101 He’s Vengeful, She’s Vicious, and You’re Greedy! 2 (1/2)
The sun quickly returned for another round of futile sparring against the night, and the citizens of Jiang'an blearily poked their weary heads out of their residences at the crack of dawn.
The city of wealth within Great Yong was indeed a city of wealth with immeasurable profits, but attaining a steady stream of customers each day was equally challenging compared to the profits.
With such a large city of entitled Young Masters, Young Misses, and aspiring businessmen and scholars bustling with greed, it was no wonder the shopkeepers and storeowners within the streets of commerce coerced their wives to massage their sore backs each evening.
If only they didn't buy out the entire stock by the strike of evening, ah.
If only, if only, the storekeepers lamented, knowing full well that the thought of true relaxation could only remain as a fleeing dream.
Each item sold was equivalent to the next day's meals.
Accumulate a massive mountain of such savings, and their wives and children could live plentiful and contented lives without having to forage to ward off their starving stomachs.
All within their family could rest and relax except for them, the ever-lonely shopkeeper of Jiang'an.
Surrounded by wealth all day, yet their own servants were happier and healthier than their master.
”Glazed caramel candy available for only three coppers!”
The first cry broke the spell of forgetfulness cast by the encroaching nightfall, dispersing the remnant vestiges of sleep and fatigue away with the heartfelt cry.
The rays of dawn twinkled in response, bathing the streets with a gentle glow.
”Red Sky Perfume is now open! The store of the best perfumes and cosmetics for the Young Misses and Young Madams of Jiang'an is now open!”
”Old Ma's braised chicken and sweet and sour pork for only a few coppers!”
”Black Eagle's Martial Arts School! Now accepting disciples!”
Subsequent cries of agonized vigor shook the slumbering streets of Jiang'an, welcoming the socialites with overflowing pockets with wide arms and a strained smile.
–
”I say, Fellow Wei,” an official in his mid-thirties shook his fist towards the minister. The official's countenance was decorated with an ugly expression, as glare desiring to rip the flesh off of Wei Xuan's body.
”Just how did you do it?”
”Do what?” Wei Xuan blinked, his handsome countenance beaming with an innocent confusion.
”Fellow Tang, what have I done wrong?”
The official's countenance darkened even further, and before Wei Xuan could react, he had slipped his hand into the minister's hands, extracting a wrapped package.
”This, ah!” Tang Ma groaned, his hand shaking the package wrapped in cloth with a frenzied vigor.
”Great Scholar Tie's Treatise on the Healthy Mindfulness and Spirit, that is one of his most difficult works, and you already transcribed an entire copy!? Just how did you achieve a feat, quickly tell this official, ah!”
”Be careful not to drop it,” Wei Xuan warned, pointing directly towards the official's ghastly expression.
”Otherwise, don't expect this minister to refrain from marching to the front door of your residence to demand my wager's amount of compensation, ah.”
”You!”
The minister raised an eyebrow towards the flustered Tang Ma, his hand extended towards the frozen official with an expectant expression.
”Y-you better not do that!” the official screeched as he shoved the wrapped package into Wei Xuan's hands, staring at the latter with a slightly fearful gaze.
”D-don't you dare tell the Madam that I've upheld another gamble again. Otherwise, this official shall submit a memorial accusing you of murder!”
”What, your wife is worrying over the lack of expenses in your Tang Family?”
”Yes! Not only that, even my Fourth Brother is eyeing my position with that wolfish gaze, ah!”
Wei Xuan broke into a bout of unrestrained laughter at Tang Ma's expression of deeply wishing to cry.
Clapping the official on the back, the minister pointed towards a nearby restaurant, fragrant odors emanating from the luxurious building.
”Look, I'll treat you to a meal at the Golden Rooster before we head off to court. This way, you can save a little bit of your meagre non-gambling reserves and successfully re-enter your madam's bedchambers, ah?”
”That'll be helpful, I'm in a pinch recently – hey! Just when did our Great Yong have such a shameless official as you!?”
As the minister and official headed into the elite restaurant, the sounds of bickering could be heard from several meters away…
–
”That Fellow Tang, he actually placed his entire monthly earning from the court as his wager…”
Wei Xuan shook his head as he strode down the steps of the Imperial Court, a wry smile breaking on his countenance.
Greeting the nearby officials with an amiable mood, the minister stared in the direction of the Imperial Court's depths, mirth contained within his gaze.
By successfully baiting Tang Ma to eat at the Golden Rooster Restaurant, the official renowned as possessing the greatest private enterprise within Jiang'an, he had caused him to forget his memorial that resulted in a rather comical scene.