Catching a big fish
The situation was out of control for a while and Housekeeper Yang was surrounded by a crowd of people. Forget about talking to Yang Yansheng, even taking a step seemed an impossible task. His shouts were drowned out by the people surrounding him.
Jin Liuli jumped down from the table she was standing on and, seeing the signs that the housekeeper was sending her asking for help, she shrugged her shoulders to express her helplessness.
Yang Yansheng had heard Jin Liuli’s words from downstairs earlier and also planned to comply, but when he saw his housekeeper surrounded by a crowd, he became flustered, not knowing who to give his token to.
He was afraid that no matter who he gave the token to, there would still be those who would be displeased with the results and might cause disturbances.
It might be troublesome to the point that even the person who received the token would end up in trouble, turning his act of goodwill into resentment. Indeed, no good deed goes unpunished.
A man sitting beside Yang Yansheng gave a low laugh: “Master Yang, if you just took your token and went to see the Ghost Doctor instead, things wouldn’t have become so troublesome.”
Yang Yansheng sighed inwardly. Just how could he know beforehand that things would turn out this way? What had Shopkeeper Jin been planning on doing?
While he was feeling helpless, a knock sounded on the door.
Yang Yansheng was taken aback, but raised his voice to answer: “Come in.”
The person that opened the door was exactly Da Wu, who had just recovered his consciousness not long ago. He was still feeling a bit of soreness on the back of his neck and kept cursing Mo Xian in his mind for that.
If it wasn’t for the Shopkeeper Jin saying that those guys were on their side, he would definitely get back at them the very moment he woke up.
However, that was kinda weird. Since when those people from Mo residence became people on their side?
Da Wu’s mind had innumerous doubts, but when facing Yang Yansheng, he still eased his expression into a warm smile and said: “Master Yang, our Shopkeeper asked me to come here and have a word with you. She said that the idea you have in mind is not the best way to solve this situation. Since, no matter who you give that token to, there will certainly be a person who is not satisfied with the results who want to make a scene.”
“That’s why I asked the shopkeeper to draw the ballots once more!” Yang Yanshed was rather helpless, this scenario was exactly what he had been worrying about.
Da Wu shook his head, continuing to speak: “Our shopkeeper is a stubborn person, she would never break the rules she has established herself. But she has another idea, would Master Yang perhaps be interested in hearing it?”
“Please, say it.”
“Our shopkeeper said that, if it was not possible to assign it to someone else, then why not try to auction it? The highest bidder gets the chance and thus it’ll be fairer to everyone.”
Yang Yansheng was taken aback, his brows twisted in a deep frow as he seemed a bit reluctant to agree to this idea.
The man sitting next to him once again opened his mouth, smiling he said in a teasing manner: “This is only fair to those who have the money to spend.”
Da Wu glanced in his direction and with an expression filled with a smile said: “Guest, you misunderstood me. I haven’t finished speaking yet. The shopkeeper knows of Master Yang’s kind heart and is also aware that you would not be willing to take advantage of the common folk. We are not doing this in order to harm other people. Therefore, our shopkeeper suggested that Master Yang should use the money obtained in the auction to distribute among those who are in need of medical care but can’t afford it. This way, you’ll be able to help more than just a single person.”
“Furthermore, even if you did directly gave the chance to those who are poor to consult with the Ghost Doctor, they might not be able to afford the price the Ghost Doctor charges nevertheless, after all the Ghost Doctor is not like Master Yang, who help others without asking for something in return, but is known to possess a quite excentric personality instead. However, rather than giving them this opportunity, it would be better if Master Yang gives them some money instead. That way they might be able to see one of the other skilled doctors of Jiang Cheng. Wouldn’t that be an even bigger gain for them?”
Moreover, that would also raise Master Yang’s reputation… to a new height.
“Good, good, good!” Yang Yansheng nodded repeatedly, not being able to contain himself from clapping his hands. “Shopkeeper Jin’s idea is startlingly wonderful! If we do such, then this would be a truly meaningful act. Coming here today was really the right decision!”
