Chapter 144: I am a Hao Ren

The following evening, as the lanterns were first lit, the Congzi Alley located on Fugui Street was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, the clatter of dishes, and the endless shouting of drinking games.

Along the street, elegantly decorated pavilions stood in rows, bright as day.

The brilliant candlelight made Beijing City appear exceptionally prosperous.

This was a "gold-consuming den" specially prepared for the wealthy.

Gambling, drinking, listening to music, and seeking pleasure—as long as you had money, there was nothing these merchants couldn't provide.

Once the hour of the Rooster arrived, a four-bearer apricot-yellow silk-curtained sedan chair slowly turned onto Fugui Street and eventually came to a stop in front of a secluded small courtyard.

As soon as it landed, the head of the sedan-bearers lifted the curtain, and Qian Liang poked his head out from inside.

Looking at the quiet courtyard before him, a warmth rose in his heart.

"You lot go find a teahouse across the street to rest. If there's anything, I'll send someone to call you." Waving his hand, Qian Liang took a dozen silver dollars from his bosom and tossed them into the head bearer's hand.

The head bearer was overjoyed, spoke a few flattering words, and hurriedly carried the sedan chair away.

Qian Liang rubbed his hands together and walked straight into the small courtyard.

Turning past a brightly lit corridor, he arrived at the inner courtyard as he had hoped.

At this moment, the dining hall in the inner courtyard was decorated with red silk and lanterns, and a table of top-tier delicacies was set in the center.

Hao Ren sat at the head of the table with a smile, with a woman sitting on each side of him.

The one on the left was about twenty-three or twenty-four, with delicate features and skin as white as snow. Her hair was coiled into a bun at the back of her head, adorned with an amber Ruyi hairpin, with a gemstone dangling from the tip.

Reflected by the candlelight, it emitted a glow like clear moonlight.

Her entire demeanor exuded the mature grace of a lady from a prominent family.

The one on the right was still young, looking only sixteen or seventeen, with a face full of youthful shyness; she sat there, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"What are you shaking for? Can I eat you?" Hao Ren glanced at her, pulled her into his arms, pinched her cheek, and joked, "Yo, like a tender scallion, truly juicy as hell."

As he spoke, he made a move to untie the woman's sash.

"Sir, you can't do this." The young girl panicked and hurriedly raised her hands to press against Hao Ren's chest.

"What can't I do? I'm just inspecting the goods; you won't lose any meat anyway." Hao Ren grinned, his eyes lecherously fixed on the girl's fair neck, feeling both warm and satisfied.

"Sir, someone is coming in," the beautiful young woman on the side reminded him.

Hao Ren looked up and saw Qian Liang already standing at the doorway with a smile.

As for why he invited Qian Liang here, there was a reason for it.

It turned out that yesterday, after Han San received the order to arrest Qian Liang, he racked his brains and decided to find a place with few people to take him down.

But this fellow had been cautious lately and refused to leave his house easily.

It was then that a subordinate reminded him: "Third Master, I heard that Shopkeeper Hao Ren is a man with heaven-reaching means. He has connections with the stewards of every household in the capital; why don't you go find him?"

Han San suddenly realized and immediately sent someone to invite Hao Ren.

The two set up a banquet in the duty room of the Northern Suppressing Faction, and once seated, Han San smiled and asked: "I heard that Brother Hao and Qian Liang, the steward of the Wuqing Marquis, are on good terms?"

"That's right, the two of us were drinking and enjoying the company of women just yesterday." Hao Ren looked proud and added, "Why, does Thousand-Household Han have some urgent business with him?"

Han San glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, leaned into his ear and said: "This Qian Liang is in big trouble. I've received orders from above to handle him."

"Ah? What big trouble? He is the steward of the Wuqing Marquis; if you touch him, aren't you slapping the Wuqing Marquis in the face?" Hao Ren's eyebrows shot up, and he asked with wide eyes.

"He is privately minting silver dollars behind the Wuqing Marquis's back. Would you say that's a big crime?"

At this, Hao Ren began to come to his senses.

This private minting of silver dollars had recently swept through the entire Beijing City and surrounding areas like a tornado.

There were many powerful and noble families involved, and those above were trying to "beat the grass to scare the snake."

They wanted to give him a warning without harming the Wuqing Marquis.

"Then what can I do?" After a few seconds of silence, Hao Ren stared at Han San and asked.

