In three days, Zhao Ningsong had taken all the silver from the house, not even a copper coin was left.
But he seemed to be possessed by the god of misfortune. He lost everything he gambled on. When the three-day repayment period came, he became even poorer.
After staying in the room all night, he got up in the middle of the night and woke everyone up, "Hurry, get up, pack your things, let's go now, otherwise it will be too late, hurry up!"
The only people left at home were their family of three, a grandparent and a personal nanny of Mrs. Cao, and a servant who was sold for nothing.
Being woken up in the middle of the night, everyone looked at each other with sleepy eyes. Old Lady Cao yawned, forced her eyes open and looked at Zhao Ningsong, "What are you trying to do by waking everyone up in the middle of the night?"
"Oh! There's no time to explain. Hurry up and pack up and follow me. We'll talk on the way." Seeing that it was almost dawn, Zhao Ningsong was extremely anxious.
Unfortunately, the family had finally settled down and now had no money, so Old Lady Cao was not willing to move easily.
Sitting steadily on the old chair, she said, "If you want us to pack up, you should at least tell us what happened! If you don't explain clearly, I, an old woman, will not move an inch today."
Seeing his mother like this, Zhao Ningsong almost wanted to walk away on the spot and run away alone.
But fortunately, he still has a little conscience towards his mother who has doted on him since he was a child, and his only son.
Finally, out of desperation, he confessed that he was gambling and owed a huge amount of usury.
"You, how much do you owe?" Old Mrs. Cao asked, pointing at Zhao Ningsong with trembling hands.
"Five, five hundred taels, plus, plus interest, but, it may be more than that." Zhao Ningsong lowered his head, not daring to look at his mother and son.
Old Lady Cao was almost mad at him. "You are so stupid! How dare you borrow so much money? How can we pay it back?"
"I originally thought that I would pay the money back as soon as I made a profit, but my luck was really bad afterwards. I lost everything I gambled on..." Until now, Zhao Ningsong still hasn't realized his mistake and is still blaming himself for bad luck.
"You, you are going to piss me off to death! How could you get involved in gambling?" Old Mrs. Cao looked heartbroken and beat her chest and stamped her feet.
Five hundred taels! What can they use to pay it back now? Even if she had never encountered it, she had heard the maids in the mansion talk about someone who owed money to the gambling house and had his hands and feet broken.
In the past, when she heard about such things, she would disdainfully say that the person was not doing their job properly and deserved to have their limbs broken, but she never expected that it would happen to her today.
"Mom, stop wasting time, let's run! It will be too late if we don't run now." She was still covering her face with tears, and Zhao Ningsong began to urge her anxiously again.
Old Lady Cao finally came back to her senses after being called back by Zhao Ningsong's shout. She stood up suddenly and looked at the two servants without caring whether they were her personal maids or not. She anxiously urged them, "What are you still standing there for! Didn't you hear what the master said? Quickly pack up and run away!"
If you get caught by the gambling den, be careful I’ll sell you off to pay off your debts.”
The two old women were frightened and hurried to pack their things.
Zhao Ningsong was not idle either. He tore off the bed sheet and stuffed everything he could take away from the room into it.
Only Zhao Shenghao was still somewhat bewildered when he asked Old Lady Cao, "Grandma, are we leaving the capital? Doesn't that mean Hao'er won't go to school anymore?"
Facing her only grandson, Old Lady Cao always had to be extra patient and coaxed him, "Hao'er, be good. After we escape this disaster and settle down, Grandma will find a new school for you to attend."
Zhao Shenghao nodded as if he understood, and followed their example, running back to his room to pack up his things.
After the family finally packed up, Mrs. Cao looked at the things they couldn't take away, sighed, turned around and said, "Let's go!"
Looking at the bright sky outside, Zhao Ningsong became more and more anxious. He was the first to step out of the yard and walked towards the gate in two steps at a time.
But when he opened the door and was about to start his escape, he looked up and saw several familiar faces, some holding wooden sticks as thick as their wrists, some carrying them on their shoulders, and some standing on the ground.
Seeing him open the door, the leading thug, Big Fist, looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Hey! Master Zhao is carrying all these things and is he going on a long journey?
It seems we've arrived just in time! Mr. Zhao, please quickly pay back the money you owe the gambling house, or we won't delay your journey."
"Silver, silver, I, I..."
Seeing Zhao Ningsong hesitating for a long time without taking out a penny, Big Fist's face changed immediately, "It seems that Master Zhao is not going on a long journey, but preparing to run away!"
"No, I didn't plan to run away. I just, just..." Zhao Ningsong's eyes rolled around, his mind was in a panic, and he kept thinking of excuses.
Just then, Mrs. Cao, accompanied by Zhao Shenghao and two servants, came over. Seeing Zhao Ningsong standing still at the door, she frowned and urged him, "Didn't you say someone was coming soon? Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Zhao Ningsong was frightened when he was stared at by Big Fist Brother. He quickly put his hands behind his back and waved them continuously to remind Mrs. Cao to shut up.
Unfortunately, Zhao Ningsong was carrying a large bag on his back, which blocked the door tightly, so that Mrs. Cao could not see what was happening outside the door at all.
Seeing Zhao Ningsong waving his hands, he asked in confusion, "What's wrong with your hands? Why are they shaking like this?"
Zhao Ningsong was extremely anxious, but before he could make any more hints, he was pushed away by Big Fist Brother and walked into the yard with his men.
As they passed by Old Lady Cao, Big Fist deliberately approached her and sneered, "Who's coming? Where are you going, old lady, with your family?"
After saying that, she looked at Zhao Shenghao behind her.
Old Mrs. Cao was startled and quickly pulled Zhao Shenghao away, blocking Big Fist Brother's sight with her body.
"Hahaha..." Seeing this, Big Fist Brother laughed out loud jokingly.
Of the followers behind him, two stayed guarding the door, and two followed Big Fist Brother into the yard.
The three of them kicked the hall door that was originally closed without any courtesy and sat down in the main seat with a swagger.
Seeing this, Zhao Ningsong had no choice but to bite the bullet and take his family back.
Facing Big Fist Brother and his two companions, they lowered their heads and trembled uncontrollably, just like students being scolded by their teacher.
Big Fist casually knocked the table a few times with the wooden stick in his hand. "Master Zhao, you said you would return the money within three days. What do you mean by keeping your head down and silent now?"
"I don't have that much money right now. Please, Brother Daquan, please be more generous and give me a few more days." Zhao Ningsong said this tremblingly, his palms and forehead covered with sweat from nervousness.
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