usatvline Chapter 117 Choi Si's Threat
Chapter 117 Choi Si's Threat
"Brother Li, if it weren't for me, where would you be today, so powerful and influential? I heard that today in court you confiscated fifty strings of cash from the Zhu family. Aren't you even willing to show me a little pity?"
Choi Si's expression was grave, her eyes filled with hostility.
Li Chong didn't even glance at him: "Those fifty strings of cash were for the plaintiff, what does it have to do with me? You were just a page before, could you even earn one string of cash a month? Now you've squandered nearly a hundred strings in just a few days and you're still not satisfied?"
"By the way," Li Chong turned to look at him, "how did you manage to squander so much money these past few days? What did you do? Did you buy houses or land?"
Cui Shi curled her lip at Li Chong's explanation, not believing it at all.
Are there really such kind-hearted people in this world? For the sake of a few common people, they went against the Zhu family and even asked for money on behalf of others, without taking any benefit for themselves.
Could it be that Li Chong is a living saint?
Of course, he wouldn't say these things to Li Chong's face.
Turning his head away, Cui Shi casually replied, "I've made a few friends these past few days, and all the visits have been to places that cost money. This is the last time, so please give me some more."
"Welcoming and seeing off guests?" Li Chong sneered. "Those few scoundrels, all they do is fawn over you all day. What's the point of being polite? Tell me honestly, where did all the money go?"
Cui Shi was losing face. He glared at Li Chong and said, "Why do you care so much? You got this magistrate position thanks to my efforts. You're so powerful in officialdom now, can't I enjoy some wealth and status?"
Li Chong knew that Cui Shi would bring up this topic.
Since he had received a favor from someone, Li Chong's tone softened somewhat.
"Tell me clearly where you spent the money before I cover this hole for you."
After a moment's hesitation, Choi Si said in a low voice, "Gambling den."
"What?" Li Chong didn't hear clearly and leaned forward to ask.
"A gambling den!" Choi Si-il emphasized, then explained, "Just bring another fifty—no! Twenty—just another twenty—and I'm sure I can win back my losses!"
Upon hearing this, Li Chong's face turned ashen.
He assumed that Li Chong had bought property or visited a brothel and chosen a top courtesan. If that were the case, Li Chong would be unhappy, but not furious.
But Choi Si got involved in gambling. Once a person becomes a gambling addict, there is no bottom line left.
Selling one's children for gambling is commonplace, let alone selling Li Chong.
"Gambling? Who gave you permission to get involved in this!" Li Chong shouted sternly. "It's a bottomless pit. How much money can you possibly fill it with? There's no money. And from this day forward, you'll stay in the yamen and not leave!"
"I'll order the constables not to leave the yamen. You'll have food and drink inside, you won't starve. That's all!"
After saying that, Li Chong stood up, preparing to have someone investigate Cui Shi's experiences these past few days, as well as the hooligans surrounding him.
He wanted to see if someone was deliberately setting a trap.
But Cui Shi showed Li Chong no respect whatsoever.
In his view, Li Chong's success today was entirely due to his efforts, and all he wanted was some money, which was just a drop in the ocean compared to the assets in the government office.
Why is Li Chong so stingy?
In an instant, feelings of jealousy, resentment, and other emotions surged into my heart.
Cui Shi stood there, his face grim, and said, "You stop right there! You surnamed Li, if it weren't for me, you'd just be a penniless debt collector. How could you be so wealthy today? A mere imposter, and you dare to order me around?"
"Let me tell you, if you don't give me the money, I'll go around shouting about it tomorrow, and I'll send you to the execution ground sooner or later!"
Li Chong suddenly turned around: "Are you serious? If our affair gets out, we'll both be sentenced to death!"
"snort!"
Cui Shi sneered, "Don't try to fool me. I've already inquired about it these past few days. I'll just say I was forced into this by you, that I had no choice but to become a thief, and then I'll report you. Even if I'm guilty, I probably won't die. As for you..."
Cui Shi walked up to Li Chong and slowly said, "Impersonating an official and associating with bandits—if you're punished for these crimes, beheading would be the least of your worries! Don't think I don't know that young lady is nominally a servant, but in reality, she's inextricably linked to the mountain bandits!"
"Now that you hold an official position, would you dare to trade places with me?"
Leaning close to Li Chong's ear, Cui Shi uttered his threat with a sinister tone.
Li Chong slowly closed his eyes; in the end, it had come to this.
Although Li Chong had anticipated Cui Shi's foolishness, he thought that Cui Shi was cowardly and might not dare to die with him, so he could still control him.
Unexpectedly, this kid was insatiable and developed a gambling addiction, which proved to be incurable.
At this moment, Li Chong harbored a strong desire to kill, but he had not yet made up his mind.
"Are you sure you want to use this to threaten me?" Li Chong asked softly.
Cui Shi straightened up and leisurely circled Li Chong once: "Don't blame me, we're doing a business that could cost us our lives. But you've become a high-ranking official, while I'm still a servant, which is ultimately unfair."
"If that's the case, does that mean I'm not allowed to enjoy wealth and luxury?"
"And what about gambling? Are you willing to lose all your money to others just to enjoy wealth and luxury?" Li Chong retorted.
Choi Si-sil was momentarily speechless upon hearing this, then retorted, "I just made a mistake on the spot. I'll definitely win it all back next time!"
With a sigh, looking at Cui Shi's bloodshot eyes, Li Chong knew that he had completely lost his temper.
Given Cui Xian's current state, he wouldn't listen to Li Chong's explanations about the dangers of gambling.
However, he still wanted to give it a try.
Li Chong said, "I can give you money, but you have to promise me you won't gamble anymore."
Choi Sil looked annoyed: "Why are you meddling so much? Just one question: are you going to pay or not? If not, we're done. You just wait and see!"
After giving Cui Shi a deep look, Li Chong finally relented.
"Alright, since that's the case, I hope you can really keep your word and turn the tables in one fell swoop."
Cui Shi grinned: "That's for sure! Don't worry, brother, when I win big money, you'll get a share too. Then we'll buy a big house and won't have to live in this government office anymore."
Li Chong replied softly, "Then I'll wait and see."
Li Chong wrote a note to Cui Shi, telling him to take it to withdraw money, and then watched Cui Shi leave happily.
"Gambler, can't be kept around."
After making this decision, Li Chong felt a strange sense of relief.
Previously, there was another flaw in Li Chong's identity, namely Cui Shi, who was not on the same side as Li Chong.
But he had done Li Chong a favor after all, so it was not appropriate to use any means to silence him.
But now that Choi Si has taken the initiative to threaten him, it gives Lee Chong an excuse, an excuse to kill him to silence him.
Once a gambler gets hooked, they won't care about anything else, let alone Li Chong's little secret.
Therefore, killing him to silence him became the best option.