Volume 1, Chapter 50: Shadow is Furious

Seeing Liu Wenyang approach yet again, Fan Xiu couldn't help but sneer and say, "So what if I was kicked out? You don't even have the qualifications to be kicked out by Miss Ying'er!"

"You..." Liu Wenyang gnashed his teeth, wanting to strike back.

Yet he had no idea how to retaliate.

Even if Fan Xiu had been driven away by Su Ying'er, at least he had actually seen her. In the entire Zhiyuan County, Fan Xiu was likely the only man who had ever laid eyes upon her.

That single fact alone was enough for Fan Xiu to boast about.

Just as Fan Xiu was preparing to leave, Ma Sanniang hurried after him.

"Young Master Fan, do you mind telling me the title of your poem? I will hang it in the very center of our Drunken Immortal House, so that scholars may gaze upon it with reverence!" Ma Sanniang said eagerly.

Fan Xiu replied, "The poem is not mine; it was written by someone else. I merely brought it forth. As for the title, let's call it *Spring in Jiangnan*."

Since he had already stolen someone else's poem, he couldn't very well change the title.

Liu Wenyang viciously chimed in, "Did everyone hear that? He admitted the poem isn't his—it belongs to someone else! He's a thief!"

Ma Sanniang frowned and said, "How can Licentiate Liu say such a thing? Great literature is created by nature, stumbled upon by a master's stroke! If this poem had existed before, it would have spread throughout the world long ago. Has Licentiate Liu ever heard of it prior to this?"

Liu Wenyang: "Uh..."

With a charming smile, Ma Sanniang grabbed Fan Xiu's sleeve and said, "Young Master Fan, whenever you come to our Drunken Immortal House to see the maidens in the future, I'll give you a discount. You must visit often."

On the way back.

Ying asked Fan Xiu with a puzzled expression, "Why did you come out of Su Ying'er's room so quickly? Were you really kicked out by her?"

Fan Xiu laughed and said, "Once our business was concluded, naturally I came out. We've already agreed that tomorrow at noon, she will come to the Savory Pavilion to eat my cold rice noodles."

"Surely it couldn't be that simple?" Ying frowned.

How could a woman like Su Ying'er be so easily persuaded to help?

Fan Xiu chuckled mischievously, "I traded it for a poem. I promised her that when I go to the capital in the future, I will write a poem for her."

"No wonder." Ying nodded in sudden realization.

If Su Ying'er could acquire another poem like the previous one, it would undoubtedly be passed down through the ages alongside her own name.

No one could resist such temptation.

Not even Su Ying'er, the famed fairy of the Drunken Immortal Tower whose renown already filled the capital, could remain aloof from such worldly desires.

After all, for a woman of the floating world like her, reputation was the thing she desired most!

Ying teased, "You came out far too quickly, then. Having finally met such a stunning beauty, didn't you want to chat with her a bit longer?"

"What's there to chat about?"

Fan Xiu rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not close with her, we have no deep acquaintance, and there's nothing to talk about. Chatting with her is far less interesting than chatting with you!"

*Bam!*

With a single kick, Ying sent Fan Xiu flying off the donkey cart.

"Liu Yue! Why do you keep kicking me?!" Fan Xiu stood up from the ground, clutching his backside and shouting angrily.

Ying glared at him furiously and said, "You actually compared me to women of that sort—don't you deserve to be kicked?"

Fan Xiu retorted fiercely, "When did I compare her to you? You couldn't even compare to her anyway; you're neither as pretty nor as gentle! And you're a violent maniac to boot—there's no reason to put the two of you in the same category!"

"You!"

Ying let out a furious, cold shout, "You wretched dog! Walk back yourself! Giddy-up!"

"Hey! Look at you getting all worked up again, I was only speaking the truth." Fan Xiu watched Ying drive away in a fit of rage, waving his hands happily as he called out.

Not to mention...

This Ying wasn't just a violent maniac; she had quite a temper too.

That'll teach you to kick my backside for no reason!

Now do you know how formidable I am?

I may not be able to beat you in a fight, but can't I out-argue you?

When Fan Xiu finally trudged all the way back to the Savory Pavilion, Ying was sitting leisurely on the donkey cart keeping watch.

"You woman, if you don't change your temper, I'm afraid you'll never manage to get married in this lifetime!" Fan Xiu remarked.

Ying's expression, which had just begun to soften, instantly turned ashen. She leaped down and lunged toward Fan Xiu.

Fan Xiu's expression changed, and he bolted into the Savory Pavilion in a flash.

He only wanted to provoke Ying, not get beaten up!

