Volume One, Chapter 13: Xiao Fan, the Early Riser Who Never Misses a Profit

“What? Are you sure?” Zhao Defu exclaimed in shock.

The steward Wang nodded solemnly. “I examined it carefully and I’m very certain—the gold came from the insiders! Fan Xiu said that on his way back, he saved an old man who gave him the gold. Besides that, the Fan family now has a woman who is either very wealthy or noble!”

Zhao Defu narrowed his eyes. “Interesting. So you suspect that Fan Xiu... has connections either with the royal family or someone in the court?”

“I’m not sure,” Wang said, shaking his head. “Master taught me to be cautious in such matters. When uncertain, I should come back and ask you.”

“You’ve done well,” Zhao Defu said. “First, find out their true background. By the way, didn’t Scar Zhang take that piece of gold? Send someone to follow him. If that gold really is from the insiders, Scar Zhang is probably heading for trouble.”

“Understood, Master. I have already assigned someone to tail him,” Wang replied.

Qinglin Village, Fan Residence.

After tidying up the courtyard, Fan Xiu headed straight to Xiao Ruoqing’s room.

While cleaning the courtyard earlier, he had been pondering some ideas and had a rough plan on how to make money.

Unfortunately, his gold ingot had been snatched by Scar Zhang.

But doing business without money was impossible.

Fortunately, there was still a beautiful goddess of wealth in the room.

“Wifey,” Fan Xiu said with a fawning smile, “I’m here to serve you.”

“Shut up! Who are you calling ‘wifey’?” Xiao Ruoqing snapped, both embarrassed and furious. “Say that again and I’ll cut you down, you filthy dog!”

Despite her words, she still handed Fan Xiu the chamber pot, not even daring to meet his gaze as she did so.

To be so familiar with a woman’s most private matters, yet now completely exposed before this man, Xiao Ruoqing felt her entire spirit nearly break.

“You must not tell anyone about this, or I won’t let you off!” she warned in a low voice.

“Got it, wifey. I won’t tell a soul,” Fan Xiu chuckled, placing the chamber pot under the bed.

“You still dare call me wifey? Are you trying to die?” Xiao Ruoqing shouted.

I, the majestic Great Yin Empress!

How dare you call me wifey?

You damned scoundrel!

You’ve even gotten addicted to taking advantage of me!

“Hehe!”

Fan Xiu grinned slyly, “I brought you the chamber pot, what else could you call me but your wifey? Come on, wifey, wash your hands.”

He immediately presented a basin of water.

Xiao Ruoqing clenched her teeth in hatred.

This dog really knows how to press my buttons.

But despite her anger, she obediently extended her hand and washed it in the basin.

“By the way!”

Fan Xiu pointed outside. “The sun’s shining beautifully out there. Come on, wifey, I’ll carry you outside to bask in the sun!”

He reached out to support her.

“Get lost!” Xiao Ruoqing slapped his hand away angrily. “What exactly do you want?”

Fan Xiu rubbed his hands together, grinning. “Well… Sis, can you lend me some money for a little emergency?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruoqing’s anger surged. No wonder Fan Xiu suddenly changed his attitude and started flattering her—he’d been waiting here for her!

That scoundrel, indeed, only acts when there’s profit!

“No,” Xiao Ruoqing shook her head. “I only have that ingot of gold, which I already gave you.”

She usually carried no money and had no reason to spend any.

The only reason she brought that gold ingot to Xuzhou in disguise was to buy things she desired if she saw any.

When Fan Xiu asked for money, she casually handed over the gold ingot without a second thought.

Now that the gold was in Scar Zhang’s hands, she only hoped the assassins wouldn’t find it.

“What?” Fan Xiu’s eyes widened. “No way, you can casually pull out a gold ingot, but now you’re broke? Just squeeze me for a bit! I don’t need much—ten taels of silver is fine! When I changed your clothes, I felt several bulges on you.”

