Chapter 78 The Tragedy of Rufang (5) Liyang's First Foray into Salt Affairs (4)...

That night, however, there was also a scene of chaos at home.

In the east wing of the Liu residence, the lights were on, and wisps of incense smoke curled from the citron burner. A person was seen kneeling before the bed.

Aunt Tao sat on the edge of the bed, her hands supporting her on the bed frame, and raised only one leg, placing it in Liu Yitong's hands. "Wipe carefully."

Liu Yitong knelt before the bed, carefully wiping each of her toes with a handkerchief. Then he let her put one foot on his shoulder, and took the other small, white foot from the hot water, wiping it carefully. "Hehe, Peach Blossom, good Peach Blossom, I really didn't go out to play with money."

Aunt Tao glanced at him, her eyes darting around, "You mean the Salt Commissioner has loosened the salt permit quota this year, so we can buy double the amount?"

"It's still unknown how much will be loosened, but the matter of pre-collecting salt permits is absolutely true." After drying each of her toes, Liu Yitong diligently massaged her feet with his hands. "I also told Ziheng on my way back that it was his suggestion."

"Did General Manager Chen suggest this?" Tao Hua suddenly pulled her legs back and sat cross-legged on the bed. "Help me calculate how much our family can save this year if we pre-collect the salt permits for the whole year? Add to that the interest that the silver has been sitting in the money shop for a year, could we open another gold shop?"

"Grandma, what kind of gold shop are you opening?"

Before Liu Yi could finish speaking, he saw Tao Hua lift the covers as if to go to sleep, so he quickly changed his words and said, "Don't even mention opening one gold shop, you can open three, you can open three."

Peach Blossom's eyes lit up. "Really? Three families?"

"Sigh!" Liu Yitong reluctantly agreed. It was all because Tao Hua had used various means to seize all of the Liu family's cash; now, if they needed to move a large sum of money, they had to be mindful of her mood.

After finishing their business, Liu Yi rolled onto the bed and burrowed under the covers.

"What are you doing? Get out of here!"

"Oh, little peach blossom, good peach blossom, how long has it been since we've been affectionate?"

"Get out! One, two, three!"

"Four! Four gold shops!" Liu Yitong stood up for himself for once, giving up one shop before finally becoming a general in his bedchamber.

The quilt fluttered, the red candles glowed, and the room was filled with the warmth of spring.

-

The moonlight in Baomo Hall is as clear as water.

Liu Rufang was in a hurry to enter the main house, but was stopped by Granny Sun. "Ms. Liu, it may not be convenient for Madam to enter right now."

How could she not know that Madam Chen was currently imprisoned beneath the imposing King Xiang Yu, unable to escape for even a moment?

Liu Rufang, her face cold, brushed aside Granny Sun's arm with one hand, "I want to see Madam. When did it become your place to speak?"

Granny Sun rolled her eyes in anger, standing rigidly sideways between Liu Rufang and the door. "Who do you think you are?! You lowlife, do you think you can just see the Madam whenever you want?"

She absolutely couldn't let Liu Rufang ruin Sai Yunxiang and Chen Zhangshi's good time today. As long as Chen Zhangshi kept Sai Yunxiang for one more day, she could enjoy her pleasure for one more day.

Seeing her firm stance, Liu Rufang knew that this student could not be allowed to enter today. Suppressing her disgust, she coldly said, "Please inform Madam that Rufang has urgent business with Madam."

Seeing this, Sun Ruqing's lips twitched, she snorted and smiled, raising the corners of her eyes, "Please, Mr. Liu, come with me to the main room and wait for a moment."

While she was basking in her own smugness, Liu Rufang turned and went to the main room, her clothes fluttering and creating a fragrant breeze.

Seeing that he still maintained his arrogant demeanor, Granny Sun couldn't help but curse at his back in secret, "Serves you right for being so high and mighty. You'll be in for a beating when the madam comes out."

Once the storm inside the house had subsided, Sun Ruqing gently knocked on the door. "Madam, Boss Liu has come to see you."

