Volume 1, Chapter 26: Kidnapped

Liu Erhe stroked his shiny, bald head and chuckled, "Is Master Fan trying to avoid paying his debts?"

As he spoke, his gaze turned cold. The others present looked at Fan Xiu with varied expressions. Could it be that Fan Xiu intended to use his status as a Juren scholar to intimidate Liu Erhe? Although Fan Xiu held the rank of Juren, in a small town like Zhiyuan County, power dynamics were intricately complex. In a place like Xuzhou or the capital, most people operated according to the laws of the Great Yin Empire, but in Zhiyuan County, no one cared about such things. Even if he weren't just a Juren, but a County Magistrate, without maintaining good relations with these local powers, he would find it difficult to govern, face obstacles at every turn, and might even risk his reputation and life. In particular, the Sihai Money House had ties to the Cheng family of Xuzhou.

Zhao Defu hurriedly whispered a warning, "Fan Xiu, Master Liu’s debts are not something even I dare to leave unpaid."

"Master Zhao, you worry too much," Fan Xiu replied, waving his hand. "I never said I wouldn't pay. I was merely hoping to plead with Master Liu for some leniency."

He bowed to Liu Erhe and continued, "Master Liu, my household is so poor we can barely afford a meal. Could you perhaps lower the interest a little?"

Liu Erhe wore a troubled expression. "Master Fan, you are putting me in a very difficult position. You are a man of status, and logically, I should grant you this favor! But if I open this door, the business of our Sihai Money House will become impossible to manage."

Fan Xiu cursed Liu Erhe as a dog in his heart—what kind of business was this? It was nothing but usury! However, he could not afford to offend anyone present. He bowed with a smile, "Since Master Liu is unwilling, let us pretend I never asked. I hope you will find time to visit Zhiweixuan and show your support."

"Haha!" Seeing Fan Xiu back down so quickly, Liu Erhe laughed heartily. "Easily done! Zhao Defu has already told me that your cold noodles are exceptionally delicious. I shall certainly have a taste later. If they are truly as good as they say, I will surely bring people to support you! As for your debt, I will make the call—you only need to repay two hundred taels."

Fan Xiu frowned and asked, "Master Liu, when Zhang Scar-face came to me last time, he took ten taels of gold. Did he not deliver that to you?"

Upon hearing the name Zhang Scar-face, Liu Erhe’s expression darkened instantly. Zhao Defu, standing nearby, interjected, "Fan Xiu, you must not have heard yet. Zhang Scar-face is dead. He died on a woman’s lap while at the Drunken Fairy Pavilion! The authorities have yet to find the assassin, only knowing that the strike was ruthless and fatal—it was the work of a master!"

"Uh..." Fan Xiu was momentarily stunned. He had noticed increased patrols in the county recently but hadn't known the reason. He never expected it was because Zhang Scar-face had died. Fortunately, he had died in a brothel; had he died at the Fan residence, the trouble would have been immense.

"Dead is dead!" Liu Erhe waved his hand dismissively. "My Sihai Money House doesn't depend on him alone." He looked at Fan Xiu and said, "Master Fan, even though I didn't receive that money, since you claim you gave it, I will consider it paid. You only need to settle the remaining one hundred taels."

Fan Xiu bowed, "Many thanks, Master Liu." If he had known Zhang Scar-face was dead, he would have claimed to have paid even more.

Liu Erhe laughed again, "You are welcome. I still have to give face to a Juren like you! Come, sit."

Next, Zhao Defu introduced the identities of those present, and they all bowed to Fan Xiu in return. With his Juren rank, they did not dare to be as disrespectful as Liu Erhe had been. They began to chat over tea, though the topics were mostly trivial matters in which Fan Xiu could barely interject.

When the cold noodles and the 'Zhuangyuan Fragrance' tea were served, the group was full of praise. "Master Fan is truly gifted! To have researched such a delicacy—would you be able to send some to my Wanfu Restaurant as well?" the manager of Wanfu Restaurant asked with a smile.

