Chapter 51 Retribution 2 Sir’s tea room can make me feel at ease
Xie Wuhen raised his eyes and looked at the stairs leading to the third floor again, then left the teahouse.
Back at the public house, he called Wu Sheng and said, "Collect the list of all the tea masters in the city."
Wu Sheng was puzzled: "Isn't the person we want to investigate...the tea master from twenty years ago?"
Xie Wuhen replied: "Things from twenty years ago need to be investigated, and things from twenty years later must also be investigated."
Wu Sheng clasped his fists and replied "Yes", then he sent people to collect it.
During the days when Xie Wuhen was investigating the tea masters in the city, Su He also began to approach Liu Dazhong's son-in-law Song Sheng.
She first asked Ah Si to keep an eye on Song Sheng for a few days and learned that Song Sheng was addicted to gambling but always lost. He was currently trying to raise money to make a comeback.
But no one wants to give their hard-earned money to a gambler.
Therefore, Song Sheng borrowed money from everywhere but didn't get a single ounce of silver. He had no choice but to hang out in the tavern outside the gambling house to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
One day, as soon as he ordered some drinks, he saw a burly man sitting opposite him counting banknotes in public.
The thick stacks of banknotes looked really tempting.
The bartender stepped forward and kindly reminded him, "Sir, don't show off your wealth. If you act like this... be careful of being targeted by bad guys."
The strong man laughed heartily: "Why should I be afraid of bad guys? My master is the Qian family. If you need money, just come and borrow it."
Song Sheng's expression brightened upon hearing this, and he quickly stood up: "Is what this big brother said serious?"
The sturdy man also stood up and said, "I, Chen Wu, sit upright and walk straight, and my words are not false. If this brother is interested, you can tell me in detail."
Chen Wu was the middleman that Zhang Xiuhua had found.
This was exactly what Song Sheng wanted. After exchanging a few words with Chen Wu, he found a cubicle, negotiated the interest, signed the IOU, put the borrowed banknotes in his pocket, and turned to go into the gambling house across the street.
In just a few hours, Song Sheng lost all his money again.
The next day, he waited in the tavern for a whole day before Chen Wu arrived at dusk.
This time was the same as last time. The two men agreed on the interest and signed the IOU, and then Song Sheng walked into the gambling house with the banknote.
Then he still lost everything!
After several rounds of this, Song Sheng had signed a promissory note for one thousand taels.
The time to repay is coming soon.
Song Sheng refused to pay the money and wanted to escape, but was blocked at the entrance of the alley by Chen Wu and his men.
Chen Wuming was a man of few words: "Killing someone means paying with one's life, and owing a debt means paying it back. This is the law of nature. Is Mr. Song trying to defy heaven?"
Song Sheng trembled with fear. "I really can't pay the money right now. I hope Brother Chen can show some mercy and give me a few more days."
Chen Wu said with a forced smile: "Give me a few days to allow Master Song to escape smoothly?"
Song Sheng waved his hands repeatedly: "Song's family members are all in the capital. Where can I escape to? I hope Brother Chen will be magnanimous and forgive Song this time."
Chen Wu said bluntly: "I'm just an errand boy. It's not my decision whether to spare you or not."
"Then... who should we look for?"
"You have to speak to our master in person."
Half an hour later, Song Sheng was led by Chen Wu to a secluded house on the outskirts of the city.
There was a marble screen in the room, and behind the screen was Su He.
Song Sheng came to the side of the screen.
He first bowed respectfully, then begged for mercy, "This humble man...even if I have to sell everything I have, I will definitely return the money I owe you in full. I hope you...give me a few more days to collect the money."
Su He coughed lightly.
The light cough startled Song Sheng slightly, as if he had not expected that the person behind the screen was a woman.
He couldn't help but cheer up a bit. After all, women are easier to talk to than men. "So it's a lady. If you can show some mercy, I will follow your lead from now on."
As long as he is not forced to pay back the money, he can do anything.
Su He's tone was cold and hard: "I am here today to collect a debt, not to hire an errand boy. If Mr. Song knows what's good for you, please return the money I borrowed in full, including principal and interest, a total of 1,100 taels of silver."
Song Sheng heard her voice and knew that she was a difficult person to deal with, so he changed his tone: "But...but I still don't pay the money."
