Chapter 319: The Fourth Crock of Gold 4
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Jiang Siliu looked at the drop of ink that had dripped onto the paper and thought to herself dully, ‘It’s over.’ She was so mad she turned her head to face Qi Qingyao.
“Peeping at men in the baths, do you even know shame!”
Qi Qingyao was astounded. “I had three kids out of wedlock, you know? Even now, I don’t know who the children’s father is, and now you’re asking me if I know shame? Isn’t it too late for that, Miss Jiang!”
“…”
Jiang Siliu did not expect that she would actually admit it.
She had openly confessed that she had no shame!!
Jiang Siliu could only work hard to finish this painting of hers and brace herself in letting everyone appraise it.
The people at the scene were still surrounding Qi Qingyao’s drawing, pointing and gesticulating.
After Jiang Siliu was done painting, Jiang Siting took a look at his sister’s work and fell into deep thought. This… she could still win. While the painting was not too perfect, that Qi Qingyao… her drawing was absolutely a joke! No normal person would vote for such a vulgar painting! Unless there was something wrong with their heads.
It was time for the assessment.
The people present were wealthy and respectable, and have seen many masterpieces over the years.
Hence, they could tell that Jiang Siliu’s painting… was flawed, and the ink was a little faint. In everyone’s eyes, it was really unrefined.
It could be said that this painting was practically a failure…
People started discussing.
“If we’re talking about this lady’s painting, it’s interesting and has a lingering charm; as for Miss Jiang’s painting, it’s just a simple copy of a landscape painting she had in her mind. Not to mention, it’s not even an excellent copy.”
“It’s nothing special.”
“It’s too boring.”
“I think I’ll give my vote to myself in the hot spring bath,” said someone softly with a sigh.
Jiang Siliu, “…”
Her heart was filled with resentment, but she did not dare voice them.
Jiang Yeqian looked at that painting, unable to be angry with it. He knew, however, he could only cast his vote for her when the voting period came.
Xiao Wuji, Gu Cheng, and others had also likely cast their votes. Even if they wanted to vote for Jiang Siliu, they could not do it.
With that said, they would still vote for the painting of themselves in the hot springs…
Although it was rather vulgar, Qi Qingyao’s painting was not bad, it was very ‘atmospheric’!
Seated on one side, Qi Qingyao was smiling, very satisfied as she looked at her drawing before looking at Jiang Siliu’s. In all fairness, she thought Jiang Siliu’s performance would be extraordinary and refined and would put a lot of pressure on her. She did not think that Jiang Siliu’s painting would still be such a failure, even after changing to a new drawing paper! It was hard to blame her… for cutting corners to make swifter progress!
After everyone had placed their votes, it was up to Dong Jing and a maid to start calling out the names of the votes whilst they counted the strips.
Jiang Siliu’s face turned paler and paler even before all the votes were finished being named…
By the end of it, there was no more color on Jiang Siliu’s face.
Lu Yan announced calmly.
“Thirty-eight votes to Qi Qingyao.”
“Nine votes to Jiang Siliu.”
…
The atmosphere at the scene was very strange.
Even though Jiang Siliu’s painting was a failure, the little lady had also won too easily and crudely.
The anonymous voters also did not think that Qi Qingyao would win by such a landslide.
Lu Yan declared.
“Victory goes to Qi Qingyao.”
Dong Jing quickly started calculating the winner’s money. A few people betted that Qi Qingyao would win and were all beaming with joy. They were considerably surprised.
After calculating everyone else’s accounts…
Dong Jing gave the remaining to Qi Qingyao who was the dealer.
“After removing the winner’s amount, you, the dealer, have received a final amount of two million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand!”
More than two million!
Qi Qingyao herself was stunned.
As the dealer, she had completely cashed in on Jiang Siliu’s failure. It was unlikely that she would be this lucky again next time.
At the end of the day, however.
She could soon buy that house of Lu Yan’s with this much money.
Qi Qingyao hurriedly asked for Si Jin to store the money properly. Beaming with joy, she said to Jiang Siliu.
