Chapter 49: Revised - 49 Losses

Words : 1505 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 49: Revised: Chapter 49 LossesThe innkeeper reluctantly returned the ten thousand taels to Prince NanAn. If he could, he would have backed out and not done this deal. A land deed can be reissued. But it’s unimaginably difficult. Renewing it requires a tax, one-tenth of the land’s value; their owner sold it for twenty thousand taels, but if the government office says it’s worth sixty thousand taels, they would have to pay six thousand in taxes. They were already at a loss with nowhere to cry, paying another six thousand taels is like stabbing their owner with a knife, isn’t it? And that’s not even considering the bribes... The shopkeeper took a deep breath. At least this is a money problem. If it can be solved with money, it’s not a problem. There’s something even more difficult, and that is proving to the government office that this land belongs to their owner. Since the house deed and the land deed can be owned separately, the house deed can serve as part of the proof, but it’s not enough. This inn’s origin wasn’t entirely legitimate; it was bought from a gambling house, and back then, due to the owner’s connections, it only cost them thirty thousand taels. Once the house and land deed entered their owner’s hands, they’ve never been seen by outsiders. Now, trying to prove it is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. The land deed was the owner’s, just burned away. It’s impossible for there to be a dispute over the land deed. But without the land deed, they can’t get that ten thousand taels. Isn’t he selling the owner’s inn for just ten thousand taels? A shop in such a prime location, giving it away would not be an exaggeration. Thinking of having to write a document to get the owner’s fingerprint. Tears welled up in the innkeeper’s eyes. Afraid of being beaten to death himself. Also afraid the remaining half of the owner’s life would be lost in rage. After getting the silver note, Prince NanAn rode forward a few steps and arrived in front of the Tianxiang Building. They were riding horseback, with sunlight hitting them, making the bruise at the corner of their mouth particularly noticeable. Their looks towards Xie Jingchen were somewhat complicated and slightly itching— Wanting to punch him. Clearly, their bruised and swollen faces were again related to him. Xie Jingchen was about to ask what was going on. Chu Shun took a deep breath, dismounted, and without saying a word, dragged him to a nearby tea stand. Pressed him onto a stool. Xie Jingchen hadn’t even reacted. A crumpled piece of paper appeared on the table in front of him. Laid out by Chu Shun. Also, a wolf hair brush appeared in his hand. Handed to him by the Heir of Marquis Beining. The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo took out a small delicate Duan Inkstone the size of a palm and began grinding ink. After a few buffs, he glanced sideways impatiently, "Come over, look!" A steward walked up from behind, expressionless. Xie Jingchen furrowed his brows tight. "What are you doing?" "Write that IOU you gave us yesterday again. My father and grandfather suspect it’s not your handwriting," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo. "...." "Even if Uncle and they suspect it, they wouldn’t beat you like this, would they?" Xie Jingchen questioned. Beating their own son is possible, but they wouldn’t beat both Prince NanAn and Chu Shun together. The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo was a bit pained, "And we even considered you as a good brother, yet you understand us less than my father." Xie Jingchen, "...." This is how they got their bruises: Yesterday, the IOU and the share agreement were sent to them. The four of them discussed it and decided to want the share agreement, not the IOU. But Xie Jingchen and Su Jin’s shop sells coal, and a share of seventeen thousand five hundred taels of coal; they feared it would upset their dear parents. So they hid the share part and showed the IOU to their parents. Xie Jingchen is the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Duke Zhen’s cherished grandson; if he needs money, borrowing is a given. Five thousand taels went to the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo, but the IOU wasn’t accepted. Chu Shun and the others had the IOU and planned to give it to Xie Jingchen along with the silver note. Without his share, the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo wouldn’t have it. Good brothers, must keep in step. No special treatment. Their brain circuits not being quite normal, they decided to help the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo steal it back. The IOU was hidden in the Duke Dingguo’s study. The four of them, dressed in night clothes late at night, rummaged through the boxes— And were beaten to their current state as burglars. If not for the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo surrendering quickly, Prince NanAn’s arm might have been broken by Duke Dingguo’s Hidden Guard. The Duke Dingguo already doubted the authenticity of the IOU. They went to steal the IOU in the middle of the night. He’s certain the IOU was fake. Prince NanAn and others handed over identical IOUs, convincing Duke Dingguo all the more. Having known each other since childhood, this had to be a coordinated trick to swindle money. Afraid he’d find the Duke to ask for money one day and the scam would fall apart, thus the IOU had to be retrieved. This little trick— Might have fooled Prince NanAn, but not him. Chu Shun and his group, no matter how many mouths they have, couldn’t explain. In the end, they came up with the idea to match the handwriting. Xie Jingchen, with a face full of black lines, rewrote yesterday’s IOU. The steward compared it carefully. Except for the lack of a fingerprint, everything was identical. "Want to leave another fingerprint?" the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo probed, touching his aching mouth corner. "No need, the Duke indeed wrongly accused the young masters," the steward commented neutrally. "Alright then, alright, it’s not the first time my grandfather has falsely accused me, if not for Chu Shun and the others getting involved, I wouldn’t even bother explaining, as long as the elder is happy," the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo waved his hand dismissively. "...." If the Duke heard this, it’d be another round of beatings. The steward put the IOU away and rode off on a horse. When he left, Chu Shun and the others sat down, drank half a cup of tea, and then stared at Xie Jingchen. Xie Jingchen, "...." "If you have something to say, say it." "Getting married really changes things." "In what way?" Xie Jingchen was confused. "We brothers have known each other for years, when have we ever got beaten because of you? You just got married, see, old wounds unhealed and new ones added, it’s only been a few days since you— oh, sorry, you just got married and we got beaten twice already, I really need to consider if I should pick an auspicious day to cut off ties with you, or my life might be at risk." "...." "The IOU being taken by Duke Dingguo wasn’t a big deal, couldn’t you just tell me," Xie Jingchen said. To him, it seemed like they were just asking for trouble. The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo then said, "What if my grandfather looks for your grandfather for the money?" Xie Jingchen hadn’t yet replied. Su Jin walked over, chuckling, "This is a good thing, isn’t it? A scolding worth twenty thousand taels, with my husband’s endurance, he could absolutely withstand it until the Duke’s mansion goes bankrupt." Chu Shun, "...." Prince NanAn, "...." Heir of Marquis Beining, "...." Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo, "...." Xie Jingchen held his forehead. Xingxing stood by. With a bewildered look. She looked at Su Jin. "Why is a scolding worth twenty thousand taels?" "The IOU is voided. If Duke Dingguo takes the void IOU to claim twenty thousand taels from the Duke, those twenty thousand taels will go to the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo, and he can give them back to your master, making your master two thousand taels richer in the purse," Su Jin explained. Xingxing nodded. "I get it, they saved master from a scolding and lost twenty thousand taels." "...." That understanding is quite formidable. Su Jin held her forehead. Then Xingxing looked towards Chu Shun and the others— Using her strong logical leap to challenge them. "So you should compensate my master for the lost twenty thousand taels." "...." Pfft! Prince NanAn spat out a mouthful of tea. Unluckily, it sprayed all over the face of the Heir of Marquis Beining sitting opposite. Heir of Marquis Beining, "...." Searᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Chapter 49: Revised - 49 Losses

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