Anyway, the two beca acquainted through their bickering and eventually got to know each other.
As for the money owed on the IOU, it still hasn't been paid off because Huang Yingying really couldn't find the money to repay it. His wife kept a tight grip on their finances, and he was afraid of her, so he could only seize opportunities to sneak a few bags of Spirit Rice to pay Wu Jinliang back.
Slowly paying off the debt with goods was fine too. Wu Jinliang was okay with it; he just couldn't eat it all himself, so he sent so to the library. However, he couldn't keep sending rice there, or it would be hard to explain the source, so he kept a lot of Spirit Rice in his storage bag.
Through this back-and-forth exchange and their shared hobbies, they beca closer.
At this mont, seeing the old guy roaming outside during alti, Wu Jinliang was sowhat surprised. He wasn't afraid of being yelled at by the tigress.
He walked over to the snack stand, glanced at the empty dishes, and snorted, "Old Huang, no money to pay debts, but you have money to eat out."
Huang Yingying sighed, "I only have a few coins on , don't you know? I have to keep so for errands. Want a bowl of fish soup? It's on ."
With an empty stomach and since it was rare for him to be generous, Wu Jinliang sat opposite him, tacitly accepting his invitation.
Huang Yingying imdiately waved, "Boss, a bowl of fish soup, please."
Soon, a bowl of fresh, fragrant, and silky fish soup, with a faint aura, was served. Wu Jinliang was not shy; this old guy had freeloaded from him many tis. He picked up the bowl and sipped along the rim.
Huang Yingying watched his eating manners with a smile. Though not very polite, he dared not underestimate him.
Though he didn't know why Wu Jinliang ended up working odd jobs at the ranch, he knew from the mont he was tied up that this was a tough guy. In broad daylight, ignoring the rules of the city, daring to tie soone up in the city street, how much courage did it take to do that?
The main point was that he didn't even know how he was tied up; he suddenly felt his body couldn't move. Before he could react, a black bag was thrown over his head, and he passed out.
After that, he didn't see any panic from the other party. The way they handled the kidnapping was well-practiced, making it obvious after a little thought that it wasn't their first ti doing such a thing.
Once Wu Jinliang had sipped half a bowl, Huang Yingying leaned over and whispered towards the Treasure Hunting Pavilion, "I heard that Treasure Hunting Pavilion has a treasured item that's the talk of the town. Rumor has it that it's a fake, but the pavilion hasn't put it away and keeps showing it off. Interested in checking it out?"
Wu Jinliang paused when he heard this while sipping, knowing well enough what Treasure Hunting Pavilion's prized item was. He blinked and said, "Just a glance costs a Sandalwood Gold, I can't afford that."
Even though he was quite wealthy, he still maintained the persona of an ordinary person.
Across the table, Huang Yingying leaned in and said quietly, "I've checked it out. A Sandalwood Gold is the price for a viewing, but it allows a companion; two people can go in at once."
Wu Jinliang, who was aware of this rule, asked suspiciously, "What do you an? You want to go see it?"
Huang Yingying sighed, "Our days are repetitive, one day after another, it's so boring. Anyway, I'm stuck in this small plot of land for life. It's not often that sothing new cos to the city; shouldn't we take a look? Whenever there's excitent, I never miss it."
Wu Jinliang knew the item was fake and that there was no need to spend the money to see it, but he couldn't warn the other party. Indifferently, he said, "I can't afford it, don't ntion it to . If you want to see it, go by yourself."
Huang Yingying whispered, "It's because I'm short on money, right? You and I can pool our money, half and half, to go see it together."
Finding it amusing, Wu Jinliang responded, "What does it matter whether you see it or not? It's not like it lets you grow more flesh or improves your cultivation. There's no need to spend that money." He continued sipping his fish soup.
Huang Yingying said, "That's not the point. It's about gaining experience. For example, those three little beauties at the library, they've read countless books. Talk to them about anything, and they might not even care to respond. But if you tell them you've seen the 'Death Refusing Incense' at Treasure Hunting Pavilion, they'll definitely be curious and at least ask you about it. Isn't that sothing to chat about? Although poor, being willing to spend money for experiences makes them look up to you."
Knowing Wu Jinliang's thoughts, he continued. No choice, really. Wu Jinliang had asked him about the three sisters' situation, and having shared hobbies, he had witnessed Wu Jinliang trying to chat up Dongliang Ying. It was hard not to know his thoughts.
His words hit ho, and Wu Jinliang paused with the bowl in his hand, raising an eyebrow to consider.
Although he could ntion the 'Death Refusing Incense' from Treasure Hunting Pavilion without spending money, it was naturally better to have a paid process as proof.
Spending a little money for a conversation topic with the three sisters, indeed, couldn't hurt.
He took another sip from his bowl and said slowly, "Can't afford it, didn't bring enough money."
What a load of nonsense! Huang Yingying glared at him, not believing for a second that soone earning two hundred gold a month couldn't co up with fifty coins. Yet, having suffered losses many tis before, he knew this guy could only be handled with care, not confrontation.
He gritted his teeth, pulled out his wallet, and spilled all the loose change onto the table. Then, right in front of Wu Jinliang, he stacked ten coins at a ti, finally pointing at the money and saying, "Our al cost minus fourteen coins, leaving sixty-one. I pay sixty-one, you pay thirty-nine. Going or not, it's up to you."
