Chapter 22: Business
From afar, Chen Shun’an saw a gaunt, emaciated man with eyes slightly closed, sitting in the seat of honor in the main hall.
His frame was enormous, yet there was almost no trace of qi and blood circulation.
This appearance was extremely similar to the hidden dragon look that Instructor Lin described as divine radiance restrained and return to original purity, even Instructor Lin couldn’t achieve this level!
Expert!
Great expert!
Chen Shun’an felt alert in his heart.
Then he walked closer and took a look…
Oh, it turned out to be malnutrition, starved to the point of losing his looks, nothing serious then.
Master Li shakily stood up leaning on his crutch, and Steward Zhao, seeing this, quickly stepped forward to support him.
“I’m fine, just dozed off for a bit.”
Master Li’s gaze was turbid, his voice low and deep; he patted Steward Zhao’s hand before shifting his gaze toward Chen Shun’an.
Master Li smiled and said,
“As expected, it’s Brother Shun’an. We met once before at Landlord Zhao’s thirtieth birthday banquet. Who would have thought you’d come to deliver water to my home.”
In the Sacred Dynasty, from officialdom to the business world, the custom of ‘three festivals and two birthdays’ was popular.
Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as the birthdays of officials themselves and their madams—banquets were always held to entertain guests and collect various gifts, water gifts, and birthday gifts.
Chen Shun’an had suffered greatly from this over the years; sometimes his monthly salary hadn’t even arrived yet before it was already pre-spent.
He was just a middleman, after all.
Chen Shun’an feigned shock and flattery as he said, “It’s an honor that Master Li remembers this one’s name.”
“I heard Brother Shun’an fell into a well by accident a few days ago; are you feeling better?”
“Thank you for Master Li’s concern; I’ve fully recovered.”
“Why call me Master? I’m Li Shicheng, a few years your senior; you can call me Brother Shicheng.”
“Alright, Brother Shicheng!”
Chen Shun’an called out very smoothly.
Li Shicheng’s attitude toward Chen Shun’an was unusually courteous, contrary to normal.
He even took Chen Shun’an’s hand and invited him to sit at the seat to his left.
Chen Shun’an felt a stir in his heart.
Sure enough, Li Shicheng changed his tone and said,
“I wonder if Zhang Xiaoqi’s health is still good? Back then, he and I were comrades in the same banner, together inspected by Lord Kualanda for vacancies, assessed in archery. In the blink of an eye, thirty years have passed…”
Chen Shun’an replied gravely,
“My father-in-law is still the same as always. But Chen Mou has seen him less these past two years…”
“Oh oh, look at my brain, I forgot about that.”
Li Shicheng patted his forehead as if waking from a dream, apologetically saying,
“I’ve spoken out of turn, truly out of turn. I hope Brother Shun’an won’t take it to heart.”
After that, the two exchanged some polite words, with Li Shicheng occasionally probing Chen Shun’an’s relationship with the Zhang family.
But Chen Shun’an’s words were always watertight, as if he hadn’t caught Li Shicheng’s implications.
In the end, Li Shicheng couldn’t hold back anymore and said with a troubled expression,
“I’m not afraid of Brother Shun’an laughing, but my mansion is truly at the end of its rope, almost no surplus grain left to pay monthly salaries to the people below!
So I wanted to ask through Brother Shun’an if the Zhang Mansion needs an instructor for archery and riding skills. Though Li is old, he can still eat ten jin of rice and meat without fighting, and still has martial arts skills…”
Chen Shun’an was somewhat astonished.
Li Shicheng’s words gave the feeling of a company boss having no choice but to go out and work to earn money to support his own employees.
It seemed the Li Mansion’s situation was even worse than he had thought.
Chen Shun’an was silent for a moment, then said bitterly, “For this matter, Chen Mou truly has more heart than strength; my father-in-law treats me like a worn-out shoe… Even if Brother Shicheng truly enters the Zhang Mansion through my connection, he might still face trouble from others.”
Hearing this, Li Shicheng slumped back in disappointment; his skinny, bony back rubbed against the wooden chair, making a harsh, mocking creak.
Steward Zhao had stood quietly by Li Shicheng’s side from start to finish, saying nothing, but only now stepped forward to pour a cup of tea for Master Li.
“It was desperate measures on my part, bothering Brother Shun’an.”
Li Shicheng sipped the tea, forcing a smile.
The two chatted casually for a few more sentences.
Chen Shun’an finally stated his purpose of delivering blessed water.
In his view, the Li Mansion had reached this point, almost no rice left for the pot.
