Chapter 11: Hurriedly, Where Are You Off To?
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After venting his anger, Su Tong was utterly exhausted and now sat aside, catching his breath. Whether it was a blessing in disguise or not, the intense stabbing pain in his chest had eased considerably after his outburst.
“From now on, you are not to have any contact with Liang Shucheng,” Su Tong said coldly.
“Grandpa, Brother Shucheng…” Su Hanwei began.
“As a married woman, you call him ‘Brother Shucheng’ so casually—doesn’t that annoy you? It certainly annoys me! Liang Shucheng is full of ill intentions; he’s no good!” Su Tong sharply cut her off.
Upon hearing her grandfather speak ill of Liang Shucheng, Su Hanwei grew displeased.
“Grandpa, do you really know Brother Shucheng? He’s a gentleman, with ideals and responsibility…”
“Silence!”
Su Tong stood up in anger, still short of breath but ready to strike again.
Liang Shucheng with his demeanor, and yet he’s supposed to have ideals and responsibility?
When on earth did my granddaughter lose her mind, obsessing over that scoundrel?
“I’ve already divorced Xu Mu; I’m no longer a married woman, I’m free!” Su Hanwei declared.
“You dare talk back!”
Su Tong could no longer contain himself and slapped Su Hanwei once more.
Thankfully, Su Hanwei was a girl, or else Su Tong would have used a rattan cane on her.
“Hurry up, wash your face and change your clothes. I will personally take you to the Xu family to apologize. Whether you kowtow and kneel, or cry and make a scene, no matter the method, you must get Mu’er’s forgiveness and remarry him. Mu’er is a reasonable man; as long as you sincerely apologize, he will forgive you. Otherwise, your life is ruined,” Su Tong said coldly.
“Grandpa, I’ve done nothing wrong. Why should I kowtow and kneel to him? I’m your granddaughter; he’s just a good-for-nothing…”
“He’s not a good-for-nothing! I don’t want to repeat myself. You have fifteen minutes to prepare. If you refuse to go, I will personally apologize to Mu’er myself!” Su Tong barked.
No matter how stubborn Su Hanwei was, she would never let her grandfather kowtow and apologize to Xu Mu.
Yet she simply could not understand why, when Brother Shucheng was so outstanding, he was still inferior to the worthless Xu Mu.
Under her grandfather’s threat, Su Hanwei could only follow him to the Xu family to apologize.
Was she really destined to live with that good-for-nothing Xu Mu for the rest of her life?
No money, no skills, always submissive and timid—where was the slightest trace of a real man?
At the same time, in the Xu residence.
Li Baofu quietly moved box after box of silver coins mixed among miscellaneous goods into the backyard.
He sent all the servants away, then opened every box one by one.
Box after box of silver appeared before Xu Mu and Xu Shuangyi.
Xu Shuangyi roughly estimated that there were at least fifteen thousand taels of silver!
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Looking again at the gaunt-faced Xu Mu, waves of emotion stirred within her.
He truly had skills—to have gathered so much silver in such a short time.
Even within the Xu clan, this was a staggering fortune.
No wonder her foster father sent her to manage the Liangzhou assets; it seemed the Xu family was losing heavily there each year.
Still, she couldn’t figure out exactly how Xu Mu had done it.
“Young Master Xu, following your method, we’ve collected a total of fifteen thousand taels of silver,” Li Baofu said eagerly.
At this moment, Li Baofu was the most excited.
Xu Mu had promised him three thousand taels as reward.
He was surprised too; initially, he didn’t think this method would be profitable.
Yet, it worked.
Xu Mu, however, looked somewhat dissatisfied and softly asked, “Only fifteen thousand taels?”
Li Baofu bowed repeatedly, “Indeed only fifteen thousand, I swear I did not skimp a single tael. However, Liang Shucheng withheld three thousand taels as a handling fee in advance.”
“Hm.”
Xu Mu nodded lightly and said no more.
Li Baofu awkwardly stood to the side, smiling but not taking his leave.
“Aren’t you going?” Xu Mu asked indifferently.
“Master, the three thousand taels you promised me…”
“This money isn’t clean yet. If I pay you now, you might not live to spend it. Once I clean the money, you won’t lose a single tael,” Xu Mu said.
“Yes, yes!” Li Baofu eagerly bowed again. “Then I shall take my leave for now. Master, if you need anything, just command me. I’ll serve you wholeheartedly!”
“Those words reassure me. Go.”
After Li Baofu left, Xu Shuangyi inspected the silver simply and found no issues.
After counting, all fifteen thousand taels were intact.
Only then did Xu Shuangyi realize that Xu Mu really did have some tricks.
Her impression of Xu Mu began to change.
Yet, if he had these skills, why had he never shown them back in the capital?
Could it be that he was deliberately hiding his talents?
“Do you think Li Baofu secretly withheld any silver?” Xu Mu asked quietly.
Xu Shuangyi thought for a moment, then replied, “Judging by his behavior, probably not.”
“You’re dead wrong. He definitely took a large sum and has already prepared for the fact that he won’t get any money from us,” Xu Mu said.
“How can you tell?”
“Heh.”
Having lived two lives and experienced much, Xu Mu had met countless people; he had a keen eye for character.
“Gather some capable, clean-handed men and come with me,” Xu Mu ordered.
“Where to?”
Xu Mu glanced sideways at Xu Shuangyi with an expression that, despite her being a minor martial arts master, made her feel a slight pressure.
That look was one of dissatisfaction at her question—as if saying, “Just follow my orders; no need to ask so many questions.”
Her foster father was exactly such a man.
Li Baofu hurried back home, sweating profusely.
“Quickly pack your bags. We’re leaving Liangzhou and never coming back.”
“Ah? Why suddenly leave?” a young woman with delicate features asked confusedly.
“Why so many questions? I’ve got enough money to last several generations, but if I stay in Liangzhou, I’m afraid I won’t live long enough to spend it.”
Upon hearing this, the woman hurried to pack.
The total sum was twenty thousand taels; Liang Shucheng took three thousand as a fee, and Li Baofu secretly kept two thousand for himself, exchanging most of the silver into bills in secret.
He felt that if Xu Mu didn’t pay him today, he would never get a single coin from him later.
Luckily, he was smart and knew how to keep a backup plan.
He was just a small-time profiteer playing both sides; neither faction would let him go easily.
His only way out was to flee far away.
With this money, he could buy a few hundred acres elsewhere, become a small landlord, marry a few concubines, and live comfortably for the rest of his life.
Just as Li Baofu was about to leave with his family, seven or eight men dressed as servants quietly entered one after another.
Immediately after, Xu Mu’s voice rang out.
“Li Baofu, where are you rushing off to?”