Chapter 45

Chu Huan and Li Fuzi entered the private room, where it was much quieter than the outer hall. After they were seated, a waiter quickly brought tea and asked with a smile, "What would the two gentlemen like to eat? Flower-cooked sparrow, chicken tongue soup, stir-fried deer legs, chrysanthemum rabbit threads, lotus-fried ox tendons... and also ginger vinegar gold and silver trotters, eight-treasure cured chicken. These are the most popular dishes here, with excellent color, aroma, and taste. You should try them!"

The waiter was articulate, listing the dishes as if they were treasures. Chu Huan was taken aback, but he also felt quite impressed. First, he marveled at how every profession has its complexities, even a waiter at a restaurant must have a sharp tongue. Second, he was surprised that a small county town like this could have such a high-end restaurant.

He didn't know that Qingliu City was located at the intersection of three states, a must-pass place for those traveling east or south. Whether it was officials or merchants, they all had to pass through Qingliu City.

The officials and merchants who passed through would also stay in Qingliu City, and because of this, Qingliu City was one of the largest and most prosperous counties in the Great Qin Empire.

Chu Huan, dressed in coarse clothes, clearly looked like he was from the countryside. If it were just him, the waiter might not have been so enthusiastic. However, Li Fuzi, dressed in a blue robe, looked like a very cultivated person, so the waiter was particularly attentive.

Li Fuzi waved his hand and said, "Not so fast." He paused and whispered, "If someone claims to be Han Yuan, bring him here. We can order the food when the guest arrives."

The waiter agreed and left.

Li Fuzi, a man of letters, was a bit particular. Being in the private room, he felt the need to be cautious and lowered his voice, "Second Son, let's wait. Han Yuan should be here soon!" He noticed a painting hanging on the wall, got up, and walked over with his hands behind his back. The painting was a landscape, quite vivid, with a poem beside it. Li Fuzi read it softly and, seeing the signature, immediately shook his head and sighed, "Truly, the world is in decline. This is Xu Congyang's poem. Imitation is fine, but to sign it with Xu Congyang's name is a bit too much, isn't it?"

Chu Huan placed his bag beside him and, as it landed, heard a slight noise inside. He found it strange and opened the bag to check. Inside, there were neatly folded clothes and a string of copper coins, about seventy or eighty, tied with a red string and placed between the clothes.

Chu Huan was surprised but quickly understood. The copper coins were obviously placed there by Su Niang. Although the amount was not large, it was a significant sum for the Chu family, earned by Su Niang's needlework. Chu Huan felt a surge of emotion, knowing that Su Niang was worried about him having no money outside, so she put the coins in the bag.

Li Fuzi had already returned with his hands behind his back and sighed, "If I could see Xu Congyang's genuine work, I would have no regrets in my life!"

Chu Huan tied up the bag and asked, "Uncle, who is Xu Congyang?"

"It's no wonder you don't know!" Li Fuzi stroked his beard and smiled, "To tell you the truth, Xu Congyang is also from our hometown. He is from Yunshan Prefecture, but he left thirty years ago and is now a high official in the capital... Xu Congyang is not only upright and talented, but also excels in poetry and music...!" His eyes sparkled as he continued, "When he was young, he had excellent handwriting and was obsessed with calligraphy. I knew then that he would achieve great things in calligraphy, and indeed, today everyone knows that Xu Congyang's calligraphy is worth a thousand gold pieces per character...!"

Chu Huan was curious, "Uncle, did you know Xu Congyang when you were young?"

Li Fuzi was taken aback, then shook his head, his eyes flickering, "No, I didn't. I'm just a teacher, and Xu Congyang is a high official in the capital, completely unrelated...!" As he said this, a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes, and he fell silent, lost in thought.

Chu Huan felt that Li Fuzi was not being sincere and was hiding something. He thought to himself, "Could it be that Uncle has some connection with Xu Congyang?"

At that moment, they heard a loud "bang." Li Fuzi, who was deep in thought, was startled, and Chu Huan frowned, recognizing that the sound came from the next room.

The private room was connected to several others, and the adjacent room was also a private room.

"Mr. Fan, you're treating us like monkeys!" A rough voice came from the next room, and Chu Huan heard it clearly, "We are all men of the underworld, and we value honor and integrity... You, Mr. Fan, are a man of status, so how can you not keep your word?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Huan heard a voice trying to calm him down, "Fourth Master, please calm down, calm down... Lower your voice, there are people coming and going...!"

