Bai Ruixue is in the kitchen.
Song was in bed.
No one heard what the two were saying.
In the afternoon, after having lunch and taking a nap, Ms. Song's mood finally improved.
She was coaxed by her daughter to go visit other people's homes, and He Tian took the opportunity to sneak into Song's room. He searched for the key, opened his mother's dowry chest, successfully obtained the house deed, locked the chest, and put the key back in its place.
They headed straight for the pawnshop.
"Your house is in a bad location, small and remote. We can only give you 80 taels for one year. If you don't redeem it by then, we will take it back."
"Eighty taels? That's too little. Even the smallest house in my alley sold for one hundred and fifty taels. My house, however small, should be worth at least two hundred. Shopkeeper, please be lenient. I don't need such a long term, just three months. I'll come back to redeem the deed after three months. Can you give me a little more? One hundred and fifty taels, please?"
This was the first time He Tian had stepped into a pawnshop.
No wonder everyone says that everyone here, from the manager to the waiters, is black-hearted.
Two hundred taels was brought up to eighty.
It's not even a fire sale.
Let him just give it to the pawnshop.
What the hell?
He Tian's face darkened, and he wished he could turn around and leave.
But he needed the money urgently, so he could only politely negotiate with the pawnshop manager.
"The deadline can be shortened, but don't forget, you're not selling, you're pawning. I won't get the house, and you'll have to live there for free for several months. What's in it for me? Eighty taels is the most I can ask for. If all else fails, you can take it to the gambling den to pay off the debt. They pay more there."
The pawnshop owner didn't really like collecting land deeds and house deeds.
The follow-up is too troublesome; we'll have to hire thugs to take back the house and land, and we can't cause any trouble.
It took quite a bit of effort.
In a few months or even a year, one can only earn a hundred or so taels of silver.
Therefore, he naturally wanted to keep pushing the price down.
If it's sold separately, he can give 150 taels.
If so.
If it's over eighty, then forget it.
This dilapidated house, so small, is worth only about 180 taels of silver according to market prices.
After deducting his labor costs, he wouldn't even earn a hundred taels.
Today he acquired eight pieces of white jade jewelry, which would earn him a hundred taels of silver in return.
He wouldn't even glance at a small property deed.
Why not just send He Tian to the gambling den? They're all run by the same master anyway.
"A gambling den? How much can they give you?" He Tian had never been to a gambling den before.
Although he occasionally goes out for drinks with friends.
But they dared not step into that place.
A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
"It's a little over a hundred. It's the first house fifty steps to the left after you go out, or the third house at the end of the left bridge at the city wall. I don't know about the others."
There are only three gambling dens in Shuangqiao Town.
Two of them were owned by his master.
"Thank you, shopkeeper."
He Tian left with the house deed.
He can only earn three hundred taels out of eighty taels.
Now that he'd already stolen the property deed, he was naturally going to make a big splash.
You should get at least 120 taels of silver.
Then you can earn five hundred taels in three months.
He will then move out of the house and into a large mansion.
I'll buy some more jewelry and clothes for my mother and my daughter.
Before I could figure out how to spend the rest of the money, I had already walked fifty steps.
The gambling den is busiest in the afternoon.
When He Tian entered, the place was packed with people. There were three tables in the shop, all surrounded by gamblers.
To the right was a rosewood armchair, upon which sat a middle-aged man wearing a round-necked robe with a tan trim.
He held a teacup in his hand, a smile playing on his lips, and looked at the crowd gambling.
Seeing He Tian come in, they assumed he was also there to gamble.
"Go, we have a new customer. He looks a bit unfamiliar, so give him a good welcome." After giving the order in a low voice, the waiter next to the man immediately put on a smile and stepped forward to greet He Tian.
"Sir, what would you like to play?"
He Tian waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this. "I'm not playing. I'm here to pawn my house. Is your manager here? The pawnshop manager recommended me."
The waiter turned his head and glanced at the shopkeeper.
Seeing that he raised his eyelids slightly, he turned his head and said.
"Then come with me."
The gambling den employee led He Tian to the inner room.
"Keep an eye on what's outside." With that, the man sitting in the armchair stood up.
He brushed his robes aside.
They went inside as well.
"Which house are you mortgaging? Show me the property deed, and did you bring the land deed?"
Generally, a house has two deeds: a house deed and a land deed. Sometimes, the house and land deeds are combined.
not much.
"My house title and land title are on the same piece of paper. When we bought the house, they were attached together."
Shen Jiading nodded slightly, took the deed from He Tian, and examined it carefully. "Hmm, it is indeed so. How much silver are you planning to mortgage, and for what period?"
"Two hundred taels, with a three-month deadline. If the money is not returned after three months, you will take the house away."
He Tian was confident; he had been playing with Wang Gui for seven or eight years.
Wang Gui's family has always been wealthy.
She would occasionally invite him to dinner and drinks with courtesans.
He had broadened his horizons, so when Wang Gui said March, it definitely wouldn't be longer than March.
He originally intended to quote 150 taels.
But then I thought, what if the casino owner also tries to lower the price?
Why not aim higher?
If he keeps pulling back and forth like this, he might end up with 150 taels, which would mean he could earn at least 600 taels.
"That's too high. Even in good times, this house of yours would only sell for two hundred taels. Besides, this house is quite old, and I haven't even seen what it looks like yet. If the house is dilapidated, it won't even sell for one hundred and eighty taels. However, I can give you two hundred taels of silver, but..."
Shen Jiading put down the house deed, stopped halfway through his speech, and looked at He Tian.
"But what? Please tell me, sir."
He Tian asked excitedly, "If I can really get 200 taels, then I can earn 800 taels of silver."
Oh my god.
Buying a slightly older, more remote three-courtyard house won't be a problem at that time.
Buy a few more servants for the household.
Wouldn't he then be able to live the life of a lord?
Why bother reading books?
I'll never study again in my life.
"But! If you don't come to repay the money by March, I will definitely take the house back. You will have to pay an additional eighty taels of silver. Even if you repay the money, you will have to pay fifty taels of interest. Of course, if you don't pay, we have plenty of ways to deal with you, hehe."
Shen Jiading sneered twice.
The laughter was somewhat sinister, and He Tian couldn't help but shiver.
"That's too much. Even my dilapidated house can sell for 190 taels, and the interest rate is ridiculously high. How about we each contribute 20 taels?"
He Tian dared not gamble so big.
"Here's what we'll do: fifty taels each. If you can't pay it back, we'll add ten taels for each additional month. We can then negotiate the price. Now you can leave. If you agree, then put your fingerprint and signature on this paper."
As they spoke, paper and pen were already laid out on the table.
“I agree.”
He Tian thought for five seconds.
He signed his name directly and even pressed his thumbprint.
When he left the gambling den, he had two hundred taels of silver notes with him.
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