Daily Intelligence System: Don’ t Kill Me, Honey!

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Husband, don’t worry, there will be a way. Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Husband, don’t worry, there will be a way. Su Yunjin’s eyes lit up. She didn’t know why, but as soon as she saw Chen Jiusi, the unease in her heart seemed to dissipate significantly.

*She had never felt this way before. However, today, this feeling was unusually strong. Perhaps over the past two days, Chen Jie’s transformation had unknowingly caused her to rely on him.*
Chen Jie walked into the courtyard under the watchful eyes of the crowd while Ma Liu squinted as he gazed at him.

His face carried a false smile, yet there was hostility etched between his brows.

Chen Jie stepped forward, pulling Su Yunjin behind him. Then he turned to Ma Liu and said, “Brother Ma Liu, what brings you to my place today?”

Ma Liu laughed and said, “Jiusi came back. Ah, I’ve been up to my neck in work lately. If it weren’t for something concerning you, I wouldn’t have taken the time to come.”

Chen Jie looked at him and asked, “Oh? What’s the matter?”

Ma Liu replied, “Jiusi, you’ve been too careless. Have you forgotten that you still owe Baoju some money?”

“Money?”

Chen Jie furrowed his brow; he didn’t recall Chen Jiusi owing Baoju any money. Although Chen Jiusi was addicted to gambling, his addiction was relatively recent, and while he had squandered the family fortune, he hadn’t reached the point of borrowing.

“Is there a promissory note?”

Chen Jie looked at Ma Liu, who raised the promissory note and said, “Jiusi, you’ve truly been negligent. If I hadn’t gone to the Young Master’s place today to review the accounts, this note would’ve snowballed into an unmanageable amount. You’re far too reckless.”

*If Chen Jie hadn’t already suspected Ma Liu of scheming with Yu Sanliu to manipulate him, he might’ve thought that Ma Liu was a decent man.*
Chen Jie glanced at the promissory note: “Chen Jiusi borrowed one tael of patterned silver from Yu Sanliu at two-tenths daily interest on March 2nd, the ninth year of Zhizheng.”

Huh?

Chen Jie squinted as he rifled through his memory for relevant details. On that day, he didn’t have money on him and had been dragged into a gambling house by Ma Liu.

He had said he’d go home to retrieve some money, but Ma Liu replied, “Why bother? I’ll sort something out for you.”

Then, Ma Liu brought him to Yu Sanliu.

At the time, Ma Liu had said that borrowing one tael of silver to pay back the very same night wouldn’t incur any interest. Pay it back by the next day, and the interest would be minimal.

Back then, Ma Liu had told him, “If luck is on your side, you’ll win it all back in one go.”

Chen Jie borrowed one tael, thinking that even if he lost it all, repaying it with an additional two-tenths of interest tomorrow wouldn’t be an issue.

Unexpectedly, he won two taels in a single round. He was ready to pay it back immediately, but Ma Liu intervened, saying, “Jiusi, the God of Wealth resides in the southeast today, right in your direction. Don’t disrupt your luck. Hand me the silver, and I’ll take care of the repayment for you.”

Chen Jie replied, “Fine, Brother Liu,” intending to tear up the note.

Ma Liu responded, “Relax, brother; would I ever cheat you?”

…

*Recalling these memories, Chen Jie realized that he had fallen into Ma Liu’s trap.*
He raised his gaze to meet Ma Liu’s.

Ma Liu’s face carried a mocking smile. He knew Chen Jie had figured it all out, but what difference did it make? Black ink on white paper—evidence that would hold up even in court.

Without going to court, what could a ruined young master possibly do?

This time, Ma Liu was certain he had Chen Jiusi cornered!

“What’s wrong, Brother Jiusi? Don’t recognize your own promissory note?”

Ma Liu grinned, already prepared for any counteraction.

Yet Chen Jie’s expression remained calm as he said, “Yes, that’s my mark.”

Huh?

Ma Liu was momentarily stunned by Chen Jie’s composure and asked, “You’re just accepting it like that?”

