CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 209: DISGUISES AND MASQUERADES

In the evening, they set up the newly crafted two-level round table, with a coat of tung oil that had dried on top.

The table was large enough, and the dishes and bowls on it could rotate, making it much more convenient for picking up food.

Yun Jiao poured wine for both Lao Jiu and Liu Er.

With someone to drink with him, Lao Jiu was delighted, clinking glasses with Liu Er after each sip.

Guihua’s culinary skills were unmatched by Mrs. Chen’s, even Lin Shuo praised, "The taste of these dishes is truly remarkable."

Zhang Shun and Xiao Chuan, along with Liu Er, focused solely on eating.

Only Liu Zhu was unfortunate, still lying stiffly on the bed, unable to rise.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Shun filled a bowl with rice for Liu Zhu and brought it to his room.

After dinner, while Mrs. Chen was still busy in the kitchen, Jiang Youzhi picked up a bundle and headed out with Ah Hu.

Yun Jiao was in the shop at the front when she saw the two leaving and couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, "Where are you going? Is it to earn silver?"

Jiang Youzhi paused, "Yes."

Yun Jiao blinked, "Can you take me with you?"

She wasn’t interested in earning silver, she was simply curious about where Jiang Youzhi earned his silver.

Jiang Youzhi’s expression grew tense, "No, you can’t come."

He hesitated, then said gently, "I won’t be going after this; today’s the last time."

With that, the two continued walking out.

Once outside, they quickly turned into a dimly lit alley.

The alley was a dead end, with walls on all sides and a wall at the front, typically no one would come here.

Jiang Youzhi quickly opened the bundle and changed into an opulent brocade robe.

Then, he took out a bottle from the bundle, poured its contents into his palm, and smeared it on his face, instantly darkening his complexion to a sallow hue.

Next, he affixed two small mustaches and asked Ah Hu, "Are they crooked?"

Ah Hu adjusted them for him, and Jiang Youzhi added a short beard to his chin.

If one overlooked the refined air Jiang Youzhi carried, he could easily be mistaken for a wealthy landowner at first glance.

Ah Hu, on the other hand, took off his brocade robe and donned a simple short brown coat, then smeared black on his face.

Once he had arranged the bundle on his back, the two emerged from the alley, and Ah Hu asked, "Where are we headed today?"

Jiang Youzhi replied while walking, "To the place Brother Zhang mentioned last time, next to the Lichun House."

"I heard it’s frequented by merchants and wealthy landowners."

"Tonight, we’ll make a big score and then call it quits."

The two walked several streets until they reached a bright and bustling avenue.

This street was rather quiet during the day, but came alive with excitement at night.

At the end of the street, Jiang Youzhi and Ah Hu looked up at the signboard above a shopfront, "Fuyun Chess Club."

Standing at the chess club’s entrance were two gatekeeping servants, who stopped Jiang Youzhi, finding him unfamiliar, "Is it your first time here, sir?"

Jiang Youzhi halted his step and nodded, "I was introduced by Brother Zhang."

The servant hurriedly offered a respectful gesture, "Ah, a friend of Brother Zhang’s. Please come in, young master."

Upon entering, another servant approached and stayed beside Jiang Youzhi, "May I know what the young master prefers to play?"

Jiang Youzhi walked unhurriedly and casually said, "I only play two things, one is dominoes."

"And the other is chess gambling."

This Fuyun Chess Club, ostensibly a chess club, was actually a high-end casino.

Most guests here were affluent locals and officials.

It’s said that the stakes are high here too.

The servant bowed slightly, "May I know how high the stakes the young master prefers to play?"

Jiang Youzhi smiled faintly, "The higher the better."

He had asked Brother Zhang before, spending one night playing dominoes here, the winning and losing upper limit was about ten to twenty thousand silver.