Yu Lian and Being Penniless

The campus was covered in snow. Some servants and volunteer students were loudly shoveling thick snowdrifts from the paths. A few girls carried large bamboo baskets, scattering salt on the cleared roads. This was said to be a technique learned from the Five Linked Islands in the north; salt helps melt snow and prevents the ground from freezing.

Winter days grew dark early. The sky was already darkening, and oil lamps were lit everywhere. Lin Qi yawned as he walked through the covered walkways of the campus. Everyone scrambled to get out of his way. Students, both male and female, clutching books and just leaving class, carefully avoided him.

A deep bell chimed from the clock tower in the depths of the campus, signaling that dinner was ready in the mess hall. A few Eurasian Jays flapped their wings and descended from a bare-branched tree, foraging laboriously on the withered grass that had just been cleared of snow. Looking at the small birds, Lin Qi sighed softly, "Winter birds are just like Lin Qi when he's out of money, pitiful!"

Heaving a sigh, Lin Qi glanced at a tall, circular stone tower standing in the distance and couldn't help but curl his lip. A greedy glint flashed in his eyes.

As elites of the empire, the students of Fifth University enjoyed excellent living conditions. Lin Qi's dormitory was constructed from thick, gray marble. The six-story building was tall enough to house two thousand students. Sharp, square towers, thirty meters high, stood at each of the four corners of the building, and a massive, circular dome rose in the center. The square towers were adorned with strange statues with wings on their backs, while the circular dome was inlaid with colorful, translucent shells, dazzlingly ornate.

As he entered his dormitory, Yu Lian, a core member of the Iron Fist Brotherhood and one of Lin Qi's right-hand men, was sitting on Lin Qi's bed, legs propped on the headboard. He held a letter and was smugly chuckling while biting his rakish mustache.

Two years older than Lin Qi but in the same grade, Yu Lian was a notorious playboy at Fifth University. Hailing from a fallen noble family, Yu Lian was tall, handsome, and had meticulously styled short blonde hair that made him look very dashing. The rakish mustache above his upper lip was slightly curled, making him seem to be smiling at all times.

Yu Lian had a pair of watery, sky-blue eyes. His eyes were lively and bright, as if constantly sending out waves of charm. With his tall, sturdy build, handsome appearance, captivating eyes, and sweet tongue, coupled with his hereditary baronetcy, Yu Lian frequently appeared in the dreams of countless girls in University City.

Seeing Yu Lian's vulgar smile and the pink letter in his hand, Lin Qi couldn't help but sigh, "God, which unlucky woman has fallen into your trap now? Hmm, dear Yu Lian, are you about to add another romantic escapade to your name?"

Kissing the letter passionately, Yu Lian carefully folded it into a rose and placed it in his shirt pocket. He proudly jiggled his leg and smiled at Lin Qi, extending a hand. "Boss, lend me an Ooh-ooh-call. It's the daughter of a minor city lord. She's asked me for a private and intimate date."

Taking a deep breath, Yu Lian exclaimed with operatic emotion, "A beautiful date, a shy maiden, a pure body, a soft form. Moonlight, roses, a serenade, plus fine wine and tender veal. Oh, with just one Ooh-ooh-call, what a wonderful night I can have?"

Lin Qi sighed softly. He took out two Atonement Talismans he had bought from Father Balin at the school gate and solemnly placed the two roughly made, palm-sized paper Atonement Talismans into Yu Lian's palm. "God will save your soul, damn you, Yu Lian! I don't have a single copper coin left. Listen carefully, not a single copper coin!"

He forcefully patted Yu Lian's stiff, greasy head and snorted, "A Gissian traveling troupe has come to the outskirts of the city!"

Yu Lian's eyes widened, and a strange smile appeared. "Oh, yes, a very large Gissian troupe, over three hundred people in total, including forty-seven beautiful young women. Hmm, the lead dancer, Gina, has a great figure, a truly great one. I can't even hold her fully with one hand! Boss, you know, I've touched the breasts of at least three hundred women, but none compare to her!"

"God above!" Lin Qi rolled his eyes helplessly. This Gissian traveling troupe had only just arrived, and Yu Lian had already hooked up with the lead dancer. Such efficiency could only be attributed to Yu Lian's exceptional talent in seducing women.

He beckoned with his finger and snorted, "Mr. Grong wants to invite Gina. Is the lead dancer named Gina? Mr. Grong wants to have dinner with her, you know, that kind of thing. Name your price for Gina. If she's satisfied, bring her to see Mr. Grong. Hmm, with Mr. Grong, you know, follow the old rules!"

Yu Lian jumped up excitedly, snapped his fingers triumphantly, and spun around twice with light, dancing steps.

"I knew it! I wouldn't miss my date with that little cutie! Oh, the daughter of a city lord, a lady of good breeding, how I long for the wonderful moment of unfastening her bodice!" He enthusiastically hugged Lin Qi and then walked away with cheerful, flowing dance steps. "Don't worry, boss, your academic credits and my dating expenses are covered. Mr. Grong is a generous gentleman, I know he is, very generous!"

"Damn thing!" Lin Qi looked helplessly at Yu Lian's retreating back. He frowned and opened his drawer. Sure enough, the last three silver coins he had hidden in the secret compartment were gone without a trace. In the entire Fifth University, only Yu Lian dared to sneak into Lin Qi's dormitory and steal his last bit of pocket money.

Three precious silver coins vanished just like that. Lin Qi, with no prospects for dinner, felt a sharp pain in his heart.

"Oh, no! I must find a way to earn some money!"

Pacing anxiously in the dormitory, Lin Qi sighed, "Winter, I hate winter. Once winter arrives, merchants and travelers suddenly decrease by ninety percent. Every winter, I'm troubled by money! Damn Dragon Cavalry, damn Security Bureau, why are there so many copper hats in University City?"

The thought of those secret police officers wearing copper helmets made Lin Qi's heart ache unbearably.

"I need to get some money!"

Penniless, Lin Qi sighed and looked helplessly through the dormitory window at the tall, cylindrical stone tower.

"I must get some money, damn it!"