Black on white, a stack of IOUs was slammed down in front of Xu Xi.

These IOUs ranged from as little as three to five taels to at most twenty taels, yet they had accumulated to a massive sum of five thousand taels.

Xu Xi simply could not believe his eyes.

“Impossible, it can’t be this much!”

“Let him open his eyes wide and look clearly.” The triangular-eyed man laughed coldly.

One person held down the constantly retreating youth to prevent him from moving, while another person brought the IOUs close to his face.

Those IOUs flipping past one by one were like death warrants overwhelming him from all sides, making Xu Xi feel as if he had fallen into an icy pit.

“See it clearly now?” the triangular-eyed man asked with a smile.

Xu Xi drew in a forceful breath and said through gritted teeth: “I… I’ll win it back!”

“Win?” The several people exchanged glances and all laughed.

The triangular-eyed man heavily slapped Xu Xi’s shoulder: “Young Master Xu, wanting to win it back is fine, but first pay back these five thousand taels, otherwise do you think you can get something for nothing?”

“I have no money!” Xu Xi’s stubborn streak rose, his eyes bloodshot. “If you’ve got the guts, just kill me!”

That day, he had seen a middle-aged man have his finger chopped off for being unable to repay his debt.

He had been afraid, yet still couldn’t control his legs from running to Qianjin Pavilion.

The triangular-eyed man smiled: “Young Master Xu is a young lord of a marquis estate—your life is precious. How would we dare harm a single hair on your head?”

“Then what do you want?”

“Debts must be repaid—it’s only natural and right. Of course we’ll go seek payment from Young Master Xu’s parents.”

Upon hearing that they would go to the marquis estate to collect the debt, Xu Xi panicked.

He had caused trouble many times before. Sometimes he silently bore it himself, and sometimes it would be brought before the adults.

After seeing disappointment in his father’s eyes too many times, over time he had become indifferent.

No matter what, he would never satisfy his father anyway.

But this time was different. If his father knew he had lost five thousand taels gambling, he would surely beat him to death.

“Lend to me one more time, just one last time…”

The triangular-eyed man shook his head: “Young Master Xu said the same thing last time.”

A flash of confusion passed through Xu Xi’s eyes.

Had he said this before?

Before he could react, he was pushed and staggered.

“I won’t go!” Xu Xi struggled desperately.

The triangular-eyed man pressed down hard on his shoulder, his face full of incomprehension: “Young Master Xu, you’re the eldest young master of the Changchun Marquis Estate, the precious son of the Changchun Marquis. Would your estate really refuse to pay a mere five thousand taels?”

Xu Xi’s fierce struggling subconsciously stopped.

The triangular-eyed man’s words undoubtedly pierced this youth painfully.

That time, Miss Luo had extorted a sum of silver from his father—coincidentally, it had also been five thousand taels.

For a long time after, his father’s gaze when looking at him had been ice-cold, as if looking at an object.

Five thousand taels… would his father pay again?

In the moment Xu Xi was dazed, he was pushed out onto the main street.

Everywhere on the street was covered with a light layer of white, and pedestrians walked hurriedly.

Xu Xi shivered, feeling extremely cold.

Behind him, hands pushed him forward.

The youth stumbled along, utterly disheveled.

Soon, passing pedestrians cast curious glances, then shook their heads and withdrew their gazes.

Who knew which family’s wastrel son was about to bring disaster upon his parents—Qianjin Pavilion was truly a place that harmed people.

Pedestrians passing by Qianjin Pavilion were accustomed to such sights, lacking even the enthusiasm to chase after the excitement. However, when these men brought Xu Xi before the gates of the Changchun Marquis Estate, their enthusiasm suddenly surged.

This unfortunate child was a young master of the Changchun Marquis Estate?

The triangular-eyed man and the others quickly had the gates of the Changchun Marquis Estate opened.

With the precedent of Miss Luo coming to cause trouble, the gatekeepers dared not delay for a moment in transmitting the message inside.

The Changchun Marquis was currently engaged in idle conversation with the Changchun Marquis’s wife, Yang Shi.

With the New Year approaching, there were always many matters both inside and outside the household that needed arranging.

