Chapter 45: Xiao Nin's Great Plan

  "We won!"

  After the competition ended, the two girls in the elegant room on the second floor were deeply shocked and silent for a long time. After a long while, Cai Shuxian broke the silence with a cheerful cheer.

  She almost jumped up, her eyes shining brightly.

  "Yes..." Shen Nanhua smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

  Her eyes, like a quiet pond, flickered with inexplicable ripples. The corners of her lips were slightly raised, forming an elegant arc, and then faintly converged, smiling just right.

  "My goodness!" Cai Shuxian patted his chest, "I was worried that we would lose earlier. Now it seems, the worry was unnecessary. Li Balang is truly exceptional."

  Shen Nanhua glanced at her.

  It seems that Li Balang is not the biggest contributor to winning this game?

  Li Balang indeed scored two goals. But without Chen Yang, he wouldn't have found it so easy to score.

  That Chen Yangji who is not good at hitting the ball is actually the hero.

  "......Uh-huh." Shen Nanhua responded faintly, her response a bit stiff for the first time. She pursed her lips slightly, and the curve of her jawline was a little tense, revealing her owner's displeasure.

  This moment of displeasure flashed by in an instant, and perhaps even Shen Nanhua himself did not notice it.

  "Come on, let's go down and take a look." Cai Shuxian pulled Shen Nanhua's hand, wanting to find Li Balang.

  Shen Nanhua was shocked and said, "This is not good, right?"

  "What's wrong?" Cai Shuxian became cheerful, without any restraint. She was just worried that Li Balang would see her dressed as a man, but now she didn't care anymore.

  She must congratulate Li Balang on such a joyful victory.

  As for this matter, Cai Shu-xian didn't know whether he was being naive or bold.

  Shen Nan's heart flashed slightly.

  For some reason, she also wanted to go down and stand in front of Li Balang and others. If she could say a word to Chen Yang personally, he might remember that there was such a person on the court today.

  It was also worth her being nervous about his serve just now.

  This idea, bold and absurd. But once it started, it was like a spark that jumped up, and couldn't be suppressed no matter what. Shen Nanhua's footsteps followed Cai Shuxian down the stairs of the Arrow Tower.

  On the west side of the court, there are three open rooms for players to rest.

  At this moment, Li Balang and Du Shiji's two teams of twelve people have all gathered.

  Cai Shuxian's second brother Cai Shuyuan and two managers of the stadium were present to preside over the fairness.

  "This kid is cheating!" Du Shijie's face turned pale, his eyes gloomy, staring at Chen Jing, "He fell off the horse multiple times and changed horses, this is clearly cheating! Their scores shouldn't count!"

  Li Balang sneered: "You can also get off the horse's backside, and you can also switch whips. There is no rule that says it's not allowed."

  "There's no rule saying you can't!" Du Shijie's teammate said.

  Du Shijie and others lost so badly that they started to welch on their bets.

  Lost eighteen horses, it's undoubtedly heart-wrenching; but the humiliation of that ***, no matter what, is something I won't bow down to. If you really want to do it, then don't set foot in Yaojiang again.

  We've lost face for generations!

  Not just myself, but also the face of my family will be lost, and the face of our ancestors is gone.

  Du Shijiu refused.

  So they don't recognize the outcome on the scene.

  "Cai Erguo, you be the judge!" Both sides refused to give in, so Du Shijiu shifted the problem to Cai Shuyuan.

  Cai Shuyuan is usually not talkative and smiling, but his attitude is still relatively gentle.

  But now he was tense-faced.

  When Du Shijie asked him, Cai Shuyuan also sneered: "I judge? As long as the ball doesn't touch the horse or the player, and it enters the net, it's considered a score. This Brother Chen, did he hurt your horses, or did he hurt your people?"

  Du Shijiu was suddenly speechless.

  His teammates were also stunned.

  "....Since neither of you has it, what are you relying on?" Cai Shuyuan's voice rose, carrying a few degrees of icy coldness, "You want me to judge, is it because my court is unfair?"

