Chapter 30: An Astonishing Sum of Money

“Such a fine dog, are you really willing to give it away?”

Seeing Little Fox’s displeased expression, Shen Shi could only approach Gongsun Ce and speak.

“If you no longer want it, I wish to keep it myself.”

Of course, to express her gratitude, Little Fox rubbed her small cheek against Shen Shi. This non-human gesture… was unbearably adorable, making it impossible for Shen Shi to remain indifferent.

Little Gulu, emulating Little Fox, also rubbed his face against Shen Shi.

“He’s a friend of my father, and he made a request—I couldn’t refuse him,” Gongsun Ce replied, a true gentleman, generous and straightforward; once he said he’d give, he gave.

“Next time, next time I’ll make sure to save a good dog for you.”

Yet even Zhou Dajin hadn’t expected—

“Master Gongsun, I don’t want the dog anymore!”

Before they had even found a place to celebrate, Zhou, the shop owner, hurriedly returned, bringing the dog back in a rush.

“Uncle, uncle, what’s this about?”

He didn’t even give Gongsun Ce a chance to ask why, vanishing as quickly as if he feared the dog.

“Uncle, uncle…” No matter how they called, he didn’t turn back.

“What happened?” Without Zhou Dajin’s explanation, Gongsun Ce could only ask the servant who had taken the dog to Zhou’s house.

Shen Shi looked toward Lady Fourteen, suspecting she had intervened. Otherwise, why would Zhou refuse?

“It has nothing to do with me. He wanted to breed Dahei, but Dahei refused, got agitated, and started biting everyone…” Lady Fourteen replied.

The servant explained alongside Lady Fourteen, though she understood the real reason.

In truth, Dahei had gained intelligence and now looked down on other dogs; Zhou Dajin’s chosen mate simply didn’t appeal to him.

Zhou Dajin only wanted Dahei for breeding, hoping for superior puppies, but now Dahei wouldn’t cooperate and was biting people, so naturally the dog was returned.

“Come, let’s go celebrate.”

Realizing the reason, they laughed and went off to enjoy themselves. Dahei didn’t want to be a groom, and no one could force him.

Yet, seeing him lick his canine face, allowing Little Gulu to ride on his back so meekly… did he have any dignity at all?

Meanwhile, at the betting house, Qian Shengju and Qian Shengwen were locked in a bare, musty room in the backyard, while a messenger was sent to notify the Qian family. The room was so simple it lacked even a table or chair, and the heavy smell of mold made clear its purpose as a holding cell.

“How did we lose? How could the Great Cavalry Dog lose? It was our dog king, raised by secret arts! Didn’t they say dogs bred this way feel no pain, fear nothing, not even death? Why did it run?” Qian Shengwen was indignant, unable to comprehend why their prized dog had turned tail.

“Thousands of coins—we’ll have to repay thousands this time! How can we ever manage?”

The money was the greater issue; with interest, the debt instantly ballooned to nearly eight thousand coins. Though their family traded in timber, they certainly didn’t have such a sum.

Qian Shengju was already frustrated, and Shengwen’s words made it worse. He snapped, “Enough! Think about what comes next.”

When his elder brother told him to look ahead, Qian Shengwen’s face grew even gloomier. “If Father finds out, with his miserly ways, he’ll surely beat us to death. Brother, what do we do?”

Pressed by his brother, Qian Shengju’s temper flared, “How should I know?”

“Brother, maybe we could find Young Master Liu, ask him to intercede. He’s involved in this too,” Shengwen suggested.

“How? We can’t even leave this place,” Shengju replied, helpless and annoyed. “Besides, do you want to give up your scholar’s degree? Young Master Liu promised us: if we beat him, he’d help us become scholars.”

“Damn it, that brute must have duped us! How could a random dog he found beat the Great Cavalry Dog? He must have cheated—let’s tell the betting house that Shen Shi cheated, and make him pay!” Shengwen shouted.

Truth be told, Shengju felt the same. Ever since losing at cockfighting, the more he thought about it, the more he sensed something was off. Though they had been the instigators all along, somehow, Shen Shi had become the active party.

The old Shen Shi never dared gamble so boldly.

When had things changed?

Ah—after he reappeared. Yes, it couldn’t be mistaken. Since his return, it was as if Shen Shi had become a different person—so dazzling at Liu Garden.

It was Shen Shi who pushed them to borrow from the betting house, demanding five thousand coins against their property, which wasn’t worth nearly that much. Back then, they assumed he was backing out, unwilling to gamble further. In hindsight, it seemed Shen Shi had set a trap for them.

All along, Qian Shengju had never lost to Shen Shi, yet today he’d fallen for the brute’s tricks, making his defeat all the more galling.

What were brutes? Simple-minded fools. To lose to one was unbearable.

Yet he knew the betting house wouldn’t back them. To them, recovering their money was all that mattered, regardless of the means or who was right or wrong. Otherwise, Shengju would never have dared make such a sizable wager; only because his dog was no ordinary dog, he’d felt certain of victory.

The betting house would not help him. Frustrated, Shengju barked, “Enough shouting—think about how we’re going to face Father.”

Hearing his brother, Shengwen wilted, his head drooping.

The betting house moved quickly. Two burly men, holding the promissory note signed by Shengju, went straight to the Qian household, pounding on the gate until it rattled. The gatekeeper grumbled as he answered, “What’s with all the banging? If you break the gate, you’ll have to pay for it.”

Like master, like servant. Though the Qian brothers gambled wildly, their father was a notorious miser.

The gatekeeper’s words were not just spite, but truth. If the gate broke, before anyone else, he’d suffer for it.

Opening the gate, he saw two men not dressed as scholars but in rough, workman’s clothing. His tone grew harsher, “Who are you? What brings you to the Qian household?”

His gaze was sharp, and if their purpose wasn’t legitimate, he wouldn’t be easy to deal with.

The two men waved the promissory note and declared, “We’re from Zhang’s betting house. Tell Master Qian: Qian the elder and Qian the younger lost at our house and owe 6,734 coins. We’ve detained them. If you don’t pay, don’t blame us for what happens next.”

The gatekeeper, startled by the sum, trembled and dared not delay, rushing inside to inform Master Qian.