TGCFNM -Chapter 450 Five Taels of Silver

The three of them left Wanbao Zhai feeling fully satisfied, even happily waving back at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked at them and found them rather amusing—polite, yes, but serious about bargaining… “Young masters, do come again.”

Wan Sanjin let out an “Ah” and turned to climb into the carriage.

They placed the wrapped gifts aside, and Wan Sanjin instructed Zhang Dong to take them to the Fu residence. If they couldn’t get inside, leaving the gifts outside would suffice.

Zhang Dong spurred the carriage forward at a trot.

Upon arriving at the Fu residence, even before Wan Sanjin could dismount, Qingtong stepped forward with a smile and a slight bow. “Young Master Wan, had I known you’d be coming today, the young master had already reserved a private room at the Wan Family Restaurant and even sent a note to Young Master Wan, inviting you all to join him tonight.”

Wan Sanjin was taken aback: “He invited my elder brother too? Why?”

Su He quickly covered Wan Sanjin’s mouth, while Chu Ling stepped forward smiling and handed the gifts one by one to Qingtong. “These gifts are for Fu Qingyu. Please deliver them and tell him we will certainly attend the meeting tonight.”

Qingtong accepted the gifts, smiling and giving a small salute.

Chu Ling waved, signaling Zhang Dong to return to the carriage first.

Su He also pulled Wan Sanjin inside.

As the carriage slowly moved away, Qingtong’s smile faded, and holding the three small gifts in her arms, he turned and returned to the residence.

“Inviting your elder brother, and you still ask why?” Su He sighed helplessly. “Of course it’s a matter of courtesy.”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “That’s not it. Look, these two share the same birthday, and I’ve always prepared two gifts. Yet all these years, they’ve never actually had a meal together.”

Chu Ling frowned in surprise. “That is odd. Courtesy aside, surely they would have shared at least one meal over all these years.”

Wan Sanjin knit his brows. “Could something happen tonight?”

Su He clamped his hand over his mouth, teeth gritted. “Shut up, don’t speak nonsense!”

Chu Ling’s eyes widened as she shouted, “Coroner Su, well done covering him!”

Wan Sanjin whined all the way, but Su He didn’t let go until the carriage stopped in front of the Wan residence.

“What are you covering my mouth for?” Wan Sanjin asked. “In the Wan Family restaurant, what could possibly happen? Even if it did, it would be a big deal.”

Chu Ling and Su He halted, sighed in unison, shook their heads, and stepped down from the carriage.

Wan Sanjin jumped down as well, calling after them, “Don’t you think so? Abnormal things are bound to have bad outcomes!”

Chu Ling and Su He quickened their pace, ignoring Wan Sanjin’s rambling.

As they headed straight for the main hall, they happened to meet Wan Xing and handed over the gifts.

Wan Xing smiled. “Thank you, that was thoughtful of you.”

“Young Master Wan, will you be attending tonight?” Su He asked.

Wan Xing nodded. “Yes, I will. Let’s go together when the time comes—Uncle Hong will come to escort us.”

Su He frowned and sighed. “I’d better prepare then, since your brother has already talked nonsense twice…” With that, he shook his head and walked away.

Wan Xing still didn’t know what was going on, when the next moment Wan Sanjin leapt into view.

“Brother, I’ve known Qingyu for so long, and you’ve never had a meal together. Now suddenly you’re going to eat together—isn’t that strange?” Wan Sanjin said. “Abnormal things are bound to have bad outcomes!”

Wan Xing: “……”

Chu Ling held up three fingers: three times now. She’d better prepare as well.

“Eating at the Wan family’s restaurant won’t cause any trouble,” Wan Xing said with a light laugh. “Unless someone specifically came here to get us, but I don’t think any of us have enemies like that.”

Chu Ling froze for a moment and looked at Wan Xing, then silently shook her head as she held up four fingers: the Wan family really is hopeless when it comes to their words!

Evening fell.

A carriage stopped in front of the Wan residence, and shortly after, three people suddenly darted out of the gate and headed straight for it.

Uncle Hong frowned and shouted, “Slow down, slow down! Don’t run!”

Su He said nothing, his face stern, and rushed straight into the carriage. Then, looking at Wan Sanjin and Chu Ling, who had arrived a step later, he held out his hand: “Five taels each!”

Chu Ling exclaimed, “Su He, you’re not short of money!”

“Better not leave it for free,” Su He said, his palm gesturing lightly. “Pay up.”

Reluctantly, Chu Ling handed over five taels, then leaned out to look at Uncle Hong. “Uncle Hong, shall we make a bet?”

Uncle Hong immediately pressed Chu Ling’s head back, saying, “No bets.”

Wan Sanjin generously gave his five taels, but when Wan Xing got into the carriage, Wan Sanjin immediately leaned over: “Big brother, shall we make a bet?”

Wan Xing shook his head, pushing him back: “No.”

Wan Sanjin and Chu Ling exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit disappointed. So, once they arrived at the Wan family restaurant, the first thing they did was head straight to a private room, rushing over to Fu Qingyu.

“Master Fu, shall we make a bet?”

“Qingyu, shall we bet?”

Fu Qingyu was a bit caught off guard. “Bet on what?”

“Bet whether anyone will attempt an assassination tonight,” Chu Ling said.

Fu Qingyu looked at them strangely. “…Assassination?”

Chu Ling nodded seriously. “Your friend has a perfectly accurate ‘crow’s mouth’; he never speaks falsely.”

Fu Qingyu chuckled. “Alright, I bet no one will.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin smiled. “Deal. Loser pays ten taels.”

Wan Xing pulled the two aside and handed them over to Su He, who grabbed their arms and pressed them down.

Wan Xing cupped his hands slightly, smiling. “We share the same birthday, so it’s fate. I chose a painting of a soaring crane through the clouds as a gift for you. I hope you like it.”

Fu Qingyu accepted it with a smile, handing the scroll to Qingtong, then took out a square box and offered it to Wan Xing. “Since it’s fate, I picked a rather rare antique embroidery for Master Wan.”

Wan Xing took it with a smile, opening it for a quick look. “This is indeed something good. If we can study its stitching, the business at my shop could triple.” Saying that, he handed the box to Manager Hong.

Manager Hong then withdrew.

Qingtong instinctively looked at Fu Qingyu, who waved his hand, signaling him to step back as well.

Wan Xing raised his hand in a gesture of invitation.

Fu Qingyu smiled lightly and mirrored the gesture, and the two sat down together. Outside, one of the waiters seized the moment to ask a quick question, allowing the kitchen to start serving.

Wan Sanjin leaned over to Chu Ling and Su He, lowering his voice. “This is the quietest, most secluded part of the Wan family restaurant. If anyone tries an assassination, they could sneak in through the rear courtyard…”

Fu Qingyu smiled helplessly. “This was the private room personally recommended to me by the Wan family restaurant.”

Wan Xing also sighed. “Ignore them. They’re only being like this to try to win back five taels of silver—they’ve gone completely over the top.”