Chapter 40

That evening, as Chu Li returned to the East Garden bathed in the glow of the sunset, he saw Zhao Ying sitting by a stone table in his courtyard, sipping tea. She was dressed in a light green silk robe, graceful and elegant.

Seeing him, Zhao Ying smiled and stood up, "Senior Brother, you’re really busy!"

Chu Li smiled and sat down opposite her, catching a faint fragrance, "Junior Sister, what brings you here? Is there trouble somewhere?"

"Nope." Zhao Ying sat down again, "I’ve been shopping lately. I never realized how big Chongming City is. I haven’t finished exploring it yet, and all the sisters are in good spirits. Don’t worry!"

Chu Li nodded, "Thanks to you, I’m really swamped here."

"What are you busy with?"

"Well... it’s better you don’t know."

"So mysterious!" Zhao Ying rolled her eyes and stopped asking.

"What about the tavern?"

"It’s still a bit off." Zhao Ying frowned, "Progress is slow. I think their design is flawed. The place is too big; who’s going to fill it?"

Chu Li smiled.

"The location of that shop isn’t good; it’s always deserted." Zhao Ying was a bit worried, "Why did you choose there? It would be better on a main street!"

"I want it to be quiet," Chu Li smiled, "Don’t worry, business will come. Besides, opening the tavern isn’t for profit."

"If it loses money, they’ll feel guilty."

"If it really does, we can change it to something else... maybe it will be profitable. Come, let’s take a walk in the city!"

"Again?" Zhao Ying pouted adorably.

"To Qicao Hall."

"What for?" Zhao Ying’s curiosity was piqued.

"That street has a lot of good stuff; let’s see if we can find something."

The street where Qicao Hall was located was full of antique shops, much like an antique market in the modern world. With good eyes and luck, one could find a bargain.

Zhao Ying was half-convinced.

The two left the Duke’s residence and arrived in Chongming City. Lanterns hung everywhere, and the large red lanterns lit up Chongming City like daylight, even more beautiful than daylight. The streets were bustling with people, the sounds of haggling adults and laughing children mingling together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Chu Li and Zhao Ying soon turned from the main street into a quiet one and entered an antique shop.

Chu Li, with his vast knowledge and the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, found antiques as easily as picking up a pebble. He quickly found two bargains, buying them as fakes from one shop, cleaning them, and selling them as genuine items at another.

After visiting five shops, Chu Li had earned a hundred taels of silver, leaving Zhao Ying speechless.

Walking down the street, Zhao Ying waved the silver notes in her hand, smiling brightly, "Senior Brother, you make money too easily!"

Chu Li smiled, "Knowledge is silver!"

He tried to be discreet, making small profits to avoid drawing too much attention, as that would make it harder to earn money in the future. It was better to have a steady stream of income rather than a one-time deal.

"I’ve really seen it now!" Zhao Ying sighed.

She had never truly realized the value of knowledge, thinking that a little more or less didn’t matter as long as one’s martial arts were strong. Seeing Chu Li make money so easily, she finally understood the importance of knowledge.

She resolved to study hard when she returned.

The two entered Qicao Hall, where two people were already picking through items, and the shopkeeper was smiling at them.

Chu Li glanced at a plain wooden basket filled with oddly shaped tree roots, suitable for bonsai, all from precious trees.

These tree roots cost ten taels of silver each, and one could pick freely. Even if they were rare, they were just dead tree roots, good only for bonsai or small carvings, not for planting.

Chu Li recognized the two people picking: Gu Liting and Zhou Yuting. They were focused on their task and didn’t notice the newcomers.

Chu Li activated the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, scanning the tree roots and searching his memory palace for their origins.

His gaze fell on the tree roots in Gu Liting’s hand.

There were three tree roots. One resembled a sturdy pine, another looked like an old man with a long beard, and the third was dark and hard, like iron, forming a beautiful bow, combining hardness and softness.

"Pretty, right?" Chu Li pointed and asked Zhao Ying.

Zhao Ying nodded in admiration.

"Should we buy them?" Chu Li asked.

"They’re Gu Senior Brother’s picks," Zhao Ying smiled.

Chu Li smiled and cleared his throat.

Gu Liting had already heard Chu Li’s voice and looked up, "Brother Chu, what a coincidence!"

"Senior Brother Gu, any luck?"

