Mantinfang

"Have you heard? Uncle Zhao has gone up against Rongguo Mansion again!"

"Last time, the Jia family backed down, but this time might be different."

"If you ask me, Uncle Zhao is just too shortsighted. He jumped out in such a hurry without considering that they might have a son..."

"Shut up, all of you!"

After silently straightening his somewhat worn long robe, Huang Bin fished several dozen copper coins from his sleeve pouch. After thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and replaced them with half a mace of silver. Only then did he step out of the alley, trudging through half a foot of snow toward the establishment across the street.

There was still some time before nightfall, but Mantinfang was already ablaze with lights inside and out.

"First Master, you're here!"

As soon as he approached, a scrawny servant came forward with a broad smile, gesturing him inside. "Quick, quick, please come in! You've come at the right time today—we've composed several new little tunes here. I guarantee they'll be a delight to hear!"

"If I only wanted something pleasant to hear, why the hell would I come here?"

With a lewd chuckle, Huang Bin stepped through the entrance. Directly opposite the door stood a broad staircase that rose some dozen steps before branching out left and right like goose wings.

The T-shaped staircase was surrounded by seven or eight drinking tables and two small stages for singing, dancing, and other performances on the first floor. The second floor had a larger eastern section and a smaller western one, with more than twenty rooms in all.

Huang Bin stamped the snow from his shoes and casually surveyed the room. There were not many people in the hall, but they were scattered about sparsely. Avoiding notice would be