didn’t have the luxury of going from shop to shop to compare prices and find buyers.

“Oh, isn’t this Butler Li from Boss Jing’s house? What brings you old man here?” Sixth Master Ma sat leisurely in the hall, pipe in hand.

In his other hand, he was holding the morning paper reporting the arms smuggling case.

“Ah, Sixth Master Ma, it’s good you’re here. As you can see, the factory ran into some sudden trouble, and we need some funds to keep things running. We’re just short a few tens of thousands. You know our Miss has her principles: anything we can resolve ourselves, we absolutely won’t ask others for help. So, she instructed me to bring some valuable possessions to find someone willing to acquire them, to raise some emergency cash.”

“How valuable? Let me take a look first.” Only then did Sixth Master Ma look at Lao Li properly, put down the newspaper, and wait for him to bring the items in.

Lao Li went out, and with Wanyun’s help, they brought two boxes into the house, one after the other, from the car.

Opening the two boxes, Lao Li respectfully offered the list: “Please cast your eye over these, Sixth Master Ma. Here is the list. Take a look at these two boxes of items and name an overall price.”

Sixth Master Ma took the list. The shopkeeper, who was sitting behind the counter, also came out, circled the two large boxes, bent down, picked up a pair of jade ruyi scepter, and exclaimed joyfully: “Sixth Master, these are truly good items inside.”

“Good what? What is this? You’ve been with me for so many years, what priceless treasures haven’t you seen?” Sixth Master Ma stood up and casually threw the list to the shopkeeper. “Go inside and calculate carefully how much these are worth.”

“Will do.” The shopkeeper understood instantly and told Wanyun, “I’ll need this young lady’s cooperation. When I read a name, please bring the corresponding item up so I can inspect it.”

“Yes.”

The shopkeeper returned behind the counter, estimating the price item by item according to the list.

His abacus work was extremely fast. Separated by the counter, Wanyun couldn’t clearly see how he was calculating.

After all items were checked, the shopkeeper came out again and whispered the price into Sixth Master Ma’s ear.

Sixth Master Ma pondered for a moment and then announced, “Flat price: with a redemption period, three months for sixty thousand, or six months for thirty thousand. If sold outright, eighty thousand.”

The shopkeeper’s original words to him were that if these two boxes of treasures were sold individually to buyers, they could fetch at least over a hundred thousand, and if he played a few tricks and used some methods, two hundred thousand was not out of the question.

Hearing Sixth Master Ma’s quote, Lao Li’s heart sank.

He wasn’t completely ignorant about these treasures; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to appraise a few prices first.

For these two large boxes, his expectation was one hundred thousand for a six-month pawn.

Sixth Master Ma was clearly intentionally suppressing the price.

But he also knew that Sixth Master Ma was the only pawnbroker in all of Shanghai who could instantly produce that much money.

Just as he was contemplating what to do, Sixth Master Ma conceded again: “If your Boss Jing is willing to personally come and ask me, and give me a shoulder massage and serve me tea, the price is negotiable. Eighty thousand for a three-month pawn is not impossible.”

He hadn’t forgotten the score he had with An Jing for humiliating him at the tea house and ruining his marriage prospects.

“Is Sixth Master Ma serious?” The person being discussed stepped through the doorway at that very moment.

“Miss.” “Miss.” Lao Li and Wanyun called out simultaneously.

Following An Jing in was Qin Zhe. Unlike An Jing’s calm expression, Qin Zhe’s face was worse than what Lao Li and Wanyun had just shown.

Both he and An Jing had heard Sixth Master Ma’s words. How could a person as proud as An Jing endure such insult?

The person An Jing had gone to see last night contacted him later.

As a favor, he offered to resell the shares he had bought from An Jing for sixty thousand to Qin Zhe for seventy thousand, making a profit of ten thousand, so Qin Zhe could exclusively enjoy the profits of Affordable Department Store and wouldn’t have to share dividends with others anymore.

Qin Zhe pretended to be interested in his proposal and extracted the time and location for him to sign the contract with An Jing.

So this morning, he rushed to intercept An Jing just as she was about to sign the contract: “Eighty thousand. I’ll give you eighty thousand.”

He thought An Jing would resent him, that she wouldn’t accept his “favor.”

But An Jing took out the prepared contract, re-wrote the information in front of the prearranged buyer, signed her name, and handed it to Qin Zhe, smiling as usual: “Deal, Boss Qin.”

