Chapter 21: The Battle of Wealth

“Brother Yang.”

Su Bie glanced at the five men and greeted the young man at their head. His tone was indifferent, clearly indicating a strained relationship.

Wang Dafu scoffed and looked at Liu Songjin with a smile, saying, “Brother Yang, when you go out, why do you like to bring along a drowning dog?”

Liu Songjin glared angrily but dared not respond. If he spoke up, it would be an admission that he was the “drowning dog” in question.

The leader of the group was named Yang Qian. His family was in the porcelain business, and he was known for his generosity, which attracted many dubious friends. He was also a regular at the brothel.

He had some business yesterday and didn’t attend the literary gathering but was aware of what had happened the previous night.

Hearing Wang Dafu’s mockery, Yang Qian paid it no mind and smiled, “Brother Su and Brother Wang came today hoping to catch a glimpse of Miss Chu Jian, I suppose? If so, why not join me? We can all see her together, and perhaps the young lady will play the zither and sing a tune for us.”

Wang Dafu clicked his tongue and said, “Yang Qian, you sure are full of hot air. Do you really think Miss Chu Jian would come out to see you and play music for you? Don’t you know she’s the biggest star at the Heavenly Fairy Brothel now?”

Yang Qian smiled faintly and said nothing. Naturally, someone spoke on his behalf.

Behind him, Liu Songjin sneered, “Brother Yang brought a thousand taels of silver today, and he had already made arrangements with Madam Liu.”

Yang Qian humbly replied, “I am aware of Miss Chu Jian’s status today, so I’m simply spending money to save face, hoping to meet her and exchange a few words. If she refuses to play, I won’t force her.”

“A thousand taels of silver?”

Luo Zijun quietly clicked his tongue. For today’s visit to the brothel, he had brought all his savings—one tael and two qian of silver in total.

This man was prepared to spend a thousand taels just to meet that woman?

Such extravagance was inhuman!

No, he needed to find a way to earn money here. After all, he didn’t know how long he would stay.

Though Su Bie and Wang Dafu also had some money, casually spending a thousand taels on a brothel visit was clearly impossible.

“Brother Yang is indeed wealthy and generous—admiring!”

Su Bie responded coolly, refusing to indulge the pretense.

Wang Dafu sneered, “A thousand taels is nothing; I have that too! But unlike some people, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to bring a thousand just to see a girl once.”

Yang Qian smiled and looked at Luo Zijun and Zhang Yitian, asking, “And you two are...?”

Zhang Yitian quickly stood and smiled, “I am Zhang Yitian, a fellow student with Brothers Su and Wang. Pleased to meet you, Brother Yang.”

Yang Qian nodded and smiled, “As academy students, we are all friends. If Brother Zhang is willing, join me later for a drink and to meet Miss Chu Jian.”

Zhang Yitian thanked him promptly.

Yang Qian’s gaze then fell on the remaining young man.

Liu Songjin’s face darkened immediately. “Brother Yang, this is Luo Zijun, the one who was rejected by Miss Yan in marriage. I heard he used to be an apprentice at the pharmacy and only recently passed the scholar’s exam.”

Luo Zijun clasped his hands. “Brother Yang.”

Yang Qian’s smile remained. “Brother Luo, we are all scholars here. You and Brother Liu have misunderstandings, but one must fight to become acquainted. Later, we’ll all go meet Miss Chu Jian. You can apologize to Brother Liu, have a few drinks, and settle your differences. How about that?”

At these words, the eyes of Su Bie, Wang Dafu, and Zhang Yitian all turned toward the young man beside them, their expressions varied.

Luo Zijun smiled faintly. “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint Brother Yang.”

---

Yang Qian’s smile persisted. “Oh?”

Luo Zijun replied calmly, “First, I’m not interested in meeting Miss Chu Jian. Second, if you want me to drink, it’s on one condition: Brother Liu must apologize to me. Then I’ll forgive and forget his mistakes. What do you think?”

The smile on Yang Qian’s face vanished instantly.

Liu Songjin grit his teeth. “Luo Zijun! You’re just a lowly pharmacy apprentice. What makes you so arrogant? Even if you passed the scholar’s exam, you might not even get into the academy! Without entering, you’re nothing. What right do you have to act high and mighty before me?”

Luo Zijun glanced at him. “Brother Liu means that those who enter the academy are nothing? I can’t speak for others, but Brother Liu certainly is. After all, when you were fished out of the lake yesterday, you were truly quaking in your boots.”

“Pfft—hahaha!”

Wang Dafu burst into laughter, “Luo brother is sharp-tongued! He really is like a fart! Hahaha!”

Liu Songjin, furious and humiliated, was about to retort when Madam Liu hurried over anxiously, “Oh heavens, young masters, please don’t cause trouble here. We are all scholars; speak nicely, speak nicely.”

She was well aware of the incident on the boat yesterday.

“Young Master Liu, it was just a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Come, come, today I’ll arrange a good private room for all of you.”

Madam Liu was troubled; she dared offend no one.

At that moment, Yang Qian suddenly smiled, “Madam Liu, when will Miss Chu Jian come out?”

He deliberately raised his voice so that those nearby and some distance away could hear.

Sure enough, many eyes turned toward them.

