71 Goodbye Stree (1/2)

Chapter 71: Goodbye Street

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

Upon returning to his back courtyard on Lin 47th Street, Ning Que took out the piece of matte-looking wooden waist tag from his chest area and casually threw it on the bed, as though he was throwing a piece of junk away.

Sangsang sat by the bed with her freezing tiny legs buried under the cozy and warm blanket. She was focusing on mending his old and torn jacket. When she saw the waist tag was thrown onto the blanket, she curiously picked it up and placed it against the sun ray that had seep through the ceiling. She strained her eyes and observed it in details for a long time, before she asked, ”Young Master, what's this?”

”Imperial palace bodyguard's tag...for secret guard, referring to those that do things in the dark.” Ning Que sat by the table and started drinking a few mouthfuls of water from the small teapot. Recalling that he did not even get a single drink during his visit to the palace today made him felt a little dissatisfied.

Knowing that Ning Que had a position in the officials, just like how she had predicted last night about getting a fat reward from what he did, Sangsang could not help but started grinning from eye to eye. However, that was how straightforward she was when it came to reward.

”How much can you earn per month?”

Ning Que was taken aback. He put down the teapot in his hand and recalled the previous conversation he had in the palace. He then hesitated and said, ”I suppose it will be about 40 to 50 silvers?”

Sangsang started frowning as her tiny dark-toned face revealed a sense of displeasure. She commented, ”That's not a lot.”

Ning Que shook his head as he laughed and reprimanded her, ”Now that we are richer by 2000 taels of silver, we got to be more generous in the way we express ourselves.”

Upon listening to his words, the displeasure on Sangsang's face disappeared as she smiled and gestured her little hands. She said, ”Young Master, when you left, that person secretly sent the silvers over.”

Ning Que felt a little confused. He walked towards the bed and leaned beside his handmaiden before he asked curiously, ”Where did you put them?”

Sangsang secretly took a few glances outside the shop before she put down her needlework. She then used her pair of small hands to grab onto the two corners of the blanket as she nervously pulled open a small gap, gesturing him to look into the gap.

Ning Que raised his brows as he suspiciously looked beneath the blanket. First, he saw a pair of thin legs. Then beside the legs were several stacks of silvers. Even though they were covered by the thick blanket that blocked off most of the lights, even though there were only dull lights reflecting on the silvers, they were still as attractive and as mesmerizing as ever.

He opened his mouth slightly and forcefully suppressed the agitated emotion within him. He then pretended to be calm and reprimanded, ”I said before...*cough*...we need to act generous. It's only 2000 taels of silver and you're already so excited...No wonder I find it weird when you were covering yourself with blanket in the bright daylight. In the end, you're just worried about these taels of silver. Don't you find them blocking your way?”

angsang lifted her face as she shook her head with determination. This meant that silvers will never block her way.

Ning Que coughed twice again as he snuggled his handmaiden's head and said, ”It's still possible for you to hide 2000 taels of silver under the blanket. What if your young master earn much more taels of silver in the future? How are you going to hide them?”

…

…

The spring in Chang'an was very beautiful as the rain poured down at times, watering the grasses and flowers along the street. Whether you were standing within the barricade or under the shelter, you could see colorful and lively scenaries everywhere. The Lin 47th Street of The Eastern City seemed alive as it was filled with bright, lively colors and crowds of people.

After the incident at Spring Breeze Pavilion, the Minister of Revenue was demoted and the whole of Logistics Department was swept out. There was no conclusion on the matter on reclaiming of lands, which went on for months. The walls surrounding the Logistics Department warehouse were also as quiet and deserted as a graveyard. Though Fish-dragon Gang was forced to surface to the public, it did not forget its role of ”cleaning” the underworld of the city. At this moment, no one dared to do anything on Chao Xiaoshu's street, not even to speak of it.

It was actually a very ideal place for business and commerce. Now that there were no more pressures from the officials and gangsters, the shops opened their doors again for business. Whether they were new shops opened by newcomers, or old bosses who saw the opportunities to purchase back the shops, all of them were motivated to do big and earn big for this year's spring.

Business would require public relations, hence the main focus would be on gathering people to do business with you. In the past, there was only one store on Lin 47th Street, and somehow, it gave off a deadly aura which made people unwilling to get near. Hence, business was bad. Yet now that all the shops are opened for business, and with such a nice spring weather, more people started to gather and shop around the street.

As compared to the neighboring shops, the business at Old Brush Pen Shop was not considered good. However, as compared to their first few days of business, it was much better. Though Sangsang was busy everyday, her smile on her face did not seem to fade. She even told her young master that there was no need to hire more helpers.

Afterall, Ning Que still had the mindset of a young scholar. As he stared at the crowds, he started to recall how poor business was in the past. The more he thought of it, the more he despised the customers who came to buy his calligraphy. Now that he was 2000 taels of silver richer, he somewhat could not be bothered with the small income Old Brush Pen Shop provided him. That was also why he had increased the price of his calligraphy sharply. To him, he was not in need of money now. Since all of them were so cheap to come forward and purchase his calligraphy, then the more they should pay. That was how he could earn back his reputation, at the same time, revenge for himself.

Nevertheless, things always happened beyond his expectation. The higher the price of the calligraphy in Old Brush Pen Shop, which eventually was five times the original price, the more the number of customers who came to purchase them. Though Old Brush Pen Shop was still not considered famous in Chang'an city, but within the small area of the Eastern City, it was pretty popular among the commoners.

”So that's how the game should be played?”