Chapter 35 Deceiving the Golden Thigh
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The carriage from the Wen family stopped in front of the shoe shop.
Amidst the commotion inside the shop, a few eunuch-like shouts of "Step by Step Higher!" could be heard.
Wen Qi reported: "Second Young Master, it is Master Cheng and his parrot."
Wen Zhixu snorted; he had never liked that arrogant and domineering parrot.
The shoe shop owner's wife persuaded Master Cheng to stop, saying, "Sir, please don't worry. Our shop will alter the shoes for you free of charge, raising the uppers to make them—"
Fearing that Master Cheng might not understand, the shopkeeper quickly chimed in, "Make them in the shape of donkey hooves, and make the insoles thin so they won't slip off..."
The parrot mimics speech: "Donkey hoof~ Donkey hoof~"
Master Cheng's face turned green: "You've gone too far!"
Seeing this, Wen Qi grew bolder and chimed in, "Second Young Master, look at this! This shoe shop is really too shady, clearly making fun of Master Cheng for being short!"
"Is that so?" Wen Zhixu asked in a nonchalant tone.
Is there even a need to think about it? Just padded the shoe uppers and made them into a hoof shape—who else but that person in the Lin family could come up with such an idea?
While I was thinking, the car had already arrived at Yulin Garden.
Upon learning of Wen Qi's purpose, the shopkeeper said, "The eldest daughter of the Lin family just came by with the second young master's bird. We have already taken down the bird-finding notice from the mansion."
Just as Wen Qi was about to return to the carriage to report, he saw a figure flash by. The Second Young Master, who had been looking tired inside the carriage, got out briskly and walked away in one direction.
The street was lined with bird shops, and the girl, holding a birdcage in her arms, gently reassured it, "Don't be afraid, that stinky eagle is chained up. Qingwu, quick, feed it some snacks to calm it down."
The maid was feeding the bird a dried worm. Meanwhile, the master who had given the order had already stretched out his arm, trying his best to hold the birdcage far away, his face so close to the cage that a silver river could be squeezed between them.
Despite being so terrified, he still clung to the birdcage. A slight smile escaped Wen Zhixu's nostrils.
Lin Xihe had a wide range of interests, and as a young lady, she always went about her business as she pleased. She strolled from the bird shop to the beverage shop, and was soon drawn in by the sweet aroma.
Wen Zhixu stood not far away, listening to her gestures to the boss, her mouth spouting "bamboo tube", "bamboo cut into thin tubes", "hollow in the center"... What kind of shocking things is this woman who made Master Cheng so angry that he jumped up and down?
The long street was bustling with activity, and banners fluttered in the wind. Lin Xihe held a bamboo tube of beverage, sipping it slowly while looking around and muttering softly, "An ancient version of Heytea, not bad."
She wandered until she reached the entrance of a tavern, where she suddenly stopped: "If I were the owner, I'd hang a blue sign here that says 'I miss you so much in Shengjing,' and it'd become a must-visit spot!"
Her ideas were eccentric and unconventional, yet Wen Zhixu's gaze was drawn to her as he watched her gesturing at the storefront. He felt that even in those wildly imaginative ideas, there was a certain charm to them.
"Would you like to come in for a drink, sir?" the waiter invited warmly.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe's "Heytea" drink instantly lost its appeal, and her eyes lit up: "Do you have cocktails here?"
The waiter looked bewildered: "Made of wine with chicken feathers? This... we've never heard of it."
If the maid hadn't decisively pulled her away, Wen Zhixu suspected she would have gone to the tavern and drunk a whole bowl of wine.
Such behavior is not surprising—it seems like something Lin Xihe would do.
The paper paintings, lanterns, and fortune-telling stalls along the long street failed to capture her attention. Lin Xihe strolled leisurely to the stall where people drank old clothes to watch the commotion.