“You!” Xiao Ruoqing ground her teeth, pointing at him with murderous intent. “You filthy dog! How dare you say that! I’ll skin you alive someday and use your head as a ball!”

Fan Xiu grabbed her hand and pressed it down, his face serious. “Don’t make a fuss, wifey. I’ve explained before—the bulges were just from changing your clothes by accident! If I really wanted to take advantage of you, why would the lining of your clothes still be intact? And how could I not know what you’re hiding? Am I right?”

Xiao Ruoqing glared, but the murderous look in her eyes softened somewhat.

Fan Xiu did change her clothes, but only the outerwear; the lining wasn’t touched.

Everything she carried was still intact.

Had Fan Xiu seen those items, he’d probably be begging for mercy on his knees.

From this perspective, although Fan Xiu was shameless and somewhat sleazy, even taking advantage of her at times, he still respected boundaries and never crossed the line.

“Those things are my parents’ heirlooms. They’re worthless!” Xiao Ruoqing said angrily.

“Uh…” Fan Xiu paused, then grinned. “Then forget it.”

Though he was short on money, he wouldn’t covet her parents’ keepsakes.

At that moment, Fan Xiu’s gaze fell on the hairpin atop Xiao Ruoqing’s head, and his eyes lit up.

“Wifey, how about lending me that hairpin? I should be able to get some money for it,” he asked eagerly.

“You filthy dog! Go die right now!” Xiao Ruoqing cursed, glanced around, then grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

This dog just plucks feathers off the living!

He wants everything!

That hairpin was a gift from her mother on her deathbed—there was no way she would lend it to Fan Xiu.

Fan Xiu caught the pillow and lightly tapped her head with it, grinning. “Don’t be so angry! If you won’t lend it, fine. It’s just a pity that Scar Zhang snatched that gold ingot!”

Xiao Ruoqing shot him a fierce glare and said solemnly, “Don’t worry, he won’t be able to spend that gold.”

“Huh?” Fan Xiu exclaimed. “What do you mean? Don’t tell me the gold is fake?”

Just as Xiao Ruoqing was about to answer, a sly expression crossed her face. “Yes, it’s indeed fake.”

Fan Xiu blinked in surprise.

Then he glared at her fiercely. “My dear wifey, how dare you lie even to your husband? I won’t let you off this time!”

Xiao Ruoqing’s expression changed sharply. “Don’t you dare!”

“Hehe!”

Elsewhere.

Zhiyuan County.

After returning to Zhiyuan County, Scar Zhang delivered the deed and property contracts to the Four Seas Bank, but kept the gold ingot.

He then headed directly to the county’s largest brothel, the Drunken Immortal Residence.

Every time he finished collecting debts, his first stop was the Drunken Immortal to unwind.

Having collected debts for years, he mostly dealt with petty troublemakers, and had only ever seen copper or silver coins.

Today, finally receiving a gold ingot, he had to celebrate properly!

“Yo.”

At the door, Madam Ma, the brothel’s madam, waved a handkerchief coquettishly upon seeing Scar Zhang. “Lord Zhang, long time no see! The girls have missed you terribly.”

“Haha!” Scar Zhang laughed heartily. “That’s good—I like it when they miss me! Where’s Red Sleeve? Send her over to keep me company!”

Madam Ma’s face lit up. “Lord Zhang’s calling for Red Sleeve—looks like you’ve struck it rich.”

“You bet! I’ve got gold in my hands!” Scar Zhang said proudly, tossing the gold ingot from his pocket with a sly smile. “Is that enough?”

In a corner of the main hall sat two scholarly-looking young men with delicate features.

Elsewhere in the hall, other guests were either composing poetry or drinking with the brothel girls.

But these two men only drank quietly, their eyes constantly scanning the hall.

They were actually blood-feather guards from the Empress’s personal guard, disguised through transformation.

“Lord Shadow, is Her Majesty really in Zhiyuan County?” asked Xiao Wan, a blood-feather guard with a round face, glancing at the sharp-eyed commander ‘Shadow’ beside her.