Chapter 185: Retreating Bravely From The Rapids, Cutting The Grass At The Roots
The maidservants and guards serving in the courtyard were scared breathless, each keeping their eyes on their noses and ears on their hearts, wishing they could turn themselves into pillars.
Chen Shun’an and his two companions kept calm faces, as if they hadn’t heard any of it, and walked into the main hall.
A maidservant served tea, and Madam Zhao personally received them.
She forced a smile on her face, but her eyes hid a bit of fatigue. She curtsied to the three: “Please wait a moment, sirs. Master… will be ready soon.”
“Madam, no need to stand on ceremony. We are fine as is.”
Chen Shun’an nodded slightly, his tone calm.
Chen Shun’an and his two companions sat in the main hall for a moment before seeing Liu Qingyi and Qiu Chen striding in like dragons and tigers, full of ambition as they left.
Clearly, they had gotten satisfactory interest.
Lu Jing followed behind the two, looking in fairly good spirits, his brows relaxed, the corners of his mouth faintly smiling, his figure light.
A long time later, heavy footsteps finally came from the direction of the study room.
Zhao Guangxi’s eyes were full of bloodshot veins, his clothing somewhat soiled, and he walked silently into the main hall.
“How is the situation at Guanghui Money House?”
Zhao Guangxi’s face was gloomy as he rubbed his furrowed brows.
Chen Shun’an quickly stood up and shouted toward the door.
Soon, two burly men carried in two large boxes. When the boxes hit the ground, they made a dull thud, shaking the floor slightly and sending up a wave of air.
Opening the boxes, they did not contain any gold and silver treasures.
Instead, they were packed full of various account books, bank notes, and pawn tickets in black and white.
Chen Shun’an stepped forward and reported the situation at Guanghui Money House in detail, even recounting the raid on Su Kehachi’s mansion without holding anything back.
They actually raided a Bai Shan Ren’s home?
Hearing this, Zhao Guangxi’s eyes suddenly widened, revealing shock.
He hadn’t expected Old Chen, who usually seemed timid and shrinking, to have such guts at a critical moment!
But… just a mere fallen imperial clan descendant.
They even found various stolen goods.
He, Zhao Guangxi, could handle it!
Not afraid of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys and drawing the hatred of the other Bai Shan Ren.
After all, when throwing a brick into a dog pile, the one barking loudest is the one hit hardest.
Whoever sticks their head out has a problem!
Then it would be time for multi-party joint enforcement again!
Then, listening to Chen Shun’an’s account, he learned that they had seized over 200,000 taels of silver from Guanghui Money House, along with various jewelry and antiques, countless in number.
And this didn’t even count the good items in the pawnshops, some of which were still live pledges.
Zhao Guangxi’s originally tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, his pupils dilating slightly, a glint flashing in his eyes.
It wasn’t in vain that he had planned for many days and taken such a big risk.
He, Zhao Guangxi, had money now!
Finally, no more eating chaff and swallowing vegetables with plain porridge!
This was only natural. Guanghui Money House was a large money house combining bank notes, pawnshops, and gold and silver shops.
Just the pawnshop’s intake alone was no small matter.
Someone brings in a top-quality mink fur coat to pawn, and the shopkeeper glances at it and says, “Moth-eaten and rat-bitten, bald and hairless, missing lapel and short-sleeved, buttonless and torn, one ragged coat!”
They did business that was heartless and unconscionable.
But it made money!
After Chen Shun’an finished speaking, Zhao Guangxi pondered for a moment and said,
“Gentlemen, what do you think should be done with Guanghui Money House?”
Although Guanghui Money House was a private money house and folk business, it had operated for many years with complex roots. If it were really brought down, the bank notes would be ruined, and countless commoners would suffer losses, with businesses and workshops grinding to a halt.
The government offices hadn’t said anything yet, but they were probably watching.
Zhao Guangxi looked at Lin Shou Zhuo.
Lin Shou Zhuo stared wide-eyed and said gruffly,
“I don’t understand.”
Zhao Guangxi shook his head, not expecting anything from Lin Shou Zhuo, and looked at Jiu Chan Hui.
But Jiu Chan Hui was silent for a moment, put his hands together, chanted “World Honored One,” and said no more.
Two good-for-nothings!
Then, Zhao Guangxi could only look at Chen Shun’an.
Chen Shun’an’s brows furrowed slightly, as if carefully considering.
A moment later, Chen Shun’an said,
“Landlord, in Chen Mou’s humble opinion, the Landlord can take over Guanghui Money House, revive it, keep the bank notes, pawnshops, usury, and other operations as they are, just make slight adjustments. But you’ll need to choose a new location, renovate it, and put up the ‘Guangxi Money House’ name to distinguish it from Guanghui Money House…”
One whale falls, and all things are born.
With one Guanghui Money House down, naturally thousands upon thousands of money houses would rise.
Better to seize this huge blank business opportunity than hand it to others.
Rather than let it go, Zhao Guangxi should enter the game himself.
In terms of connections, he had them.
In terms of reputation, he had that now too.
In terms of capital, he hadn’t before.
But now he did.
“Good!”
Zhao Guangxi slapped the table hard, a flash of resolve in his eyes.
Zhao Guangxi had actually already decided in his heart, but was still hesitating, undecided, needing someone he trusted to affirm him.
So at this moment, with Chen Shun’an’s support, Zhao Guangxi immediately made the decision and said loudly,
“Then that’s it… Old Chen, are you interested in coming to be the shopkeeper of Guangxi Money House?”
As soon as these words were out, the atmosphere in the main hall instantly quieted.