"Huh, selling used clothes?" Lin Xihe clicked her tongue in amazement. "Reusing old clothes, the people of Ningchao are very environmentally conscious!"
The vendors not only sell secondhand clothes, but also repurpose old fabrics to make new clothes.
A woman brought in a child's small garment. Upon seeing how small the size was, the vendor said, "Madam, this size is hard to sell. Even alterations are made because there's not enough fabric."
Unexpectedly, Lin Xihe immediately came up with an idea: "Boss, children's clothes can be altered into pet clothes, making winter clothes for cats and dogs."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone looked at her with strange eyes.
In these times, who would make clothes for cats and dogs?
Only Wen Zhixu listened, and he gave the order: "Have the old women in the manor make a set of clothes for Mo Hu."
Wenqi: "..."
"Wen Er!" Xie Qi popped out from some corner.
Wen Zhixu shot him a sharp glare.
Xie Qi shrank back when he was glared at, and then looked closer—oh, there was someone he knew!
"Heroine Lin!"
Lin Xihe turned around, her dark eyes darting around before immediately locking onto Wen Zhixu. She instinctively tightened her grip on the birdcage, a hint of wariness in her eyes: "Didn't you say you'd be back in five days?"
This is only the third day.
Lin Xihe shifted her gaze slightly and finally saw Xie Qi, who was almost completely blocked by Wen Zhixu: "...Young Master Xie?"
Xie Qi suddenly realized, and deliberately followed her lead, raising his elbow to nudge Wen Zhixu: "Yeah, how come you came back in just three days?"
His gaze swept between the two of them, then suddenly he raised an eyebrow, as if he had discovered something crucial: "That's not right, how did Miss Lin know you would be back in five days?"
Lin Xihe honestly said, "His pigeons told me."
"A pigeon travels through a book?" Xie Qi couldn't believe his ears. "You used Brother Zhiyue's pigeons to send a letter to Miss Lin?"
Preface to the text: "..."
Just then, Lin Xihe's voice came over again: "Whose pigeon is this?"
Those pigeons were Wen Zhixu's most cherished possessions, having achieved remarkable feats and truly being considered heroes among pigeons. Xie Qi, with a belly full of gossip, hadn't even voiced it when he saw Wen Zhixu's expression darken slightly, clearly feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Lin Xihe seemed to want to ask more about the pigeons, and Xie Qi also wanted to know more details.
Just as the two were about to become "a den of snakes and rats," Wen Zhixu said coldly, "Lin Xihe."
"Huh?" Lin Xihe looked in the direction he was pointing.
The crowd had gathered, men, women, and children, forming a human wall. Among them, a chubby boy in fine clothes stood out, struggling to push his way into the depths of the crowd.
It wasn't a big deal to begin with.
Unfortunately, he had a servant boy with him. The servant boy was in a panic and kept grabbing the young master's arm, trying to pull him out of the crowd.
Lin Xihe recognized the servant boy; he was her younger brother's page.
Preface to the article: "Your brother."
Lin Xihe: "..."
As expected, the fool's attention was drawn to Lin Pinyan. Wen Zhixu's thoughts wavered for a moment, then he quickly forgot all the guilt he felt for deceiving the honest man.
The honest man then handed the birdcage into Wen Zhixu's arms.
Wen Zhixu lowered his eyes, looking at his beloved pet that he had lost but regained in his arms, and was slightly surprised: So easily... he got it back?
A cockfight is in full swing where the crowd has gathered.
The two roosters were locked in a fierce battle, and the onlookers formed two opposing factions.
A small number of people placed bets, while most people just watched the spectacle.
Lin Pinyan was one of that small group. He clenched his fists, wishing he could fight for the chicken: "King Kong! Charge!"
The rooster named King Kong was menacing, and with each step it took, its feathers trembled violently.
Lin Xihe then peered at another rooster named Pofeng.
The chicken was like a wooden sculpture, not moving rashly, but its eyes were very deep, and its gaze was calm and steady.
