Huangfu Jingchen: "..."
What did he do? What does it mean, trying to deny the debt?
Looking into the lively eyes of the young man in front of him, he suddenly understood that this young man could put on an act at the drop of a hat. If he didn't know he hadn't done anything, he would almost believe it.
Huangfu Jingchen quickly put on a cold face, didn't respond to Xia Wenjin's words, reached out to grab the silver in his hand, and said with a stern face, "These ten taels are mine. The debt of eight thousand taels must be repaid within a month! Otherwise, prepare to sit in jail!"
The silver that hadn't even warmed in his hands was gone in a blink, and the repayment date was so close. Xia Wenjin looked very troubled, sighed dejectedly, and pitifully said, "I will definitely repay the debt, but even King Yan doesn't starve ghosts. Brother Huang, please treat me to a meal? Once I'm full, I'll gather the silver?"
Huangfu Jingchen: "..." He had only heard of generals not starving their soldiers, but King Yan not starving ghosts? Who was she cursing here?
He tried to ignore the oddity in her words and went straight to the point: "Can you gather it?"
"Of course! If you treat me to a meal, I guarantee to gather it within three days!" Xia Wenjin said confidently, with great assurance.
"Three days? Do you take me for a fool?"
"How about a wager then!"
"What are we betting on?"
"Whatever you say we'll bet on!"
Huangfu Jingchen deliberated for a moment and said, "If you can't gather it within three days, you will serve as a servant for a year; if you manage to gather it, I'll give you half of the eight thousand taels!"
Xia Wenjin's eyes narrowed slightly. Serve as a servant? Such arrogance! But would she lose? Of course not.
She said casually, "Deal!"
Huangfu Jingchen sneered. Gathering eight thousand taels in three days, he didn't believe it. Having this kid serve as a servant for a year wasn't bad either! He extended his hand and said, "Deal!"
Xia Wenjin clapped his hand, sealing the wager. She didn't take it to heart and said cheerfully, "Now can you treat me to a meal? I'm about to starve!"
Huangfu Jingchen gave her a strange look. The naive-looking boy and the current mischievous persona seemed like two different people. How did he manage such seamless transitions? Why isn't he an actor?
He snorted, "Let's go!" A mere meal, what was it worth? Let's see how this kid would gather eight thousand taels in three days.
Of course, they went to the best restaurant in town, Daffodil Building. This Yang'an Town was the most prosperous in Jiazhou, Tangsong County, Fengshan County, bustling with people. Since Huangfu Jingchen was footing the bill, Xia Wenjin was particularly diligent and spoke in a particularly pleasant manner.
And with her confident assurance of gathering eight thousand taels in three days, what difference did it make to wait three days?
Xia Wenjin personally ordered the dishes, acting as if she were the host and Huangfu Jingchen her guest. With such attentive service, Huangfu Jingchen didn't mind.
Once the exquisite dishes were served, Huangfu Jingchen looked at it, and it was quite sumptuous.
Being of noble birth, such a feast didn't faze him, but having not eaten all day, now with such a grand meal, he relished it immensely.
Xia Wenjin personally poured a glass of wine and handed it to him, speaking courteously, "Brother Huang, for inviting me to this wonderful meal today, I'll never forget your kindness!"
Huangfu Jingchen took the glass, gave her a sidelong glance, and said, "Don't mention it; in three days, gather the silver, and we'll have nothing more to do with each other!"
Xia Wenjin, not caring, raised her eyebrows, "Alright!" She poured herself a glass too and said, "Fate brought us together, come, cheers!"
Huangfu Jingchen, reluctantly, brought the glass to his lips, but his eyes darkened momentarily, setting the glass down and looking at Xia Wenjin. He suddenly slapped the table and shouted, "Almost fell for it! You're trying to cloud my judgment with wine? I'm telling you, currying favor with me is useless. I give you only three days; you'd better prepare. If you don't succeed by then, I'll send you to jail without hesitation!"
The loud sound startled the waiter, who hurried over, asking, "Is there something you need, sir?"
Xia Wenjin waved her hand dismissively, "Nothing!"
The waiter left.
Xia Wenjin sighed, half sighing, half pleading, "Young Master Huang, there is a time to drink and be merry, don't spoil the mood! At least let me enjoy this meal happily! After all, eight thousand taels is such a sum, if I land in jail, I'll be there for years, this might be the best meal I have in that time!"
She raised her glass, "Brother Huang, won't you give me this face?"
Huangfu Jingchen shot her a sideways glance, snorted, and finally raised the glass before him and drank it all.
Xia Wenjin, all smiles from her eyes to her brows, was about to pour more wine when Huangfu Jingchen took the jug, poured for her, and then for himself, raising his glass, saying, "I'm a magnanimous person. Since I'm treating, of course, I'll let you enjoy. Come, cheers!"
Xia Wenjin drank the wine, seemingly forgetting what just happened, and continued chattering happily with Huangfu Jingchen. Her stories were captivating, making even small anecdotes interesting.
Huangfu Jingchen couldn't help but observe Xia Wenjin more than once. Her tales of events and interesting stories were intriguing. Was she not making it up? So young, how could she know so much?
Xia Wenjin continued talking while secretly observing Huangfu Jingchen and counting silently in her mind: "One, two, three..."
Suddenly, she felt a twisting pain in her stomach, an indescribable sensation stirring within, and her expression changed slightly, her eyes reflecting an inexplicable look.
Huangfu Jingchen turned his eyes to her, smiling ambiguously, "What, ate too much grease, can't handle it?"
Xia Wenjin's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darted, and she laughed lightly, "Looks like Brother Huang hit the mark. Please excuse me for a moment!"
Huangfu Jingchen, warm and understanding, smiled, "Go ahead!"
Xia Wenjin wasn't pretending, the pain was real, and she quickly rushed to the toilet.
No, by the count of three, it should be Huangfu Jingchen who couldn't take it and ran to the toilet, why was it her? Could it be that guy didn't drink that glass? She saw him drink it with her own eyes.
Anyway, my stomach hurts so much, solve it first.
Xia Wenjin had always thought Huangfu Jingchen was just a pampered young master and got caught. She was really careless.
Thankfully, she was also a doctor, this laxative wasn't anything difficult to counter.
But the hunter being blindsided by the hunted was somewhat embarrassing.
How did this happen?
Xia Wenjin carefully recalled, Huang Zheng raised his glass to drink but suddenly slapped the table to alert the waiter, did he do it on purpose? Did he know there was a problem with the wine? So, while the waiter approached and she turned her head, he switched their glasses?
Too careless, way too careless!
If she had been more attentive, she could have detected the difference in the wine, but it was just a fleeting moment, and she was fooled by Huang Zheng's expression.
This Huang fellow, looking like a pampered young master, wasn't easy to handle either.
Xia Wenjin came out of the toilet, called the waiter over, and gave a few instructions, to which the waiter nodded repeatedly.