Chapter 171: Stubborn Youth, Four Taels and Seven Cash of Bloody Silver
“Fate-telling! Fate-telling!”
“Those with destiny will come, those without won’t even if you offer ten thousand gold.”
A young man loudly called out on the street, but passersby didn’t pay any attention to his small fortune-telling stall.
“Chen Changsheng, stop shouting.”
“If someone else gets scammed again, watch out for getting beaten up.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng, who was shouting, turned to look at the aunt selling buns beside him.
“Aunt Wang, I don’t want to do fortune-telling either!”
“But in this prosperous era, the coffin shop isn’t doing well. If I don’t find some part-time work, what will I eat?”
“Oh, do you have three fresh buns today?”
“Yes, I saved them specially for you.”
Upon hearing there were three fresh buns, Chen Changsheng immediately rushed to the fortune-telling stall.
Five steaming hot buns were quickly wrapped in oil paper.
Taking a bite, the soft bun paired with savory and juicy filling brought joy to Chen Changsheng’s face.
Eating the freshly baked bun, Chen Changsheng chatted with the system in his mind.
“System, can’t I bear the heavenly mandate this life?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Theoretically, your current strength isn’t enough to bear the heavenly mandate.”
“In layman’s terms, you’re too lazy and not worthy of bearing the heavenly mandate.”
Hearing this, the bun in Chen Changsheng’s hand suddenly lost its appeal.
“System, that’s a bit harsh. I’ve been diligently cultivating.”
“According to statistics, over these 180 years, the host only cultivates for half an hour each day.”
“The rest of the time is spent eating, sleeping, wandering, and snatching children’s candied hawthorns.”
Exposed by the system, Chen Changsheng remained calm and said,
“This isn’t my fault!”
“The last string of candied hawthorns was bought by Er Gou. Who told him not to share with me?”
“I used to share buns with him, but he wouldn’t share the candied hawthorns with me. That’s not fair.”
Listening to Chen Changsheng, the system remained silent.
“Host, you’ve wandered the mortal world for 180 years.”
“Based on your behavior, you should be looking for someone. Do you think such a person exists?”
Facing the system’s words, Chen Changsheng replied, “I’m not sure, but I feel such a person should exist.”
“Because spirits often create many impossible miracles.”
“Bear the heavenly mandate, Wu Li shed bl**d on the Ascension Road.”
“If I bear the heavenly mandate, I don’t think I could be stronger than Wu Li.”
“Simpler put, if the heavenly mandate goes back to the Ascension Road, it would just repeat the same mistakes.”
“So I need to find someone stronger than the heavenly mandate.”
“Do you think this idea can be realized?”
“The heavenly mandate is the strongest entity in the entire world.”
“Since it’s the strongest, no spirit can surpass it. At least, one-on-one is impossible.”
Listening to the system, Chen Changsheng had already finished four buns.
Putting the last bun in his pocket, Chen Changsheng softly said, “It depends on the effort. If the heavenly mandate is truly the strongest.”
“Then Wu Li wouldn’t have shed bl**d on the Ascension Road.”
With that, Chen Changsheng left the fortune-telling stall leisurely.
…
Ten Thousand Flower Building.
“Guests, come upstairs and play!”
A group of women were enticing customers upstairs. Any man passing by would naturally glance up.
Although they were very tempted, most people had to give up after feeling their wallets.
Looking at the Ten Thousand Flower Building in front of him, Chen Changsheng licked his lips and then…
He came to the back alley of the Ten Thousand Flower Building from the side.
…
“Thirteen, quickly go clean the chamber pot. Little Red Girl has already said it three times.”
A middle-aged woman urged a young boy.
Facing the woman’s urging, the boy silently walked toward the chamber pot.
After a while, a shadow sneaked out from the corner.
Seeing no one around, the shadow confidently walked out.
“Today is the three fresh fillings bun. Do you want to eat it?”
Looking at the still steaming bun, the skinny boy swallowed and said,
“Yes.”
“Ask me.”
Hearing this request, the desire in the boy’s eyes instantly disappeared, and he lowered his head to clean the chamber pot.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng rolled his eyes.
“No, can’t you be a little less stubborn?”
“Would it k*ll you to say something nice?”
“Would you rather starve than eat this bun?”
Hearing this, the boy, who was cleaning the chamber pot, put down his work.
Washing his hands with water, he took out a black and hard steamed bun and started eating.
Seeing the boy still being so stubborn, Chen Changsheng sat beside him and slowly ate the last bun.
The two ate in silence.
After a quarter of an hour, they finished eating, but they remained silent.
“Really won’t ask me?”
“You’re working at the Ten Thousand Flower Building just to redeem Proud Snow Red Plum.”
“But Proud Snow Red Plum is the courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flower Building. Even a wealthy merchant couldn’t succeed with a thousand taels of gold.”
“With your monthly salary of seven cash, how long will it take to save up?”
“If you’re willing to ask me, even if it’s just a casual word, I’ll help you achieve your wish.”
Facing Chen Changsheng’s highly tempting condition, the boy quietly stood up and resumed his work.
Watching the boy’s stubbornness, Chen Changsheng sighed and said,
“Fine, let’s wait. I want to see if you’ll ask me.”
With that, Chen Changsheng turned and left, and the boy continued to clean the chamber pot in silence.
…
Time passed slowly, and Gold Mountain City continued to operate.
In this vast city, something happened every day.
There were trivial disputes, m*rder cases, and one incident became the talk of the town.
The second son of the first family in Gold Mountain City, Zhao Ke of Jin Hai Zhuang, wanted to take a concubine!
And the target was the courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flower Building, Proud Snow Red Plum.
…
Ten Thousand Flower Building.
“Beat him!”
“Beat him hard!”
“A toad wanting to eat swan meat, truly doesn’t know his place.”
“Even dreaming about redeeming Red Plum? Take a good look at yourself.”
The thugs of the Ten Thousand Flower Building were beating up a skinny boy.
Though beaten until covered in bl**d, the boy’s gaze remained fixed on the tightly closed door upstairs.
The old money bag was torn during the struggle, scattering some silver coins on the ground.
These were the boy’s savings, all accumulated over the years, totaling four taels and seven cash.
He just wanted to use these four taels and seven cash to redeem the courtesan of the Ten Thousand Flower Building.
At the same time, a figure was sitting upstairs, watching the commotion below.
