"Buy... sell..." Wu Jinliang murmured. Once he grasped the true meaning behind those two words, his eyes bulged and his jaw dropped, his expression exaggerated with utter disbelief.
Then he slowly turned to look at the crowd gathered outside Liyun Tower. His brain suddenly seemed to stop working, and he could not help silently counting on his fingers. Fifty thousand taels would get that star courtesan out of Liyun Tower, then they could sell her for two hundred thousand. After deducting the cost, they would make a hundred and fifty thousand!
What did a hundred and fifty thousand mean? Most people earned three hundred gold a month, thirty-six hundred a year. Forget most people-even men like them, fresh out of the Land of Exile, would be doing well to find work paying three hundred gold a month. This one job would be worth a full forty years of work!
If Old Dong and the others put in forty thousand and took back eighty thousand, doubling their money, Chuntian would still get a hundred and twenty thousand out of the two hundred thousand.
With that much money, spending it would be pure bliss. They would probably feel like men standing above other men in no time.
Would they offend Liyun Tower? No. The star courtesan wanted to redeem herself and leave, and Liyun Tower would still receive its five hundred thousand. It would lose nothing.
Would they offend Lü Taizhen? No. The beauty would still be the same beauty, without so much as a hair missing. He had been prepared to spend five hundred thousand on her-wouldn't suddenly saving three hundred thousand be a sweet deal?
Besides, the beauty did not want to go with him and had nearly run away. They would be the villains wielding the stick to break up the lovebirds, delivering her back to him while saving him a fortune. Surely Lü Taizhen ought to thank them?
As Wu Jinliang worked through the figures, he could barely keep his tongue inside his mouth; it almost lolled out. This really was a fine business deal. It was outrageously crooked, but he liked it very much.
When he looked at Shi Chun again, his eyes shone with a warped glow of worship. No wonder he had been the chief of the Eastern Nine Plains. Even outside the Land of Exile, he still made big deals. You had to admire him.
Looking at the crowd over there, everyone-including himself-had thought only of watching the fun, of staying out of trouble because it was none of their business. They were all blind men with their eyes wide open, unable to see a pile of money sitting right in front of them.
It seemed he had been right not to leave the Land of Exile early. One fat haul here would make up for how many years of coming out sooner?
There was nothing more to say. He immediately rummaged through his bundle and took out the six thousand gold he had just brought from the Land of Exile, practically forcing it into Shi Chun's hands. "When my brother needs help, of course I'll contribute what little I can. Six thousand gold. Chuntian, you know this is all I have."
Shi Chun pushed it back. "No need. I told you, four thousand is enough."
"Don't do that." Wu Jinliang grew a little anxious. If the money would be repaid twofold, investing four thousand and investing six thousand meant a huge difference in profit. He promptly forced it back into Shi Chun's hands. "Chief, your brother has followed you through life and death. You're eating meat, but you won't even let your brother sip the broth. Isn't that going a little too far?"
Looking at this brother so eager to hand over his money, Shi Chun gave a cold chuckle. He really wanted to fetch a mirror and show the man his own petty, grasping face. "Weren't you going into Liyun Tower for some fun?" he mocked. "How will you do that without money?"
Wu Jinliang dropped all pretenses and told the truth. "Once I've made money, I can have fun whenever I want. A real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall."
Since he still needed Wu Jinliang's help, Shi Chun said no more and reluctantly accepted. "Fine. Keep it with you for now. I'll take it when I need it."
Wu Jinliang's face immediately blossomed into a smile. "Sure. Whatever you say, Chief."
So the two sat side by side like the best of brothers, looking like ragged beggars as they waited and waited, utterly unashamed.
Only after a long wait did they see Old Dong and Big Stone return. They had brought someone else, another acquaintance-the man who had led Wangbo Tower's delivery team earlier. He was carrying a small case.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang now knew this man was called Che Si, and they were puzzled. He had left them behind and gone on his way, so why had he come back? They glanced at the case in his hand with some suspicion. Had he come to deliver money?