Lin Xihe leaned closer: "How much did you bet?"
"Sister...?" Lin Pinyan was startled and stammered, "Why are you here?"
He skipped school to go cockfighting, and bet all his money on King Kong.
Another reason was that Lin Xihe had blew up all his pocket money—he didn't even have the money to run away from home!
He wants to make money!
In ancient times, for these纨绔公子 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) who were not wealthy, the only way to "make money on their own" was probably through gambling.
Lin Xihe: "Do you want to win?"
"Yes!" the chubby boy clenched his fist.
"OK."
The problem is, Lin Pinyan has staked everything on this, and there's no way he'll back down halfway. To put it bluntly, he's completely broke.
Lin Xihe had no choice but to call for help.
She glanced back quickly and saw Wen Zhixu standing out from the crowd, while Xie Qi was nowhere to be seen. Lin Xihe tilted her head again, and sure enough, Xie Qi had already placed his bet on Jin Gang.
Everyone present had high hopes for King Kong.
It's only a matter of time before King Kong wins.
Lin Xihe retreated from the crowd and finally reached Wen Zhixu's side, opening her arms to him.
Wen Zhixu lowered his eyes and saw five fingers stretched out in front of him. He heard Lin Xihe's voice beside him, the last syllable carrying a hint of roguishness: "Lend me some money?"
"I'm not Qian Si."
He was still holding the birdcage in his arms, and Bubu was jumping up and down on the perch, anxiously repeating, "Qian Si~ Qian~ Qian~ Si~"
Lin Xihe raised her eyebrows, a sly smug look flashing across her face, and her five fingers clattered wildly.
"...Wenqi, bring the money."
Wen Qi felt indignant on behalf of his young master.
Wen Zhixu slapped the purse into Lin Xihe's hand: "Here you go." It's all yours, stop scratching around with your paws.
To everyone's surprise, the girl used the same "confiscation process" she used on Lin Pinyan on him. She looked him up and scrutinized him: "Sleeve pockets, waistbands, shoe soles..."
Wen Zhixu said helplessly, "It's really gone."
"Really?" Her eyes darted around, and her mischievous thoughts began to bubble up inside her.
"Wen never lies."
Lin Xihe then opened the heavy purse. Good heavens, it was full of pure silver! She grinned from ear to ear. Wen Zhixu was indeed a golden goose; she had to hold on tight and never let go.
Seeing that Wen Zhixu had indeed given Lin Xihe money to place bets, Xie Qi became even more energetic and immediately ordered the servants of the Xie family: "Take out all the money on your person!" He didn't even spare the loose silver hidden in the servants' sleeves.
Amidst thunderous cheers, King Kong stood proudly, its bright comb dazzling in the sunlight.
It was as if everyone had conspired to bet on the ever-victorious general to win.
But a young woman walked up to the opposite side of the Vajra. She took out silver, one ingot, two ingots...
They staked all their money on Po Feng.
Everyone: ?
Xie Qi raised an eyebrow: "It's all over! It's all over! Lady Lin made the wrong bet!"
Once a bet is placed, it cannot be reversed.
Lin Xihe, going against the grain, resolutely bet on Pofeng.
Lin Pinyan's lips drooped to both sides as she sobbed and mumbled, "I lost... Waaah..."
"Why don't you teach her?" Xie Qi looked at Wen Zhixu, only to see him with his arms crossed, looking like he was watching a show, as if he were scattering fake silver with lead added.
"Does she need me to teach her?" Wen Zhixu glanced at the back of Lin Xihe's head; her earlobes were flushed red in the sunlight. "She might not lose."
"..."
In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the outcome was decided.
Whispers of resentment and doubt filled the air.
More than anything, it was the lingering frustration people felt after losing their money.
Only one family is happy.
Lin Xihe won a fortune! Her pockets were stuffed with shiny silver ingots, and she had strings of copper coins hanging from her hands, jingling as she walked, just like a walking money exchange.