Upon hearing this, Sai Yunxiang glared coldly at Chen Zhangshi, "Your lover is here, what are you still doing clinging to me?"

He had just joined the opera troupe when he heard people mention Liu Rufang's name. He heard that she was a woman with a feminine appearance, and was strangely beautiful with picturesque features and a graceful figure.

As for his romantic escapades, he already knew them by heart before the troupe leader led him into Chen Zhangshi's room.

Perhaps pleased by the hint of jealousy in his words, Madam Chen didn't hold it against him. "Why are you being jealous? I didn't invite him. But I do have something to discuss with him. You rest for a bit, I'll be right back."

Inside the main room, Liu Rufang looked distressed and restless, her former ethereal beauty long gone.

"Madam, you've finally agreed to see me..."

He seemed to have been crying; his voice was somewhat hoarse.

Originally, Madam Chen was furious and wanted to settle accounts with him, but seeing his state, she suddenly calmed down, took a teacup from the table, poured a cup of hot tea, and put it into his hands.

His cold fingertips brushed across her palm.

"Mr. Liu, what's wrong with you these past few days... you look so pale."

She had already sent people to investigate and found out that this man was using the gold and silver she had given him to support a thief named Ah Long behind her back. "But he only remembered that he had this place after he had spent all the money?"

Liu Rufang looked up blankly, "No..." Suddenly, she dropped the teacup in her hand, got up and rushed over to hug Chen Zhangshi and kiss her neck.

A pair of hands reached down her neck, revealing scattered spots of crimson blood on her collar.

Was what he heard while standing at the main house door true? She was with other men at the time... A sudden sense of crisis overwhelmed Liu Rufang, and she kissed Chen Zhangshi fiercely, trying to cover up the man's traces.

Having just satisfied herself with Sai Yunxiang, Madam Chen pushed him away a short distance and asked, "What exactly happened today?"

Seeing Liu Rufang hesitate, she smiled and said, "If you have nothing else to say, then let's talk about my matter. Your Brother Long has taken so much money from me, how do you plan to resolve this?"

Liu Rufang thought to herself: Ah Long has run away. He is not only penniless now, but he has also come to ask for money today.

With a light flick of his finger, he untied Chen Zhangshi's sash and slipped his hand inside.

When Chen Zhangshi saw that his usually alluring face was now full of ingratiation, she lowered her body and let him serve her.

"You seem to be in a good mood today."

Seeing her moved, Liu Rufang recalled what Scarface had said that day: if he couldn't raise the money today, hell awaited him.

He had considered dying, but when the white silk ribbon was actually tied, his legs suddenly went weak, and he dared not step onto the stool. He still wanted to live.

All he wanted was to live, nothing more than to survive. Thinking of this, his luscious red lips moved down Chen Zhangshi's neck with a soft moan.

Chen Zhangshi had just enjoyed a real battle with Sai Yunxiang, but now, with people enthusiastically crowding around her like a painting, it was a completely different scene.

She succumbed to her desire and forgot to ask further questions.

Granny Sun stood furtively at the entrance of the main room, peeking through the crack in the door when no one was around. She was almost horrified by what she saw.

Madam! When she came, she said she would make that Boss Liu spit out the silver, but how come that scoundrel succeeded again in such a short time? What he spat out this time is not silver at all.

Heh, she sneered inwardly. The lady really had no backbone. How many times had she fallen for men over the years? She was still easily swayed by a single finger.

That shameless Liu is acting so flirtatious now. When I was seducing him, what did he say? He dared to call me a toad trying to eat swan meat.

Seeing that these two are about to put on a live sex show, what if Madam Chen softens her heart at the last minute...

We absolutely cannot allow them to rekindle their old flame, otherwise how could Boss Sai compare to Liu Jianren's behavior?

Sun Ruqing turned around and saw Sai Yunxiang straightening his sleeves as he came out of the main room. An idea came to her mind. She waved to the man and then knocked on the door of the main room. "Madam, Boss Sai is here."