Zhao Defu replied laughingly, "Manager Su, I’m afraid that won't be possible. Master Fan produces only a small amount, and for now, he can only supply my Zhiweixuan!"

Manager Su replied with regret, "Very well. With such delicious cold noodles, your Zhiweixuan is sure to thrive, Old Zhao! Perhaps you might even surpass the Drunken Fairy Pavilion and win some glory for our Zhiyuan County."

"Haha!" Zhao Defu stroked his beard and laughed. "Let’s not go that far. The Drunken Fairy Pavilion is not someone I can afford to provoke. Please, Manager Su, let us not joke about such things."

Fan Xiu sipped his tea, watching the sycophancy. Having arrived in this world only recently, and with the original owner being a bookish, impoverished scholar, he knew little about Zhiyuan County. He only knew the Drunken Fairy Pavilion was the largest brothel in town. Judging by their words and Zhao Defu’s nervous reaction, the background of that establishment was likely far from simple. He decided not to press for details.

After the meal, Zhao Defu and Fan Xiu saw the guests out of Zhiweixuan with great fanfare. At the entrance, those waiting to buy 'Zhuangyuan Fragrance' had formed two long queues. Fan Xiu had arranged this specifically, using stories to whet their appetites and gather a crowd so they would be visible when the officials and gentry emerged. He hadn't expected the turnout to be so large; he was surprised by how effective modern marketing techniques were in this era.

That evening, when Zhao Defu settled the accounts with Fan Xiu, they discovered they had made thirteen taels of silver in a single day—and that was with a limited supply of noodles and tea eggs. If they had more, they would have made even more.

"Fan Xiu, here is your share, seven taels and eight hundred copper coins!" Zhao Defu said, grinning from ear to ear. Though he himself only cleared five taels, this was just for one day. Before this, his business had been barely clinging to life, and he had never made more than ten taels in his best days. At this rate, imagine how much they would earn in a month!

"Thank you, Master Zhao," Fan Xiu said with a smile.

"Haha, this is what you deserve! After all, you have to cover the costs. Stay at my house tonight, and let’s have a drink," Zhao Defu said, grabbing Fan Xiu’s shoulder.

At these words, Fan Xiu immediately thought of the bewitching Guo Xiulan and quickly shook his head. "I cannot; I must return to prepare for tomorrow."

In truth, he didn't really need to prepare anything; the ingredients he had purchased previously were enough for several days. He was simply afraid of being 'consumed' by Guo Xiulan.

Fan Xiu pocketed the silver and, after bidding Zhao Defu farewell, left Zhiweixuan. As he walked, he missed his old electric scooter. Before, he could go anywhere he wanted, but now he had to rely on his own two legs. He couldn't afford a horse—even the cheapest one cost twenty or thirty taels, and a good one at least fifty. As for that donkey... he didn't even want to mention it. He had confirmed that the donkey only recognized Xiao Ruoqing. He had called it 'Ancestor Donkey,' and it wouldn't even acknowledge him! Yet, when it saw Xiao Ruoqing, it would excitedly stick its rump out, waiting for her to give it a slap. It wouldn't accept that from anyone else! It was as if the animal had its S&M tendencies dialed to the max.

While he was lost in these thoughts, two men in black cloth, wearing cold expressions, suddenly blocked his path. Fan Xiu was startled. *Damn! Are they here to rob me?* He turned to run, only to find two more men blocking his path behind him.

"Big brothers, I have no money!" Fan Xiu shouted in alarm.

One of the men said coldly, "The story about the Empress eating three 'Zhuangyuan Fragrance' tea eggs at Zhiweixuan and praising them—that was spread by you, wasn't it?"

Fan Xiu’s heart skipped a beat. Were these the Empress’s men, coming to settle a score? Zhiyuan County was at least eight hundred miles from the capital; how could the Empress’s people have moved so quickly?

"I don't..." Before Fan Xiu could finish his sentence, a burlap sack was thrown over his head. A sharp pain struck his skull, and he lost consciousness.