Chapter 7: Fat Jing

  A silver note was turned over and over again, and then the fat man put it into his sleeve.

  "Manager Jing?" Wang Lin asked hastily, if it was a matter that could be settled with 50 taels of silver, what did he want to get out of him?

  Fat boy, "Wang Gongzi, if you want to borrow money from someone's daughter, the contract should not be written so vaguely. It doesn't say that others will help repay it, nor does it specify a repayment deadline. I won't accept silver and insist on taking someone's daughter, which is unreasonable."

  Nan Yueping smiled and helped Zeng Niang up from the ground, "Did you hear that? You don't have to pay off the debt anymore."

  Zeng's face did not show a sense of relief, but instead looked at her useless father with sorrow and resentment, as well as her cold and indifferent stepmother.

  Nan Yue Lan was born in a humble alley, where people gather with similar kinds and separate into different groups. How can Xiao Bao Wang's friends be so easily dismissed?

  "But just then, Miss Zeng, I accepted these fifty taels from you, which may not be a good thing for you." But the fatty did not disappoint Nan Yue Lan.

  Nan Yueping raised an eyebrow, "Hey, what do you mean? Are you finished or not?"

  "For me it's over, but for Zeng Niangzi... " Fatso shook his head. "It's not over yet. The girl is also very clear about it, isn't she? Otherwise, why wouldn't she be happy?"

  "Shut up!" The spoiled and willful Nan Yuexiang who says whatever she wants.

  "How many people in your life can you meet who are willing to help you out of the blue like her?" The fatty ignored Nan Yueping and asked Zeng Niang, "In that gambler's family with an evil father and stepmother, do you plan on relying on strangers to get through each time you're sold off for debt? You might have such luck once, but I can guarantee you won't make it past the second time. How about it, want to listen to my advice?"

  What a psychological tactic! Nan Yue Lan Sheng listened with relish. The other side was a villain, but when praise is due, then praise.

  "I regard her as if she were my own daughter. You'd better not talk nonsense." Zhou Shi would never allow his reputation to be tarnished.

  "Hmm, you treat her like your own, so you inserted a silver hairpin worth ten taels in her hair, but you wouldn't use it to pay off the debt for your own daughter. The red jade bangle on your biological daughter's wrist is even more valuable, and trying to deceive people by smearing ash on it won't fool those who know their stuff." Fatso chuckled.

  Zeng's daughter didn't say a word, but two tears fell from her eyes.

  "It seems the young lady wants to listen, so I'll tell you." The fat man pulled out a piece of paper from his waistband pouch. "I'm looking for a capable maid for a wealthy family in the capital. You have a beautiful appearance and a gentle temperament, and you seem to understand what I say, which means you're clever. The Zhen family was originally well-off, but do you know how to read?"

  Zeng Niang nodded.

  "A five-year employment contract, with a monthly salary of over two taels. Your performance will be evaluated every year and your salary will be adjusted accordingly. The mistress is a woman of great integrity and will definitely help you find a suitable marriage partner, but it's up to your own wishes. If the young lady agrees, let's seal the deal."

  "My elder sister at home is not allowed to be a servant for others." Zeng Guang opposed.

  The contract rustled under Fatso's fingers as he waited. In his experience, whether this deal could be made or not didn't depend on that useless old man.

  Zeng Niang struggled to get up, "Are all the words you said true?"

  Fat boy shook the paper and said, "Whatever is written on this is true, others -" laughter passed through the oil, "I let the girl believe, does the girl want to believe all? In the end, the road must be walked by oneself, people must look at it themselves, no matter how much they listen to what others say, it's still nonsense."

  Zeng Niangniang took one step at a time, gritting her teeth, tears dripping out of her eyes, but she walked faster and faster.

  "Two taels of silver and you think you can take away my family's eldest daughter in just one month? Don't dream about it!" Zhou Shi rushed over to grab Zeng Niang's foot, "If she marries into a rich family as a concubine, the betrothal gifts would be worth a large sum." Wang Lin had promised that after the matter was settled, he would give her 100 taels, and also provide an annual allowance of 100 taels.

