Chapter 14: Refund the money! Old man, I'm not playing anymore!

I fuck!

Can this golden finger still be topped up?

Gu Jin Nian is really numb.

He thought it over, never expecting that a tree branch would actually be related to gold.

In other words, including the system, there's still one branch whose nature is unknown, while everything else has been figured out.

Putting aside the disgusting person, this is really an unexpected joy.

Inside the private room.

Gu Jin Nian's palm had already been retracted, and no one noticed the gold dissipating.

On the surface, Gu Jin Nian appeared extremely calm, even leisurely drinking a cup of wine.

But his thoughts were entirely on the ancient tree.

Resentful qi gives rise to talismans.

The martial way is unknown.

What is gold? Gu Jin Nian became curious; obtaining resentful qi and internal qi takes time, but gold is different.

Although the Gu family doesn't engage in business, they're not lacking in silver; as long as it's not too outrageous, Gu Jin Nian can spend money.

Inside the ancient tree.

As the golden light entered the branch, a fruit formed, the size of an apple, showing a golden yellow color.

Yes.

It's already considered mature.

At least it's about the same size as the previous resentful qi fruit.

"Ten taels of gold can make it mature?"

Gu Jin Nian was somewhat surprised.

However, soon Gu Jin Nian tentatively plucked it, wanting to see what spending money would bring.

As Gu Jin Nian's thought moved.

In an instant, the golden fruit fell.

Soon a talisman paper appeared.

Rather than saying it's a talisman paper, it's more like a blank sheet.

On the blank paper, four characters were conspicuously written.

【Tonight there will be rain】

As the characters appeared, Gu Jin Nian froze.

What a guy!

What does this mean? Tonight will have rain?

I don't care whether it rains or not!

Ten taels of gold, just this? Gu Jin Nian is wealthy and doesn't think ten taels of gold is much, but compared to that it's somewhat depressing.

This second-to-last tree branch, could it be a weather forecast?

No, no.

It's definitely wrong.

Gu Jin Nian shook his head, also thinking.

Tonight will have rain?

He glanced outside the window; indeed there were some dark clouds, the chance of rain is not small.

Does this mean money can buy future information? The more silver, the more useful the information?

Gu Jin Nian speculated to himself.

Thinking this, Gu Jin Nian calmly took five gold ingots in his hand, about as much as one hand can hold.

At that moment, the five gold ingots vanished, turning into five golden lights that entered the ancient tree.

Soon, the ancient tree bore fruit again, larger than before, like a durian, with golden light shimmering.

Without any hesitation, Gu Jin Nian again used his thought to pluck it.

The golden fruit fell.

It burst forth with light.

And it was still a slip of paper.

On it were still four characters.

【Tomorrow night there will be rain】

Gu Jin Nian: '.'

Ah... this.

Disgusting person, right? Damn it.

Ten taels of gold, tonight will have rain.

Fifty taels of gold, tomorrow night will have rain?

Really just a weather forecast? Are you sick?

Ten taels of gold equals ten thousand dollars in my previous life; fifty taels equals fifty thousand dollars.

And then buy a weather forecast?

I'll buy your grandpa!

Gu Jin Nian really got angry to the point of internal injury; he felt he'd been tricked.

"Sure enough, the big spender has no good outcome."

After a while, once Gu Jin Nian had calmed down a bit, he couldn't help but continue researching.

It probably isn't that simple.

Gu Jin Nian shook his head.

The gold is gone, he doesn't care; the main thing is to figure out the ancient tree's function.

Foreknow the future?

Information?

At the wine table, Gu Jin Nian began to speculate on the ancient tree's function.

His current feeling is that, through gold, one can purchase information, and the information comes from the future.

However, the information given so far is relatively little.

This is directly related to silver taels.

Gu Jin Nian does not believe that the ancient tree's function can only be used to predict the weather.

After thinking, Gu Jin Nian also didn't waste words; with both hands drawing a bow, each clutching five gold ingots, he wanted to see whether this prediction would also rain the day after tomorrow.

As the gold disappeared.

Gu Jin Nian also wondered in his heart, who exactly is trying to harm me?

To see if it matches his guess, one could purchase the corresponding information, or perhaps it could only randomly predict the future.

And as one hundred taels of gold were consumed, the fruit also grew to the size of a watermelon.

Without hesitation, Gu Jin Nian chose to pluck the fruit.

As the fruit fell to the ground, in an instant a slip of paper appeared again.

The pleasing thing is:

This time, it is indeed not going to rain tonight.

But the information that appeared gave Gu Jin Nian a splitting headache.

【Need to add money】

It's really ruthless.

I originally thought that spending money to draw fragments in the pay-to-win game I played in my previous life was already the most ruthless.

Today Gu Jin Nian witnessed what is truly ruthless.

