Chapter 190: Old Chen, Do You Want A Wife?
Everyone felt that Chen Shun’an was neither arrogant nor impetuous, deeply understood the rules of the workplace, and might quietly break through to the True Intent Realm!
Thus, after He Qiang failed to break through to the True Intent Realm, many people began speculating again when Chen Shun’an could break through.
What were the chances of success?
Especially as the reputations of Shan Tongtian, Mo Long A Tai, and others rose.
The former, due to making paper into knives and consecutively slaying water demons, was exceptionally admitted into the Inner Department of the Wuqing Stick Bureau.
The latter, due to superb fishing skill, repeatedly caught big fish, and was also extremely popular.
Some busybody in the city even created a hero post called the “Wuqing Hundred Heroes List,” ranking all the famous, exceptionally talented martial artists with special abilities.
Chen Shun’an had no interest in paying attention to these external rumors and various whispers.
Only through hard practice can one become a star.
He immersed himself in his own affairs.
With Blessing Guardian Deities, he had gradually figured out the knack.
Since it was “blessing,” the prerequisite was that Chen Shun’an possessed them.
Currently, he could only bless out Qing Ji and Ran Yi Fish, two divine aspects, allowing the guardian deities to additionally gain abilities such as Legs Grow Armor and Horses, Mud Pill Opening.
Moreover, although all sentient beings with emotions could bless.
But in reality, there were many restrictions: not only did the wish consumption vary, the divine aspects would distort the other’s divine intellect and body, but it could only bless those whose strength was far below his own.
The reason it was far below.
Mainly because Chen Shun’an couldn’t find True Intent Martial Artists who had Slain Four Thieves or even Slain Three Bandits to bless himself…
Chen Shun’an had tried capturing a “grandson fish” and blessing the divine aspect Qing Ji onto it; the required wish was not much, only 50 points.
But that “grandson fish” surprisingly couldn’t bear it and burst open alive.
Then, Chen Shun’an even spent a fortune in the black market to buy a second-rate perfection martial artist who was supposed to be executed after autumn but was secretly swapped and sold to the black market as an armored slave.
Blessing Qing Ji consumed 200 points of wish, but it lasted less than a day before the seven orifices bled and he died suddenly.
This also made Chen Shun’an realize that Blessing Guardian Deities had high requirements for the recipient; they probably needed to be at least on the level comparable to a True Intent Martial Artist.
Like believers, it was also about quality over quantity.
Glancing at the remaining scant wish, Chen Shun’an silently shook his head.
“The cultivation of the Path of Divinity requires an astronomical amount of wish, and now there’s another bottomless pit with Blessing Guardian Deities… The matter of selling water dew is indeed my foundation for survival; it cannot be neglected.”
And while Chen Shun’an was immersed in the Martial Path and Path of Divinity.
Lin Shou Zhuo, with a mischievous smile on his face and occasionally making “tut-tut-tut” sounds from his mouth, strode to the Crouching Tiger Well to find him, and his opening remark stunned Chen Shun’an.
“Old Chen, do you want a wife?”
……
Zhao Mansion, the charcoal stove burned brightly, dispelling the winter chill.
Chen Shun’an helplessly looked at Zhao Guangxi and Lin Shou Zhuo, saying,
“Landlord, I only want a spacious courtyard with a pond and water pavilion, preferably quiet… How did it turn into a wife?”
All of Zhao Guanghui’s forces and territories were divided up by Zhao Guangxi, Liu Qingyi, and the other two, completely plundered clean.
In addition to taking over the Guanghui Money House, Zhao Guangxi also had quite a few properties and deeds.
Chen Shun’an had made great merit in this matter, after all.
Zhao Guangxi directly declared: “Today we discuss your merits and shall reward you generously. Whatever you desire, no need for modesty, speak freely!”
And besides martial arts provisions, what Chen Shun’an wanted most was the grand courtyard he had longed for!
It’s just…
Granting a mansion was one thing, but why send a wife too.
Chen Mou was already an old bone, yet he was arranged a marriage?!
Lin Shou Zhuo chuckled, a mischievous glint passing through his eyes.
Zhao Guangxi also wore a light smile on his face, saying,
“What’s wrong? Buy one get one free, still not satisfied? Old Chen, you’ve been a widower for years without remarrying. But you know, Wan Niang is from the Zhang Shi collateral line, considered your distant cousin. It’s fine to be intimate on ordinary days, but for marriage, it probably doesn’t conform to mainstream etiquette and law; in the future, it could become a handle to criticize you!”
Chen Shun’an was somewhat unwilling and hemmed and hawed,
“Then what is this woman’s background?”
“She is a pure woman, both charming and dignified in appearance, just with a somewhat complicated background.”
