Chapter 209: Compensation Gift
Wu Kai was originally a man of few words. After asking Shang Wan clearly what to do today, he took his two nephews to work.
Xiao Huan tugged at Shang Wan’s sleeve and whispered, “Sis, our ointment should be able to remove scars, right?”
Shang Wan raised her eyebrow and looked at her. “You’ve thought of it too?”
Xiao Huan pursed her lips and smiled, nodding like a little chick pecking at rice.
If they could cure the scar on Wu Kai’s face, wouldn’t that be a living signboard for the apothecary?
As the two were talking, it suddenly became noisy outside the shop. Chu Xu immediately bounced up from his seat like a little cannonball and trotted out to see.
Shang Wan had already figured out what happened, but since the child was willing to run errands, she didn’t stop him.
In no time, Chu Xu ran back, shouting, “People from the gambling house have come to deliver gifts!”
“Delivering gifts?” Xiao Huan was full of question marks. This development was truly beyond her expectations.
Shang Wan stood up and beckoned the two to follow. “Let’s go out and see.”
A crowd had gathered at the shop doorway, their scrutinizing gazes fixed on the two men in the middle who were carrying gift boxes.
One of them was Steward Zhou who had come earlier, and the other Shang Wan didn’t recognize. He was quite young, but judging by his attire, he was probably a steward too.
Seeing Shang Wan come out, Steward Zhou hurried forward to bow, his face showing none of the previous arrogance.
Shang Wan looked at him with a half-smile, saying nothing.
Steward Zhou remembered his owner’s instructions. Even though he was being treated coldly, he didn’t dare to act superior with Shang Wan and honestly stated his purpose.
“My subordinates didn’t know any better and disturbed the shop’s peace. I specially represent the gambling house to deliver this compensation gift. Please forgive us, Shopkeeper Shang.”
Shang Wan: “I wouldn’t dare. What if you send people tonight to burn down my shop again…”
Before Shang Wan could finish, Steward Zhou hurriedly interrupted, “That’s absolutely impossible. I will definitely keep my subordinates in check so they won’t disturb Shopkeeper Shang’s peace.”
Shang Wan stood on the steps, looking down at him.
Steward Zhou inexplicably felt like he was being stared at by his owner. The sweat beads on his forehead increased, trickling down his cheeks.
He lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat, forcibly suppressing the resentment and confusion in his heart. He pulled his lips into a smile at Shang Wan, with a bit of flattery.
Shang Wan knew this was Zhong Li’s intention and decided to accept the goodwill. She invited Steward Zhou and the other two into the shop for tea.
Steward Zhou let out a sigh of relief and cautiously glanced at the youth beside him.
The youth’s face was expressionless, as if he were just a bystander.
Steward Zhou smiled ingratiatingly and gestured with his hand. “Steward Zhong, please go ahead.”
The youth didn’t stand on ceremony and walked ahead.
Seeing this, Shang Wan secretly raised her eyebrow, her smile unchanged on her lips as she led the two to the backyard.
There was still hammering and banging in the front, which really wasn’t suitable for talking business.
As soon as they entered the shop, the discussion outside suddenly grew louder.
“Linglong Gambling House actually brought gifts to apologize at the door. What background does this Shopkeeper Shang have?”
“Who knows? Maybe she has a big backer behind her.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen people from the gambling house lower their heads.”
“Indeed, Shopkeeper Shang is skilled.”
“When the shop opens, I definitely want to come take a look.”
“Me too.”
“Count me in.”
……
In the backyard, Xiao Huan boiled water and made tea, then sat down beside Shang Wan.
Under the tree shade behind them, Yuan Yuan dangled her little feet, leaning on the Big Black Dog as she counted the leaves on the tree—one by one, her childish voice soft and sweet.
Chu Xu leaned beside her. Whenever Yuan Yuan counted wrong, he would correct her, and she would start over. After counting for a good while, she still hadn’t exceeded ten.
Steward Zhou couldn’t help but glance over there again and again with curiosity.