Chen Jie replied, “Brother Ma Liu personally came all the way here; how could I not accept it? Tell me, how much has it ballooned to now?”

Now Ma Liu couldn’t quite gauge Chen Jie’s intentions. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Twenty taels.”

Chen Jie smiled faintly and said, “That isn’t much; it’s only grown twentyfold. Give me a few days to raise the money, and I’ll pay you back.”

Ma Liu regarded Chen Jie suspiciously, saying, “You can actually gather twenty taels?”

“Yes. I couldn’t before, but now it might be possible. Didn’t Yunjin mention it earlier? I’m now an apprentice under Doctor Bai. I’ll find a way to borrow some from the Bai Family.”

“The Bai Family?”

Ma Liu stared at Chen Jie in surprise. He hadn’t expected that Chen Jiusi had somehow connected with the Bai Family. The Bai Family was no trifling matter.

The situation had become trickier.

Ma Liu rubbed his chin and promptly said, “Fine. I’ll give you three days; the interest will increase by five taels. By then, repay me twenty-five taels in total, principal plus interest.”

Chen Jie replied, “Deal. We’ve agreed.”

Ma Liu said, “Good, we’re agreed.”

“It’s late today; I won’t keep Brother Ma Liu here. Next time, I’ll invite you for drinks,” Chen Jie said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Ma Liu laughed and said, “Great, I’ll be waiting for that drink, brother.”

With that, he turned and departed with his men.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Jie squinted, and a flicker of murderous intent flashed across his gaze!

This Ma Liu must not be allowed to remain!

Meanwhile, Ma Liu exited Chen Jiusi’s courtyard. One of his cohorts approached him from behind and asked, “Brother Liu, you just walked out like that?”

Ma Liu turned back to glance at the rundown Chen residence and muttered, “That Chen Jiusi stumbled upon some lucky fortune, becoming an apprentice under Doctor Bai. This complicates things. I’ll head back to inform the Young Master.”

Ma Liu hurried back toward town.

Meanwhile, the villagers dispersed, having seen enough of the commotion, though each left shaking their heads.

“Chen Jiusi is finished. Owing such a large sum, the family will collapse sooner or later.”

“Exactly. Twenty-five taels of silver—how could he possibly raise that? Borrow from the Bai Family? As if the Bai Family owes him anything!”

“Serves him right. I’ve always said he’s a gambling fool. Now look at him—waiting to have his limbs broken.”

The crowd scattered, leaving only Uncle Erba behind.

Uncle Erba looked at Chen Jie and asked, “Jiusi, about this…?”

Chen Jie didn’t offer much explanation, simply replying, “Yes, Uncle, don’t worry; I can handle it.”

“Sigh. You, boy, Uncle still has two silver taels. If you need it, I’ll give it all to you.”

Chen Jie waved his hand and said, “No need, Uncle. Hu Zi is old enough now; save that money for his wedding.”

“Brother, I’m not in a rush. Settle your matter first,” Hu Zi said.

Chen Jie responded, “You might not be rushing, but your parents certainly are. Enough, Uncle—Hu Zi—I really can handle it. By the way, I have some peanuts here; take them home to munch on.”

Uncle Erba shook his head with a sigh. “No, no. If you say you can handle it, Uncle believes you. But if you need money, you come to Uncle, you hear?”

“Understood, Uncle.”

Uncle Erba left with Hu Zi, and soon the courtyard fell silent.

Chen Jie turned to look at the utterly bewildered Su Yunjin. At this moment, only one number ran through Su Yunjin’s mind: twenty-five.

Twenty-five taels of silver—how in the world could they pay that back?

For the Chen Family, twenty-five taels of silver might as well have been an astronomical sum.

*Chen Jie, seeing Su Yunjin’s distressed state, felt his heart ache. Once again, this woman was worried on his behalf.*
Su Yunjin felt Chen Jie’s gaze on her. Meeting his eyes, she forced a smile that was worse than tears and said, “Husband, don’t worry. It’ll be fine… There’ll… there’ll be a way…”