Chapter 552 - 269: Borrowing Chen Cheng’s Fortune

Chapter 552: Chapter 269: Borrowing Chen Cheng’s Fortune

"Master Zhang, do you think Master Chen will use the Government Office’s power to make trouble? I’m just a commoner, and I’m truly afraid of being oppressed by the government," Jiang Rongxuan said cautiously.

He was still deeply uneasy. After all, Chen Cheng had bet on himself to win, yet he seemed far too relaxed, as if certain of victory.

The whole thing felt incredibly strange!

Other than using the Government Office to pressure them, Jiang Rongxuan simply couldn’t imagine what other tricks Chen Cheng could have up his sleeve.

"Hmph!" Zhang Daozong snorted, his face a mask of arrogance. "I’d actually welcome it if Chen Cheng tried to use the Government Office. But even if he had ten times the nerve, he wouldn’t dare!

Don’t you forget, the Four Major Sects are the biggest bookmakers behind this.

Linji City may be under the Great Dao Sect’s jurisdiction, but even they wouldn’t dare touch the money of disciples from the Four Major Sects!

Forget Chen Cheng—not even Xiao Nianci, the acting Director of the Inspection Department assigned by the Great Dao Sect, would dare use the Government Office’s power to interfere with our operation!

Whatever Chen Cheng is scheming, you don’t need to worry about it. Just do your job, and wait for the money to roll in."

Hearing this, Jiang Rongxuan’s worries eased considerably. He hastily bowed and said, "Yes, of course. I will do my utmost to repay your patronage, Master Zhang."

"Mm, very good."

Zhang Daozong nodded slightly and continued, "This is a guaranteed profit. No matter how much anyone bets, they’re just handing us money.

From now on, if any more large bets come in, just accept them without a second thought and hand them over to the counting house.

I’m going into seclusion to cultivate the Martial Dao, so there’s no need to report such minor matters to me personally."

"Yes, sir." Jiang Rongxuan bowed respectfully and took his leave.

With a few bounds, Zhang Daozong reached the highest point of the roof. He gazed toward Locust Tree Lane, a flicker of hesitation in his narrow eyes.

’This Chen Cheng came from humble origins, with no backing, yet he burst onto the scene in just two or three short years. He has undoubtedly gathered all of Linji City’s destiny for himself.

If I kill Chen Cheng, I can seize that destiny for myself.’

As he spoke, Zhang Daozong turned to look in several other directions, his gaze gradually turning icy.

"The people from the Blood Moon Sect, the Sutra of Ultimate Sect, and the Brahma Sound Sect dare to compete with me for this destiny... How despicable. I’ll deal with every last one of them!"

...

「Upper Street, in the main hall of the Spring Fragrance Courtyard.」

The Madam, caked in makeup and dressed extravagantly, took the thick stack of silver notes from Chen Cheng. Her face twitched, shaking loose a cloud of thick powder that drifted to the floor!

"Master Chen, you want to bet one thousand taels of silver on yourself to win?"

"Precisely." Chen Cheng gave a slight nod.

The Madam froze!

The flock of courtesans and their wealthy clientele all stared, their mouths agape in shock!

A sudden silence fell over the entire hall, broken only by the faint, ragged sound of breathing!

"I’ll... I’ll have the betting slip drawn up for you right away!" After a long moment, the Madam finally managed to compose herself and ordered her bookkeeper to write out the slip.

Only after Chen Cheng took the betting slip and left with Mu Xiaowan did the hall erupt into an uproar!

"I think that was Master Chen, Chen Cheng himself!"

"Master Chen actually bet one thousand taels of silver on himself to win!"

"Could it be that Master Chen has something up his sleeve? Is he sure he’s going to win?"

"Who knows! But if Master Chen dares to bet such a huge sum, then I, Diao Changfa, the Fragrance Scholar, will follow suit! I’m betting one hundred taels of silver on Master Chen to win!"

"I, Wu Hua, the ’Lone Roving Butterfly Amidst a Sea of Flowers,’ will also follow suit! I’m betting fifty taels of silver on Master Chen to win!"

"And I, the Marquis of the Fragrant Hunt..."

...

An hour later, Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan were walking hand in hand down the street. Every passerby they encountered, regardless of station or age, bowed to them respectfully!

"Greetings, Master Chen!"

"Greetings, Master Chen!"

In response, Chen Cheng could only offer a slight nod and a smile.

Chen Cheng had always led a private life, and when he went out in plain clothes, very few people recognized him.

However, he had just made a tour of Ronghe Restaurant, the Spring Fragrance Courtyard, and various other restaurants, teahouses, and gambling dens that were taking bets.

At each location, he bet one thousand taels of silver on himself to win, and the total sum of his bets had reached a terrifying ten thousand taels of silver.

Such an audacious display had already sent shockwaves through the entire Upper Street district; it would have been difficult *not* to be recognized!

Amidst their shock, people began to sense something unusual: for Master Chen to dare bet over ten thousand taels of silver, he must have an ace up his sleeve.

"Greetings, Master Chen! Greetings, Lady Chen!" a man in a coarse, short tunic said with a respectful bow.

The man was none other than Wang Chun, the son of Chen Cheng’s former neighbor from Locust Tree Lane, Wang Laoshu.

"There’s no need for such formality," Chen Cheng replied with a small nod and a smile.

Wang Laoshu’s family had also sold their property to Chen Cheng, a matter Chen Cheng had instructed Jian Luchuan to handle.

As they had been old neighbors, the Wang Family and the Chen Family had been on very good terms. Thus, Chen Cheng had been quite generous, spending fifty taels of silver to purchase the Wang Family’s property.

This was already four to five times the market price.

Afterward, Wang Laoshu’s family had bought a larger property in an alley not far from Locust Tree Lane for only fifteen taels of silver.

Although Wang Chun was still dressed in coarse cloth, his clothes were now neat and tidy, no longer covered in patches as before.

His complexion was also quite rosy.

The Wang Family was clearly living much better than before.

"Are Uncle Wang and Auntie Cuihua doing well?" Mu Xiaowan asked with a smile.

Wang Chun replied, "Thanks to the generosity of Master Chen and Lady Chen, my family’s circumstances have improved greatly.

We have plenty to eat and warm clothes to wear, and my parents are still hale and hearty.

They often mention how they want to thank Master Chen and you, Lady Chen."

"Think nothing of it." Mu Xiaowan smiled and waved her hand dismissively. Noticing a large burlap sack hanging from Wang Chun’s waist, she asked,

"By the way, carrying a sack that big and in such a hurry—are you on your way to buy grain?"