Su Xiaoliu looked up at the large courtyard in front of her. The vermilion gate had lost some of its paint, and the mottled and old wall was cold and rough. Moreover, this was the side gate.
The gate was opened, and a maid in a light - yellow silk dress looked over. When she saw Su Xiaoliu, disdain immediately filled her eyes.
"Why is it you again?"
Su Xiaoliu pretended not to hear the sneer and walked straight in.
After entering, Su Xiaoliu stretched and stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the courtyard.
In spring, new leaves were sprouting among the branches. The buildings were newly built with stones and covered with glazed tiles. Even the pebbles on the path had intricate and beautiful patterns.
This was the home of the first talented scholar her father had arranged for her to marry. She didn't know why she had been divorced. After being divorced twice in a row, she had learned her lesson. Even if she was divorced, she would stay in the husband's family to avoid being laughed at by her two married elder sisters when she went back early.
Yes, in fact, she had been divorced by this husband, and it was just yesterday.
She, Su Xiaoliu, the third young lady of the Su family, was good - looking and had read a lot of books. As for the Su family, there was no need to say more. When Master Su was young, he had been the number - one escort in the martial arts world... It was just that after he had retired from the escort business and gained weight, no one recognized him anymore.
Just as Su Xiaoliu was about to reach the room where she lived, she saw a dark shadow flying through the air and landing with a "thud" at her feet.
Taking a closer look, she found it was a mess of packed clothes.
Su Xiaoliu widened her almond - shaped eyes and took a step back. Just as she was about to look up, an angry voice came to her ears.
"You shameless woman! After being divorced, you still stay here. Do you want to ruin my reputation? It's outrageous!"
A scholar - looking man in a cyan robe walked over with his eyebrows raised, pointing at her as he walked.
Su Xiaoliu was startled. This husband had always been calm. Why was he so angry today?
She looked at the arrogant maid beside her. The maid glanced at her and snorted, saying, "The young master failed the imperial examination. Someone told him that it was because you, a bad - luck star, lived in the house that everything went wrong for him. It's all your fault in the end."
Her fault?
Su Xiaoliu picked up the luggage on the ground and turned to look at the cyan - robed scholar who was walking over. She took out the stack of divorce papers from her bosom, pointed at the black characters on it, and laughed angrily, "Let's resolve our grievances and part ways. Let's not hate each other anymore. We'll go our separate ways and each find our own happiness? You divorced me for no reason but still talked so reasonably. I, Su Xiaoliu, married a scum like you. I'll never be happy in this lifetime!"
She then suddenly turned to look at the maid beside her. The maid was startled and her confidence wavered.
Su Xiaoliu gave her a faint smile, but said mercilessly, "I'm a bad - luck star. I made everything go wrong for you. Everything is ultimately my fault... Why don't you say it's ultimately my father's fault or my ancestors' fault? Without them, there would be no me, this bad - luck star. You dare to scold me, but why don't you dare to scold them? My Su family has always been upright, and I, Su Xiaoliu, am no different. I tell you, if I can enter this gate today, I can let everyone enter this gate!"
She turned to glare at the cyan - robed scholar fiercely, then turned around and walked away angrily.
The others were left standing there, stunned for a long time.
It was a dark and windy night, and all was silent.
A dark shadow led a group of dark shadows and sneaked furtively into the corner beside the side gate of the large courtyard.
First, a head popped out, looking around. Then, half of a body emerged. Finally, the whole person crept forward on tiptoe to the side gate of the large courtyard.
She turned back and whispered to the numerous heads in the corner, "Don't make a sound."
The heads in the corner nodded in unison.
The dark shadow then turned around, untied the包袱 on her body, rummaged through it, took out a pair of iron pliers, and gently pried at the crack of the door.
After a while, the door became a bit loose. The dark shadow wiped the sweat from her forehead, put away the iron pliers, walked to the door, carefully grabbed the vermilion door, and then slowly stepped back... until the whole door was moved out by her.
She let out a sigh of relief, carried the door on her back, turned back, waved to the group of dark shadows in the corner, and whispered, "Go in, all of you. Don't enter the rooms where they live. Take whatever you like."
The group of dark shadows nodded like pounding garlic. After getting her permission, they swarmed in.
The dark shadow then curled up a mischievous smile and carried the door on her back, disappearing into the darkness...
The next day, the sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing.
With a scream from the maid, passers - by stopped and stared. Only then did they find that the back door of the number - one talented scholar's house was gone...
On the bustling and prosperous street, a group of beggars jostled through, occupying the center of the street.
Su Xiaoliu walked slowly on the street, weighing the two taels of silver in her hand and muttering in a low voice.
"Two taels. What can it do..." As she walked while weighing the silver, the beggars passing by stared at the silver in her hand with greedy eyes. Wherever she went, their gazes followed.
Su Xiaoliu stopped, glared at them, and said sharply, "What are you looking at? Go beg for it yourself."
Scared by her, the beggars immediately withdrew their gazes and left dejectedly with their bowls in their hands.
"Hey, wait a minute." Looking at the backs of the beggars, Su Xiaoliu felt a bit guilty, so she called out to the few beggars.
The beggars all turned back and looked at her in confusion.
Su Xiaoliu took three steps in two and walked over, then threw the two taels of silver into one of the beggars' bowls.
"Here you are. Buy something to eat. Don't cause trouble anymore."
The few beggars immediately seemed to see their reborn relatives. They pushed each other and left.
Su Xiaoliu stood there, frowning slightly.
The two taels of silver she had finally gotten ended up being given to the beggars...
Half an hour ago.
"Miss, are you sure you want to pawn this?" The pawnshop owner squinted at the vermilion door in Su Xiaoliu's hand and asked again.
Su Xiaoliu nodded, shook the door in her hand, and said, "This is top - quality rosewood. Look, the pores are fine and the wood is heavy. It can be used as firewood for a long time."
The owner looked up at Su Xiaoliu, stroked the small beard on his chin, and asked, "How much do you want to pawn it for?"
Su Xiaoliu thought for a while and said, "Two taels."
The owner's eyes widened and he repeated, "Two taels?" He turned his head and smiled, then turned back to look at Su Xiaoliu. "Miss, for such a high price, is this door made of gold?"
Su Xiaoliu stood up straight, frowned, and said, "If it were made of gold, would I pawn it to you? This is top - quality rosewood, rosewood!"
The owner smacked his lips, stroked his chin again, looked up at Su Xiaoliu, and said in a low voice, "A permanent pawn?"
Su Xiaoliu nodded. "Yes."
The owner looked up and shouted at the young servant who was doing calculations beside him, "Wuzi, move the door over." Then he lowered his head and counted out two taels of silver and handed it to Su Xiaoliu.
The owner casually asked again, "Miss, where did you get this door?"
Su Xiaoliu took the silver, looked up at him, and said, "Can't I have pried it open?"
The owner was stunned. Su Xiaoliu glanced at him and then turned and walked out of the door.