New Chapter.
Book 4 Chapter 9 - Sincere Collaboration
Xiang Yushan still looked like he was not completely awake yet, the look of a second generation prodigal son with green face and white lips, but his smile was still very much amiable. Without any trace of politeness he simply plopped himself down on a seat, and cheerily said, "Meeting old friends in a foreign land is indeed a real joy in life. And this is …”
Kou Zhong had no choice but to introduce, "This is our Jiejie.”
Ever since Xu Ziling found out that he belonged to the notorious Baling Bang who specialized in human trafficking, he truly loathed this person from the bottom of his heart. He said coldly, "Since Xiang Xiong is Baling Bang man, it can be said that persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Right now we are not even friends, Xiang Xiong please excuse yourself.”
Listening to this remark, even Susu was confused; she was not clear about the relationship between Xiang Yushan and these two boys.
But Kou Zhong giggled and said, "What a coincidence, I wonder if Xiang Xiong has received favor from that Peng Liang Hui s1ut and is thinking of transferring us as your property to her?
Xiang Yushan was still a slick and sly man; raising his hands in mock surrender he said, "Xu Xiong, Kou Xiong misunderstood me. You misunderstood our humble gang even more. Please let Xiaodi [little younger brother] …”
Xu Ziling impatiently cut him off, "Could it be that Baling Bang is not in the business of selling human flesh but in selling pork meat?”
Kou Zhong patted Xiang Yushan's shoulder, while with ‘brows raised in delight and eyes laughing' said, "I heard your precious gang is Yang Guang, that fatuous monarch's lapdog, and here is precisely the Wagang Army territory; if Xiang Xiong does not get out of here, this time it will be our turn to sell you.”
Xiang Yushan smiled wryly and said, "Ever since we got to know each other, other than a bit of misunderstanding, we do not have any grudges. Could it be that two Xiongtai [brother, a polite appellation for a friend of one's age] will not even willing to give Xiaodi a chance to offer an explanation?”
Noticing that even after receiving a hundred insults from these two boys this man was still humbly stooping down trying to defend himself, Susu could not bear not to speak up, "Just give Xiang Gongzi a chance to offer an explanation!”
Xiang Yushan gratefully said, "Jiejie is really good.”
"She is not your Jiejie,” Xu Ziling crossly said.
While Kou Zhong snapped, "Spit it out!” [orig. ‘you have fart, let it out']
But Xiang Yushan was amazingly patient; unexpectedly he still did not take any offence. Lowering his voice, he said, "Within Eight Gangs Ten Societies, our Baling Bang ranks second of the Eight Gangs, our reputation is extremely resounding; however, it was destroyed by some people who are blinded by greed in order for them to curry favor with Yang Guang.”
Kou Zhong leaned closer to his ear and giggled in a weird way and said, "Certainly Xiang Xiong's manner looks just like those ‘blinded by greed' people!”
Not to know whether to laugh or cry, Xiang Yushan said, "Kou Xiong please do not speak sarcastically to Xiaodi.”
Xu Ziling asked in amazement, "People who resort to propriety must have some favor to ask. Since Xiang Xiong submits to humiliation like this, there must be a conspiracy behind this.”
This has made Susu unable to stand by idly and watch; slightly on edge, she said, "Even prisoners have the right to speak, couldn't you just let him finish?”
Xiang Yushan delightedly said, "Miss[1] indeed understands reason. I, Xiang Yushan hereby swear that other than owning and operating casino and brothel, I have never participated in that kind of ‘offending Heaven and reason' activity the two Xiongtai are referring to.”
Kou Zhong sneered and asked, "Then where did you get those beautiful women in your casino from?”
Xiang Yushan replied, "If there is a single woman that our Xiang family has abducted and forced to be a prostitute, let me, Xiang Yushan, not die a good death.”
The two boys were simply too stunned for words.
