Chapter 1222

Hu Xiaotian understood; this person turned out to be a gambling house boss who also lent money at high interest. Such people are essentially mixed up in the underworld; what they do is mostly shady, but they also have a talent: they are extremely well-informed about all kinds of news. I just don't know why this person sought me out. Could it be that those few scholars hired him to take revenge on me?

Yu Wan Li said: "I've heard that Hu Cai Dong has come this time to engage in the jewelry and jade business; in this regard, perhaps I could cooperate with Hu Cai Dong."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Shopkeeper Yu, aren't you in the gambling house business?"

Yu Wan Li laughed and said: "Hu Cai Dong, haven't you heard that most people who enter a gambling house end up losing even their underwear? So over the years I've actually accumulated quite a few things."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up, he nodded and said: "I'm staying at the Immortal Guest Inn; if Shopkeeper Yu wishes to make friends, how about coming over for a cup of clear tea?"

Yu Wan Li laughed and said: "It's an honor."

Yu Wan Li followed Hu Xiaotian to the Immortal Guest Inn; this guy is definitely a famous figure in Hope Sea City, and the owner of the Immortal Guest Inn, upon seeing him approach, behaved with utmost respect, personally brewing a pot of fine clear tea and sending it in.

The host and guest sat down at the table; Yu Wan Li sized up Hu Xiaotian, smiling and said: "I don't know what Mr. Hu Cai Dong wishes to purchase."

Hu Xiaotian said: "For a businessman, what matters most is profit; as for what kind of business it is, that's not important, don't you agree?"

Yu Wan Li chuckled and said: "Mr. Hu Cai Dong's thoughts really coincide with mine; a merchant does not ask about management, a hero does not ask about origin—excellent! Excellent!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Shopkeeper Yu, why did you seek me out?" He lifted his Chazan, took a sip of tea, and said casually: "It couldn't be just a chance encounter on the street, could it?"

Yu Wan Li shook his head and said: "Today a bookish fool took some silver from me, saying he'd borrow it for just one day and return it; we're neighbors, and as the saying goes, distant relatives are no match for close neighbors, so out of neighborly courtesy I lent it to him. I never expected that not long after he'd come back to me, saying the money had all been swindled away." Saying this, Yu Wan Li couldn't help laughing.

Hu Xiaotian also laughed; what Yu Wan Li said must certainly refer to Gu Jiayuan without doubt. He glanced at Yu Wan Li and said: "So you want to help him get justice?"

Yu Wan Li said: "Originally I didn't want to get involved in this matter, but back when I was destitute, his family had once helped me. I also know he lacks the gall to swindle me and the ability to repay the debt, so I decided to come see for myself just which expert had played a trick on him; meeting Mr. Hu Cai Dong today is truly a great fortune."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Shopkeeper Yu, do you still want to help him get justice?"

Yu Wan Li said: "I've stood firm in Hope Sea City for over ten years relying solely on my keen judgment. Mr. Hu Cai Dong is certainly no ordinary person; I only wish to be friends with you, harboring no intention of enmity."

Hu Xiaotian likes smart people the most; dealing with them makes speaking and acting much easier. Although he and Shopkeeper Yu are meeting for the first time, he has already noticed that this person is skilled at reading people's expressions and tone, understands the big picture; only someone who knows how to assess the situation can survive in turbulent times. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "My principle in dealing with people has always been to make friends first, then do business. As Shopkeeper Yu is a local, you ought to know something about the Treasure Gathering Hall, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wan Li's heart skipped a beat. In fact he had long suspected that the other party was no ordinary businessman, and now it seemed indeed so; the other party had come for the Treasure Gathering Hall matter. He slowly set down his Chazan and said: "Recently the Treasure Gathering Hall affair has caused an uproar throughout the city, let alone Hope Sea City; even all the merchants of the Bohai State are panicking because of this, and even those merchants who previously had close business ties are rushing to cut connections—Mr. Hu Cai Dong, it would be best not to mention it when you're out and about."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I came this time precisely for the Treasure Gathering Hall."

Yu Wan Li said: "Mr. Hu Cai Dong, don't you know that the Treasure Gathering Hall has been implicated in Yuan Tianzhao's case? All branches of the Treasure Gathering Hall across the Bohai State, from managers down to laborers, have already been imprisoned awaiting trial." After saying this, he paused, then sized up Hu Xiaotian again and said: "Mr. Hu Cai Dong, are you from Da Yong?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly amused, seeing that his words had already aroused suspicion; anyone else wouldn't think a Dakang native would care so much about the Treasure Gathering Hall affair, and would surely deduce that he came from Da Yong and was likely connected to Prince Yan Xue Shengjing. Hu Xiaotian deliberately didn't answer the question, merely giving a faint smile.

Yu Wan Li said: "The Treasure Gathering Hall is an enterprise of Prince Yan of Da Yong; Mr. Hu Cai Dong, could it be that you've come at the behest of Prince Yan?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly praised, noting that although Shopkeeper Yu came from the marketplace, his insight was extraordinary; he could actually infer from their conversation the general relationship between himself and Xue Shengjing. Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Such a major incident has long shaken the world." He took out a silver note from his bosom, placed it on the table, and slowly pushed it toward Yu Wan Li; for those who seek profit, as long as money is put forth, many things become much easier.

