Chapter 25: Can't Let You Off That Easily

Qian Shengju spoke up, “Shen Shi, how about this? You put up your house as a stake, and we’ll offer three thousand strings of cash and write you an additional note for two thousand. If you win, we’ll pay you later—does that sound fair?”

At first, their sole intention was to entrap Shen Shi, so they hadn’t thought too much about it. After all, they were only lending eight hundred strings—a mere three hundred in interest. For the sake of reputation and spectacle, they were willing to take the loss. After Shen Shi’s performance yesterday, three hundred strings seemed trivial.

But to lend three thousand more would bring the total to three thousand eight hundred, and the interest would suddenly soar to about fifteen hundred strings. That was hard to stomach.

For three hundred strings, winning the Shen family’s old house would be a bargain. But for over fifteen hundred, even if they won, they’d lose hundreds regardless.

Shen Shi, however, had no intention of making things easy for them; he shook his head vigorously.

“No, absolutely not.”

“If you win, you get my house, bestowed by Emperor Taizong; if I win, I get nothing but an IOU. Where in the world is such a thing done?”

Qian Shengju protested, “Then what do you suggest?”

Shen Shi chuckled, glanced at the Qian brothers, then turned to the crowd gathered for the spectacle, and said loudly, “Since you’ve already lent once, you can lend again!”

“You—”

“What’s the matter? Unwilling? Very well. Steward Qu, hand me the promissory notes; the house is yours.” Shen Shi spoke generously to Steward Qu.

“What are you up to? Are you planning to take the money and run?” Qian Shengwen loudly accused Shen Shi of being “despicable and shameless.”

“Run? I’ve already said—we’re moving to the capital.” Shen Shi was entirely unconcerned by his own exposure.

Steward Qu’s expression changed drastically, and he hastily summoned the attendants.

“What’s the matter, Steward Qu? You want to detain me?” Shen Shi was amused. “Why worry? Aren’t there two guarantors here, the Qian brothers? Or is money lent by your gambling house not allowed to be spent?”

Steward Qu’s face flickered between dark and light. The note was clear: repayment was due in a day. As long as the time hadn’t passed, they couldn’t restrict Shen Shi’s use of the money, since nothing stated it was for gambling only. Even if Shen Shi spent it on courtesans, they had no recourse.

Shen Shi added, “It’s not that I won’t gamble—someone has no money, can’t afford to bet!”

Steward Qu understood immediately. He waved his hand, and the attendants surrounded the Qian brothers. “Gentlemen, what do you propose?”

“Qu, what’s the meaning of this? Are you threatening us?” Qian Shengwen fumed.

---

“No, no, Second Master Qian. You started this. Now things are as they are. Either you gamble, or Shen Shi won’t back out.”

He looked at Shen Shi.

“Of course. I borrowed money to gamble. If I win, I can move to the capital as well,” Shen Shi replied.

“Gentlemen, you heard him. If you refuse, I’ll pay out five thousand strings, and then…”

He didn’t finish before Shen Shi chimed in, “In fact, five thousand strings is enough for me to move to the capital.”

“You heard him, gentlemen. It’s not me bullying you; you insisted on the loan, and now I, Steward Qu, must collect from you!” Qu said.

The Qian brothers felt as if a thousand wild horses galloped through their minds.

“This Shen Shi was always a fool, but who knew he’d be such a blockhead, exposing himself so thoroughly?”

Qian Shengwen shouted, “Why not just detain him?”

Steward Qu shook his head. “I may be insignificant, but I stand by my word. The money’s been lent; there’s no reason to forbid its use.”

Qian Shengju tried another tactic. “Shen Shi, this is your hometown; surely you won’t leave?”

He was playing the hometown card—too little, too late.

Shen Shi seemed even more honest, replying, “You may not know, gentlemen, but we’re originally from Bianjing. Living there was difficult, so we moved to Jinhua. If we had five thousand strings, we’d certainly return to Jinhua.”

His expression was one of poignant homesickness, stirring sympathy.

This… this was far too honest. Couldn’t he just say he wouldn’t run?

“Fine! We’ll bet! Steward Qu, if you trust us, lend us another three thousand strings,” Qian Shengju’s face was pale, as if blood were being drained from him.

Blood was indeed being drained. Shen Shi’s five thousand strings came from their own pockets. If they won, perhaps they could recoup their losses, but with another three thousand borrowed, how could they make up the shortfall?

Qian Shengju had no choice. He gritted his teeth and pressed on—how much worse could it get? Better than letting this “scoundrel” take five thousand strings and live comfortably in Bianjing.

At this moment, Qian Shengju wished he could bite Shen Shi to death. Even if his father forgave him, he’d never let Shen Shi off.

---

Steward Qu was delighted—such generosity was a boon for the gambling house.

He immediately changed his tone. “No problem at all, Master Qian.”

The wager between Shen Shi and the Qian brothers was a private affair; winners and losers settled among themselves. The venue merely charged a fee—twenty strings would suffice.

But the real profit lay in the high-interest loans. The Qian brothers borrowed a total of three thousand eight hundred strings, yielding over fifteen hundred in interest. Shen Shi put up his house, with a nine-for-thirteen repayment scheme, another two thousand or so. This single wager would net the venue three to four thousand strings, nearly a month’s revenue—Steward Qu could only be pleased.

“Hmph! You’re bound to lose! When we win your house, we’ll sell it and pocket two thousand strings!” Qian Shengwen crowed as he and his brother signed the new note, his face regaining some color, as if they truly stood to profit.

“Make way—we need to find fighting dogs,” Shen Shi ignored the brothers and strode out.

“Shen Shi, must you do this?” Kong Xueli still didn’t understand, still tried to dissuade him. “Imperial gifts shouldn’t be gambled away.”

“Who says it’s an imperial gift?” Shen Shi retorted.

“But you said inside the house was bestowed by Emperor Taizong—”

“Oh, that was just offhand. I don’t even know if it’s true,” Shen Shi admitted as they left the gambling house.

“But you—”

“If I didn’t say that, my house would only be worth five hundred strings.”

After all, this was the Song Dynasty—the emperor wouldn’t punish someone for boasting. And those in the gambling house, how could they ever bring it before the emperor? Without even seeing him, how could they prove anything? Yet five thousand strings—Shen Shi had almost claimed them already.