48 Hollow Bamboo Echoing at Two Ends (1/2)
Chapter 48: Hollow Bamboo Echoing at Two Ends
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Ning Que earnestly looked at the man and said, ”I have to admit that your conditions are pretty good.”
The man answered with laughter, ”I serve the government and naturally shall tackle affairs beautifully. Young boss, to be honest, money isn't a problem for the Imperial Court, which means it isn't necessary for me to retain much kickback. If you agree to move out, the price is still negotiable. Anyway, we want to satisfy everyone.”
The price was fair, or to some degree even surpassed the category of reasonableness. If Ning Que closed the Old Brush Pen Shop and moved away, he would make a killing without any loss. Meanwhile, he understood that his shop was regarded as a small item by that owner. Insignificant as it was, it could bring force to the owner when he negotiated with the government. If not, this small shop wouldn't be worth so much.
He glanced at Sangsang subconsciously, aiming to perceive her opinion. However, her small face was still as blank as usual, and it was hard to see whether she agreed or not. Then he thought of that middle-aged Big Owner, who stepped into his shop the day they started business wearing a sword at his waist, feeling something was unusual with this affair.
The man took several looks at Ning Que and asked with a frown, ”Young boss, whether you agree or not, at least you should say something.”
Ning Que moved close to the man, and smiling, he lowered his voice. ”Elder brother, I come from a small place. So I'm just wondering, if I say no, what do you plan to do next?”
If those words came from the potbellied shop owners, probably the man would regard it as a challenge to him and slap them. However, because of the young age as well as the humble attitude of Ning Que, he just stayed stupefied for a short while before his careful explanation. ”Such things as pouring masses of rubbish at the door of your shop or throwing bricks at midnight would be naturally unavoidable. If you continue to enrage us, it's hard to say whether we'll secretly pollute the well in the backyard of your shop or not. You know, we earn a living from this.”
Ning Que faintly stiffened at this answer, lamenting silently in his mind. ”If there's a bright moon in the sky of Tang Empire, then the way that moonlight shines at present is the same as it had in the past.”
Obviously, these guys besieging the Old Brush Pen Shop were badasses idling in the Jianghu world, who were working for the Chang'an Local Government and the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Revenue, and hard to deal with. Ning Que was well aware that despite their good attitude at the moment, no one knew how wicked they would be if he persisted in not moving out. It was not those badasses that made him scared. The problem was, he had just killed the censor, and moreover, he would take the academy entrance exam in about twenty days. Thus, he felt it hard to reject those conditions, for he was reluctant to bring trouble on himself during that period.
Just at this point, a dense pace of footsteps came from Lin 47th Street followed by the sharp voice of a man whose words were extremely tart and sarcastic, indicating something ruthless and uncaring.
”Littering rubbish? Throwing bricks? Polluting the well? Who gave you bastards the courage to do this? Or have you ever done that at Lin 47th Street? If so, I don't know how your hands remain on your wrists.”
A group of men wearing indigo all over approached from the other side of the street. The man who spoke just now was slim with thin brows and eyes and a sharp voice, his indigo clothes waving with the wind as if they were hung on bamboo.