Li Shicheng had no reason to refuse him.
Who knew, after hearing it, Li Shicheng hardly thought it over before firmly refusing.
“I appreciate Brother Shun’an’s good intentions. But my Li Family is a martial arts family, successors of a Transport Chief of the Caobang; how could we accept this food of humiliation? If it spread out, we’d be laughed at by old friends.”
“We’ll pay whatever amount is due; the Li Mansion won’t short you a single wen!”
Chen Shun’an felt a toothache upon hearing this.
Li Shicheng could be called stubborn and decadent, yet he was willing to humble himself to the Zhang Mansion to earn money and support his family.
Called flexible and adaptable, yet he clung to ancestral glory, proud and aloof.
But fortunately, Chen Shun’an had already made the worst plans before coming and was somewhat prepared.
Chen Shun’an was silent for a moment, then said, “If Chen Mou has a piece of news that might help your mansion through this crisis, even re-enter the Caobang?”
Li Shicheng asked with interest, “Brother Shun’an, do you have other connections?”
Deep down, Li Shicheng didn’t take it too seriously.
He and Chen Shun’an had only met once; what Li Shicheng cared most about was merely Chen Shun’an’s identity as the Zhang family son-in-law.
He really couldn’t imagine what news this water carrier Chen Shun’an could have to boast that he could help the Li Family re-enter the Caobang.
Chen Shun’an didn’t hide it and chose to lay it all out.
“There’s a Qianning Country envoy mission visit the Sacred Dynasty, coming north from Nanhai Prefecture, passing through Three Rivers, crossing Five Lakes, over the Grand Canal…
At that time, with exchange between the two countries, whether transporting Qianning Country’s gold thread rugs, wool felts, phonographs, and other foreign novelties to our land for low buy high sell; or stockpiling in advance the supplies and military needs that Qianning Country requires… I think Brother Shicheng should understand better than Chen Mou.”
If Chen Shun’an’s guess was right.
This news would soon circulate among the upper and middle classes of the Sacred Dynasty, becoming an open secret.
But right now, it’s a matter of time advantage.
The faster the action, the bigger the share of meat.
Too late, and even the scraps, cold rice, and soup water can’t be grabbed.
Li Shicheng was still somewhat dismissive at first.
But the more he listened, the graver his expression became, increasingly feeling this matter had great potential and could make a big article!
In the end, he couldn’t help straightening his back, sitting upright, and confirmingly asked,
“Is this news true?”
“Chen Mou can’t guarantee it. But if Brother Shicheng doubts, you can wait a few days to verify; it’s just that by then…”
Chen Shun’an smiled.
Li Shicheng, upon hearing this, immediately believed it about seventy to eighty percent.
Qianning Envoy Mission Visit the Sacred Dynasty—this was a major matter; few would dare to casually fabricate or spread rumors about it.
That would cost one’s head!
As for profiting from this…
The Sacred Dynasty actually had laws like ‘prohibit speculation and profiteering, prohibit low buy high sell; if reported, all confiscated.’
But read in reverse, it’s ‘definitely speculate and profiteer, definitely low buy high sell, don’t leak it, everyone makes money together.’
Li Shicheng’s face flickered uncertainly, not knowing what he was thinking.
After a few breaths, he stood up and solemnly cupped his fists toward Chen Shun’an, saying,
“If this succeeds, I, Li, will decide to give Brother Shun’an ten percent of the profits!”
…
Chen Shun’an poured the entire cart of water, five hundred jin of turbid water, into the Li Family water vat.
He only took one wen and pushed the cart away.
The courtyard was deep; the gourd ladle floated endlessly in the water vat.
Li Shicheng leaned on his crutch, eyes narrowed.
“Old Zhao, what do you think this Chen Shun’an is really selling in his gourd? Delivering blessed water for prayers? That’s pure silver money…”
Steward Zhao said gravely, “This man has been successively delivering blessed water to over ten poor households lately, never profiting… It seems he’s truly just praying for himself.”
“Never mind, you go first to Banye Ferry Crossing and deliver the calling card to Money Dragon Head. I’ll doze a bit more; as the weather gets hotter, sleep is less and less, and my body always feels sticky, numb, and itchy…”
As Master Li spoke, he rubbed one foot against the other’s belly, rustling sounds, immediately shedding large patches of wrinkled dead skin, just like a serpent shedding its skin.
Steward Zhao pretended not to see it, lips moving, troubledly saying,
“Money Dragon Head’s appetite is not small…”
Master Li heavily planted his crutch on the ground, indisputably saying,
“Then sell the family true skill once more!”
