Chapter 5: Demanding Payment, Confrontation in Public

The man’s name was Chen Ping. When he saw Li Su approaching, his heart was full of disdain, yet he still put on a smile, his eyes flickering with malice.

“Brother Li, how are you? Is your head all right? That day when we took you home, your family drove us out at once. There’s a ruffian air about them, like uncouth country folk—it’s no wonder you don’t like going home,” Chen Ping derided Li Su’s family as usual.

Just when he was worrying about being short on money, Li Su had returned, and Chen Ping’s smile gained a touch of genuine warmth.

Li Su’s expression grew cold, and his gaze toward Chen Ping was even colder. But Chen Ping, lost in his own world, failed to notice.

“Brother Li, you’re just too impulsive. Why did you get into a fight with the people at the gambling den? Those fellows are all trained fighters—how could you ever be their match?” Chen Ping feigned concern.

Their fellow students began to whisper among themselves. They only knew that Li Su was injured, not the cause. A fight with gamblers? So he probably gambled, lost, and couldn’t pay up.

They felt nothing but contempt. What a disgrace to scholars everywhere.

This was precisely what Chen Ping intended.

Li Su looked at Chen Ping and smiled politely, his words sincere and moving. “Brother Chen, you’re right. I was afraid they’d really chop off your hand, and in a moment’s rashness, I stepped in. It was indeed too impulsive of me.”

“I spent a lot on doctors because of my injuries. My family is truly strapped now, so I’ve come to ask when you’ll return the money you owe me?”

“I’ve calculated carefully; here and there you’ve borrowed a total of five taels of silver and five hundred thirty-three copper coins from me.”

“The medical fees came to ten taels. But since it was partly my own fault, let’s split it in half. Just give me ten taels and five hundred thirty-three coins in total.”

When Li Su finished speaking, the room fell silent. The other students looked from Li Su to Chen Ping, their curiosity piqued.

It took Chen Ping a long moment to realize what Li Su was saying. Was there something wrong with his ears, or had Li Su gone mad? He was actually asking for his money back—and even wanted him to cover the medical bills?

Had the gamblers knocked sense out of him?

Li Su took a list from his sleeve. “Would the rest of you kindly check this list of loans for me, to see whether I’ve made a mistake? I’d be embarrassed to ask Brother Chen for even a penny too much.”

Lin Ze, who had been watching all along, found this turn of events unexpectedly amusing.

Lin Ze came from a well-connected family, wore fine clothes, and kept his hair in a high ponytail—he was the leader of the city clique at the private academy.

“I’m quite good at arithmetic—let me see,” Lin Ze said, reaching for the list.

Li Su handed it over with composure. He’d compiled this list from memory, line by line. Asking for help was just to make collecting the debt easier.

Lin Ze glanced at the list, surprise flashing in his eyes. It was concise and clear, unlike anything from his own family’s account books.

His family were merchants, so he’d been familiar with ledgers since childhood, and he immediately recognized the merits of Li Su’s bookkeeping.

Lin Ze nodded. “No mistakes here—every entry is precise, the amounts and dates are clear. I never realized you had such a knack for accounting, Li Su.”

“You flatter me, Brother Lin.” Li Su then turned to Chen Ping. “Any questions, Brother Chen?”

Chen Ping was dumbstruck.

“Brother Li, what is the meaning of this?” he forced out, his smile stiff and his voice clenched between his teeth.

Drawing nearer, Chen Ping hissed in Li Su’s ear, “Li Su, cross me again and you’ll have not a single friend left in this academy!”

He expected Li Su to panic and apologize, but Li Su merely replied calmly, “Brother Chen, you jest. Friends are the family we choose, which is why I was willing to lend you money. If my family’s hardship hadn’t forced my hand, I’d never have asked for it back. If you wish to sever ties over this, I have nothing more to say.”

Li Su stood straight and tall, his conscience clear.

The others looked at him in surprise; they hadn’t realized he was so loyal. It seemed they’d misjudged him before. Their contempt for Chen Ping only grew.

Inwardly, Li Su scoffed. As if he cared for a “friend” like Chen Ping! Did Chen Ping think such threats would work? All he wanted was his money back—to improve his family’s meals and buy sweets for his niece and nephew.

Chen Ping nearly choked with rage. The looks from those around him made him feel even worse.

Lin Ze turned to Chen Ping. “Seriously? You’d borrow money and not pay it back?”

Chen Ping snapped, “Fine, I’ll pay you what I owe. But ten taels for medical fees? Is your head made of gold? And why should I pay half?” Now that the gloves were off, his tone was openly hostile.

Li Su was unfazed, replying calmly, “Of course not. If my head were made of gold, it’d be ten taels of gold, not silver. As for the fee, it’s just what I think is fair.” He hadn’t actually spent ten taels, but he wanted the money. What harm was there in that?

The others couldn’t help but laugh. When had Li Su become so sharp-tongued?

“Brother Chen, do you think half is too little? After all, I was hurt because of you. If you’re willing to pay more, I’ll be deeply moved,” Li Su said, deliberately twisting Chen Ping’s meaning.

Everyone: Was that really what Chen Ping meant?

Chen Ping: Did Li Su’s brain get addled? Can’t he understand plain words?

Chen Ping’s chest heaved with fury. Why hadn’t he noticed before how infuriating Li Su’s words could be?

Lin Ze grinned, “Chen Ping, you’re more generous than we thought. Seems we all misjudged you.”

Chen Ping glared. What business was this of Lin Ze’s? Meddling busybody! The two of them were making a spectacle of him.

He didn’t have much of a reputation to begin with, but if word got out that he refused to repay his debts, who would ever lend to him again?

With a sullen face, Chen Ping took out the last three taels of silver he had and tossed them to Li Su. “This is all I have right now. I’ll pay the rest later.” As for whether he actually would or not, that was up to him.

He didn’t believe Li Su would have the nerve to ask him for money so openly again.

Those three taels were ones he’d stolen from his mother’s stash, planning to gamble with today. He’d thought his luck would turn, but then Li Su appeared out of nowhere.

Still, he knew Li Su well—useless but proud, easy to manipulate. Today’s scene probably meant his family was truly desperate. Once Li Su was friendless at the academy, if he ever came back for the money, Chen Ping would make him pay it all back with interest.

With this thought, Chen Ping felt a bit better.

Li Su pocketed the silver, then turned to Lin Ze. “Brother Lin, may I borrow your paper and brush?”

Curious, Lin Ze readily agreed. “Go ahead.”

Li Su took up the brush and began writing swiftly on the paper.