Chapter 38

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Chang Le Casino is a great place. Damn it, I’ve lost at least a few hundred million taels of gold there. If converted into jade coins, it would be about a few hundred thousand jade coins. And if you include the items mortgaged there, I reckon it’ll be hundreds of millions of jade coins.” Ren Jie suddenly changed the topic, going from praising Fang Tianen to one of the three biggest casinos in Jade Capital—Chang Le Casino.

Fang Yan frowned lightly. What exactly was this Ren Jie trying to do?

Fang Tianen’s reaction was considered slightly faster. In a blink, he looked towards Ren Jie and said, “Ren Family Head is asking that I redeem all these mortgaged items back for the Ren family?”

“One must always honor a bet. I am the family head of the Ren Family, one of the five big family clans, how could I do such a thing.” Ren Jie instantly waved his hand resolutely but looked to Fang Tianen and said with a smile, “Fang Family Head, you know, I just like gambling and playing. The bunch of bastards at Chang Le Casino are becoming bullies under the protection of their master. Subsequently, once I asked about, I learned that it was your Fang family that was backing them up.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Tianen’s nose almost went crooked out of anger. What’s he saying!

Isn’t he criticizing the Fang family?

“Oh, turns out the ignorant servants there have offended Ren Family Head. Don’t worry, I will have someone lecture them afterward.” Fang Tianen really didn’t know much about this, he only knew that Chang Le Casino seemed to be paying tributes every year. The five big family clans had large fortunes and had the biggest profits divided up in the monopolies. Thus, naturally, they had a hand in everything that could earn money.

Just like how each family clan often gave the younger children some funds for them to develop as they wished. Seeing who progressed well was also a form of examination.

For example, there were some slightly bigger estates, places like casinos and whatnot, that the five big family clans had no interest in managing personally. However, all the power in the management would have to rely on people in the five big family clans for it to survive. Otherwise, it’d definitely be swallowed up by the rest.

“There’s no need, no need!” Ren Jie waved his hands and said, “Why would we need to trouble Fang Family Head.”

Fang Tianen was even more confused now. What exactly did this Ren Jie want to say?

“I said earlier, I just like to play. I thought, instead of letting someone else win all the time, why don’t I get myself a casino to have fun.” Ren Jie was having a good time as he said leisurely.

Suddenly enlightened, both Fang Tianen and Fang Yan felt like a light had broken in upon them. The Chang Le Casino was known as one of the three biggest casinos in Jade Capital. Although it wasn’t directly managed by the Fang family, if Fang Tianen calculated accordingly the more than twenty thousand jade coins that Chang Le Casino sent to the Fang family each year, the casino could make at least a million jade coins every year. Moreover, Chang Le Casino had been running for so many years, it had a total of twelve branches within Jade Capital when all added together. It was worth at least three to four million jade coins.

Besides, even if you really forked out three to four million, they wouldn’t necessarily be willing to sell it. Who would sell a golden goose that could lay golden eggs? This fellow must be deep in his dreams.

Fang Yan sneered coldly to himself. What daydream is he having?

“Ren Family Head might have misunderstood. Chang Le Casino indeed sends the Fang family some money each year as a present, but it’s merely seeking some form of protection. The Chang Le Casino does not belong to the Fangs, and I’m not familiar with it at all.” Upon hearing him, Fang Tianen knew this was daylight robbery, so he declined immediately.

“Turns out it’s not a property of the Fang family, why didn’t you say so earlier. If you’d told me earlier, I would’ve torn down the Chang Le Casino long ago. Let’s go, Fatty. We’ll go settle scores with Chang Laosi from Chang Le Casino now. Damn it, if I don’t destroy his Chang Le Casino today, my name won’t be Ren Jie.” F*ck, trying to play dumb with me, huh? What damn business of mine is it whether or not the casino belongs to you? I am extorting, setting a price.

Of course Ren Jie didn’t believe that he couldn’t understand what he meant. He was playing dumb. So, Ren Jie continued the act. Waving his hand to call Fatty along, he walked out without hesitation.