The other boss realized he had been tricked, but he couldn’t figure out if it was An Jing, Qin Zhe, or both of them together who had played him.

Since the deed was done, there was nothing he could do. He could only angrily swallow the humiliation, mutter a few curses, and leave.

Qin Zhe was also prepared. After giving the check to An Jing, he continued to follow her in his car.

He watched An Jing drive to the secondhand market, then watched An Jing walk toward him and knock on his car window, asking, “I’m going to Ma Ji Pawnshop. Would Boss Qin mind giving me a ride?”

“Get in.”

Qin Zhe hadn’t brought a chauffeur; he had driven himself out early this morning.

Ultimately, he hadn’t completely given up on An Jing; otherwise, he wouldn’t have worried about An Jing doing something foolish for An Xi, or worried about An Jing being arrested by the police as well.

The police station in the concession was under the jurisdiction of the Board of Works. The An Corporation had never bribed the Board of Works and had no connections or favors to use there. It was extremely difficult for An Jing to successfully bail out An Xi and retrieve the machinery. Even if both sides could sit down for a peaceful negotiation, the An Corporation would definitely have to pay a hefty price.

But An Jing coming to beg him, ignoring her dignity, was enough to show that she had very little “blood” left to shed.

What surprised him even more was that things had come to the point of pawning valuable items. How desperately did she need money? She came to beg him for money, so could she also beg Sixth Master Ma?

“Doing business is just like being a person. My reputation, Sixth Master Ma’s, is impeccable in Shanghai.” Sixth Master Ma took a deep puff of his pipe, glanced mockingly at An Jing and Qin Zhe, and sat back in his armchair.

He tapped the table with his pipe. The shopkeeper immediately understood, went to the next room, and brought out a teapot with boiling water and a tea cup with tea leaves.

The tea set was laid out. The people present had varying expressions.

Sixth Master Ma stretched, put down his pipe, and rubbed his left and right shoulders himself: “Getting old. Ah, people have to admit their age.”

An Jing curved her lips in flattery: “Sixth Master Ma is vigorous in body and wealthy. Shouldn’t you have a few more children, with grandchildren around your knees, sharing the joy of family?” She took a step forward as she spoke.

Wanyun quickly grabbed her sleeve: “Miss, let Wanyun do it.”

“It’s nothing.”

An Jing pulled Wanyun’s hand away, and the next second, Qin Zhe grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside: “An Jing, is it worth degrading yourself like this?”

“It’s just negotiating business. It’s mutually agreed upon. How is it degrading?” She pulled her hand away, her voice icy. “Boss Qin, what I got from Affordable Department Store was what I deserved. I don’t owe you any thanks. As for this, you don’t need to worry about it. Even if you are rich enough to pay a high price, I won’t sell it to you.”

Qin Zhe was infuriated: “If you agree to his terms today, you will only make me look down on you!”

An Jing was unconcerned. She turned her head and said, “Wanyun, Uncle Li, I’ll talk to Sixth Master Ma alone. You and Boss Qin wait for me outside. Don’t come in without my instruction.”

“Yes, Miss.” Lao Li answered.

He winked at Wanyun. The two walked to either side of Qin Zhe.

Lao Li made a “please” gesture: “Boss Qin, let’s wait outside. Miss has her own way. Please don’t add to her troubles.”

An Jing had spoken so decisively that Qin Zhe, despite his desire to help her, was helpless. He held back his anger, frowned, and walked out of the pawnshop.

He didn’t leave but leaned against the roadside, nervously lighting a cigarette.

However, he hadn’t finished one cigarette when An Jing walked out calmly: “Uncle Li, go in and complete the paperwork with the shopkeeper and get the money.”

Lao Li: “Settled?”

An Jing “Mhm’d”: “Sold outright, one hundred twenty thousand.”

Lao Li’s front foot stepped into the door, and Wanyun’s back foot scooped up An Jing’s right hand and exclaimed: “Miss, Miss, you’re bleeding!”

An Jing let her hold her hand, not pretending to be fine. She even feigned weakness and said, “Yes, I’m bleeding. Aren’t you going to bandage me up, just stand there and watch?”

Wanyun’s nose tingled. She untied the silk handkerchief tied to her button and carefully bandaged the wound on An Jing’s palm: “When Uncle Li comes out, we’ll go back. I’ll put medicine on it when we get back.”