Gu Liting lifted the tree roots in his hand, "Just some small trinkets."

Chu Li smiled, "Can I make a deal? How about letting me have them? We can discuss the price."

"Ha ha..." Gu Liting laughed.

Zhou Yuting glared at Chu Li, "Why should we?"

He looked at Zhao Ying, "What, Junior Sister Zhao, you’re with Brother Chu now?"

Zhao Ying’s face turned red.

Chu Li’s face darkened, "Brother Zhou, be careful with your words!"

"Careful with what? Is it wrong?" Zhou Yuting laughed, "You stole away Zhuo Feiyang’s woman, pretty impressive!"

Chu Li frowned, "When did Junior Sister Zhao become Zhuo Feiyang’s woman? Brother Chang, I won’t be polite with such a rumor-monger!"

"Ha ha, I said it, so what? What will you do?" Zhou Yuting glared, smugly, "I’ll say it again, Brother Chu, you stole away Zhuo Feiyang’s woman!"

Chu Li sighed and turned to Gu Liting, "Brother Gu, be careful associating with such a troublemaker!"

"Brother Zhou isn’t wrong," Gu Liting smiled, "Brother Chu is indeed impressive, to take away Zhuo Feiyang’s woman. I admire you!"

Zhao Ying took a deep breath and shouted, "Shut up!"

The two were taken aback, and Chu Li looked at her in surprise, finding it interesting that the usually gentle and weak girl could lose her temper.

Zhao Ying’s face was red, her eyes wide, and she pointed at Zhou Yuting, "You, a grown man, spend your days spreading rumors. I’m ashamed for Elder Zhou!"

Zhou Yuting’s eyes widened.

Zhao Ying huffed, "I’m just a classmate with Senior Brother Zhuo and Senior Brother Chu. We practice martial arts and shop together, and that makes us their women? You and Senior Brother Gu are even closer!"

"Junior Sister Zhao!" Gu Liting called out.

Chu Li waved his hand, "Alright, let’s stop this!"

He pointed at the three tree roots in Gu Liting’s hand, "Shopkeeper, has he paid?"

"Ha ha, not yet," the shopkeeper smiled, recognizing Chu Li and inwardly groaning, another from the Duke’s residence!

"Fine, this one, a hundred taels, I’ll take it!" Chu Li pointed at the tree root resembling a sturdy pine.

The shopkeeper hurriedly said, "Thank you, sir!"

Chu Li looked at Gu Liting, "Brother Gu, are you buying?"

Gu Liting glared at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper apologized, "Sir, I have no choice, small business, small business."

Gu Liting sneered, "Two hundred taels!"

"Then it’s yours!" Chu Li immediately said, pointing at the tree root resembling an old man, "This one, a hundred taels!"

"Two hundred taels!" Gu Liting sneered.

"Brother Gu, you’re generous. Fine, it’s yours!" Chu Li smiled, then pointed at the third tree root, "Five hundred taels!"

Gu Liting glared at him, understanding Chu Li’s intentions. He was using money to vent his frustration and stand up for Zhao Ying.

He sneered and threw the iron-like tree root at Chu Li, "It’s yours!"

Chu Li caught it, frowning at him.

Gu Liting smiled smugly, "Feels good to rip someone off, doesn’t it?"

"Senior Brother!" Zhao Ying tugged at his sleeve, her face red and still angry.

Chu Li shook his head, examining the tree root, then shook his head again.

Zhou Yuting burst out laughing.

Chu Li stepped forward, and Zhou Yuting stood his ground, unafraid, looking at him disdainfully.

Chu Li lowered his voice, "Brother Zhou, if I tell Elder Zhou that you have a house in the southeast of the city with a woman, what will happen?"

Zhou Yuting’s face changed, his smile freezing.

Chu Li shook his head, "Look at your courage, Brother Zhou... If I also tell Elder Zhou that you have another house in the northeast with a woman, what will happen?"

"You dare!" Zhou Yuting glared at him, his face dark.

Chu Li chuckled, "Someone like you, spreading rumors... If there are any rumors about Junior Sister Zhao, you know the consequences!"

"Brother Chu, you’re despicable!" Zhou Yuting snorted.

Chu Li ignored him, smiling at Zhao Ying, "Junior Sister Zhao, let’s go!"

Zhao Ying glared at Zhou Yuting and left Qicao Hall gracefully.