Chapter 66 - 31: Actor 2
Chapter 66: Chapter 31: Actor 2
Back then, her family had borrowed grain from the Fang Family but had sided with Song Dashan. After that incident, the other families in Willow Alley didn’t say anything to their faces, but they all secretly labeled them as ’ungrateful’ and subtly ostracized them.
In this situation, even if Sister-in-law Cai Gen swallowed her pride and went door to door to borrow grain, she wouldn’t get any.
"If only I hadn’t spoken up for Song Dashan back then. It would have been better even if I’d just kept my mouth shut! Then I could at least shamelessly go to the Fang Family to borrow grain..."
This was something Sister-in-law Cai Gen had dreamed of more than once, waking with a start in the middle of the night, consumed by regret.
After a long silence, she gritted her teeth and said, "Even if we have to eat willow leaves, we need to mix them with some wheat bran. We can’t let our bodies break down... In a few days, the Tiger Gang’s protection fee will be due... Husband, tomorrow, take that dowry piece I brought with me when I married and pawn it for good at the pawnshop!"
Uncle Fu Quan’s body trembled, and then he let out a deep sigh.
"I’m so sorry, Er Dan. Mom’s silver hairpin... I was planning on passing it down to your future wife... But now, our family just can’t hold on any longer. We can’t survive!"
Sister-in-law Cai Gen stroked Er Dan’s face as two silent streams of tears rolled down her own.
"Mom!"
Er Dan’s nose tingled. Though he was still too young to fully understand, the atmosphere made him feel an indescribable ache in his heart.
"Don’t cry, my son. This is my fault. I deserve this. Once the silver hairpin is sold, we can buy wheat bran, and I’ll make you cakes to eat..."
Sister-in-law Cai Gen sniffled, forced a smile, and got up to retrieve the item from the inner room.
...
Fang Rui knew nothing of what was happening at Sister-in-law Cai Gen’s home. He had just returned from Uncle Zao Hua’s house and entered his own.
"Did you deliver the grain?"
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, having just washed the dishes, wiped her hands and came out of the kitchen to ask.
"I did. Uncle Zao Hua’s family... they’re having a hard time," Fang Rui said.
"In times like these, everyone is struggling. Everyone is suffering."
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family sighed. "Our family can’t help everyone. At most, we can pick one or two families we’re on better terms with and give them some support."
"Yes."
Fang Rui nodded.
He wasn’t a cold-blooded person. In this cold, cruel world, he couldn’t be a saint and save everyone, but for those who had shown him kindness, he wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand when he could.
—Like Uncle Zao Hua’s family.
"Fortunately, our family can still get by."
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was immensely grateful. "If you hadn’t recovered, Brother Rui, and broken through to Entry Grade, our family would probably be struggling too."
Fang Rui just smiled and said nothing.
In the dim firelight, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was sewing clothes by the oil lamp.
Fang Rui held Fang Ling, softly telling her a story as he waited for the right hour to go to the Black Market.
Outside the window, the night wind howled, its gusts whining urgently. A few drafts slipped into the room, causing the flame of the oil lamp to leap up and down.
The small shadows of the three of them were cast on the floor, huddled together, swaying gently with the flickering light.
...
When the hour was right, Fang Rui stood up, shouldered his medicine pouch, led Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Fang Ling into the cellar, and left the house.
He had already made arrangements with Jiang Ping’an. After leaving the house, he could see two familiar figures in a distant alley.
’Brother Jiang is in position. I can head out now.’
Fang Rui nodded in their direction and headed straight for the Black Market.
...
Having made the trip so many times, Fang Rui was familiar with the routine. He paid the fee, took a number plate, entered the Black Market, and set up his stall.
Many people recognized him, some looking at him sideways, others with awe, and still others with fear... all accompanied by a chorus of whispers.
"It’s him! That’s him!"
"That’s the expert acknowledged by Lord Yuan. I heard that Zhou Changlin, Gao Tong, and their gang of thugs were..."
"SHH, quiet down! Don’t talk about it. He’s a master; he can hear you."
...
This was the aftermath of the last incident... But on the other hand, Fang Rui’s fame had grown, and his business was booming.
All he could say was that he was enjoying the bittersweet results.
"I’ll take ten packs of Scar Remover."
The customer took the items and paid, but didn’t leave. "Sir, I’m the Steward of the Chang Family... My master has instructed me to invite you to be a household guard. The pay is fifteen taels of silver a month..."