  "There is no way..." Du Shijie's teammate hastily said.

  Cai Shuyuan's friends are all over the Yangtze River, and the Cai family is superior to the Du family in both personal connections and wealth.

  Offended Cai Shuyuan, from now on even less likely to come out and play.

  "How dare you?" Du Shijie suppressed his anger and also said, "Cai Ergou's court is the most impartial. It's just that we've never encountered a situation like Brother Chen's before, so we can't make up our minds either. Please ask Cai Ergou to uphold justice."

  "Fairness?" Cai Shuyuan snorted again, "Win or lose, that's fairness!"

  Du Shijie and his teammates finally thoroughly understood Cai Shuyuan's meaning.

  Cai Shuyuan is standing on Li Balang's side.

  Why did he want to help Li Balang like this?

  "You're not convinced?" Cai Shuyuan saw Du Shijie and others, each of them gritting their teeth, none willing to admit defeat. He continued, "Is it that you're not convinced by the ball on the field or are you not convinced by my impartiality?"

  I don't accept it!

  Du Shijie thought in his heart but didn't dare say it out loud.

  No one responded to Cai Shuyuan's words, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

  "The arena has its own rules, you all know that!" Cai Shuyuan saw no one speaking up and coldly snorted, "If you break the agreement, you'll be carried out with a broken leg."

  "Wait!" Du Shijie hastily said, "We didn't plan on breaking the agreement..."

  He was dissatisfied with his eyes, but he also knew that it was not easy to rely on accounts before.

  Cai Shuyuan is here.

  "Brother Li, I can give you my horse. However, for the second bet, can we make a change? As long as you don't let us lose face, I'm willing to add another 10,000 taels of silver!" Du Shijiu said.

  When he spoke, his eyes were on Li Yongrong and others, without a hint of begging for mercy, but rather with an air of being wealthy and arrogant.

  "Who wants your money!" Zhou Xun was furious.

  Bai Chenyu also got angry: "You were the one who mentioned drilling through the crotch in the first place, now you're regretting it? Too late! If you dare to mention using money again, I'll smash your mouth!"

  Zhou Xun and Bai Chenyu both have explosive tempers.

  Du Shijiu's face also turned red and white from their scolding.

  Cai Shuyuan's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at Li Yongrong.

  Li Yongrong remained silent, not responding immediately. His hands were clenched tightly in his sleeves, as if he was suppressing his temper. After a moment, Li Yongrong said, "It can be done, but you have to give me 20,000 taels!"

  "Yong Rong!" Zhou Xun and Bai Chenyu were greatly surprised, their tone was both astonished and accusatory.

  Du Shijin's team, however, all let out a sigh of relief.

  A hint of appreciation flashed across Cai Shuyuan's eyes.

  Du Shijie suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

  The Du family is wealthy. With 20,000 taels of silver, whoever gets their hands on it will have to be ruthless.

  Going home to fetch 20,000 taels and diamond-studded pants, undoubtedly the former is more beneficial for Du's family and Du Shijiu.

  Du Shijie and these teammates, whose family doesn't have money?

  Afterwards, just find them and divide it evenly.

  Besides, he promised to give money, when will he give it? It's still up to Du Shijie. Once out of the stadium, Cai Shuyuan can't control him. When the time comes, how can Li Yongrong tolerate Du Shijie's defaulting on his debt?

  Du Shijiu said decisively: "It's settled then!"

  Then he said, "We don't have that much money on us today. I'll write an IOU to Brother Li, and Second Brother Cai will be the witness. Within three days, we'll definitely gather the money to give to Brother Li."

  "Who wants your money?" Bai Chenyu saw that Du Shijie had really agreed, and she was anxious and angry. "You said you'd drill through the crotch, now you have to do it for me today!"

  Then he scolded Li Yongrong again, "Li Balang, haven't you seen money before? You're so greedy for money, it's like I've known you for nothing! Besides, was it your own ability that won the game? Wasn't it Chen brother who helped?"