Fang Tianen’s expression changed instantly. How was it possible that he didn’t get Ren Jie’s point? However, this fellow was really daring with his demands, directly asking for Chang Le Casino, the golden goose that only lay golden eggs. Previously, the Fang family had merely collected less than thirty percent of their profits and never thought of acquiring it. After all, in some businesses, one might not be able to do better running them personally than those who were doing so.

These big family clans had their respective main sources of income, they just had to do their best to earn profits in other aspects.

However, once he’d just said so, Ren Jie had already left without hesitation. What should he do?

He couldn’t let him leave just like that, they’d already come to such a critical point in time.

Although Chang Le Casino was valuable, it could never be as valuable as his own daughter. Think of how some of her plans some time ago had helped the family clan increase their income.

Not only so, if his daughter and the demon-like existence, Lan Tian really became a thing, the Fang family would then have a person who had surpassed Ren Tianxing to sweat his guts out for them. His daughter’s value was way above Chang Le Casino no matter what.

“Hold on…” Seeing that Ren Jie was already at the door, Fang Tianen, who had changed his expression several times, raised his hand abruptly. “Since Ren Family Head wants the Chang Le Casino, sure. As long as Ren Family Head can save my daughter, I, Fang Tianen, will buy Chang Le Casino and gift it to Ren Family Head.”

Chang Le Casino didn’t belong to his family clan, anyway. Although it might be extremely valuable, if the Fangs wanted to buy it, why would they spend so much?

Besides, if it didn’t work out then, they’d use some tricks. Anyway, this property was to land in Ren Jie’s hands ultimately, the bad reputation shall be born by him, the Ren Family Head. Though the Chief of Chang Le Casino, Chang Laosi, was also a well-known figure in Jade Capital, he was nothing when compared to the few big family clans.

These thoughts flashed across. Weighing his options once more, Fang Tianen agreed vocally before Ren Jie had left the room.

“Look, like I said, Fang Family Head is simply generous. He’d stop at nothing to save his daughter.” Ren Jie stopped and strolled back, talking to Fatty as he walked.

“Yes, yes, so touching. I’m so touched that I’m about to cry.” Fatty agreed. Only, his eyes were really dry, it didn’t seem like he was crying at all.

“Ren Family Head, now can you bring out the treasure that your father left behind to cure my daughter’s poison?” Fang Tianen looked at Ren Jie. He thought to himself, I’ve never interacted with this kind of dandy young master previously, no wonder Fang Qi was so annoyed every time she mentioned this rascal. He is truly unusually detestable, an extreme nuisance.

“Don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious…” Ren Jie walked over to observe again. Then, he strolled around the room and said, “I have essentially sixty percent certainty now…”

Sixty percent. Although it was still slightly worrying, there was still forty percent chance of danger. After all, it could already be considered the best news so far.

However, before Fang Tianen could be glad, Ren Jie suddenly looked towards Fang Yan and said, “Oh yes. Commander Fang, I remember you also have a shop on Herb Street, not too far from Chang Le Casino. When we passed by that time when that shop of yours opened, you even employed the imperial guards to maintain order for you and kept me outside. That’s a good area. Though the shop front isn’t big, I think it is your private property, isn’t it? Commander Fang is really amazing, becoming a commander at such a young age, and now, soon to become Prince Consort. And you even own such a big shop.”

“Mm, the imperial guards helped to maintain order. They didn’t even allow my family head to go past it. They were really imposing.” Fatty Gao Ren could still vividly remember the incident and he backed Ren Jie up.

Initially, he’d thought Ren Jie would state forthrightly how much he wanted, but he never expected him to take things so leisurely. He found it odd, but he vaguely felt that what Ren Jie was doing seemed rather special…

Although he wasn’t totally clear, he still cooperated with him.

Damn it. Upon hearing him, Fang Yan cursed to himself. Even a fool knew what Ren Jie meant by suddenly bringing this up. There was already Chang Le Casino before this.

“As long as Ren Family Head can save Fang Qi, I will gift the apothecary room to Ren Family Head.” Fang Yan’s heart was bleeding. That was his own property. However, at present, he knew he couldn’t show any bit of hesitation. Although that apothecary room was worth more than fifteen thousand jade coins, he could not hesitate at all.