"My apologies. I prefer my freedom and don’t like being tied down."
Fang Rui refused without a second thought.
"Ah! Very well, sir. Please, carry on!"
The man didn’t press the issue and left promptly.
—His master had instructed him to treat Fang Rui with respect, whether he accepted the offer or not... And even without that order, Fang Rui’s status as a powerful expert was enough to ensure the steward wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful.
After that, another two or three groups among the medicine buyers—from merchant caravans, Escort Agencies, and the like—tried to hire him, with the highest offer reaching twenty taels of silver a month...
Fang Rui refused them all.
’Why does everyone want me to be their dog?’ he thought, frustrated.
If he revealed his Seventh Grade strength and pledged allegiance to some faction, he would have no shortage of offers with good pay. He just wasn’t willing to do it.
’Of course, I could just see it as a job, like being a security guard in my past life. Thinking of it that way, I don’t really have a mental block against it.’
’It’s just that if you take the money, you have to take on the responsibility!’
If someone pays a high price to hire you, they’re not going to let you sit around doing nothing. That’s a given! And fighting means making enemies and getting mixed up in trouble... What if I get entangled with some major figure or powerful faction?
Furthermore, even if my enemies couldn’t harm me after I revealed my identity, what if they turned their attention to Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Fang Ling instead?
It was a situation where one wrong move could bring everything crashing down.
’I’ve read novels. Being a bodyguard, an escort, or a caravan guard... those are all just synonyms for trouble. It’s too dangerous!’
’That doesn’t align with my cautious nature. After all, if I can just lie low, why would I go out fighting? I’m a peace-loving person, you know,’ Fang Rui thought to himself.
"I need two packs of Muscle Regeneration Powder and three packs of Scar Remover."
"Coming right up!"
Fang Rui snapped out of his thoughts and handed over the medicine pouches.
’Selling medicine like this is much better. It’s free, it’s easy, and most importantly, it’s less trouble,’ he thought with satisfaction as he accepted the silver.
...
When he had sold more than half of his medicine pouches,
the Black Market patrol came by, and among them was a person Fang Rui never expected to see.
"Well now, Lord Fang, business is booming, I see! Auspicious and prosperous!" Gao Yao greeted him with the same old fawning smile, bowing and scraping.
"Gao Yao?!"
A glint flashed in Fang Rui’s eyes as he understood the man’s intentions. ’Last time, to save his own skin, this guy set up Yuan Da to be his blade and ended up offending him. So, is he afraid of retaliation and joined the Black Market as a patrol guard for protection?’
’This move might actually work. Now that Gao Yao is one of their own, a figure like Yuan Da might not bother with him anymore. It’s not a guarantee, of course, but it’s a clever play!’
’If you can’t beat them, join them? This guy... is a real piece of work, isn’t he?’
Though Fang Rui had already figured it out, he still asked, "How did you end up as a Black Market guard?"
Gao Yao would never admit he was afraid of Yuan Da’s revenge. He just said, "Hehe, Lord Fang, you know how it is. The city’s been unstable lately, times are tough, and it just so happened the Black Market was hiring... I’ve got a bit of a silver tongue, so I joined up..."
"I see," Fang Rui nodded, not calling his bluff.
"I hope Lord Fang will look out for me in the future!" Gao Yao said, as respectful as ever, spouting pleasantries.
Even though he had joined the Black Market and become a patrol guard, he still couldn’t afford to offend Fang Rui. If he made Fang Rui unhappy and Fang Rui decided to attack him outside the market, who would know? Who would care?
"Of course, of course," Fang Rui replied noncommittally.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Gao Yao left.
Once he was some distance away, Gao Yao’s expression suddenly changed. A vicious, jealous look flashed across his face as he spat on the ground behind him and said hatefully, "Ptooey! That bastard Fang. His business is doing way too well!"
"And what about last time... Hmph. He better hope I don’t get an opportunity!"
He muttered to himself, straightened his back, and swaggered off.
’Well, I’ll be damned!’
Fang Rui had kept a close eye on the man, and now he had a clear view of the whole scene. He confirmed what he saw: ’This Gao Yao... was he acting for me?!’
When it came to acting?
He had a thing or two to say about that.
Fang Rui was also a seasoned, veteran actor. He had played the part of Lord Hu and Lord Bao... The latter was now dead, and the former was like a grasshopper after autumn—living on borrowed time.