Chapter Seventy-Five: Truly a Thief’s Shifty Eyes

“Are you telling the truth? My wife can really be sold for thirty taels of silver? You're not just saying that to fool me, are you?”

Between thirty taels of silver and the wife he had married, Gu Dacai naturally leaned toward the silver.

Without money, he couldn’t gamble, and after just two days away from the gambling house, he was itching all over, desperate to lose himself in a good game.

“Brother Dacai, why would I lie to you? If you’re really willing, I can give you fifteen taels upfront, as long as the buyer is satisfied after inspecting the goods.”

Old Fourth winked and grinned, full of confidence as he spoke. This wasn’t his first time doing such a thing, and he always managed to pocket a little something in the process, so he was more than happy to arrange it.

“Brother Dacai, don’t overthink it. Old Fourth definitely knows how to handle these things—look at his ugly, shriveled wife, even she fetched fifteen taels!”

“Man, when he pulled out that silver ingot, it nearly blinded us all.”

None of these bachelors ever considered that Old Fourth might regret it a little—greed for silver was all they saw.

Gu Dacai downed the last of his drink, the alcohol surging to his face. He rubbed his stomach and slammed the table hard.

“Done!”

“I have no use for that woman anyway. Selling her will at least bring in some money. It’s settled.”

At the thought of thirty taels coming his way, Gu Dacai’s heart burned with excitement.

Seeing his agreement, Old Fourth slapped the table and called out in delight at Dacai’s decisiveness.

“Since you’ve agreed, I’ll go make inquiries for you tomorrow. If someone’s interested, you’ll have to bring your wife over.”

Those with a taste for women naturally wanted to inspect the goods—no one would hand over thirty taels blindly.

After all, nobody is a fool, and money doesn’t just fall from the sky.

“All right, help me find someone. I’ll lure that woman down from the mountain.”

Gu Dacai propped one foot on the bench, replying with gusto.

The men at the table cheered and applauded his decision, convinced Gu Dacai was about to strike it rich.

Leaving the city just before curfew, Gu Dacai returned home to find the lamp still burning inside—the two old ones were surely waiting for him.

Sure enough, as soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, the two elders inside immediately came out.

“Dacai, is that you?” Yang squinted, struggling to see what was happening in the yard.

“It’s me. What are you all doing?”

Gu Dacai shut the gate with force, his tone dismissive.

“What do you think? Waiting for you! Out so late again—don’t tell me you went gambling!”

The moment Yang suspected her son had gone gambling, her face grew tense with worry.

There was no money left at home, and even the secret stash had been dug out. Could he have borrowed at the gambling den?

The thought made Yang unsteady on her feet; she hurried over and whispered,

“You didn’t borrow money at the gambling house, did you?”

Gu Dacai couldn’t be bothered to listen—he felt nobody at home understood him.

“So what if I did? What’s it to you? Why are you meddling so much—are you tired of living or something?”

The words enraged Yang—was their concern misplaced?

Would he only believe they cared if he died out there and no one came to claim his body?

“What are you saying? You’re my son; can’t a mother care about her own child?”

“Did you listen at all to what I said today?”

Gu Dacai grew even more irritated hearing her bring it up again, spat on the ground, and snapped,

“Forget it. Apologizing is out of the question. Tomorrow, I’ll drag that wretched woman back myself.”