Chapter One Hundred: Lingering Spring

The shop is in a pretty good location, and it happens to be right next to your house. Your business is booming, so of course it will help bring trade to my place as well. I was thinking it ought to be worth at least sixty taels," said the shopkeeper Wang.

"I'll buy it."

Lin Sangqian made the decision at once.

Shopkeeper Wang froze, then was instantly overcome with regret.

If he had known Lin Sangqian wanted to buy it, he would have raised the price just now! Now even backing out was impossible.

So be it. He liked this girl, and she had brought him so much business besides; he could not bring himself to cheat her.

The two of them immediately went through the papers, and Lin Sangqian once again became the owner of the neighboring shop.

"This place still needs two or three days of cleaning and repairs. I'll do it as quickly as I can," said Shopkeeper Wang.

"No rush. Take your time," Lin Sangqian replied with a smile.

After all, she still needed time to prepare the things for opening her milk tea shop.

When everything was finally settled, Lin Wenhian asked whether she wanted to go home, but Lin Sangqian shook her head.

"Not home yet. Let's go somewhere first."

"Where?"

"Little Zhang's Tavern."

As dusk deepened, the tavern was already busy with customers. It was not a small place; there were a dozen tables or so inside, and only four or five were empty. Most of the people sitting at the other tables were adult men drinking and playing games of chance, so Lin Wenhian and Lin Sangqian stood out all the more.

But few paid them any mind. Most merely glanced at them before returning to their drinks.

The two of them sat down beside a table, while Lin Sangqian's eyes searched the room.

She did not know exactly what Yu Chun looked like, but since he was a regular here, the staff ought to recognize him.

Sure enough, a waiter soon came over, looked them up and down, and said, "Get lost! This isn't a place for the likes of you to fool around in. Go home and eat your dinner."

"We're here to eat," Lin Sangqian said calmly. "What, is that not allowed?"

The waiter clicked his tongue. "There isn't anything here you can afford to eat."

"Bring me your finest jug of wine, and two dishes to go with it," Lin Sangqian said lightly.

Then she took out two taels of silver and placed them on the table.

"That should be enough, right? Keep the rest."

For a moment the waiter looked dumbstruck, then at once turned servile. "Enough, enough! Please have a seat, honored guests. It'll be right out!"

He snatched up the silver and ran off.

Lin Wenhian asked in surprise, "Little Sister, are you really going to drink here?"

That was two taels of silver! Their family had money now, true enough, but he still felt the pain of it.

"Of course not," Lin Sangqian said with a wry smile. "If I hadn't said that, we probably would have been thrown out. Besides, I need that waiter to tell me a few things. We can eat the dishes; as for the wine, we'll take it home for Father."

Since Lin Hongda no longer had much taste for drink, Lin Wenhian had no objection.

Before long, the waiter came bustling over with a jug of wine and two small plates of food, setting them on the table before asking respectfully, "Honored guests, is there anything else you require?"

"I want to ask you about someone," Lin Sangqian said in a low voice. "Don't tell anyone I asked you."

"Of course. Go ahead," said the waiter, no fool at all.

"Is there a man named Yu Chun who comes here often?"

"Yes! He's here today too. Look, over there."

The waiter pointed to a table by the window, where several men were sitting, drinking and calling out their wagers, laughing loudly.

"The one in the brown clothes is him."

Lin Sangqian looked over and saw a man of about thirty, whose looks were fairly outstanding by ordinary standards.

"Eat and drink as much as you like. Today's on me!" Yu Chun said without noticing anyone's gaze upon him, his tone lavish and ostentatious.

"Brother Chun, you're really generous lately!"

"Hahaha, your brother's got money!"

Where, exactly, had a man who did nothing all day gotten so much money?

Most likely from his lover, Madam Gao.

And where had Madam Gao gotten so much money?

Lin Sangqian lowered her eyes, the corners of her mouth slowly curving into a cold smile.

Her fingers tapped idly on the table, as though weighing some thought.

"Honored guest, do you need anything else?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Sangqian asked, "Does he have any particular traits? What is his temperament like? Any hobbies?"

"Well... he just likes to put on airs. Even when he had no money, he'd drink here on credit. But for some reason, he suddenly had money a while back and has been treating people every day. Oh, I remember now—he likes going to the gambling den, though he isn't very lucky there."

"I see." Lin Sangqian smiled faintly. "Thank you."

"Not at all. If you need anything else, just say the word!"

After the waiter left, Lin Wenhian could not help asking, "Little Sister, what do you plan to do?"

"First we keep an eye on him and see when he intends to go to the gambling den, then we'll act when the chance comes."

Gambling was something to be avoided.

Even if Yu Chun had a little money in hand now, the moment he entered a gambling den, ruin was only a matter of time.

And when that time came, it would be her opportunity.

After a while, it seemed Yu Chun and his companions had drunk enough, and they staggered off.

Seeing this, Lin Sangqian hurriedly got up with Lin Wenhian and followed them out.

Lin Wenhian did not forget to take the jug of wine with him.

After Yu Chun parted ways with his companions, he staggered alone down the street.

He had no idea that Lin Wenhian and Lin Sangqian were right behind him.

When he passed a gambling den, Yu Chun suddenly seemed unable to go any farther.

He smacked his lips, then walked inside.

Lin Sangqian's eyes lit with delight.

Perfect timing.

"Little Sister, he's gone in. Should we follow?" Lin Wenhian asked eagerly.

"No need," Lin Sangqian said. "We'll stay here and wait for him to come out."

She disliked places like gambling dens, and besides, a child like her probably would not even be allowed inside.

Lin Sangqian went to a nearby stall selling sesame flatbreads and bought two. She and Lin Wenhian ate while they waited.

About an hour later, Yu Chun emerged alone.

There seemed to be a frustrated look on his face, and he muttered to himself, "How did I lose so much? There's hardly any money left."

After he had gone, Lin Sangqian stood up and said, "Big Brother, let's go home."

It seemed her luck was not quite good enough today; she had missed the moment when debt collectors came after Yu Chun.

"Little Sister, were you waiting for him to lose all his money?" Lin Wenhian had more or less guessed her purpose.

"Yes."

"But how do you know he'll definitely lose? What if he wins?"

Lin Sangqian shook her head. "Long at gambling, and loss is certain."