Chapter 29: The Moon is Dark and the Wind is High

  Inside Drunken Immortal Building

  Xiao Fan leaned on the table, subconsciously using his fingers to draw circles in the air.

  Tai Yu stroked his beard thoughtfully and asked curiously:

  "I'm thinking of my father-in-law..."

  Tai Xū laughed and said: "You should think of your father-in-law's daughter instead."

  Xiao Fan raised his eyes and looked at Tai Xu: "You really know martial arts?"

  He nodded slightly with an air of profundity: "I roughly understand."

  Xiao Fan excitedly said: "How about I find you a lucrative job?"

  Tai Xū's eyes lit up: "What's going on?"

  "Go kill my father-in-law and I'll give you thirteen taels of silver."

  "You... Amitabha Buddha, I am a monk, not an assassin..."

  Xiao Fan sighed and lay down on the table again. He now had a lot of resentment towards his father-in-law, Chen Si Liu. He really couldn't understand why Chen Si Liu still wanted to scheme against him, despite being the benefactor who saved the Chen family. Had Chen's conscience been eaten by dogs? Going against Jin Yu Lou was equivalent to going against Huang Zhong Xian, and Chen Si Liu was overestimating himself.

  Tai Xū glanced at Xiao Fan, then began to tempt him: "Why don't you follow me and learn martial arts? After you've learned it, you can take care of your father-in-law yourself. Wouldn't that be great? Think about it..."

  Wicked old Taoist...

  With Xiao Fan's intelligence and wisdom, he would never accept such a dangerous suggestion.

  Tai Xū sighed and said seriously, "Jīn Yù Lóu is not easy to deal with. Your father-in-law letting you come be the manager of Zuì Xiān Lóu, I reckon he's got no good intentions..."

  After listening to Old Cai's introduction, Tai Xū also became worried about Xiao Fan. For ordinary people, the county magistrate was a huge figure like heaven, and opening a wine shop to compete with the county magistrate was simply a crazy suicidal behavior.

  Xiao Fan thought for a moment, then stood up and said: "Saying it's not difficult to deal with, but I have to go back to the Chen Mansion first, find my father-in-law to grant me some power, without his consent this matter can't be done..."

  "What do you want to do?"

  "The Buddha said: Inexpressible, inexpressible..."

  Too empty to be satisfied.

  Xiao Fan changed his words: "...the Three Pure Ones also said: it is unspeakable..."

  Turning grievances into joy.

  Xiao Fang hurriedly returned to the Chen residence and soon came out again.

  The process of seeing Chen Siliu went smoothly. When facing Xiao Fan, Chen Siliu felt guilty and embarrassed, after all, even the person who saved his life was calculated, Chen Siliu's heart was black, but he would still feel a little awkward.

  Xiao Fan bore a grudge against his father-in-law, and Chen 46 could only grit his teeth and agree to Xiao Fan's request. However, when he agreed, the fat on his face twitched repeatedly, as if it was more painful than being cut by a knife.

  Xiao Fan came out with a thick account book in his hand, followed by two servants from the Chen family, who were carrying a heavy wooden chest.

  As he passed through the front courtyard's garden, Xiao Fan saw Chen Ying'er standing under a plum tree, quietly lost in thought, her expression desolate, as if she didn't know what she was thinking.

  Xiao Fan is a very magnanimous person, he had long forgotten the unpleasantness of that night. Out of politeness, Xiao Fan hastily waved at her from afar, but unfortunately got rebuffed.

  Chen Ying'er saw him, and her gloomy expression quickly turned cold and indifferent. She then turned her head, proudly snorted from her nostrils, and walked away with a posture like that of a swan with an extremely superior attitude.

  Chen Ying'er's companion, Bao Qin, followed her mistress in solidarity, walking a few steps before suddenly turning around and playfully waving her small fist at Xiao Fan with a mischievous face, looking very adorable.

  Xiao Fan, who was not welcomed by anyone, could only touch his nose and walk out of the Chen's mansion with a humiliated expression.

  Tai Xū, waiting outside the Chen residence, was shocked and stared at the large coffin being carried by the servants behind him. He trembled as he held Xiao Fan's hand and said: "You really killed your father-in-law? And you've already put him in a coffin so quickly..."

  Xiao Fan was stunned: "........"

  Tai Yu lowered his head, and upon seeing the account book in Xiao Fan's hands, he couldn't help but feel even more solemn and respectful: "......Your father's body is not yet cold, and you've already begun to take over the family property. I didn't misjudge you - you're indeed ruthless and efficient in your actions. You truly are a martial arts prodigy. Let's spar together..."

  Xiao Fan speechless: “…………”

  What kind of logic is this, old Taoist? What does being ruthless in doing things have to do with practicing martial arts?

  However, Xiao Fan still expressed a certain degree of admiration for the crazy imagination of the monk.

  When Xiao Fan and Tai Xu, along with two servants carrying boxes behind them, were walking on the street, night had already fallen.

  The winter in Jiangnan is not very cold, the night wind blows by, and Xiao Fan feels a little chilly. The bustling streets during the day have quieted down, and people who toil for a living all day have gone to bed early, as there are no nightclubs, KTVs, or bars open tonight.