“Keep this jade pendant for me. Find a box or a pouch to put it in, and place it in my room when we get back.” An Jing opened her other hand. Lying on it was an exquisitely carved Southern Red Agate Guanyin pendant.

“Yes.”

Seeing this, Qin Zhe cursed, “She’s really crazy,” and drove away in his own car.

Lao Li entered the room and was startled to see a shattered teacup on the floor and fresh dark red blood on the fragments.

The sound they heard outside must have been the teacup breaking, yet they hadn’t heard a single word of the conversation between An Jing and Sixth Master Ma.

Sixth Master Ma was wiping his neck with a handkerchief: “This woman, whoever messes with her is unlucky!” Fortunately, the blood wasn’t his.

It was a false alarm, but Sixth Master Ma had been so scared by An Jing’s ruthlessness that he broke out in a cold sweat. Even though the skin on his neck hadn’t been cut, he kept having a phantom sensation of pain.

With the money in hand, An Jing had Wanyun take a rickshaw back and, along with Zhang Ma, prepare a basin of fire to drive away An Xi’s bad luck.

Lao Li drove the car, and An Jing sat in the back, heading non-stop to the hospital to see Kahn.

Kahn was straightforward. Without a single word of nonsense, he immediately called the police sergeant at the police station, saying he would not press charges and asked them to release the person.

“Okay, Boss Jing. You can go pick up your brother and reunite.”

An Jing didn’t respond and turned to leave.

But she heard Kahn shouting behind her, “Boss Jing, we’ll meet again soon. See you!”

She went to the police station and picked up An Xi. Seeing a wound on his face, before she could ask how he got it, An Xi explained that the police officer hit him when trying to restrain him yesterday and that he hadn’t suffered any other injuries during his night in custody.

He was lying.

The injury on his face was as he described, but he hid the bruises under his clothes from beatings.

Someone had suddenly come to interrogate him early this morning, asking what grudges or conflicts he had with Kahn.

He claimed that he suspected Kahn was involved in the arms smuggling case, that he deliberately orchestrated the seizing of their new machinery to sabotage An Corporation, delaying the cotton mill’s schedule, preventing them from delivering goods, and ultimately damaging An Corporation’s reputation, which was why he couldn’t help but strike him.

He also cursed Kahn as a despicable villain and hoped he would be blown up outside.

The interrogators were not so easily fooled and tortured him.

Initially, he gritted his teeth and endured it, cursing them as foreign lackeys. Later, he started to soften and beg for mercy, saying he was just a brainless playboy and that he was willing to apologize to Kahn.

The men seemed to have some reservations. They didn’t use the harshest torture and avoided hitting his face. After hearing him spinelessly beg for mercy, they let him go.

Just before being released, the officer pushed him into the shower room to clean up and gave him a fresh change of clothes.

That’s why An Jing saw him dressed neatly and believed his words. His demeanor and speech also showed no signs of injury or discomfort. He hid the truth not to be tough, but because he didn’t want An Jing and Lao Li to worry about him.

“Sister, did you go to see Kahn?”

The officer hadn’t told him anything, but he didn’t need to ask to know that An Jing must have agreed to some condition with Kahn for him to be released so quickly.

“Mhm. Compensated him a few tens of thousands for medical expenses.” There was no need to hide this kind of thing. Even if she did, Kahn would probably spread the news.

An Xi admitted defeat.

He clenched his hands into fists, then slowly released them, smiling: “It’s fine, Sister. I still have the private assets my parents left me. I’ll cover this financial gap. Oh, right, what about the machinery the police seized? We imported it through legal channels. The fault isn’t ours; it’s with the shipping company. When can they return the machinery to us? And the thirty machines from Suzhou, it’s been most of the day; have they been sent to the factory?”

He tactically brought up the machinery issue, also wanting to avoid An Jing’s questioning.

Asking why he struck Kahn.

But even if An Jing asked, his answer would be the same as last night.

“I asked Lu Cheng to take people to assist last night. I’ve been running around dealing with your matter all morning and haven’t contacted him yet. We’re going to the factory now to check the situation.”

An Jing’s temple was throbbing. She closed her eyes and pressed it with her hand. An Xi’s gaze went past her raised left arm and saw dark red blood seeping through the blue silk handkerchief wrapped around her right hand.

