Chapter 78 - Er-ge
When Yu Tang heard that his empress wanted to save up a secret stash, he immediately raised his eyebrows. “Zhen sees that you need a spanking.”
“Wu…” The silkworm twisted around and wanted to stick out his hands, but the emperor had wrapped him up too tightly, and he couldn’t struggle free.
Yu Tang watched Song Xiao struggle inside the quilt and felt that it was very amusing. He simply placed him down and sat on top of him; then, separated by the blanket, he began to tickle Song Xiao.
“Ahahahaha…” Winter had already pa.s.sed, and they were using thin blankets. It was very ticklish, and Song Xiao’s twisting got even fiercer. “Your Majesty, spare this one’s life, hahaha…”
The dimples on his back were his most sensitive part, and the strange tickling sensation he felt under the blankets was like being teased by feathers, and was unbearable. Song Xiao laughed until he was in tears, and he had no choice but to cry for mercy.
With the person below him squirming back and forth, Yu Tang gradually started to feel somewhat hot, and he bent over to kiss Song Xiao’s lips.
Seeing the person above him calm down, Song Xiao closed his eyes and focused on kissing him. However, his hands that were hidden under the blankets stealthily crept out and loosened them. Hugging Yu Tang around the neck, he exerted all his strength to flip them over and press him down as he straddled Yu Tang’s waist.
“Disrespecting your superior!” Seeing Song Xiao like this, Yu Tang pretended to be angry, flipping them over and pressing Song Xiao down again. Song Xiao began to tickle him as well.
The two of them rolled around the large bed, struggling to overpower and properly bully each other.
Song Xiao was suppressed once again. Because Yu Tang had just rushed back after catching a plane, he hadn’t even changed out of his clothes yet, and his blue necktie hung down to touch Song Xiao’s face. Raising a hand and grabbing the necktie, Song Xiao pulled Yu Tang down and shifted over with all his might. Wanting to flip over once more, who would’ve thought that their bodies would lean into empty air…
‘Thump’. The two of them fell off the bed at the same time.
When they fell, Yu Tang instantly held Song Xiao tight and cushioned the back of his head with his hand. After they fell on the floor, he hugged Song Xiao and did a roll over the rug.
Song Xiao raised his head dizzily and saw that the emperor was still on top, while the back of his head was resting on a warm palm. His hand was still pulling on the necktie, and he couldn’t help laughing.
“Junzhu…” Yu Tang looked at Song Xiao laughing without restraint, and his eyes also couldn’t help revealing laughter. Fooling around like this was something that had never happened in his last life. His little a.s.sistant minister had also never dared to tug at his lapels like this and fight for control.
“En?” Song Xiao replied, raising his head and looking into his eyes.
“It’s really wonderful…” Yu Tang said softly. Getting up, he picked up the empress, with his naked, exposed legs, and tossed him back onto the bed.
“What?” Song Xiao didn’t hear the words clearly before he was thrown into the centre of the bed out of nowhere. Very soon, a body pressed down on him, the jacket discarded.
The instant his clothes were torn open, Song Xiao dimly recalled that the emperor hadn’t seemed to have showered yet…
Another shirt written off, Song Xiao thought with some pity. Shirts and t-shirts bought from the marts were very cheap, and could basically be thrown away after they were worn. However, his clothes weren’t like that ah! His were all very expensive! Yet, the emperor treated them like so, and every day, he would tear one.
Everything in Song Xiao’s bank account was his allowance from Song Zicheng. Even though it was a lot, it still wasn’t a large enough amount to invest, so he wanted to borrow some money from Yu Tang and round out the number.
“Borrowing money from zhen comes with interest.” The two of them discussed the matter over lunch. As Yu Tang spoke, he stole a pan-fried dumpling from Song Xiao’s plate.
Song Xiao glared at him. “I still haven’t received my salary from our last life ne.”
“Cough cough…” Yu Tang immediately choked.
Once this was brought up, Song Xiao began to bring up old accounts. Initially, an official’s salary in Great Yu wasn’t much, but later, when Yu Tang ascended to the throne, he raised the official’s salary. With his mere position as an a.s.sistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue, Song Xiao earned 500 taels of fine silver and 180 hu of grain annually. Back when Yu Tang had first married him, they had agreed that Song Xiao would be given a salary equal to that of a prince, who officially earned 10,000 taels and 10,000 hu of grain.
“Ignoring the grain, let’s talk about just the silver.” Song Xiao drank his milk and began doing the accounts. “One tael of silver is 1000 coins. Back then, one shaobing was worth two coins; now, one shaobing is worth one dollar. That is to say, one tael of silver is approximately 500RMB. You still owe me an official salary of 5,000,000.”
Yu Tang coughed dryly. Currently, besides the allowance which the Yu family gave him, he also had the dividends from Dari Media. He did have this money, but he still had other uses for it and couldn’t give Song Xiao this much in one go. For the first time in his life, His Majesty the emperor felt that he was so poor that he couldn’t even support his wife, and he rubbed his nose. “Didn’t I die back then? After liquidating my a.s.sets, an elder brother’s debt should be paid by his younger brother. You should go and request this money from Yu Lin.”
