Chapter 389: Caught red-handed with the stolen goods Chapter 389: Caught red-handed with the stolen goods Logically speaking, even if the soap formula was swindled from him, Gaosheng shouldn’t have ended up so wretched. After all, when the Liu Family bought the soap formula, they indeed paid a large sum of money.
However, the most shameless act of the Liu Family lay in how, when Gaosheng, brimming with joy and holding the silver note, stepped out of the Liu Residence, eager to redeem his sister, he was immediately captured by the Liu Family who accused him of stealing their silver.
Furthermore, they found the silver note on him, a total of five thousand taels of silver, catching him red-handed.
The Liu Family’s third son personally identified him. He did not disdain Gaosheng for being a mere country lad and even treated him like a brother, providing him with heartfelt hospitality for so long. Yet, he never expected that Gaosheng would use him as a stepping stone to steal his family’s money.
Gaosheng’s leg was broken on the spot by the Liu Family, who then dismissively drove him away. Moreover, the Liu Family still managed to maintain a reputation for benevolence, showing such tolerance even toward a thief!
Gaosheng had no way to proclaim his innocence; that five thousand taels of silver was what the Liu Family had given him to buy his soap formula. But who would believe him if he spoke out?
The Liu Family was powerful and influential; what status did Gaosheng have?
By the time Ye Jiu finished listening, his rage was beyond measure.
If the Liu Family had just stolen the soap formula, Ye Jiu’s rage might have been less, but they did not stop there. They cruelly broke his elder brother’s leg as well.
Gaosheng, having spent the silver coin on his journey, had barely any left, facing difficulties even in finding lodging, let alone visiting a clinic for his leg. Moreover, as he also needed to inquire about Ye Jiu’s whereabouts, Gaosheng soon moved from the inn to the streets.
Later, he came across a little beggar and moved in with him to a beggars’ den, which at least gave him a place to hide. He dragged his broken leg every day, accompanied by the little beggar, in search of news about Ye Jiu.
If it wasn’t for not having found Ye Jiu yet, he probably wouldn’t have been able to continue.
By the time Ye Jiu, wiping his tears, entered the inn, the innkeeper approached him, “Young master, although you paid with silver when you stayed at our inn, our inn is not a den for beggars. You can’t bring just anyone here. What if other guests see? How could we continue running our inn?”
At that moment, weighed down by his heavy mood, Ye Jiu did not wish to speak further and immediately pulled out a silver ingot from his bosom, without even looking at the amount, and handed it over, “Is this enough to let someone in?”
“Enough… it’s enough, young master may do as you please, I’ll get busy then.” The innkeeper turned around, bit the silver, and then walked away with a cheery smile.
Rich people are indeed generous with their money. Their small inn didn’t host many guests in a day. That twenty taels of silver was equivalent to two days’ earnings for their inn, and now it was just for one more guest.
“Please, innkeeper, could you prepare some more hot water and a set of clothes, and arrange some good food,” requested Ye Jiu.
“Ah, the hot water will be ready soon, young master, please wait a moment…”
Ye Jiu went upstairs, where Gaosheng had not yet awakened. Ye Wenzheng had taken him into his own room and laid him by the table. Only then did Wenzheng straighten up, gasping for breath.
“Cousin, you watch over Uncle Gaosheng for a bit. I’ll go ask the innkeeper for some hot water to let Uncle Gaosheng wash up,” said Ye Wenzheng.
“I’ve already instructed the innkeeper. Let’s wake him up first,” Ye Jiu said.
“This…” Ye Wenzheng looked on, unsure of where to begin.