Now that they were face-to-face again, Old Dong and Big Stone looked a little awkward.
Shi Chun was about to exchange pleasantries with Che Si, but Che Si spoke first. "Are you the one who wants to borrow forty thousand gold?"
Shi Chun paused and looked at Old Dong and Big Stone. They had gone to get money, so how had it become a loan to him? Still, there was nothing wrong with calling it his loan. He nodded at once. "Yes."
Che Si pointed at the other two. "They said you could repay it within three days. Is that true?"
Shi Chun did not deny it. He nodded. "Barring any accidents, I can repay it within three days. I'll try to do it sooner."
Che Si immediately offered him the case. "Forty thousand gold. Count it. Miss Miao said you only need to repay the principal on time. She won't charge you interest. Consider that her gift to celebrate your departure from the Prison of Life."
"Miss Miao?" Shi Chun's eyes widened. "Miss Miao is here?" he asked in surprise.
Wu Jinliang also looked utterly stunned.
Che Si immediately turned to look at Old Dong and Big Stone, equally surprised. "Didn't they tell you?"
At that, there was no describing how embarrassed Old Dong and Big Stone looked.
Shi Chun quickly caught on and guessed what had happened. Those two bastards had used his name to borrow money from Miss Miao without telling him, hedging their bets. If the investment went bad, they did not want to bear any loss and could dump everything on Shi Chun. If it made money, their profit would be real enough.
Miss Miao, meanwhile, had probably wondered why Shi Chun had not come to ask her for the loan himself. Out of caution, she had sent someone to confirm it with him in person. After all, forty thousand gold was no small sum.
To be honest, he was surprised himself that his name alone could secure a loan of forty thousand sandalwood gold from Miss Miao.
Wu Jinliang also guessed the little trick those two had played. His expression was mocking, yet full of sympathy. These two old brothers had narrowed their own road and missed their chance to make a fortune.
He really was secretly gloating.
Shi Chun had no close ties with Che Si and could hardly claim to know him well. He knew nothing of the man's background, nor did he want to jeopardize Old Dong and Big Stone's livelihoods over a minor matter. Besides, the money was already here. He immediately brushed it off. "Perhaps they were afraid I'd feel awkward. I am indeed the one who wants to borrow the money. Thank you, Senior."
He accepted the case with both hands, then bowed to express his gratitude.
By rights, now that the money had been delivered and thanks given, Che Si should have left. Yet he stood there without showing the slightest intention of going.
Shi Chun promptly slapped his forehead in sudden realization. "I'll write you an IOU." He handed the case to Wu Jinliang with one hand.
"No need for an IOU," Che Si said. "Miss Miao asked me to see what you need so much money for."
Some things went unspoken. If he intended to do something reckless, the money would have to be taken back.
Shi Chun froze, then exchanged a bewildered look with Wu Jinliang.
"Count the money," Che Si added. "So there won't be any misunderstandings."
Shi Chun waved a hand generously. "No need. I trust Miss Miao."
Che Si was a little surprised. This was hardly how someone from a wretchedly poor place would act. His opinion of Shi Chun rose somewhat, and he said no more.
Shi Chun had no idea the man was prepared to take the money back at any moment. He thought it was already his to use as he pleased. If the man wanted to watch, let him watch. Taking it lightly, he pulled out the white cloth with money stuck to it that he had brought from the Land of Exile, then told Wu Jinliang to take his out too. They peeled off the money to make up the full amount...
Upstairs, the madam, Feng Chi, went to the window and looked outside. Seeing that it was already noon, she turned back to consult Xiang Lan'er, then found her a cloak and had her wrap it around herself to conceal the marks of her beating for the time being.
Then the two left the room and made their way down to the main hall.
After taking Xiang Lan'er into a small side room to wait, the madam, Feng Chi, went out and shut the door. Only then did she adopt a frivolous, swaying gait and saunter boldly toward the entrance.
Inside the small side room, Xiang Lan'er pushed back her hood and listened intently to the sounds outside, ready to seize an opportunity and act at any moment.