Chapter 208 The Arena

Caught by Qi Ning, that man thought he had done something wrong. After hearing what Qi Ning said later, he sighed with relief and said while smiling, “Sir, something interesting is going on over there. You should go and take a look now. People are having martial arts competitions in the arena and it has lasted for three days. Today will be the last day. The winner will be announced later.”

Qi Ning was slightly shocked and asked, “Martial arts competitions?”

“It’s held by Tian Family.” The man explained, “If anyone can be the winner, he will get a reward of one hundred taels of silver. It’s said that he will also get a secret gift.”

“One hundred taels of silver?” Qi Ning sneered. In the past, he might felt satisfied with the amount of money, but recently, he got to know lots of objects worth even thousands of taels of silver. One hundred was just too little money for him now. Moreover, the winner could only get such little money. People with brilliant martial arts would never condescend to fight for it. He continued, “What is that secret gift?”

That man chuckled and replied, “I heard it was precious. Some people said the winner might get married to a daughter of Tian Family. As for what it really is, we just have various guesses and can’t confirm it.”

“Oh?” In his previous life, Qi Ning also often heard about the “Competition for a Spouse” but he had never seen it in person. He got interested in it now, “You mean Tian Family is holding a competition for a spouse?”

“I just heard about it from someone in private. Mrs. Tian hasn’t said so. We don’t know what the truth is.” That man got anxious, “Sir, I’ll go and have a look first. I may miss it if I’m late.”

Qi Ning loosened his hand and the man ran away immediately.

Qi Ning glanced at Ximen Zhanying who was standing next to him and said with a smile, “Zhanying, what about we go and take a look at it?”

Ximen Zhanying ignored him and thought that anyway, Qi Ning could just do whatever he liked this afternoon and when the night fell, he would have to go back home. No matter what he wanted to do, Ximen Zhanying just needed to follow him until the night.

To be employed by the Mansion of the Divine Marquis, officials had to go through strict tests. Many of them even needed to spend several months passing those tests. Compared with that, the time of an afternoon was nothing.

Duan Canghai came over at this time and said, “Marquis, the arena has been set up by Tian Family for several days, but those who have fought on it are very lousy. None of the martial arts masters has shown up.”

“Would any master fight in front of the crowd like a monkey in the circus just for one hundred taels of silver?” Qi Ning answered, “Since they have set up the arena, people of Tian Family should be more generous and make that to one hundred taels of gold. Then, maybe some masters will be attracted.”

Duan Canghai laughed and said, “That’s why I say women are always stingy and do mean things.” Suddenly he realized something and turned his head. At this time, Ximen Zhanying was staring at him coldly and her beautiful eyes were like sharp blades. Duan Canghai realized his slip of the tongue and said with a smile right away, “Miss Ximen, I… I’m not talking about you.”

Ximen Zhanying sneered without saying anything.

But Qi Ning couldn’t help asking, “What do you mean by that?”

“Marquis, I knew on the first day that Tian Family had set up the arena, but I thought you wouldn’t care about such a subtle thing since countless strange things happened in the capital. Thus, I didn’t report it to you.” Duan Canghai explained, “The Tian Family is running the business of medicinal materials!”

“Oh?” Qi Ning asked, “They also have herbal medicine shops?” He thought he had dealt with many things related to such shops recently.

Duan Canghai immediately explained, “No, Marquis. What Tian Family is running is different from that of ordinary shops. Yong’an Hall only sells ready-made medicine while Tian Family provides people with crude medicinal materials.”

“Crude medicinal materials?” Qi Ning was a bit confused, “What are the differences?”

Hearing it, Ximen Zhanying seemed to have found an outlet and show some disdain. Qi Ning glanced at her and asked, “What? Are you happy because I don’t know it? Do you know it, then? Differences in professions make one feel worlds apart. I’m not a doctor so it’s reasonable for me to have no idea.”

Ximen Zhanying wanted to argue with him but she tolerated it because she knew if she began to talk to him, he wouldn’t stop easily.

“Marquis crude medicinal materials are just those that haven’t been processed.” Duan Canghai said while feeling slightly embarrassed, “Medicinal materials in the shops are usually processed and people can directly decoct them after bringing them home, but crude medicinal materials need to be dried by the sun. Ordinary shops serve patients while Tian Family’s shops sell products to those shops.”

“Oh?” Qi Ning finally understood, “Have they sold things to Yong’an Hall as well?”

“Yes.” Duan Canghai replied, “In the capital, there are still a dozen of medicine merchants like Tian Family and many people in the environs of it also do this. Otherwise, the majority of the crude medicinal materials provided by Tian Family are from Ba Shu. The source is very reliable so they are famous in the city. Lots of medicinal materials in Yong’an Hall are bought from Tian Family’s Medicine Shop.”

“You said women were always stingy and did mean things just now. Why did you say so?” Qi Ning asked in confusion, “Is the general manager of Tian Family’s Medicine Shop a female?”