Are you crazy for money? One hundred taels of gold, and you tell yourself, 'The gold isn't enough, need to add money?' I'll add your ma.

Refund the money.

I'm not playing anymore.

Gu Jin Nian's lungs were about to explode from anger.

All told, a hundred? Even if there was just one clue, if someone was secretly targeting him, Gu Jin Nian would think it worthwhile.

At the very least, he could confirm that his drowning wasn't such a simple matter.

So what's the result? One hundred taels of gold isn't enough.

If it's not enough, why didn't you say so earlier?

Just tell me how much, I'll give it to you now; why make it so complicated? He glanced at the gold on the plate—only four ingots left.

Gu Jin Nian no longer cared about face or anything; he scooped them all up, giving it one last try.

Four gold ingots bore fruit, and Gu Jin Nian wondered how much gold was needed to get an answer.

That said, although he felt disgusted, it also confirmed his guess.

One can inquire through one's doubts, pay the corresponding amount of gold, and obtain a concrete answer.

After the final forty taels of gold were absorbed by the ancient tree.

New information appeared.

The golden light faded, and the content of the slip appeared in his mind.

【Da Xia Heir Apparent next door】

Gu Jin Nian: "???"

What is this? I asked you how much more silver to add, and you tell me the Heir Apparent is also next door?

Are you sick?

Damn it.

Good.

Good.

Good.

You're aloof, you're awesome, I can't play against you, fine, I won't play anymore; Gu Jin Nian swears that if I give you more silver again, I'll jump from here and die here.

Damn it!

Taking a deep breath, Gu Jin Nian really had some cerebral congestion.

Isn't this just playing with people's minds?

You ask me how much more silver to add, and you give me this nonsense, not answering the question? I know what use the Heir Apparent has here.

It's totally impossible to go around advertising—does the Heir Apparent also come to the brothels? Or are you saying you now go find the Heir Apparent? Haha, you've been caught by me, right? I didn't expect you to be fixing cars here too. Now I give you a way out: from now on, honestly listen to me, I won't mention this matter; if you don't listen to me, I'll tell the whole world that the magnificent Da Xia Heir Apparent came to Azure Moon Pavilion to fix cars.

Want to do it like this? If you dare say that, once the Heir Apparent becomes emperor, you'll find it hard not to die.

What a damn cheat.

Go die.

Hurry up and go die. Gu Jin Nian was so angry his scalp went numb.

It's not about the 200 taels of gold; the main thing is feeling like I was made a fool.

Oh, wait, drop the feeling part.

Just that I was made a fool.

200 taels of gold, huh.

Putting aside dukes and marquises, the highest official in the Gu Family only gets a monthly salary of about 200 taels of silver.

Not counting any private earnings.

Gu Jin Nian's father is the Marquis of Linyang.

He is already a marquis with fertile lands and estates; after a year, subtracting staff costs and various unseen expenses, his legitimate net income is only 50,000 taels of silver.

That works out to about 5,000 taels of gold.

It's equivalent to a marquis's half‑month net profit, just enough to purchase some dispensable intel.

Who wouldn't be angry? Of course, the above are all official earnings; Gu Jin Nian has no idea how much silver is hidden privately.

This stuff involves a lot—various, myriad, and of dubious origin, hard to say how legitimate it is.

And just then,

a voice rang out, breaking Gu Jin Nian's thoughts.

"Jin Nian brother, where's the gold on the table?"

"I've taken a liking to a girl; give me two gold ingots, and I'll be back in a flash."

The voice sounded again.

It was a fellow youngster.

He had a delicate appearance, and his speech was a bit nervous and shy.

He had taken a liking to the girl.

He wanted to invite her to a rendezvous in a little black room.

Hearing that, Gu Jin Nian swept the table; the plates were spotless, not a single coin left.

Gu Jin Nian felt a bit flustered.

It was a bit awkward.

Taking the 200 taels of gold isn't the issue; the problem is taking it all.

And I can't produce it now.

It's all been swindled away.

At that moment, everyone withdrew their gazes, returned to the drinking table, and looked at Gu Jin Nian with curiosity.

Especially Li Ping.

He seemed a bit helpless.

"So that's the 'just take a little' you mentioned?"

"You took it all away!"

The scene grew awkward.

"Brother Liu, didn't we say before coming that we'd just have a look?"

"We're scholars; real knives and guns aren't our concern, but if word gets out, wouldn't that be disastrous?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke up, forcing an explanation, and Li Ping's voice followed.

"Right, right, right."

"Jin Nian brother is right; we'll just look, just look, but don't act recklessly."

"If it actually spreads, it's one thing for others to know, but if Zhang Yun finds out, we'll be in trouble."

"Jin Nian brother is also looking out for us; once you all come of age, I'll book the Blue Moon Pavilion for three days of fun."

