HCB Chapter 197 is here again.
Chapter 197 is here again.
While Lin Liuyi was still regretting forgetting to add thermal underwear for them, the system notified her that another reader had given her a reward.
"I wonder who it is this time? Huh, clothes? Only the top? You've got the bottoms, haven't you?" Lin Liuyi wondered. Someone actually tipped him a fashionable little suit?
"Yes, host, we agreed to split it 50/50."
After realizing it really was a set of clothes, Lin Liuyi had the system send out an invitation to new readers to join the group.
Holding the Chanel-style dress in her hand, Lin Liu sighed. It seemed that this time it wouldn't be readers from a world similar to Chen Ergou's.
In the new world, Hu Die was dressing up in her room when her maid came to report: "Third Madam, the Marshal has returned with the Sixth Madam!"
"I understand!" Hu Die put down the comb in her hand.
After glancing at her Western-style dress, she ultimately chose a cheongsam.
To think that she, a woman who had received an education, would end up as someone's concubine, and had to take off the clothes that symbolized progress and put on the old shackles.
Hu Die sighed. Her family had fallen on hard times, and she had to find someone to support them.
Perhaps this is fate. Hu Die was preparing to go out to attend the welcome banquet of the Sixth Madam when she looked up and saw a glowing book.
"A glowing book?" She tried to hold the book in her hand, wanting to flip through it to see what was written, but as soon as she had this thought, the book opened automatically.
"A war?"
Hu Die finished reading the book page by page. "Sigh, if only someone could help us here!"
Although the situation here wasn't as dire as described in the book, it was still a warlord-controlled area. Only with Marshal Shen in charge in Jiangzhou City did the people's lives improve somewhat.
Hu Die saw the words "reward" flashing at the back of the book. "Reward? How come such a magical book needs a reward, just like a theatrical troupe in a theater?"
She looked around, but none of her things were in the room. Then she saw the Western-style dress she had brought with her when she entered the Marshal's Mansion.
She stroked the dress on the hanger, recalling memories of her carefree life. Oh well, she wouldn't wear it anyway.
"Do you need this outfit? If so, consider it a tip for you," Hu Die asked softly.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the clothes on the hanger vanished.
Before she could even express her surprise, the maidservant came to urge her again: "Third Madam, the General requests your presence in the main hall!"
For a moment, she couldn't think about this strange thing anymore. She checked her clothes again and found nothing wrong, then went out with her maid.
At the banquet, the general's eyes lit up when he saw Hu Die walking gracefully in a cheongsam.
He was extremely satisfied with this third wife; she had attended school, unlike himself, a rough and uncultured man.
"Butterfly!"
"General!" Hu Die bowed gracefully, and the General quickly stepped forward to take her hand.
"This is Lin Wanqing, also my sixth concubine." Marshal Shen touched his nose awkwardly.
Although he likes Hu Die, it doesn't stop him from liking other people.
This Lin Wanqing is a newcomer to Tianxiang Tower. She sings beautifully. The madam said that she used to be from a respectable family, but she sold herself into prostitution because her family was poor.
Upon hearing this, Marshal Shen immediately redeemed her from her servitude and wanted to take her back as his sixth concubine.
Of course, Lin Wanqing was extremely happy to oblige. Who in Jiangzhou City didn't know Commander Shen?
"Greetings, little sister! From now on, you can stay peacefully at the Marshal's mansion. The Marshal will treat you well!"
The scenario that the warlord imagined—that Hu Die wouldn't accept the sixth concubine—never happened. Hu Die had already given up on the idea when she became the third concubine and the warlord brought back the fourth and fifth concubines.
What is there to be jealous of? They are all pitiful women. If it weren't for the state of the world, who would be willing to compete with so many women for one man?
So what if the warlord treats them well? Isn't that what's expected? If the world is peaceful, they can choose to continue their studies or find a good husband and live an ordinary life.
Therefore, Hu Die was very polite and never thought that these women were her rivals.
Lin Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. She had also heard that the third concubine of the Marshal's mansion was the most favored, almost comparable to the first wife.
When Hu Die first entered the mansion, she did indeed suffer difficulties from the other two ladies.
There's no other reason than that the Marshal truly values her highly. The First Madam is the Marshal's first wife. Although the two have gone through thick and thin together, once Marshal Shen ascended to the position of Marshal, the First Madam's abilities were no longer sufficient.
The second wife was picked up by the general during a war. She served the general and handled some daily chores. She was not good at dealing with outsiders.
At this time, Hu Die, who had studied abroad and attended school, was of paramount importance. Moreover, she was also beautiful, which pleased Marshal Shen even more. He spared no expense to take Hu Die as his concubine.
However, after Hu Die entered the manor, she handled some external affairs for him very appropriately, which made him feel that it was worth the money.
When Hu Die was being difficult by the two ladies, she made it clear to them that she wasn't trying to win the warlord's favor and asked why he wanted to take her as a concubine.
The two ladies were speechless at her words and eventually accepted her.
That's how it is. She's not looking for a man; she feels like she's looking for a job. The Marshal is her boss, and she's his subordinate.
So what does it matter to her if the boss takes a concubine? She's just using the title of concubine to put the general at ease.
Does the commander-in-chief not know about this? Of course he does; you can tell by how rarely he comes to Hu Die's room.
Actually, the reason why the General didn't come to Hu Die's room often was because he never liked reading before, but after he got to this position, there was a shortage of scholars. With Hu Die around, he was indeed much more relaxed.
However, he was still unwilling to come to Hu Die's place, probably because a poor student doesn't want to see a top student.
However, the commander-in-chief was still sensible. Although he didn't come often, he still instructed the household to respect the third wife.
"Thank you, Third Madam, Wanqing understands!"
Seeing his two wives being affectionate, the general breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, he was a little afraid that Hu Die would say something to him, but thankfully she didn't.
Seeing his six wives getting along so well, the general was extremely pleased with himself.
"It still has to be Shen Chongwu!"
"Come, come, ladies, please take a seat!" the commander-in-chief urged them to sit down, then raised his wine glass.
"Today marks Wanqing's first visit to the Marshal's Mansion. From now on, she belongs to the Marshal! The ladies must take good care of her!"
"General, don't worry! Mi'er will definitely take good care of her sister from now on!" Fourth Madam Li Mi'er's family owned a grain shop, and her family sent her to the General's Mansion in order to build connections.
“That’s right, Commander, don’t worry! I will take good care of my sister!” Fifth Madam Zhou Chunxia also chimed in. She was the daughter of the Commander’s adjutant and had always been trying to outdo Hu Die because of her status.