  The street was empty, the night wind blew the flags and signboards of the shops on both sides swaying back and forth, with a few pieces of yellow leaves drifting by from time to time, looking bleak.

  This scene is really suitable for a duel between masters in the Jin Yong version.

  The moon is dark and the wind is high, it's the perfect time for Xiao Fan to take action.

  Xiao Fan and Tai Xu walked side by side, turned his head, saw Tai Xu was walking while using his dirty and black fingers to pick his nose, digging with a look of intoxication on his face. Xiao Fan frowned, unconsciously keeping a distance from him.

  "What are you following me for? Aren't you busy?" Xiao Fan asked in surprise, shouldn't a swindler's business be very prosperous?

  The lazy Taoist said: "It's getting dark, time to stop work. Lately, people seem to have become smarter and don't like fortune-telling or divination by character analysis anymore. This is really not a good habit."

  "Where are you staying tonight?" Xiao Fan felt a bit ashamed, this friend was really not doing his job well, hadn't even asked about his accommodation, —— in the future if he was cheated of money, where would he go to find him?

  Tai Yu stretched out his hand and pointed east: "Outside the city."

  "Is there a Taoist temple outside the city?"

  "A Taoist doesn't necessarily have to live in a Taoist temple, I'm a very easy-going person, a commoner's woodshed, a landlord's stable, even a Buddhist temple are all possible..."

  Xiao Fan nodded, understanding that apart from having an extra "Iron Mouth Straight Cut" broken flag in his hand, this guy was not much different from a beggar.

  "You can sleep in the Drunken Immortal Building at night, a few tables put together, it should be more comfortable than the landlord's woodshed, and there is no pressure to sleep in the temple of the monks. The Three Pure Ones will not be as casual as you are, seeing you sleep in the monk's temple, the old man will not be happy..."

  Tai Yu's face was filled with gratitude: "Xiao Lao Di is indeed a kind-hearted person, I thank you on behalf of San Qing Dao Jun..."

  "I'll treat you, but I won't treat Sanqing Daoren."

  "Where is he going? Where is Xiao Lao Di planning to go?"

  "Go visit Cao County Magistrate."

  "What's the point of visiting him?"

  Xiao Fan laughed and said with a mischievous grin: "I don't dare to compete with Jin Yulou, but Cao Xiancheng will definitely dare."

  Cao County Magistrate still lives in the official inn.

  Xiao Fan had a familiar face from last time, and the effect of the five-qian door's silver hadn't expired yet. So the courier happily let Xiao Fan in along with two servants carrying boxes. Tai Xu then began to deceive the courier with an inscrutable expression: "This gentleman, you have a bad omen..."

  …………

  …………

  Cao Yi's bedroom was lit with candles, and under the dim light, he was drinking wine. The old servant stood silently behind him like an old and loyal dog.

  Xiao Fan walked in and then bowed deeply to Cao Yi: "Humble commoner Xiao Fan, has seen the Second Master."

  Cao Yi narrowed his eyes and chuckled, so far, the only person in Jiangpu County who made him feel slightly pleased was probably Xiao Fan. This feeling was very strange, unrelated to status or position, but rather a mutual appreciation between men.

  He picked up the wine jug on the table with his eyebrows and asked casually, "So late, did you come to drink with me on purpose?"

  Xiao Fan's face turned pale with fear, and he hastily shook his head: "......No."

  "What's the point of coming if you're not going to drink?"

  Xiao Fan: "………"

  He thought this county lieutenant was more suitable for being a wine sack and rice bag.

  Xiao Fan opened the door and beckoned outside, two servants carried the trunk into the house.

  Cao Yi's eyebrows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice: "What is this?"

  Xiao Fan didn't answer, opened the copper buckle on the box, and then lifted the lid, instantly filling the entire room with a brilliant light.

  A whole box of silver! Private minted silver ingots weighing 10 taels each filled up a whole box!

  In name, from the eighth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang issued the Great Ming paper money, in principle, it was prohibited to use silver as currency. However, due to the reasons such as excessive issuance, inflation, and counterfeiting, the purchasing power of paper money was much lower than that of silver, so people still used silver and copper coins as transaction currencies.

  A box of silver, roughly estimated to be around two thousand taels, the lid opened, and the dazzling light of the silver suddenly made Cao Yi and his old servant behind him widen their eyes.

  After a brief astonishment, Cao Yi's face sank: "What do you mean? Want to bribe this official?"

  Xiao Fan smiled, waved his hand and had the two servants driven out. Then, with a respectful attitude, he handed over the account book in his hand to Cao Yi and said softly: "Sir, this is the annual income and expenditure account of Chen Jia Zui Xian Tower for this year. After deducting all expenses, the total profit is more than 4,000 taels of silver. Every receipt and payment has a record, please sir take a look."

  Cao Yi did not take the account book, but narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Fan, his gaze sharp and piercing.

  "What does the account book of your Drunken Immortal Pavilion have to do with me? What's the use of showing it to me?"

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "Of course it has something to do with you, sir. Because... half of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion belongs to you, sir. You are a major shareholder of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion."