After much thought, Li Wanming still believed that it was better to rely on herself than to rely on others. She must take the initiative into her own hands.
So, on the sixth day, she dragged Xiao Jingbai, who was practicing calligraphy at home, out and took him to the entrance of the Bright Moon Gambling House.
As soon as Xiao Jingbai saw the black plaque with gold inscriptions, his legs started to tremble with fear, and his voice softened.
"Aunt... Auntie, what are you bringing me here for..." He glanced at Li Wanming uneasily. "Mr. Pei said that we should not look or listen to improper things. Let's go back quickly..."
"His words are not imperial edicts," Li Wanming grabbed him. "Come on, don't you want to pay back the one - thousand taels of silver you owe this gambling house?"
"How do you know I owe them one - thousand taels of silver?" Xiao Jingbai's eyes widened instantly.
Li Wanming stood at the entrance of the gambling house with her hands on her hips, a smug smile on her lips. "What did your auntie do before? I was in business! I had connections in all walks of life. In this capital city, it's as easy as pie to find out your old debts. Not to mention this gambling house business, I even know exactly which shop you bought your cricket from last month!"
Hearing this, Xiao Jingbai wilted like an eggplant beaten by frost, and the tips of his ears were so red that it seemed blood would drip. He lowered his head and murmured softly, "I... I'll pay it back next month... Please don't tell mother..."
"Pay it back? How?" Li Wanming raised her eyebrows and looked at him. "Your monthly allowance is only twenty taels. Even if you add the occasional rewards and subsidies, it's at most forty taels... You plan to pay off this one - thousand - tael gambling debt until when?"
Xiao Jingbai's eyes flickered, his lips moved, but he couldn't say a word. He could only lower his head in embarrassment and keep silent.
Li Wanming looked at him for a while, then suddenly chuckled. "Don't be in a hurry. I can handle this for you!"
"What?!" Xiao Jingbai suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief. "You... You're going to pay my debt? This... This is not right. I can't let you do this..."
Of course he knew that Li Wanming was rich, but he never thought she would pay his debt!
After all, their relationship was far from friendly. In fact, they were almost enemies.
At first, to prevent her from marrying into the mansion, he stuffed a snake into her dowry box, hoping to make her look bad in public and back out.
Later, after she married into the mansion, she and his mother fought tooth and nail for the power of managing the household. Just a few days ago, he still clearly remembered the scene of Zifu kneeling on the ground, coquettishly trying to become a concubine.
Even though Li Wanming had invited a top - scorer as a tutor for him, he knew very well that it was just a way for her to get his mother to make concessions in household management. It was not out of true concern for him.
But now, she said she would handle his debt...
This meant using real silver to help him without any personal gain. Could Li Wanming be so kind - hearted?
Seeing his tangled and expectant look, Li Wanming found it funny. She immediately shouted, "What are you thinking about! My money is not easy to come by! Why should I pay your debt? I said I'll handle this for you, but I didn't say I'll pay your debt!"
"Then you..." Xiao Jingbai was even more confused. Just as he was about to ask for clarification, suddenly he felt light on his feet and was carried into the gambling house by Li Wanming like a chick.
The thick black cotton curtain was lifted, and a wave of air mixed with the smell of alcohol and perfume hit them.
The interior of the house was brightly lit. The crisp sound of dice hitting the wooden cup mixed with the roars of the gamblers. The glazed lotus lamps made the whole hall shine with golden light, like a magnificent whirlpool pulling people in.
Xiao Jingbai raised his hand to block the blinding light and couldn't help but feel frightened. "Auntie, let's go out..."
This was the biggest gambling house in the capital. It was not a place for decent people.
Moreover, his auntie was a woman and the wife of the heir of the royal mansion. If people knew she came to such a place, her reputation would be completely ruined!
Li Wanming sneered coldly. "The people who run the gambling house aren't afraid of losing face. Why should I be afraid as a customer?"
The eight - immortals tables were crowded with red - eyed gamblers. A silk - robed man with sweat on his forehead was holding the silver note tightly in his hand, staring intently at the dice cup in the dealer's hand. From behind the crystal curtain on the west side came the sound of coquettish laughter. Some noble young masters were playing the game of throwing arrows into a pot with gold leaves.
The whole place was full of absurdity, but Li Wanming didn't even look at it. She directly led Xiao Jingbai upstairs.
Xiao Jingbai's face turned pale with fear. "Auntie, the second floor is for private rooms..."
Li Wanming said, "That's exactly where I'm going!"
She rushed up the stairs to the second floor and pushed open the gilded and carved mahogany door on the left side of the hall. Before them was a completely different sight.
The floor was covered with a red carpet sprinkled with gold, the gold and silver threads intertwined like a galaxy on the ground. The young waiters in deerskin boots shuttled among them, and only the clear sound of the jade pendants on their waists could be heard.
In the middle was a platform with flowing water. A Hu girl wrapped in a thin veil was dancing the Tuo - zhi dance on the golden bells. When her wine - red pomegranate skirt spun open from under her snow - white belly, the silver pieces hanging on the hem of the skirt sparkled like the pearls from the South China Sea.
Xiao Jingbai stared blankly...
He was from a wealthy family and had a good eye since childhood, but he never thought that a mere gambling house could be so luxurious.
Li Wanming walked quickly, dragging Xiao Jingbai straight in as if there was no one around.
The young man stumbled along, looking like a little naughty monkey whose tail had been caught. He couldn't run away or cry out, and could only follow her forward.
At the innermost was a red - sandalwood and mica screen. Behind the screen was a red - sandalwood gambling table inlaid with jewels. There were already several people sitting around the table, playing pai - gow.
In the middle was a fat and wealthy merchant in a brocade silk robe with a gold chain dangling around his neck. On his left was a skinny old man with a jade ring on his finger that glowed coldly in the candlelight. At the top right was a young man in gorgeous clothes with a sword on his waist inlaid with a pigeon - blood red gemstone. In the candlelight, it was so captivating, like a beauty's mole of cinnabar.
Xiao Jingbai was shocked. He secretly tugged at Li Wanming's sleeve. "Auntie, let's go back... The people in here look very intimidating..."
"What are you afraid of?" Li Wanming was calm. "We're here to make money, not to cause trouble."
"Make... Make money?" It was only then that Xiao Jingbai realized what was going on. He exclaimed, "You mean... You mean..."
Li Wanming chuckled and finished the second half of his sentence for him. "Win back all the money you owe."
...
She was crazy! This woman must be crazy!
She actually said she was going to win money in the Bright Moon Gambling House?
What kind of place was the Bright Moon Gambling House? It was the most famous money - burning pit and hero's tomb in the whole capital, a place where men indulged in pleasure and spent money like water!
But she, a woman, planned to win money here -
Did she think the dealers in the gambling house were easy to deal with?
After all, even a well - informed young man like him had been defeated in this Bright Moon Gambling House...
Li Wanming was simply overestimating herself!
Even though she had some business experience, she was still a woman. How could she gain an advantage in a man's territory?