Chapter 14

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

As the saying went, a shop that did not open for half a year can provide for itself for half a year after it was opened. This was the exact situation Huang Xiaolong was in.

He already got the deposit. When he finished his job at night and got the balance, tch tch, he would have 8000 bucks. How great.

Close shop.

Huang Xiaolong went to the mobile phone shop nearby and bought a 4G data card. It was almost noon so it was time for lunch.

He went back to Su Xiaoman’s shop.

“Xiaolong, you’re here!” When Su Xiaoman saw Huang Xiaolong, a sincere smile blossomed across her pretty face.

Su Xiaoman looked better compared to yesterday. Her black hair as fluffy like clouds cascaded behind her head like a waterfall. She did not put on any blush today so her face was white and smooth. She was wearing a pair of white pants over her long and thin legs. The light violet floral shirt accentuated the cuteness of her face. Her fair arms were crossed in front of her chest.

When she saw Huang Xiaolong walking into the shop, she opened her tightly closed legs and walked forward.

“Sis Xiaoman, I’m hungry so I’m here for lunch.” Huang Xiaolong smiled. There were no other customers in the shop so he found a seat and sat down.

“Xiaolong, what do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you now.” Su Xiaoman sat next to Huang Xiaolong.

He noticed there was a thin red string on Su Xiaoman’s neck. The fuzhuan crane Huang Xiaolong gave her was hung around her neck like a pendant, oh, no, it rested against her chest. She was treating it as if it was a priceless treasure.

Su Xiaoman noticed Huang Xiaolong’s eyes were lowered and they were looking at the place where the fuzhuan crane lay. There was a hint of redness on her fair face. She lowered her head slightly.

“Sis Xiaoman, I want to eat twice-cooked pork.” Huang Xiaolong grinned. “I also want a kilogram of rice.”

“Okay, wait a minute. I’ll make it for you now.” Su Xiaoman smiled captivatingly and ducked into the kitchen to cook.

For some reason, ever since she met Huang Xiaolong, Su Xiaoman felt as if the pressure was lifted off her. There was an unknown happiness in her heart.

After a while, the twice-cooked pork and steaming white rice were brought out. It was accompanied with vegetable soup.

Huang Xiaolong started devouring the food.

There was not much business in the shop. Su Xiaoman did not have anything to do, so she sat next to Huang Xiaolong and watched him eat quietly.

However, what she did not expect was before he could finish, there were footsteps outside the shop. In an instant, a group of people swarmed into the shop.

The man who was the leader looked doughty. He was 190cm in height and he looked like a tower. His face was square and he was bald. There was resentment in his eyes and he looked like he was in his thirties. He was shirtless so his upper body was bare. There as a fierce-looking tiger tattoo on his chest.

Behind the man stood Brother Earthworm and the people who Huang Xiaolong punished yesterday. 

“Brother Tiger, that’s the kid,” stammered Brother Earthworm as he looked at Huang Xiaolong with lingering fear.

“Okay.” Brother Tiger’s pupils constricted and he glowered at Huang Xiaolong eerily. “Kid, I heard you taught my people a lesson last night. I wonder which gang do you belong to?”

Huang Xiaolong was still devouring the food on the table. He did not want to pay attention to Brother Tiger. 

Su Xiaoman was horrified. She stood up subconsciously and said in a shaky voice, “Brother Tiger, h-hello…”

“Heh, Xiaoman. You’re really something else. You have support now, eh?” Brother Tiger scanned Su Xiaoman’s tiny waist and long legs with hunger in his eyes. Brother Earthworm pulled a stool over and respectfully asked Brother Tiger to sit down.

“Xiaoman, don’t be too arrogant. This is Flower Lake Street. I don’t care who you asked to help you. Even if you’re on my territory, a dragon’s got to coil up and a tiger’s got to crouch!

Brother Tiger said all that in a nasty tone. His gaze landed on Huang Xiaolong once again.

In any case, Huang Xiaolong finally finished his meal. He picked up a piece of tissue on the table and wiped the grease off his lips. “Oh, so you’re Brother Tiger? Yesterday, I said that I’ll pay back the debt owed by Sis Xiaoman’s brother. I am not from any gang. I’m just a country bumpkin.”

“Xiaolong, don’t…” Su Xiaoman said hurriedly.

The debt is hundreds of thousands. The interest kept piling up. How was he going to pay? Plus, Huang Xiaolong was fresh off the countryside. How would he have the money?

“Oh?” Brother Tiger was surprised.

He was secretly pleased. ‘Hmph! This kid is scared! He’s terrified! He’s willing to surrender! F*ck, I thought he’s someone ruthless. I didn’t expect him to lower his head upon our first meeting! F*ck! Earthworm and the gang were so embarrassing. They were defeated by a peasant.’

“Fine, amiability makes you rich anyway. Since you agreed to pay up, then I won’t cause trouble for you.” Brother Tiger said carelessly. “Peasant, listen closely, Xiaoman’s brother Xiaoqiang borrowed 600 thousand from me plus interest. Yesterday, you hit my brothers. You have to pay the hospital fee, medicine, cost of lost labor, and mental damages, right? I won’t try to scam you, so let’s just say 400 thousand bucks. So in total, it will be one million. That’s all. Give me the money now.”

Su Xiaoman heard that and almost fainted. One million?

Wasn’t this straight out murder?