A servant hurried in: “My lord, madam, something has happened outside.”

The Changchun Marquis and Yang Shi exchanged glances.

“What matter?” the Changchun Marquis asked in a heavy voice.

“Several people have come to collect a debt, saying the eldest young master gambled and owes them silver…”

The Changchun Marquis’s expression changed immediately: “That beast! Where is he?”

The servant kept his head lowered: “The eldest young master is in their hands.”

The Changchun Marquis glanced at Yang Shi and strode outside.

Yang Shi concealed the smile in her eyes and quickly followed.

Outside the gates of the Changchun Marquis Estate, quite a few people had already gathered to watch the excitement.

The Changchun Marquis walked out, and seeing that familiar scene, his head immediately throbbed.

“You must be the marquis, yes?” The triangular-eyed man smiled and made a bow.

The Changchun Marquis forced out a smile: “Gentlemen, if there’s business, please come inside to discuss it.”

The triangular-eyed man quickly waved his hands, his voice extraordinarily loud: “People like us with muddy legs don’t have the qualifications to discuss anything with the marquis. Better to speak clearly right here.”

The Changchun Marquis’s face darkened, his words carrying a warning: “Gentlemen insist on disregarding the marquis estate’s face?”

The triangular-eyed man laughed heartily: “This humble one wouldn’t dare sweep away the marquis’s face, but this humble one cares more about this wretched life. If we go inside, once the marquis estate’s great gates close like that, who knows if we’ll be able to walk out? Brothers, am I right?”

“Right!” The other several people joined in the jeering with grins.

The triangular-eyed man pushed Xu Xi forward: “I imagine the marquis doesn’t want to waste words with us muddy-legged folk either, so let’s speak plainly. Young Master Xu owes us a sum of money. If the marquis repays the money on your son’s behalf, we’ll leave immediately.”

The Changchun Marquis shot Xu Xi a fierce glare.

Xu Xi kept his head half-lowered, his face numb.

After that incident with Miss Luo, he seemed to have gained some experience in dealing with humiliation.

“How much?”

The triangular-eyed man held up one hand.

“Five hundred taels?” The Changchun Marquis, suppressing his fury, instructed the steward, “Give it to him!”

The triangular-eyed man looked at the Changchun Marquis with surprise: “The marquis jests. Would a mere five hundred taels make us accompany Young Master Xu all the way to his home?”

An ominous premonition rose from his heart. The Changchun Marquis stared coldly at the triangular-eyed man.

The triangular-eyed man cupped his hands: “If the marquis gives us the five thousand taels in gambling debts that your son owes, we’ll leave immediately.”

“Five thousand taels?” The Changchun Marquis blurted out, his expression changing instantly.

Five thousand taels again—was this scoundrel trying to take his life?

If this continued, this family would sooner or later be completely ruined by this scoundrel!

“You’re extorting us!”

“We wouldn’t dare extort the marquis estate.” The triangular-eyed man held the stack of IOUs before the Changchun Marquis’s eyes. “Please look carefully, marquis. Are these written by your son’s own hand or not?”

The Changchun Marquis stared at that familiar handwriting, trembling with rage.

“Five thousand taels is nothing but a drop in the bucket for the marquis estate. Surely the marquis wouldn’t begrudge it?”

The Changchun Marquis nearly spat blood.

Five thousand taels was a drop in the bucket? Did these people think the marquis estate’s silver transformed from snowflakes?

Last time, being swindled out of five thousand taels by Miss Luo—the pain still hadn’t subsided, and now another five thousand taels. The marquis estate would be stretched thin even for celebrating the New Year.

This beast!

Looking at his eldest son’s indifferent expression, the Changchun Marquis’s fury rose, and he said coldly: “There’s no money. Do as you please with him.”

Xu Xi’s head shot up, looking toward the Changchun Marquis.

The Changchun Marquis’s eyes were full of disgust.

This wretched son—it was time he learned some lessons.

“As we please?” The triangular-eyed man’s lips curved. “If the marquis lets us do as we please, it just so happens that right across from Qianjin Pavilion is the male prostitute hall. In that case, we’ll really do as we please…”