If You Need Money, I Can Lend You Some...

Zuo Wuji's eyes brightened, but soon they immediately became dispirited, "It won't be that easy… I didn't know that it was so precious. Such a little thing could actually be worth 500 taels of gold… How pathetic that I was incited by you pricks to steal it and sell it for only 50 taels of silver. Such a huge loss…"

And while grinding his teeth again, he said, "You pricks have made me the No.1 black sheep in the world… I should have never mentioned it and just swallowed it with my teeth and blood [1]… Now there is another jade ruyi present, but what can I do to get it?"

Ye Xiao lowered his voice and said, "Heh, heh, heh… It's just about money, isn't it… That's not a problem. I just want to ask you, do you want that jade ruyi?"

"Of course! What a stupid question. Why wouldn't I want it! When I get it, I will finally get rid of the title 'the No.1 black sheep in the Kingdom of Chen'… Only god knows how desperately I want to do so…" Zuo Wuji nodded and gritted his teeth, "But I ran out of money when that shxt happened. My allowance has been reduced from 15 taels of silver per month to just a quarter tael… What the hell can I do with a quarter taels of silver?!"

[You want to get rid of the No. 1 black sheep title… It is actually quite easy, only… You are about to be the unprecedented No. 1 black sheep in the universe…] Ye Xiao thought.

"Hah, Hah!" Ye Xiao laughed out loud and struck his chest while speaking nobly, "If you really want it, I could lend you some money…"

"Really?" Zuo Wuji was surprised, so was Lan Langlang.

Did the sun rise from the west?! Since when did Ye Xiao become so generous?

"Absolutely!" Ye Xiao nodded with a serious look.

"What on earth are you planning?" Zuo Wuji looked at him suspiciously as he did some calculations in his mind, "This prick, he isn't really planning to do some business with me, is he? Could there be the possibility that he really is in love with me?"

"You bastard!" Ye Xiao shouted as if his dignity and honor was on the line. Acting as if his kindness was wasted, he said with bitter hatred, "Zuo Wuji! What the hell did you just say? I want to help you because I treat you like my brother. I am also taking a big risk doing so. Who knows when a bastard like you could give me my money back? And you… you dare to suspect me. Fine! I'll let you rot!"

"Forget it! I can save the money for gals, can't I… Lan Langlang! Let's go!" In anger, Ye Xiao stood up and prepared to leave, "We no longer have a friend like this bastard that never appreciates our kindness!"

Lan Langlang was always good at kicking up a row. He wouldn't let this chance go, so he stood up with a woosh while shouting cheerfully, "Absolutely! We are never going to talk to this prick as he doesn't want to be our friend!"

"No… Please don't… brother Ye, brother Lan, stay! Ah! Please my dear brothers…" As fast as he could, Zuo Wuji rushed forward and held Ye Xiao's waist tightly and apologized with a flattering tone, "Ohhh, I only said a single wrong word… Oh please, we are brothers right? We are brothers forever. You wouldn't really be mad at me, would you? Ahhh, come on just stay! Steward! Bring us some tea! The classy one! The best! The imperial tea that the king awarded my grandpa with! Quick, quick…"

Then he respectfully had Ye Xiao seated on the masters' chair of the house, and while bowing with a servile smile, he said, "Hey, hey… brother Ye, hah, hah, master Ye, brother, my dearest brother… Would you seriously lend me some money?"

Ye Xiao was sitting with one ankle on his other knee, "I was going to…"

"Oh, you can't change your mind bro…" Zuo Wuji nearly kneeled down.

He wouldn't give up the hard-found chance to rectify his mistake. God knows what kind of rough life he had been living for the past few months… and he couldn't even escape because his tormentors were his own family.

"Humph, fair enough." Ye Xiao blew the leaves floating on the tea as he said with a poker face, "Since I have already said it, why don't you write me a receipt and give me something as a guarantee. With that, I will just give you 750 taels of gold… Let's make it clear that you should return the money someday. Don't even try bargaining!"

"Absolutely!" Zuo Wuji said with a happy face, then he realized a problem and asked with a disconsolate look, "But what should I give you for guarantee?"

"Do you understand human language? Anything can do, just give me something. We are brothers! I don't really want anything expensive from you, do I?"

Zuo Wuji suddenly felt relieved, "It is a good way indeed… Let me see. What should I steal this time?"

He was rolling his eyes. Obviously, he had decided to become the family thief one more time.

"Oh my!" Ye Xiao instructed him while feeling disappointed, "Can you just be quick and pick any one of these collections in this house. It doesn't have to be costly. Anything will do…"

After Ye Xiao's stark instruction, Zuo Wuji finally came to a realization, "Well… then is it alright to be a guarantee?"

"Forget about the guarantee thing. That was what I meant. Come on, we are brothers!" Ye Xiao was showing generousness as he spoke such considerate words.