“Exactly.” Duan Canghai replied with a smile, “Marquis, you may not know this. Tian Family’s Medicine Shop has been in operation for three generations in the capital. It was one of the medicine merchants that settled in the capital after the founding of Chu. The Tian Family came from Ba Shu. At that time, the war was just ended and there were so many injured or ill people. What’s more, an outbreak of the plague had been going on for some time. Tian Family was just a small businessman back then, but the host of it seized the opportunity and began to sell medicine materials to people in the capital. Soon, Tian Family became capable. When Tian Zhongsheng assumed the position of general manager, the family property had been big and a solid foundation had also been laid in the capital, but unfortunately… Unfortunately, three years ago, when Tian Zhongsheng transported medicinal materials from Ba Shu to the capital, he was attacked by robbers. He not only lost the dozen of carloads of medicinal materials but also his life.”

Qi Ning was shocked. He frowned and asked, “Wouldn’t the Tian Family go bankrupt, then?”

“Many people thought they would definitely collapse since such a disaster had happened.” Duan Canghai answered, “Although Tian Family owned big property, that dozen of carloads of medicinal materials are very valuable. They were all robbed and it almost resulted in the bankruptcy of the Tian Family. At that time, because of the heavy debts and the ostracization of its peers, everyone thought that Tian Family’s Medicine Shop would just vanish in the capital, but no one expected that although Tian Zhongsheng was dead, his widow shocked everyone by holding on and repaying all the debts within two years. Now Tian Family’s Medicine Shop is still so successful in the capital.” With his thumb up, he continued, “Mrs. Tian is indeed a bit capable.”

Qi Ning asked again, “Then, had the killer been found out later?”

“That happened in Ba Shu. It was said that the local government officers did have investigated it, but it ended up with nothing definite. They still don’t release any findings even until today.” Duan Canghai replied, “Ba Shu is an area of poor natural conditions. After killing others, robbers can hide in the mountains. Who can find out where they are? Tian Zhongsheng was just an ordinary businessman so those officers in Ba Shu would never try their best to look for the killer.”

Qi Ning nodded slightly and thought the Tian Family was indeed unfortunate. He felt confused and asked, “The Tian Family runs the business of medicinal materials. Why was the arena suddenly set up?”

“I also didn’t know the reason clearly.” Duan Canghai replied, “But it’s crowded and noisy there after the arena was set up. No master has come and fought on it, but to get the reward of one hundred taels of silver, at the beginning, many scoundrels came up on the arena and wanted to take their chances. They just fought randomly. I don’t know the situation there now.”

Qi Ning smiled and said, “That man said there was a secret gift just now and it was a competition for a spouse. Is Mrs. Tian going to marry again after remaining a widow for three years?” Regardless of Ximen Zhanying standing beside him, he asked, “Duan Canghai, do you know what Mrs. Tian looks like?”

“I heard she is pretty.” Duan Canghai chuckled and replied, “Marquis, do you want to take a look?”

Hearing their conversation, Ximen Zhanying frowned and grunted.

Qi Ning pretended not to hear it and replied, “Duan Canghai, you’re not young now. People of your age may already have a son-in-law or a daughter-in-law. What about we go and have a look. If Mrs. Tian is looking for a husband and you also like her, you can step into the arena and fight for her. Then, marry her at last.”

Duan Canghai felt embarrassed and asked, “Marquis, you…you are joking, right?”

“No, I’m not.” Qi Ning answered seriously, “You’ve worked for the Mansion of the Divine Marquis for many years. I should plan your marriage for you even though you don’t care about it.”

Ximen Zhanying couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned her head and said with a sneer, “Shameless!”

“Zhanying, what do you mean by that?” It was hard to hear her say something. Qi Ning immediately questioned, “Who did you think was shameless? Why did you say so?”

Ximen Zhanying didn’t argue with him at all.

Qi Ning grunted and walked eastward with his hands behind his back. After hesitating for a moment, Duan Canghai followed up. Glaring at Qi Ning’s figure, Ximen Zhanying finally walked to keep up with him reluctantly after he had taken a dozen of steps forward.

In fact, it was easy to find the arena. They walked eastward along the street and saw a crowd ahead when they were almost at the street corner. In the middle of the crowd was an arena that was not big. Two flags were hung on it with one writing “Show us your skills” and the other “A big gift is awaiting you”.

At this moment, two men were fighting fiercely in the arena.

Duan Canghai was of a stocky build and had great strength. Since Qi Ning wanted to appreciate the competition, he just walked in front to force people to make way for him. Thus, Qi Ning got close to the arena very easily.

One of the two men on the arena was in his early forties with dark skin and looked strong. His opponent was in his early thirties and looked slenderer.

People were forbidden to bear arms in Chu. Thus, they could only fight with fists and feet.

Qi Ning looked around and found three tables behind the arena. Three old men in blue robes wore little hats and sat upright there. They looked very serious.

Qi Ning thought maybe the three men were martial arts masters and supervising the competition here? However, judging from their dressing, they looked very like servants. Suddenly, he figured it out and believed they were just servants of Tian Family.

Qi Ning saw the eyes of one old man closed and thought he was very knowledgeable and elegant, but then, the man’s head nodded forward like what the chicken did when they were pecking rice. Qi Ning knew the man had already fallen asleep.

The competition in the arena was so drastic but the old man could still fall asleep. It could be seen that he had gotten used to such fights these days and even wasn’t interested in them anymore.