TGCFNM -Chapter 249 The Deal

Zhang Dong guided the carriage to a stop right in front of the Fulai Inn. The innkeeper immediately came out and looked at Zhang Dong, saying, “You must be Young Master Zhang, right?”

Zhang Dong blinked in surprise and nodded. “Innkeeper, you know me?”

The innkeeper smiled. “How could I not? Your portrait arrived long ago, and I’ve been waiting day and night for your visit.”

At that moment, the carriage curtain lifted, and Wan Sanjin looked out excitedly, calling, “Uncle Wu!”

Uncle Wu beamed as he helped Wan Sanjin down. “Young Master, it’s been a long time.”

Wan Sanjin nodded frantically. “I was so young back then, maybe ten? You taught me some martial arts, but I let it lapse… though I’ve started training again recently—I’m practicing with the sword now.”

Uncle Wu looked at him with pride. “I know. The eldest young master mentioned it in his letter, but I should still take extra care of you.”

Wan Sanjin immediately grabbed Uncle Wu’s arm and asked, “So, Uncle Wu, have you seen that so-called Jianghu Bai Xiaosheng?”

Uncle Wu was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”

“He sold news about the five of us for only twenty taels! Can you believe we’re only worth twenty taels?!” Master Wan said angrily—each of them should be worth four taels of silver.

Uncle Wu was still in a daze as Chu Ling and the others climbed down from the carriage one by one.

Uncle Wu immediately bowed to Chu Ling. “Lord Chu, you’ve had a long journey. I’ve arranged a private courtyard for you this time, with a small kitchen inside. It will be convenient for you all to stay.”

Chu Ling smiled in thanks. “Thank you for the arrangements.”

Uncle Wu waved with a light laugh, calling a young waiter to help park the carriage and prepare the feed, while he personally escorted a few of them to the courtyard.

Chu Ling pulled Wan Sanjin aside. “Let’s go rest first. After we’re rested, we can continue looking.”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Alright.”

“Bai Xiaosheng! All-knowing Bai Xiaosheng!”

“Bai Xiaosheng! Strange news of the world in my hands!”

“Passersby, don’t miss out! Miss it and you’ll regret it for life!”

“…”

The group at the Fulai Inn’s entrance suddenly stopped in their tracks. They all turned to look at the young man shouting, inspecting him from head to toe multiple times. Chu Ling didn’t move to catch him, but Wan Sanjin charged forward.

Bai Xiaosheng suddenly felt a shadow fall over him. Looking up, he saw a tall, handsome man standing there. The man didn’t say a word—just stared him down, hands on his hips, looking as if he wanted to devour him alive.

Bai Xiaosheng hurriedly stepped back. Although most of the news he had sold recently was false, and only one or two were true, they were trivial—nothing that should bring someone hunting him down.

“You’re Jianghu Bai Xiaosheng?” Wan Sanjin asked hesitantly.

He had expected an old sly operator, but this one was so young?

Bai Xiaosheng cleared his throat and straightened his clothes. “Yes… that would be me…”

The last word had barely fallen when Wan Sanjin grabbed him by the collar and demanded, “Why?!”

Bai Xiaosheng was startled but forced himself to remain calm. “The news may have some discrepancies, but it was unavoidable. After all, selling information like this carries enormous risk.”

“Enormous risk?” Wan Sanjin hesitated. Twenty taels was an enormous risk?

Bai Xiaosheng pried Wan Sanjin’s hand off. “Yes, it’s very risky. After all, on the other side of the wall lies the difference between life and death.”

Wan Sanjin snorted. “Life and death? Who are you trying to fool?”

Bai Xiaosheng widened his eyes and insisted, “I’m not lying! Go and ask around—am I the only one who received this information? Am I the only one who sold it?”

“You were the only one to receive it? No one else?” Wan Sanjin was annoyed. Who was so careless?

“Yes, as long as I dared!” Bai Xiaosheng said solemnly.

Wan Sanjin crossed his arms. “Only you dared? And that’s why you sold it for twenty taels?”

Bai Xiaosheng straightened his collar. “As for Huang Jian sneaking around… I just don’t believe that Deng Feihua doesn’t know about it!”

Wan Sanjin frowned. “An invitation, and the news only sells for twenty taels? Aren’t you being a bit biased against newcomers?”

The two of them spoke almost simultaneously, then realized they weren’t talking about the same thing.

At that moment, Uncle Wu popped his head out. “Huang Jian sneaking around? For real?”

Bai Xiaosheng immediately said, “Of course it’s real. Yesterday, Deng Feihua’s whip went whizz-whizz, shattering several giant stones.”

Uncle Wu nodded at that. “No wonder. I was wondering why Huang Jian didn’t show up this time—it turns out he got beaten.”

Bai Xiaosheng leaned closer, lowering his voice, speaking in a mysterious tone: “The two could have just parted ways peacefully, that would’ve been fine. But Deng Feihua couldn’t swallow this anger. She went off to some government office and insisted that the officials make a divorce certificate. After getting the certificate, she reportedly beat Huang Jian again and took all the silver notes from his house.”

Chu Ling also leaned in, eyes lighting up. “Well done!”

Bai Xiaosheng clicked his tongue. “Indeed, well done. No wonder Huang Jian doesn’t even have the face to come here.”

Wait, hold on!

How did my news leak out like this? I haven’t sold it yet!

And… what’s this about twenty taels?

Bai Xiaosheng turned to Wan Sanjin. “An invitation only sells for twenty taels? I’ve never sold invitation news before, so I couldn’t have gotten that information.”

Wan Sanjin gave him a skeptical look. “Are you really Bai Xiaosheng?”

Bai Xiaosheng spread his arms. “That would be me, the genuine article.”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “Doesn’t add up. Chu Xiong said he bought our invitation news from Bai Xiaosheng, so that’s why he ambushed us halfway.”

Bai Xiaosheng suddenly realized. “You have invitations? Then the news you got must’ve been sold by a different Bai Xiaosheng.”

Chu Ling asked curiously, “So there are that many Bai Xiaoshengs?”

Bai Xiaosheng looked at Chu Ling, puzzled. “You didn’t know?”

Chu Ling shook his head.

Bai Xiaosheng slapped his thigh. “No wonder you said newcomers were being bullied. Turns out you didn’t know—Bai Xiaosheng is a profession.”

Chu Ling’s face showed surprise. “Huh?”

Bai Xiaosheng continued, “These people selling private news… who would dare reveal their real name or origin? Naturally, they all go by Bai Xiaosheng! I mainly sell trivial family matters, so my prices are decent, around fifty taels or so. Never sold anything for twenty.”

“But since you have invitations, selling to you only fetched twenty taels—somewhat looking down on you, really.”

Wan Sanjin glared angrily. “So it was deliberate!”

Bai Xiaosheng pulled Wan Sanjin aside, whispering, “Do you want to know which Bai Xiaosheng sold you out for twenty taels?”

“Of course!” Wan Sanjin replied immediately.

Bai Xiaosheng’s eyes lit up. Looks like I’ve got a job!

“Where were you ambushed back then? The ambusher’s name is Chu Xiong, right? And you had invitations, correct?” Bai Xiaosheng asked.

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Near Changzhou. Ambushed by Chu Xiong, clearly said it was over the invitations.”

Bai Xiaosheng patted his chest and promised, “I’ll help you investigate, but once I find out, you’ll have to do me a favor too.”

“What favor?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Bai Xiaosheng smiled slyly. “I can’t get in without an invitation. Just get me some exclusive news for my part.”

Wan Sanjin thought for a moment. “Deal.”

Bai Xiaosheng’s face lit up with joy. “Deal!”