She did not expect Huang Xiaolong to answer expressionlessly. He even nodded. “Alright, one million. I’ll do it. I’ll pay you back.”

Brother Tiger and his gang were taken aback by what he said.

They thought Huang Xiaolong would argue with them, haggle the price or even kneel down and beg for mercy. They did not expect Huang Xiaolong to agree so effortlessly.

“Are you tricking me, peasant?” Brother Tiger’s eyes went wide.

“Why would I trick you? It’s only right and proper to pay back a debt. We country bumpkins are honest. We keep our promises. If I say I’ll pay, I’ll definitely pay.” Huang Xiaolong’s expression was too sincere. His eyes were as innocent as a baby’s.

“A-A-Alright then. Pay me back now.” Brother Tiger truly believed that Huang Xiaolong was not lying and he would definitely pay him back.

“Okay.” Huang Xiaolong nodded. “Um, Sis Xiaoman’s brother’s debt is from gambling, right? There’s a saying that says a gambling debt should be repaid by gambling. I don’t have time today but I’ll go to your place to have some fun in two days. Then, I’ll pay you back. One million, right? Why don’t I write an IOU?”

“Xiaolong, don’t gamble!” After Su Xiaoman heard what Huang Xiaolong said, she screamed in horror. “That’s a bottomless pit. It’ll even devour your bones!”

“Hahahaha!” Brother Tiger started laughing maniacally. “Peasant, peasant, I did not expect you to be a gambler as well. You want to win back all the money that was lost by Xiaoqiang? Hahahaha! How interesting! So interesting! Alright, we’ll settle gambling debts through gambling. I’ll allow it! However, do you have the capital?”

Brother Tiger was amused.

Settle gambling debts through gambling?

There will be a high chance that he’ll lose everything!

“Peasant, if you dare to come to the casino, I’ll make you lose your life savings! Pay back the money? You would even lose your underwear to me! Hahaha!”

“Capital? Why won’t I have it? I have it!” Huang Xiaolong took out money and slammed it on the table.

He placed all of the money he got on the table. There was the 4000 bucks deposit Cui Dong gave him and the 1000 bucks he earned from the unlicensed taxi.

“Pfft, peasant, you’re so funny. You must have saved these few thousand bucks over a long time, right? Alright! You don’t have to write an IOU. I don’t think you can pull any stunts anyway.” Brother Tiger stood up. “However, I should advise you to come to the casino earlier. It won’t be a million bucks tomorrow.”

“Oh, how much do I have to pay tomorrow?” Huang Xiaolong put away his money carefully.

“Tomorrow is 1.2 million! The day after tomorrow is 1.4 million!” Brother Tiger demanded an exorbitant price.

“Alright, I got it. After I’m done with my work, I’ll go to your casino.” Huang Xiaolong nodded earnestly.

“Let’s go.” Brother Tiger glared at Huang Xiaolong and then whistled at Su Xiaoman before leaving with Brother Earthworm and the gang.

“Xiaolong, d-don’t go and gamble. Please. You can’t get yourself involved in that. It’ll kill you.” Su Xiaoman almost cried from anxiety.

“Sis Xiaoman, you’re right. I’m not going to gamble. Even if I win, it’s ill-gotten wealth.” Huang Xiaolong nodded while being in deep thought. “Back in my village, I promised that I’ll never gamble. No matter how poor I am, I will never dabble in pornography, gambling, nor drugs. However, this is not to win money but to help Sis Xiaoman pay back her debt. Sis Xiaoman, don’t worry. I promise I’ll stop after I pay back the money.”

“You…” Su Xiaoman was confused by what Huang Xiaolong said.

‘Alright, so you mean you’ll definitely win?’

“Alright, Sis Xiaoman. I found a job and I’m gonna do it tonight. I’m gonna go now. I’m going back home and taking a nap.” Huang Xiaolong took out a 20 buck bill and placed it on the table. “Sis Xiaoman, this is for the meal. Keep the change.”

“Xiaolong, don’t… I won’t charge you for eating here.” Su Xiaoman’s hands were trembling.

“Sis Xiaoman, don’t be like this. This is this; that is that. If you don’t take my money, I can’t come back to eat again,” Huang Xiaolong said with a serious face. “Plus, I got a job today. I’m making my own money now! Do you know how much money I made? 8000 bucks!”

Su Xiaoman could not win against Huang Xiaolong. She could only accept the money.

Before he left, Huang Xiaolong said suddenly, “Right, Sis Xiaoman. Give me a piece of paper and a pen.”

“Eh? Okay.” Su Xiaoman handed him a pen and some paper in a blink of an eye.

Huang Xiaolong’s was writing with vigor. He wrote a few lines of words on the paper and handed it to Su Xiaoman. “Sis Xiaoman, this is for you. You should study this. I’m gonna go now. Bye-bye.”

Su Xiaoman took the paper and when she opened it…

“The lost secret recipe of the smoked duck in the palace during Qianlong Year.”

The paper had a lot of Chinese herbs and formulas, the recipe for the sauce, and then techniques for knife skills, fire temperature, procedure, and so on.

It was a secret recipe for a dish!

“The secret recipe of the smoked duck in the palace during Qianlong Year? A lost recipe?” Su Xiaoman muttered to herself and then shut the door of the shop. She went out to buy the ingredients needed for the dish.

At 6:30 pm, Huang Xiaolong drove his BYD F3 toward the location that he and Cui Dong were to meet.