Yang Yansheng looked very satisfied with this approach: “It seems that this is the real intention of Shopkeeper Jin in asking me to be present here today. She is also one of the few that are truly good inside. To come up with such a wonderful idea just for the sake of the common folk[1]. Waiter, you can say to Shopkeeper Jin that I’ll go along with her plan.”
Da Wu nodded repeatedly, then proceeded to bend his waist and excuse himself from the room.
It was only after the door closed behind him that a cunning glint flashed through his eyes, his lips curved into a big smile.
‘Master Yang, you have misunderstood it all. This was not the real purpose behind this idea, they are actually just planning on using you!’
Also, this type of diabolic scheme didn’t come from the Shopkeeper’s mind, but from that Ghost Doctor’s, who should be the one to truly practise medicine to help people all around, but instead wears a mask of kindness the whole day around to cover up for her own lazy self.
And now it’s time for those who are truly about to run out of luck to enter this stage.
(TL: They love setting these plans like it’s some sort of play. So… enter the scene, set the stage, watch the play… they are all vocabularies that come up here and there)
Da Wu went to find Jin Liuli while chuckling, she was once again standing on the table in the middle of the dining hall, looking at the housekeeper who was still surrounded by that crowd. With a light cough, she raised her voice slightly: “Everyone! Calm down! Calm down for a bit!”
Listening to Jin Liuli’s voice once again, the crowd paused and turned to her with hopeful eyes.
Jin Liuli chuckled: “Everyone, Master Yang has decided to assign his token through an auction. The one who offers the highest bidder will be able to get it into their hands.”
“What?” The crowd was startled, immediately becoming displeased at the decision. Most of those inside the hall were ordinary people. Just where could they get the extra money to participate in this auction? It would be much easier to try playing dead in order to get Master Yang to give them the sign out of pity instead.
They didn’t imagine that Master Yang could also be the type of person who would throw his morality out in order to profit out of a situation.
The crowd started buzzing with noise, their faces filled with complaints towards Master Yang.
Jin Liuli sneered, only then continuing her speech: “Master Yang said that the resources obtained through this auction will be fairly distributed to those patients who are truly in need of it.”
“…” the noise came to a halt for an instant, before the dining hall bursting into noises of excitement, everyone was feeling deeply grateful towards Master Yang.
Jin Liuli jumped down from the table “In that case, we’ll start this auction at a price of one tael of silver.”
After delivering those words, she left, leaving the rest in Da Wu’ hands and headed towards the backyard.
When he was going to the arched door, a man jumped from the eaves, and reported in a low voice: “Yu Feng came to stand on the arched door for a while, but was quickly recalled by Yu Zuolin.”
Jin Liuli nodded, the corners of her mouth bent into a smile as she continued walking back towards the room Yu Qiongluo was in.
“How is everything progressing?” Yu Qingluo took a sip from her tea, slightly pursing her lips. She seemed to be in high spirits, filled with excitement.
Jin Liuli crossed her legs after sitting on the chair in front of Yu Qingluo, her mouth curled into a crafty smile: “You can relax, it was all going very smooth. This big fish will be caught soon.”
“Big fish?” Ye Xiudu, who had been relegated to the background suddenly turned sideways, his eyebrows raising inquisitively as he asked: “Who on earth is the person you’re planning to deal with today?”
Yu Qingluo abruptly turned her head at him, saying coldly: “Go back to your nap.”
Translated by C, The Apostle of Coffee
Edited by NoveLeo, Life is a Drama
Translator’s Notes
[1] 百姓 – Commoners, common people, common folk – they are people who are free (are not slaves or have signed a contract of servitude) but are not high officials nor hold a title of nobility. Most of them are crafters or people with small trades and have enough budget to live their lives simply and cannot be considered to be wealthy.
Obviously Too Busy to Translate 
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