The Black Dog was their casino’s fiercest fighting dog, undefeated since it first took the stage. Even its handler had lost a hand to its bite. When had it ever been this docile?
What background does this little baby girl have?
Also, wasn’t Shopkeeper Shang worried that the Black Dog would bite someone?
The casino’s fighting dogs were fed bloody raw meat. Eating a little baby girl would be no problem.
Thinking this way, Steward Zhou watched wide-eyed as the little baby girl reached out her chubby little hand to touch the Black Dog’s sharp fangs, and the Black Dog didn’t react at all. It kept its mouth open for her to touch, looking utterly content.
Steward Zhou: “???”
Was this really their casino’s ace?
Could it just be a dog that looked exactly the same?
“My children went to the street corner to buy a sugar figure. When they came back, Xiao Hei quietly followed them all the way home.” Shang Wan didn’t mention at all the matter of the two children accidentally entering the gambling house. She only said, “I thought Xiao Hei was a stray dog with no owner. The children liked it, so I kept it.”
Steward Zhou: “…”
Whose stray dog is fat and sturdy with glossy black fur?
Shang Wan, who was telling bald-faced lies with a straight face, continued to twist the knife. “I didn’t expect it to be a fighting dog raised by your esteemed gambling house. This is the first time I’ve seen such a docile fighting dog—it doesn’t even bite people.”
Xiao Huan chimed in, “Yeah, I’ve never seen a fighting dog so clingy. It sticks to my family’s children and won’t leave no matter how we shoo it.”
Steward Zhou: “…”
He stared at the two singing from the same hymn sheet, his face slightly flushing red. He really wanted to curse out loud.
Could a fighting dog be associated with the word ‘clingy’?
Huh?!!!
Who are they looking down on?
But every time he looked at Steward Zhong beside him, the curses on the tip of his tongue were forcibly swallowed back.
Shang Wan said, “I’m not one to take advantage. Since Xiao Hei is willing to stay at my home and my children like it, that’s fate. I’d like to buy it from your esteemed gambling house. Name your price.”
The Black Dog was the gambling house’s money tree. How could Steward Zhou sell off the money tree so easily?
He opened his mouth to refuse, but Steward Zhong agreed faster than him. “If Shopkeeper Shang likes it, this fighting dog is gifted to Shopkeeper Shang for amusement, as the gambling house’s compensation gift.”
No courtesy without a reason—either treachery or theft.
Emphasizing the compensation gift over and over with such a good attitude—Shang Wan only felt that Boss Zhong was trying to trick her.
She cleverly declined, either asking the gambling house people to take Xiao Hei back or to name a price for her to buy it.
Steward Zhou couldn’t understand the current situation. How had it turned into them begging that detestable woman opposite to accept their gambling house’s money tree?
This was a money tree!
One match could earn at least a hundred taels of silver!
Steward Zhou didn’t understand. Steward Zhou was shocked.
But Shang Wan felt not the least bit like she’d gotten a bargain—her vigilance was maxed out.
If not for Yuan Yuan really liking it, Shang Wan would definitely send the dog away directly.
But… the child just liked a dog. How could she not satisfy her?
One wanted to pay, one wanted to give it for free. After going back and forth for a while, Shang Wan finally spent five taels of silver to buy Xiao Hei.
Five taels of silver—is that to send off beggars?!
Steward Zhou’s face was utterly black. He reluctantly glanced at their family’s money tree again and again, following Steward Zhong as he left with three steps back for every two forward.
·
On the fourth floor of the gambling house, Steward Zhong raised his hand and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Steward Zhong pushed the door open and entered, reporting through the gauze curtain, “Owner, Shopkeeper Shang accepted the compensation gift and even spent five taels of silver to buy Xiao Hei.”
The youth behind the gauze curtain snorted coldly and flung the white jade wine cup on the table outward.
Steward Zhong immediately knelt down. “This subordinate failed in handling affairs. Please punish me, Owner.”
