Chapter 440 - 169: Dog Market 3
Chapter 440: Chapter 169: Dog Market 3
"That dog is so vicious! It nearly killed someone."
"Dog traders are cruel and immoral. This is karma."
"That’s a fine dog, though. Hurry and catch it. I’ll buy it."
The one who spoke last was an exceptionally dashing young man, who, despite the late autumn weather, was carrying a folding fan to affect an air of elegance.
Then again, one couldn’t really say he was just "affecting" it. The man was handsome and refined, with a pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes. That, combined with his overly fair skin and the wanton profligacy in the curl of his lips and the arch of his brows, gave off an overwhelming aura of a romantic rake.
He was dressed in silk and satin, a Jade Pendant hanging from his waist. The uppers of his boots were spotless, without a speck of dust.
A single glance was enough to tell he was the young master of a wealthy family.
Normally, upon seeing such a wealthy patron, the dog traders would have been fawning all over him.
But now, with his arm all but gone, the trader hated that beast to death. Even if they found it, they’d just kill it and eat the meat. As for selling it to this man for a profit? Ha! They didn’t need that bit of money.
However, the man was clearly of high standing, so the dog trader didn’t dare offend him. With bloodshot eyes, he immediately replied.
"That beast is untamable. I fed it the best food and water for a month, and it still turned around and bit me. If you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead and catch it yourself. If you catch it, it’s yours. We won’t take a single coin."
Cold sweat beaded on the stout man’s forehead like raindrops, trickling down. He gritted his teeth and fainted from the pain.
He was rushed off for medical treatment, and the pursuit of the dog came to an abrupt end.
Seeing this, the onlookers who had been interested in buying a dog changed their minds. Those who were just passing by quickly turned and left, eager to spread the news and become the center of attention for a while.
Chen Wanqing was shaken by the incident and no longer dared to buy a dog, fearing it might go mad and attack her whole family.
Her family had no able-bodied men. Put together, they wouldn’t even be a few mouthfuls for a large dog.
’Raising a dog is just too dangerous. I’d rather take my chances with people.’
She grabbed Zhao Jing and turned to leave.
Just then, the dashing, well-dressed young man seemed to spot them. His peach blossom eyes lit up, and he strode toward them.
"Well now, which family’s young lady are you? How is it I’ve never seen you before?"
Hearing this, Zhao Jing glanced back warily.
When the man saw Zhao Jing’s face, he froze for a moment, then couldn’t help but clap his hands in admiration. "Such fine looks, truly fine looks! When did such a personage arrive in the Prefecture? I was completely unaware! Worthy brother, worthy brother..."
Chen Wanqing put some force into it, pulling Zhao Jing along as she hurried home.
"The smell of blood is too strong, and the dogs won’t stop barking. I’m a little scared. Let’s just go home quickly."
In the end, Zhao Jing didn’t argue with her. He only glanced back one more time before taking her hand, and the two of them quickly left the troublesome place.
In the blink of an eye, they had vanished from sight.
By the time the richly dressed young man gave chase, their figures were nowhere to be found.
Annoyed, the young man tapped his head with his fan. "It’s so rare to meet such an outstanding..."
His manservant, who had hurried up from behind, heard his words and felt his scalp tingle with dread.
"Master, Master, for goodness’ sake, please stop making trouble! You’ve already been demoted from a Capital Official to a local one. If you can’t keep it in your pants, I’m afraid you won’t even be able to keep a job as a private tutor."
"Tsk! You rotten slave, you’ve got some nerve, daring to lecture your master! Your master has no other hobbies in life; I just appreciate beauty. Is that so wrong? As the ancients said, ’With a full belly and warm clothes, one’s thoughts turn to fine silks and dreams of beautiful wives and concubines...’"
Before he could finish, the manservant cut him off, "’Do not covet dark hair and rosy cheeks, nor yearn for painted faces and jade hairpins. Such loveliness can be fatal, a beauty that topples nations is deadlier still...’"
A master and servant dueling with poetry in the middle of the street. If this were a bookstore or a pleasure barge, it might have been quite a sight.
But this was the dog market. The people who came and went were all peddlers and laborers. If you put all the characters they knew together, you wouldn’t even fill a basket.
And so, hearing the two of them in the dog market talking about "dark hair," "rosy cheeks," and "beautiful ladies," the crowd just grinned from ear to ear.
"This is pretty interesting."
"Don’t know where these weirdos came from."
"If they want women, they should go to the brothel. What are they doing here? We only sell dogs, not our smiles."
"Heh heh, maybe they really are here to buy a dog. A dog isn’t just for guarding the house, you know. It can also, heh heh heh... as long as you’re not picky, what can’t you screw...?"
The filthy words didn’t reach Chen Wanqing and Zhao Jing’s ears.
The two of them hurried home. Just as they were about to arrive, they saw some animal fur and a few scattered drops of blood on the ground, but neither of them paid it any mind.
There were only two households in the alley. Both families were small, but their residences were large, so it was common for small animals like cats and dogs to take up temporary residence.