32：The Golden Deal

After leaving the police station, Shen Hao didn't go home.

He had planned to enjoy his time in the city, but unexpectedly ended up at the police station. Shen Hao felt nothing but bad luck—truly unlucky.

So, he headed to a bathhouse, soaked in a hot bath, and got a massage.

He spent the next three days in the county, enjoying himself. No police came looking for him, which lifted his mood considerably.

Eventually, he went to Lao Jin's gold shop and collected 176.4 jin (88.2 kg) of silver.

Back home, Shen Hao looked around at the mess he'd made of his room and couldn't help but shake his head.

He'd been living off takeout for the past few days, which made him nostalgic for the simple home-cooked meals his grandparents used to make back in the village.

Gazing at the full moon in the night sky, a fleeting sense of loneliness crept over him.

But it lasted only a moment. Soon, he was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through TikTok to kill time.

As for practicing martial arts—forget it. As a modern man, he simply didn't have the patience.

Lying flat and doing nothing was Shen Hao's favorite pastime.

If he were truly disciplined, he wouldn't have failed to even get into a second-tier university.

Besides, isn't long-term laziness a form of discipline in itself?

His past efforts weren't because he was hardworking—they were purely for survival.

Now that he was swimming in wealth, all he wanted to do was relax.

While scrolling, his feed was filled with yoga influencers, women cycling in tight leggings, and countless female streamers.

Damn, big data really knows how to target people.

After a while, Shen Hao returned to the fantasy world.

Thinking about the swords he'd bought, he suddenly felt excited.

Unable to resist, he pulled one out from his spatial ring and began practicing the Breeze Sword Technique.

The swift, seamless moves were mesmerizing.

Watching from the side, Song Yongci and Ji Dongge couldn't help but feel impressed.

Even Ji Dongge hadn't expected Shen Hao to be so skilled with a sword.

He'd assumed Shen Hao was just a spoiled rich kid. Clearly, he had underestimated him!

After completing the twenty-two moves of the Breeze Sword Technique, Shen Hao's forehead was covered in sweat.

Song Yongci quickly grabbed a towel and rushed to his side.

"You must be exhausted, Young Master," she said softly, gently wiping the sweat from his brow with great care.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Song Yongci said, hurrying to the entrance.

When she opened the door, she was slightly surprised to see a woman in black, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

It was the same woman who had paid her 200 taels of silver before—Wenren Yiyi.

With a cool, indifferent tone, Wenren Yiyi said, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Song Yongci hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at Shen Hao.

Realizing who it was, Shen Hao gave her a subtle nod.

Song Yongci finally responded, "Yes, please come in."

Once inside the courtyard, Wenren Yiyi's gaze immediately landed on Shen Hao.

Short hair. The name from their previous deal was Shen Hao.

She walked over, addressing Song Yongci, "And this gentleman is…?"

Song Yongci looked at Shen Hao, her eyes filled with silent questions—Can I tell her?

Though gentle by nature, Song Yongci wasn't naive.

It was clear Wenren Yiyi had an agenda, asking about Shen Hao the moment she arrived.

No one visits without a reason, Song Yongci thought, slightly worried this woman might mean Shen Hao harm.

Seeing this, Shen Hao spoke up directly, "I'm Shen Hao. What brings you here, miss?"

So it is you! Wenren Yiyi felt a surge of satisfaction but skipped any pleasantries. She removed her hat, revealing a face as delicate as a porcelain doll.

Her skin was pale as snow, perhaps from wearing the hat often.

Her exquisite features were perfectly proportioned, with bright almond-shaped eyes that seemed to speak on their own.

Without beating around the bush, Wenren Yiyi said, "I'm here to propose a deal."

Shen Hao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of deal?"

"I really liked the wine you sold to Lai Yuejing," she replied. "I'd like to buy some from you. Don't worry—I'll pay you well. Plus, you'll gain the friendship of the prestigious Wenren family."

Shen Hao chuckled inwardly.

This woman really knows how to play her cards, he thought.

She'd danced around the price, acting like her family's 'friendship' was some grand reward.

What a load of fluff. Sounds like she's just dangling a carrot.

Shrugging with feigned regret, Shen Hao replied, "Sorry, I only have one bottle left. It's a family heirloom. If not for financial troubles, I wouldn't sell it at all."

Wenren Yiyi's brows furrowed. She didn't buy that for a second.

"That's nonsense," she snapped. "The wine is clearly freshly brewed. Why lie to me? Are you trying to trick me? Don't you fear the power of the Wenren family?"

Shen Hao was as stubborn as a mule—he never responded well to threats.

But he wasn't foolish either. His power wasn't strong enough to be defiant yet.

"This wine requires an extremely complex process," he explained. "It's really hard to produce. Otherwise, I'd have sold more by now."

Wenren Yiyi realized her family name wasn't enough to sway him.

Looks like I'll have to put real money on the table, she thought, feeling a sting of reluctance.

After a deep breath, she said sharply, "Fine. Let's put it this way—you sell me the wine, and I'll either do you a favor or pay whatever price you name."

"This wine is a bit pricey," Shen Hao replied.

"Name your price," she shot back, clearly irritated, as if daring him to underestimate her wealth.

"I sold it to Lai Yuejing for 1,000 taels of gold and a courtesan," Shen Hao said casually. "For you, it's 2,000 taels of gold."

Wenren Yiyi scoffed. "Hmph, I thought you'd ask for more. Just 2,000 taels of gold? I'll buy it. But the wine must be in the same red bottle—or the price drops. I don't want to be cheated."

In her mind, she was already calculating.

The wine was excellent, but that red bottle was a masterpiece itself—flawless craftsmanship, unmatched even in the Tianwu Empire. It could easily be sold separately for a fortune.

Her master, Meng Xuanji, only cared about the wine. The bottle would be hers to keep.

Not a bad deal after all, she thought, a sly grin spreading across her face as her bright eyes curved into crescent moons.

Shen Hao was just as pleased.

After all, the wine cost him only 40 yuan per bottle. If he bought it in bulk, it'd be even cheaper—around 38 yuan each.

Yet here he was, about to trade a 40-yuan bottle for 2,000 taels of gold—200 jin (100 kg) of pure gold!

That's insane profit, he thought gleefully.

He'd sold just 5 jin of gold for 1.15 million yuan. This deal? It was worth 46 million yuan!

Their eyes met, both filled with the same cunning gleam—two con artists recognizing each other's craft.

"Wait here," Wenren Yiyi said sharply. "I'll go get the gold."

Watching her leave, Shen Hao checked his spatial ring.

Damn, I'm out of that wine.

Guess I'll head back to the modern world and buy a whole case. It's dirt cheap anyway.

Turning back to his room, Shen Hao disappeared into thin air, leaving the fantasy world frozen once again.