But Bai San wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he moved closer, a cunning glint in his small eyes, and lowered his voice. "Steward Jiang, you seem to have quite the temper. But... is the esteemed guest upstairs dissatisfied again?"
Hearing this, Jiang Li sized him up suspiciously. "How did you know?"
He was so desperate he’d clutch at any straw, and couldn’t be bothered with the other man’s status.
Bai San chuckled. "What other new things could possibly happen in the Drunken Creek Pavilion? I saw how worried you are. I’m guessing the person our esteemed guest wants isn’t easy to find, is she?"
Jiang Li sighed and lowered his voice. "Isn’t that the truth. The young master’s standards are so high. The women of our pavilion are all Superior, mind you, but he won’t even give them a second glance. He insists on a peerless beauty, and I have to find her within a day. This... where am I supposed to conjure one up from?"
Bai San’s eyes darted, a knowing smile spreading across his face as he lowered his voice even further. "I happen to know of a true beauty. In looks and bearing, I fear she surpasses even Miss Jing Hong. She’s aloof and stunningly beautiful. I guarantee she’ll satisfy the esteemed guest upstairs."
"Oh? Quickly, tell me, who is it?" Jiang Li asked urgently.
Bai San chuckled slyly. "Steward Jiang, this information has to be worth something, right? After it’s done, I don’t want any gold and silver. I just need you to pull a few strings and grant me control over five of the pavilion’s women. That’ll be enough."
"Control over five women?"
Jiang Li was taken aback for a moment. The request was certainly odd.
But then he recalled how this man often flirted and got handsy with the women in the pavilion. He was a lecher, plain and simple, which made the request understandable.
Compared to Jiang Chaoshan’s wrath, this was nothing.
He immediately waved his hand grandly. "If you can really find such a beauty, forget five—I’ll give you ten! Now tell me, where is she?"
But Bai San just grinned and shook his head. "Steward Jiang, words are cheap. This person... her status is a bit special. She’s a distant cousin of Miss Jing Hong who came seeking refuge a while ago. She’s staying in a quiet little courtyard not far from here.
Miss Jing Hong is very protective of her and doesn’t let her see visitors. I only happened to see her once by chance and was stunned. She’s like a Celestial Being. If we want to get her to come... we’ll need Miss Jing Hong’s approval."
"This... Why don’t you go talk to her for me?"
Jiang Li hesitated. Deep down, he was still a little afraid of Miss Jing Hong.
’Especially since this is her cousin. If I go and make this kind of request, won’t Miss Jing Hong teach me a lesson?’
Seeing his hesitation, Bai San immediately puffed out his chest. "Done! Seeing as you’ve always taken care of us brothers, Steward Jiang, I’ll risk losing face and go have a word with Miss Jing Hong. You just wait for my news."
With that, Bai San turned and walked with a spring in his step toward the separate courtyard where Jing Hong lived.
Jiang Li watched his retreating figure, his heart a mix of apprehension and hope. He wrung his hands, pacing back and forth on the spot.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Bai San returned, an irrepressible joy on his face. He leaned in and whispered in Jiang Li’s ear, "Steward Jiang, good news. Miss Jing Hong refused at first, no matter what, but she couldn’t stand up to my pestering and finally relented. However..."
As he spoke, a cunning glint appeared in his eyes. "This... without this much," he said, "I’m afraid we can’t convince Miss Jing Hong to let her go."
He held up three fingers.
"Three thousand taels?" Jiang Li asked.
Bai San shook his head and whispered in his ear, "Thirty thousand taels. And she’s all yours."
"Thirty thousand taels?"
Jiang Li sucked in a sharp breath, his voice cracking. "How can she be so expensive?"
The amount was simply too high!
But Bai San was unhurried, analyzing the situation methodically. "Steward Jiang, think about it. In the past, when buying out a popular Courtesan from the Drunken Creek Pavilion, didn’t it always start at ten thousand taels? And that’s just for buying out one of the brothel girls. This cousin of Miss Jing Hong’s is a lady from a good family, with a clean background, completely pure, and her beauty surpasses even Miss Jing Hong’s.
Thirty thousand taels to completely buy out such a peerless beauty—the price is more than fair. Besides, if she ends up with an important person and rises in status, do you think you won’t reap the benefits in the residence later on?"
