Chapter 96: Money Alone Is Useless

Not long after, Xiao Jinzhong finished speaking with Xu Tong and turned to walk toward Xu Mo.

Seeing this, Xiong Youli hurried up at once, bowing with a flattering smile. “Inspector Xiao, such a petty matter need not trouble you. Leave it to us, and we will handle it.”

Xiao Jinzhong gave no reply. He strode straight up to Xu Mo and asked, “You are the Xu Mo who was struck off the academy rolls for gambling?”

Xu Mo remained perfectly calm and clasped his hands. “That is me.”

With a frosty expression, Xiao Jinzhong said, “Xu Mo, tomorrow is market day. The county magistrate attaches great importance to it. He has repeatedly instructed us that public order in the city must remain stable these days. No disturbance is to be allowed. Otherwise, the yamen will punish it severely. Do you understand what I mean?”

Xu Mo understood at once. Xiao Jinzhong was warning him not to make trouble, or he would be dealt with unsparingly.

“Inspector Xiao, I have not come to cause trouble. I merely saw injustice and wanted to help this little brother catch the scoundrel who cheated him out of his money. I never expected the people of the Changlong Gambling House not only to refuse to help, but even to throw this little brother out. Their brutality is simply revolting!”

Xu Mo spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, each word ringing clear and forceful.

The little beggar did not yet know that Xiao Jinzhong was on the side of the Changlong Gambling House. He hurriedly said, “Sir, my money was taken by a bad man. That money was meant to buy medicine for my mother. Please, please catch him quickly. My mother is still waiting for me to take the medicine home.”

As he spoke, the little beggar kept bowing to Xiao Jinzhong again and again.

But Xiao Jinzhong’s face darkened. “If your money was stolen, why did you not report it to the yamen? Why come here to make a scene?”

The little beggar immediately said, “Sir, I saw with my own eyes that the bad man went into the gambling house, so I followed him here. He is still inside. I know him. Let me take you in and catch him!”

“Evidence?” Xiao Jinzhong said in a heavy voice. “You say he is inside, so he is inside? If you cannot produce evidence, how am I to know you are speaking the truth? Do you know that if you accuse people recklessly, I can charge you with false accusation?”

“I... I...”

The little beggar was instantly struck dumb. How could he possibly produce any evidence?

At the same time, hearing the words false accusation made him frightened as well.

Xu Mo suddenly clasped his hands and said, “Inspector Xiao, may I have a word with you in private?”

At that moment, Xu Mo was already thinking of using money to solve the problem. Since he had plenty of cash, he refused to believe he could not buy him over.

But Xiao Jinzhong had long since seen through his intentions and refused without hesitation. “Xu Mo, if you have something to say, say it here in front of everyone. I have no wish for others to misunderstand anything.”

“Uh...”

Xu Mo was immediately stunned. If he wanted to bribe the man, he was not even being given the chance. Was he supposed to slip him money in front of everyone?

Xiao Jinzhong no longer bothered with Xu Mo. He waved lightly at the little beggar and said, “Enough. Go home at once. Do not linger here any longer, or I shall truly have to arrest someone!”

At that, the little beggar lost all courage in an instant.

He retreated fearfully behind Xu Mo and said in a low voice, “Young Master, I... I... I do not want to be arrested. My mother is alone at home, waiting for me to go back and look after her. I... I have to leave...”

Then, in a fluster, the little beggar fled out through the crowd. Compared with money, he feared far more that his mother would be left without care.

At that moment, Xu Mo felt not only helpless, but also regretful. He had intended to exploit his connection with Xiong Youli and make things difficult for Xu Tong, to give him a taste of pain and displeasure. Yet he had never imagined that the Changlong Gambling House had even stronger backing in the yamen.

The more Xu Mo thought about it, the more he regretted it. He felt that he had been far too careless. With a gambling house of this size, how could there be no patron in the yamen?

He felt like a fool.

Just as he was regretting everything, Chen Miaoyi, who stood beside him, suddenly chased after the little beggar and stopped him not far outside the crowd.

She lowered her voice and asked him a few questions, then took out a small piece of broken silver and handed it to him.

The instant the little beggar saw the silver, his face lit up with joy. He accepted it at once, bowing repeatedly in thanks, before turning and sprinting away.