Madam Liu was momentarily stunned, then looked at him, “Who said Miss Chu Jian is coming out today? My girl isn’t feeling well and needs to rest for a while.”

Yang Qian’s smile faded. “Madam Liu, I came earlier this morning to make an advance reservation. I already prepaid five hundred taels, and today I brought an additional thousand taels.”

Madam Liu gave him a strange look, “Who did you send to make the appointment?”

Yang Qian replied, “My servant. A short, skinny boy with small eyes. I gave him five hundred taels to...”

“Wait, where is that servant? Brother Yang, send him out—I want to see him first.”

Madam Liu interrupted quickly.

Yang Qian was stunned and looked around, then called out, “Yang Pei, where is Little Ma? Bring him here!”

The servant Yang Pei hurried over and reported, “Young master, Little Ma is missing! When we arrived at the brothel, he said he had a stomach ache and went to the restroom. I just checked; there was no one there! Wang Jing just came from the mansion and said he wasn’t there either! We asked around on the street; someone said they saw him hurriedly boarding a carriage heading out of town...”

“???”

Yang Qian was dumbfounded.

Madam Liu looked at him sympathetically, “Young Master Yang, your servant probably absconded with the money...”

“Hahaha!”

Wang Dafu couldn’t help but burst into laughter again. “Five hundred taels! That’s enough for that servant to live off for half his life! Hahaha!”

Yang Qian’s face turned deathly pale, his body trembling with rage.

Madam Liu glanced at him with a forced smile, “To be honest, gentlemen, even if it were five thousand taels, you wouldn’t get to see Miss Chu Jian today. She has clearly stated she will see no one for now. Whoever comes, she won’t meet. You’d better choose another girl.”

The surrounding guests were disappointed.

Yang Qian’s complexion shifted between pale and dark.

Madam Liu was about to say more soothing words when a maid hurried over and whispered in her ear, “Madam, Sister Bi just sent word—Miss Chu Jian is willing to see visitors.”

Madam Liu was stunned, her face full of surprise. “Impossible. Are you sure you heard right? Didn’t she just say she wouldn’t see anyone today? Besides, she just...” She urged the maid to ask again.

The young maid timidly replied, “Sister Bi said so for sure.”

Madam Liu’s expression flickered, still doubtful. “I’ll go check!”

---

She then told Yang Qian and the others, “Gentlemen, please wait here. I’ll be right back. Enjoy your food and drinks, don’t quarrel. I will arrange two good private rooms for you later!”

With that, she hurried away, swaying her waist.

“Just now I heard that Miss Chu Jian is willing to receive visitors? Tsk, tsk, maybe Brother Yang’s sincerity moved her to change her mind?”

A young man behind Yang Qian said excitedly.

“Probably.”

“Brother Yang is impressive. If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t get to see her even with money. After all, Miss Chu Jian’s status is very different now.”

Others nearby chimed in with flattery.

Yang Qian, who had been utterly embarrassed and grim-faced, now saw the situation take a turn. Though pained over the lost five hundred taels, he forced a smile and said lightly, “Don’t speculate. We’ll know when Madam Liu returns. If Miss Chu Jian is willing to see us, that’s best.”

Seeing all eyes on him, he smiled faintly again, “As for the five hundred taels, it’s lost. Consider it spent here—a small matter.”

His words drew more flattery.

Luo Zijun suddenly said, “Brother Yang, do you still need a servant?”

Yang Qian looked at him.

Luo Zijun proposed, “Why don’t I be your servant today? You give me that thousand taels, and I’ll help you arrange a meeting with Miss Chu Jian. How about it?”

Yang Qian’s gaze darkened; he thought Luo Zijun was mocking him.

Liu Songjin immediately sneered with contempt, “You? You want to meet Miss Chu Jian? Take a good look at yourself. Even if you had ten thousand taels, she wouldn’t glance at you!”

“That’s not certain.”

Luo Zijun looked at him. “If you really gave me ten thousand taels, maybe Miss Chu Jian would leave with me. But judging by you, you probably can’t even come up with a thousand—so stop bragging about ten thousand.”

“You...”

Liu Songjin’s face flushed. Seeing all eyes on him, he took a hundred taels from his pocket and sneered, “I don’t have a thousand, but I do have a hundred! You, working as an apprentice, must have earned a lot. Show us how much you have on you.”

Luo Zijun shrugged, “I have no money.”

Liu Songjin sneered and was about to speak when Luo Zijun added, “Though I have no money, who knows—maybe Miss Chu Jian would still be willing to see me?”

“Hahaha...”

Liu Songjin laughed loudly and pointed at him, “Everyone, listen to this madman! Is he crazy? Miss Chu Jian see him? Wake him up, someone!”

Luo Zijun looked at him calmly. “What if I really do meet her?”

Liu Songjin laughed even harder, “A toad oblivious to its ugliness! If you meet Miss Chu Jian, I’ll eat shit! Everyone here will eat shit! Hahaha...”

Just then, from the second floor came Madam Liu’s voice, “Luo Zijun, Young Master Luo, please come upstairs.”

Liu Songjin’s laughter abruptly stopped.

He turned his head and looked up.

The noisy hall fell silent.

Madam Liu stood by the railing, smiling broadly and waving, “Young Master Luo, come up quickly. Miss Chu Jian is waiting for you in the private room.”

Liu Songjin: “...”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward him in unison.