Chapter 4, Leave no survivors

As Xu Xun was about to turn around and return to the courtyard, he suddenly noticed that Xu Liang, who should have been passed out in bed, had somehow come out and was standing at the entrance in a daze. The two exchanged glances, and seeing that Xu Liang's face was still flushed and the smell of alcohol lingered on him, Xu Xun approached him apologetically

Pah! Xu Liang spat on the ground in annoyance and then said fiercely, "If I fall for your tricks again, I won't bear the surname Xu! I have a keen eye for people; he definitely won't be this unlucky. Of course, I bet that he will turn misfortune into good fortune!"

"The Great Ming Code?" The monk was momentarily taken aback by Xu Xun's question, then burst into silent laughter, "I didn't expect it; you actually have some clever calculations, much better than that old fool Xu Ba who is as explosive as charcoal! According to the Great Ming Code, if the man initiates the divorce, all the betrothal gifts must be returned to the woman. If the woman is unwilling to take the matter to the authorities, the man would receive eighty strokes. However, if the woman wishes to initiate the divorce and the man is unwilling to report it to the authorities, then even the party that eventually marries her would also face the same punishment. While this is the rule, if it truly escalates to the authorities, it ultimately depends on which side has stronger backing."

Upon hearing this complaint, the monk shrugged nonchalantly and said: "You have lived for quite a number of years, and only now do you understand this principle? The reason you have suffered the misfortune of the innocent is precisely because you saved the life of Young Master Xu Qi. Otherwise, if he had died, it would have been the end of it, and others would have directly reaped the benefits!"

Ah, times have changed. Look at Xu Qishao, not even batting an eyelid. Why are you outsiders making a fuss?" The monk said, a half-smile on his face as he walked up to Xu Xun, waving his hand in front of him. "Xu Qishao, are you truly unconcerned, or are you so furious that you can't even speak?

That old bastard and - the - book? Back in the day, Lord Xu Er helped him quite a bit, and this is how he treats the son of his benefactor

I bet that your old friend will definitely get through this challenge. So, what do you say, will you take the bet?

Believe it or not. Although you wander the streets and alleys in peace every day, the people you encounter are certainly not of any standing, so there is naturally no way to inquire about this news

At this point, the monk suddenly paused, then smiled thoughtfully and said: "However, Old Master Shen probably does not want things to escalate and tarnish his reputation. This is actually a small trick. As long as you announce your departure, you are no longer a member of the Xu family. Even if the marriage contract still exists, this union would have nothing to do with you. It is quite possible that they would prefer to find an outstanding match for their daughter within the Xu family"

Hearing such a sound, Xu Xun looked up and saw a bald head appearing on the wall. At first glance, it seemed fine, but upon closer inspection, he noticed several scars on that smooth head, which startled him. Immediately after, the bald man pressed against the wall and leaped down to the ground, his clothing, which was difficult to discern in color, resembled a monk's robe. Before Xu Xun could ask anything, the middle-aged monk walked over gracefully.

Due to the urgency to digest the news he had just received, and with Xu Liang's repeated urging, Xu Xun did not linger for long before taking his leave. As he departed, Xu Liang was about to vent his anger at Master Huitong, but unexpectedly, his old friend across from him suddenly burst into laughter

The explanation at the beginning precisely alleviated Xu Xun's urgent need for understanding the Great Ming Code, and the final sentence was even more profound, which he quickly grasped. Just as he was pondering this, Xu Liang over there, fueled by alcohol, slammed his fist hard against the wall: "It is said that among the prominent families, murder goes unseen; I never expected that even the Xu family, a minor household, would be so ruthless!"

I originally thought that Xu Ba had encountered some good fortune, unexpectedly meeting a wealthy benefactor who treated him to drinks and lavish meals. I did not anticipate that this would lead to significant trouble. Xu Ba, I apologize; I had hoped to live here peacefully for a few more years without provoking the local power, the Xu family. Also, Xu Qi Shao, you should refrain from wandering around aimlessly; your troubles are far greater than those of Xu Ba

Although the monk's words were increasingly unpleasant, Xu Xun had heard far harsher remarks in his past life and was indifferent to them. If the attitudes displayed by Master Xu and Xu Jin had previously raised his vigilance, then the current news undoubtedly represented a severe survival crisis. Looking at the grinning monk, he couldn't help but scrutinize him for a moment before suddenly asking, "What does the Ming legal code say about annulment of engagement?"

"What are you talking about, Brother Xun? An old man like me only knows to live with a clear conscience, so I don't care about these troubles!" Xu Liang huffed angrily at the monk before turning his head to say, "Besides, with this old body of mine, I don't have to rely on Monk Huitong to survive. With this strength, I can find work anywhere! In short, Brother Xun, you should hurry back and take care of your own matters. I'm all alone and unburdened, so it's easy for me!"

"Isn't that settled then? Why are you still angry with me?" Master Huitong chuckled, shaking the wide sleeves of his monk's robe, and said, "If he passes this hurdle, in gratitude for your life-saving grace, even if this house of yours is taken away, there is an eight or nine out of ten chance that he will invite you to stay with him. Why would you still care about this shabby place of mine?"

"Alright, alright, even if it is like this with the *picture* book." The middle-aged monk shrugged and skipped over this topic, then suddenly squinted and smiled, saying, "How about we make a bet?"

