IDWBE -Chapter 238 Getting a Wife

The most regrettable thing was the gold, silver, and jewels he had stored on the big ship.

That was his lifetime of savings!

Before leaving the Southern Province, he had specially arranged for them to be placed on the ship.

After being imprisoned in Sanhe, not only did he lose the ship, but the gold and silver were gone too. Needless to say, they must have ended up in the hands of that legendary “greedy” Lord He.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel utterly heartbroken.

He almost wanted to throw away the single piece of silver in his hand.

But he really couldn’t bear to. If, as Sun Chongde said, his entire family’s livelihood now depended on this one piece of silver, throwing it away would only cause trouble.

“Please come in,” Sun Chongde opened the door and gestured to the furnishings inside. “Lord Jiang, see if it meets your satisfaction. If there’s anything else you need, you don’t have to say—it won’t be added anyway.”

Jiang Kan’s mouth twitched involuntarily. He walked around the room, noticing that all the furniture was from his official ship, surprisingly moved here.

Hoping to see his chests of gold and silver, he peeked into corners, but ultimately felt disappointed—they had not been brought along.

He was destined to start over from scratch.

A-Dai carried in a very large dressing table, shouting, “Where should I put it?”

Jiang Kan clasped his hands. “Anywhere is fine. I’ll organize it myself.”

With a thud, A-Dai dropped the dressing table onto the floor, wiping his sweat. “It’s so hot.”

Having met him at the Prince Mansion, Jiang Kan knew he was close to Lord He, and smiled politely. “Thank you for your hard work. One day, when I host, I’ll treat you properly—drink to your fill, okay?”

“One day?”

A-Dai’s eyes lit up. “Which day? Tomorrow or the day after? I’m on duty those days—impossible. Then today’s the best!”

“Ah…”

Jiang Kan didn’t know how to respond.

Was this idiot deliberately dense, or did he really not understand?

A-Dai continued as if Jiang Kan weren’t there. “Let me tell you—I don’t eat Sichuan food. Too spicy. You’re from the Southern Province, I’m from the Southern Province, so let’s eat Southern Province dishes.”

Jiang Kan looked at Sun Chongde in confusion.

Sun Chongde clasped his hands. “Then we’ll leave it to you, Lord Jiang.”

Jiang Kan, caught between laughing and crying, reluctantly led the two of them out to eat.

It was his first time going out in Sanhe after all this time.

Everything in Sanhe was both familiar and unfamiliar.

For example, a fruit preserves shop looked much like one in Southern Province or the Da Liang Kingdom, but the oil-paper painting on the door was strange—a “mouse” holding preserved fruits, with a sign reading, “Designated by the Horse Racing Club.”

Even the salt shop was peculiar. The banners said, “Sichuan well salt, number one under heaven,” which seemed normal, but beside them hung another “mouse” image, with the words, “I bring salt for Sichuan.”

Earlier, he had seen two groups in conflict. Any observer could tell both were skilled in martial arts, but despite the crowd’s jeering, no one dared to fight—just spitting and shouting insults.

“Damn your ancestors!”

“Immortal cake tastes awful.”

Jiang Kan couldn’t make sense of it.

Wasn’t Sanhe supposed to be barbaric?

Why did everyone act like scholars? He could not understand.

Had the world changed so much while he was imprisoned?

Entering a restaurant, A-Dai sat directly in the main hall. Seeing no waiter, he shouted, “I have money today! Someone treating us!”

Pointing at Jiang Kan as he spoke.

Sun Chongde regretted coming along. Following this fool outside was utterly embarrassing!
Jiang Kan’s face mirrored his bitter feelings.

The waiter, Duan Rong, with a towel over his shoulder, ignored A-Dai. The fool’s words could not be trusted. He looked at Sun Chongde instead.

Sun Chongde smiled. “See, sometimes owing a bit isn’t a big deal. Haven’t they all been paid back?”

Duan Rong smiled. “Cui Gengsheng still owes a silver or two for drinks.”

“Ah.”

Sun Chongde sighed.

Jiang Kan braced himself. “Just bring the food. We’ll settle the bill later.”

Duan Rong nodded. “Fine, let’s order.”

A-Dai excitedly rattled off a dozen dishes. Jiang Kan clutched the pocket holding his silver, terrified.

After Duan Rong left, Sun Chongde looked at A-Dai. “Where does your monthly allowance go? Even eating a lot, you shouldn’t be in debt.”

As everyone knew, the guards of Lord He’s mansion had very high salaries!

Whether soldiers or constables, they couldn’t compare.

Even a normal guard’s monthly pay matched what Commander Shen Chu earned in a year.

Since leaving the mansion, Sun Chongde, Shen Chu, and Bao Kui had all regretted it. Promotions were good, but lifestyle suffered.

Shen Chu could only marry a concubine thanks to past savings.

Thus, the wealthiest now were A-Dai, Yu Xiaoshi, and Ma Gui. A few dozen taels a month allowed them to eat lavishly.

Yet somehow, A-Dai’s money was gone—reduced to borrowing!

A-Dai said, “It’s gone.”

“Not spent on us,” Duan Rong said while arranging dishes, laughing. “All given to the women at Chunxiang Lou.”

“You actually went to Chunxiang Lou?”

Sun Chongde hadn’t expected this, shaking his head in frustration. “You didn’t even take me? After all I’ve done for you!”

“No money!”

A-Dai gnawed on a pig’s trotter.

Duan Rong laughed. “Fool, the money you spent at Chunxiang Lou could’ve married several wives.”

“Marry wives?”

A-Dai slapped his greasy head. “Why didn’t I think of that? Duan Rong, you’re smart.”

Jiang Kan finally confirmed it.

This guy was an idiot!

Sun Chongde asked, “Do you like anyone?”

A-Dai replied without hesitation, “I like Hong An.”

Sun Chongde sighed. “She probably won’t like you back.”

“Why?”

A-Dai asked, puzzled.

Sun Chongde, knowing he couldn’t explain, fudged it. “You can like someone else. Why must it be Hong An?”

A-Dai said, “Then I like Sister Mingyue.”

“Pfft!”

The wine in Sun Chongde’s mouth sprayed onto A-Dai’s face.

“What are you spraying me for?”

A-Dai wiped his face with his sleeve.

“I didn’t mean it,” Sun Chongde whispered. “But you can’t like her.”

“Why not?”

A-Dai asked further.

Sun Chongde said seriously, “Because Lord He will be unhappy. If he’s unhappy, the consequences are severe.”

“Oh,” A-Dai nodded vaguely. “Then can I like Sun Xia?”

“No!”

Sun Chongde ground his teeth. “From now on, you are not allowed in my house.”

He wasn’t worried his sister would like A-Dai.

He only feared A-Dai causing trouble in his house.

After all, A-Dai was seventh-rank—his whole family couldn’t stop him.