  Bai Chen pulled over Chen Jing who was watching from the side, "Brother Chen, you say something!"

  "There's nothing wrong with that!" Chen Jiong smiled and patted Bai Chenyu's hand, "Don't be annoyed, Brother Bai. Spending a few more twenty thousand taels of silver is also quite enjoyable."

  "I don't care!" Bai Chenyu was so angry with Chen Jing that she pushed him away.

  Li Balang and Chen Jing fawned on Yinzi, making Bai Chenyu burn with anger and look down on them even more.

  Zhou Xun and others also felt embarrassed.

  A real man, Li Balang's behavior today is truly without a shred of backbone.

  Let Du Shijie and others drill through them, report the grievances of the years, and also let their reputation be swept away. How refreshing! Taking other people's money, although it is also comfortable, I always feel that there is a breathlessness.

  Bai Chenyu and Zhou Xun felt very embarrassed.

  It was clear that we had won, but in the end, everything was ruined by Li Balang.

  "I'd rather not!" Li Yongrong looked at Bai Chenyu seriously and said, "Are you going to listen to me or her?"

  The horse racing is Lee Yong-yong's, this team of people and horses are all under Lee Yong-yong's command.

  Bai Chenyu resentfully swung her hand away.

  "It's true, having money to spend is a good thing, and one should cherish it." Du Shijie said with a smile.

  He also thinks Li Yongrong is so spineless for giving up just for money and letting them take advantage of him.

  Do you want Du's family money?

  It's not that easy!

  The IOU you gave me will always be an IOU.

  Du Shijie burst out laughing in his heart.

  "Alright, Cai Ergou, I'll just use my pen to write a note. Du Shijiu's gloominess was swept away and he became cheerful, "I'll have Li brother write an IOU, and pay it back within three days. From now on, we're still brothers, don't forget to call us when you play ball..."

  "What's the hurry?" Li Yongrong also smiled, "Brother Du, don't blame me for being cautious, I just don't trust you. How about we ask Cai Ergou to be an intermediary? Brother Du takes 20,000 taels from the ball court and gives us a note, how's that?"

  Du Shijie's smile on his face suddenly froze.

  IOU to Li Yongrong, Du Shijiu can default on the debt; IOU to Cai Shuyuan, Du Shijiu doesn't have the guts.

  The abacus slipped from his fingers, and he thought of the 20,000 taels. Du Shijiu's heart ached so much that he couldn't catch his breath, and his face turned extremely ugly.

  "I'll act as a middleman for the two of you, then." Cai Shuyuan laughed and instructed his attendant, "Go fetch 20,000 taels of silver notes to give to Mr. Li; also bring paper and pen."

  He turned around and left.

  Du Shijie wanted to stop him, but touched Cai Shuyuan's eyes and didn't dare.

  What's wrong?

  Do you really have to lose 20,000 taels?

  He spent no less than twenty thousand taels on those eighteen horses; adding the two together, he had lost forty thousand taels of silver to Li Yongrong in one breath.

  Everyone at home knows that he was punished with house arrest for half a year.

  He can't afford to lose.

  He was indulging in wild fancies when the caretaker of the ball court brought over the silver tally and paper pen.

  Du Shijie held a pen dipped in ink, his hand trembling slightly.

  "Come on, Du, money isn't everything. Let's think of a way." Du Shijiu's friend noticed his hesitation and hinted to him.

  Give me money.

  As long as they don't get caught, they're willing to do anything.

  Lost money, go home and get a beating, that's it. If they were caught by many onlookers, their reputation would be ruined, going home wouldn't just mean getting a beating.

  They lost face, their family even more so.

  The money they are willing to contribute.

  "Yes, Brother Du."

  Du Shijie finally wrote an IOU to Wangpingge Bowling Alley under the urging of his friends and Cai Shuyuan's solemnity, and pressed his handprint.

  At this moment, he seemed to have been drained of all his strength.

