Chapter Fifteen Let Them Fight Among Themselves

Jiang Chen was leaning against the railing on the second floor of Drunken Immortal Tavern, listening to the music. Through the window, he saw Lin Yuanzhou stumbling hurriedly toward Willow Lane outside the East Gate, and couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“So even a scoundrel like you has moments of panic. Just wait, I’ll make you and Lin Lidong suffer for what you did!”

Gu Jun, who stood by his side, remarked, “Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong are both sons of wealthy families. Would they really tear each other apart for a widow? If they want women, there are plenty of young ladies from good families to choose from.”

Jiang Chen’s head swayed lazily to the clear melody drifting up from below. After a moment, he explained, “Those spoiled young masters are so used to getting whatever they want that they lose interest in what’s readily available. But that charming widow from the Zhai family, she’s exactly what captivates them.”

“What do you mean, captivates them?”

“It’s simple: a wife is not as appealing as a concubine, a concubine not as alluring as a courtesan, a courtesan not as thrilling as an affair, and nothing is more tempting than what one cannot have.”

Gu Jun nodded, only half understanding. As a man in his forties who’d never married, he could hardly fathom the shameless ways of those idle sons.

Jiang Chen, however, had grasped the weakness of Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong perfectly, and planned to seize this opportunity to give them a taste of their own medicine. When those two ruined his business before, they should have expected the day would come when he’d return the favor.

“If it weren’t for your tireless surveillance, we’d never have caught Lin Lidong involved with that pretty widow as well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to craft such a flawless plan.”

“We’ll just wait and see—the show has already begun.”

Lin Bufan clapped Gu Jun on the shoulder. This man was loyal and dependable, surely worthy of great trust in the future. It was a pity he had lost an arm—a true shame.

The next morning, just as expected, word spread that Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong had come to blows in Willow Lane the previous night over a disagreement. Those two good-for-nothings ended up both sprawled in the alley after exchanging a flurry of wild punches. If it hadn’t been for Qiao Jiaojiao, worried someone might die, calling for help, who knows how long they would have lain in that damp, chilly place.

After this uproar, rumors spread like wildfire through the city. It was said the two of them had both set their sights on the pretty young widow, and the entanglement among the three was more twisted than a knotted rope.

“So it turns out Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong both have a thing with the widow. If you’d seen Old Master’s face today, you’d think he was about to plant his cane right in theirs!”

Lin Qingxuan, long suppressed within the family, hadn’t laughed so heartily in ages. Today, he’d thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle. The sorry state of Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong put him in a fine mood whenever he thought of it.

The two scoundrels were scolded mercilessly and lost much favor in Old Master Lin’s eyes. At last, Lin Qingxuan had won a round.

“By the way, Jiang Chen, you asked me to get close to Lin Yuanzhou on purpose. What should I do next?”

Lin Qingxuan’s ambition was not simply to make his two cousins a laughingstock and call it a day. His real aim, of course, was the entire Lin family fortune.

Jiang Chen replied, “Don’t rush. You can’t become fat in just one bite. I’ve created a rift between Lin Yuanzhou and Lin Lidong that can’t be mended. That means they won’t join forces to suppress you anymore, and the pressure on you will ease.”

“I suspect Lin Yuanzhou, after last night, will soon see reason and realize it’s wise to win you over. If he doesn’t, he’ll start to worry you might side with Lin Lidong.”

Jiang Chen’s analysis was incisive. As they discussed their next steps, Lin Yuanzhou suddenly appeared at the Drunken Immortal Tavern.

Just like before, Lin Qingxuan arranged their meeting in a private room. This time, Lin Yuanzhou’s attitude had changed; instead of being aloof, he was eager to win Lin Qingxuan to his side.

“Brother, I’ve always known you’re capable. If we team up, Lin Lidong won’t stand a chance!”

Lin Yuanzhou spoke animatedly, spittle flying as he swore oaths, gripping Lin Qingxuan’s hand—promising neither would betray the other, and that they’d share the family fortune as equals in the future.

His words were so extravagant that Lin Qingxuan almost believed them. But noticing Jiang Chen signaling frantically through the window, he snapped out of the pleasant fantasy.

No wonder Lin Yuanzhou had managed to amass the largest share of the family fortune among the three cousins—with a silver tongue like his, he could paint the grandest pictures of future glory. Such men were always wealthy and expert in the art of indulgence. Lin Qingxuan echoed his words with a polite but insincere smile.

“Agreed. From now on, we share fortune and hardship together!”

Having made a show of brotherhood, Lin Yuanzhou finally revealed his true purpose for visiting the tavern.

“Now, let’s discuss how to deal with that wretched Lin Lidong. Unless he’s left penniless and thrown out by the Old Master, I, Lin Yuanzhou, will never rest!”

At that moment, Lin Qingxuan thought to himself how terrifying Jiang Chen truly was—Lin Yuanzhou’s every move and word matched Jiang Chen’s predictions exactly. He was glad to have such a man on his side; if Jiang Chen ever became Lin Yuanzhou or Lin Lidong’s confidant, he might never even know how he met his end.

“I hear Lin Lidong recently brought in a shipment of goods, planning to make a big move in town!”

Lin Yuanzhou replied, “Yes, that’s true. His business, Spring Renewal Hall, is a goldmine—far more lucrative than your tavern or my stables!”

“In that case, here’s what we should do…”

Lin Qingxuan repeated Jiang Chen’s plan word for word. Lin Yuanzhou frowned in thought, then quickly agreed.

“Exactly! Strike at his most vulnerable spot. Only then will he see who in the Lin family has real ability!”

Having set their scheme, Lin Yuanzhou left Drunken Immortal Tavern in high spirits, every step having played out just as Jiang Chen expected.

Earlier, Jiang Chen had instructed Lin Qingxuan to goad Lin Yuanzhou into targeting that shipment. If Lin Lidong’s goods vanished, Spring Renewal Hall’s business would suffer, and the Old Master would surely blame him for negligence.

“But in this case, aren’t we just doing Lin Yuanzhou’s dirty work for him?” Lin Qingxuan grumbled, puzzled.

“What’s the rush? I never said the plan ends here. Let the dogs fight each other for now.”

Jiang Chen had Lin Qingxuan write the time and place of their operation on a slip of paper and handed it to Gu Jun.