The Spinster Only Want Gold

Chapter 3

‘’My dear granddaughter, we meet again.’’ Suyin was shocked. Her expression was foreign to everyone. It was different from her personality, either insouciant or her eerie vibes. 

‘’G-Grandfather?’’ she whispered, stammering in one word she never thought she would say again. Suyin can’t believe she was seeing him once again. It felt like a dream and she wished it was.

The man who beat him, the next guild master and the Swan Valley’s owner is none other than her grandfather!

Why is he here? He should have not met me, a disgraceful daughter of the clan! I ran away from them. I ran away from my responsibility as the noble daughter. I know from that day, I was removed from the clan’s ancestral tree. So I never came back to the clan anymore. 

Her grandfather smiled at her warmly. Seeing that smile felt like morning sunshine caressing your skin in the morning. 

She calmed down a little bit. She missed it so bad.

After she ran away, she did nothing about the matters of the Han clan and so did the clan to her. 

She understands it. A noble daughter about to be married ran away and disappeared will only disgrace her clan’s reputation once she came back. 

So no matter how much she missed the noble life she had at the clan compared to her life back when she was a slave, she didn’t dare to come back.

‘’We greet the esteemed owner of Swan Valley.’’ The elders bowed and greeted him simultaneously. Their anxiousness earlier was gone and their usual proud smile came back.

However, her grandfather only looked at them with a slight indifference and he never returned their greeting so the elders can only stay still with their heads hung low.

Others bowed so low as a sign of their reverence so they felt like their neck would break if they continued standing like that.

They waited for her grandfather's sign to recognize their greetings but none came. They do not dare to retract their actions because it is an act of discourtesy.

No merchants can afford to offend the Swan Valley’s owner.

When will the old master return our greetings? My neck will break at this rate.

It was like a silent punishment and an intentional one.

How shameless! Their guild master is still on their seat but they have already recognized a person who was just about to take the position.

Her grandfather was displeased with the elders so he didn’t want to recognize them or even talk to them.

How did the attitude of the old master change? Didn’t we support him?

Elders started to get worried by the sudden change of his attitude towards them. It felt like the boat was sinking on their side while earlier it was Suyin’s.

They can’t lose the trust of the old master since they already offended Suyin.

‘’Old Master, how is your journey to Xinzhou?’’ One elder got the courage to ask the old master. It was a reminder that their support is still on him.

Truthfully, the old master arrived two weeks earlier even before the gambling fight started and they know the truth.

If Suyin found out about the truth she would know it was a planned scheme to kick her out of the guild.

But little did they know. Suyin already guessed the truth.

Ack! It was a trap all along. Why would he bother scheming against me? What does he want from me?

The contract signing to pass the guild's ownership was held. And she was absentminded throughout the process.

She absentmindedly signed the contract. Write her name on it as a sign of her agreement. She didn’t even get a chance to see the content of the contract she signed. She was silent and not herself throughout the time.

The passing of the guild’s ownership ended so fast.

It was unexpected. Everyone thought it to be the bloodiest event the guild would ever encounter. 

They expected Suyin to fight back until the end. But her mouth was shut and she was strangely quiet instead.

‘’I wonder what happened to the master. She is acting strange today.’’ The assassin silently commented while his body hung high at the dark corner of the ceiling. His body is light as a feather and the rest of the assassins positioned themselves like that.

‘’Eh? Isn’t she always acting strange?’’ Another assassin commented. He was not close to the first assassin but his sharp ears heard his colleagues' comment.

‘’Yes. And that’s my point. Her peculiar self is gone somewhere. She is now acting normal.’’ 

‘’What? Normal you say? She seems absentminded and I sense a little anxiousness. It was not normal!’’

‘’Shhhh. Why is it always the two of you? You two are noisy.’’ Another assassin jumped into the conversation while his main intention was to keep their mouth shut.

‘’And you are always the one who shut us up.’’ The first assassin shrugged. Even a small movement could let them fall but nothing happened to him.

‘’Hey, back to the topic, what a normal master really is, I cannot understand what you are saying that she is normal now when she is not?.’’ 

‘’Sigh. Nevermind.’’

‘’Oh come on.’’

‘’Look, don't you know that a normal master would flip the tables instead of going white and being silent at the corner. That's her being normal.’’

‘’...’’ Information loading...error. The certain assassin is still processing the information.

‘’Uh. Go on, take your time.’’ And his colleague understood what’s going on inside his head.

‘’Then what about the going white expression being normal? Isn’t it normal to a person? You didn’t pale even once.’’

‘’How could you see me when we always wear this black robe wrapping us from head to toe. Only you can see my eyes.’’