  He raised his eyes, and his gaze was like a sharp blade, rolling over Li Yongrong and Chen Jing.

  Leaving behind IOUs and racehorses, Du Shijiu and his friends left the stadium through a side door.

  They were all pale as death.

  Cai Shuxian and Shen Nanhua were eavesdropping behind the door curtain next door.

  Not letting Du Shijie and the others drill, Cai Shuxian was also quite disappointed. But being able to get 20,000 taels was also pretty good. Cai Shuxian's disappointment quickly dissipated.

  They were just about to go in when they heard Li Yongrong's friend scolding Li Yongrong: "......it turns out that Bai Mou was wrong about you all along!"

  The one who was scolding loudly was Bai Chenyu.

  Having said that, he turned around and was about to leave.

  "Halt!" Li Yongrong's voice was cold and furious, with a hint of thunderous anger.

  Bai Chenyu's footsteps couldn't help but stop in place.

  "...You've grown up to be such a big fool!" Li Yongrong scolded Bai Chenyu, "If they were to take advantage of you, the shame would not only be theirs, but also their family's. From now on, it would be a complete and utter feud."

  "Like the Du family and several others, you have made enemies. In the future, will your father and brother still be able to travel along the Yao River? You may feel momentarily satisfied, but by making such a big enemy, you are dragging down your whole family. What good will that do?"

  Bai Chenyu was slightly stunned.

  His face also calmed down.

  Indeed, like the Li and Bai families, they have some family assets, but not much wealth, nor any great power. On the other hand, the Du family is wealthy, and even the county magistrate has to show them respect.

  This insult is very heavy for a somewhat dignified family child. Not only themselves, but also their families will be attacked.

  It was just a children's bet, but if it involved two families, it would be too big and not worth it.

  Li Yongrong had long since seen through these things, knowing that letting Du Shijie and others drill was not possible, and he was unwilling to let them go just like that, so he asked for money.

  Now that we have the money, won the horse racing and gained reputation, why bother to stir up other troubles?

  The Li family, the Bai family and others are not those kinds of families that can dominate and bully their way along the Yao River.

  Taking the money may not be the most satisfying option, but it's the best choice, and it won't be in vain for them to have fought this battle.

  "Balang has a long vision." Cai Shuyuan laughed, "Bai brothers, you are not experienced in the world and do not know how treacherous it is. It's better to have many passersby than many enemies. It's still best to make fewer enemies, this time Li brother did a good job."

  The Cai family's power is something that even Cai Shuyuan thinks should be careful not to make too many enemies.

  Cai Shuyuan is very fond of Li Yongrong.

  Leave some room for maneuver when interacting with others, don't be overly aggressive to satisfy your temporary emotions, yet also avoid being taken advantage of and unable to fight back. Being able to both attack and defend at the right time will surely lead to great success in the future.

  Chen Jiong also nodded beside him.

  "Sorry, Yong Rong!" Bai Chenyu suddenly understood and knew she had wronged Li Yong Rong, so she immediately apologized to him. "Brother was momentarily confused, not as thoughtful as you. Whatever I said, don't take it to heart."

  Zhou Xun also busied himself with apologies.

  Everyone finally eliminated their differences and all were delighted.

  "We should thank Yan. If it weren't for him, we would have been sold out and killed by Fan Naipei." Suddenly spoke up Xi Tianying, who had been silent all along.

  Everyone came back to their senses and almost forgot about Chen Jing.

  They all thanked Chen Jing.

  The house was filled with lively chatter.

  Cai Shuxian and Shen Nanhua hid behind the door curtain, also secretly smiling.

  "...That Li Balang is quite good." Shen Nanhua said in a low voice.

  "Hmm!" Cai Shuxian looked very proud.

  Shen Nanhua saw that she was completely unembarrassed and burst out laughing.

  "Are you two still not coming out from behind the door?" Cai Shu-yuan's voice rang out, neither loud nor soft, yet it startled Cai Shu-xian and Shen Nan-hua into a jump.