Chapter 93 (2/2)
”Two hundred times!”
”One thousand times!”
”Wow! One thousand times!” Chu Qiao smiled and said, ”I'll let you have him. I can't beat that.”
The boss was all smiles. He rushed forward, saying, ”Lady Qian, we have a deal at one thousand times your original price. That will be two thousand pieces of gold leaves.”
The lady had previously acted out of spite. Realizing that this slave was not worth two thousand pieces of gold leaves, she turned to look at the shopkeeper and shouted, ”Good! Boss Mu, you conspired with others to cheat me!”
”It-it's not like this! Even if I dared to cheat anyone, it wouldn't be you!”
”Hmph! I'm not buying any more. We shall wait and see!” the lady hollered, storming off with her servants.
Boss Mu stood in his original position, confused. He looked left and then right, before seeing Chu Qiao standing by the cage. He rushed forward, saying with a smile, ”Young Master, that lady is gone. Since you fancy this slave, I'll sell him to you at the price you quoted. Two hundred times, that will be four hundred pieces of gold leaves.”
”Boss, you think that I'm young and inexperienced, so you can bully me?” Chu Qiao smiled, continuing, ”I did that to spite the lady just now. Now that she's gone, you're still asking me for so much money? You're selling slaves, not young princes.”
Boss Mu was dumbfounded. Laughing sheepishly, he said, ”You quote a price then.”
”Two pieces of gold leaves, just as you initially agreed upon.”
”What?” Boss Mu was stunned. Frowning, he said, ”I should have sold him to that lady. Why did I offend her for you? You need to add a bit more money.”
Chu Qiao sneered and prepared to leave. ”It's up to you. If you don't sell him to me, you can go look for your old customer.”
”Hey! Wait up, wait up!” Boss Mu sighed and said, ”Deal.”
Liang Shaoqing heaved a sigh of relief. However, before he managed to smile, Chu Qiao made a shocking revelation. ”But Boss, I did not bring any money with me today. How about this? I'll give you an IOU, and I'll pay you back afterward.”
”What?” Everyone present at the scene froze. Boss Mu was enraged. He screamed, ”Young Master, stop playing pranks on me. I'm old. I've lived in this city for over 20 years, and I've never seen a customer like you.”
”Hey! Hey!” Liang Shaoqing whispered, ”What are you doing? Pay up!”
”I ran out of money.” Chu Qiao turned around and said, ”If you don't believe me, you can check my belongings. I've spent every cent. Who told you to reject my money?”
Liang Shaoqing turned pale. In a pitiful tone, he whispered, ”What do we do now?”
”There's no other choice. I can only do this.”
Liang Shaoqing prepared to ask her what she was about to do. However, the young lady drew her sharp dagger. Swiftly, she held it to Boss Mu's neck, laughing, ”I offered you an IOU, but you refused. Now, I have no choice but to rob you openly.”
Boss Mu's teeth chattered. He stammered, ”How…how audacious!”
”I don't know how bold I am. However, Boss Mu, you are quite bold. At knifepoint, you are still so eloquent.''
”Release our boss!” The crowd watching this spectacle increased in size. Chu Qiao smiled and looked around, then whispered in Boss Mu's ear, ”Given your status, is it worth it to die for two pieces of golden leaves?”
The dagger sliced at Boss Mu's neck, inflicting a wound which oozed blood. The slave seller, who was over 60 years old, gave a chilling scream.
”Shut up!” Chu Qiao kicked the man in the calf. She frowned, saying in a cold tone, ”Release him!”
”Quick! Release him!” It was only a small wound, but Boss Mu was crying vehemently.
Chu Qiao noticed the herd of horses beside the cage, belonging to Boss Mu. In a flash, the young lady leaped up, kicking Boss Mu in the chest. Grabbing Liang Shaoqing, she mounted the horse's back. With a cry, she rode away into the distance!
”Quick! After them!” Boss Mu shouted hysterically, but they were nowhere to be seen. In the long, cold night, tranquility was restored.
In a dilapidated temple outside the city, Liang Shaoqing sat on dry straw. Chu Qiao offered him the dry rations in her rucksack and laughed. ”Eat a little.”
Scholar Liang did not accept her gesture. Chu Qiao did not force him further, instead offering him a few banknotes and saying, ”I'm leaving tomorrow. We're going on different paths, so I won't be able to save you anymore if you get into trouble. Take these banknotes.”
Liang Shaoqing frowned and said, ”Didn't you run out of money?”
”Who said I did?”
”You said it yourself at the market.”
Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and replied, ”I have money, but not much. I'm left with this. If I gave it to him, what would happen to you?”