Ever since Su Shuyao decided to start a flower business, she visited the flower market every day. Ink orchids were extremely rare and couldn’t be bought as mature plants at regular markets—they had to be collected, selected, and nurtured personally.
Today, just as she arrived, she encountered something called “orchid betting.” Orchid betting meant judging the future flower shape and color based on the leaf form before the orchid bloomed and then placing a wager.
Su Shuyao found it interesting and wanted to try with two plants. “Boss, how does this orchid betting work?”
“Young lady has a good eye. This ‘Frog Skin’ variety has great potential. You only need to pay a 200 tael deposit. I’ll keep the plant here for you. If it blooms into a rare variety after a year, you pay another 800 taels, and I get 40% of the selling price. If it turns out to be a common type, you can take it away, but the deposit won’t be refunded.”
Su Shuyao recalled there had once been a chrysanthemum-petal orchid named “Green Cloud” that sold for tens of thousands of taels after blooming—and it had come from orchid betting.
In her past life, she had seen that “Green Cloud” herself. It was truly breathtaking.
That pot of Green Cloud had even led to a lawsuit. The customer had paid a deposit, but after the flower bloomed, the owner refused to honor the deal. The matter became widely known. She remembered the flower seller’s surname was Zhou, a stingy man who liked to underpay his workers. After that incident, everyone started calling him “Zhou the Skinflint.”
Thinking of that, Su Shuyao smiled, “Boss, what’s your surname?”
The flower seller’s face darkened. “Are you here to cause trouble? What does betting orchids have to do with my surname? Buy it or don’t, but don’t waste my time!”
“The boss’s surname is Zhou,” a bystander chimed in with a laugh. “Boss Zhou, with that attitude, how are you going to stay in business?”
Boss Zhou’s expression turned even darker. Not daring to scold customers, he turned around and kicked a young boy who was carrying flowers behind him.
“Can’t you see customers coming in? No sense at all!”
The boy wore a straw hat. After being kicked, he grunted softly, lowered the brim of his hat, and continued moving flowers.
Su Shuyao looked at his back thoughtfully.
Wasn’t that Su Mingli?
Why was Su Mingli, who should be studying at the private academy, working at the flower market?
Su Mingli was the eldest son of the Marquis Residence’s main branch. After the Old Marquis passed away, the secondary branch, led by Su Zesui, inherited the title, and the main branch was separated out. Her eldest uncle and Su Zesui were blood brothers, and by law, the title should have gone to the legitimate eldest son. But due to an eye injury, her uncle was disqualified under the Great Xia Empire’s rule that disabled persons could not inherit. Officially, he had no claim, but the title could’ve been passed to Su Mingli.
It was Su Zesui who reported it to the authorities and enlisted Madam Wan’s family’s help to take the title for himself.
The struggle for heirship had always been cruel.
After the main branch moved out, the two sides became estranged and rarely interacted.
Su Shuyao stepped forward and called out, “Mingli, why are you here?”
The boy froze slightly. “Miss, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
He wore coarse clothes, patched at the knees, nothing like a noble son.
Su Shuyao recalled how, in her previous life, after being beaten to death, Madam Wan had her body dumped in the mass graves. It was her uncle’s wife who had collected her corpse. At that time, her aunt had been dressed plainly, stooped, with no hairpins, and not even a maid by her side. She looked very destitute.
Thanks to her, Su Shuyao hadn’t become a wandering soul.
Remembering that, Su Shuyao didn’t pursue him. She turned away to look around other stalls.
By midday, she saw the boy exiting the shop and turning into a small alley.
Su Shuyao quickened her pace and followed.
“Mingli, it really is you.”
Su Mingli hadn’t expected her to still be there. He stopped and turned back. “You waited here just to laugh at me?”
Though dressed in rough cloth, he carried a refined presence. Even the patches couldn’t hide his scholarly air. His features were delicate and noble, his posture steady like a mountain. Yet his eyes held a distant chill, like a cold jade sunk in a quiet pond.
Su Shuyao explained, “Mingli, you misunderstand me. I was just curious—why aren’t you studying? What happened to Uncle’s eye? Are you all having trouble?”
Su Mingli sneered, “Spare me the false concern. You and Su Zesui are two of a kind.”
Knowing there was no point arguing, Su Shuyao took the pouch from her waist and tossed it over. “Catch.”
Instinctively, Su Mingli caught it. “What is this?”
Su Shuyao said, “If you’re at the flower market for money, use that as an emergency fund.”
He opened it and found five banknotes, twenty taels each—totaling 100 taels.
Seeing the silver notes, his wariness lessened slightly, but he still remained alert. “Su Shuyao, what are you really trying to do?”
Su Shuyao said, “After the family split, I haven’t seen Uncle or Aunt. I just want to know how they’re doing.”
Su Mingli’s brows furrowed. He wanted to return the pouch but thought of his bedridden father and kept it.
One hundred taels would last years for an ordinary family, but with a chronically ill patient at home needing medicine and treatment, it would only last a few months.
“Father is completely blind now. His health isn’t good either.”
Su Shuyao asked, “Where are you living now? Can you take me to see them?”
After hesitating, Su Mingli nodded, moved by the money she’d given.
Su Shuyao followed him to his home.
After the family split, the branch that kept the title received the majority. The other side didn’t get much, but it shouldn’t have been too bad either. She remembered Uncle’s family received a three-section courtyard and two shops.
“Mingli, who is this young lady?” Her aunt came out of the kitchen in a plain dress, carrying a plate of stir-fried pumpkin. Her hands and face were oily.
“Aunt, it’s me, Shuyao.”
“Shuyao? Oh my, why are you here? Come in, quickly!” She froze for a moment, then smiled warmly.
Looking down at her hands, she removed the ring from her pinky. “We don’t have much at home. Mingli, go buy a couple of dishes from the restaurant at the corner.”
“Aunt, don’t trouble yourself. I’ve already eaten.” Su Shuyao stepped forward and gently put the ring back on her hand. “Aunt, I happened to see Brother Mingli today and came to visit.”
She glanced at Qiushuang, who quickly said, “Oh no! I left the gifts on the carriage. I’ll go fetch them right away.”
Her aunt smiled. “We’re all family. What gifts? Call your maid back.”
Su Shuyao held her aunt’s hand and felt the calluses.
“The house is a bit cramped, sit wherever you like.” Her aunt brought over a chair and poured tea into a clean cup. “Goodness, it’s been so many years. You’ve grown so much, Shuyao. Oh right, you ran into Mingli at the academy?”
Su Shuyao paused.
No wonder Mingli acted so defensive earlier—he wasn’t studying anymore, hiding his part-time work from the family.
“Yes, we just happened to meet after class.”
“Mingli, talk with Shuyao. I’ll go feed your father.”
Her uncle had not only lost his sight but had also recently broken his leg and was bedridden. Over the years, the family had sold properties to cover his medical expenses and were living in hardship.
…
After leaving the house, Su Mingli took the initiative to explain, “Two years ago, when Father fell ill, I went to the Marquis Residence to ask for help. Su Zesui refused to see me and threw me five taels like I was some leech. I’ve never returned since.”
That explained his cold attitude earlier.
Su Shuyao thought for a moment. “Mingli, do you still want to take the imperial exams?”
Su Mingli froze. “I may have left the academy, but I haven’t stopped studying. I’ll take the exam next year.”
Though self-study without a teacher was difficult, he wouldn’t give up.
Su Shuyao asked, “Then would you want to become a disciple of Grand Scholar Li?”