Don't mind my chatter, continue to push for rankings and ask for votes. There's still a ways to go before reaching the list, so I can only rely on everyone. One vote per person and we'll get on.
****** This one sentence truly caused a stir. Countless gazes immediately focused on Su Mu, full of disbelief.
So that's how it was! Yang Kai suddenly understood. He had been guessing Su Mu's purpose, but had only thought of two possibilities: for profit or for fame. He never expected to be completely wrong: what Su Mu was after was beauty.
Yang Kai had seen Manager He's daughter before. She was a lively young girl; though not stunningly beautiful, she was a delicate beauty with clear brows, bright eyes, and a slender figure. She was only fourteen this year and was known as a little beauty in Wumei Town.
Who could have imagined that such a young girl would catch Su Mu's eye, thus bringing this trouble to He's Rice Shop?
"You can't talk nonsense!" Su Mu's face flushed bright red as he tried to argue.
The man continued with a sneer: "I'm not talking nonsense. Though my brothers and I have some flaws and often do extortion, we would never slander a rice shop by saying they poisoned the rice, cutting off their livelihood. You must know, all you gentlemen are like our parents; cutting off your livelihood is like cutting off our own lifeline. How could I do that? All of this was instigated by this kid."
These words sounded sincere, making the crowd laugh.
Yang Kai timely asked, "After it was done, how much reward did he promise you?"
"Fifty taels of silver!" the big man answered.
"Fifty taels, quite a lot." Yang Kai nodded lightly.
After listening for a while, Manager He naturally understood the entire story. He glared angrily at Su Mu and said with contempt: "You despicable little man, using such dirty tricks. How could my daughter ever like you? For Lingxiao Pavilion to have scum like you, it's a disgrace to the sect's good name. You've wasted a handsome face; your character is not even one ten-thousandth of Young Brother Yang's. Truly, rice feeds a hundred kinds of people. I feel ashamed for your parents."
The other merchants also cursed and despised Su Mu's vile actions.
Su Mu's face alternated between green and red. He knew that after today, if he came to Wumei Town again, he would have to cover his face.
And the cause of all this was this Senior Brother before him! If not for him, today he would have won Manager He's favor. With more interaction, he could easily get close to the He family's daughter. Bearing the name of a chivalrous hero, being near the water would let him see the moon first, and he might even win the beauty.
But now, it had all turned to nothing. Not only had the plan failed, but his reputation was also ruined.
Under extreme shame and anger, Su Mu's expression instead calmed. He stared coldly at Yang Kai and said, "This Senior Brother, what is your name?"
"Guess!" Yang Kai winked at him.
Su Mu took a deep breath: "Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out who you are. You entered the sect over three years ago and still haven't broken through the Body Tempering Realm, so you must be a Trial Disciple. In all of Lingxiao Pavilion, there are no more than ten Trial Disciples. Just you wait, I'll settle this score with you properly."
With that, he turned and walked away. Su Mu had some skill after all; even if someone stood in his way, he pushed them aside, passing as though alone, and left unhurriedly.
After Su Mu left, everyone remembered the two men who had been beaten until their faces looked like pigs. But where were they? They had sneaked away much earlier during the exchange between Yang Kai and Su Mu.
This farce thus came to an end. However, Yang Kai had been sharp-eyed and exposed their false act, earning praise from the merchants. Especially Manager He, who was extremely grateful to Yang Kai.
The young shop assistant also looked at Yang Kai with admiration.