Chapter 283: Missing a Piece

My younger brother has something at home, so I'll leave first; I'll come visit another day.

A person rolled their eyes, clasped their fists, and hurried away.

Hurry, go to the Zhuang Clan Inn.

The plot of land he holds is the smallest, and it's lain idle all these years. He's unlike those people—he's just a small household; where would he get so much spare silver?

Now being able to sell that piece of sandy land weighing on his mind would exactly free up some silver.

"Elder brother, I'll go back and check."

"I'm leaving too; my family's waiting for me to eat."

……

For a moment, not a single visitor remained in the house.

The old gentleman hummed a little tune, smiling happily as he watched them leave.

"May I ask, is there a Master Kang here?"

Jiang Yun Chu hadn't even come out of the room when several people had already gathered outside; those who had just left for various reasons were now all present, even more than before, because people who were on bad terms with that person, hearing the news, had come straight to the inn to find them.

They were even a bit earlier than those few.

"Please, gentlemen, rest a moment; we've already notified them—Young Master Kang will be here shortly."

The waiter was attentive, immediately brewing tea and serving it; though the tea was ordinary, his attitude and manners were proper.

Second Master Zhuang entered through the door and saw a circle of seated people; those who didn't know might have thought his inn was hosting a banquet, everyone was present.

His expression worsened—seeing that Kang Yun was foolish and rich, even flies were swarming over him!

"Second Master Zhuang."

Everyone present rose and clasped their fists.

In Zhuang City, no one dares provoke the Zhuang clan.

Recently there are two major pieces of news: first, the proprietor of the Zhuang Clan Inn is actually Second Master Zhuang, who left home many years ago.

Second, the foolish-rich young master wants to buy sandy land……

For a moment, both pieces of news became linked to the Zhuang Clan Inn.

Figures at the gossip hub always attract extra attention.

"Are you looking for this young master?" Just as Second Master Zhuang was growing impatient under their gaze, a clear, youthful voice interrupted everyone's attention.

Seeing that young master, setting aside his intellect for the moment, he wore a red robe, his hair bound high with a large red scarf, giving him an air of a martial wanderer.

At that moment, the young master's folding fan snapped open with a 'crack'.

The pure white fan surface suddenly unfolded before everyone's eyes.

On it were only four large characters: 'I am naturally romantic.'

Upon seeing it, the gentlemen thought he indeed lacked sense—being able to buy sandy land, he really could pull off something like that!

Second Master Zhuang's mouth twitched as well, looking at that person who claimed 'Heavenly King and Old Master first, I am second'—no matter how you looked at it, he didn't resemble anyone he used to know.

Could it be that someone's been replaced?

……

For a moment, the hall fell into a brief silence.

"Young Master Kang, are you really here to buy sandy land?" The anxious young man who had just spoken hurriedly replied.

"I have a hundred mu; would selling at market price work?"

He's currently in business and urgently needs some silver; he had originally planned to sell other land to fill the shortfall, never expecting anyone to want to buy sandy land—though it wouldn't bring much silver, it would be enough to tide him over.

"Sell at market price?"

Jiang Yun Chu looked displeased, scanning the circle of people, each lifting their heads, waiting for an answer.

"You're not all like this, are you?!"

"I don't have that much silver—I'm not sure how much I can buy." Jiang Yun Chu looked at them awkwardly, as if about to back out.

"No silver?"

Hearing that, they couldn't stay seated—if everyone else sold their land and they were left holding the bag, it wouldn't just be about money; they'd likely be laughed at, and in Zhuang City that would be a disgrace.

Better to sell than to be nailed to the pillar of shame.

"Mine is below market price."

At that moment, the person who had just spoken up spoke again.

This opportunity, he couldn't miss!

He clenched his teeth, his gaze at Jiang Yun Chu filled with determination to win.

Jiang Yun Chu raised an eyebrow, not expecting……

"Good."

"Those who are selling, come with me to the government office; those who aren't, please leave."

"Or those who haven't decided, or those who don't have the land deed, just go back directly."

She looked utterly annoyed, as if disturbed, her mood far from pleasant.

Meanwhile, the person who had just said the price was below market followed right behind Jiang Yun Chu, essentially declaring, 'Where you go, I go……'

Jiang Yun Chu glanced at him, raised an eyebrow, and thought, 'No need to go that far……'

"Second Master Zhuang, are you also selling land?"

Watching Second Master Zhuang follow her as they walked out together, Jiang Yun Chu couldn't help but ask.

"If I remember correctly, there's no Zhuang family land in that sandy plot, right?"

"I'm just going for a stroll; I'm old and need some Training—what's it to you?"

Second Master Zhuang put on a 'don't mess with me' look, making Jiang Yun Chu nervously rub his own nose.

If he weren't afraid that this kid would be cheated, would he need to do this?

The more he thought, the angrier he got; the more he thought, the colder the surrounding aura became, making those following him keep a greater distance.

Jiang Yun Chu shook his head with a wry smile; the group didn't take a carriage, and the Inn was not far from the magistrate's office.

Passersby, seeing this strange combination, all thought something big had happened in Zhuang City; otherwise, how could so many gentlemen have gathered?

「Hand over the deed. 」

Upon entering, Jiang Yun Chu smiled; the official seated there was still the same one from this morning, who merely glanced at him without further eye contact.

「Who goes first? 」 Jiang Yun Chu glanced at the people behind him.

That young man immediately spoke up, 「I'll go first. 」

He then handed his deed directly to the official and subsequently stated a price.

Indeed lower than the market price; Jiang Yun Chu was satisfied with that price and nodded directly.

「All right. 」

That young man let out a deep sigh of relief, finally… no need to sell anything else.

The official processed it quickly; after Jiang Yun Chu received the deed, he directly paid with banknotes.

In that moment, money and goods were settled.

That young man checked the banknotes, placed them carefully in his lap, bowed to Jiang Yun Chu, and this time left the magistrate's office.

Seeing this situation, everyone thought, 「This can really be sold. 」

Usually tranquil, the magistrate's office instantly became lively.

After everyone left, the office grew quiet; she pondered carefully, 「Something's off— a piece is missing? 」

She quickly took out the map given by her great-uncle, then compared each parcel with the deed; strangely, in the middle there was a gap—the land wasn't large, only a hundred mu, but it prevented the whole plot from being contiguous, leaving exactly that piece missing……

Jiang Yun Chu frowned; logically, the news he'd released should have spread throughout Zhuang City—if anyone wanted to buy the sandy land, they would surely have come.

So, does that family not want to sell?