Chapter 99: Returning the Favor in Kind

When Xu Mo was waiting for Ning Yaxin to bring the money, Xu Tong was also about to arrive at the Rongsheng Bank. As soon as someone from Rongsheng came to notify Xu Tong that Zhao Mingju wanted to see him, Xu Tong became instantly nervous.

He assumed that Zhao Mingju had learned about the magistrate’s men visiting Changlong Gambling House, so his mind was uneasy all the way, anxiously pondering how he would explain himself.

Soon, Xu Tong reached Rongsheng Bank. After announcing his arrival, the servants led him into the rear courtyard.

As he stepped up to the entrance of the hall, Xu Tong spotted Xu Mo inside. Xu Mo was smiling, sipping tea, chatting and laughing with Zhao Mingju—the atmosphere seemed very harmonious.

Why is that fellow here? Xu Tong was startled inwardly.

Xu Mo noticed Xu Tong outside the hall and immediately glanced at Zhao Mingju.

Understanding, Zhao Mingju quietly said, “Boss Xu, before you arrived, I’d already told them to call him over.”

Xu Mo nodded without responding and continued to drink his tea.

Xu Tong attempted to step inside, “Master…”

Before Xu Tong could set his foot down, Zhao Mingju barked, “Did I tell you to come in? Get out!”

Xu Tong froze, his foot suspended midair, then slowly withdrew it, obediently standing outside the entrance.

Zhao Mingju looked at Xu Tong, speaking coldly, “Go stand in the courtyard. Unless I nod, you’re not allowed to go anywhere!”

“Master, I…”

“Do you not understand what I’m saying?”

Xu Tong wanted to protest, but Zhao Mingju gave him no chance, his tone even colder.

Xu Tong dared not disobey and could only move to the center of the courtyard, gloomily standing there.

Only then did Zhao Mingju turn to Xu Mo, smiling as he spoke quietly, “Boss Xu, he’s here now. We’re just waiting for your hundred thousand coins.”

Xu Mo nodded slowly, “Boss Zhao, don’t worry, the money will arrive shortly.”

From a distance, Xu Tong couldn’t hear what Zhao Mingju said to Xu Mo, but he could see the smile on Zhao Mingju’s face.

Xu Tong was utterly perplexed—how did Xu Mo become Zhao Mingju’s honored guest, and why did they get along so well?

At this moment, Xu Tong had a bad feeling in his heart.

For more than the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, Zhao Mingju completely ignored Xu Tong, leaving him standing in the courtyard.

Just as Xu Tong grew agitated and was about to ask the reason, a servant ran over.

“Master, the eldest Miss of the Ning family has arrived. She says she’s here to see Boss Xu,” the servant said.

Zhao Mingju was delighted, rising with a loud voice, “Quick, invite her in!”

Xu Mo had finally waited for Ning Yaxin, and couldn’t help but glance at Xu Tong in the courtyard, a cold smile curling on his lips.

Soon, the staff of Rongsheng Bank carried in four large chests, placing them in the hall.

Immediately after, Ning Yaxin and Chen Miaoyi walked into the rear courtyard, with Qin Mutou and Ling’er following close behind.

As soon as Chen Miaoyi entered, she saw Xu Tong, promptly pointed him out and whispered to Ning Yaxin.

Ning Yaxin’s brows furrowed deeply, her gaze toward Xu Tong filled with intense disgust.

As Ning Yaxin and Chen Miaoyi approached the hall’s entrance, Zhao Mingju greeted them warmly, exchanging the usual pleasantries.

Chen Miaoyi wasn’t comfortable with such formalities, so she slipped away from the greetings and hurried to Xu Mo’s side, asking in a low voice, “Husband, how’s it going?”

Xu Mo took her hand, patted it, and smiled, “Wife, just wait and watch the show.”

Chen Miaoyi nodded immediately.

After exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Mingju, Ning Yaxin said to Xu Mo, “Young Master Xu, you urged me quite urgently, so I didn’t count it carefully. But rest assured, these four chests hold more than one hundred thousand coins.”

Xu Mo clasped his hands in gratitude, smiling, “Miss Ning, thank you for your trouble!”

Ning Yaxin shook her head, indicating it was nothing.

Then, Xu Mo proceeded to open the four chests one by one in Zhao Mingju’s presence.

Three of the chests were filled with silver, while the fourth was mixed, containing silver ingots of various sizes and mostly copper coins.

“Boss Zhao, now you can rest assured, can’t you?” Xu Mo asked.

Zhao Mingju nodded, then strode outside the hall and shouted sternly, “Men, tie up Xu Tong!”

Xu Tong was shocked, crying out loudly, “Master! Why are you tying me up? What have I done wrong?”

Immediately, four burly men entered, swiftly tying Xu Tong to a pillar under the corridor.

Xu Tong protested, struggling desperately, shouting his innocence. His face and neck quickly flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead.

Zhao Mingju approached Xu Tong, speaking in a grave tone, “Xu Tong, though you’ve had many faults in the past, I always thought you were honest. But I never imagined you’d stoop to such vile and disgraceful deeds. I’m utterly disappointed in you!”

Xu Tong was bewildered, asking urgently, “Master, what are you talking about? What disgraceful, vile deeds have I done?”

Zhao Mingju turned to look at Xu Mo behind him, “You ordered someone to throw filth at Boss Xu’s house in the middle of the night—does that not count as vile and disgraceful?”

“I didn’t, Master!” Xu Tong exclaimed, desperate, shaking his head vigorously, “It wasn’t me! I had nothing to do with it, truly not me!”

Seeing Xu Tong refuse to admit it, Zhao Mingju frowned, his disgust deepening.

Xu Tong, nearly beside himself, yelled, “Xu Mo, you’re falsely accusing me, slandering me! You really are despicable! You villain, shameless!”

Chen Miaoyi, seeing Xu Tong dare to curse, could not hold back, stepping forward and pointing angrily, “Xu Tong, it was obviously you! That day my husband injured your men to protect me, and you bore a grudge. Then you sent people to throw filth at our house in the night. You are nothing but scum, a rogue!”

Xu Mo pulled Chen Miaoyi back, shaking his head, “Wife, there’s no point in arguing with someone like him.”

Turning to Zhao Mingju, Xu Mo called softly, “Boss Zhao…”

Zhao Mingju understood Xu Mo’s meaning at once, and promptly ordered, “Men, beat him, beat him hard!”

The four burly men immediately surrounded Xu Tong, raining blows upon him.

In no time, Xu Tong’s face was battered and swollen, blood streaming from his mouth and nose.

After a while, Zhao Mingju called the men off and asked, “Xu Tong, I’ll ask you again—did you do it?”

Xu Tong shook his head laboriously, his expression pained, “Master, truly… truly not me. I swear an oath…”

He proceeded to utter a dreadful curse, invoking every imaginable calamity upon himself and his family if he were lying.

Zhao Mingju hesitated for a moment, then drew Xu Mo aside and whispered, “Boss Xu, Xu Tong dared to swear such a venomous oath—could it really not be him?”

Xu Mo didn’t reply immediately, but stroked his chin, pondering: Could it truly not be him?

At that moment, Ning Yaxin walked over slowly, saying calmly, “Boss Zhao, why not repay him in his own coin?”

Zhao Mingju instantly saw the light, clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Yes! How did I not think of that?”

He immediately ordered loudly, “Men, go to the latrine and fetch a bucket of night soil!”

Hearing this, Xu Tong was dumbstruck.

The next moment, he began shaking his head desperately, crying out with a choked voice, “No, Master! It wasn’t me, truly not me…”

Xu Mo looked at Ning Yaxin in astonishment, thinking: My goodness, who would have guessed this girl had such a cunning side!