Inside the room, Liu Rufang strained her ears, and upon hearing Sun Ruqing's words, she put in another burst of effort.

Chen Zhangshi was so forced by him that she couldn't hear what was being said outside, and she couldn't help but moan softly.

Outside the door, Sai Yunxiang heard the sound, his eyes flickered, and he glanced at Sun Ruqing with an unreadable expression.

He turned and sat down in the courtyard, straightened himself, cleared his throat, and began to sing, "My strength could uproot mountains, my spirit could cover the world, but the times are against me, and my steed will not go..."

Upon hearing just these two lines, Liu Rufang was taken aback. He knew these lyrics all too well, and whenever he snuggled in A Long's arms afterward, he always loved to pester him to sing them to him.

He's back?

In the end, he still can't let go of himself and wants to come back to repay the money.

As soon as the rain stopped, Liu Rufang, disregarding her disheveled clothes, rushed out the door.

In the courtyard, Sai Yunxiang's singing abruptly stopped.

Liu Rufang stood at the door, her hands on the door frame, her feet seemingly stopping the scene before her at the threshold.

No, this person is not Brother Long.

who is he?

"Who is he?" Liu Rufang suddenly turned around and asked Chen Zhangshi.

The latter, having been left hanging by a thread, understood perfectly well what was going on. Liu Rufang had mistaken the person outside the door for her lover.

How could Chen Lingshuang endure such humiliation? She gathered her clothes, rushed over, and with a sharp "smack," landed on Liu Rufang's cheek.

"You think you're so great?!"

Then, she turned her head and exclaimed, "Ruqing!"

Granny Sun hurried forward, a cloak appearing in her hands at some point, which she draped over Madam Chen Zhang's shoulders. "Madam."

"Tie him up and lock him in the woodshed. Tomorrow, have someone interrogate him to find out where the silver is."

Liu Rufang was so weak that she could barely lift a chicken, and she was quickly pinned to the ground.

Even as his head was being trampled underfoot, his eyes remained fixed on Sai Yunxiang, piercing as if trying to see through him to others.

"Hmph." Sai Yunxiang moved aside. "I hate stupid people the most."

As he spoke, he gave Madam Chen a cold glance, his eyes as cold as ice, "Madam Chen, I shall take my leave."

At this moment, Madam Chen had no intention of arguing with him. She only looked at the person who had been pressed to the ground and said, "Don't blame me for being heartless. The thing I hate most in this life is being lied to. Liu Rufang, spit out the silver you swallowed, and I'll spare your life."

"..." Liu Rufang's words were unclear.

Chen Zhangshi couldn't hear clearly, "What?"

Liu Rufang loosened his grip on his foot and uttered two words heavily, "No money." Then he added, "Just kill me, I don't want to live anymore anyway."

His last shred of will to live had been completely ruined by Sai Yunxiang today. If Chen Zhangshi could kill him, that would be wonderful.

"Kill me, just kill me." The voice was hoarse, revealing a fierce determination.

Madam Chen stumbled backward, only regaining her balance when Granny Sun reached out to support her. "A madman!" she cried, turning to Granny Sun in despair. "This madman! Ruqing, Ruqing, lock him up quickly!"

With a shout from Granny Sun, the group worked together efficiently, stuffing a wad of cloth into Liu Rufang's mouth and taking her into the woodshed, without letting a whisper of it escape into Lanxin Pavilion.

Seeing this, Granny Sun leaned close to Madam Chen's ear and said, "Madam, I heard that today the young mistress hosted a banquet at the flower shop to entertain Lord Lin and Lord Zhang."

"What?" Madam Chen seemed to wake from a dream. "When did this lowly girl become so familiar with these salt officials?"

Granny Sun: "Yes, Madam, I wonder if it's related to the bet at the flower shop. Now that the young mistress has gotten close to the young master, I'm afraid everyone is vying to give money to the young mistress's flower shop."

Chen Zhangshi's eyes flashed with fire. As long as she had a breath left, this brat would never dare to bully her.