“I didn’t expect at all that Miss Jiang would be my goddess of wealth.”
“You, you, you, you cheated,” Jiang Siliu said without thinking.
“What a sore loser! Is this the Jiang family’s style? I learned something new.” Qi Qingyao did not mind the barks of a loser. Not allowing others to complain after they lost would be too unreasonable.
Jiang Siliu wanted to retort but was grabbed by Jiang Siting.
He curtly told her to stop disgracing the Jiang family.
Jiang Siliu was so angry the rims of her eyes were red.
That gaze seemed to suggest that she would rush up to Qi Qingyao and bite her on the spot if she could.
Qi Qingyao looked at the furious woman who looked as if she were about to faint from anger.
She said evenly, “If Miss Jiang refuses to adhere to the bet, she is free to remain in Qingzhou City shamelessly.”
Jiang Siliu’s eyes brightened.
Then Qi Qingyao continued, “You just need to kneel and kowtow to me thrice. Then, bark three times and I’ll allow you to remain in Qingzhou City!”
Her tone of speech was very calm.
It was as if she were just discussing the weather.
How could Jiang Siliu possibly endure this kind of humiliation?
She snorted angrily.
“Dream on.”
“Then, fix a day and leave Qingzhou City, or else…” The trailing tone left the others something to think about.
“What do you intend to do if I don’t leave?” Jiang Siliu asked as she cocked her waist.
Qi Qingyao did not give a direct answer but said, “All of you here are dignified people. If Miss Jiang doesn’t want to be one, I will help you with that. I’m sure you understand.”
Jiang Siliu’s expression was resentful.
Jiang Siting noticed that everyone present was looking at his sister with contemptuous gazes. Jiang Siting hurriedly said, “Little Liu, the Jiangs have always been people of their word!”
Jiang Siliu hugged Jiang Siting’s arm and said, “Brother, I don’t want to leave home.”
“You’re all grown up now. It’s better if you leave Qingzhou City for Capital City; it’s much better than Qingzhou City,” Jiang Siting lied. There were so many people watching them today. If his sister did not leave, it was likely that the Jiangs’ prestige would be dragged into mud. Hence, Jiang Siliu would have to bear the dreadful consequences on her own.
“…”
With red-rimmed eyes, Jiang Siliu looked at her brother deeply for a bit and immediately ran away in tears.
Jiang Siting apologized to the crowd and said that he would take his leave first and hurriedly went after his sister.
Everyone turned their heads to look at Qi Qingyao with curious but also stunned gazes.
Qi Qingyao was still there counting the money with Si Jin…
Lu Yan asked, “How did you come up with the idea about drawing this?”
“This is called defeating thy opponent with a surprise attack!”
“Looks like you’re really good at drawing.”
“I’m not interested in drawing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to.”
“What else do you know how to draw?”
“Your naked body!”
“…”
Lu Yan was stunned for a second before immediately flushing red. He lowered his head quickly, concealing his awkwardness.
Jiang Yeqian was not far away, watching Qi Qingyao and Lu Yan chat familiarly as if they were old friends. This made him extremely jealous; the sourness was almost overflowing from his chest.
The feeling in his chest was unbearable.
He watched the scene quietly, then retracted his gaze and immediately took a deep breath forcefully.
Silently, he said to himself continuously.
‘You are the Head Grand Secretariat of Northern Liang, not to mention the head of the Zhaixing Administration. That woman is not compatible with you, not compatible with you… there is no need to watch her so obsessively!’
After he mentally prepared himself.
He opened his eyes.
Once again, his gaze could not help but swerve toward her.
Only to see the woman continue to count money with a smile, as if everything else around her was not important.
Jiang Yeqian heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. He had to admit that he was defeated.
He had taken a fancy to a woman with children!
Also, this woman was extremely weird, without shame, and a miser!
Jiang Yeqian cursed himself internally, ‘Jiang Yeqian, oh Jiang Yeqian, you really…
‘Have a worrisome taste!’