"How can I not be angry?" the rough voice said, "We men of the underworld value 'honor.' If you don't keep your word, it's as if you're slapping my face, Fourth Master Qinglian!"

Chu Huan and Li Fuzi exchanged puzzled glances.

Then they heard Mr. Fan's voice, "Fourth Master, let's sit down and talk. We've done business before, so let's sit down and discuss it calmly!"

The rough voice lowered a bit, but Chu Huan could still hear clearly, "There's nothing to discuss. Fan Yishang, you've paid the deposit of 200 taels of silver, and you still owe 500 taels. My brothers in the Baling Hall are short on money. I won't beat around the bush. If the 500 taels aren't in my hands within a month, well... if you, Fan Yishang, don't keep your word, don't blame me for breaking the rules!"

Mr. Fan's voice became anxious, "Fourth Master, what do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Qinglian Fourth Master sneered, "Mr. Fan, you're a smart man, so don't pretend you don't understand."

Mr. Fan's voice was filled with anger, "Qinglian Fourth Master, are you being too much? I've already paid 200 taels of silver as a deposit, and I'm not asking for it back. What more do you want? Don't push me too far!"

"Pushing you too far?" Qinglian Fourth Master said coldly, "We agreed on 200 taels as a deposit, and 800 taels afterward, making a total of 1,000 taels. But you talked me down to 700 taels. We agreed on this, so how can you go back on your word?"

"How have I gone back on my word?" Fan Yishang said angrily, "The situation has changed, and we don't need to act, right? You don't need to act, and you get 200 taels of silver. Isn't that enough?"

"We want 700 taels!" Qinglian Fourth Master sneered, "Once a deal is made, it must be honored. You pay, and we act, no returns. The deal is set, and it can't be changed. Even if we don't need to act, you still owe us the full amount."

They heard the sound of a chair sliding, and then Fan Yishang's voice softened, "Fourth Master, to be honest, if the situation hadn't changed, 700 taels of silver would not be too difficult. But... sigh, Fourth Master, I've already spent nearly 1,000 taels of silver on this matter, and I even sold my last two shops... I really can't come up with the 500 taels."

"Who cares how many shops you sold!" Qinglian Fourth Master's voice was cold, "I want the silver, and I want a straightforward answer, not your excuses." He paused and lowered his voice, which Li Fuzi could no longer hear, but Chu Huan's hearing was excellent, and he faintly heard Qinglian Fourth Master say, "Mr. Fan, let me give you a suggestion?"

Chu Huan didn't hear Fan Yishang's response. After a moment, he heard Qinglian Fourth Master say, "Don't you still have a large house? Even if you sell it at a low price, you should get 400 to 500 taels of silver...!"

"No way!" Fan Yishang's voice was panicked, "My mother is still alive, and that old house... it can't be sold... and the deed is in her hands. Even if I wanted to, I can't... I can't...!"

Qinglian Fourth Master laughed, "Mr. Fan, we know your skills. Your family used to be wealthy... now you only have the old house. You've lived like a god for years, and you had control over your family's wealth. How come you can't even control the old house?"

"You...!" Fan Yishang started coughing violently, unable to speak.

Qinglian Fourth Master's voice still reached Chu Huan's ears, "Since you can't sell the old house, didn't you buy a concubine two years ago for 500 taels of silver? I know she's beautiful, graceful, and talented. I saw her recently, and even though she's two years older, she's still very attractive and seductive. Her curvy figure... tsk tsk... Mr. Fan, you're probably tired of her. Why not use her to offset 200 taels of silver? If you think my offer is low, you can take her to the Soft Jade Pavilion, and Madam Chen might give you a better price...!"

"Bang!"

A loud thump came from the next room, followed by Fan Yishang's furious voice, "Qinglian Fourth Master, clean your mouth! Are you trying to extort me?"

As he got angry, Qinglian Fourth Master got even angrier, "Fan Yishang, listen to me, don't act like a rich young master. What is your family like now? Not just in Qingliu City, but in the entire Yunshan Prefecture, how many people don't know? Don't try to put on airs in front of me, damn it!" They heard him spit and continue, "Listen to me, in one month, come back here with 500 taels of silver. If I don't see you, well, don't blame me for being ruthless!"