Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The letter was quickly delivered to Wei Lan’s hands. The letter’s main message was that Zhao Xinlan had left. Wei Wenyuan was beyond saving. Zhao Xinlan asked Wei Lan to look after Wei Qing and said she was wrong before, apologizing to Wei Lan and Wei Qing.

When Wei Lan read the letter, her mood didn’t fluctuate much. But Zhao Xinlan’s decision to leave showed she wasn’t completely hopeless.

Wei Lan took the letter and went to Wei Qing’s room. She knocked lightly on the door.

Soon, Wei Qing opened the door from inside. Seeing it was Wei Lan, she quickly asked, “Sister, do you need me for something?”

Wei Lan nodded slightly. “Hmm, Mother left this place. This is the letter she left for you.”

“What? Mother left?” Wei Qing’s eyes reddened with urgency, and she hurriedly took the letter to read.

Wei Qing didn’t know Wei Wenyuan had gambled and lost again. To prevent Wei Qing from being deceived by him, Wei Lan said directly, “Wei Wenyuan lost five hundred taels of silver at a gambling house. Mother probably saw what kind of person he is. Her leaving is a good thing. But you must not be fooled by him. He lost at gambling, so he should bear the consequences himself.”

“But is Mother okay?” Wei Qing asked, still worried about Zhao Xinlan, her eyes red.

“Don’t worry. Since she left us a letter, leaving Wei Wenyuan was likely a well-thought-out decision. People become stronger in desperate times,” Wei Lan said, patting the girl’s shoulder to comfort her.

Wei Qing nodded, then seemed to remember something. She rubbed her red eyes and said, “Sister, come inside with me.”

Wei Lan didn’t know what the girl wanted but followed her into the room.

Wei Qing placed the letter on the round table and took out a small pouch. She opened it and handed it to Wei Lan. “Sister, this is what I earned making pouches this past month. It’s not much, just three taels of silver and two hundred wen, but it’s all for you.”

Wei Lan was confused by the girl’s actions. She wasn’t short on money.

“You keep this for yourself. I don’t need money,” Wei Lan said, thinking it was good that Wei Qing could earn money, at least keeping her occupied and passing the time.

“But don’t I need to contribute to household expenses here? It’s not much, but I’ll work hard to earn more,” Wei Qing said. Living in the Lu Mansion was great, and the servants treated her well, but her food, clothing, and expenses clearly cost money. She wanted to earn money to avoid freeloading.

Wei Lan shook her head with a smile. “The mansion doesn’t need your contributions, and I’m not short on money. Keep what you earn. You don’t need to feel burdened staying here. This is your home.”

“But…” Wei Qing said, still uneasy.

“No buts. I really don’t need money. I’m going to carve jade now, so I won’t chat,” Wei Lan said to Wei Qing before heading to her workshop.

Wei Qing looked at the money in her hand. It was too little, but she could save it for her sister, giving it to her when needed.

Meanwhile, Wei Wenyuan went to a doctor to stop the bleeding from his severed finger. He sold the ancestral house for over five hundred taels of silver, planning to flee with the money before the gambling house came to collect.

When he returned home to find Zhao Xinlan, he discovered she was gone.

Originally, Wei Wenyuan planned to take Zhao Xinlan with him, thinking she could cook and clean on the road. But after shouting in the courtyard for a long time with no response, he was furious.

“You wretch, where did you go, Zhao Xinlan?” Wei Wenyuan shouted in the courtyard for a while, but no one answered.

He sat on the ground, feeling lost. As he prepared to flee, the gambling house people heard the commotion and came back.

The gambling house had connections with several pawnshops and trading houses in Panyang City. They informed each other when debtors sold property, allowing the gambling house to collect debts before they could escape.

Wei Wenyuan’s case was the same. The boss heard he sold his house and brought people to his courtyard, finding him sitting there dejectedly.

The boss glanced at Wei Wenyuan and sneered. “I heard you sold your house. Good. At least you can pay your gambling debt. Hand over the money.”

Wei Wenyuan wanted to cry. How had they found him so fast? He planned to escape with the money, but now it was over.

“Boss, can you give me a few more days? Two days, and I’ll bring you the money,” Wei Wenyuan said, desperate to keep the five hundred taels to survive.

“Stop pretending, old man. You refuse the toast and take the punishment. Search him,” the boss said.

The thugs swarmed in, finding five hundred taels in banknotes and twelve taels in loose silver in Wei Wenyuan’s pocket. They took it all and gave it to the boss.

