Chapter 109: Then You’ll Have to Compensate Me with Yourself

This reason was somewhat plausible, yet the more Gou Ye pondered it, the less he understood what the buyer’s true intentions were. When faced with an advancing army, one counters with generals; when confronted with water, one uses earth to block it. Since they had come to him directly, he decided to meet them openly and straightforwardly.

So that very afternoon, Gou Ye brought Dali with him to the shop. As agreed, the man was supposed to return in the afternoon to demand an answer from Dali.

Before long, a man appeared, walking toward them. Dali immediately said to Gou Ye, “Master, this is the one who said he wanted to buy our shop.”

The man approached Gou Ye and bowed slightly. “May I ask if you are Mr. Gou Ye, Young Master Gou?”

Gou Ye nodded. “That would be me.”

“My employer has been waiting for some time. He hopes you, Young Master Gou, will accompany me to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a discussion.”

From the man’s words, it was clear he had anticipated Gou Ye’s arrival. Gou Ye’s curiosity deepened; what sort of person was this? So the three of them headed together toward the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Upon entering a private room at the pavilion, Gou Ye was struck by surprise, yet it felt somehow inevitable. There stood Wan Xiang, smiling warmly at him. Seeing the look of sudden clarity on his face, she covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“Young Master Gou, did you not expect it? I am the buyer.”

“Not only did I not expect it to be you, I even thought it was a man. You made such a mysterious show of it—I thought it might be someone from a clan coming after me.”

Wan Xiang chuckled as she poured him a cup of tea. “Why couldn’t it be me? Am I not allowed to buy a shop and do something with it? Young Master Gou, surely you won’t refuse to sell to me.”

“Of course I would,” Gou Ye replied. “A fool wouldn’t take money when it’s offered. A few hundred taels is nothing to you, I imagine.” Turning to Dali, he said, “Dali, don’t just stand there—sit down. She’s no stranger; you could say she’s an old acquaintance. Wan Xiang, this is my attendant and brother, Dali.”

The two nodded to each other, acknowledging their introductions. For Dali, this was his first time meeting Wan Xiang. Before seeing her, he thought Yun Niang was the most beautiful woman he had ever known. But now, seeing Wan Xiang, he realized this woman was truly stunning—not in a flashy, showy way, but possessing a unique charm that stirred something deep within him. He thought to himself, “The master is indeed a man of distinction; the women he knows are extraordinary.”

“I have to ask, Wan Xiang—why the sudden urge to buy my shop? Don’t tell me it’s just a whim. I won’t believe that. Are you worried I’ll lose my livelihood and want to help me out? If that’s the case, I won’t accept it.”

After speaking, Gou Ye saw Wan Xiang give him a sidelong glance. “Who said I’m here to help you? I’ve long planned to open a shop; I just hadn’t found a good storefront. I heard you were selling your shop a while ago, but your issues with the magistrate of Qin County hadn’t been resolved then. I wanted to buy it, but it wasn’t suitable to open at the time. Now that your shop is clean and free of disputes, of course I want to snap it up. I’ve always wanted to open a rouge shop near my home. Your shop isn’t big, but it’s more than enough for a rouge shop.”

“Is that so? Then it’s settled—I can sell it to you without worries. But since we have a longstanding relationship, you don’t need to offer such a high price. Five hundred taels is bold of you. I’ll give you a discount—four hundred taels will do. That’s what I paid when I bought it. If you pay that, I won’t lose out.”

Wan Xiang smiled at Gou Ye. “All right, I’ll go with your terms. Whatever you say is fine. By the way, I ran into Gu Shen a few days ago.”

“Oh? And?”

“He told me everything about you. From a business perspective, the merchant clan’s actions are sound. After all, they have to consider their own interests. What you have now is merely a verbal promise. Who knows whether you’re bluffing? Whether you have true talent or not can only be judged after you’ve acted.”

Hearing this, Gou Ye silently cursed Gu Shen once again. The man was excellent in many ways, but his tongue was troublesome. If he knew anything, he would want everyone around to know it too. Wan Xiang had picked the right person to inquire about him. Gou Ye sighed softly, picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and drained it in one gulp.

“I don’t need you to tell me—I can see clearly enough. Since I’ve stepped onto this path, there’s no turning back. I’ve made up my mind. At worst, I’ll work for them five years. Five years will pass in the blink of an eye. Besides, they provide food and lodging, and share profits with me. It won’t affect my plans to take the imperial exams next year. And I’m still young—there will be plenty of opportunities after five years.”

Wan Xiang snorted in mock anger. “Don’t try to fool me. I know you well. You live freely and wildly—how could you possibly enjoy such a constrained life? For you, it would be like living in torment. If you’ve chosen this path, it’s not just for money. There must be deeper worries. I think you’re concerned about Yun Niang.”

If there truly were a soulmate in this world, it would certainly be Wan Xiang standing before him. Gou Ye said nothing, smiling quietly as he nodded. Everything was understood without words; yet Wan Xiang still perceived the depths of his emotions.

She looked at Gou Ye with tender eyes and spoke softly, “There’s something I want you to think over carefully. It’s just a hundred thousand taels. Over the years, I’ve saved some money from working in the pleasure quarters. I can gather a hundred thousand taels for you.”

Seeing the anxious expression flash across Gou Ye’s face, Wan Xiang quickly raised a finger to stop him and continued, “You understand what I mean, but don’t rush to refuse me. I know you’re very proud and care about your reputation, but this isn’t something pride or face can solve. How many five-year spans does a person have? You’re about to take the imperial exams; there are many chances ahead. Who knows what these five years will bring? But you can’t let the merchant clan control you forever.”

“I heard from Gu Shen that this hundred thousand taels will be returned to you once you help them win the election. So just think of it as me lending you the money. You can use it now—it’s only until early next year at the latest. Once they repay you, you pay me back. I won’t lose anything. It’s like moving your savings to another place for a couple of months. What do you say?”

Gou Ye did not angrily reject her but asked quietly, “What if I don’t help them win?”

Wan Xiang leaned close and whispered softly, “Then you’ll have to repay me with yourself.”