8mi Chapter 36 Opportunity
Chapter 36 Opportunity
To collect money, to eliminate disasters for others.
Meng Chen didn't have the ability to avert disasters for others, since he couldn't even avert his own.
But if it's just about inquiring about something, it can still be done.
Meng Chen first went back to the martial arts school and explained the matter to Du Ren.
"They've paid, so let's just sell!" Du Ren was very optimistic. He instructed, "You don't need to come to the martial arts school these next few days. Go and run errands for the Di family. Regardless of whether they've found anything or not, you must pretend to be very busy and very tired! That way, they'll be more willing to pay!"
Upon hearing these invaluable words, Meng Chen expressed his deep agreement.
After bidding farewell to Du Ren, Meng Chen followed the directions from the West Garden to Zhongxiao Lane in the East City and found the location of the Di Family Cloth Shop.
He bought a straw hat and put it on, but Meng Chen didn't come any closer; he just stared at it from a distance.
The gate of Di's Cloth Shop was open, but several idlers were sitting in front of it, blocking the entrance. Anyone who tried to enter was stopped.
Meng Chen was drinking tea in a teahouse half a street away, quietly watching the Di family's cloth shop.
They waited until lunchtime, and perhaps because they were also hungry, they split into two groups. One group ate first, and then the other group ate, in a very orderly manner.
Meng Chen saw it clearly: before these people went to eat, they all greeted a short man, which showed that the short man was the leader of these scoundrels.
Before coming, Xiyuan Garden had given them a heads-up: this short man, nicknamed Wang Dingtian, was a scoundrel who was a gambler.
The Di siblings asked Meng Chen to investigate Wang Dingtian's backer.
After waiting a while, Meng Chen saw Wang Dingtian leave alone, so he immediately followed him.
Wang Dingtian first found a shop, ate a bowl of noodles, and then wandered around until he reached the southern part of the city, entering a shop with a half-closed door.
While Meng Chen was urinating in the corner, Wang Dingtian came out, pulling up his pants.
Following Wang Dingtian, they saw that the people had returned to the Di family's cloth shop.
Meng Chen bought a few meat pies to fill his stomach, and then continued to guard the place.
As evening approached, the gang of scoundrels dispersed, and Wang Dingtian headed south of the city.
Meng Chen watched as Wang Dingtian entered a half-closed door, but by the time it was completely dark, Wang Dingtian had not come out again.
He went back to find Madam Di, who was very considerate and did not complain. Instead, she prepared a meal and had west Yuanlin accompany him for a couple of drinks.
Afterwards, instead of staying at the Di residence, west Yuanlin took Meng Chen to a small house behind the Di family's cloth shop.
"This is a house I rented, my dear brother. Please stay here. It's not far from the cloth shop, so it will be convenient for you to do your business." west Yuanlin settled Meng Chen in, but then prepared to leave.
"My cousin is heartbroken, I have to go and keep an eye on her." west Yuanlin said hurriedly, somewhat anxiously.
What do you mean, "keep an eye on him"? You look so eager, are you about to take him to bed? He's still in mourning clothes! Meng Chen couldn't say anything, so he could only agree.
Another day passed, and Meng Chen still hadn't made any progress. Wang Dingtian stayed at the cloth shop all day, only occasionally going to the half-closed door and the gambling den during meal breaks. Meng Chen didn't see Wang Dingtian meeting with anyone.
On the third day, Yangyu regained its brightness, and Meng Chen, having lost patience, planned to go to Zhengxin Boxing Gym to keep an eye on Gao Yuan. Finally, a turning point came.
That afternoon, a young man suddenly found Wang Dingtian, chatted with him for a quarter of an hour, and then left to the east.
Meng Chen knew this person was unusual, so he followed the young man and eventually followed him all the way to Feiyun Tower.
This Flying Cloud Tower is owned by the Nine Absolutes Sect. Climbing the tower offers a panoramic view of the entire Qingshui County, and it has always been a place for wealthy families to hold banquets.