Seeing even his loose silver taken, Wei Wenyuan nearly exploded. “The dozen taels were mine. How could you take that too?”

“Yours? Nothing’s yours. That’s just interest,” the boss said, calling to his men, “Let’s go.”

The group left the courtyard, leaving Wei Wenyuan crying breathlessly, but no one cared.

—

Several days passed, and volumes two and three of ‘Rebirth of the Abandoned Consort of the Marquis’s Mansion’ were printed, five hundred copies each. The first volume was reprinted with three hundred more copies. But Wei Lan instructed the bookshops not to sell yet, as she had a new idea.

The bookshop sent someone to ask Lu Zijin’s details. Lu Zijin said the bookshops should follow Wei Lan’s arrangements. The bookshops were a small business for the Lu Mansion, so letting Wei Lan experiment was fine. Lu Zijin realized she was acting like a king bewitched by a seductress, indulging Wei Lan’s every whim.

Thinking this, Lu Zijin laughed at herself.

“Go tell the shopkeepers at each bookshop to follow the master’s requests,” Lu Zijin said, looking up, then resumed writing.

“Yes, I’ll go inform the bookshops,” the clerk said, bowing and leaving.

Soon, Wei Lan arranged for the main branch of the Lu Family Bookshop to set up. She wanted to hold a book signing. A book signed in person by the author would sell for five taels of silver, four taels more than a regular book.

Wei Lan thought for a moment and wrote promotional text on a paper: The author of ‘Rebirth of the Abandoned Consort of the Marquis’s Mansion’, Wei Lan, will hold a book signing tomorrow morning. Those who sign up and queue can get an autograph and a random small gift. (Note: Each book at the signing costs five taels of silver; unsigned books remain one yuan per tael.)

The main shopkeeper of the Lu Family Bookshop, Qu Qiushui, a capable female Qianyuan, was skeptical about Wei Lan’s signing idea. After all, people weren’t fools. A storybook for one yuan was already expensive; five taels per book—who would buy?

“What do we do? The miss agreed? The master is talented, and her storybooks are good, but almost no one will pay five taels for a book. What now?” Qu Qiushui sighed.

“Don’t worry too much, Shopkeeper. Let the master try the signing. If no one comes, we’ll sell at one yuan per book,” a clerk reassured.

Qu Qiushui sighed. “That’s all we can do.”

She arranged for a servant to clear a space in the shop as Wei Lan requested, setting up a large table with neatly stacked storybooks on both sides.

Then, they wrote the signing time and price on the notice board outside, but Qu Qiushui remained unconvinced, thinking Wei Lan was wasting time. Who would fall for such a scam?

At the City Lord’s Mansion, Lu Shihua’s friends came to visit.

“Shihua, did you hear? Wei Lan is holding a book signing tomorrow morning,” one girl said excitedly.

“What’s a book signing?” Lu Shihua asked, never having heard of it.

“We’re not sure, but Wei Lan will be at the Lu Family Bookshop’s main branch. A signed book costs five taels,” the girl said. “They’ve put up notices at the bookshop’s front.”

Lu Shihua was confused, and her friends didn’t fully understand either, but it seemed like a good thing. Maybe they could buy volumes two and three tomorrow.

Lu Shihua said, “Five taels isn’t expensive. I’m buying. I want the whole set.”

“Me too, but should we go ourselves tomorrow? Wei Lan will be there. I’m curious what she looks like,” another friend said.

“Hey, same here. I’m going tomorrow with a few servants and maids,” another added.

Lu Shihua was curious about Wei Lan’s appearance too. They had gossiped about her but never knew what she looked like. “Maybe I’ll go too. I’m curious what kind of person could write a character like Cui.”

“Yeah, she’s resilient and bold. I love Cui so much,” a friend agreed.

Meanwhile, in the Fuqu Pavilion of the Lu Mansion, Wei Lan had maids attach tassels to bookmarks.

The hard paper was specially made by the bookshop. Wei Lan wrote interesting quotes from the book on them and had people buy tassels from the eastern market. The maids punched holes and tied the tassels, creating a convenient and attractive bookmark.

These were merchandise for the book. Five euros wasn’t just for a signature.

The next morning, Wei Lan took Xi Ye and Siyun to the main branch of the Lu Family Bookshop.

Qu Qiushui greeted Wei Lan. “Master, this way, please. Everything’s ready as you requested.”

Wei Lan nodded, satisfied. “Good job. Later, get a few maids to maintain order. Those signing must queue. After signing, they pay at the counter. Signed books are five taels each.”