“Thank you… thank you, I’m really thankful,” Ren Jie said gratefully. “Fang Qi is really blessed to have such a great older brother like you. There were several times in the past where you sent the imperial guards to back someone else up and chase us out. At that time, I even criticized you for abusing your power, calling you scumbag, bastard and whatnot. Now, it seems I misunderstood you.”

Fang Tianen gratefully nodded to Fang Yan, then looked at Ren Jie. “Ren Family Head, this should be enough.”

“Sure, of course.” As he spoke, Ren Jie pulled out a jade bottle from his chest pocket. Walking towards Fang Qi, he tapped it lightly, and some of the powder in it fell into Fang Qi’s nose.

“Mm…” Quickly, almost in the same moment Ren Jie dusted the medicinal powder into Fang Qi’s nostrils, Fang Qi’s body moved slightly and she made a soft sound. Fang Qi, who had laid there for many days without any movement, was actually reacting now.

“Qi’er!” Fang Tianen was instantly overjoyed. He hadn’t expected to be this simple either.

“Family Head, this totally isn’t some treasure. Other than the antidote, what else could work so quickly. This rascal is the one who poisoned Fang Qi.” At the side, killing intent flashed through Fang Yan’s eyes and the dharmic powers in his body gathered, about to explode out anytime. At the same time, he communicated with Fang Tianen through divine sense.

“In a while, keep back his jade bottle and let someone check it. Detain him too. I want to see how the Ren family is going to explain this.” As the family head, Fang Tianen displayed his dominant side as he replied through divine sense.

Upon hearing him, Fang Yan rejoiced. Ren Jie, oh Ren Jie, did you think by wearing the skin of the Ren family head, you can be reckless and unbridled, fearing nothing?

You really thought no one could touch you, didn’t you? This time you sent yourself to the door and even wanted to extort so many gains. Dream on. I’ll leave you empty-handed in a while. Even if I can’t kill you this time, I reckon you won’t be the family head for long.

Once such a good-for-nothing like you is not the family head of the Rens, by then, there will be hundreds and thousands of ways to play with you until you die.

However, Fang Qi had only let out a faint sound, with her breathing changing a little. Following that, she sunk back into the comatose state instead of waking up directly.

“This… Ren Family Head, what’s going on?” Fang Tianen looked anxiously at Ren Jie.

“Oh!” Ren Jie slapped his forehead and said, “Look at this head of mine, this is only an ordinary prescription. It has to be used with the unique liquid found in the items left behind by my father to be effective.”

Then quickly use it, what the f*ck are you waiting for? Fang Yan cursed in his heart, but he really didn’t dare to interrupt now.

“Then, Ren Family Head, please act quickly.” As he had seen Fang Qi’s reaction earlier, Fang Tianen felt some hope and he urged earnestly.

“No rush, no rush,” Ren Jie said and had walked to sit himself down in the small hall by the side. “Fang Family Head had better immediately find someone to check this medicinal powder, see if it is the real antidote. I don’t want to be accused to be the one who poisoned Fang Qi after I’ve saved her. How would I explain myself then? Although I believe Fang Family Head isn’t one of those shameless, despicable, vile villains, it’s better to for me to be a villain first and gentleman later. Have someone check it, I’ll wait for the deeds for Chang Le Casino and the apothecary room while at it.”

Before the properties were in his hands, Ren Jie wouldn’t cure her. He wasn’t the least bit anxious right now.

Fang Tianen really had the impulse to strike immediately and snatch the items on Ren Jie. Oh, the hatred in his heart.

To say he didn’t suspect that it was Ren Jie who was messing about was impossible. He even suspected whether there was someone in the Ren Family giving him ideas. Otherwise, how could Ren Jie be like this?

“Okay. Fang Yan, get it done immediately. Somebody, get it checked.” At this point, Fang Tianen only wanted to have Fang Qi cured as soon as possible.

“Yes!” Although Fang Tianen had said in their divine sense communication earlier that he would compensate him afterward, that the losses would be considered the family clan’s, that was a business that Fang Yan had built up himself. It wasn’t only about the money, it was more about his face. However, in the current situation and circumstances, there was nothing that could be done, things could only be done this way. Chang Le Casino was also a problem. Fortunately, Family Head had already instructed, then he’d dominantly oppress them. Ultimately, the bad name wiould also be left to Ren Jie and the Ren Family.