Chapter 94: God of the Stick

"Lady Accountant, lend this young master another fifty taels."

Hearing the voice, Zhou Yueru hurriedly looked up. Before the counter stood a short-statured young master.

Zhou Yueru remembered this man's surname was Wang; his family traded sugar in Zongyang, and it was said their business even reached Luzhou Prefecture. But he had already borrowed quite a lot these past two days.

"Then what else does Young Master Wang have as collateral?"

That Young Master Wang casually pulled out a deed and tossed it onto the counter. "A two-story shopfront on Zilai Street."

Zhou Yueru looked at the accounts, hesitating, wanting to speak but stopping. Just then, a burst of cheers erupted from Sic Bo table five. Even without looking, Zhou Yueru knew someone had hit the number — that bet would win a large sum of money.

Young Master Wang rapped the counter impatiently. "What's wrong with you, woman? Hurry up and lend it to me, I'm waiting to win money."

"But Young Master Wang, you've already borrowed over a hundred taels these past few days. Losing so much isn't good. Why don't you rest a few days and come back?"

Young Master Wang slammed a palm onto the table. "I hate hearing people talk about losing more than anything! Here's the collateral, and I'm willing to pawn it. Who asked a ignorant woman like you to keep prattling on?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant earning silver isn't easy, Young Master Wang, you..."

Seeing Zhou Yueru about to continue, Young Master Wang suddenly erupted, hurling the two remaining chips in his hand at Zhou Yueru. He cursed wildly, "You damn cheap woman! Is my deed fake or what? Who asked a cheap woman like you to run your mouth, delaying my chance to win it back? I'll smash you to death!"

Zhou Yueru screamed and ducked under the table. Young Master Wang, still not vented, kicked the counter and cursed, drawing a crowd of onlookers. A few of his gambling buddies came over, asked what happened, and joined in the shouting and cursing.

Three Green-Skins guarding the floor rushed over and grabbed Young Master Wang. Young Master Wang shouted and cursed loudly, demanding to see the gambling den's Shopkeeper to argue his case.

"What's going on, what's going on! Who's causing trouble here?"

Zhou Yueru, hiding under the table, gasped for breath. Hearing Jiang Shuqiong's loud voice, her heart grew even more terrified. Thanks to her nauseating displays, Jiang Shuqiong had been promoted to a strange position called Hall Supervisor, in charge of the entire first-floor Main Hall. This made things much easier for Liu Ruogu, but not so easy for the other employees.

"What do you mean causing trouble? I came to your Bai Shun Tang to spend silver. The pawn has a deed. Why won't this cheap woman give me the silver? Delaying my chance to win money!"

Jiang Shuqiong's voice turned soft as water. "Aiya, Young Master Wang, why bother arguing with a woman who's never seen the world? Getting yourself worked up is what matters. Here, Young Master Wang, sit down for a moment. I'll have that woman handle it for you right away. Someone, bring a chair for Young Master Wang."

It was quiet outside for a moment. Zhou Yueru had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Jiang Shuqiong slapping the door.

"Zhou Yueru, open this door right now and get the hell out here!"

Trembling, Zhou Yueru crawled out from under the table. As soon as she pulled the bolt, before she could open the Gate Leaf, Jiang Shuqiong barged in. Pointing at her face, she cursed, "Zhou Yueru! Every day at morning meeting we say it: we must make the guests satisfied. Guests are our bread and butter. Did any of that get into that brain of yours?"

Jiang Shuqiong's plump face was full of ferocity. Zhou Yueru retreated repeatedly, defending herself, "But he's lost so much already. New Year's is almost here; something could go wrong."

Jiang Shuqiong grabbed Zhou Yueru by the collar, leaned in close, and cursed in a low voice, "A gambling house opens for business. Hundreds and thousands of guests come through. If you, Zhou Yueru, have to worry about every single one of them, then what the hell's the point of running a gambling den? The whole gambling den relies on big spenders like Young Master Wang to earn a bit of silver. If you don't let him pawn, where does the business come from? Do all several dozen of us go drink the northwest wind? Does the Dongjia drink the northwest wind? I'm definitely reporting this to Liu Shopkeeper, to Boss Pang. Right now, the first priority: immediately lend Young Master Wang the silver, then apologize to Young Master Wang. Otherwise, I'll make you regret it."

Zhou Yueru was pinned against the wall by Jiang Shuqiong. This woman wasn't as tall as Zhou Yueru, but she was fat and stout, squeezing Zhou Yueru until she couldn't even breathe. She could only beg repeatedly, "I'll write his loan note right now for Liu Shopkeeper to sign. Just let go, alright?"

"Don't you dare call yourself 'your servant' to me. I don't care for it." Jiang Shuqiong shoved Zhou Yueru hard, turned, and walked out of the pawn Duty Room. She went up to Young Master Wang and said with an apologetic smile, "Young Master Wang, I've arranged everything. It'll be ready for you right away..."

