Chapter Eleven: Selling My Sister to Plead for a General

"Four-eyes, what were you doing? Didn't we agree last time that you'd wait for me at the corner with the car, in case the negotiations broke down and we had to make a run for it? Where did you go?" Tan Yu’er stood with her hands on her hips, questioning the frail, bespectacled boy who looked like a gust of wind could blow him over.

"Yeah, where did you go?" a burly, broad-shouldered boy echoed, his tone even fiercer than Yu’er’s.

"I got caught by my dad last time I took the car out—he nearly beat me half to death. The other day, just as I managed to nab the keys, I got busted again. My backside still hurts too much to sit down… I…" Four-eyes looked utterly aggrieved.

"You have no sense of discipline or organization. Do you realize? Back in the old days, you’d have been called a traitor," insisted the burly boy, refusing to let it go.

Yu’er swung her foot at the self-styled tough guy. "Zhu Dawei, don’t go blaming Four-eyes. The moment we stepped out, you vanished faster than anyone! Tell me, how exactly were you protecting your boss?"

"I ducked my head as soon as we left, ready to take the hit for you. But when I realized no one was coming after me and looked up, everyone was chasing you. I tried to catch up, but I… I couldn’t…" The bravado drained from Zhu Dawei as he sheepishly stammered his explanation.

"Useless, the lot of you! How is our ‘Fragrant Society’ supposed to grow with you two? At this rate, the Brotherhood Alliance is going to wipe us out for good." Yu’er flicked Zhu Dawei’s forehead in frustration, only to end up hurting her own finger.

"There’s just the three of us…" Four-eyes muttered without daring to look up.

"So what if it’s only three? Look at Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—three men who carved up the world for themselves. I’d say it’s you two dragging us down with your incompetence! And you—don’t you smirk! You’re just as much a liability. Why did I ever recruit two such blockheads?" Yu’er stamped her foot and sighed.

"It’s not like we signed up willingly. You practically dragged us in," Zhu Dawei mumbled, his voice even quieter than Four-eyes’.

"What did you say?" Yu’er hadn’t caught that.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Zhu Dawei stammered, his stubby fingers waving nervously like dancing radishes.

"A hero needs three helpers, but without new blood, we’ll never surpass the Brotherhood Alliance." With a long sigh, Yu’er sat down on Zhu Dawei’s carefully arranged schoolbag, deep in thought. The other two stood quietly, hands at their sides, not daring to disturb her.

"Fight fire with fire. Yes, that’s the way." She snapped her fingers, a plan forming—then frowned. "But where am I supposed to find someone even tougher than the Brotherhood Alliance?" She mentally scanned through everyone she knew, but not one fit the bill.

Her gaze landed on Four-eyes, and her eyes lit up. Four-eyes shivered.

"Not you—look how scared you are. Go on home, both of you. I’ve got things to do." With that, she shouldered her backpack and skipped out the school gate, climbing into the car driven by the family’s butler.

"Uncle Li, don’t go home yet. Take me to that scoundrel," she said.

"Who? Which scoundrel?" The old butler was baffled.

"The one my father insists my sister should marry!" The mention of Chu Dong instantly brought to mind the time he had brazenly relieved himself in front of her, and she pouted.

"Heh, master told me not to let you run off. Come on, let’s just go home," the butler protested, not wanting to get caught up in the young lady’s mischief. Heaven only knew what trouble she’d get into next.

"Please, Uncle Li, take me! I just want to talk to him, I’ll be back in no time." She clung to the butler’s arm, swaying it as she pleaded.

"Alright, but you must promise not to cause trouble. If you do, your father will blame me again." The old butler had watched Yu’er grow up and doted on her. Besides, nothing too terrible could happen at Chu Dong’s place, so he agreed.

"Yay!" Her laughter tinkled like silver bells in the car.

At night, Chu Dong’s little inn transformed into a private bar. His friends treated it as their headquarters, gathering there almost every night and drinking until the early hours. It was still early today; only a junior staff member was on duty while Chu Dong, as usual, napped upstairs.

When Yu’er arrived, she demanded to see Chu Dong. The server asked her business, but she wouldn’t say—just threatened to smash up the place if Chu Dong didn’t come down. Not knowing who this feisty girl was, the staffer had no choice but to fetch the boss.

Chu Dong had been asleep since noon and was still groggy when he came downstairs in a T-shirt. The moment he saw Yu’er, he broke into a smile.

"Well, well, what brings you here, little miss? Did you miss me?"

Yu’er didn’t reply. She clasped her hands behind her back and circled him twice, nodding as she went.

"What’s that about? I’m not for sale, you know," Chu Dong said, a little uneasy at her scrutiny.

"You’ll do. From today on, you’re officially allowed to join our Fragrant Society. You’re my sidekick now." This wasn’t the first time Yu’er had conscripted someone—Four-eyes and Zhu Dawei had been drafted in much the same way.

"Hold on, how did I suddenly become your sidekick? I’m a boss myself, you know. Why would I follow you around?" Chu Dong chuckled, amused by her antics. The whole gang thing had gone out of style ages ago—where had this girl picked it up?

"Being my sidekick is a privilege! You have no idea how many people are dying for the chance. They beg and plead, but I don’t give them the time of day. Count yourself lucky." Yu’er plopped onto the sofa, only to notice Chu Dong’s gaze and hurriedly pressed her legs together. "Pervert!"

"If I’m such a pervert, why’d you come looking for me?" Chu Dong sat across from her, eyes fixed on her face.

"To have an old rogue deal with little rogues, of course! Waste not, want not." She stuck out her tongue and instinctively shrank back into the sofa.

Chu Dong didn’t lose his temper. "Alright, let’s hear your reason. I’m not that easy to hire."

"If you help me, I’ll pay you." Yu’er hadn’t expected to bargain; she thought, like with Four-eyes and Zhu Dawei, that a simple invitation would suffice. She was clearly unprepared for negotiations.

"Pay me?" Chu Dong was surprised. "How much can you offer?"

"Two thousand." She hesitated, holding up two fingers, then quickly added, "A month."

Chu Dong burst out laughing, tears glistening in his eyes. "You look at my hotel, and you think I’m worth just two thousand a month? Am I some fresh graduate desperate for a job?"

"Fine, three thousand. I’m not my sister, you know." Yu’er’s monthly allowance was only three thousand yuan. She only dared offer this much because her sister sometimes slipped her extra money on the side—she figured she could just about scrape by.

Chu Dong shook his head.

"That’s all I have. You wouldn’t let me starve, would you?" Yu’er was at her wits’ end.

"Let’s change the deal—I don’t want money." Chu Dong wagged a finger.

"Then what do you want? I’m just a kid, don’t even think about some beauty trap." Yu’er crossed her arms protectively, wary of Chu Dong’s answer.

"Please, I have no interest in little brats." Chu Dong rolled his eyes; he wasn’t that desperate.

"How about I help you win over my sister? You know, the line of men chasing after her stretches all the way to Qingniwa Bridge!" Yu’er didn’t hesitate to sell out even her beloved big sister, who doted on her as if she were a precious gem.