The young man entered the Flying Cloud Tower, but never came out again.
As the sun was about to set, people were coming and going from Feiyun Tower. Meng Chen saw a group of people walking out of the main gate of Feiyun Tower, and the young man was among them.
Leading the group was a square-faced young man, Yan Zhao, the eldest son of Yan Long. Beside him were two others: one was Gao Yuan, and the other was a scholar dressed in white.
There were also three guards following Yan Zhao. They were clearly capable, and might even be martial artists at the second level.
Gao Yuan leaned close to Yan Zhao, slightly bending over, a smile on his face, quite charming, showing no sign of the disappointment he felt three days ago when he failed to pass the test.
In the past, Gao Yuan was fawned over, but now, seeing Gao Yuan currying favor with others, Meng Chen couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Qi wants to curry favor with Gao Yuan, and Gao Yuan wants to curry favor with the Yan family. If they keep climbing up layer by layer like this, how high will they ever reach? It's much faster to fight your way up layer by layer."
After Yan Zhao and the others mounted their horses, Meng Chen turned around, stood in front of a small stall, and had someone weigh out two jin of red date cake.
As a pungent smell of alcohol wafted by, Meng Chen heard Gao Yuan speak.
"Brother Yan, a few more men of impeccable character have arrived at the White-Robed Scholar's place. They're all around forty years old and rather plump. Why don't we take advantage of our still-high spirits and go sit with the White-Robed Scholar to enjoy this pleasant evening?" Gao Yuan said with a lewd smile.
"Young master, it's getting late. Madam is waiting at home." A guard following behind immediately spoke up when he saw that Yan Zhao seemed to be interested in making a move.
As expected, Yan Zhao sighed helplessly and said, "It's not that I'm making excuses, but my mother has already instructed me. You know, my second and third uncles' affairs haven't been settled yet, so I really can't stay out overnight."
"This shows Madam's concern for her brother," Gao Yuan immediately said. "I'll have the scholar in white keep those women here until Brother Yan has time to come and appraise them!"
"The day after tomorrow is my uncle's death anniversary, so it's not convenient to go out. How about we reschedule for five days from now?" Yan Zhao agreed on the date, then smiled and said, "Xiao Gao, you haven't come to see me these past few days, and you're not drinking much today. Is something bothering you?"
"Alas, I failed to pass the third test a few days ago, and my father locked me up for two days. Now that I've been released, I've invited Brother Yan over for drinks," Gao Yuan sighed.
"I see." Yan Zhao nodded, then pondered for a moment before saying, "It's alright if you fail to pass the test. I brought some pills with me when I came to Qingshui County; they're quite helpful for passing the test. If you have time, you might as well come with me to get them. I just don't know if it will interfere with your studies tomorrow?"
"No problem! I'll come back tonight. The guards at the city gate are all my father's subordinates. I can enter the city anytime!" Gao Yuan was overjoyed and readily agreed.
After these people passed by Meng Chen, he could no longer hear what they were saying.
However, Meng Chen had largely completed the task assigned by the Di family: Yan Zhao was probably the one who caused trouble for the Di family, while Gao Yuan and the white-robed scholar probably acted as intermediaries.
It's strange that a nephew would cause trouble for his widowed aunt. Meng Chen couldn't figure out the reason, nor was he interested in knowing.
However, Meng Chen keenly sensed that tonight might be an opportunity to resolve the trouble! If Gao Yuan returned to the Old Dragon Pool with Yan Zhao and then went back to the city under the cover of night, he would have a chance to make his move!
"To do it or not to do it?" Meng Chen watched Yan Zhao and the others walk away, only to hear the sound of horses' hooves scattering among the pedestrians on the street.
As darkness fell, Meng Chen couldn't help but recall the rainy night when he ambushed and killed Yan Bao.
In an instant, Meng Chen's murderous intent surged, feeling that if he didn't seize the opportunity presented by Heaven, he would suffer the consequences.