Qu Qiushui’s face twitched. Did the master really think people would queue? She felt conflicted but remained respectful. “I’ve noted it. I’ll double-check to ensure everything’s perfect.”

“Go ahead,” Wei Lan said, then turned to Xi Ye. “Stand by me later to help keep order. Siyun, you’ll pass me books and bookmarks.”

“Yes,” Xi Ye said.

“Yes, I understand,” Siyun said.

With everything arranged, Wei Lan sat behind the long table, waiting for people to arrive.

Qu Qiushui shook her head. The master was too much trouble, and the miss indulged her nonsense. But it showed how favored the master was; an ordinary consort wouldn’t manage business.

At the hour of the Dragon, people arrived at the shop, including Lu Shihua and her four friends. They came early to buy books, arriving ahead of time.

They didn’t send servants or maids but came themselves with some attendants.

Qu Qiushui recognized Lu Shihua, the City Lord’s daughter, and greeted her with a bow. “What do the misses need? I’ll help you choose.”

“Oh, we’re here for the signing. How do we join?” Lu Shihua asked.

Qu Qiushui looked at Lu Shihua and her friends with a complicated expression. Were there really such suckers? “Follow me, misses. Queue up soon.”

Wei Lan’s area was inside the shop, so the girls hadn’t seen her. Qu Qiushui led them over, and they saw the person behind the table.

Seeing people approach, Wei Lan smiled and greeted, “You’re early. The first one, please sit here. The rest, line up. It’ll be your turn soon.”

“Okay,” Lu Shihua said, sitting first. She felt shy, her ear tips reddening. She hadn’t expected Lu Zijin’s consort to be so good-looking. No wonder Lu Zijin married her.

“Um, are you Wei Lan?” Lu Shihua asked softly.

Wei Lan nodded with a smile, seeing the girl blush. She comforted, “Don’t be nervous. We have volumes one, two, and three. Which one do you want?”

“I want all three!” Lu Shihua said quickly. She already had the first volume but wanted to buy it again for some reason.

“Alright,” Wei Lan said, nodding and taking the three books Siyun handed her. She opened the first page and asked, “Should I write your name? I can add a random phrase, or do you have something specific?”

Lu Shihua, new to this, didn’t know how it worked. She was dazed just hearing Wei Lan speak. “Um, I don’t know. Write whatever you want. Oh, my name’s Lu Shihua.”

To ensure Wei Lan knew the characters, Lu Shihua gestured with her hand.

“Okay,” Wei Lan said, smiling.

She wrote on the title page: [To: Lu Shihua, Peace and Joy, All Things Smooth.]

The next two books had similar messages. Wei Lan wrote quietly while Lu Shihua and her friends watched, especially the girls behind, who were farther and whispered softly.

After writing, Wei Lan let the ink dry, then took a few different bookmarks. “These are signing extras. One bookmark per book. Since it’s not crowded, you can pick.”

“Oh, oh, okay,” Lu Shihua said, snapping out of watching Wei Lan. She chose three bookmarks.

“These three, thanks,” Lu Shihua said, still shy, her ears red.

“Good, the signatures are dry. Next person,” Wei Lan said, handing the three books to Lu Shihua.

Lu Shihua took the books and bookmarks but didn’t want to leave.

She wanted to watch Wei Lan more, and since her friends hadn’t left, she said she’d wait for them.

Wei Lan signed and chatted with the girls. One girl left the bookshop and ran to the teahouse across the street.

“Hey, volumes two and three of ‘Rebirth of the Abandoned Consort of the Marquis’s Mansion’ are out. Wei Lan’s signing at the main branch. She’s really pretty and speaks so gently. I want to queue again to talk to her more.”

Her words caught others’ attention. The teahouse had many young people, eager for excitement. But her next words dampened their enthusiasm.

“But it’s a bit expensive, five taels per book. Still, I think it’s worth it! You can talk to Wei Lan,” the girl said, looking ready to spend more, sparking her friends’ curiosity. Wealthy patrons in private rooms, hearing the commotion, joined in. With nothing to do, they didn’t mind spending to join the fun.

Half an hour later, the queue grew from five or six to two lines, about fifty people.

Wei Lan felt it was enough and said to Xi Ye, “Go tell Qu Qiushui not to let more signing participants in. These people will take until noon.”

“Yes, Master,” Xi Ye said, going to inform Qu Qiushui, who followed the order.

Qu Qiushui hadn’t expected so many suckers to buy high-priced books. Their master was extraordinary, as good at earning money as the miss.

Wei Lan, meanwhile, chatted with a rich lady. Clearly wealthy, she ordered ten copies of each volume to talk longer with Wei Lan.

