Chapter 2: Gambling

  "You..." was so despised by Xiao Fan that Lin Jianren suddenly became furious, pointing his finger at Xiao Fan, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

  "What are you? This young master doesn't want to scold you, but you really think you're a big shot. You don't even take a mirror to look at yourself, looking like a human being, but in fact you're just a cheap person." Xiao Fan held a folding fan in his hand and walked up to Lin Jianren's face, spitting wildly at him.

  Lin Jianren wiped his face and glared at Xiao Fan, saying word by word: "I'm betting with you, dare or not?"

  The scene suddenly fell silent, with everyone staring at Xiao Fang and Lin Jianren. Many people were gloating, wanting to see the Lin family and the City Master's Mansion clash.

  Xiao Fan smiled and looked at Lin Jianren, but in his heart, he was secretly sighing, thinking to himself: If I had invincible power now, I would punch this bastard to death with one fist, why bother looking at his face?

  "I think Xiao Erlang doesn't dare anymore."

  "Hey, I heard that Xiao Er Shao can speak in three months and recognize characters at the age of one. How could he be afraid of this gamble?"

  "Just now you were so majestic and powerful, how come you suddenly became dispirited?"

  "Indeed worthy of being called 'Legendary Second Young Master'."

  Then, seeing Xiao Fan speechless, some people behind Lin Jianren started to mock and ridicule him.

  Xiao Fan was originally a useless waste who didn't learn or study, these guys said this to mock Xiao Fan for not daring to gamble.

  Xiao Fang's icy gaze swept past each of them, committing their faces to memory before he slowly spoke up, "In that case, I'll make a bet with you."

  "Alright, let's make a bet on who can become Xiang Rou's confidant; the stake is one million gold coins." Lin Jianren was overjoyed when he heard this. Although his literary talent wasn't high, he was no longer the ignorant and untalented Xiao Fan from before.

  "One million is a bit less, and even if you estimate more, you can't take it out. Just one million will do." Xiao Fan said coldly: "In addition, the loser will strip naked in public and run around Xuan Mountain City for a lap."

  "Second Young Master, calm down! You can't gamble like this!" Tang Long's face changed as soon as he heard Xiao Fan's words. He quickly grabbed hold of Xiao Fan and began to advise him. Gambling was a small matter, but if they lost, they would have to run around the city of Xuan Shan naked, which wasn't something to be taken lightly.

  Lin Jianren and his group of accomplices also changed their expressions, especially Lin Jianren. One million was a lot, but he could afford it. However, Xiao Fan's proposal that the loser had to run naked around Xuan Mountain City was too poisonous, even if he was confident in winning, he didn't dare agree easily.

  It's not that I'm afraid of 10,000 things, but rather the one-in-ten-thousand chance. If Lin Jianren loses, let's not talk about how others will see him, his old man at home won't let him off the hook, and he can't afford to lose face either.

  Although he was certain in his heart that Xiao Fan would definitely lose, Lin Jianren's heart was still very hesitant.

  "Lin Shao is nothing to be afraid of. What literary talent does Xiao Fan, this spoiled brat, have besides eating, drinking and having fun? If he can win against Lin Shao, I really won't believe it."

  "Yes, yes, he's asking for it himself, let Lin Shao fulfill his wish."

  "Lin Shaoxue studied the heavens and humanity, how could he be compared to this useless and uneducated Xiao Fan?"

  "Alright, I'll bet with you." After hearing the words from his comrade behind him, Lin Jianren felt a surge of boldness in his heart and slammed his hand down on the table to seal the deal.

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "Refreshing, but you still need to sign and draw a picture; besides, prepare 1 million gold coins within an hour."

  "Alright, it's settled then." Lin Jianren sneered and turned his head to look at the owner of Wan Hua Lou: "Have Xiang Rou return with a new question in an hour, I suppose there won't be any issues?"

  "Yes, yes, no problem, no problem." Lin Jianren's voice was cold and stern. As the boss of Wan Hua Lou, how dare she not listen to his words? She nodded and bowed in response.

  It's also the misfortune of Wan Hua Lou, coincidentally encountering two young masters, Xiao Fan and Lin Jianren, fighting. If not handled properly, offending either side would be more than what Wan Hua Lou can afford.