Su He said indifferently, "May I ask when Mr. Song can pay back the money?"
Song Sheng thought for a moment and said, "Madam, can you...give me another ten days?"
"No, it takes too long."
"Then five days?"
Su He stood up and said, "Two days."
Then he added: "I will send people to keep a close eye on Young Master Song in the next two days. If Young Master Song tries to escape, I'm afraid my subordinates' swords will not have eyes."
Song Sheng was trembling with fear: "Thank you, Madam, for your mercy. I dare not."
Su He said "hmm", then stood up and left.
Song Sheng on the other side of the screen wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling anxious.
Two days later, Su He met with Song Sheng again through the screen.
Song Sheng naturally didn't have the money, but he didn't dare to run away without permission. He could only kneel in front of the screen and kowtow repeatedly: "I am really incompetent. I hope that Madam will be generous and forgive me this time. I am willing to serve Madam with my body to pay off the debt."
Song Sheng was quite good-looking, otherwise how could he have been favored by Liu Jiao.
But under such pressure, he was disheveled and looked like a complete rat.
After bowing, he took out a bag of jewelry from his sleeve pocket and said, "This...this is all I can get for now..."
Ah Si, who was standing by, took the jewelry and walked around the screen to hand it to Su He.
Su He just took a glance and asked Ah Si to return the jewelry.
"This little bit of jewelry is only worth a hundred taels of silver." Su He was unmoved. "Since Mr. Song can't pay back the debt, then I can only take the IOU to Lord Liu Dazhong. I believe that with his reputation and financial resources, it will be no problem for him to repay this mere thousand taels of silver."
When Song Sheng heard his father-in-law's name, his spine instantly turned cold. "Madam, you don't know, my father-in-law has a bad temper and is very cruel. Last time, he beat me half to death because I owed a gambling debt. If he knew I owed another thousand taels of silver, I'm afraid he would beat me to death. Please spare my life, madam."
As he spoke, he bowed his head again and kowtowed loudly.
Su He said in a light tone: "It seems that you hate your father-in-law?"
Song Sheng pursed his lips and answered without hesitation, "Yes, I hate him. Not only did he kill my first wife, but he also made me live under the tyranny of Liu Jiao all day long. I've had enough of them."
Su He breathed a sigh of relief, "How about we make a deal?"
Song Sheng was puzzled: "I wonder what deal Madam wants to discuss?"
Su He took a sip of tea and said nonchalantly, "If you can lead Liu Dazhong to the sixth melon shed in the melon field outside East City, the money you owe can be written off."
Song Sheng paused: "Why is this?"
"Don't ask any other questions. Just tell me whether you're willing to make this deal."
"What about leading him to the melon shed?"
"I told you, don't ask any more questions."
Song Sheng suddenly fell silent and didn't dare to ask any more questions.
After all, what he really cares about is his gambling debts.
He took a deep breath and replied solemnly: "I am willing."
Su He also breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great."
"Madam, when do you want me to lead Liu Dazhong to the melon shed outside the city?"
Su He glanced at the sky outside the house. It was gloomy and covered with dark clouds.
A cold wind blew by, making the gauze lantern under the eaves squeak.
She replied: "It will rain tomorrow, so let's do it the night after tomorrow."
Although Song Sheng didn't understand why they couldn't do it on a rainy day, nor did he understand why they had to do it at night, he obediently responded with a "yes".
After Song Sheng left, the sky became even darker.
A flash of lightning flashed across the sky, followed by thunder. In just a moment, the rain began to pour down.
Su He returned home in a carriage.
When passing by Wuyou Teahouse, she suddenly got inspired and stopped the carriage.
Chunlan asked, "Would you like some tea, young lady, in such heavy rain?"
Su He looked at the rain curtain outside the car and murmured, "Yes, I miss the tea brewed by Mr. Zeng." She took the oil-silk umbrella from Chunlan's hand, lifted her skirt, got out of the car, and walked into the rain.
The rain hit the roof, the treetops, and the oil-silk umbrella in her hand. The sound of the rain resounded through the sky and earth like dense drumbeats.
She stepped over the puddles on the street and walked slowly towards the teahouse door.