Outside the door.

Ying glared viciously at Fan Xiu's retreating back. In the end, she didn't chase after him, but her teeth were grinding together with a clicking sound.

As a dignified commander of the Blood Feather Guards, she was actually being humiliated like this by Fan Xiu!

She genuinely wanted to rush inside and slice Fan Xiu down with a single blade!

This wretched dog!

How dare he curse me to remain unmarried?

Even if I never marry for the rest of my life, it has nothing to do with you!

I truly don't know what Xiao Ruoqing sees in him.

A fellow like this wouldn't be wronged even if he died ten thousand times!

As soon as Fan Xiu reached the upper floor, he saw Zhang Defu entertaining a plump guest—none other than Chang Changsheng, the owner of the Hundred Smiles Tower.

"Fan Xiu."

Seeing Fan Xiu, Zhao Defu smiled and said, "You've arrived just in time. Boss Chang and I were just talking about you."

Making himself right at home, Fan Xiu sat down at the table and smiled, "Talking about me? What were you discussing?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Chang Changsheng.

In his mind, the warnings from his sister-in-law and Ying suddenly surfaced.

They had told him to watch out for Chang Changsheng of the Hundred Smiles Tower.

And now, here this fellow was, showing up today.

"Heh."

Zhao Defu chuckled and said, "Naturally, it's about the cold rice noodles and the top-scholar spiced tea eggs you make. Boss Chang says he'd like to spend two hundred silver taels to buy your recipe for the cold noodles."

"What does Brother Zhao think?" Fan Xiu asked.

Stroking the small mustache on his chin, Zhao Defu smiled, "It depends on your thoughts. However, if you sell it, my cut cannot be less. After all, your cold noodles built their reputation through my Savory Pavilion."

Fan Xiu stroked his own chin as well.

The four-tenths profit share he had previously promised Zhao Defu out of two hundred taels would amount to eighty taels, leaving him with one hundred and twenty taels.

That still wouldn't be enough to pay off his debts.

Moreover, while two hundred taels was not a low price, it still fell far short of his expectations.

Fan Xiu said, "My apologies, I'm not selling."

"Oh?"

Chang Changsheng arched an eyebrow.

It seemed their guess was correct. Just moments ago, he had obtained some information from Zhao Defu, and now seeing Fan Xiu being so secretive about it, he was even more certain.

The three men he had bribed must have indeed failed.

He just wondered whether Fan Xiu knew the truth of the matter.

Judging by Fan Xiu's expression, he probably didn't know; otherwise, he certainly wouldn't be as calm and collected as he was right now!

"Does Licentiate Fan have no intention of selling?" Chang Changsheng asked.

Zhao Defu quickly persuaded him, "Fan Xiu, I think two hundred taels is quite fair. The money you've earned these past few days, combined with this sum, should be just about enough to pay off your debts. As for the eighty taels you owe me, since you've helped me earn quite a bit of money these past few days as well, I'll waive it for you."

Just by selling the cold noodles over these past few days, he had already raked in dozens of silver taels.

Furthermore, the guests coming here weren't just eating cold noodles; they ordered many other dishes too, netting him a handsome profit overall.

Not to mention that merely from selling the cold noodle recipe, he would stand to receive eighty taels as his share.

This was an exceptionally lucrative deal.

Fan Xiu smiled and replied, "Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to sell, but the price Boss Chang is offering is simply too low."

Frowning, Chang Changsheng said, "Licentiate Fan, a price of two hundred taels is already very reasonable. How long would you have to work to earn two hundred taels otherwise? Besides, business at your Savory Pavilion isn't all that great right now, and you're in urgent need of money."

Zhao Defu pulled Fan Xiu aside and whispered, "Fan Xiu, I think two hundred taels is fine. This kind of novelty food is only popular because it's rare. Once more people have eaten it, it won't be worth much at all!"

Fan Xiu sighed and said, "Brother Zhao, if it sells for two hundred thousand silver taels, you get eighty taels, right? How about this: I'll give you double. No matter how much my cold noodle recipe sells for, I will give you one hundred and sixty taels, but the remaining money is mine. Would you agree to that?"

Zhao Defu stared in slight astonishment.

One hundred and sixty silver taels?

In other words, Fan Xiu would have to sell the cold noodle recipe for at least four hundred silver taels for him to receive that much money.

Yet how could a mere cold noodle recipe possibly sell for four hundred taels?

Three hundred taels was already out of the question!

And yet, seeing how resolute Fan Xiu looked, could it be that he had some other trick up his sleeve?

This kid possessed an endless supply of crafty ideas!