Chapter 138: Just Casually Add a Million Taels!

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Giving up poetry forever if he loses?

Wow!

That’s quite a gamble!

Even Young Master Zhang and the others looked stunned. Their original plan wasn’t like this at all. Just how deep was this fellow’s obsession?

“To stake such a heavy bet, Young Master Wang must be very confident of winning!”

“Exactly. If he wins, fine, but if he loses, his future is probably ruined!”

“Young Master Wang’s acting on impulse this time. It’s just one Flowing Fragrance Literary Gathering, not a once-in-a-lifetime event. If he can’t make it this time, there’ll be others.”

“True, but Young Master Wang must have his reasons for acting this way.”

…

Everyone was taken aback, whispering among themselves.

Even Lady Xiao couldn’t help but glance at him twice. Should she say he had backbone or that he was foolish? To dare wager such a thing?

Young Master Zhang approached Young Master Wang and whispered, “Brother Wang, this isn’t right! Didn’t we agree to advance and retreat together? How can you be so impulsive? You’re dragging me… dragging us into the fire!”

Given the circumstances, if Young Master Wang’s wager stood, and since he was on par with Young Master Wang, if he didn’t follow suit, others might not say much, since it was a bet with one’s own future, but he would surely be branded a timid scholar!

Young Master Wang glanced at him coldly; a flash of anger crossed his eyes but was quickly concealed. He said indifferently, “Brother Zhang, rest assured, he won’t win!”

In Flowing Fragrance City, Wang Yu was renowned for his poetry, while Zhang Feng specialized in couplets. Yet just now, in their poetic exchange, Zhang Feng produced better verses than him, wounding his pride—no, it was an insult!

If he lost the couplet contest to Zhang Feng, he wouldn’t mind much, but to lose at poetry too? Then the East Willow Academy would no longer have two great talents, only Zhang Feng. That was intolerable!

Hence, he didn’t follow the original plan.

Young Master Zhang was stunned at these words, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. “Could it be that Brother Wang has some trick up his sleeve?”

Wang Yu’s expression remained calm as he said lightly, “Just wait and see.”

Zhang Feng, seeing Wang Yu’s unwillingness to reveal his plan, felt some anger but quickly suppressed it.

He thought for a moment. Having been schoolmates for years, he knew Wang Yu well: polished on the surface, but ruthless in pursuit of his goals.

So Zhang Feng decided to trust him once.

Clenching his teeth, Zhang Feng turned to Chen Xiang and said, “Brother Chu, since Brother Wang says so, then I’ll join in!”

“However, your terms must change. There are two of us, so if you lose, you must not only give up the invitation but also swear never to compose poetry again!” Zhang Feng added abruptly.

Chen Xiang watched their back-and-forth with a faint smile, nearly laughing aloud.

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Whether or not they won, the wager was meaningless to him.

He wasn’t making a living from his writing. He was just passing through Flowing Fragrance City and would leave in a few days. Who cared if he wrote poetry or not?

Besides, he was betting under the pseudonym Chu Liuxiang, so he felt even less burdened!

After all, whether Chu Liuxiang composed poems or not had nothing to do with Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang smiled faintly and shook his head at the pair. “Not good.”

Everyone’s breath caught.

Young Master Wang sneered, “What? Brother Chu, are you scared?”

“Yeah, if you can’t bear to lose that invitation, just say so. We’re not trying to make things difficult for you!” Wang Yu’s companions shouted.

“Exactly. Just say no to the wager, and it’s over.”

“Heh, no courage, huh? I misjudged you.”

…

Some showed ‘sympathy’ to Chen Xiang, suggesting he could back out, while others mocked him mercilessly.

Chen Xiang watched them like a troupe of clowns jumping about.

“Did I say I won’t wager?” Chen Xiang spoke.

“Then why say it’s no good?” a man shouted loudly.

Chen Xiang looked at the speaker—the loudest among them.

“I mean the terms are too few,” Chen Xiang replied.

“Huh?”

His words stunned everyone, turning their faces red.

They had assumed he was afraid to bet, but instead, he wanted to add more conditions? That was a huge blow to their pride.

Young Master Wang asked with interest, “Oh? What other terms do you have?”

Others listened curiously.

Chen Xiang smiled faintly, then sighed deeply, looking troubled. “Alas, Brother Wang, you don’t know. I enjoy traveling. Since leaving home several years ago, I’ve spent nearly all my money. Since you want to wager, add some stakes that will allow me to have some travel funds for my next journey.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd relaxed—they thought Chen Xiang asked for money.

But then cold sneers followed.

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Money? These few came from wealthy families—not the richest in Flowing Fragrance City, but certainly rich and noble. They spent lavishly; buying trivial items cost hundreds or thousands of taels, nothing unusual!

Anything solvable with money was no big deal!

When Chen Xiang revealed his terms, the scholars present sneered disdainfully. Associating money with a literary gathering was an insult to them.

Chen Xiang’s image plummeted several notches in their eyes.

Young Master Wang readily agreed. “Fine! Brother Chu, how many taels do you want as stakes?”

Chen Xiang looked up, calculated carefully, mumbling to himself about “lost wages, mental distress fees, nutrition costs, life accident insurance, retirement funds, family planning fees, infertility treatment…” and so on.

“Hm, figured it out. I don’t need much—just a casual one million taels!” Chen Xiang said matter-of-factly.

One million taels?

The moment the number was spoken, the scene fell silent. Even passersby on the street heard it clearly, their faces blank in shock.

One million taels of silver? What did that mean? One hundred thousand jin! Fifty thousand kilograms! Spread out on the ground, it could cover hundreds of square meters!

Faces flushed red; no one could speak for a long time.

“Brother Chu? Are you sure you’re not joking?” Wang Yu said through clenched teeth.

Others glared angrily as well.

One million taels? Even if they emptied their entire families’ wealth, it wouldn’t reach that!

Though wealthy, their family holdings were only a few hundred thousand taels!

How could they possibly wager that much?

Chen Xiang, seeing their shocked expressions, said, “What, you don’t even have that little money? For people like us, not having a million taels on hand means we don’t dare leave home!”

The crowd almost spat blood. Not having a million taels on hand? Then show us a million first!

“Sigh, fine, fine. Seeing how you all are, you must be dirt poor. Let’s lower it a bit—nine hundred ninety-nine thousand taels!” Chen Xiang said, sounding disdainful. Then he reached into his cloak and took out a large bundle of silver notes from his system space, fanning himself slowly, making a rustling sound.

Everyone’s eyes nearly blacked out.

Damn, and you still say you’re broke? Each note in your hand is worth ten thousand taels, and you have dozens of them!