“Didn’t you come back to life?” Song Xiao glared at him. This guy still wanted to renege on his debt?
Yu Tang smacked his lips. “That, zhen will gather a lump sum for you. As for the rest… Wait for zhen to seize his position first before repaying you.”
“Owing this servant money comes with interest.” Song Xiao returned the words Yu Tang had said before, then took another sip of his milk, smiling proudly.
“Alright, alright, I’ll give you interest.” Yu Tang reached out and wiped off the milk stain at the corner of Song Xiao’s lips with his thumb as he replied without much care. Once he controlled a portion of the company, he would have the money to give to his wife.
After obtaining funding from Dayu Capital, Yu Qi’s team was able to complete the final stage within the year and release the project without delay. A member of the team wanted to sell this technology to different companies at a high price, solely profiting off the high cost of purchase, but Dayu Capital vetoed this proposal.
“We’re not angel investors. What we want are high yields in the long term. If none of you is good at operations, you can leave it to us,” said the project manager from Dayu Capital. They were prepared to establish an independent company and turn this product into a paying, long-term project which could be sold to large companies or individual clients.
Yu Qi also agreed to this suggestion and established a research and development company, while Dayu Capital helped them to set up a brand new promotion and marketing branch.
Yu Tang quietly helped Song Xiao to invest money through operations and become one of the first shareholders.
By the time all this was done, spring break had also arrived. Yu laoyezi originally wanted Yu Tang to return to the ancestral home, but Yu Tang brought Song Xiao to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas was a world-famous casino city and tourist centre.
Initially, Song Xiao thought this place would be depraved and corrupt, and utterly chaotic. However, it was a surprisingly beautiful place, and the fun things to do here weren’t just limited to the casinos.
Las Vegas had the extremely famous drop tower which was as tall as a skysc.r.a.per. At the top of the tallest building was a drop tower tall enough to touch the clouds. Sitting in it before rising to the highest peak and free-falling distinctly felt like jumping off a skysc.r.a.per.
Song Xiao wanted to ride it very much. After standing under it and looking at it for a long time, he looked at Yu Tang eagerly.
“Out of the question.” Being looked at with those eyes ticked Yu Tang’s heart, but recalling how the last time they rode roller coasters caused Song Xiao to fall sick for two days, he still hardened his heart and refused. Besides, it would be too dangerous if the safety belt happened to come loose in such a high place.
After entering the hotel, Song Xiao was attracted by the rows and rows of slot machines. The slot machines in most casinos used virtual casino chips that were loaded onto membership cards, and the amounts would be directly displayed on the electronic screens The ones on display in this hotel, however, were antique slot machines, and mainly ornamental.
You had to insert a coin, then pull the lever. If three identical symbols were displayed, then a pile of coins would fall out with a clatter. A few adults were standing in front of the slot machines and playing with full concentration. While Yu Tang went to check in, Song Xiao stood by and watched them play.
“Want to play?” Yu Tang walked over with a room card in hand and rested his chin on Song Xiao’s head.
“My G.o.d, come and see this!” a young lady screamed at the hotel entrance, and everyone looked in her direction. They then saw a blond man with an attractive figure getting out of a light gold sports car. He slowly removed his sungla.s.ses to reveal a pair of enchanting, dark blue eyes.
“It’s Hermann!”Everyone in the hotel became excited. Hermann was an A-List Hollywood star who was very popular in America. He had probably come to Las Vegas to film a movie, and a bunch of people who seemed to be the cast and crew gathered at the reception desk.
“Oh, ladies, I have to hurry and check in. If you want a group photo, let’s all take one together ba.” Hermann raised both his hands as he looked at the ladies who had flocked over, and agreed to requests for a photo together with a beaming smile.
Yu Tang wasn’t interested in this person at all. Seeing that Song Xiao had recognised that person at a glance, he was somewhat unhappy and pulled him upstairs.
“Dear Bernard.” After placating the movie fans, Hermann strode gracefully to the side of an Asian man at reception and hugged him. “What are you looking at?”
The man called Bernard was still looking in the direction in which Song Xiao had left. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
At night, Las Vegas was even livelier than during the day.
One of the grand casinos was divided into several areas for low- and high-stakes gambling. The areas for low-stakes gambling like roulette were generally the liveliest. As for poker as well as the VIP area at the back, it was incredibly quiet.
Pulling Song Xiao along, Yu Tang ambled past the crowd and found the manager standing in a corner, both hands tucked behind him.
“Tang shaoye, this way, please.” Leading Yu Tang, the manager bypa.s.sed the lobby and pushed open a pair of heavy, royal palace-style doors, and they entered a luxurious lounge.
There was vintage, wooden furniture everywhere in the lounge, and it was completely different from the regal decorations of the Victorian era. On a sandalwood table was a star anise incense burner img, with lit incense in it.