"Bah, don't you call yourself 'your servant' to me. Don't you ever look in a piss puddle and see that fat mug of yours?" Young Master Wang cursed disdainfully. The sight of this fat woman disgusted him.

Jiang Shuqiong's face was all smiles. "Then Young Master Wang can call me whatever he likes. Lowly folk like us naturally can't meet Young Master Wang's discerning eye. But, you see, our Bai Shun Tang has Ruhua Tower right behind it. Since we spoiled Young Master Wang's mood earlier, tonight we'll treat Young Master Wang to a night at Ruhua Tower. The entertainment fee is on Bai Shun Tang, as an apology to Young Master Wang."

Young Master Wang turned his head to look at Jiang Shuqiong, a look of surprise on his face. He hadn't expected this woman to have such boldness, and she had kept a smiling face the whole time.

As the saying goes, you can't hit a smiling face. Young Master Wang felt embarrassed to curse at Jiang Shuqiong anymore. He pointed at Zhou Yueru inside and said, "Kowtow and admit she was wrong, and this matter is settled."

Jiang Shuqiong turned a stern face toward Zhou Yueru and roared, "Did you hear that? Kneel!"

Everyone around looked at Zhou Yueru behind the counter. Jiang Shuqiong kept signaling her with her eyes, urging her to hurry.

Although Zhou Yueru was in business, she had never encountered something like this. Except when meeting officials, she rarely knelt to anyone. Tears welled up in her eyes, circling around, but she refused to kneel.

"Hurry up! Don't delay Young Master Wang's chance to win money. Did you hear me? If you don't kneel now, I'll dock your entire monthly wages. Your wages are even higher than mine, I know that — a whole three taels!"

Zhou Yueru froze for a moment, then slowly knelt down.

……

"Let me gamble one more hand! I lost all thirty taels to you. Just deal one more hand, will you!"

Several Green-Skins guarding the floor were dragging a gambler away. The gambler shouted all the way, insisting the gambling house let him play one round for free. He was basically dragged out by force. Once he disappeared, the gamblers in the hall resumed their own games.

"What are you doing? Pay attention. I'm busy here."

Zhou Yueru quickly withdrew her gaze and said, somewhat weakly, to Pang Yu and Liu Ruogu inside the room, "These are today's pawns. We lent out four hundred thirty-two taels."

Pang Yu frowned at the pile of loan notes. "Over four hundred taels in a single day? Isn't that a bit too much? In two or three months, we might have cash flow problems."

Liu Ruogu flicked a finger. "Some of that silver has already come back to us in the form of purchased chips. We've already tried our best to undervalue the houses for pawning. Quite a few shops in decent locations were only valued at twenty or thirty taels."

Pang Yu waved his hand. "Haven't you noticed the number of houses being dumped on the market keeps increasing? After the last Civil Unrest, wealthy families moved to Nanjing one after another, selling their houses continuously. But there are few buyers. House prices in Tongcheng have been falling. After the Roving Bandits stirred up trouble in Qianshan, even more people in Tongcheng are selling. War risk has the biggest impact on asset prices."

Liu Ruogu thought for a moment. "Then what does the Dongjia suggest?"

"From now on, pawn fewer houses in the county seat. For shops, it depends on the location. Shops and houses at the Zongyang water Wharf can be pawned. In the county seat, only pawn those in prime locations. Drive the prices down hard. We can pawn other goods — cloth, silk, grain, jewelry, anything easily liquidated is fine."

Liu Ruogu quickly noted it down.

Pang Yu then asked, "How goes the contact with the Zongyang Brokerage people?"

Liu Ruogu glanced at Zhou Yueru beside him. Zhou Yueru quickly averted her eyes. Liu Ruogu paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The Zongyang Brokerage has considerable influence. They said... well, this."

"Just say it."

"They said you, Dongjia, aren't qualified to negotiate with them."

"Is that so." Pang Yu smiled, completely unruffled. "The major trades in the county seat and townships are all in the hands of the Brokerages. Old Zheng and his gang control the county seat. Buying and selling all go through the Brokerages. A few Green-Skin Ruffians holding a few Broker Licenses really think they're something."

Liu Ruogu leaned closer. "The Zongyang Brokerage has ties to several local great families — the Fang Family, the Ruan Family, the Zuo Family. They can claim some connection or other."

"Those families have all moved to Nanjing. Who can still guarantee their safety? Only our Fast Squad! The Zongyang Brokerage can't see this point, which shows they aren't very clever people. After Spring Festival, we'll first start collecting the Men Tan Tax in the county seat. All buying and selling will follow the rules. Anyone who pays the Men Tan Tax will have their business protected by the Fast Squad. As for Zongyang, since the Brokerage isn't willing to talk, we'll open the gambling den there first. Step by step, slowly."

