Chapter 83: Golden Leaf
Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Golden Leaf
Inside the bundle, a shimmering, brilliant golden light filled his vision!
Within were forty-six neatly stacked gold leaves, each the size of a palm—thick and heavy. Beneath them lay a small number of Silver Yuanbao.
The immense fortune made him temporarily forget his fear. An irrepressible joy spread across his face as he frantically stuffed the small bundle into the front of his robes.
Just then, Chen Li’s voice suddenly came from behind him. "What are you doing?"
Bai San froze. He whipped around, forcing an incredibly sycophantic smile. "N-nothing, Sir!"
"Oh?"
Chen Li glanced at him, his gaze falling on Bai San’s obviously bulging chest. He asked lightly, "Why are your pectorals so... exaggerated?"
"I... I was... I was b-born this way, naturally gifted..."
Bai San was on the verge of tears. ’Damn it, why couldn’t I hide this stuff better!’ he cursed inwardly.
If he had known, he wouldn’t have worn these stealth clothes. Regular clothes with a satchel would have definitely kept it hidden.
"Take it out."
Chen Li’s gaze was calm, but his tone left no room for argument.
Bai San gave an awkward laugh, his expression changing in an instant. Putting on the air of someone presenting a treasure, he hastily pulled out the small bundle and offered it to Chen Li. "Sir, look, we’ve struck it rich! Who knew this godforsaken place was hiding such a prize! These are pure gold leaves, five taels apiece!
A full forty-six of them! The Court controls gold extremely strictly, so you never see it on the open market. An ordinary wealthy family might have some silver jewelry with a bit of gold at most. Only the fabulously wealthy or high-ranking officials could possibly possess gold leaves like these!"
Chen Li’s eyes flickered as he glanced at the gold and silver in the bundle.
He was well aware of how valuable and rare gold was in this world.
Years ago, after marrying his wife, Song Ying, he had planned to have a golden hairpin made for her.
But after searching all over the county town and finding none, he learned that gold had to be exchanged for at a money-lender’s shop. Furthermore, each person could only exchange for five taels per day.
During the exchange, you even had to tell the shop what you were using it for, just like a criminal interrogation. After that, Chen Li lost interest in gold.
"Let’s go."
Chen Li gave Bai San a deep look, gaining a new appreciation for his ability to ferret out and conceal things. He put away the gold and silver and turned toward the stairs.
Seeing this, Bai San grew anxious and hurried to catch up and explain. "Sir, if we exchange this gold at the official rate—one tael of gold for one hundred taels of silver—that’s only twenty-three thousand taels. Plus, the amount you can exchange is strictly controlled. But if... if we go through the Black Market...
"It’s much more sought-after on the Black Market. It wouldn’t be surprising for the price to double. Sir, if you let me handle it, I can get you forty-six thousand taels of silver in less than half a month."
He kept his head down, not daring to look at Chen Li, afraid he would see through his scheme.
On the Black Market, double the exchange rate was just the starting price. With a little patience, he could sell it for even more, possibly even triple the price.
Even if he didn’t skim any of the money, he could still make a huge profit from the difference in price.
But Chen Li paid him no mind and simply walked away quickly.
Bai San was burning with anxiety, but there was nothing he could do. He could only stomp his foot in frustration, grit his teeth, and chase after him.
Chen Li walked out of the secret room. His Divine Sense swept across the small courtyard, and he spotted two carrier pigeons in a corner. "Bring the pigeons in the cage, too," he ordered.
"Sir, what do you want these pigeons for? To make soup?"
Not understanding, Bai San quickly picked up the two cages and caught up to Chen Li. He pleaded obsequiously, "Sir, my antidote... can you give it to me now?"
Chen Li replied coolly, "No rush. You’re going to do one more thing for me."
Bai San’s face twisted as if he’d swallowed bitter herbs. "Sir, you clearly said you’d give me the antidote and let me go after I got the ledger! You said one thing after another... the ledger was one, the tavern was another, and now this makes three!"