A pale man lay on an animal hide draped over a couch. The man wore a Tang suit embroidered with phoenix plumes. He had a lanky figure and a face that hadn’t seen much sun for years; it was so white it was almost translucent, and contrasted starkly with his dark lips, which were as red as blood. A person could be frightened out of their wits with their first glance of him, and even a.s.sume that this was a vampire who had crawled out of some grave.
The man raised his hand, and the person by his side pa.s.sed him a tobacco pipe, lighting it for him.
“This is that young friend of yours?” The man puffed on the pipe and looked at Yu Tang through the smoke. His pair of thin and narrow eyes looked rather frightening.
“He’s called Song Xiao.” Yu Tang pulled Song Xiao over and looked for a seat on the soft couch. “Xiaoxiao, call er-ge second older brother.”
“Er-ge…” Song Xiao blinked, but didn’t question it, and obediently called out in greeting.
“Tch…” The man scoffed and used the hollow part of the slender tobacco pipe to tap Yu Tang’s head. “Calling me er-ge just like that?”
This person was the second eldest in Yu Tang’s generation.
“En.” Yu Tang responded expressionlessly, and then said to Song Xiao, “This is my er-ge, Yu Ci. His name sounds like a girl’s, but he’s definitely a man.”
“Cough cough cough…” Hearing this, Yu Ci immediately choked. The bodyguard in a black suit next to him promptly knelt down and lightly patted his back.
Once he finished coughing, Yu Ci gripped the armrest of the sofa with his fair hand, the blue veins on it popping out.
Song Xiao quietly looked at Yu Ci. He knew a lot about the industry the Yu family was involved in here in America. Having a place of their own in Las Vegas wasn’t surprising at all. However, looking at Yu Ci’s appearance, he didn’t seem in very good health. Holding up such a large casino didn’t require just management skills; why did the family head hand the casino over to such a sickly young master?
After calming down with great difficulty, Yu Ci glared at Yu Tang. “You deliberately came over to p.i.s.s me off, didn’t you?”
“Where’s that person?” Yu Tang didn’t answer and turned to ask another question.
“I had someone break one of his legs. It’s probably almost time.” Yu Ci took the handkerchief which his bodyguard offered to him, and wiped the corner of his mouth.
In the bas.e.m.e.nt of the casino, a large, Caucasian man was shackled to a metal rail and was shivering in terror. It was none other than the fellow who had tried to drive into Song Xiao, the one named John.
John had been gambling here for a month, and had lost all the money that Qiu Mingyan had given him. On top of that, he owed the casino a high-interest loan of 500,000USD. There was a daily interest on the casino’s money; moreover, it was compound interest. Losing until his eyes had turned red, John had borrowed more and more money, until the amount finally exceeded 30,000USD. Once the casino believed that he couldn’t pay it back, they captured him.
The sound of leather shoes on the metal stairs was particularly clear in the silent bas.e.m.e.nt. Hearing this, John immediately lifted his head. “I – I don’t have money; give me a bit more, I’ll win it back very quickly.”
“Win it back?” A thug on the side sneered and slapped him. “I think it’s best not to waste any more time here; ripping you open and selling two kidneys and a liver should be just about enough.”
When John heard this, he was immediately scared senseless. He thought about all the ways he had to get money. His wife had divorced him a long time ago, and he didn’t have a job or a house. The sole large sum he made recently was for crashing a car into Song Xiao. “I know a woman in China; she still owes me a lot of money. Give me a laptop, or a cellphone that can make international calls. I can ask her for it.”
When Song Xiao followed Yu Tang in, John was talking to Qiu Mingyan on the phone.
“Give me 500,000USD right now; I’m in an urgent situation.” When John was confronting Qiu Mingyan, he wasn’t as scared, and his att.i.tude was very tough. “I recorded all our past conversations. If I don’t get the money now, I won’t be able to live any longer; I might as well go to the police station and turn myself in.”
On the other end, Qiu Mingyan sneered. “The voice was modified, and the emails sent to you also self-destructed. Do you think I’m three years old?”
“Really? I’ll send you an email in a moment – take a look,” John said in a low voice and hung up. He discussed wanting a laptop that could send emails with the thug, and was immediately beaten up again.
Song Xiao didn’t want to continue watching, and pulled Yu Tang away and left.
Erge Yu Ci was waiting outside, and he idly looked at their intertwined hands. The bodyguard behind him walked over to drape a jacket over his shoulders.
Little Theater
‘The Relationship Between Yu Family Characters’
Xiaoxiao: You have too many family relatives, I can’t remember them
Fish Tang: Come, come, I’ll bring you to visit your in-laws
Grandfather’s generation: Fish Too Fishy, Fish Too Salty, Fish Too Hard
Father’s generation that have made an appearance: Fisherman (Dad), Seventh Uncle (no name), Fish Boat (Fourth Uncle), Fisher Youth (ninth uncle)
His generation: Fish Scales, Fish Fry, Fish Fin, Fish Pearl, Fish Bone
Xiaoxiao: ＋＿＋ Seems even more confusing
Fish Tang: …You only need to remember zhen
Xiaoxiao: What’s your name again?
Fish Tang: （╰＿╯）＃
Baobao Notes
Oh jesus so many translator notes.