Esteemed Guest, Please Come Inside
Qian Taiduo, the wealthy owner of Huixin Bank, had felt uneasy all day. Something didn’t sit right with him—either he or his bank was bound to have trouble. He’d paced around his residence in Fengjing for hours, and while he didn’t get news of trouble with his bank, he did hear that both the Huguo Temple and the Dali Temple had caught fire.
His steward tried to comfort him. “Master, with the temples burning down, the streets are surely crawling with guards. No one’s going to mess with a money house tonight. Please get some rest.”
But Qian Taiduo shook his head. “I still need to go take a look at the bank. I won’t rest easy otherwise.”
So he left with his steward and ten armed bodyguards, heading toward Huixin Bank in the dead of night.
In a nearby carriage, Yu Xiaoxiao exclaimed, “His name is Qian Taiduo? [钱太铎, which sounds like 钱太多: ‘too much money’] Are you serious? Even his name screams moneybags!”
“It’s duó,” Gu Xinglang gently corrected, trying to teach her the right pronunciation of 铎.
“Yeah yeah, ‘too much money.’ His parents must’ve known from birth their kid would have more money than he knew what to do with. Great name!”
“…Sure,” Gu Xinglang relented. “It’s a good name.”
“But so tacky,” Yu Xiaoxiao sniffed. “Your name is way nicer. Grandpa told me, it means ‘bright stars and a clear moon.’ That’s poetic.”
Gu Xinglang was stunned. Grandpa had never praised him, not once. And now Xiaoxiao said he’d picked a meaningful name for him? Gu San Shao suddenly felt like crying from being so… touched.
Gu Xingnuo chuckled. “Princess, what will you and Xinglang name your future son?”
Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. Their son? She was thirteen! Wasn’t this a little early?!
Gu Xinglang turned red and said, “Brother, please don’t joke.”
Gu Xingnuo teased, “Why not? Are you not planning to have children?”
“Of course I want them!” Yu Xiaoxiao quickly said. “Children are the future of humanity!”
Gu Xinglang’s ears were bright red now.
“What name then?” Gu Xingnuo persisted, curious what this odd little sister-in-law might come up with.
Yu Xiaoxiao cheekily deflected, “What do you think?” and turned to Gu Xinglang.
He cleared his throat and said solemnly, “Grandfather will decide.”
“Right,” Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Grandpa picks nice names.”
“Then how about a nickname?” Gu Xingnuo wasn’t letting this go.
“Hmm, something simple… maybe ‘Little Bun’?”
“No, Princess,” Gu Xinglang grabbed her hand, mortified.
Gu Xingnuo laughed silently. ‘Little Bun’? That was one for the records.
Meanwhile, Qian Taiduo had just sat down in the bank with his head manager when someone knocked at the main gate.
He frowned. “Who comes knocking at a money house at this hour? Send them away.”
Two clerks hurried to the door, only to come running back. “Master, it’s monks from Yongsheng Temple. They say they’re here to deposit some valuables.”
“What? Yongsheng Temple? Let them in, quickly!” Qian Taiduo jumped to his feet.
Soon, several martial monks entered with a cart full of boxes. Qian Taiduo greeted them with deep respect.
One monk said, “Our abbot wishes to deposit these items. Please provide a receipt.”
Qian Taiduo ordered his clerks to start unloading and tallying the goods. The moment one box was opened, it revealed a trove of fine jewels. Even Qian Taiduo, a man who lived up to his name of “Too Much Money,” was dazzled by the sight.
Outside, Chief Xiong and his crew arrived at the bank gates and began knocking.
In a nearby alley, a carriage hidden in shadows held Yu Xiaoxiao, the Gu brothers, and their guards. Peeking through the window, Yu Xiaoxiao whispered, “They’re going in! Looks like it’s going well.”
Inside the bank, the monks heard the knock. “We’ll take our leave,” the lead monk said politely.
“No, no, let me escort you,” Qian Taiduo insisted, guiding them to the rear courtyard. “I’ve prepared tea and vegetarian refreshments for your rest.”
Back at the front, a clerk opened the door and immediately recoiled. A group of burly, oddly dressed men stood outside, faces streaked with soot. Were these men robbed by chimney sweeps?
“We’re here to withdraw money,” Bear Bear said.
The clerk, despite the intimidating appearance, remained calm and professional. “Esteemed guests, the bank has closed for the day. Please return tomorrow.”
Bear Bear shoved him aside. “I want to withdraw my money tonight. Got a problem with that?”
The poor clerk was hoisted by the neck, eyes rolling.
“Where’s your manager?” Bear Bear shouted.
Second-in-command tugged his sleeve and whispered, “First courtesy, then force!”
Bear Bear awkwardly dropped the clerk, grinned, and softened his tone, “Where’s your manager?”
The clerk thought this guy looks even scarier when he smiles.
The head manager arrived, took one look at the group, and subtly signaled the guards to be ready.
But Bear Bear pulled out a banknote and flashed it.
The manager squinted at the silver note, then at Bear Bear, and with a sudden change in tone, bowed and said:
“Esteemed guest, please come inside and have a seat.”
Little Pink Starfish 
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