Volume One, Chapter 55: Are You Playing Dirty with Me?
"Alright."
Fan Xiuqiang suppressed the impulse to run his fingers through his hair and smiled faintly. "Mr. Zhao, prepare the brush and ink. Write down the wager; I will sign and seal it with Scholar Liu!"
He took the bait!
Finally, he had taken the bait!
Three hundred taels of silver!
With this silver, not only could he repay his debts, but he would also have enough left over to invest in producing more goods to sell!
Zhao Yufei looked at him with wide, doubtful eyes and asked, "Brother Fan Xiu, are you really going to gamble like this? That’s your hard-earned title as a scholar."
Fan Xiu smiled and said, "If Scholar Liu wants to play, why shouldn’t I play along? Otherwise, it would be no fun."
At the same time, he tugged gently at Zhao Yufei’s sleeve to stop her from intervening further.
He had finally hoodwinked Liu Wenyen into taking the bait—what if the fellow backed out now?
Zhao Yufei bit her lip but still went to prepare the materials.
Soon enough,
a contract was written up. Fan Xiu and Liu Wenyen each signed and sealed it, then entrusted it to Zhao Defu for safekeeping.
Just as the signatures were completed, another person arrived outside.
“Young Master Xie? You’re here too?”
Fan Xiu was surprised to see the visitor.
It was none other than Xie Tangfeng, the young master of the Xie family from Pengcheng, who had kidnapped him earlier.
Liu Wenyen immediately bowed and said, “Greetings, Young Master Xie.”
Fan Xiu looked at Liu Wenyen in astonishment.
Judging by Zhao Defu’s reaction, he did not recognize Xie Tangfeng, but Liu Wenyen did?
Could it be that the Liu family had some connection with the Xie family?
“Heh.”
Xie Tangfeng held a folding fan and smiled lightly. “No need for formalities. I heard Miss Su Ying’er would also be coming to the Flavor Pavilion today, and many constables have arrived as well, so I came specifically to see her. By the way, what game are you playing?”
Liu Wenyen hurriedly replied, “Young Master Xie, I am betting with Scholar Fan on whether Miss Su Ying’er will come today. If she doesn’t, Scholar Fan will voluntarily give up his scholar’s title; if she does, I will owe her three hundred taels of silver.”
Fan Xiu then introduced Xie Tangfeng’s identity to Zhao Defu and his daughter.
The father and daughter were both astonished when they heard he was from the Xie family of Pengcheng.
Ordinary people might not know the Xie family from Pengcheng, but they certainly did!
The Xie family was one of the seven great noble houses of Xucheng. The Liu family, which Liu Wenyen belonged to, had originally been a fallen scholar’s family but had risen to prominence only after gaining the favor of the Xie family of Pengcheng!
They hadn’t expected a young master from the Xie family to appear here!
“Oh?”
Xie Tangfeng smiled, “Interesting. Since that’s the case, I’d like to join in. I’ll also wager three hundred taels of silver. Scholar Fan, what do you offer in return?”
Fan Xiu’s expression brightened immediately upon hearing this.
Another gift of silver?
Another three hundred taels?
However, Fan Xiu did not reveal his item outright. Instead, he asked, “Young Master Xie, what is it you desire?”
Since Xie Tangfeng took the initiative to propose a wager, it was likely he had something in mind.
Xie Tangfeng chuckled lightly, “I find Scholar Fan quite interesting. I want to invite you to join the Xie family and become one of us.”
Liu Wenyen was stunned for a moment before quickly responding, “Young Master Xie, I believe someone who seeks fame and fortune in this way is unworthy of joining the Xie family.”
“Hm?”
Xie Tangfeng frowned, “Are you telling me how to conduct my affairs?”
Liu Wenyen’s face darkened, and he quickly forced a smile, “I dare not! Young Master Xie is always right.”
Then, turning to Fan Xiu, he said coldly, “Fan Xiu! It’s your good fortune that Young Master Xie has taken a liking to you! Why not agree at once? If you join the Xie family, your fortunes will soar!”
He looked at Xie Tangfeng with a fawning expression.
Xie Tangfeng nodded. “Indeed, I have high hopes for you. As long as you serve the Xie family, the Fan family will one day rival the Sun family!”
Fan Xiu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You want to buy me with three hundred taels of silver?”
Zhao Yufei said happily, “Brother Fan, I knew you weren’t someone who would be moved by money!”
Xie Tangfeng was momentarily taken aback, then laughed, “I forgot—Scholar Fan is a learned man, with the proud spirit of a scholar who would disdain selling himself for silver…”
“That’s not it!”
Fan Xiu quickly interrupted, “What I mean is, you’ll need to offer more money!”
What is commerce?
As long as you want to buy, I’ll dare to sell!
Don’t say buying me—if you wanted to buy the rope to hang me, I’d sell that too, as long as the price was right!
“Ah?”
Xie Tangfeng was surprised. “More… more money?”
Everyone else present widened their eyes.
They had assumed Fan Xiu’s refusal stemmed from scholarly pride, unwilling to gamble his freedom.
But instead, the man just demanded more money!
Then,
“Hahaha!”
Xie Tangfeng laughed heartily. “Good, good! Scholar Fan is indeed a clever one! Very well, you say how much silver you want to wager.”
Fan Xiu raised one finger. “One thousand taels.”
“Fine.”
Xie Tangfeng said casually, “One thousand taels it is. If I lose, I pay you the silver; if you lose, you come with me.”
“OK!”
Fan Xiu made an “OK” gesture. “Mr. Zhao, bring the brush and ink.”
Mr. Zhao was speechless.
Zhao Yufei hurriedly said, “Brother Fan…”
Fan Xiu waved his hand with a smile. “It’s fine.”
Who would refuse free silver?
Even if Su Ying’er didn’t come… wait!
Damn it!
When Xie Tangfeng signed the contract, Fan Xiu caught a trace of disdain flickering in his eyes!
“Liu Wenyen, come outside with me for a moment.”
Xie Tangfeng said, then turned and left. Liu Wenyen followed closely behind.
Fan Xiu hurried after them.
Soon, Xie Tangfeng and Liu Wenyen were outside. Liu Wenyen nodded and his face lit up with wild joy before turning and running off.
Fan Xiu frowned deeply at the sight.
Where was that fellow going?
Could it be…
They were trying to prevent Su Ying’er from coming?
If so, he would lose!
Damn it!
I just wanted to make some silver from you, and you’re playing dirty?
The scholar’s title was convenient but not something he cared deeply about.
But losing his freedom? Absolutely unacceptable!
No matter how powerful the Xie family was, if they wanted him to be their beast of burden, he was done with being a beast of burden in this life—he had done that in his past!
He could not lose!
What to do? What to do?
He had to follow and stop them!
As long as Su Ying’er arrived safely, he would not lose!
Fan Xiu gritted his teeth, circled around the back door, and chased after the direction Liu Wenyen had vanished toward.
But after quite a long time, he saw no sign of them.
Where could they have gone?
Ah!
Suddenly, a light dawned in Fan Xiu’s eyes!
The Drunken Immortal Residence!
No matter where Liu Wenyen was now, the Drunken Immortal Residence was there. Su Ying’er was there too. As long as he got there first and warned them, he could prevent any mishaps!
Fan Xiu quickly ran toward the Drunken Immortal Residence.