Liu Ruogu quickly memorized this. He no longer dared to underestimate this Dongjia. It seemed that ever since Pang Yu came alone to demand the Deed, Liu Ruogu had been suppressed by Pang Yu's Mental Spirit. Later, during the Civil Unrest, Liu Ruogu was implicated and manipulated by Pang Yu, becoming even more subservient to this minor runner.

Now, working for this Dongjia, Liu Ruogu had to be on high alert at all times, because this Dongjia was full of energy. He could come asking questions at any moment, come inspect the gambling den at any time, and pop up with new ideas and new plans at any moment.

The two discussed for a while longer, then Pang Yu set off. He had to go to the county yamen to report on work. Before that, he also had to go to Dongzuo Gate to check if the firefighting Hemp Beaters were fully prepared. Now that winter had arrived, and this year was especially cold, every household was burning fires to keep warm. Yang Erming had specifically demanded attention to fire hazards. Pang Yu could only deploy one Zhuang Squad team at each of the six gates in the evening, equipping them all with Hemp Beaters and water buckets.

Walking down the main street with three subordinates, everyone who saw Pang Yu fixed their eyes on him. This gaze was different from the mocking looks of the past. Now, everyone in Tongcheng knew Pang Yu. They knew he had killed over thirty Rioters, knew he had been promoted and now commanded Tongcheng's armed forces, and knew he had earned quite a bit of silver. Thus, the looks directed at him gradually turned into envy and fear.

The folk tales about him had also grown more bizarre. Pang Yu had heard three versions, two of which involved the Zhou Family, saying that stick was a divine object. Pang Yu had slowly lost interest in finding out more.

"Young... Young Master Pang."

Pang Yu turned and saw Zhou Yueru chasing after him. He smiled. "Zhou Guniang is off duty? What brings you chasing after me?"

Zhou Yueru's face was full of worry. "There are women of that sort here. For me to come and go in this place is truly inconvenient, and I'm not very used to the work. Could... could you let me..."

Pang Yu didn't hesitate. "Then Zhou Guniang doesn't need to work anymore. Tomorrow, settle your wages and go home to tend your paper shop."

"I… I'm not saying I won't do it. What I mean is going to the grain shop…"

"Zhou Guniang, three taels of monthly silver isn't so easy to earn. A grain shop doesn't need a Bangyong at three taels a month. Working at Bai Shun Tang, there's a bonus at year's end, and not a small sum either. If you don't take it, plenty of people outside are waiting to." Pang Yu said flatly, "No one has it easy. I give you monthly silver so you can help me solve problems, not bring problems to me. If Zhou Guniang is set on doing this, then don't complain in front of me anymore. Whatever difficulties there are, overcome them yourself."

Zhou Yueru stared at Pang Yu, stunned for a long moment. Pang Yu looked at Zhou Yueru and said, "Is there anything else, Zhou Guniang?"

"No, nothing." Zhou Yueru unconsciously slowed her steps, putting some distance between herself and Pang Yu.

After walking a stretch, Pang Yu saw that Zhou Yueru looked somewhat haggard, so he softened his tone and asked, "Has your father been any better lately?"

"Still the same." Zhou Yueru clearly did not want to bring up this matter.

Seeing that Zhou Yueru did not want to talk, Pang Yu did not press further. He walked quickly ahead the whole way, and soon they arrived at the Zhou Family paper shop. Another crowd had gathered in front. Zhou Yueru's heart tightened — she wondered if her old man had caused trouble again.

Zhou Yueru anxiously squeezed into the crowd, only to see a tall man in a brown Daoist Robe, his hair tied in a Daoist topknot, standing before the pawnshop. The door planks were all properly in place. Zhou Yueru finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head to look at the Daoist.

Zhou Yueru asked cautiously, "This great master standing before my family's paper shop — may I ask what guidance you have to offer?"

The Daoist slowly turned around. He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with crane-white hair and a youthful face, an immortal's bearing and a sage's air, exuding an otherworldly quality of one detached from worldly strife. Zhou Yueru, fixed by his clear, penetrating gaze, found herself unable to speak.

The Daoist spoke calmly, "This poor Daoist's religious name is Bi Chen. I have walked the mortal world for nearly seventy years. All things within this dusty realm no longer occupy my heart. Yet today, passing through Tongcheng, I suddenly sensed a stirring of numinous Qi at this place. Unable to resist a worldly impulse, I came to see clearly, and only then did I realize there is a true deity within this shop!"

Zhou Yueru asked blankly, "What true deity?"

The Daoist's expression turned solemn as he declared in a loud voice, "The Stick God!"

The onlooking commoners erupted in an uproar.