  Baozi's sedan chair bearer stepped on Zhou Shi, this job is easier than carrying a sedan chair.

  Seeing the Zhou family's desperation, her father's uselessness, Zeng Niang no longer hesitated, took over the contract and read it word by word, steeled herself and bit her finger, pressing her thumbprint on it.

  The fatty put away the paper and said, "I'm leaving now, miss. You'd better hurry up."

  Zeng's daughter was quite stubborn, immediately turned around and went home, but after a moment, she picked up a small bundle and knelt down in front of Zeng Guang, "Dad, take care, quit gambling and be a good person, don't sell your sisters again."

  Hua saw the situation and snorted disdainfully, "She's a good person, but good people don't have good luck. She's become someone else's servant girl. If she could force Zhou Shi to return the dowry silver, maybe she could be a young mistress who can hold her own."

  "Wait!" Nan Yueping wanted to intervene.

  Nan Yue Lan smiled and said, "There's still one good person."

  But An Hualan stopped Nan Yueping, "P'ing-mei, this is the young lady's own choice, we've done what we should."

  Nan Yueping indignantly said, "But that dead fatty used his glib tongue to swindle the silver and even took people away, is there such a good deal in this world?"

  Everyone thought about it and indeed, 50 taels of silver cleared the debt, Zeng's eldest daughter was allowed to leave, and both parties benefited.

  Wang Lin burst out laughing and patted his belly, "I've heard that Boss Jing has never had a deal that didn't work out. I was half-believing and half-doubting it, but now that I've seen you in action, I know you're a real master. Boss Jing, from now on I'll be coming to you for advice, so please give me plenty of guidance."

  "It's all right." The fat man returned the courtesy, "Master Wang will share this good fortune with Jing. Jing thanks you very much. In the future, when there are good deals to be made, think of Jing and we can make money together. Jing has stayed here for a long time, but the boat won't wait, so I'll take my leave."

  Wang Lin hastily pulled the horse over, "Boss Jing, I'll send you onto the boat."

  Nan Yue Lan couldn't help but sigh that this fatty was indeed extremely shrewd, even when speaking with Wang Lin, he sounded enthusiastic, but in the end, he still had to get benefits for himself, not willing to suffer even a tiny bit of loss, a businessman through and through.

  Nan Yueping was persuaded by An Qu, but she was not convinced and had no choice. She stomped her foot, turned around and left. The crowd followed closely behind and dispersed, Zhou Shi scolded and pulled her daughters into the house, while her husband sat stupidly at the door, staring blankly as his eldest daughter walked away.

  The sedan chair creaked and groaned again, passing in front of the tea pavilion once more. Suddenly it came to a stop, and from behind the curtains emerged that oily, chubby face. As a result, Wang Lin also turned to look over, his eyes bulging out as if he had seen a ghost.

  Nan Yue Lan's eyes sparkled with a sharp glint, but her smile seemed gentle and endearing. She exchanged a glance with that chubby guy, without sparing Wang Lin a single look. But her heart skipped a beat! No! She shouldn't have caught the attention of this tyrant! Although she had no idea why.

  "Miss, is the play good?" The fat man had small eyes, but his wisdom was not to be underestimated.

  There are flowers that need to be opened to scold people. Nan Yue Lan Sheng Qian said, "Good-looking, do you want me to pay for your ticket?"

  The fatty smiled and narrowed his eyes, "Although Yao Town is small, there are many wonderful people. It seems that Jing will have to come here often from now on."

  "On the contrary, I find life here to be quite dull and don't know how to pass the time. But today was unexpectedly exciting, with Boss Jing getting both silver and a beauty, and Wang Gongzi's overbearing performance heating up the first half of the show. It was a thrilling play from start to finish." Nan Yue Lan didn't need to use her cane to support Wang Lin, she could see the general situation with just a glance.

  Wang Lin was wiping sweat with his sleeve.

  "I thought Miss Ben also wanted to enter the play." But Fatso's words surprisingly hinted that he knew what she was going to do.

  Nan Yue Lan said calmly, "It wasn't until later that I realized there are too many good people in the world, so why bother worrying about it?" How did Pangzi know?