Judge of the Song Dynasty

The second maid to appear had an average appearance and was more robust than the first, but her price was higher, starting at three hundred strings.

It turned out that this maid excelled in cooking, knowing fifty dishes, including twelve specialty dishes.

“Four hundred strings!”

Zhang Fei raised his hand and shouted.

His voice was incredibly arrogant.

Madam Gu was thrilled again, believing that Zhang Fei really hadn’t done it on purpose earlier.

Moreover, this old woman was a shrewd person, so she made a big show of being impressed by Zhang Fei.

Sure enough, this made the young masters nearby very dissatisfied.

If it had been Cao Dongdong, it would have been fine, but you, a mere pen-in-cap, are here putting on airs. Where does that leave us young masters?!

“Five hundred strings.” Fu Zhishuang’s servant suddenly shouted.

Cao Dongdong egged on, “Zhang San, you must win this time, or it will be too embarrassing.”

With a determined look, Zhang Fei said, “Don’t worry, I will win.”

Cao Dongdong said, “Then hurry and bid!”

“I’m explaining things to you,” Zhang Fei said. “I only have one mouth, how can I say two things at once? You are being too unreasonable.”

Cao Dongdong was puzzled, “How am I being unreasonable?”

Zhang Fei said, “When I shout, you keep interrupting me, affecting my mood. Over there, they are pressuring me. You are clearly finding excuses to humiliate me.”

Cao Dongdong listened to his endless nonsense, so anxious that he started jumping around, “Fine it’s my fault, okay? Hurry, hurry, shout out your bid.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll bid, I’ll bid, isn’t that enough? Ahem!”

“Hurry and shout!”

“Hey… you have a real problem. Why are you so eager for a man to shout? Are you…!”

“I…!”

Just as he said one word, the gong and drum sounded on the stage.

Cao Dongdong slumped down in his seat, thoroughly depressed.

Fu Shichun suddenly laughed, “Young Master, don’t be angry. Zhang San is clearly forcing Han Pan’s bids up, can’t you see that?”

Ma Xiaoyi chuckled, “I saw it long ago. Brother San, your trick is really clever.”

Cao Dongdong’s spirits lifted, excitedly saying, “So that’s how it is, why didn’t you say so earlier! Haha!”

“Shh…!”

Zhang Fei made a gesture for silence.

This gesture was just seen by Fu Zhishuang, who said to Han Pan beside him, “Brother Han, I think that kid is deliberately raising the bid!”

Han Pan frowned slightly but said nothing.

The third maid to come up was a bit older, delicate-looking, named Xiao Tao, priced at three hundred strings. She was an all-around talent, capable of handling all household chores.

As soon as the bidding started, everyone looked at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei did not disappoint, raising his hand immediately, “Four…!”

Just when everyone thought he would bid four hundred strings again, he glanced at Han Pan’s table and said, “Three hundred strings.”

The auctioneer on stage looked disappointed. Brother, what happened to starting with four hundred strings!

Silence!

After a moment of silence, the hall was quiet.

Madam Gu looked anxiously but finally struck the gong reluctantly.

Even Xiao Tao had a layer of mist in her eyes, thinking, am I so unlovable, as she turned and went down.

Fu Shichun turned aside, “No wonder you’re a pen-in-cap, your tactics are brilliant.”

Upstairs, Fan Zheng said, “Father, this Zhang San is truly skillful, playing everyone in the palm of his hand.”

Fan Yong smiled, “Not only that ex-Director Wang, but even Academician Sima also once lost to him. These young masters are no match for him. It’s almost time, go prepare!”

“Yes.”

For the next two maids, Zhang Fei did not make a sound, nor did Han Pan’s table. The competition came from other tables, but only in increments of ten strings each.

Madam Gu lost her enthusiasm.

The initial high bids dropped significantly, making it hard for her to accept.

A bit more boldness, please!

Suddenly, some waiters came and removed the candles from the tables, while others hung torches on the walls.

“What is this about?”

Zhang Fei curiously asked, “Is there some performance?”