Xiang Yushan heaved a sigh, and then he continued, "Truth be told, we have been harmed by that incapable ruler that we became like this. It was because our gang has always been in good relationship with the imperial court, plus there are members of our gang who became government officers. At first we only helped that muddle-headed ruler to gather beautiful women from all over the world for his merriment and sexual enjoyment. Who would have thought that this fatuous monarch is avaricious and insatiable? Just because he loves to go on a tour, he built palaces everywhere. Just from Luoyang to Yangzhou, he built no fewer than forty temporary imperial residences. And on each site he wanted over a hundred beauties to wait upon him. On top of that, he himself has several thousand imperial concubines and palace beauties. Just think, how many women he has altogether? We also have our hands and feet stuck deep in the mire.”
Of course the two boys had never imagined that Baling Bang had this kind of predicament; unwittingly their hostility toward Xiang Yushan was reduced by several degrees.
Xiang Yushan forlornly said, "Yang Guang not only loves women, he also loves men. And if that is not enough, the most terrifying thing is that he loves to do new trick every day. For example, he wants to make ceremonial clothes from the feather and plumes of birds and beasts, so all birds and beasts with the desired feather and plumes were caught until almost nothing left. Or like during the second year of the great undertaking, Tujue's Qimin entered the imperial court. In order to show off his wealth, Yang Guang ordered to have the previous dynasty's younger generations to act as his family members; unexpectedly he enlisted more than thirty thousand people in the imperial court. And when he did not have enough officers and men, we were forced to do it. In reality, we are also victims.”
And then he let out a cold snort and said, "But now the situation is reversed. We no longer have to listen to his order.”
Kou Zhong frowned and said, "You shouldn't have listened to his order to begin with!”
"But if we did not do it, someone else would, and the outcome would not be much different,” Xiang Yushan argued, "And inevitably our Baling Bang would have immediately fallen from power.”
"So what do you want from us now?” Xu Ziling asked.
Xiang Yushan smiled apologetically, "That day Xiaodi had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; turns out two gentlemen are important characters whose names shook the Jianghu recently. Currently I am under Er Dangjia [second master, see also Book 3 Chapter 8 on Ren Meimei] Xiao Xian's order to come specifically to explore the possibilities of mutual cooperation.”
Kou Zhong laughed in spite of himself, "You are too polite. Turns out you are also after that treasure, which we basically don't know anything about.”
Xu Ziling sneered and said, "You might as well not explain it. Right now the rumor is spreading around everywhere; what was false has become the truth. Who would believe that we really don't know the treasure's whereabouts?”
"Gentlemen are wrong,” Xiang Yushan said with serious expression, "From the start Xiao Er Dangjia did not believe that you know the treasure's whereabouts.”
The three people could only stare blankly.
Susu knitted her eyebrows and said, "Then why did you take the risk to find my two Didi? For what?”
Xiang Yushan lowered his voice, "That is, of course, for the account book!”
Immediately Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other. Other than people from the Li Clan and the Yuwen Clan, who would know that the account book was in the two boys' possession?
Xiang Yushan smiled and said, "Just by looking at gentlemen's expression, I knew that Er Dangjia's belief is not bad. I, Xiang Yushan, had no choice but to prostrate myself in admiration. Right now the whole world is being led by the nose by two gentlemen.”
In full alert, Kou Zhong swept his gaze around the small dumpling restaurant, he sternly said, "So you are going to rob the account book from us!”
"How could Xiaodi dare?” Xiang Yushan hastily said, "Since Kou Xiong and Xu Xiong were able to snatch the account book from Yuwen Chengdu's hand, and were able to elude Yuwen Clan's pursuit, plus you were able to inflict injury to Yuwen Wudi, how could Xiaodi have the guts to provoke the tiger? I am only here on behalf of our humble gang to discuss the conditions of our cooperation.”
And then he continued surreptitiously, "Don't gentlemen wish to bring down Yuwen Huaji? He also happens to be our humble gang's number one enemy.”
[1] The word ‘Miss' here is ‘guniang', not ‘xiaojie' like the one they used to refer to Susu's boss, Zhai Jiao. The easiest explanation would be: ‘xiaojie' (miss) is the counterpart of ‘shaoye' (young master), while ‘guniang' (miss) is the counterpart of ‘gongzi' (young master). Am I confusing you?