Chapter 317: The Fourth Crock of Gold 2
As Qi Qingyao ate, she glanced at the other people who had congregated and began chatting. Feeling rather perplexed despite having considered things for some time already, she asked Lu Yan a question.
“Do these folk from the upper-class social circles just eat, drink, and watch song and dance performances every day?”
“They gather just to exchange information. They also discuss business while they’re at it.”
Lu Yan had not felt any particular reaction from his body and determined that the congee was fine. With that, he tamped down on his illness and used the ladle to scoop up another mouthful of food before carefully putting it into his mouth.
Two uninvited guests were soon ushered in before they were done with their breakfast.
Jiang Siliu had just taken a seat and savored a few bites of her meal when she realized that the person sitting beside her was actually…
“Qi Qingyao! It’s you again!”
Jiang Siliu was so agitated she almost flipped the low-legged table right over.
Qi Qingyao glanced at her from the corners of her eyes as she looked over to make sure Dabao was not spilling anything as he ate.
She answered apathetically.
“Who are you?”
“Stop pretending!”
Jiang Siliu was quickly losing her temper because of this woman. Furiously, she said, “As if you wouldn’t know who I am.”
“I don’t. Move along, next!”
Qi Qingyao replied calmly.
Jiang Siliu stood up and pointed at Qi Qingyao’s nose.
“I am the Jiang’s lady, Jiang Siliu.”
“Oh, do you have something with me?”
Qi Qingyao was finally willing to spare a glance at Jiang Siliu.
Jiang Siliu said seriously, “I’m still not over how you humiliated me last time.”
“So? You’ve got something with me?” asked Qi Qingyao.
Jiang Siting tried to pull his sister back from acting rashly.
Jiang Siliu noticed that no small number of people were looking over at them; she was pissed. “Everyone said that you are connected to Master Architect Li Qinglian, and that you even know the divine physician Su Hexiao!”
Qi Qingyao snickered and said, “Everyone really thinks so highly of me.”
Jiang Siliu was so annoyed at the country bumpkin’s arrogance that steam was rising off her head. “I don’t believe it, that’s why I want to make a bet with you.”
“Why would I want to get into a bet with you?” asked Qi Qingyao.
Jiang Siliu laughed. “That’s because you’re a scam artist. You’re using the master architect Li Qinglian and Su Hexiao’s names to bluff your way around the world! I want to expose your true colors in front of everyone! Let them all see that you’re a base and shameless low-class person!”
Qi Qingyao said evenly, “The lady of the Jiang family has such high evaluations of me, I’m honored.”
“Take a look everyone. Listen to her shameless words.”
Jiang Siliu behaved as if victory was already in her hands, and declared loudly, “I’ll have my bet with you here today. If I win, you’ll go back to Qingzhou City and leave Brother Lu.”
“…”
Qi Qingyao raised her gaze, pleasantly surprised.
Someone wanted to make a bet with her again.
She wondered what she would win this time.
“If you lose?”
“I…”
Jiang Siliu was about to joke that it would be impossible for her to lose.
Then Qi Qingyao said with a smile, “How about I have your Jiang family take their leave from Qingzhou City? Or perhaps, Miss Jiang intends to commit hara-kiri?”
Jiang Siliu felt that the woman was being deliberate.
“You’re purposely raising the stakes of the bet, thinking that I’d back out aren’t you?”
Qi Qingyao was done with her meal.
Her vigor had fully returned.
She sat cross-legged steadily on the side.
Then she spoke with a smile.
“You’re saying all this nonsense but what do you want to bet on? Jumping into a river? Suicide? Calligraphy? Piano? Cooking? You must have some idea, otherwise, how would I know what you even want to do?”
Jiang Siliu realized that everyone was paying attention to them and she knew that if she were to beat Qi Qingyao this time, she—Jiang Siliu—would become famous among the rich and powerful of Eastern Ling. When she thought of this…
Jiang Siliu immediately grew very excited.
She took it to herself and made a suggestion.
“A wager in art, do you dare accept?” Thinking about it, this country lump definitely did not learn how to draw! She would be guaranteed a win as long as they bet on drawing.
Of course, she knew this means of victory was rather underhanded.
However, as the saying went, all was fair in love and war!
‘Insect! You are finished.’
Qi Qingyao shrugged and asked in a leisurely tone.
“Figures? Landscape? Realism? Stream of consciousness? Impressionism?”
‘What in the what?’ Jiang Siliu did not understand what Qi Qingyao was saying. She simply replied, “Anything will do. After we’re done, we’ll present them to the public for their comments. Do you dare accept?”
Qi Qingyao knew how to design architecture, so naturally she had some artistic attainments. She replied coolly, “If it’s drawing, let’s redefine the bet. If I lose, I’ll leave and never step into Qingzhou City again. If I win, you leave Qingzhou City! How about it? It’s reasonable, no?”
“Alright! I accept.” Internally, Jiang Siliu was very pleased. She would be able to witness this widow and her children leave Brother Lu soon.
Jiang Siting noticed that Qi Qingyao had been calm and composed all the time, and had a premonition that was anything but assuring.
He could sense it.
This time, his sister would once again play into the little woman’s palm.
When he thought of this…
Jiang Siting immediately shouted.
“Little Liu, this bet is too much.”
“Brother, you can’t overcome danger without taking any risks! I will accept the bet with my stake being that I’ll leave Qingzhou City if I lose!” Jiang Siliu replied confidently.
Qi Qingyao was mulling over this.
She was thinking that it felt… rather meaningless.
She would be betting against Jiang Siliu… but the boring thing was that the outcome was merely deciding which of the two would be leaving Qingzhou City.
If she was not going to be making even a penny from this…
What was the point for her to paint?
Why should she even make this bet with Jiang Siliu?
Qi Qingyao stood up excitedly just as Jiang Siliu eagerly called for someone to prepare the paper, brush, and inkstone. She called out to the wealthy guests who were at the scene.
“Dear audience, this show cannot possibly be free now, can it? Since I will be making a bet, I’ll take the banker! It’s open and I invite everyone to place their bets. Those who do not wish to bet, please leave. Those who leave will also lose the right to vote.”
“Giving the betters the privilege of voting? Isn’t that just walking to your demise? We will obviously vote for the person we placed our bets on. Can you still win?”
Xiao Wuji sneered at her and spoke up.
Qi Qingyao smiled unabashedly and said, “The voting will be anonymous! Besides, I believe that everyone present has an eye for the arts. You all wouldn’t discard your reputation as a connoisseur just over a little profit. Don’t you all think so?”
She was indirectly praising them.
She was playing up everyone in the room.
They were all definitely the sons and brothers of distinguished families. Even if they did not have the skills to play the qin, chess, calligraphy, or drawing, they would still know how to appraise them!
Lu Yan did not think that she would be this business-minded; she did not even forget about earning money at a time like this.
Soon, everyone had agreed to place their bets.
Lu Yan was about to lay his stakes as well.
However, Qi Qingyao motioned for him to start jotting down the bets and doing the calculations.
“You don’t need to bet.” Qi Qingyao said steadily, “I’ll be the dealer, but I have only a hundred thousand taels on hand now. If I lose the money, I’ll mortgage the house to you, and you’ll pay me in cash.
The corners of Lu Yan’s mouth twitched. “Why do you think I would be willing to take on this game for you?” If he lost the bill would be on him, but if she won she would keep the earnings! This was not fair.
Qi Qingyao cast him a sidelong glance and raised her eyebrows. “If you want your disease cured… you will help me.”
Lu Yan, “…”
The woman was seriously calculative.
She did not give him the right to refuse.