Chapter 312 - 172: Linjiang County, Speculating on Yin Residences (Part 3)
The sallow-faced girl said tremblingly, "Don’t tell anyone. The benefactor said, wealth must not be displayed for others to know."
Chen Guangrui was speechless, and after the sallow-faced girl left, he turned again to look at the broker, stroking his beard and nodding slightly.
Inside the broker’s shop, Xu Qing was chatting leisurely with Fourth Master, who was playing Pai Gow on the couch. Master Huang Wu had a worried expression at the gaming table, unsure whether it was the bad cards or recent distress causing the mood.
"Shopkeeper Xu, when you went to the city gate, did you see the newly appointed county officer?"
Xu Qing shook his head and said, "I’m just a commoner, how could I get close enough to have a good look? Besides, neither Master Wu nor Fourth Master went."
Li Si Fourth Master smiled at this and said, "Master Wu and I didn’t go because we don’t get along with certain people. Going might cause unnecessary trouble. Once those people leave, Master Wu and I will naturally pay a visit to the county officer."
The broker, after all, is ultimately a businessman. These days, merchants have status far inferior to those land-owning gentry. Even if Li Si Fourth Master and Master Huang Wu shamelessly join in, they would still likely rank behind those gentry, and might even get ridiculed by old foes.
Better to stay out of trouble.
"Alas, who knows what kind of person this county officer is. It’s really worrying."
Li Si Fourth Master glanced at Master Huang Wu, who was frowning at his cards, and laughed, "Old Wu, your luck doesn’t seem too good today."
After finishing the game, Li Si Fourth Master called for fresh tea and asked, "Shopkeeper Xu, you’re a busy man, rarely seen here except for something important. Might you have business with me today?"
"Oh, it’s nothing major. Chatting with Fourth Master and Master Wu is the big thing, everything else is just peripheral, hardly worth mentioning."
Master Huang Wu looked Xu Qing up and down, suddenly laughing, "Maybe Shopkeeper Xu came to check if Fourth Master is still alive, if not, then to bury him."