Ma Xiaoyi chuckled, “It’s to prevent us from fighting and causing a fire.”

Zhang Fei was startled, “Are we going to fight?”

Ma Xiaoyi giggled, “Who knows.”

Zhang Fei immediately had the urge to escape, but then thought, I haven’t gotten the girl yet, why leave now?

As expected, the maids were just appetizers; the main course was yet to come.

Next came the sale of concubines.

This wasn’t about bidding monthly wages but a complete buyout, for life.

The young masters were all eager, their eyes green with envy.

The first to come up was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, not a stunning beauty like Xu Zhiqian but still fresh and charming.

This was acceptable!

Zhang Fei was not picky. He glanced at Cao Dongdong, who was leisurely enjoying his wine, thinking, do you have to show off like this!

At the neighboring tables, so called brothers were already arguing over the bids.

Zhang Fei thought, this really was a place of trouble.

The entire hall was in an uproar.

On stage, the girls were of various shapes and sizes; below, the arguing continued.

There was both drinking and bidding. They were all young men, full of energy. Since they were competing for girls, face couldn’t be lost. After a few rounds of bidding, tempers flared, and they started spraying insults at each other.

Zhang Fei kept watching Han Pan’s table, seeing Han Pan and Fu Zhishuang remain silent, letting others bid. He thought, Cao Dongdong might not win, and if he doesn’t, what will I get? How will I spend the night?

He turned to Cao Dongdong and whispered, “Why not bid for one as reserve?”

Cao Dongdong glared, “What do you mean? Are you afraid I will lose?”

Ma Xiaoyi said, “That’s right! Brother San, don’t undermine your allies’ morale while boosting that of our opponents.”

I’m afraid of not getting anything in the end, is that wrong? Zhang Fei smiled awkwardly, “It was just a suggestion. Let’s bid for that widow then.”

Eight more concubines passed by. Some succeeded in getting a lady, while others failed to get one but succeeded in preserving their money.

Madam Gu on stage was the happiest.

Finally… finally, it was the widow’s turn.

Zhang Fei almost cried. He had waited so long just for a widow.

But when the widow came on stage, Zhang Fei immediately changed his mind.

It was worth it!

So worth it!

The widow was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with delicate features, almond-shaped eyes, her gaze soft as a pool of autumn water. Her hair was coiled into a bun, a jade hairpin inserted diagonally, her fair skin smooth and tender, her waist slender, wearing a blue-green long dress that couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure. Every inch of her body exuded the charm of a young woman.

Her slightly furrowed brows carried a hint of sorrow, making her even more endearing.

Cao Dongdong suddenly swallowed, “Zhang San, why don’t…!”

“If you say one more word, our brotherhood is over.”

Zhang Fei said fiercely, thinking, a young girl might be fragrant, but she can’t withstand my intense energy. This woman is better!

“Fine.”

Cao Dongdong nodded gloomily, regretting his decision. If he had known how beautiful this widow was, he wouldn’t have agreed with Zhang Fei.

“Young Master, it’s not just about a woman, but about face. You can’t lose!” Zhang Fei said nervously.

“Lose?”

Cao Dongdong snorted, “Watch me, I won’t let Han Pan have his way.”

Ma Xiaoyi suddenly said, “Big Brother, let me handle the bidding. I learned some tricks from Brother San earlier.”

Cao Dongdong nodded, “Just don’t lose.”

“Rest assured.”

Ma Xiaoyi patted his chest in assurance.

Meanwhile, the auctioneer on stage announced the starting price.

Six hundred strings!

“Six hundred strings!”

Han Pan’s servant shouted immediately.

A clear stance.

The young masters at the other tables also understood and looked at Cao Dongdong’s table!

Ma Xiaoyi stood up and shouted, “Six hundred and ten strings!”

“Pfft!”

“Pfft, pfft!”

Zhang Fei and Fu Shichun simultaneously spat out their wine.

Zhang Fei looked puzzled at Ma Xiaoyi, “Little Ma, when did I teach you this trick?”

