Chapter Thirty-Nine: Setting a Trap to Harm His Own Sister
Before long, a fat middle-aged man in a brocade robe walked over and gave Qin Chengxuan a forced smile, "Young Master Qin, are you having bad luck?"
"Come on, let's play a game, you two brothers. I've been having a run of bad luck these past few days, nothing good at gambling, big or small. Let's have a game between us today and have some fun."
Qin Chengxuan blushed and wanted to refuse, but several servants beside the obese middle-aged man surrounded him menacingly.
The obese middle-aged man was someone Qin Zhining had never seen before; he was the so-called steward of the Zhang family who had trampled the old woman selling vegetables with his horse.
"Qin Chengxuan, you've already lost fifty taels, don't you want to win it back?" The obese man said with a forced smile, "How about this, we'll just play one round."
According to the old rules, you decide the winner. If you lose, you have to give your young master that little blond girl who just came back to your family as his fourth concubine.
If I lose, I will not only give you silver, but also mortgage the mountain behind my master's house to you. How about it? Is this bet worth it for you?
In this way, I'll not only remove a major worry for you and your sister, saving your family the trouble of compensating that little slut with her dowry and money, but I'll also ensure she can never recover her fortunes. It's a win-win situation, so why not?
Upon hearing this, Qin Chengxuan turned pale with anger, his hands trembling. "You... what did you say? Are you drunk and talking nonsense?"
"My sister—how dare you even think of that? Zhang Jun, let me tell you, if you dare to lay a finger on my sister again, I'll risk everything to kill you."
"Tch—what are you pretending for?" The fat middle-aged man sneered, winked at the servant next to him, and said, "Didn't this young master Qin lose thirty taels of silver to us and not pay it back?"
Since he hasn't given it to me, let's follow the rules of this gambling den. Come on, tie him up and send him back to the county magistrate's office so the magistrate can give me an explanation.
The servants immediately reached out to grab Qin Chengxuan.
Qin Chengxuan was so frightened that he tried to back away, but he didn't notice a stool behind him. He tripped and fell to the ground with a thud.
Qin Zhining frowned, picked up a broken wooden stick from the doorway, strode over, and held the stick out in front of the servant. "Stop."
Everyone was stunned and turned to look at her.
The obese middle-aged man sized Qin Zhining up and down. Seeing that she was dressed plainly and carrying a basket on her back, he sneered, "Where did this wild girl come from, daring to meddle in my business? Get lost, or I'll tie you up too!"
He had never met the eldest daughter of the Qin County Magistrate's family, so naturally he had no reservations.
Qin Zhining ignored his threat and focused her gaze on Qin Chengxuan. "Young Master Qin, the casino bills should either be settled on the spot, or you should ask your father to handle it. What's the point of arguing with these people?"
When Qin Chengxuan saw her, he scrambled to his feet as if he had grasped a lifeline. “A-Ning? You… why are you here? Hurry up, hurry—this is not a place for a girl like you.”
"Oh, right, don't go yet. Lend me thirty taels of silver. Quick, give me thirty taels of silver. I—I'll pay you back when I get back."
Only then did the obese middle-aged man realize that the skinny little girl in front of him was the eldest daughter of the Qin family, whom the young master of the He family and his fiancée had sent to set a trap to kill.
His face darkened, and he immediately revealed a fierce look. "Who are you to him? Want to stand up for him?"
"Let me tell you, today's debt is either settled in silver, or his sister—that legitimate daughter who returned from the countryside—is given to my young master, the one I fear. There is no other way."
Qin Zhining turned to look at the obese man and said calmly, "I will pay back the thirty taels of silver for you. But since you lured the young man to the gambling den, I will definitely go to the county government to seek justice."
Upon hearing this, not only was the obese middle-aged man stunned, but even Qin Chengxuan was dumbfounded. "Sister, you...you really do have thirty taels of silver?"
Qin Zhining ignored their surprise, took out three silver ingots from her basket, weighed them, and placed them on the table beside her. "Here's the silver. Take a look. If it's enough, then let Young Master Qin go."
The obese middle-aged man stared at the silver on the table, his eyes darting around.
That brat just gave me the betting money right away, so—wouldn't that mean I wouldn't be able to complete the task that Young Master He had assigned me?
Thinking of Young Master He's ruthlessness, he hesitated for a moment, but still asked the servant to count the silver. After confirming that there was enough, he said helplessly, "Fine, I'll take the thirty taels of silver and let him off today. But if he owes money again and doesn't pay it back, it won't be so easy to talk to him."
After saying that, he waved his hand and led his servants out through the back door.
Seeing that the matter was resolved, Qin Chengxuan breathed a sigh of relief, slumped onto the stool, and looked at Qin Zhining with eyes full of gratitude and complicated emotions. "Ah-Ning, thank you... I will definitely return the thirty taels of silver to you."
But—you, you need to be careful from now on, don't end up alone. I—I don't want to run out of things to do before I've had my fill of tormenting you.”
That kid is stubborn and prickly; he's all talk and no action. He meant to be caring, but he said it in such an unpleasant way.
After he finished speaking, he didn't forget to glare at Qin Zhining, then awkwardly turned his head to the side, afraid that she would see how uncomfortable he was.
Qin Zhining threw the wooden stick aside and said coldly, "You don't need to thank me. I just don't want your father to cause me trouble because of this."
You don't need to rush to pay back the money, but—don't gamble with these people anymore, because there won't always be someone to help you.
Also, you're kind enough to have a conscience today and didn't agree to those heartless demands. My helping you is also repaying a debt of gratitude.
Qin Chengxuan blushed and lowered his head. "I know... I know this matter is not simple. Aning, I—I, I will never gamble again. You be careful."
Qin Zhining glanced at the sky, then turned to the gambling den manager and said, "I don't want to see any young men here in the future."
Especially Qin Chengxuan, the young master. If I find out you lured Qin Chengxuan here, I'll go to Grand Secretary Zhang's residence to lodge a complaint.
After saying that, she turned to look at Qin Chengxuan and said, "It's getting late, I have to go back. You should go home too, don't let your good-for-nothing sister think about you."
When you get back, tell your aunt and Qin Zhiyu that if they try to frame me again, I'll go and wring their heads off in the middle of the night.
Qin Chengxuan was startled when he saw Qin Zhining make such a harsh statement. His expression hardened, and he quickly nodded.
Watching the younger sister's figure disappear through the door, I felt both guilty and grateful.
He had initially thought this younger sister was a meek little lamb who would be bullied by everyone, but it turned out she was a fierce little wolf, not only brave but also so loyal.
He clenched his fist and made a silent vow that he would definitely pay back the money and protect his younger sister.
As Qin Zhining walked out of the casino, she touched the remaining silver in her basket and sighed softly, "Alas—Qin Zhiyu, He Qilin is tired of living."
They set a trap for Qin Chengxuan, selling themselves out? Their schemes to harm people are truly masterful.
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