  The owner of the Wan Hua Lou left with a grievance in his heart.

  Lin Jianren sat with a big knife and said to the few people behind him: "This one million gold coins, you still need to contribute 500,000 together, I don't know what you think?"

  "Alright, alright, we'll go back and get the money right away."

  "Yes yes yes."

  The people behind Lin Jianren were descendants of some small aristocrats, although individually they couldn't take out one million gold coins, but each person taking out a hundred thousand or so was still possible.

  At this moment, those small aristocrats would have liked to slap themselves in the face, blaming their big mouths. If they hadn't cheered from behind earlier, Lin Jianren might not have gambled with Xiao Fan. Now it's all good, they have to pay up.

  These little aristocrats are all dependent on the Lin family. As for Lin Jianren, the young master of the Lin family, they dare not disobey him.

  After a few people left behind, Lin Jianren waved his hand and summoned his personal attendant to go back to the Lin family to fetch 500,000 gold coins.

  Lin Jianren is very clear about the financial situation of those few followers, based on those people wanting to make up one million, it's impossible, being able to make up five hundred thousand is already the limit, the remaining ones need Lin Jianren to take out his own wallet.

  "Young master, there's only 200,000 gold coins left at home." The servant was Lin Jianren's personal attendant and had some understanding of his financial situation. When he heard that 500,000 was needed, he couldn't help but stare blankly.

  "Take my token and go to the pawnshop to borrow 300,000 gold coins first." Lin Jianren had no choice but to grit his teeth and take out his own jade pendant as a token, and then figure out how to get the money.

  "Yes." The attendant took the letter and left, Lin Jianren secretly hated this time must let Xiao Fan run around the Xuan Mountain City to vent his anger.

  "Second brother, I have a total of 500,000 yuan in my name. Let someone go and get it right away." Xiao Fan saw Tang Long on the side, Lin Jianren was raising funds everywhere, he was very aware of himself, and immediately took out all his property.

  "No need, it's just a million gold coins. Does this young master still need to borrow from you?" Unexpectedly, Xiao Fang waved his hand indifferently and refused Tang Long's kindness.

  "Second Master, did you bring enough gold tickets?" Tang Long couldn't help but stare in shock, thinking that in the three months they hadn't seen each other, Second Master must have gone somewhere to make a fortune.

  "This... brother I came in a hurry, didn't bring a single penny on me." Xiao Fan said with a spread of his hands.

  "Are you still not letting us go back and get it?" Tang Long hastily said.

  Xiao Fan smiled: "Don't worry, although I don't have enough gold coins on me, I think there's something that should be worth one million gold coins."

  As he spoke, Xiao Fan's hand rummaged around his waist and pulled out a small black cloth bag, which he tossed onto the ground with a loud "thud", as if it were a stone hitting the table.

  "What is this?" Tang Long asked puzzled, and opened it to take a look, but found that it was just a black hard stone.

  "Haha, Xiao Fan, you must be out of your mind! You think you can exchange this broken black stone for one million gold coins? Do you really think everyone is as foolish as you are?" Lin Jianren couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

  Xiao Fan sneered and looked at Lin Jianren, saying: "Ignorance is not your fault, but being foolish and still showing off, that's where you're wrong. I say, cheap master, if you only scare the flowers and grass by the roadside, it's nothing, but if you scare the beauties in this Wan Hua Lou, that's your sin."

  He said that, and before Lin Jianren could explode, he turned his head to Tang Long and said: "Have your people go to the appraisal hall and invite Master Wang over."

  "Good." Táng Lóng wasn't a fool, and seeing Xiāo Fán's confidence, he couldn't help but take another look at the black stone; then he ordered his subordinates sitting behind him to go to the appraisal hall and invite Wáng Dà Shī Fu over.

  Jianbao Hall is the most famous place in Xuanshan City for buying and selling treasures, and the master of the store, Wang Dashi, is a legendary refiner. Xiao Fan brought him over, apparently knowing the value of this black stone.

  "Hey, Second Young Master, what's so special about this broken stone that makes you so confident?" Tang Long curiously picked up the black stone to examine it, but he couldn't see anything remarkable about it.

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "You'll know later."