‘’...En?’’

‘’It was a normal expression brother, whenever you feel anxious. And It seems like there is something about that old master.’’

‘’...’’ Information loading...Please wait for 5 seconds. ‘’Dang! I really can’t understand.’’

‘’Brother, how come you became an assassin?’’ Raising his eyebrows at him but his colleague couldn’t see it anyway.

‘’At least I have sharp ears.’’ He said proudly. It was a long time ago when Suyin discovered his talent and used him to gather some gossi-...ahem...information.

‘’But it will take a lot of time for you to process that information. Brother, I sometimes get tired of being dragged by you.’’ He mentally facepalmed thinking about those days with him. Running here and there just to gather some various highly creative information.

Those days are the days he questioned his job. As far as I know, my job is to assassinate people. When did I switch jobs?

The final part of the contract signing for the guild’s new ownership is about to end with the keys of the guild’s treasury passed on to the new guild’s owner.

When everything was completed her grandfather asked her to have dinner.

‘’Eh? Dinner? With me?’’

‘’Yes.’’ He still looked at her tenderly. She felt bothered about it and she unconsciously pursed her lips because of it. She felt like she turned back to a little girl.

‘’Then how about the Wan Huan restaurant?’’ She beamed, switching from her disapproving look earlier to her sparkling eyes. Thinking about food made her feel cheerful.

His grandfather chuckled seeing her like that. She still didn’t change...

But she remembered something. But...how about my chicken soup? My fluffy dumplings? 

She wanted to refuse the invite but she knew it was more than dinner. 

‘’Let’s save the restaurant next time. Let’s just go to the inn where I am staying.’’ Her grandfather refused the idea of going to the restaurant. He probably wanted to discuss some private matters with her.

The inn was not far from the Xuyuan guild but they still travel through the carriage. And it happened that the inn was owned by the guild.

How come I never heard his arrival from the inn? The Swan Valley’s owner is a big-time guest. They didn’t notify me when that kind of guest arrived?

Suyin complained. 

Whenever important guests visit the inn, the inn’s manager will let her know about it. And she would sometimes send a welcoming gift by herself as a sign of regard.

Through this, she created countless connections with important people. But since she is a mere merchant and a spinster as well they will only remember her during their visit but she will be forgotten once they leave Xinzhou.

But it still helps because these noble persons will always choose to stay at her inn whenever they visit the town.

‘’Mister Ma, you came back!’’ The inn manager greeted her grandfather.

Mister Ma? Is that his name as the Swan Valley’s owner?

Suyin thought. And the inn manager was surprised to see her.

He didn’t expect to see the master with Mister Ma so he was startled for a while. But he was quick to react.

‘’Greetings Master.’’ And he bowed his head as a sign of respect. Suyin waved her hand as a return to his greetings.

The manager smiled at her. Even Though they are master and servant, the two of them are quite close to each other.

‘’Master, so you are also acquainted with Mister Ma.’’

‘’Yes?’’ It seems like he has known her grandfather for a long time. But why didn’t he tell me about his visit?

‘’Ho ho ho, she is actually my granddaughter.’’ Her grandfather bragged as he laughed heartily.

Surprise was evident on the inn manager’s face. ‘’I didn’t know my master was your granddaughter. Such a small world.’’ He grinned. They look like close friends that haven't met for so long.

Suyin wondered how they came to know each other but she didn’t get a chance to ask because the inn manager led them to a room.

‘’You are wondering how we became close to each other?’’ He noticed her curious expression earlier.

‘’En.’’ She simply replied. The inn manager left them inside the room while servants entered the room, carrying baskets of food in different sizes.

Her eyes followed the baskets they were crying peeking to see what’s inside the boxes.

‘’He was my friend and your grandmother’s friend back then when we were still together. It was a really long time ago and I can’t count how many years have already passed. He was still young back then but he was the only friend we have and the only one who helped us.’’

This was the first time her grandfather told a story about her grandmother. When she was young he always diverted the topic whenever she asked something about her grandmother.

‘’Sigh. Let’s not think about the past now. The dinner is ready.’’ He motioned for her granddaughter to sit as he sat across from her. 

The table was too large for the two of them. It was full of dishes and the servants continued to fill the table. 

Suyin’s eyes sparkled seeing a lot of food served at the table.

Ke ke ke ke...it’s worth it to not refuse the blessings.

But the last serve made her heart leaped more in joy.

It’s the best among the rest. It was the perfect pair, the chicken soup and the dumplings she was craving badly.

‘’I know you would crave for it around this time.’’ He said knowingly. 

