Lin Xiaoshan checked the banknotes in the bundle he was holding and frowned. "It's a bit short. The bosses asked for a hundred thousand taels, and besides… the mountain is short on women!"
The head guard shook his head. "This is the Meng family's sincerity. No more, no less."
Lin Xiaoshan tucked the bundle away. "I understand. I'll deliver the goods to the bosses. As for what they decide, that's not something I can influence."
With that, he vaulted up onto the rooftop ridge and, light as a swallow, stepped across the tiles before vanishing swiftly into the night.
The Meng family guards made no move to stop him, letting him leave freely.
The Meng family's sincerity was by no means insignificant, but if it failed to satisfy Baotian Peak, the disaster still couldn't be averted. That was why the Meng family's security forces had never dared to reduce their numbers.
As for Yang Kai, after half a month of training, he and the newly recruited batch of guards had each been assigned their duties.
Yang Kai had rather hoped to be assigned to guard the inner courtyard. That way, he could legitimately gather intelligence about the inner grounds and track down Qu Huashang's whereabouts.
But he knew that was unrealistic. No matter how you looked at it, they were all newcomers whose loyalty hadn't been tested. They might be given certain tasks, but they would never be placed in positions of real importance.
Sure enough, Yang Kai's assignment was to guard a courtyard in the outer estate. He was partnered with an old guard named Yin Zhiyong, with four others assisting them. They worked in shifts of two, each pair standing watch for four double-hours in secret.
The duty wasn't light, but it wasn't heavy either.
After they met, got acquainted, and familiarized themselves with the coded signals, Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong concealed themselves in hidden corners to keep watch on all sides and ward off any troublemakers.
Three days passed peacefully.
When he wasn't on duty, Yang Kai would buy fine liquor and share drinks and food with Yin Zhiyong. His thoughtfulness naturally won the old guard's approval, and Yin Zhiyong's attitude toward him grew considerably warmer.
So in just three days, Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong had become drinking buddies.
That day, Yang Kai brought more wine and food, and the two sat down at the table with practiced ease, chatting idly as they drank.
When he judged the moment right, Yang Kai pretended to be half-drunk and said, "Brother Yin, I'm new here. To be honest, I don't know much about the Meng estate. You've been a guard here for over a decade — any advice you can give me?"
Yin Zhiyong popped a peanut into his mouth and gave Yang Kai an amused look. "Plenty to tell you, of course, but it can't all be explained in one go. Stick around a few years and you'll figure it out on your own. The Meng estate is a good place to work. Being a guard here isn't dangerous, and the pay is generous. Every year, who knows how many people claw their way to get in."
Yang Kai poured him a cup of wine. "Just say whatever comes to mind. Two brothers — one talks, one listens. Nothing leaves this room."
Yin Zhiyong's resolve weakened after eating and drinking on Yang Kai's tab, and Yang Kai had indeed been generous with his gifts over the past few days. So after a moment's consideration, he dropped his guard and shared a few tidbits of information.
According to him, the Meng family had made their fortune in the salt trade before branching out into other businesses. Their enterprises stretched across the Three Rivers and Five Lakes, bringing in revenues of several to ten million taels of silver each year.
The current patriarch, Meng Deye, was fifty years old, with over a dozen wives and concubines. He had four sons and three daughters. The family's businesses were essentially managed by the four sons. Of the three daughters, two had already married well into families of comparable standing.
"It's only our Eldest Miss who's given the patriarch endless headaches." Yin Zhiyong's brows furrowed the moment he mentioned her.
Yang Kai picked up on it immediately. "What's wrong with the Eldest Miss?"
Yin Zhiyong suddenly glanced left and right. Still uneasy, he stood up and opened the door to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Only then did he sit back down and lower his voice. "In the Meng estate, the Eldest Miss is a taboo subject. Make sure you never bring her up casually."
Yang Kai straightened up and nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Brother Yin. I understand."
Yin Zhiyong took another sip of wine before continuing. "The Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss of our Meng family have long since married. But the Eldest Miss has remained unmarried all this time. Strange, isn't it?"
Yang Kai put on a surprised expression. "The Eldest Miss is still unmarried? How old is she?"
Yin Zhiyong shook his head. "Hard to say exactly, but she must be at least twenty-six or twenty-seven by now."
Twenty-six or twenty-seven… Yang Kai's heart stirred.
He lowered his voice. "Could it be… that the Eldest Miss is ugly? That no one would have her?"
Yin Zhiyong jumped, pressing a finger to his lips and glancing around nervously. "Do you have a death wish? How dare you talk about the Eldest Miss like that! If you want to throw your life away, don't drag me down with you!"
Yang Kai quickly slapped his own mouth.
Yin Zhiyong calmed his nerves and continued in a hushed voice. "Let me tell you — the Eldest Miss is far from ugly. She's as beautiful as a celestial fairy."