The large crowd of onlookers had mostly dispersed, and an empty carriage came up from behind. Lin Xihe, fearing that thieves might steal her winnings, grabbed the silver and rushed into the carriage.
"???" The new coachman was shocked, somewhat confused. His young master hadn't even boarded the carriage yet. "Second Young Master..."
Wen Zhixu waved his hand and let out a sigh: "Never mind, let her be."
The carriage moved forward slowly.
The chubby boy didn't want to walk and almost got into the carriage, but Wen Zhixu glanced at him, so the chubby boy had no choice but to obediently walk beside the carriage.
"Sister...you're amazing!"
Lin Xihe's smug voice came from inside the car: "Just average, third in the world."
"Can you teach me cockfighting, sister? My second brother has taught me how to fight cocks a few times, with both wins and losses."
She then retorted, "May those who teach children to gamble be struck by lightning! I want to live a few more years."
"..." Wen Zhixu looked up at the sky helplessly from outside the car. The sun was shining brightly, thankfully it was a good day.
"Sister, could you give me some silver? Just a little bit."
Lin Xihe coldly refused: "Even a little bit will be used by you to gamble. Children are not allowed to gamble!"
"Waaaaah..." The child broke down, sobbing as she walked.
Lin Xihe was extremely annoyed and asked the driver to stop twice during this time, once to buy sugar paintings and once to buy candied hawthorns.
It's for soothing children.
Xie Qi: "Wen Er, you're just going to let Lady Lin ride in your car like that?"
The preface states: "She robbed a car in the street, and I was already being lenient by not reporting it to the authorities."
As the carriage passed the government office, Xie Qi, always eager for a good show, pointed and said, "Wen Er, Wen Er, you can sue the government now."
Wen Zhixu stepped forward and took the coachman's whip.
"..." Xie Qi shut up at the right time.
After counting the money, Lin Xihe realized something was wrong. The maid was gone, the birdcage was gone, and the carriage...?
The car was missing many cushions, but it still had a familiar scent.
It was the usual scent of her arch-enemy.
She then realized that she had gotten on the wrong bus.
The carriage swayed and bumped its way to the Wen residence.
Lin Xihe got out of the car carrying the silver, but the person who greeted her was not her simple-minded girl.
Wen Zhixu, dressed in a smoky blue robe, stood quietly by the car, his bright eyes shining. The wind carried his cool aura towards Lin Xihe.
"You..." She took over the car and immediately choked, "Why didn't you ride in mine?"
"How can I, a mere man, ride in Miss Lin's carriage?"
Wen Qi, carrying the birdcage, was about to enter through the side door. Seeing Bu Bu return to its owner's home, Lin Xihe hesitated, thinking for a long time. As the temporary owner, she didn't seem to have the right to take over someone else's pet, so she said dejectedly, "I bought some dried earthworms, I'll have someone deliver them later."
As she spoke, she pulled out a strangely shaped bag.
The bag was so big that Wen Zhixu's eyes widened for a moment. He quickly recognized the bag as the one Lin Xihe used to store the flower stamen stones.
"I just won some money, I'll share half with you."
Wen Zhixu was quite surprised: "I only gave Miss Lin one hundred taels of silver."
"You provided the initial capital; I understand the rules of the game."
“Then I’ll accept it,” Wen Zhixu said, pretending to take it. “Thank you, Miss Lin.”
Lin Xihe's eyes shattered. That was the five hundred taels she had won by going all in! And Wen Zhixu just casually took two hundred and fifty taels?!
Her palm was suddenly empty; the plump silver ingot was gone! Lin Xihe felt a mix of emotions: melancholy, loss, and heartache.
A soft chuckle sounded in her ear. Before she could react, her "precious treasures" were safely back in his palm, still warm from his touch.
Lin Xihe: "?"
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The author's note: "He Guyi" means "selling old clothes".
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