Chapter 107: Progress Made
Ma Ping’an learned that Shao Si usually gambled at two places: Bao Yuan Fang when he had money, and a secret gambling house run by someone named An when he was broke.
He went to Bao Yuan Fang first. To get information quickly, Ma Ping’an directly approached an elderly employee of the gambling house.
“Sir, what can I do for you?” the employee asked, bowing.
“There’s a man named Shao Si, do you know him?” Ma Ping’an asked.
“I do. He used to come here often,” the employee said, “but he hasn’t been here for the past few months.”
“Is there anyone here who was particularly close to him?” Ma Ping’an asked.
“There used to be Liu Da Hu Zi. They often hung out together. But I haven’t seen Liu Da Hu Zi around lately either,” the employee said.
Ma Ping’an called over one of his companions. “You go and find Liu Da Hu Zi. See where he is now, and bring him to me when you find him. I’m going to another place now.”
After that, he rushed to the secret gambling house without delay.
In a winding alley, a scrawny boy of twelve or thirteen was guarding the door, peeking suspiciously through a crack in the door, preventing anyone from entering.
Ma Ping’an knew that secret gambling houses didn’t let just anyone in; you needed an introduction.
He took out a few copper coins and gave them to the boy, saying, “Is Shao Si inside? I need to see him about something.”
“Shao Si hasn’t been here for a few days,” the boy’s eyes lit up upon receiving the copper coins. “I heard he struck it rich.”
As he was speaking, an old man, resembling a monkey, came out from inside and scolded him, “You incorrigible brat! Who are you talking to so casually?”
But upon seeing that Ma Ping’an was well-dressed and of good bearing, he immediately put on a smiling face. “Sir, what brings your esteemed presence to our humble establishment?”
“Old brother, I only want the truth,” Ma Ping’an said, having no time for pleasantries. “Do you know where Shao Si is? If you give me useful information, this silver is yours.”
This old man was An Xi, the owner of the secret gambling house. Seeing the silver, he was naturally pleased and quickly said, “Shao Si only started coming here two months ago. He used to look down on this place, but when he ran out of money, he had no choice but to make do…”
He rambled on for a long time. Seeing Ma Ping’an’s stern expression, he finally got to the point. “His situation was truly dire before; he had lost almost everything.
But suddenly one day he became wealthy. He bought wine and meat, and gambled here for a day and a night.
He was winning at first, then he started losing. But he didn’t even bat an eye, saying it was all small change.
Of course, the stakes here aren’t that high, but he lost about twenty taels that time!”
“When was this?” Ma Ping’an interrupted him.
“I remember very clearly, it was the second day of this month,” An Xi said. “After that, he stopped coming here.”
“Did he say why he had money?”
“Hmph, we naturally asked. But he wouldn’t reveal the details, only saying he met a noble lady,” An Xi sniffled. “I really don’t know how he got so lucky.”
“Do you know where he went then?”
“Who knows? When he has money, where won’t he spend it? He certainly won’t be in my territory anymore,” An Xi said with a hint of regret.
“Do you know a Qi Dahuizi?”
“Yes, yes, now that you mention it, I do remember. Qi Dahuizi hasn’t been here lately either. He used to spend all his days here,” An Xi said. “They were like brothers. I suppose Shao Si got rich and took Qi Dahuizi along to have a good time.”
“I want to know where those two are now. What you’ve said is of no use,” Ma Ping’an said, about to put the silver back.
“Sir, if I tell you something useful, can I have the silver?” the little monkey said timidly. He was afraid of An Xi beating him, yet he couldn’t resist the temptation of the silver.
“Tell me what you know,” Ma Ping’an said, his hand pausing as he was about to pocket the silver.
“Shao Si has a mistress,” the little monkey said with a wicked grin. “She’s Ma Widow from Zaor Alley. Even if others don’t know Shao Si’s whereabouts, she definitely does.”
“That’s right, that’s right! My old brain isn’t working well anymore,” An Xi said with some annoyance. “I’ll take you to Ma Widow’s place right now.”
Ma Ping’an tossed a small piece of silver to the little monkey and said to An Xi, “Don’t let word get out. If I find Shao Si, you’ll get more than this silver.”
An Xi excitedly led Ma Ping’an and his companions to Zaor Alley.
Ma Ping’an instructed him, “You know him. Scout ahead for us first.”
Ma Ping’an knew that if Shao Si had done something wrong, he would find a place to hide. If he was indeed hiding with his mistress, seeing strangers knock on the door would alert him.
An Xi knocked on the door for a long time. A woman’s scolding voice came from inside.
“Are you announcing a death? Knocking incessantly! What kind of starving ghosts have come to my door!”
“Ma Da Sao, it’s me,” An Xi said with a fawning expression, peeking through the crack in the door. “I need to talk to you.”
With a creak, the bolt was drawn back from inside, and a woman in her forties, heavily made up and dressed in vibrant clothes, stood at the door.
However, even the thickest makeup couldn’t hide the wrinkles on her face, and though her clothes were bright, the fabric was of poor quality.
“It’s Brother An!” The woman’s anger vanished instantly, replaced by a sweet, saccharine smile. “What wind blew you here?”
“Is Shao Si here? I have something urgent to discuss with him,” An Xi added, “It’s truly urgent.”
“Damn it, it’s better not to mention him. Why bring up that short-lived, heartless wretch?” Ma Widow spat on the ground. “I never want to see him again in this life, or I’ll tear his guts out!”
“He’s really not here?” An Xi was greatly disappointed.
The silver Ma Ping’an had given the little monkey was over two taels. If he had brought them to find Shao Si for real, wouldn’t he have earned at least five taels?
To be honest, An Xi had already saved up several hundred taels for his coffin money.
But he was naturally greedy. Let alone a few taels of silver, he would even try to fish out a single copper coin from a pot of boiling oil to put into his own money bag.
“It would be good if he were here. Would debt collectors be coming to my door repeatedly to demand money?” Ma Widow complained bitterly. “When he was down and out, I helped him out countless times. Now that he has money, he’s cast me aside. That scoundrel!”
Ma Ping’an and his men hid in a nearby corner, listening to their conversation. Still uneasy, he signaled his companions, “Go in and search thoroughly. See if Shao Si is really hiding here.”