Ma Xiaoyi said, “Just now, you raised the bids rapidly when you didn’t actually want to win. Raising the bids slowly means that you want to win. I learned it from you! Too bad you have to add at least ten strings; otherwise, I would have added one copper coin.”

“Huh?”

Zhang Fei was speechless.

A chubby guy next to him stood up and said, “Little Ma, your bid is really scary!”

Ma Xiaoyi chuckled.

“Nine hundred strings.”

Han Pan bid again.

Ma Xiaoyi said, “Nine hundred and ten strings.”

You are just torturing people! Hurry up, make a decisive bid! Zhang Fei anxiously watched Ma Xiaoyi, still enthusiastically bidding.

Cao Dongdong was excited, “Yes, yes! Little Ma, let’s bid like this, infuriate Han Pan.”

“One thousand strings.”

“One thousand and ten strings.” Ma Xiaoyi shouted immediately without hesitation. After all, it wasn’t his money he was spending.

“One thousand five hundred strings.”

Han Pan’s servant shouted again.

Everyone held their breath; this price was already very high, only a few families could afford it, and the Han family was definitely one of them.

“One thousand five hundred and ten strings.” Ma Xiaoyi shouted immediately.

Cao Dongdong’s palms were sweating; this time, it was a big splurge.

Bang!

Fu Zhishuang slammed the table and stood up, “Little Ma, are you here to cause trouble?”

Ma Xiaoyi snorted, “I’m not refusing to pay.”

“Exactly! Little Ma isn’t breaking the rules; why accuse him?”

The chubby guy spoke up.

“Mind your own business.”

Fu Zhishuang said, “If he has the ability to pay, let him bid more. What’s the point of adding ten strings at a time?” Check latest chapters at novel~fire~net

Someone else stood up and said, “Brother Fu is right. If you don’t have money, don’t pretend.”

Ma Xiaoyi said, “If I can add ten strings, why should I add more? My brother’s money doesn’t fall from the sky.”

“Little Ma is raising the bid, not lowering it.” Another young master stood up.

Be bolder! Zhang Fei scratched his neck anxiously, suddenly noticing Fu Shichun quietly wrapping his wine jug and bowls in a cloth.

“Brother Fu, what are you doing?”

“I don’t want to get beaten!” Fu Shichun replied while tying the cloth into a sack under the table.

Zhang Fei suddenly realized, this elegant man is making a weapon. He looked gentle and refined but is actually ruthless! He then looked at Cao Dongdong, who was gripping his hands, sweating, and trembling. He thought, the Young Master is actually the most cowardly, a barking dog doesn’t bite.

Sure enough, they stopped bidding and started insulting each other.

Zhang Fei understood. The price couldn’t go higher. One thousand five hundred strings were not a small amount for these young masters, but no one was willing to lose.

What to do?

Ma Xiaoyi suddenly jumped off his chair, “Alright! Alright! I won’t pretend anymore. Frankly, we are all out of money. Why don’t we fight, and the winner takes the beauty.”

This kid was ruthless. After he said that, he grabbed the table with both hands, ready to flip it.

“Wait!”

Cao Dongdong leaped like a frog, lying on the table like a big toad, pressing it down, looking at Ma Xiaoyi with tearful eyes, “Little Ma, we can’t fight! If I get into a fight, I’ll get in trouble!”

Ma Xiaoyi, still excited, said, “Big Brother, now is not the time to care. If we win, getting beaten is worth it!”

Cao Dongdong begged, “If it were just a beating, when was I afraid? I’m afraid it won’t stop at a beating. My grandaunt just warned me not to cause trouble.”

Han Pan also didn’t want to fight. Seeing Cao Dongdong like this, he quickly understood. He walked over and said with a smile, “Since Young Master Cao doesn’t want a physical fight, let’s have a literary duel to decide the winner.”

“A literary duel it is!”

Cao Dongdong jumped up, stood on the table, and said proudly.

“Literary duel?”

Fu Shichun and Ma Xiaoyi said in unison.