Chen Li’s tone was flat. "Don’t be anxious. This time, there’s no danger. I’m sending you to a land of pleasure, the Drunken Creek Pavilion. Your antidote is there, too."
Drunken Creek Pavilion?
Bai San’s eyes lit up. He had a particular fondness for brothel girls.
However, he usually frequented low-class establishments. He had rarely visited a high-class brothel like the Drunken Creek Pavilion.
Mainly because he had no money. The prices were too high. A single visit with one of the Courtesans inside cost as much as dozens of visits to a low-class place.
He licked his lips subconsciously as he thought about the legendary Courtesans, said to be unparalleled in both talent and beauty. ’Although I prefer quantity over quality, sampling the top-shelf goods once in a while... doesn’t seem so bad.’
「...」
Early in the morning, sunlight pierced through a thin mist.
In the Chen Family’s front courtyard.
In the center of the yard, Chen Shouyue was holding her breath, her focus absolute, as she meticulously practiced the Five Directions Twenty-Four Solar Terms Wuxiang Fist.
She was still young and hadn’t been practicing for long, so her movements were still somewhat clumsy.
She slowly executed the "Spring Awakening" stance, its intent focused on the east to stimulate the vigorous rise of liver qi.
But her transition from waist to stance was slightly sluggish. The Fist Intent that should have burst forth failed to fully manifest. Instead, she used too much force, swayed on her feet, and nearly lost her balance.
"Wrong, wrong!"
Chen Shouheng, who was watching from the side, immediately furrowed his brow, his voice thick with impatience. "How many times have I told you? This stance requires unity between the waist and horse stance, with Power rising from the ground! You’re so limp, like your heels have no roots. How are you supposed to generate any force? Your heels need to be nailed to the ground like spikes!"
Shouyue’s small face was tense. She pursed her lips, trying to regulate her breathing, then transitioned to the "Rain Water" stance. With a flip of her wrist, she attempted to create a soft, coiling intent, but her nervousness made her movements exceptionally stiff, and the form was lost.
"Aiya..."
Chen Shouheng slapped his thigh, looking utterly disappointed. "Your wrist! Your wrist has to be loose and light! The Power should be released in short bursts, not by flailing your arms! What the heck are you even practicing?"
Under the eaves of the corridor, Song Ying sat on a stool, holding her youngest son, Shoujing. She was basking in the sun while watching her children practice their martial arts.
Hearing her eldest son’s loud and boisterous instructions, she couldn’t help but frown and call out, "Shouheng! What’s the rush? Teach your sister properly! Be more patient! Shouyue, don’t panic, take your time. Don’t listen to your brother’s yelling. Just be steady and do it over and over."
"Mother, I’ve taught her over and over again so many times."
Shouheng turned his head and complained in a hushed voice, his face a picture of helplessness. "How is my sister even... slower at Opening Acupoints than I was?"
"You little rascal," Song Ying chided softly. "What kind of older brother are you? All you do is discourage her."
She saw that Shouyue’s eyes were turning red and tears were welling up, but she was biting her lip, refusing to cry.
Shouye, who was nearby, quickly walked over. He came to Shouyue’s side and said in a gentle voice, "Don’t rush. Your breathing has to follow the stances. Don’t hold your breath. Watch me..."
As he spoke, he patiently broke down the movements, guiding Shouyue’s posture with his hands and demonstrating the details of how to exert force over and over.
Shouye had reached Blood Refining Great Success, and Chen Li had told him to stay home for a while instead of rushing back to the martial arts hall.
After all, he had just broken through to the Blood Refining stage at the hall. To return having already achieved Great Success in such a short time would easily arouse suspicion and envy.
If nothing else, there was no way he could hide it from Master Li’s young daughter, Li Jinru.
After Shouye had carefully taught her the essentials of the stance.
Shouheng also realized he had been too harsh. He scratched his head and took the initiative to approach her. "Alright, little sis, big brother was wrong just now. I was a bit blunt. I’m sorry... Don’t take it to heart."