Seeing Xu Xun frown, a young servant behind Xu Jin immediately interjected proudly, "My young master just spent one hundred and twenty guan to purchase this courtyard. From now on, this courtyard belongs to my young master! That old man Liang still owes a month's rent, and with the upcoming year's rent, my master graciously only demands one hundred guan from him! If he cannot pay, he should pack up and leave as soon as possible!"

As he approached, he scoffed, "I thought you, Seventh Brother, would learn from your past mistakes, but I see you are still mingling with such lowly people. Truly, birds of a feather flock together!"

Regarding such petty tricks, Xu Xun, who has lived two lives, is certainly clear in his heart, yet he smiles slightly on the surface and says: "I see. Third Brother indeed has a good eye; this courtyard has a good location, excellent orientation, and even better feng shui. Did Third Brother buy it with the intention of renovating it and moving in when he gets married in the future?"

Xu Liang's expression immediately darkened, and he scolded in a rough voice: "I was just reminded of my past when I looked at him; what does that have to do with my unfortunate child! Besides, it was his father who helped buy a thin coffin back then and also supported me with a few coins. I am not like that old bastard from the Shen family; I remember all these favors!"

"This is my territory, how can I not come here?" Xu Jin looked around boldly, a mocking smile on his face, and said, "You tell that old man Liang, within ten days, if he cannot come up with one hundred guan in rent, he should get out of this Taiping Li!"

Yes, young master

The monk raised an eyebrow and then swiftly shook off Xu Liang's hand: "The elders of the Xu family are currently colluding to convene a clan assembly, aiming to expel Xu Qishao, the thorn in their side. It is said they have also garnered support from the Shen family. Isn't the Shen family engaged to him? However, their numerous enterprises are thriving more than ever, so why would they care for a spendthrift? Naturally, they are more than happy to join in and add insult to injury."

This is Xu Jin, the eldest son of Lord Xu, ranked third in the clan. Xu Xun raised an eyebrow and said with a half-smile, "Since you find this place so lowly, why has Third Brother come here?"

Xu Jin was infuriated upon hearing this, his finger nearly pointing at Xu Xun's face: "How could I possibly be interested in such a shabby place!"

Seeing Xu Liang being rejected by the monk, he did not take it to heart, merely giving a wry smile and shrugging his shoulders. Xu Xun, an outsider, naturally would not fly into a rage and stand up to accuse the monk of lacking loyalty. As for the last reminder, it stirred something in his heart, but since the monk spoke in vague terms, he could not grasp the underlying meaning and chose not to pursue the matter further, simply nodding to indicate his understanding. However, while he refrained from questioning, Xu Liang beside him seized the monk and asked irritably, "Don't speak in half-truths; what trouble does Brother Xun have? How come I don't know about it?"

Xu Ba, if your child had not died, he would be about the same age as him, right

Upon hearing the mention of a bet, Xu Liang immediately became alert, frowning and glaring at the other party: "What are we betting on?"

Oh, isn't this the Seventh Brother?

No, no, I certainly do not wish to have such a malicious guest demanding one hundred guan in rent from me

Upon seeing Xu Xun, the young gentleman approached with a smile that did not reach his eyes. In contrast to Xu Xun's shabby attire, he was dressed in a sky-blue silk robe, adorned with a touch of jade on his headscarf, presenting a rather impressive appearance. He appeared to be older than Xu Xun and was a head taller, with a resemblance between their brows and eyes, though he often squinted, which added an air of cunning to his demeanor

Xu Jin noticed that more and more eyes were glancing around, which made him so angry that he felt smoke rising from his seven orifices. Considering the pressing matters at hand, he realized that any rash actions would surely lead to a good beating from his father upon his return. He could only let out a light snort and beckon to the two young servants with a gesture, saying, "Enough, I have no time to bicker with you, nor do I wish to waste my efforts in this rundown place! You two, make sure to come collect the payment on time; if you don't receive the money, just tear down this dilapidated courtyard for me!"

"It's nothing, Uncle, you need not worry. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will surely be a way; when the boat arrives at the bridge, it will naturally straighten out." In this brief moment, Xu Xun had calmed down. He was never the type to fly into a rage when faced with a crisis; instead, he began to comfort Xu Liang. When the old man, still under the influence of alcohol, impatiently unbuttoned his coat and opened his arms, Xu Xun added, "Uncle, if it weren't for your rescue, I wouldn't have attracted so much trouble."

"In that case, Third Brother is indeed willing to spend money!" Xu Xun's expression remained unchanged. Noticing that many passersby on the street were casting curious glances, he deliberately raised his voice and said, "A dilapidated courtyard, and Third Brother actually spent over a hundred guan to buy it. That is quite extravagant. Although the Xu family's main branch is not short of that little money, spending so much on a broken courtyard is quite strange, especially since the last time we wanted to renovate the clan school, they said there was no money in the accounts to cover it."

As soon as he called out "Uncle," Xu Liang waved him in, then closed the courtyard gate. He then scoffed irritably, saying: "A few days ago, several regular customers stopped hiring me to fetch water, and I knew someone was up to no good. Now it seems that is indeed the case. This shabby courtyard was originally only three hundred wen in rent per month. If he wants to buy it, let him buy it. At worst, I can stay with an old friend next door for a few more days."