Hearing this, Jiang Li was torn.
Thirty thousand taels of silver... He really couldn’t produce that much silver right away. He could scrape together twenty thousand taels from the Iron Alliance’s accounts...
But the thought of Jiang Chaoshan’s rage made him grit his teeth.
"Thirty thousand taels... The amount is too large. I can’t withdraw that much at once."
Jiang Li said after a moment of thought, "How about this: I’ll give you twenty thousand taels as a deposit first. Once I see her in person, as long as the young master is satisfied and gives his nod, I will immediately find a way to pay the remaining ten thousand taels. I definitely won’t delay."
"I’ll go discuss it with Miss Jing Hong right now," Bai San said with a nod.
He returned again shortly, smiling. "Steward Jiang, it’s a deal! But Miss Jing Hong said the twenty-thousand-tael deposit must be delivered tonight. The remaining ten thousand taels must be paid within three days!"
Jiang Li was overjoyed. "Excellent! Excellent! Bai San, you’ve really helped me out this time. Don’t worry, as long as the young master is satisfied, you’ll be well-rewarded in the future."
...
Drunken Creek Pavilion.
The usual nighttime clamor had been replaced by a somewhat oppressive silence.
The main doors were wide open, but there were no greeters, only Guards standing on either side.
The father and son, Chen Li and Chen Shouheng, arrived right on time.
Chen Li wore a long robe of dark blue fine cloth, his expression as calm as still water.
Chen Shouheng, on the other hand, was dressed in black martial attire with a brocade vest, his brow showing the sharp spirit unique to the young.
The two presented their invitation. After a Guard inspected it, he bowed silently and led them inside.
A lavish banquet was already set in the main hall. Of the dozen or so Village Chiefs they had met last year, only five were now present.
When the five Village Chiefs saw Chen Li and his son enter, they all rose and clasped their hands in greeting, their faces bearing forced smiles that couldn’t hide the worry in their eyes.
"Village Chief Chen, you’ve arrived."
"Quickly, have a seat, have a seat."
Chen Li clasped his hands in return, his gaze sweeping over their faces. ’I understand,’ he thought.
’The absent faces have likely met with disaster.’
’The storms of Jingshan County have finally washed away a group of people.’
Everyone sat down. A slightly heavyset, wealthy-looking middle-aged Village Chief gave a light cough, turned to Chen Shouheng, and forced a smile to break the deadlock. "Worthy Nephew Shouheng, congratulations! I heard you took first place in the County Examination. A true young talent!"
Chen Shouheng quickly returned the gesture humbly. "You praise me too much, Uncle. It was just a stroke of luck."
The Village Chief waved his hand, his smile becoming a bit more sincere. "Worthy Nephew, there’s no need to be modest."
He then changed the subject, sighing with a bit of emotion. "Speaking of which, my good-for-nothing son, Laibao, is also studying at the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall. Technically, he’s your senior martial brother. His aptitude is poor, not nearly as promising as yours, Worthy Nephew. If you have the chance in the future, I hope you can give him some guidance."
Hearing this, Chen Shouheng was slightly stunned for a moment, but then it dawned on him.
’So this is my senior martial brother Qian Laibao’s father.’ He had known that Qian Laibao’s family was wealthy but had never inquired about their details.
He quickly said, "So it is Elder Qian. Senior Martial Brother Laibao has looked after me quite a bit at the martial arts hall. It is I who should be asking him for advice."
Village Chief Qian hurriedly waved his hand. "Hah, don’t mention it. That little brat has been lazy his whole life and can’t endure hardship. If his mother and I hadn’t threatened him with our lives, he wouldn’t even want to learn Martial Arts. In the future, please give him some guidance. If he can pass the exam to become a Scholar, I’ll be content."
He lowered his voice slightly. "To tell you the truth, Worthy Nephew, my cousin is Chief Steward Ren of the County Magistrate’s Office’s Household Department. If you ever need any errands run or matters taken care of in the county, feel free to find me."
Hearing this, Chen Li glanced at the man. Qian Yiqian of the Household Department was an old acquaintance, and he never would have guessed he was this man’s cousin.
In a small county, the circles were indeed small.
Chen Shouheng understood the implication, clasped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Elder."