Yu Wan Li caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and saw that it was a five‑thousand‑tael silver note; he secretly sighed, this Mr. Hu Da Fu is indeed no ordinary merchant, spending so lavishly, and he did not reach for that silver note, smiling and said: "Mr. Hu Cai Dong, what do you take me for? I've just said I want to be friends with you."

Hu Xiaotian didn't hurry to take back the silver note, but instead produced another, a ten‑thousand‑tael silver note and pushed it forward.

To say that Yu Wan Li's heart wasn't moved would be impossible, yet he also knew that some money can be taken and some money cannot be taken at the risk of one's life; he lowered his voice and said: "Mr. Hu Cai Dong, what do you want to know?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "That depends on what Shopkeeper Yu can tell me."

Yu Wan Li said: "The case of Prime Minister Yuan Tianzhao is the biggest case since the King took office, implicating many; so far, nearly forty officials have been removed from office and investigated due to the case, and over a thousand people implicated have been imprisoned awaiting trial. It is said that Yuan Tianzhao has long been colluding with the pirates of Python Flood Island, and furthermore he has helped contact Prince Yan of Da Yong to set up a bridge for the Python Flood Island pirates, enabling Prince Yan to persuade the court to abandon the idea of conquering Python Flood Island; for this, Python Flood Island has given Yuan Tianzhao and Prince Yan of Da Yong many benefits. When the Prime Minister's residence was searched, the second‑in‑command of Python Flood Island, Ling Saniang, was found on the premises. To be frank, this is a case personally overseen by the King; even if Prince Yan himself came, he would likely be powerless."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Is there a way to arrange a meeting with the manager of the Treasure Gathering Hall?" Although he had found Li Mingju, Li Changxing had already refused on Li Mingju's side, and Hu Xiaotian was merely trying his luck, not holding high hopes for Yu Wan Li either.

Yu Wan Li said: "I'll take care of this; do you just want to see Tong Jincheng?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected this guy to agree so readily, and from his tone it seemed his abilities went beyond that. Hu Xiaotian said: "Of course, being able to see Ling Saniang would be even better."

Yu Wan Li said: "With this ten‑thousand‑tael silver note, I'll arrange for you to meet two people."

Hu Xiaotian half‑believed, half‑doubted, thinking this guy might be boasting to deceive him; however, Yu Wan Li had not taken his silver note: "Before noon tomorrow I'll give you definite news; once it's settled I'll come to collect the silver note."

Hu Xiaotian quickly understood that the local official is no match for the person on the ground; the next morning Yu Wan Li had someone come to report that the matter had been settled, and that at the You hour he would personally come to pick him up to go to the Ministry of Justice Prison to visit Tong Jincheng and Ling Saniang.

Before the You hour arrived, after finishing breakfast Hu Xiaotian headed for the Sea God Temple; Ma Qingyun, when visiting Dongliang Jun, had once mentioned that if Hu Xiaotian reached Hope Sea City he should first get in touch with the priest of the Sea God Temple. Although Hu Xiaotian had agreed to Xue Shengjing's request, he didn't fully trust this sworn brother, nor did he hold much hope for this contact; reality turned out worse than he had expected, and only upon arriving at the Sea God Temple did he learn that the temple priest had been arrested five days earlier, reportedly also a rebel of Python Flood Island.

Hu Xiaotian returned empty‑handed and went to the Tide‑Listening Inn to meet Xia Zhangming, who also came up empty‑handed; after inquiring everywhere, it is said that all properties linked to Ling Saniang have been sealed off, and her former subordinates are scattered like monkeys when the tree falls—either they have fled far and wide or they are hiding in the city; trying to find anyone connected to her is really not easy.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help resenting Xue Shengjing; this guy had Ma Qingyun look for him to ask for help, yet hadn't revealed much information. He had originally thought that upon arriving in the Bohai State he would be able to find Huo Xiaoru, but only now did he realize that finding a person in a foreign land is no easy task; his greatest hope now rests on Yu Wan Li, merely wishing this guy had some ability, while Xia Zhangming's take on the matter is rather conservative—he deems people like Yu Wan Li untrustworthy, and if Yu Wan Li were to set a trap for Hu Xiaotian to walk into, wouldn't that be trouble?

Hu Xiaotian told him not to worry; judging from Yu Wan Li's various behaviors, he believed the chance of this guy betraying him was minuscule, and perhaps the breakthrough for their operations in the Bohai State lies with this person. Of course, we must also make preparations on both fronts; Hu Xiaotian had Xia Zhangming stay outside to provide backup, for with his present martial skill even the Bohai State's Ministry of Justice Prison couldn't hold him.

At the You hour that day, Yu Wan Li arrived right on time, and he even brought along an outfit—a blue Confucian robe and a medicine box—whereupon Hu Xiaotian couldn't help wondering: "Wasn't the idea to go see someone? What does Shopkeeper Yu mean by this?"

Yu Wan Li laughed and said: "They're just court dependents—how could seeing them be easy? All we can do is find a pretext; I've already arranged with the people inside the prison, they'll claim these two are ill, and if you disguise yourself as a doctor you can naturally get in, but Mr. Hu Cai Dong must not bring any weapons inside, for upon entry they will certainly search you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, thinking that this guy really does have some methods; it seems there's nothing in the world that can't be done—only fearing that you might not find a way in.

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