Chapter 131 The Net Is About to Close
After breakfast, Meng Jinyao took Qingqiu and Ningdong out. Her legs were fully recovered, and she could move around freely.
Summer has arrived, and it's time to switch to light summer clothes.
Thinking of Meng Chengzhang at Lingshan Academy, Meng Jinyao went to a clothing shop and bought him several summer outfits according to his measurements.
Then we went to the study and selected a fine set of writing implements for him, encouraging him to study hard. Just as we were about to have the maid pay the bill, we remembered that Xiuwen from the eldest son's family was also at the academy, so we bought an extra set.
Finally, they went to a snack shop and bought some dried fruit and dried meat that Meng Chengzhang usually liked to eat, and asked someone to send them to Lingshan Academy tomorrow.
Seeing that she was buying everything for Meng Chengzhang, Ningdong asked softly, "Madam, why don't you buy some for yourself too?"
Meng Jinyao replied, "I have no worries about food and clothing in the Marquis's mansion. When the seasons change, there are embroiderers to make clothes for me, so I don't need to buy anything. But as for my second brother, when he is at home, Madam Sun will make a show of preparing summer clothes for him. But once he goes to the academy, he won't care about these things."
Upon hearing her mention Madam Sun, Qingqiu remembered that she had another matter to attend to before leaving home that day. Estimating the time, she reminded her, "Madam, there is still an important matter to attend to later."
Meng Jinyao paused, her eyes darkening, and a smile played on her lips: "Let's go, it's time to close the net. Let's go watch the show first."
Ning Dong also remembered the important matter, and the corners of her mouth turned up, revealing a hint of excitement: "Madam, let's hurry over. If we arrive early, we can wait a while, but if we arrive late, we'll miss it."
Meng Jinyao responded and walked towards the carriage parked to the side.
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Meanwhile, two young men were desperately trying to escape in the alley, but their pursuers surrounded them from both sides, and no matter how fast they ran, they were intercepted.
These two men were none other than Qiao Mama's son, Li Cheng, and Zhou family servant Lin Rui, who used the alias Lin Dashan and was Li Cheng's new gambling buddy.
The men who surrounded him were the gambling den's henchmen. If someone owed the gambling den money and didn't pay, in addition to coming to collect the debt, they would beat him every time they saw him. If it was a large sum of money, he might even lose his life.
The thug leader grinned menacingly: "Run! Let's see where you can run!"
Li Cheng's heart tightened, and cold sweat broke out. He subconsciously moved closer to Lin Rui, who looked stronger than him. A sense of regret arose in his heart, and he also felt resentful. If he had known this would happen, he would not have listened to Lin Dashan's instigation to gamble more and more, and he would have stopped in time.
Seeing that there were people in front and behind him, Lin Rui stood in front of him with a sense of righteousness and whispered, "Brother Li, you go first, I'll distract them. You don't need to worry about me, Brother Li. You are the one who really owes the gambling den money. At worst, they'll just beat me up, they won't do anything to me."
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng's resentment lessened considerably. Without being polite, he replied, "Then Brother Lin, be careful later."
Lin Rui nodded, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
At this moment, the leader waved his hand, and the thugs immediately rushed forward.
Lin Rui moved nimbly, bending down and slipping under one of the men's arms, shouting, "The money's in my hands! If you want it, come and chase me!" With that, he took off running.
The thugs were stunned for a moment, and Li Cheng took the opportunity to slip away.
Soon, the thugs discovered his motive; half went after Lin Rui, and the other half went after Li Cheng.
It was still unknown whether the thugs had caught up with Lin Rui, but the other half of the thugs caught up with Li Cheng in no time and surrounded him, beating him until he begged for mercy.
Just then, a sharp voice rang out from not far away: "What are you doing? In broad daylight, is there no law?"
Hearing the sound, the thugs paused and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw a beautiful young woman leaning out of the carriage window, staring at them angrily.
Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Li Cheng looked up and saw Meng Jinyao. He couldn't care less about anything else; all he wanted was to survive. He hurriedly cried out for help, "Young lady, please save me!"
Meng Jinyao stared at him for a long time, then asked hesitantly, "Are you Granny Qiao's son?"
Li Cheng nodded repeatedly: "It is indeed me, young lady, please save me!"
Meng Jinyao asked in surprise, "Manager Li, what exactly is going on?"
Before Li Cheng could answer, the thug leader kicked him hard and said to Meng Jinyao, "Madam, is this your servant? We can release him if you want. He owes our Yongsheng Gambling House five thousand taels of silver. As long as you pay the money, we will release him immediately."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao's face flashed with shock. She seemed surprised that Li Cheng would owe the gambling den money. She glanced at Li Cheng in astonishment and said to the leader, "He is the son of Qiao Mama, the most trusted servant of the Lady of Yongchang, and also the manager of the estate. How could he possibly owe you five thousand taels? He will naturally pay you back tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng's pupils suddenly contracted. He had been beaten so badly that he hadn't dared to reveal his family name, but the young lady had directly exposed his identity. Afterwards, the people from the gambling den came to the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, and the Earl and his wife found out about this matter. He could forget about being the manager of the manor.
Upon hearing this, the leader of the thugs signaled the others to stop, then kicked Li Cheng lightly, saying with a forced smile, "So you're the son of the Countess's trusted nanny. You should have said so earlier. If you had, we would have given the Yongchang Marquis's family some face, since the Yongchang Marquis's family and the Changxing Marquis's family are related by marriage."
After the leader finished speaking, he turned to look at Meng Jinyao and said again, "This must be Madam Gu. Today we will give Madam Gu face and spare this boy, but it is only right to pay back debts."
Meng Jinyao said with certainty, "My mother is a countess, and she and Granny Qiao have a life-or-death friendship. It's just five thousand taels, she will definitely pay it back for me."
Her words terrified Li Cheng, sending chills down his spine. He broke out in a cold sweat and wished she had never existed.
The leader said, "Since Madam Gu has said so, we will give him a few days' grace and give him ten days to pay it off."
After he finished speaking, he bowed to Meng Jinyao, then waved his hand, signaling the henchmen to release Li Cheng, and the group left the alley.
Meng Jinyao glanced at Li Cheng, who was lying on the ground with a bruised and swollen face. To be a "good person" to the end, she instructed the coachman to help him up and have Li Cheng sit in the front seat of the carriage with the coachman, and take him to the clinic.
But Li Cheng didn't get on the carriage. Instead, he knelt down in front of Meng Jinyao and said, "Young lady, please save me. I will do anything to repay your kindness."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Manager Li, your mother, Granny Qiao, is my mother's confidante. Because of your mother's relationship, my mother will handle this matter for you. Why would I need to help you?" She chuckled softly, "Besides, you know my relationship with my mother. You are Granny Qiao's son. Why would I help you?"
Li Cheng was startled. He had forgotten about this. The relationship between the Madam and the Eldest Daughter was like fire and water. He was the son of the Madam's trusted nanny. It was already merciful of the Eldest Daughter to speak up for him when she passed by.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Li Cheng was at his wit's end. He couldn't let this matter reach the Earl and his wife, as it involved more than just the five thousand taels of gambling debt. He pleaded, "Young lady, could we speak in private?"
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