‘’...’’ She stayed still for a while and kept silent.

Silence filled the air between them until she was the one who broke it.

‘’Grandfather, where you are, all this time?’’ She asked without looking at him, instead her eyes glued to the soup in front of her.

‘’Watching you.’’ He admitted.  

‘’Then you watched me get rich and take away everything after I am satisfied with what I have?.’’ She casually asked. 

‘’Are you really satisfied?’’ A hint of sadness could be traced in his voice.

‘’En.’’ Her answer was quick and firm. 

He softly chuckled. ‘’Yes, I always watch you. Now, you exposed me.’’

She grinned at him before lifting both of her hands to hold the bowl of the soup. She brought the bowl in her mouth and sipped the hot soup delightfully.

Hmmm. This is so good ~ 

She ate more before speaking again.

‘’Well, now I know who I should get revenge from.’’ She clicked her tongue, glancing at her grandfather with beaming eyes.

He softly chuckled as a response.

‘’Now, what will you do to the guild, grandfather?’’ She put down the bowl and got some dumplings using her chopstick. She brought it in her mouth happily. Its meaty taste was savory. 

Hmmm. This is so so good.

‘’Nothing.’’

She choked when she heard it. 

Nothing? What does he think about this? Is it only a game for him? Why is he acting like a child when he is actually an old man!

‘’Here, my child. Eat your dumplings slowly.’’ He offered her some water with a sweet orange flavor on it.

‘’Grandfather, I am not a child anymore.’’ She whined before she gulped everything on the cup ‘til its last drop.

‘’But you like it.’’ He teased her.

His wrinkled face shone in laughter and his eyes were full of tenderness looking at her.

‘’I have nothing to do with the guild because that is for you to decide.’’

“...’’ She didn’t understand what her grandfather was saying but it felt so strange to her.

‘’But now you have something more important to do.’’ 

She froze. She felt an ominous feeling rising inside her.

Her grandfather’s voice turned serious and his sight became distant. His face was full of worry.

‘’Han Suyin, went back to the capital with me.’’ Then turned his head and glanced at her seriously.

“W-What? Why? Go back to the capital...with you? I thought you would stay here and run the guild as its master.’’ She turned away her eyes off him looking at the food she was yet to eat.

‘’I said I have nothing to do with the guild. Don’t worry while you are away someone you trust will take care of the guild in your place.’’

She stood from her seat making the chair fall backward.

He was startled in surprise. He thought she was mad but when he looked at her, her eyes were sparkling.

‘’Grandfather, what do you mean?’’ Joy was evident in her voice.

‘’Ahem. Actually, I indeed took over the guild but it is for you to manage and inherit from me in the future. But another thing is, the guild was now owned by the Han clan.’’

Sigh. Then I have nowhere to go. He really cornered me without any way to run.

She was happy that she won’t lose the guild anymore but she also felt anxious.

‘’Grandfather, you shouldn’t have taken me back to the clan.’’

‘’You are always part of the clan, my child. It is you that we are always waiting for to come back.’’

Her heart filled with warmth. It’s been a long time since she experienced this kind of feeling. 

It felt like home, only her grandfather can make her feel this way.

But it was not evident on her face. She was expressionless. Suyin hardly expresses the tender feelings she would feel. 

However, she realized, no matter how far she goes. The fact that she is a part of the Han clan will never be changed. 

And...there’s no other place like home.

‘’So grandfather, why do you have to bother scheming against me?’’

She righted up the chair and sat on it properly. She rested her hands on her lap, and sat like a lady with pure elegance and innocence.

If Yun Li would see her she would be finally satisfied. But Suyin can’t take it anymore for so long

Cough. Did I make it? The elegance…

‘’If I didn’t take away your satisfying life here, you won’t go with me.’’ He explained.

‘’I sensed that what you need me to do is very urgent.’’ 

‘’Yes, it is.’’ He replied instantly.

‘’If it is about marriage...I don’t want to go back with you.’’She looked at her grandfather. Her stand is firm. She was like an immovable mountain. No matter how you pursue her she will not move.

Her grandfather sighed feeling dispirited. 

Looks like my eyes will never see my grandchildren get married and hold my grand-grandchildren in my arms. My life is fleeting ~

‘’No. It is not about marriage.’’

‘’...’’ Han Suyin was surprised. Didn’t my grandfather need me to marry? If he didn’t, it would be a failure in his duty as the clan master. 

‘’My dear granddaughter, come back with me.’’

‘’...’’

‘’But there’s a problem.’’ He looked troubled when he explained

‘’A problem?’

‘’Yes...that is when you go back with me, you can’t be Han Suyin.’’’