Lin Shou Zhuo showed a bit of surprise on his face.
Even Jiu Chan Hui couldn’t help but breathe a little quicker, then silently chanted a few Buddhist phrases.
Unexpectedly, Chen Shun’an shook his head and politely declined,
“Thank you for the kindness, Landlord, but Chen Mou is advanced in age, and with the busy affairs at Crouching Tiger Well, I already have no time to spare. Please find someone more capable, Landlord.”
Although being a money house shopkeeper was also a lucrative post.
But Chen Shun’an was clear about his own plans.
Rely on the water station, add the positions of water well shopkeeper and landlord, then use that as a springboard to enter the Water Merchant General Association, or donate for a river affairs official position in Five Rivers, and get an official post as a river clerk.
That way he could get close to the sea eye water marsh, rivers and lakes, complementing his path of divinity.
Moreover…
This time, Chen Shun’an had exposed and reported Zhao Guanghui and led the raid.
He had already stolen the show.
It was time to retreat bravely while the tide was high to preserve himself wisely.
“Very well…”
Zhao Guangxi gave Chen Shun’an a deep look, could only shake his head regretfully, and no longer pressed.
Tea was refilled three times, the sun gradually rising, the light through the window lattice growing more intense.
Until daylight fully broke, the details on site selection, renovation, personnel allocation, and more for “Guangxi Money House” finally took rough shape.
“Right.”
Zhao Guangxi suddenly spoke, his gaze flickering, slowly looking at Lin Shou Zhuo and Jiu Chan Hui, his voice lowered slightly,
“My brother died young, leaving a widow and orphan. Please help send them back to the old home in the countryside…”
Chen Shun’an got the implication and immediately understood Zhao Guangxi’s unspoken meaning.
This was to…
Cut the grass at the root?!
Not even sparing his own sister-in-law and nephew?!
Chen Shun’an’s face changed, secretly shocked by Zhao Guangxi’s ruthlessness.
But only such a person could go further.
After all, Zhao Guangxi already had plenty of troubles behind him: maintaining balance within the water station, carefully maneuvering relations with major forces in Wuqing County especially the pounding house, and carrying out orders to slay demons.
Plus having fallen out with Lu Jing, indirectly at odds with Liangjiang Military Academy.
Being prepared and reducing troubles was best.
Lin Shou Zhuo and Jiu Chan Hui, how could they not know Zhao Guangxi’s plan? They nodded silently and said together,
“This I understand（ This monk knows）.”
……
Seeing Chen Shun’an, Lin Shou Zhuo, and Jiu Chan Hui leave one after another.
Finally, only Zhao Guangxi remained in the main hall.
His taut nerves fully relaxed, and he showed the air of a wealthy master, lightly calling to the door: “Come, change my clothes, serve me as I go out.”
Immediately, two maidservants with double buns quietly stepped forward.
One served him to rinse his mouth with fine salt, the other brought a steaming hot towel to apply to his face.
Then Zhao Guangxi wore a ning silk long robe, sleeves slightly rolled up revealing half a moon-white inner garment, a Hetian white jade peace token on his belt, looking refreshed.
“Let’s go, don’t follow me. Haven’t had silver fish and purple crab in a good while, go to Huixianju to unwind!”
Zhao Guangxi picked up the eastern pearl iron balls from the table and strode out the mansion gate.
He looked like he was going to vent all the pent-up frustration from these two months of scrimping and saving.
Upon arriving at Huixianju, the waiter, seeing Zhao Guangxi, greeted him as if seeing his own parents and led him to a private room.
“Master Zhao, it’s been two months since we saw you!”
Zhao Guangxi brushed the snow from his shoulder and walked straight to the private room, his tone a bit impatient,
“Cut the chatter, bring three jin of the silver fish and purple crab that’s in season, set up a hot pot, and I’ll eat slowly!”
Hearing this, the waiter showed a troubled look and said,
“Master Zhao, what bad luck—there’s demon trouble at Banye Ferry Crossing, the silver fish and purple crab got eaten by those beasts, shipments come only every few days… Today we have just two jin total.”
Just two jin?
Zhao Guangxi paused, sighing inwardly with regret.
Silver fish and purple crab were a classic capital city delicacy.
For purple crab, the best were the plump lantern ones, pure wild, said to come from the sea eye at Three Forked Road with the backflowing seawater, each fat and full of roe—just sucking on the crab shell could last all night!
Silver fish were a bit lesser, just local fish catch from Wuqing County.
But combining the two, chopping off the purple crab claws, removing the apron, using silver fish as the pot base in a hot pot, simmering bubbling.
No seasonings needed—just the clear broth was enough to make one’s tongue fragrant away!
Back in the day, Zhao Guangxi and Lu Jing shared a bed, just after getting a foothold in Wuqing County.
Whenever they had money, they’d simmer and wait for winter to come to Huixianju for a silver fish and purple crab feast.
They’d slurp it up, licking the bowl rim and bottom.
You’d swish the pot, I’d gnaw the bones, not willing to waste a bit.
The reason for three jin was to fight over it for the fun!
Also to make others think they were strapped for cash.
So, although years had passed and things and people had changed.
Zhao Guangxi still kept the old habit.
Every time he struck it rich or was in a good mood, he’d come for a feast.
“Never mind, then bring one jin.”
Zhao Guangxi frowned but ultimately didn’t quibble more and turned into the private room.
“Ah, one jin? Oh oh, good, Master Zhao wait a moment!”
The waiter was stunned for a bit, then quickly agreed and hurried to the kitchen.