"You go and lure Qian Liang out; you don't need to worry about the rest." "What if he finds out later that I lured him? Wouldn't I be caught in the middle?"

Han San smiled, shook his head, stood up to pour Hao Ren a cup of wine, and muttered to himself: "Do you think those above will give him any future opportunities?"

Hearing this, Hao Ren was silent for a long time, then suddenly raised his wine cup, downed it in one gulp, and replied with a flushed face: "Fine, since you, Thousand-Household Han, have this kind of courage, I will risk my life to accompany a gentleman."

At this moment, seeing Qian Liang, Hao Ren stood up to welcome him, smiling and exchanging pleasantries: "Aiyo, Brother Qian, you've finally come. Inviting you is harder than catching a star in the sky."

"Good for you, Old Hao, you're cursing me in a roundabout way." Qian Liang replied with a smile and sat down at the table.

"When did I curse you?"

"You said inviting me is hard; isn't that saying I'm putting on airs?"

"Aiyo, Brother, you've misunderstood me."

Hao Ren explained with a fawning smile, but Qian Liang was impatient, waving his hand and saying, "Alright, alright, if you have something to say, say it quickly. Once you're done, I need to go back; the Master hasn't let me walk around outside these days."

"I have nothing, just wanted to invite you to have some fun." Hao Ren shook his head with a smile, pointed to the beauties on both sides, and said, "These two, whichever one you fancy, just pick."

Hearing this, Qian Liang looked to the side.

Both were charming and moving, especially the beautiful young woman in the green skirt; as she lowered her brows and lifted her eyes, she had both the allure of a young woman and a touch of a maiden's shyness.

"Gulp." A wicked fire rose in Qian Liang's lower abdomen, and he pointed at the beautiful young woman and laughed: "I want her."

"Good. Miaolan, why aren't you going over to serve Master Qian?" Hao Ren nodded and pointed at the beautiful young woman to instruct her.

"Yes." Miaolan nodded slightly, moved her lotus steps, and sat beside Qian Liang.

Qian Liang was a glutton for beauty, and seeing a beauty come to him, he couldn't control himself, and his large hands began to wander.

Miaolan didn't dodge; instead, she pressed into his arms, looking at Qian Liang with seductive eyes.

Qian Liang felt greatly satisfied and couldn't help but click his tongue: "This kind of woman is just better than those little girls. You tell her to sit, she doesn't dare stand; you tell her to kneel, she doesn't dare look up."

"I just hate those little girls, twisting and turning, acting as if they are worth so much."

"Brother Qian is well-versed in this; I will have to learn from you in the future."

"Hahaha, Old Hao, you're cursing me in a roundabout way again, aren't you?"

The two exchanged banter, and after the foreplay was done, Hao Ren suddenly picked up the girl in his arms, turned his head to smile at Qian Liang, and said: "Brother Qian, this brother won't wait for you; I'll go be a bridegroom first."

"You have no taste. Go, go, I'll have some intimate words with Miaolan."

Half an hour later.

Hao Ren, looking satisfied, walked out of the room with the beauty.

At this moment, the young beauty's face was flushed, covered in sweat, and her white skin was stained with perspiration, making her even more moist and moving.

After this encounter, the young girl had gained a bit more of a woman's charm.

"Old Hao, why is your waist sagging? Why are your legs shaking?" Qian Liang looked at Hao Ren's appearance, covered his mouth and laughed, mocking him.

"Good for you, Old Qian, I see you're just a silver-plated pewter spearhead, only your mouth is hard!" Hao Ren retorted.

"Don't provoke me, I won't fall for your trap. A soul-stirring life is ultimately a life of bones. Old Hao, you have no taste; whenever you see a woman, you think of doing that. I just want to listen to music and drink wine." Qian Liang responded with a smile.

"Then why is your hand shaking like you have epilepsy?"

Hao Ren saw his hand shaking under the table and couldn't help but laugh.

Qian Liang's face turned bright red, and the two women also laughed inwardly. Hao Ren took the opportunity to mock: "Brother Qian, if you're not going to do it, then I'll do it for you."

"Get lost, you're full of bad intentions; don't offend the beauty."

"Then what exactly do you mean?"

"I'm taking this person away; I'll pay you whatever the price." Qian Liang said, smiling and lifting the beauty's chin.

"Hi, I thought it was something big. You just take her away. If we brothers talk about money, I'll take it as you cursing me."

"Brother Hao is straightforward. In the future, if there's anything, I'll owe you this favor."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 145 =====