Wu Jinliang slowly said, "Don't act like you're suffering a loss, I don't care about seeing it. I'm going with you and even pitching in; you're getting a good deal, so just be happy." He continued sipping his soup.
After finishing the bowl, the two headed to the Treasure Hunting Pavilion.
Custors coming in, the shop assistants eagerly welcod them. None of these front desk clerks recognized Wu Jinliang.
The hall was filled with various exquisite curiosities, but the two guests had no interest in them and went straight to pay for the 'Death Refusing Incense'.
"Two guests for incense tasting!" a shop clerk announced loudly, then lifted the curtain and led the two guests to the back hall.
The back hall was elegantly and brightly decorated, with a dedicated clerk welcoming guests.
In the dim room in the back, where Chu Jingtang was on duty, he heard there were guests and imdiately went to the spyhole to scrutinize them. It would have been fine if he hadn't looked, but upon looking, he was stunned. How could he not recognize Wu Jinliang? That thick-browed, big-eyed deanor couldn't be faked.
He even spent money to bring soone along? His attention instantly focused on the sneaky-eyed old man, not knowing his background, surprisingly accompanied by Wu Hehe.
Since they paid, the back hall didn't play any tricks. The clerk directly took out the Qiankun Bag, retrieved a box from it, opened the box to reveal an iron case, and then opened the iron case to reveal a sealed silver bottle.
Wu Jinliang's deanor surpassed Huang Yingying's, so the clerk first presented the silver bottle to Wu Jinliang, "Dear guest, inside here is the 'Death Refusing Incense', it's a good thing, please take a look."
Who would have thought Wu Jinliang would first signal to Huang Yingying to look at it first.
Huang Yingying didn't stand on ceremony, took the silver bottle, opened the seal, and a refreshing fragrance wafted out. He furrowed his brows slightly, shook the silver bottle, then squinted an eye to peer at the contents inside, subsequently sniffing it under his nose.
Then he silently observed the clerk for a few monts, said nothing, and handed the silver bottle back to Wu Jinliang.
Wu Jinliang received it, gave it a cursory look and sniff, feigning a question, "Can this really induce corpse transformation?"
The clerk cheerfully replied, "I've never seen it either, to each their own guess."
Smiling outwardly but cursing inwardly, having worked at the store for so ti, he himself was aware the Dong Family was selling counterfeit goods to deceive people.
"Does this cost a Sandalwood Gold?" Wu Jinliang remarked, glancing at Huang Yingying, "Still want to look?"
Huang Yingying shook his head, "Forget it, it's just like that; I don't understand it either."
Thus, Wu Jinliang returned the item to the clerk, and the two counted their transaction of a Sandalwood Gold as finished, exiting the Treasure Hunting Pavilion feeling empty.
After scolding Huang Yingying, Wu Jinliang parted ways with him, but did not leave, instead weaving through the streets and alleys to the back of the Treasure Hunting Pavilion.
The Mother-child Talisman sent a ssage, and when he reached the back door, Hao Ji opened it to let him in.
Inside the Treasure Hunting Pavilion's dim room, Chu Jingtang and Lao Changtai were already waiting.
"What's the deal with that old man, why did he co with you?" Chu Jingtang asked upon eting.
Wu Jinliang chuckled, "It's nothing, just an old scher."
But Chu Jingtang's following words made him pause, "He's the most suspicious; seeing you're acquainted, we didn't send anyone to follow. You should know where he stays, right?"
"…" Wu Jinliang was taken aback for a mont, then couldn't help but laugh, "Him? You say he's the most suspicious?"
"Yes," Chu Jingtang explained, "Everyone who's ever co to see the 'Death Refusing Incense' expresses so degree of doubt or asks questions afterward, at least a couple. Even those we'd initially found suspicious wouldn't leave without a word like him; he's the only one so far."
Lao Changtai also nodded in agreent, "No questioning at all, truly abnormal. It's entirely plausible he might have seen the real 'Death Refusing Incense,' instantly recognizing this as fake, hence not questioning our 'Death Refusing Incense' as fake."
Wu Jinliang smiled, shaking his head with a wave of his hand, "You don't know his situation; it's truly impossible. His silence might be because I'm here, and with present, it wasn't his place to speak."
Chu Jingtang seed suspicious, "Boss Wu, you brought him here, wasn't it because you had suspicions about him already?"
"It's not really that I brought him; we ran into each other. He wanted to see it, but didn't have enough money, so we pooled together…" Wu Jinliang explained but suddenly stopped in surprise, questioning, "You didn't look at him differently just because of this, did you?"
Hao Ji hesitated, "If he didn't have enough money and still wanted to see this, that indeed isn't normal. Boss Wu, do you think it's normal?"
Wu Jinliang waved his hand again, "I see what you an, but it's truly not possible for him. Still, as I've said, you don't understand his circumstances. If he had 'Death Refusing Incense,' I guarantee he'd imdiately break up with his fierce wife at ho, sell the 'Death Refusing Incense' for money, and live a good life."
Having said that, what more could they say?
However, Hao Ji still expressed doubt, "Boss Wu, then why did you co with him to see this?"
Wu Jinliang rolled his eyes, naturally keeping his own little sches to himself, answering with a laugh, "You guys aren't suspecting too, are you?" He said, waving his hand as if brushing it off, "Let's talk business. The Master said the more rumors about fake goods spread outside, the more likely the person we're looking for will co. So keep your spirits up and keep the store running. Also, those suspicious folks, have people keep an eye on them and find a chance to confirm together later."
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