Chapter 43 Secretary Roy Returns to Mashan

Well, you bunch of ignorant ancients.

After a hearty meal and with plenty to drink, Lan Tianlei said drunkenly, "Rest assured, Brother Chu, I will send men to protect your estate. Today's incident will definitely not happen again."

"No need. I plan to take the two of them back to the countryside. This city is far too dangerous."

This remark left Lan Tianlei feeling extremely awkward, especially since such an incident had occurred under his jurisdiction.

He quickly added, "Could it be that Brother Chu does not trust me, Lan?"

Earlier, Lan Tianlei had mentioned that Lai Er was also involved in a major case. Therefore, Chu Chen still intended to take the two women back to Mashan Village. If evildoers were to take advantage of his absence and cause trouble again, he would regret it bitterly.

Moreover, having now signed a contract with Zhou Shicai, Chu Chen needed Luo Yi's help to settle the accounts and manage shipments every month.

He promptly said to Lan Tianlei, "It's not that I don't trust you, but I still have matters to attend to at home. Besides, you mentioned earlier that there's a major case pending."

Mentioning the so-called major case only deepened Lan Tianlei's distress. The Eighth Prince and the Prince were both right here, and those bastards were doing nothing but bringing him trouble.

However, he did not dwell on it with Chu Chen, as this was his official duty and he shouldn't impose further.

The three men were helped home by the soldiers. After seeing them off, Chu Chen turned to Luo Yi and Xiaofang.

"The two of you are here in Qingyun City. I told you before to hire a few bodyguards or the like—why didn't you listen? Were you short on money?"

True enough, it hadn't occurred to her to hire guards from the agency to look after the house; otherwise, even if they couldn't fight them off, they would have had a chance to escape.

Seeing his expression, Luo Yi replied, "Husband, the two of us are living here, and for a man to suddenly move in... we were afraid you might misunderstand, so..."

Good grief, he was a modern man—was his thinking really that conservative?

However, instead of scolding them further, he told them to pack their belongings.

"Luo Yi, to tell you the truth, I already have a wife at home. You won't mind, will you?"

To be honest, as Chu Chen made the decision to take them back, his heart was pounding a little. Li Qinglian should be fine; she probably wished he would bring a few more women home.

"Husband worries too much. To put it bluntly, Xiaofang and I are your property, so how could we possibly mind?" Luo Yi said calmly to Chu Chen.

There was not the slightest trace of dissatisfaction on her face. Seeing this, Chu Chen once again cursed this maddening feudal society.

There was still another problem: the housing situation. He only had one room, and the four of them couldn't possibly squeeze into it. It seemed he would have to bunk at Huzi's place for a few days.

Taking advantage of the time while the two women were packing, he slipped into another room and brought out a two-meter-wide bed, along with a mattress and other bedding. He figured he could just make a makeshift pallet on the floor when the time came.

Having done all this, he went out and hired two ox-carts, had them load up the luggage, and sent them ahead toward Mashan Village.

At the doorway, Xiaofang had a bundle strapped to her back, presumably containing their valuables.

Looking at the iron beast before her, Luo Yi asked, "Husband, are you saying the three of us are going to ride this back home?"

"That's right. Don't underestimate it—it's more comfortable than a carriage, and much faster."

With that, Chu Chen mounted the motorcycle first. He turned back, patted the passenger seat, and said, "What are you standing there for? Get on."

"Husband, we just sit on it like riding a horse?" Luo Yi and Xiaofang asked with bewildered expressions.

"That's right, just like riding a horse. Come on up."

Following Chu Chen's example, the two of them climbed onto the back seat of the motorcycle.

Although the three of them had already shared physical intimacy, pressing so tightly against Chu Chen's back in the middle of the street still made Luo Yi's face flush.

"Hold on tight, wrap your arms around me, I'm starting the engine!"

With a twist of the throttle, the motorcycle shot forward with a roar. Startled, Luo Yi instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around Chu Chen's waist. Feeling the softness pressing against his back, Chu Chen thought to himself that this was infinitely more exhilarating than delivering takeout.

At the city gates, several guards heard the roar of the motorcycle approaching. They hurriedly opened the gate and looked at Chu Chen on the motorcycle with amicable smiles.

"Young Master Chu, heading back?"

"Sorry to trouble you brothers. Next time I come into town, I'll treat you to drinks."

Amidst the enthusiastic farewells of the guards, they sped all the way toward Mashan Village.

Upon returning to their home in Mashan Village, the two women were deeply shocked by the sight of the house.

"Husband, you truly are an otherworldly master living in seclusion. Luo Yi never dreamed you would be so frugal."

If I didn't have the money to buy you both, would I still be frugal? Damn it.

At that moment, Li Qinglian was busy working at the workshop when she heard someone calling out from outside.

"Qinglian, your husband is back! He's riding some kind of monster and brought back two pretty girls!"

The speaker was Gu Xiufang, who cooked for the workshop.

Her husband was back? Riding a monster and bringing girls?

Li Qinglian thought to herself that her husband had finally figured things out and learned to bring women home. However, she didn't rush out immediately, as she couldn't leave her work at the workshop just yet.

She called out, "Sister Xiufang, I know. I'll go home as soon as my shift ends."

This Qinglian really had the patience of a saint. Gu Xiufang shook her head and went back to her own work.

Not long after, several ox-carts laden with goods arrived at Chu Chen's house.

After unloading the cargo, Chu Chen instructed the two women to tidy up that particular room. They dismantled the old bed, set up the new one, and laid out brand-new bedding. Looking at the two-meter-wide bed, it should be big enough for the three of them to sleep in.

After pondering for a long time, Chu Chen still decided to squeeze in with Huzi. If he couldn't control himself, Li Qinglian would find it terribly awkward. As for this wife of his, Chu Chen resolved that they would share a room only after the new house was built.

As night fell, Xiaofang went into the kitchen to start cooking.

Li Qinglian dragged her weary body back home. Seeing her, Chu Chen immediately went to greet her: "You've worked hard, Wife. In a little while, you won't have to be so busy."

"What is Husband saying? Qinglian isn't tired. And these two younger sisters are...?"

"Ah, these are my secretaries. This is Luo Yi, and this is Xiaofang, the second secretary," Chu Chen immediately introduced them to Li Qinglian.

On the way, Chu Chen had already agreed with Luo Yi and Xiaofang that once they reached Mashan Village, they should not address him as "husband" but as "boss," and their status would be that of secretaries. Luo Yi would handle the workshop's accounts, while Xiaofang would take care of daily household chores. In this feudal society, even taking a concubine required a formal process; without it, an ambiguous arrangement would inevitably lead to gossip. So, they would arrange it this way for the time being.

"Husband, what is a secretary?" Li Qinglian asked with a puzzled expression.

"A secretary is someone who helps me. Luo Yi manages the workshop's finances, and Xiaofang takes care of our daily lives and meals. But they aren't maids or servants—their status is equal to ours."

At that moment, Luo Yi and Xiaofang also stepped forward. "Luo Yi" and "Xiaofang" paid their respects to Sister Qinglian.

Seeing the two women before her, Li Qinglian did not press the matter further and instead began chatting with them warmly. With the three women now acquainted, there was essentially nothing left for Chu Chen to do.