Xiao Jinzhong saw this as well and said to Xu Mo, “Xu Mo, the complainant has already left. You need not stay either. Leave at once and do not create any more trouble.”

With that, Xiao Jinzhong turned away, clasped his hands behind his back, and while walking toward Xu Tong, ordered, “Captain Xiong, disperse the crowd at once and clear the road!”

“Yes, Inspector Xiao!” Xiong Youli agreed at once.

Then he lowered his voice to Xu Mo and said, “Young Master Xu, you can see how things stand. Why not let it go for today? As the saying goes, a gentleman can avenge himself ten years later. There will certainly be another chance.”

Having said that, he strode off and began shouting orders, leading the constables in dispersing the crowd and the carts.

Chen Miaoyi returned to Xu Mo’s side as well and said softly, “Husband, with the yamen backing him, we cannot fight him. Let us go back for now.”

Qin Woodhead was also furious, but he felt that the mistress’s words were right.

“Yes, boss. The common man cannot fight the officials. Let us go. We will find another chance to deal with that bastard later,” Qin Woodhead advised quietly.

Xu Mo stood there with a dark expression for a long while, saying nothing. He was angry and powerless all at once.

The despicable man who had dumped filth all over his home stood right before him, yet he could do nothing to him.

At that moment, Xu Mo suddenly understood something.

In this feudal dynasty, if one wished to become truly superior and never suffer humiliation or oppression from others, money alone was useless. One had to have identity, status, and power as well.

Deeply frustrated, Xu Mo secretly made up his mind that in the near future, he would become such a man.

“Home,” he said gloomily, turning to climb into the mule cart.

But at that very moment Xu Tong came over and mocked him loudly, “Oh? Leaving already? I thought you loved gambling. Why not go in and play a few rounds? But remember, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up gambling your wife away again! Hahaha...”

After saying this, Xu Tong burst into laughter.

When Qin Woodhead heard him speak like that, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush up and beat him, only for Xu Mo to grab him back at once.

“Woodhead, calm down! If you hit him now, you’ll be doing exactly what he wants!” Xu Mo wanted very much to beat Xu Tong senseless, but he knew perfectly well that it could not be now.

Otherwise, they would all be dragged straight into prison by Xiao Jinzhong.

“Go on, hit me! Come on, hit me! My face itches so badly—it just wants to be slapped!” Xu Tong was wildly arrogant.

At that moment, Chen Miaoyi was so enraged she felt as though her lungs would burst. Her chest rose and fell violently as she said furiously, “Xu Tong, you... you will get your retribution!”

Xu Tong only laughed harder. “Hahaha, retribution? Fine! I’d like to see when I’ll get mine. Hahahaha...”

Still laughing, he turned and strode away, his smug and insolent manner making Xu Mo clench his fists, wanting nothing more than to kill him on the spot.

In the end, Xu Mo still suppressed his fury and climbed into the mule cart.

Chen Miaoyi hurried aboard as well.

Qin Woodhead spat after Xu Tong’s retreating back, then pulled the mule cart forward.

All the way home, Xu Mo remained in a foul mood and said not a word.

Chen Miaoyi did not want him to stay angry and harm his health, so she said, “Husband, do not be so angry. I have thought of a way. It may not let us take revenge, but it can at least vent some of our anger.”

Xu Mo was slightly surprised and asked with interest, “What way?”

Chen Miaoyi said at once, “Husband, the owner of the Changlong Gambling House is Zhao Mingju of Rongsheng Bank, is he not? Miss Ning will be settling accounts with us very soon, will she not? Then let us not deposit our money in his Rongsheng Bank. No matter how high the interest is, we will not deposit it there. If he finds out, he will surely be mad to death!”

Xu Mo could not help laughing right away. “Miaoyi, we had not planned to deposit our money in Rongsheng Bank anyway...”

Mid-sentence, Xu Mo suddenly froze. The smile on his face vanished in an instant.

“Husband, what is it? Why are you not laughing anymore?” Chen Miaoyi asked anxiously.

The next moment, Xu Mo snapped his fingers, his eyes bright with excitement. “Miaoyi, I’ve thought of a way to deal with Xu Tong!”

“What?” Chen Miaoyi had not yet reacted.

Xu Mo immediately said, “Woodhead, we’re not going home yet. Let’s go to Rongsheng Bank. I want to have a good talk with Zhao Mingju!”