Fated Deception: How I Accidentally Married a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 18: An Unexpected Investment

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan began their day at a roadside stall rather than at home. Despite Su Liyan’s culinary talents, their schedule left no time for domestic cooking—preparing a meal would have required Su Liyan to dress up twice, an unnecessary complication.

Together they enjoyed bowls of steaming soy milk and freshly fried dough sticks. Lu Yuan, with his hearty appetite, added two baskets of meat dumplings to his breakfast while Su Liyan ate modestly.

Afterward, they proceeded to the morning market to purchase provisions—twenty kilograms of white flour and, somewhat surprisingly, twenty kilograms of fat meat. The selection seemed counterintuitive, as fat typically cost three times more than lean cuts.

This economic peculiarity stemmed from fat’s utility for oil production in an era when dietary fat remained scarce and deeply valued. The practical advantages were considerable: while twenty kilograms of lean meat would spoil within days in the summer heat, fat meat could be rendered into lard, lightly salted, and preserved in a cool location for months. Even the crispy residue from rendering served multiple culinary purposes, enhancing everything from stir-fries to dumpling fillings.

As they navigated between market stalls, Lu Yuan noticed numerous vacant spaces—a realization that triggered an important consideration. The ten thousand yuan in his possession represented significant wealth, but currency held idle inevitably depreciated. Even on Earth, a monthly income of ten thousand had transformed from exceptional to commonplace over the span of a decade, largely through economic reforms and societal development.

While this world lacked direct parallels to Earth’s economic liberalization—having an emperor precluded certain reforms—the Shenling Empire demonstrated promising stability under its current ruler. The emperor, having ascended the throne after suppressing the Rebellion of the Three Kings, had implemented meaningful changes. Most princes had been executed, and the surviving ministers from the previous dynasty were few. Contemporary officials lived modestly, occupying public housing comparable to ordinary citizens rather than amassing vast estates.

History had repeatedly demonstrated that dynasties collapsed primarily through resource inequality—when royal families and aristocrats hoarded land and wealth until common and middle-class survival became untenable. The current administration, established almost as a new dynasty, had fostered impressive development over the past decade.

Lu Yuan understood that his money required investment rather than storage. Currency held value only through circulation; otherwise, it remained mere paper. But how best to transform money into more money?

In traditional time-travel narratives, protagonists leveraged future knowledge for business success. Lu Yuan harbored no such illusions about his entrepreneurial capabilities. He had summarized his life philosophy simply: “Don’t mess around.” Despite his current wealth, he couldn’t afford substantial losses, and a few unsuccessful ventures could deplete everything.

He recognized the fallacy of assuming time-travelers automatically succeeded. Those who prospered historically had benefited from favorable circumstances—”standing on the windward side,” as he put it. Without such advantages, effort alone might prove not merely insufficient but potentially destructive.

After careful consideration, Lu Yuan contemplated real estate—perhaps several large courtyards, shops in Liulichang, or even an entire street in Fujing. The stability of being a landlord appealed to him immensely.

They had planned to proceed directly to the station after shopping, but upon arrival, Lu Yuan stored their purchases temporarily and redirected Su Liyan toward the market district. His interest in commercial property stemmed not from business ambitions but from speculative investment—wagering on the empire’s continued prosperity.

This approach guided him away from already-popular markets. Shops in established commercial centers like Wenchang commanded nearly one thousand yuan, with monthly rents exceeding twenty yuan. Wenchang’s position as Dongcheng District’s largest market ensured steady customer traffic and premium prices.

Instead, Lu Yuan headed toward the central area, roughly equivalent to what would be considered within the second ring road. Historically, this district had housed wealthy families and high-ranking officials in spacious compounds. The emperor’s purge of previous administration officials had left many properties vacant.

A market called Wenfeng Commercial City operated here—distinguishable from Wenchang by name and significantly reduced foot traffic. Numerous shops stood empty, awaiting tenants or buyers. Lu Yuan guided Su Liyan through this quieter commercial district, assessing possibilities.

Meanwhile, in Shigezhuang village, Su Liyan’s family had been awake since dawn, meticulously cleaning their ancestral home inside and out.

Matchmaker Liu Sufang had returned the previous day from her expedition with eight young women. Four had secured marriages and remained in the city awaiting formal union, while four others had returned unsuccessful. As the expedition’s leader, Liu Sufang had escorted the unsuccessful candidates home while delivering news to the families of those who had found matches.

Liu Sufang’s description of Su Liyan’s husband had left both her mother and stepmother sleepless with excitement and disbelief. A formal employee of the Ministry of Industry with imperial city registration and a brick-and-tile public residence exceeding one hundred square meters? Nineteen years old, tall, handsome, and robust?

The women remained skeptically hopeful. Matchmakers were known for embellishment, transforming mediocre prospects into exceptional opportunities. Yet with the marriage already completed and the couple’s imminent visit, such elaborate falsehoods seemed unnecessary at this stage.

Their anticipation mingled with anxiety as they prepared for their daughter’s return with her mysterious husband.

While Su Liyan’s family wondered about the veracity of the matchmaker’s claims, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan boarded the bus returning to the countryside around ten o’clock. During the journey, Lu Yuan sorted through a substantial collection of contracts and land deeds.

In a matter of hours, and with characteristic decisiveness, Lu Yuan had purchased not merely a shop, but an entire street.