Chapter 37

Admiring the strong is human nature.

In my view, Tang Ao is already strong enough, but from Tang Tang's description, Tang Xun's ability is immeasurable.

While we were chatting, someone outside called Tang Tang.

Tang Tang responded, saying to me: "Junior sister, I have to go back to school; keep an eye on the bank card activity later—those antiques have already been cashed out, so check the account."

After saying that, she hurriedly hung up.

I then got up, washed my face, and refreshed myself.

When I picked up my phone again, I saw the bank notification: four deposits came in, namely 50,000, 128,000, 150,000, and a huge sum of 300,000!

With so much money coming in at once, I got excited and immediately dragged Li Qingying out to spend.

Li Qingying's life is simple; besides necessities, she hardly spends money, but I still forced her to buy several sets of clothes and skincare products.

I originally wanted to give her some living expenses, given that since she moved into the Dang Pu, all household expenses have been covered by her.

But Li Qingying refused outright: "Xiao Jiu, do I look like someone short of money?"

I felt awkward: "But we can't keep spending your money, can we? What is this?"

"You're overthinking it, Xiao Jiu," Li Qingying said, "I've always followed the Seventh Lord in my work; the Merit accumulated in the Dang Pu, he also shares a bit with me—so I only profit, never lose."

That's how it is.

For cultivators, Merit is far more precious than money.

I nodded and discussed with her: "Senior Li, let's agree that for now the Dang Pu's expenses are only ours, so I won't argue with you; later, when we hire more people, we'll need to formalize things, and then I'll allocate funds from my side, dedicated to specific uses."

Li Qingying immediately asked: "Xiao Jiu, do you plan to hire people for the Dang Pu?"

"Not yet, but we will definitely do so later," I said firmly, "We've already clashed with the Bai, Huang, and Dou families; wanting to withdraw completely is impossible, and to truly shoulder the Dang Pu's banner, relying only on the two of us is clearly insufficient."

If Liu Junyan weren't confined to the Dang Pu, we wouldn't have to be so passive.

Li Qingying also agreed with my view: "Fine, if that day ever comes, I will certainly follow the rules and manage the Dang Pu's internal and external affairs in an orderly manner."

We agreed instantly, and only after eating dinner outside did we return.

The next morning, when Li Qingying opened the Dang Pu's door, I was already awake.

She seemed to have seen someone extremely offensive, and she angrily shouted a few times.

I had wanted to get up and see what was happening, but then I heard Bái Jīngmò's voice: "I'm here to apologize to Xiao Jiu..."

Well, he really is an offensive guy!

I lay down again.

What apology is he coming to make?

Is it the Bai family going back on their word, tricking me into going to the riverbank for a sacrifice?

Or did they capture Tang Tang and use her to exchange for me to go to the sacrifice?

This Bái Jīngmò is simply playing the whore while wanting to set up a memorial arch!

He really squandered the little goodwill he had accumulated with me since our youth.

From now on, let bridges be bridges and roads be roads; not treating him as my top enemy is already going the extra mile.

The Dang Pu is my turf, and Li Qingying soon drove Bái Jīngmò away.

Over the next few days, Li Qingying and I actually enjoyed several peaceful days.

I tidied up the money received from selling the antiques, took out ten percent, and sent it to Tang Tang to thank her for making the connection.

Tang Tang refused outright, saying she was a middleman and had already profited from the price difference, so she wouldn't take more of my money.

After pushing back and forth, I could only take it back.

I went to the bank and opened a separate account; from now on, all cash flow of the Dang Pu will go through this account.

After a while, it will be September 15; I carefully made a list, preparing to make another trip to the Gui Shi at that time.

The Tang Family helped me a great deal, so I must definitely visit to express thanks, but the Tang Family is big and influential, and for a moment I didn't know what to give.

After thinking it over, I decided to go to the Gui Shi to pick up some nice things, which could also be considered catering to their taste.

Who would have thought that before I even went to the Gui Shi, Tang Xun sent me another big gift.

It happened like this: that day I was standing behind the counter drawing talismans, the Lightning-Drawing Talisman that Liu Junyan gave me needs frequent practice, when a low-key black BMW pulled up to the Dang Pu's entrance, and a middle-aged man in a black suit stepped out.

The man had a slight receding hairline, his complexion not great; after getting out of the car, he first stepped back two steps, looked at the sign above the Dang Pu's door, then took out his phone to compare the address, thus confirming he hadn't come to the wrong place.

Then he lifted his foot and entered the Dang Pu, politely asking: "May I ask, are you Xiao Jiu Zhanggui?"

I put down my brush, gathered the few talisman papers I had just practiced, looked at the man, and said: "That's me; may I ask what business you have, sir?"

The man immediately smiled, extended his hands, shook mine, and then said: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, I am introduced by Tang Xun of the Tang Family in Huicheng; I wish to pawn something at your Dang Pu."

Upon hearing he was introduced by Tang Xun, I was surprised and immediately gave him my attention: "May I ask your esteemed surname, sir?"

The man: "My surname is Cai; my name is Cai Bin."

I asked: "Mr. Cai, what do you wish to pawn?"

"A painting," Cai Bin said, "but that painting is at my home; I can't bring it out, so please, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, come with me to Huicheng."

Huicheng borders our province, so it's not too far.

But if it were someone else asking me to go out to collect something, for safety's sake I would generally not agree.

However, this person was introduced by Tang Xun, so I must go.

Still, to be prudent, I first contacted Tang Tang, asking her to help me check with her aunt whether Cai Bin was truly introduced by her.

Tang Tang said, however, that Tang Xun had gone out on business and was temporarily unreachable, but she knows Cai Bin, and when they meet she should address him as "uncle."

I then put my mind at ease and decided to make this trip with Cai Bin.

Li Qingying went with me.

Cai Bin was somewhat uneasy, so I had Li Qingying drive, and along the way we happened to chat about the painting's situation.

"My wife especially loves collecting calligraphy and paintings; a month and a half ago she acquired a painting, hung it in the small sitting room of the bedroom suite, and looks at it every day, as if she can never get enough of it."

Cai Bin seemed to have thought of something, his expression turning even uglier: "At first she just looked, then as she kept looking, she began to sing a song—a song I had never heard her sing before; each time she opened her mouth, I felt a chill all over, as if the woman before me was not my wife."

I asked curiously, "What kind of painting is it?"

Cai Bin thought for a moment, then said, "A very strange painting style: a tall palace occupies almost half the canvas; sunlight pours down above the palace; below the palace are layers upon layers of steps; the steps are covered with small dots of black and red intermingled; the feeling is like… like a group of women in red wedding dresses making a pilgrimage."

Just listening to Cai Bin's description made my goosebumps rise.

I asked again, "Then what song was she singing?"

"When she sang, her state was off, her articulation unclear—I couldn't make out each word." Cai Bin said, "Among them were a few lines—red wedding dress, black hemp rope, fifteenth night, hanging in a row, don't cry, don't cry…"