With more books, Wei Lan spent more time with her. Lu Shihua and her friends, still lingering, saw this and got anxious. “I should’ve ordered more to talk to her longer,” Lu Shihua said.

“Right? Her voice is so nice. I’m jealous of Lu Zijin. I can imagine how gentle she is with her Madam,” a friend said.

“Me too. Can she and Lu Zijin divorce? I’m so jealous,” another said.

“I’m jealous too,” a third added.

“Why don’t we come back this afternoon?” Lu Shihua suggested.

Her friends nodded in agreement.

The rich lady asked Wei Lan, “Are you signing this afternoon? If so, I’ll come back.”

“Yes, come if you need,” Wei Lan said politely.

“Good. I’ll think about what to have you write and collect a full set of bookmarks,” the lady said.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you,” Wei Lan said, smiling.

Nearby, one of Lu Shihua’s friends said jealously, “She smiled at someone else. I’m jealous.”

“Me too,” another said.

“What’s the use of my father’s wealth? Why didn’t he marry me a consort like Wei Lan?” a third complained.

“I want one too, sob,” a fourth said.

Wei Lan didn’t mind. Signings were common in modern society, a marketing or promotional tactic. Authors held signings to boost book sales, and some celebrities did it for albums. It was just business.

By noon, Wei Lan had written a lot.

Near midday, another rich lady arrived, boldly ordering twenty copies of each volume. Wei Lan’s hand nearly cramped. The lady didn’t talk much with Wei Lan but chatted with Xi Ye.

Xi Ye saw Wei Lan wink and reluctantly made awkward small talk.

The lady owned a rouge shop in the east of the city. Though not as rich as Lu Zijin, she was wealthy, supplying nearby cities. She was a true rich woman.

Zhou Yufu, in her twenties, came from a poor family and was married to a rouge shop owner to bring him luck. But the Qianyuan was too frail and died days after their wedding, without consummating the marriage.

With no living relatives, Zhou Yufu inherited his wealth and shop. She had talent, quickly monopolizing the rouge trade in nearby areas.

“How old is the little Qianyuan?” Zhou Yufu asked Xi Ye, winking and smiling.

Xi Ye felt her scalp tingle. In the Northern Desert, she dealt with Qianyuans daily and wasn’t used to Kunze, especially one staring at her. Her back sweated.

“Um, I’m eighteen this year,” Xi Ye stammered.

“Eighteen? That’s good. Full of energy and stamina,” Zhou Yufu said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckling.

Xi Ye’s face reddened. What did that mean? It felt off.

Xi Ye tugged Wei Lan’s sleeve for help, signaling her to hurry.

“Oh, oh, almost done,” Wei Lan said, still busy. Twenty copies per volume, sixty total, meant writing personalized signatures for a while. “Chat a bit more. I’ve got a lot here.”

Xi Ye wanted to cry. She wasn’t this scared fighting Xiongnu in the north. This woman seemed ready to eat her.

“Right, your master said so. Won’t you talk more with your sister? I’m Zhou Yufu, I run a rouge shop in the city. Visit me sometime,” Zhou Yufu said, smiling.

“Um, I don’t use rouge much,” Xi Ye said, refusing quickly.

“No worries, you’ll get used to it. I’ll bring some next time. You’ll look great with it,” Zhou Yufu said, laughing.

Xi Ye awkwardly chatted, easing Wei Lan’s burden. Wei Lan focused on writing, free from small talk.

Zhou Yufu glanced at Wei Lan. “No rush, take your time.”

“Okay, okay,” Wei Lan said, tired from writing all morning.

Xi Ye looked at Wei Lan pitifully, tugging her sleeve.

Wei Lan winked and mouthed silently, “Hold on.”

Xi Ye endured, chatting awkwardly with Zhou Yufu for a while. Zhou Yufu finally stood, satisfied, and smiled at Wei Lan before leaving. “Boss Wei, you’re good-looking, and your Qianyuan is handsome too. Did you pick her on purpose?”

“Just a coincidence,” Wei Lan said, smiling, relieved to see the rich lady off.

After signing the rest of the queue, Wei Lan took Xi Ye and Siyun to eat.

Xi Ye sighed. “She was so scary, staring at me.”

Wei Lan laughed. “Boss Zhou is a rich lady and good-looking. What do you think? Tempted?”

Xi Ye shook her head vigorously. “No, no, I’m the master’s person. I don’t want anyone else!”

Wei Lan looked at Xi Ye with a smile. “You’d better be.”