Zuo Wuji was too happy to even close his mouth. He finally couldn't get rid of the burden in his heart. He laughed heartily, "Well then! Although every piece of this collection here was collected by my grandfather, and he loves them all… it wouldn't matter if one or two went missing… Bro, tell me which one you like. I'll directly give it to you! We won't take that back! I will surely pay back the money and you can keep whatever you choose!"

Zuo Wuji was truly very generous.

Ye Xiao rightfully answered with a frown, "What do you mean? What do you think I am? I am only trying to help you. Do you think that I am hankering after your collection… You could give it to me as a gift after you get the money, as that shows your thankfulness. The gift itself may be small, but the goodwill is transferred. But for now, if I accept it, then it will be seen as you bribing me!"

"Bribing?" Zuo Wuji thought as his mouth twitch, "How could he talk like he was an honorable officer."

"I am done with your delays. This one. I like the feeling of flying." What he was unconcernedly pointing at was exactly the Heavenly Crystal Marrow.

"That… That is too cheap, isn't it?" Zuo Wuji was suddenly moved and thought, "It looks like Ye Xiao is really trying to help me. There are so many treasures in the house, and he has actually picked one of the cheapest. What a good man. Why didn't I realize it…"

"All right, all right. You know my heart. That is enough." Ye Xiao said profoundly, "What are we? Brothers should help each other… By the way, you should keep it as a secret. In case someone else knows that I have lent you lots of money… and they all come to me, it will be troublesome for me if I have to decide whether I should lend money to this one or that one."

"You can count on me. I will keep my mouth completely shut!" Zuo Wuji promised, "I am not that kind of person, am I…"

"Why don't you… just take it now?" Zuo Wuji was afraid Ye Xiao would change his mind, so he tried to force his hand.

"Moron!" Ye Xiao reproached him with a low voice, "Can you not think for yourself? If I take it now right under these people's eyes in your house, how can we keep it a secret?"

"Right, right." Zuo Wuji then whispered to Ye Xiao, "How about I bring it to you when the day turns dark?"

"Great idea!" Ye Xiao answered full of praise, "At that time, I will go to the corner of the alley south of here, and I'll be waiting for you with the money."

Zuo Wuji smiled when he heard this, "I should thank you for this bro… As long as it saves my reputation in the family, I will get the money from the business and pay you back. Set your heart at ease. I am a man of my word!"

"All right dude. Would I give you my money if it were not for my trust in you?" Ye Xiao and Zuo Wuji were holding each other's shoulder as if they were the closest of brothers.

Beside them, with his jaws on the floor, Lan Langlang was stupefied with the new developments.

After all the details were finalized, Zuo Wuji respectfully saw Ye Xiao and Lan Langlang off with endless gratitude while they left with smugness.

"When the day turns dark, just remember it bro." Zuo Wuji shouted. Ye Xiao and Lan Langlang heard the shout from Zuo Wuji even though they had already travelled quite far.

...

"Hey listen, are you really going to give him the money?" Lan Langlang watched Ye Xiao suspiciously, "Come on… you are not a kind-hearted guy, are you? Are you going to walk away and betray that guy…"

"What are you talking about? You are such a flunky, while I have a tolerant heart! Do you think that I am someone like you who always breaks his word?!" Ye Xiao looked at Lan Langlang with disdain, "Go home and prepare a note worth 500 taels of gold for me. I need it!"

It seemed that he didn't have enough money to lend to Zuo Wuji…

"Oh, do you need it? Sure I will. Wait… What? What did you just say? You told me to prepare a note worth 500 taels of gold, so that you can lend it to Zuo? Why should I? Give me a reason first!" Lan Langlang exploded with fury when he had realized the implications behind Ye Xiao's words.

[For me to lend him the money so that he can do some good deals. Why should I?!] Lan Langlang thought.

"A reason? You can't even understand that! If you don't prepare the note for me, what will I lend to Zuo Wuji? Isn't it obvious? You're being too talkative!"

Ye Xiao rolled up his eyes as he unconcernedly and slowly said with a threatening tone, "Lan Langlang, if you don't bring me the note and caused me to break my word, that's ok. I will just tell your grandfather, your father, your mother and your aunt that you fought with Zuo Wuji for a gal's favor in the brothel and ran around naked… If that is not enough for you, I can even paint some graffiti about you on every wall on the street! I shall make sure that you will become famous. The whole city, no, even the whole world will know about you! I will let your reputation rise to the same level as Zuo Wuji's!

"What? You!" Lan Langlang was so angry that he nearly passed out. His crossed eyes even turned normal due to his anger. He shouted in abuse, "How vicious are you? That is just using my darkest experiences…"

"Urrr… Stop it! How dare your refer to your infantile life as an experience? This deal won't eventually cost you anything. Let me ask you again, will you do it or not?"

"I WILL DO IT! What other choice do I have?" Lan Langlang was nearly crying, "I will bring it to you…"

...

——————-

[1] Swallow … with one's teeth and blood: A metaphor, means someone have gotten through something bad but can not say a word about it.