On the third floor of the teahouse, Zeng Yidao was fertilizing a pot of Clivia in front of the window. He saw Su He walking towards him from the street from afar. He was slightly startled, then put down the wooden shovel in his hand and turned to warm the tea.
When Su He walked into the tea room, the faint fragrance of tea wafted into his nose.
She smiled slightly: "Is the sir preparing tea again?"
Zeng Yidao also smiled slightly: "Madam, you have a keen eye."
Su He sat down opposite him, took the tea and took a sip: "Good tea."
Zeng Yidao filtered out the first batch of tea, brewed a new pot, and poured her another one: "This is brewed with snow water from the previous year. Madam, please have a taste."
Su He took a sip and said, "Sir, your tea art is unmatched."
Zeng Yidao looked at her meaningfully and said, "Madam, you are too kind."
He was still dressed in a blue shirt, gentle and dignified, and his demeanor was elegant and aloof that ordinary people could hardly achieve.
He glanced at the wind and rain outside the window and asked casually, "I wonder why Madam came to drink tea despite the weather?"
Su He answered frankly: "Sir, your tea room can make me feel at ease."
He took the opportunity to ask, "What's wrong with you, Madam?"
Su He looked at him for a moment and answered irrelevantly: "I wonder if you are interested in playing chess today?"
He replied, "If you are interested, I am always at your service."
Then Zeng Yidao brought the chessboard and the two began to play chess.
During the breaks in the game, Zeng Yidao would look at her hands from time to time. Her ten fingers were pointed, white as jade, and as crystal clear as the morning dewdrops.
He said, "Madam's hands are like the hands of my old friend."
Su He casually replied, "It looks like skin, not bones."
He asked, "Madam, why do you say that?"
Su He raised her eyes to look at him: "What if my hands were stained with human blood?"
Zeng Yidao also raised his eyes and looked at her solemnly: "Is this the reason for Madam's uneasiness?"
Su He retracted his gaze and continued playing chess, answering the question irrelevantly: "If you get distracted again, I'm afraid you'll lose."
Zeng Yidao smiled slightly and used a decisive move to instantly surround Su He: "The one who is distracted should be Madam, right?"
Su He made a move and was saved from a desperate situation: "Sir, you also have a pair of good hands. In addition to making tea, you can also play chess."
Zeng Yi replied, "What if my hands were also stained with human blood?"
Su He raised her eyes again and looked into his eyes solemnly.
There was a sound of rain outside the window, but it was silent inside. When their eyes met, many unspeakable secrets seemed to have been quietly leaked.
A carriage drove up in the rain and stopped at the entrance of the teahouse. Xie Wuhen got off the carriage and strode into the teahouse lobby.
The lobby attendant came out to greet him, "Thank you, sir, for coming. Would you like to sit in the lobby or a private room?"
It rained heavily today, and there were very few customers in the teahouse. Looking around, the hall was empty.
Xie Wuhen replied coldly: "I don't drink tea, I'm here to see your boss."
Since Wu Sheng collected the list of tea masters, he visited each one of them. Wuyou Teahouse was the place he was most suspicious of. After all, the owner of the teahouse was surnamed Zeng. So even though it was raining heavily today, he still arrived in time by carriage.
The waiter smiled apologetically and said, "I'm so sorry, but the boss is meeting with a client right now. I'm afraid I can't come to see you right away."
Xie Wuhen turned his head to look at the rain outside, and said meaningfully: "It seems that this guest is just like me, and can be said to be undeterred by wind and rain."
The waiter's tone was cautious: "How about I arrange a private room for you first?"
Wu rushed forward angrily: "What kind of idiot guest did your boss have? How dare he keep my master waiting?"
Finally, he whispered in front of Xie Wuhen: "If Zeng Yidao has any doubts, this distinguished guest of his today must have come from a complicated background." After saying that, he was about to lead the officers to force his way in.
The shopkeeper, Anzi, hurried out, clasped his fists, and apologized, "Thank you, sir, and gentlemen. My master has a very special guest today. How about you wait in this hall for a while while I go to the third floor to report?"
Xie Wuhen stepped forward and headed straight for the stairs, saying as he walked, "No need to report in advance. I will personally go to the third floor to meet your gentleman and his special guest."
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