Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

Su Yunjin’s eyes sparkled, and for some reason, the moment she saw Chen Jiusi, her trembling heart settled down a lot.

She had never felt this way before, but today the feeling was very strong; perhaps it was due to the changes in Chen Jie over the past two days that she had unconsciously developed a dependence.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chen Jie walked into the courtyard, and at that time, Ma Liu was squinting at him.

A hypocritical smile hung on his face, and there was malice in his brows.

Chen Jie came over, pulled Su Yunjin behind him, and looked at Ma Liu, ”Brother Ma Liu, what brings you to my place today?”

Ma Liu smiled and said, ”Jiu Si is back, sigh, I’ve been quite busy myself recently. If it weren’t for your matter, I wouldn’t have made the trip.”

Chen Jie looked at him, ”Oh, what matter is that?”

Ma Liu said, ”Jiu Si, you, you are too careless. Have you forgotten that you still owe Baoju a sum of money?”

”Money?”

Chen Jie frowned; he did not remember Chen Jiusi ever owing money to Baoju. Although Chen Jiusi was fond of gambling, his addiction was still recent, having only squandered his family’s wealth, and had not yet reached the point of borrowing money.

”Is there a written note?”

Chen Jie looked at Ma Liu, who held up the note and said, ”Jiu Si, you are numb and careless. If it weren’t for me going to the Young Master’s place to check the accounts today, who knows how much this note would have accumulated. You really are careless.”

If Chen Jie did not know that he was plotting with Yu Sanliu against him, he might have thought Ma Liu was a good person.

Chen Jie glanced at the note: Chen Jiusi borrowed one tael of patterned silver from Yu Sanliu, at a daily interest of two percent, on March 2nd, the ninth year of Zhizheng.

Hmm?

Chen Jie squinted his eyes, recalling pertinent information in his mind — that day, he did not bring money, and Ma Liu dragged him into the gambling house.

He said he did not bring money and would go home to fetch it, but Ma Liu said, ”Why bother with that? I’ll help you get some.”

Then he took him to Yu Sanliu.

At the time, he was told that he would borrow one tael of silver and that there would be no interest if he paid it back that same night. If he repaid it the next day, giving a bit less would suffice.

Ma Liu told him that if luck was on his side, he would win it back in one go.

Chen Jie borrowed one tael, thinking that even if he lost everything, paying two percent more the next day was no big deal.

Unexpectedly, he won two taels on the first bet, and he wanted to repay it then and there. But Ma Liu, who was by his side, said, ”Jiu Si, today the God of Wealth is in the southeast, which is your direction. Don’t move, or you’ll disrupt your fortune. Give me the silver and I’ll go repay it for you.”

Chen Jie said, ”Alright, Brother Liu, I thought to tear up that note.”

Ma Liu said, ”Don’t worry, brother, would I scam you?”

...

Thinking back to the memories in his mind, Chen Jie understood he had been set up by Ma Liu.

He looked up to meet Ma Liu’s gaze.

Ma Liu had a mocking expression on his face; he knew Chen Jie had realized the truth, but what of it? The note was clear evidence, and even if he went to the authorities, he wouldn’t win.

If he didn’t go to the authorities, what could a ruined young master do?

This time, he had Chen Jiusi right where he wanted him!

”What’s wrong, Brother Jiu Si, don’t recognize your own IOU?”

Ma Liu had a smile on his face, even preparing for a counterattack.

But Chen Jie responded calmly, ”Hmm, it’s my mark indeed.”

Hmm?

Ma Liu was baffled by Chen Jie’s nonchalance and looked at him, ”You’re just going to admit it like that?”

Chen Jie said, ”Brother Ma Liu came in person, how can I not admit it? Tell me, how much has it rolled into now?”

This time, it was Ma Liu who couldn’t figure out Chen Jie’s pulse. After pondering for a moment, he said, ”Twenty taels.”

Chen Jie’s face bore a smile as he said, ”That’s not too much, only a twenty-fold increase. Give me a few days, and I will raise the money to repay you.”

Ma Liu looked at Chen Jie suspiciously and asked, ”You can come up with twenty taels?”

”Um, I couldn’t before, but I should be able to now. Didn’t Yunjin just tell you? I’m now an apprentice to Doctor Bai. I’ll try to borrow some from the Bai Family.”

”The Bai Family!”

Ma Liu looked at Chen Jie in surprise. He hadn’t expected Chen Jiusi to have formed a connection with the Bai Family—a family not to be trifled with.

This was getting a bit tricky.

Ma Liu stroked his chin, then quickly said, ”In that case, I’ll give you three days. The interest will be an additional five taels. Repay me twenty-five taels in total, principal and interest included.”

Chen Jie said, ”Fine, we have a deal.”

Ma Liu replied, ”Good, it’s settled.”

”I won’t keep Brother Ma Liu any longer tonight. When the opportunity arises, I’ll invite Brother Ma Liu for a drink.”

Chen Jie said this with a smile, and upon hearing it, Ma Liu laughed and said, ”Alright, I’ll wait for that drink from you, brother.”

After he finished speaking, he turned and left with his men.

Watching Ma Liu’s retreating figure, Chen Jie’s eyes squinted, and a flicker of murderous intent flashed by.

This Ma Liu couldn’t be left alone!

At this moment, Ma Liu had stepped outside of Chen Jiusi’s courtyard, and a lackey following him stepped forward, asking, ”Brother Liu, just like that, we’re leaving?”

Ma Liu glanced back at the dilapidated Chen family courtyard and said, ”This Chen Jiusi has had a stroke of dumb luck, becoming an apprentice to Doctor Bai. This won’t be easy to deal with. I need to go back and inform the Young Master.”

With that, Ma Liu hurried off towards the town.

Meanwhile, as the commotion in the village dissipated, the crowd scattered, but each person shook their head as they left.

”Chen Jiusi is finished, owing such a huge sum of silver. This family will collapse sooner or later.”

”Indeed, twenty-five taels of silver, how could that possibly be raised? Borrowing from the Bai Family, as if they owe him anything!”

”Serves him right. I’ve always said he’s a hopeless gambler. Now he’s done for, just waiting to have hands and feet chopped off.”

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Uncle Erba.

Uncle Erba looked at Chen Jie and asked, ”Jiu Si, this—?”

Chen Jie didn’t offer much explanation, only saying, ”Um, Uncle, no worries. I can handle it.”

”Sigh, you child. I still have two silver taels here; if you need them, I’ll give them all to you.”

Chen Jie waved his hand and declined, ”No need, Uncle. Hu Zi isn’t that young anymore; save the money for his marriage.”

”Brother, I’m not in a hurry. Sort out your issues first.”

Hu Zi spoke, and Chen Jie replied, ”You’re not in a hurry, but what about your father, your mother? Alright, Uncle, Hu Zi, I really can handle it. By the way, here are some peanuts. Take them home to snack on, Uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Uncle Erba waved his hand and said, ”No need, no need. You say you can handle it, and I believe you, but if you need money, you must tell me.”

”I know, Uncle.”

Chen Erba left with Hu Zi, and suddenly the whole courtyard fell silent.

Chen Jie turned his head to look at the utterly distraught Su Yunjin. In her mind, there was only one figure: twenty-five.

Twenty-five silver taels, how on earth would that be repaid!

For the Chen family at this time, twenty-five silver taels was an astronomical figure.

Looking at Su Yunjin in such a state, Chen Jie’s heart ached. He had caused this woman to worry for him again.

Su Yunjin felt Chen Jie’s gaze and met his eyes, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying, ”Husband, don’t worry. It’s alright. There will, there has to be a way...”