He grabbed her right wrist and angrily asked, “Sister, your hand… how did it happen? Who hurt you? Was it that bastard Kahn?”

“No.” An Jing pulled away, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze. “But you, having the nerve to hit him while in police custody. You owe me a legitimate reason, don’t you?”

“Suspicion? Do you have proof? You hit and injured someone without evidence, and a foreigner with backing at that. Did you think about the consequences?”

Consequences, of course, he had considered them.

Pay money, be locked up for a few days.

He deliberately wanted to flush out the snake, to make Kahn investigate his motives, so he could reverse-investigate and find solid evidence that Kahn was responsible for the Fuhe Hotel bombing years ago, making him pay the ultimate price for his wickedness.

While studying abroad, during a secret mission, he overheard Kahn boasting to a friend about the bombing he orchestrated in Shanghai. It turned out his parents didn’t die in an accident, but in a conspiracy.

But his identity was special. No matter how much he hated Kahn, he could only force himself to conceal his hatred.

After returning to China, he avoided every place Kahn frequented, afraid of losing emotional control.

As for initially accepting Wei Yinxia’s approach and flattery, it wasn’t for the reason he told An Jing—to use a marriage alliance to gain connections on the Council.

Soon after meeting with Boss Qi, he learned from him that Wei Zhengqing and Kahn were privately very close.

Using the organization’s intelligence network to trace backwards, he grew suspicious of whether Wei Zhengqing was involved in the bombing, which was why he considered going ahead with the engagement to Wei Yinxia.

Firstly, it would provide cover for himself. Secondly, it would give him more opportunities to enter the Wei family and search for clues.

Later, due to An Jing’s strong opposition, he gave up the idea.

Furthermore, his contact with Boss Qi and Ruyue, under the guise of business cooperation, had become public knowledge, making it inconvenient for him to continue monitoring the Wei family, so as not to cause more trouble.

Watching his enemy Kahn rise in Shanghai and even oppose the An Corporation, An Xi didn’t want to sit idle any longer. He needed help.

And at this time, the organization also assigned him a new mission: to cultivate Chen Kang as their inside agent at the Board of Works.

So, he secretly sent a message to Chen Kang, the Chinese Director of the Board of Works who succeeded Xue Hua, informing him of the inside story of the dozens of victims at the Fuhe Hotel bombing.

He hoped that Chen Kang, with a conscience, could use his official position to cooperate with him against the villain Kahn, to deliver justice for the deceased and truth to the families. Chen Kang’s own sister, brother-in-law, and niece had all died in that explosion when they came to visit family that year.

An Xi saw Kahn enter the police station and found a place to call Chen Kang.

He said he would be arrested and detained for a few days for assaulting Kahn without reason. During this time, as long as Kahn suspected his motives, he would expose a flaw.

Kahn was indeed suspicious.

Chen Kang constantly monitored both the Board of Works and the police station. As a Chinese person, An Xi’s arrest was immediately relayed to him by the police station.

Thus, he naturally witnessed Kahn’s underhanded move of bribing subordinates to illegally “interrogate” An Xi.

Having achieved his current status at the internationally controlled Board of Works, how could Chen Kang not have his own informants?

When he heard from the officer that the new clothes were specially prepared for him by Director Chen Kang out of respect for the An Corporation’s dedication to developing national enterprises, An Xi knew that Chen Kang had believed his words.

Although Chen Kang worked at the Board of Works and routinely flattered foreigners, he represented Chinese interests. If he completely disregarded national righteousness, he would inevitably be criticized.

Sending a “courtesy” to the young master of the An Corporation was perfectly normal.

“After the death of Boss Yan, the shipping line was logically taken over by the Board of Works, benefiting foreign merchants. At the same time, the An Corporation suffered huge losses because the new machinery couldn’t be delivered on time. Killing two birds with one stone. Who else could it be but Yinghua?”

As An Xi spoke, he directed the blame toward Yinghua, and no longer just Kahn.

His parents’ revenge must be carried out.

Only one of them, he or An Jing, needed to carry it out.

He didn’t want An Jing to be consumed by hatred too.

The atmosphere solidified. An Jing stared intently at An Xi.

An Xi turned to meet her deep, unfathomable gaze, scratched his head, and laughed guiltily: “Sister, I may be a bit reckless, but I’m not an idiot.”

Support