Chapter 874: When the Silver Coins Run Out, We Part Here

Luo Zhenjiang's arm bulged with blue veins as he pressed Hai Deng's hand down inch by inch.

Hai Deng's complexion gradually changed; his other hand curled into a fist and braced on the table, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

A moment later, his back of the hand was firmly pressed onto the tabletop by Luo Zhenjiang.

Feng Zhou leapt up, slapped the table, and shouted, "Gang Leader Luo wins!"

Hai Deng stood up, his face flushed, and shouted loudly with a clatter.

Colonel Bo Erte set down his wine cup, walked to the table, and unfastened the copper buttons on his uniform sleeves at a leisurely pace, rolling the sleeves neatly up above his elbows.

He flexed his wrist, sat in Hai Deng's seat, and scanned the crowd.

Although he said nothing, everyone understood his meaning: I'm here to challenge you.

Xiao Ningchen gave him a glance, and without a word pulled Luo Zhenjiang up and sat down.

He propped his right elbow on the table, turned his head, lifted an unopened bottle of wine from the table and set it aside, saying, "Whoever loses must drink this entire bottle! Dare you?"

Cai Tong translated his words.

Bo Erte raised an eyebrow and nodded.

He extended his right hand toward Xiao Ningchen.

Xiao Ningchen seized his hand tightly.

Their forearms displayed solid muscle cords, one skin tone white, the other brown, their palms motionless on the table.

Feng Zhou placed his hand on top and said, "Begin!"

Everyone's gaze fixed on the two clasped palms.

No one noticed that the tall and short pair had already left the hall.

Xiao Er, cradling Tuan Tuan, arrived at the stairwell, slipped silently between two soldiers, and ascended the stairs.

The two soldiers stood upright, showing no reaction at all.

The two hurried up to the second floor, went to the innermost part, and pushed open the heavy Wooden door they had entered last time.

On the third floor, in Kui Yi's private reception room.

The three sat on a set of sofas; Xiao Ningyuan sat alone, while Mei Er and Kui Yi sat together.

On the table before them lay a bottle of wine and several crystal wine glasses.

The three lacquer boxes sent out last time were open, their treasures glittering in the candlelight.

Xiao Ningyuan picked up a black pearl necklace and said, "I have two hundred strings of this quality of chain."

"Besides the black ones, there are white ones, also threaded with gold wire, pendants of sapphire; I wonder if you two are interested?"

Mei Er's eyes shone brighter than the candle flame: "So many?"

Xiao Ningyuan calmly lifted the wine glass before him, took a sip, and furrowed his brows slightly, thinking, "What kind of wine is this! So sour and astringent, terribly unpleasant."

He set down the glass, drew a folded plain paper from his sleeve, and slowly unfolded it: "Please have a look first; these are the inventory of my storehouse."

He placed the paper on the table and gently pushed it toward Mei Er.

Mei Er hurriedly took it up, and Kui Yi also leaned over to look.

The paper was densely filled with several lines of neat, small seal‑script characters; each line struck like a thunderclap, making Mei Er's eyes widen ever more.

Kui Yi, unfamiliar with Zhongyuan characters, urged, "What does this say? You better read it quickly!"

Mei Er gently recited in Hualan language: "Pearl‑inlaid with ruby gold necklaces, black and white, two hundred each, each worth five thousand taels, totaling two million taels."

"Qing‑white glaze ice‑crack patterned tea cups, five hundred sets, each set three thousand taels, totaling fifteen hundred thousand taels."

"Peony gold‑thread embroidered brocade, five hundred bolts, each six thousand taels, totaling three million taels. Cloud‑patterned silk‑woven screen, one hundred panels, each…"

Gradually his voice grew lower and more astringent; he lifted the wine glass, drained it in one gulp, moistened his throat, and then continued reading.

When he reached "One thousand pieces of aged Wuyi rock tea cakes, each eight thousand taels," his breathing quickened, he unbuttoned his collar, and his face swelled to a pork‑liver hue.

Kui Yi snatched the paper from his hand, scanned it back and forth several times, his eyeballs nearly popping out.

He slapped the paper onto the table, twisted around, grabbed Mei Er's open collar, pulled him close, and roared at his face.

"These jewels alone can drive those aristocratic ladies crazy!"

"Not to mention the porcelain; the goods we shipped back before were called 'Eastern Divine Treasures' by them!"

"If they see these, we could set sky‑high prices and still not meet their demand!"

Mei Er grabbed his hand and said, "I know! I know! Let go of me first!"

Kui Yi loosened his collar, breathing heavily, and said, "Those five hundred bolts of brocade, if made into garments, which noble lady wouldn't want them? Shipping these back, we could sell them at ten times the price and still profit!"

Mei Er was splattered with his spittle, yet remained oblivious.

He lowered his head, staring at the silk handkerchief: "Silk in Europe has always been worth its weight in gold; they've never seen such beautiful brocade!"

He ran his fingers over the handkerchief, murmuring, "And the tea cakes! Just those one thousand aged tea cakes, sold at ten times, would equal the total we have plundered here for three years!"

The two exchanged a glance; every character on that paper was a mountain of gold!

"But," Mei Er's brows furrowed, "Governor, the silver we have on hand is far from enough to purchase this shipment."

Kui Yi snapped back to his senses, his brows also knitting.

Xiao Ningyuan sat with a faint smile, not even lifting his eyelids.

He took out a folding fan, twirled it, unfolded it to view the landscape painting, and quietly waited for the two greedy men to willingly step into the trap.

Mei Er and Kui Yi talked with each other for a long while again.

Xiao Ningyuan pretended to be impatient, folded the fan back, clapped it in his palm, and asked, "What? Do you two think the goods aren't enough? Or not good enough?"

"No, no, no!" Mei Er hurriedly waved his hand, "Boss Xiao, please don't misunderstand; we have no such intention!"

He rubbed his hands, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead, choosing his words: "We are just… just too surprised; we didn't expect Boss Xiao to be so extravagant and wealthy!"

Xiao Ningyuan paused a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly, "Mr. Mei Er, it's indeed wealth and generosity."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Mei Er nodded repeatedly, "Wealthy and generous, generous and wealthy, the same, the same!"

Xiao Ningyuan looked at his disheveled state, no longer holding back, and burst out laughing.

Mei Er also gave an embarrassed laugh.

Kui Yi didn't get what they were laughing about, but seeing both of them laugh, he also twitched the corners of his mouth.

Xiao Ningyuan gathered his smile, stood up, the smile still on his face, but his tone eased a little: "If you two think I'm asking for too much, that's fine."

He picked up the plain paper on the table, folded it neatly, slipped it into his sleeve, and clasped his hands: "Then it's the cargo on the harbor freighter—you provide the silver, I'll have people unload the goods."

"Once the silver and goods are settled, we'll part here." After saying that, he lifted his leg and walked toward the door.