Li Ping added his voice, soothing the crowd.

With that said, everyone understood, nodding; indeed they were still young and not yet of age.

If they actually did something out of line, the family wouldn't have much to say, but if it got out, it would be trouble.

"Yes, the elder brother does it for everyone's sake."

Gu Jin Nian nodded, pleased with Li Ping's smooth talk.

Everyone understood the reasoning, yet their expressions were complicated.

Isn't everyone's purpose for coming here to repair vehicles? Oh, you won't let us repair them either? Saints have their moments; don't treat a moment as forever.

They felt a bit depressed.

But given Gu Jin Nian's status and his moral high ground, it was hard for them to say much.

"Alright, it's getting late, we've seen what we needed to see; are you leaving? If not, I'll leave first."

Gu Jin Nian didn't want to stay longer.

If it gets any later, the Gu Family will probably send someone after me.

Plus, the ancient tree messed with my mindset; I'm not in the mood.

"Fine, then let's go."

"Indeed, if I stay longer, my father will beat me again."

"Alright, I'll follow Jin Nian brother's lead."

At that point, nobody complained; they all headed out.

"Jin Nian brother, leaving now? The later part is exciting; trust me, won't you stay?"

Li Ping grabbed Gu Jin Nian, trying to keep him.

"It's only just begun; the real show is later."

When they heard it was spectacular, everyone stopped in their tracks for a moment, especially those who had just been about to leave; they could no longer move.

Good fellow, you actually had another trick up your sleeve? Hearing that, Gu Jin Nian instantly perked up.

"I do have some urgent business."

"But since all of you brothers are willing to wait, I won't spoil the mood—let's continue, continue."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, deliberately sitting in the front row, awaiting the spectacular show.

He was eager, wondering how spectacular the program would be.

The others began to laugh, but said nothing, quietly waiting for the spectacular program.

A few maidservants smiled one by one, and personally began massaging shoulders and loosening muscles for several people, to make them more comfortable.

Feeling the maid's shoulder massage, Gu Jin Nian comfortably thought of sleeping, and his earlier worries completely vanished.

But deep down he still had to criticize: the damned old society.

On the stage, a simple Music Chess Calligraphy Painting performance continued; after a little over half an hour, the spectacular program finally arrived.

It was a woman, indeed beautiful, long hair down to her waist, delicate features; in an instant Gu Jin Nian's interest was piqued.

But soon the anticipation in his gaze gradually turned to disappointment.

The whole program lasted nearly half an hour; it began with music and dance, then gradually started to remove the outer garments.

But by the end, only a part had been removed.

The act was half‑covering the pipa, half‑covering the face.

It left Gu Jin Nian with unparalleled disappointment.

Good fellow.

Is that all?

Is that all?

Is that all?

I thought there would be something more, but it's just this?

All this fuss and it's still a plain show? Isn't this bullying the honest folk?

Ugh!!!!

Give me my refund.

In Gu Jin Nian's mind, countless horses galloped wildly.

He just looked at these people again; each one was extremely excited, their breathing becoming rapid.

It almost made Gu Jin Nian blurt out, "I'm ashamed to be in your company."

"I'm leaving."

In an instant, Gu Jin Nian stood up; he didn't want to stay, it was getting late, and most of all it was boring, so he'll wait until after the coronation to go to the teaching hall.

This place—no need to come.

"Brother Jin Nian? Leaving already? There's still spectacular stuff behind, want to watch?"

Li Ping stood up, looked at Gu Jin Nian and said.

However, Gu Jin Nian was resolute this time.

"Gu (himself) never enjoys plain shows; gentlemen, see you tomorrow."

Leaving that remark, Gu Jin Nian rose and left, ignoring what others said, walking away without looking back.

After exiting the elegant chamber.

Gu Jin Nian casually noted the name of the neighboring elegant chamber.

Silver cannot be wasted; later the crown prince will have to cough it up.

But now, thinking calmly.

It really is surprising.

The illustrious Da Xia crown prince actually came to a place like this?

After secretly noting the chamber's name, Gu Jin Nian hurried away, not planning to stay long.

He calculated the time: from Qingyue Tower to home, a brisk walk would take a quarter hour.

These people obviously stayed longer than a quarter hour.

After returning home, he had the steward go door to door to inform them that their grandson was at Qingyue Tower.

Then he arranged for someone to pre‑notify Li Ping and the others so they could leave early.

See whether goodwill counts as nourishment.

After all, resentment is a kind, so theoretically goodwill should count too, right?

Anyway, give it a try; it costs nothing, and if it fails, drop it.

If it works, it's a windfall.

With that thought, Gu Jin Nian's steps quickened further.

And indeed, a drizzle fell from the sky.

Thus it can be proven.

The ancient tree's foresight ability is unquestionable.

(End of chapter)