Chapter 103: The Trap

Xu Zilin had felt nothing but misfortune these past few days.

Not long ago, he had won a considerable sum gambling at the casino, momentarily forgetting the disgrace of the Xu family and the suffocating atmosphere at home. He was completely immersed in the clinking of silver coins and the shouts of the crowd.

But for the past three days, something had changed.

No matter what he gambled on, he lost.

Though he felt a thrill pocketing the silver, withdrawing it brought reluctant, bitter feelings. Desperate to recover his losses, he ended up borrowing more from the moneylender, only to lose even more.

Since his father was Xu Yaohui, the chief clerk, the moneylender wasn’t worried about him fleeing; if anything, he hoped Xu Zilin would borrow even more.

With bloodshot eyes, Xu Zilin no longer cared how much he owed. His mind was fixed solely on the casino.

The casino was owned by Jin Sier.

Though Jin had once dared not offend Xu Zilin, things were very different now. With the backing of the Zhang family’s young master, what could Xu Zilin do even if he turned hostile?

Who was it that owed the money?

They dragged Xu Zilin into another room, where Jin Sier tapped on the pawnshop tickets and loan receipts on the table, grinning wickedly.

“Master Xu, I don’t mean to stop you, but you’re clearly blinded by greed. I had to intervene. Victory and defeat are part of the game—why make it harder than it needs to be?”

“Return the money, go home, rest up, and come back when you’re refreshed. The doors are always open for you!”

Xu Zilin snorted coldly, sitting down beside him. “Who gave you the right to lecture me? Jin Sier, you’ve got some nerve.”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare lecture Master Xu! Just pay back the money and leave. Then we’re square. When I see you again, I’ll still call you ‘Master.’” Jin Sier pushed the receipts toward him. Xu Zilin picked them up and stared.

Seeing the sum on the papers, his eyes widened in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me! How could it be this much?”

Over a thousand taels? How could he have gambled away so much?

“Every transaction is written down. Do you think I’d dare lie to you?”

“Damn it. I’ll pay it back slowly.”

“That won’t do. If you can’t pay now, don’t blame me for going to the county office to find Chief Clerk Xu...”

Jin Sier wore a rogue’s grin. Xu Zilin ground his teeth, glaring fiercely. “You dare?”

“Oh, Master Xu, paying debts is the natural order of things. Do you think you can scare me? I’m desperate for this livelihood. Let’s go find Chief Clerk Xu and talk this over!” Jin Sier slammed the table. “Let’s go!”

---

“Give me a few days,” Xu Zilin softened his tone, desperate.

Jin Sier sneered, “One day. Just one day. If not, see you at the county office tomorrow morning!”

Xu Zilin felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, leaving no room for pride. He turned and left.

He didn’t dare go home.

Li Qiuping’s vile actions made the thought unbearable; Yang’s nagging was even less welcome.

But if not home, then where?

Xu Zilin aimlessly wandered the streets. Passersby seemed to avoid him as if he were a plague.

He didn’t even notice his own disheveled appearance: oily skin, bloodshot eyes, a stubbled face, clothes stained with grease and filth from his time at the casino. Anyone unaware of his identity would mistake him for a desperate wanderer.

Feeling his luck had hit rock bottom, he entered a nearby tavern, intending to drown his sorrows.

But upon reaching the second floor, he saw Zhang Zhongheng.

Xu Zilin hesitated a moment, then approached.

Zhang Zhongheng looked up coldly. “What a coincidence. Sit.”

Xu Zilin took no offense, grabbing a drink and sipping as he said, “Young Master Zhang, quite the carefree spirit, still in the mood for wine.”

“What good is wine if you don’t drink it? But you... what’s with this pathetic state?”

Zhang Zhongheng was baiting him.

Xu Zilin had been sleepless for days; his mind was foggy. “Casino... lost.”

“You gambled a few rounds, lost a little, and yet you look like this?”

Zhang Zhongheng smirked and ordered two more jars of wine.

Frowning, Xu Zilin was surprised by Zhang’s attitude, who normally wouldn’t even acknowledge him or Xu Zimo, due to his lofty airs.

Today, however, Xu Zilin only wanted to get drunk and think of nothing else.

What was left to think about after sinking so low?

“One thousand taels, one thousand taels. That’s no small loss.”

---

Xu Zilin’s curse stunned Zhang Zhongheng.

Though he had ordered Jin Sier to act, the man was truly heartless to ruin someone for a thousand taels.

In this era, a county inspector’s monthly salary was barely over ten taels. A thousand taels? That was practically a death sentence.

“That scoundrel Jin Sier even dared threaten me—if I don’t pay tomorrow, he’ll drag this to the county office. Talk about bad luck! With the Xu family’s reputation in ruins, even such scum step on us now!” Xu Zilin ranted, then suddenly stopped, staring at Zhang Zhongheng. “Are you satisfied now?”

“Me?” Zhang sighed. “I’m not.”

“You despise the Xu family, don’t you?” Xu Zilin, no saint himself, called it out plainly.

Zhang Zhongheng’s lips twitched, then fell silent.

Perhaps he had underestimated Xu Zilin’s complexity...

“That bastard Jin Sier always acts this way—bullying the weak, flattering the strong. If you straighten up someday, he’ll be groveling like a lapdog again.”

Zhang Zhongheng pushed his wine toward Xu Zilin. “Want me to teach him a lesson?”

“Name your price,” Xu Zilin was ready for a deal.

“Help me probe the waters. My mother wants Miss Xu to enter as a concubine…”

Seeing Xu Zilin flare up, Zhang quickly raised a hand to calm him.

“Honestly, it’s all Liang Xiao’s fault. If he hadn’t acted rashly, Miss Xu wouldn’t have fallen into such disgrace. Now that people keep gossiping, you should consider my reputation.”

“The marriage was forced by the family. Now, I simply can’t afford to lose face.”

“Two thousand taels,” Xu Zilin raised the stakes immediately. “And break one of Jin Sier’s legs.”

Zhang inwardly cursed at Xu Zilin’s audacity.

But he had no intention to haggle over this—it was charity to him.

“Fine. Don’t worry about Jin Sier. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”

Zhang Zhongheng agreed readily. “Actually, I want to make it clear—I care for Miss Xu. As a concubine, she’ll rise in stature. After a couple of years, with a child, she’ll take the position of the primary wife. I’m just... temporary.”

“Who knows what the future holds?”

Xu Zilin drained his cup. “We’ll just see what heaven decides!”