Hua Yuhe said with a contemptuous tone, "I didn't expect Manager Mei to have such a long reach, daring to keep such valuable things for herself."
At this point, Lan Yamei couldn't sit still any longer. She stood up and said, "Hey! Auntie! Don't try to label others just because you're so beautiful! First, Aunt Guan and I are like mother and daughter; I trust her character. Second, what do you mean by 'reaching too far'? We ordinary people earn our money honestly and without hard work; we won't cause anyone's marriage to break up or leave them with mountains of debt. I'll say it again: call that person out! Don't you want your things? Just give them back."
Hua Yuhe, holding a white handkerchief, covered her mouth and laughed, "You still say you're clean-cut! How did this jade pendant end up in your hands? Those three rascals confessed that you stole it. Is this clean, hard-earned money? You talk a good game."
"Paying for your meal is a matter of course! We're both business owners, do I have to explain this simple principle to you?" At first, Lan Yamei thought Hua Yuhe was beautiful, but after a few minutes, she grew to dislike her. Why did she speak so veiledly and sarcastically? How boring.
"Stop talking nonsense! Make him come out and get his things, or we're leaving!" Aunt Guan urged, too lazy to argue.
At this moment, a young man in white came downstairs, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Gentlemen, please follow me."
Hua Yuhe didn't say anything more and followed the boy upstairs.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, two skilled swordsmen guarded the stairwell. Lan Yamei, who considered herself quite capable, still felt a chill run down her spine as she passed by the two masters. A chill that sent shivers down her spine! A chill that only masters could exude, a chill that intimidated and deterred anyone from acting rashly.
I realized that if I were to spar with these two, I'd be no match for them; I'd never felt this way before. It seems modern martial arts are indeed different from ancient martial arts. When I have the money, I absolutely must hire a master to teach me properly. Who knows, maybe one day I can go back to those styles and take my career to the next level.
With a young man in white leading the way, the group moved forward without any obstacles.
Unlike the other floors, the fifth floor was very quiet; even the chirping of canaries in their cages echoed. The fifth floor was spacious, and after passing through a long corridor resembling a flower market, we stopped in a large hall filled with orchids.
The hall was spacious, with only orchids and a few cushions; there were no tables or chairs. A peculiar incense burned inside, its scent indescribable, a faint, pleasant aroma that wasn't overpowering. A curtain hung before me; nothing else was visible.
Lan Ya Mei asked Aunt Guan curiously, "What is this fragrance? It smells so nice."
Aunt Guan said, "This is the Night-blooming Chrysanthemum."
"What!" Lan Yamei quickly covered her mouth and nose, fanning herself with her other hand to try to dispel the fragrance. This was the official perfume of Hua Manlou, which she had heard about in the past few days. Seeing the men talking about it so wildly, she assumed that smelling it might arouse some unspeakable desires in her, which would be quite embarrassing.
"What are you doing?" Aunt Guan asked in a low voice.
"This is Hua Man Lou, Aunt Guan! Hurry up, you should cover your mouth and nose too, it's not safe!" Lan Ya Mei said nervously.
Aunt Guan reached out and stopped Lan Ya Mei's still flailing hands, smiled and explained, "Dark Night Chrysanthemum only makes people feel refreshed and relaxed. It's not unsafe, don't worry too much."
Hua Yuhe stood to the side and said dismissively, "Country bumpkin."
Before Lan Ya Mei could argue with her, a magnetic voice suddenly came from behind the gauze curtain, "Is this the jade pendant you took?"
This sudden remark startled Lan Ya Mei. Was someone behind the curtain?
It's kind of scary when you don't speak or move.
"Yes, I'll return it to you now, but you have to give us a little something in return. Otherwise, we've come all this way for nothing," Lan Yamei replied crisply.
Who cares! If someone can put on such airs at Hua Man Lou, surely they'll pay their dues?
"You took my things, and I didn't take your life, but you've already set your sights on my money. How interesting." There was a hint of amusement in the voice from behind the curtain.
"What do you mean 'your things'? I already explained it to her downstairs." Lan Yamei pointed at Hua Yuhe as she spoke. "This jade pendant was given to me by those three boys as collateral for my meal money, so it's mine. Since you need it urgently, and I'm not a stingy person, I'm returning it to you. Can't you give me something in return?"
"Manager Hua, is that so?" A voice asked softly from behind the gauze curtain.
"Yes, that's what the girl said, but its veracity remains to be seen," Hua Manlou said respectfully.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" A few light taps were made on the table behind the gauze curtain. The young man in white stepped forward, took the jade pendant from Aunt Guan's hand, and presented it inside.
At this moment, Aunt Guan and Lan Yamei were terrified that the person behind the curtain would suddenly turn on them and strangle them to death.
After a long pause, the person behind the gauze curtain finally asked, "How many do you want?"
Lan Ya Mei saw an opportunity! She rolled her eyes and said, "I won't ask for more, just twenty taels will do. Those three lads always freeload at my barbecue stall, owing me ten taels of silver, and they never pay it back, so I took their jade pendant. I didn't expect it to be yours, so I got wind of it last night and delivered it first thing this morning. Asking for the extra ten taels is just a small fee for running the errand, I don't think that's unreasonable." Lan Ya Mei said with a grin.
"Hahaha... I, the Jade-Faced Scholar, have been wandering the martial world for so many years, and this is the first time I've encountered someone who dares to ask me for money." A slender figure behind the gauze curtain was almost bursting into laughter.
This laugh left the three people outside at a loss for what to do.
Suddenly, the laughter stopped behind the curtain, and a voice, icy cold, said, "Do you think I'm stupid? You dare to try and fool me with a fake!"
Aunt Guan quickly clasped her hands in a fist and said, "We wouldn't dare lie to you. Isn't this the jade pendant you're looking for? And this is the jade pendant we got too."
"Bring that girl up here!"
Hua Yuhe accepted the order and left. The four people in the room remained silent. Lan Yamei's legs ached from standing, so she pulled up a cushion and sat down. She tried to persuade Aunt Guan to sit down and rest as well, but Aunt Guan dared not, only frowning and shaking her head. Lan Yamei had no choice but to sit alone. She hadn't rested much last night and was exhausted by now.
At this moment, Hua Yuhe returned, followed by two handsome young servants who dragged a girl who had been whipped and was covered in blood, placed her on the ground, and withdrew.
"Great hero, the person has been brought here," Hua Yuhe said respectfully.
"Take it over and let her see if it's this jade pendant," the person behind the gauze curtain said calmly.
Soon, the young man in white knelt down with the jade pendant in his hand and showed it to the girl.
The girl's face was a mess of rouge and powder, and she couldn't support herself with her hands. She just lay on the ground with her head turned to the side, glanced at the jade pendant, then at Aunt Guan and Lan Ya Mei, and said weakly, "It's this one, so green, so attractive... I like it."
The boy in white reminded her again, "Butterfly Girl, please look carefully."
"Yes, look closely, it's this... jade pendant... no doubt about it." After saying that, he collapsed weakly to the ground.
At this moment, the person behind the tent said, "Everyone, disperse!"
"I'm not paying?" Lan Yamei interjected at the crucial moment.
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