Chapter 3: Loan

Lie Zhanfeng followed the memory of the original owner and made his way to the familiar casino, a place known for its shady dealings and high stakes. The sounds of clinking coins, shuffling cards, and hushed conversations filled the air as he entered. He wasn’t here to gamble; he was here for business.

As he stepped inside, several rough-looking men gave him nods of recognition—thugs, like the ones the original owner had worked with before. They were the kind of people who didn’t ask questions, which was perfect for Lie Zhanfeng’s current goal.

He approached the back office and asked to meet the manager. Within moments, the door opened, and the manager—a stout man with a cigar dangling from his mouth—looked him up and down before motioning for him to come in.

"Well, well, what brings you here?" The manager grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "What do you need, my friend?"

"Boss, I need a loan," Lie Zhanfeng said, his voice steady. "50 taels of silver."

The manager raised an eyebrow but didn’t hesitate. "You know our terms, right? 25% interest per month."

Lie Zhanfeng nodded. He knew full well what he was agreeing to, but the interest rate was standard in a place like this. It wasn’t a generous offer, but it was the only way forward. "I’ll take it," he replied.

The manager chuckled. "Bold, aren’t you? Alright, 50 taels of silver it is." He tossed a small pouch across the desk. "But remember, if you don’t pay it back, we’ll have a little... arrangement for you."

Lie Zhanfeng took the pouch without comment, slipping it into his belt. He had no intention of getting caught in their webs, but for now, he had to play the game.

Alas, only loan sharks would let him borrow some money due to his identity as a thug.

Lie Zhanfeng sighed as he head his way out towards the exit of the Casino.

As he left the office, he missed the chance to overhear the manager and his lackey talking in low voices behind him.

"Why’d you let him take a loan?" the lackey asked, shaking his head. "He’s not gonna pay it back. You know that, right?"

The manager exhaled a cloud of smoke and leaned back in his chair. "You’ve got no vision. If he can’t pay, it means he’ll have to work for us. And we’ve got plenty of jobs for a guy like him—errands, collecting debts, whatever we need. If he’s smart, he’ll be careful with how he handles it. But either way, he’ll be working for us for as long as it takes to clear that debt. No one walks away from us, not once they owe."

The lackey frowned. "But what if he tries to run? You know, make a break for it?"

The manager smirked. "If he tries to run, we’ll find him. And then he’ll wish he never left. You’re thinking too small, my friend. If he can’t pay, he becomes part of our little operation. And that’s a lot more profitable for us."

Outside, Lie Zhanfeng remained unaware of their conversation, but even if he overhear it, he wouldn't care at all. His focus was entirely on the task at hand. He went straight to a nearby shop where he bought a new set of clothes to replace his torn ones. The vendor eyed him curiously, but Lie Zhanfeng wasn’t interested in small talk.

He bought a set of basic food rations—rice, dried fish, and some vegetables—enough to get by for a while.

Lie Zhanfeng also bought two steamed buns by the way to fill his stomach, feeling unsatisfied, he bought two more before he proceed to go to another shop and picked out two types of seeds:

Morningdew Turnip: A fast-growing root vegetable known for its crisp, refreshing taste. It matured in about 28–30 days and was commonly used in soups and stews. Its quick harvest time made it perfect for generating some fast income.

Moonshade Basil: A fragrant herb with calming properties. It was highly valued in teas and tonics, and it took about 25–28 days to mature. While it took a bit longer to grow, it could fetch a higher price, especially among wealthy mortals in need of medicinal plants.

He paid for everything in full, leaving the shop with his hands full of supplies.

By the time he's done with his shopping spree, only 30 taels of silver is left in his pouch. As Lie Zhanfeng stared at the significantly lighter pouch on his belt, he muttered under his breath, "Next time, I’ll be frugal. No more splurging on luxury items like... rice."

On his way back to the village, Lie Zhanfeng couldn’t help but notice the strange looks from the villagers. Whispers followed him, growing louder with every step he took.

"Did you hear? That guy robbed someone at the casino!" one villager said in a hushed voice.

"Robbed? Really? I heard he stole a whole pile of silver and ran off with it," another voice chimed in.

"It’s true! I heard it straight from one of the thugs—he’s on the run now, hiding out with his loot."

"Nonsense!" interjected the village baker, hands covered in flour. "He was wearing new clothes, too! Clearly, he kidnapped a rich noble’s daughter and got a ransom!"

"But isn’t Lie Zhanfeng still single?" asked the other villager, scratching his head. "Maybe the daughter fell in love with him, and he’s planning to start a new life with her wealth."

By the time Lie Zhanfeng reached his small house, the rumors had spiraled into an exaggerated tale of him robbing the casino blind, escaping with an armful of silver and perhaps even a few magical treasures along the way. No one knew the truth, but that didn’t stop them from spinning their own versions of the story.

Lie Zhanfeng, still oblivious to the chaos swirling around him, set to work. He plowed the land, focused on getting everything ready for planting tomorrow. His attention was entirely on his crops and making a fortune, not on the wild rumors that were being passed around like wildfire.

As dusk fell, Lie Zhanfeng sat down to a simple meal, content with his day’s work. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the cool evening air settled around him. He finished his dinner in quiet solitude, wiped his mouth, and leaned back, glancing at the faint starry sky.

And just like that, Lie Zhanfeng’s first day of building a new life came to an end.