Zhao Guangxi put away his smile and slowly explained.
In order to issue King of Hell’s Accounts, Zhao Guanghui had once scoured everywhere for stunning beauties with unique talents.
Among them was a pair of biological sisters from the Nuns’ Temple; the elder sister had Three Refinements Body and could soak in yin dates, but was ill-fated with a short lifespan.
Later sent by Guo Guanfu to the Five Rivers Branch in Tongzhou, to Consul Jiang Hui’s mansion.
While the younger sister had no martial arts aptitude, she was charming and affectionate, a real closed moon shame flower, and was said to have her own unique skills.
Even not inferior to her sister.
Zhao Guangxi said: “Old Chen, rest assured, this woman is pure as ice and jade, secluded in her boudoir, never touched by any man. Zhao Guanghui hoped to sell her for a good price, so no man could approach her on ordinary days.”
After hearing Zhao Guangxi’s account, Chen Shun’an pondered for a moment, his tone carrying some evasion.
“But… Chen Mou’s heart is ashen and cold; I have no intention of remarrying.”
“No matter.”
Zhao Guangxi waved his hand, his tone somberly saying,
“Whether you marry or not, Old Chen, do as you please. The key is to have incense, to continue the lineage… Otherwise, even if I intend to pass my landlord position to you, the people above will hold it back.”
Lin Shou Zhuo, upon hearing this, suddenly widened his eyes.
He hadn’t expected Landlord Zhao to value Old Chen so highly.
He didn’t plan to leave his landlord position to his son, but to Old Chen, an outsider?!
Actually, for Zhao Guangxi, anyone who could make him money and was loyal was even more important than his own son!
Old Chen had come up with that Sweet Dew Lottery, which greatly increased the daily revenue of Crouching Tiger Well and Grit Well.
Every time the well water gurgled, that was the sound of copper coins flowing in!
If promoted to every water well…
It was just that Zhao Guangxi had no daughter; otherwise, he couldn’t help but arrange a marriage…
Wait, forget it.
It was said that Old Chen was like a centipede, highly toxic.
Chen Shun’an’s brows also raised as he caught Zhao Guangxi’s implication.
He, Chen Shun’an, had no weakness!
The people above feared they couldn’t suppress him!
An outsider with no children, no parents, not even a wife; if plus Three Refinements Martial Body, True Intent great accomplishment in the future.
He would simply be an invincible person.
Who would dare suppress him?
Who would dare provoke him!
Even less dare to use him!
He must have heirs, greed for money, lust, various flaws and handles.
Thinking of this, Chen Shun’an fell silent for a moment.
Fine, it was all for livelihood, to silence the gossiping mouths.
Then he’d wrong himself a bit.
“Since that’s the case, Chen Mou accepts; thank you for your kindness, Landlord… Right, where is the key to that grand courtyard? If it’s not as described or has issues, Chen Mou won’t acknowledge it.”
……
Chen Shun’an took the deed and key, about to leave with Lin Shou Zhuo.
But he heard Zhao Guangxi suddenly call him back.
Zhao Guangxi took out several IOUs, white paper black ink, all bearing Chen Shun’an’s name and handprint.
Zhao Guangxi snorted coldly, saying,
“Old Chen, how did you borrow a full seven thousand taels of King of Hell’s Account from Zhao Guanghui?”
Guangxi Money House was basically the Guanghui Money House reborn; except for changing the landlord and cutting the high interest on King of Hell’s Accounts, everything else remained the same.
So the debts were taken over as well.
After all, debts, in a sense, equaled commercial value.
As a result, upon checking, Zhao Guangxi found…
Damn it, there was a King of Hell’s Account from Chen Shun’an!
Based on Zhao Guangxi’s understanding of Chen Shun’an.
This guy probably never intended to repay it!
This was like throwing a meat bun to the dog—gone without return!
Zhao Guangxi even suspected that Chen Shun’an had long known Zhao Guanghui was Refining Corpses into Spirits, but deliberately borrowed multiple times, waiting until it really couldn’t be hidden, then pulling the firewood from under the cauldron.
Merit earned, loans not repaid.
Truly killing two birds with one stone!
And yet… Zhao Guangxi was also a beneficiary, having gained huge benefits.
Leaving him speechless.
It’s just…
He, Zhao Guangxi, had just taken over Guanghui Money House, and now seven thousand taels of silver mysteriously evaporated into bad debt!
Debts don’t disappear; they just transfer.
And now, Zhao Guangxi had become the victim.
Seeing this, Chen Shun’an’s eyes quickly darted.
Deep down, Zhao Guangxi wasn’t truly angry.
It was just a light warning.
Thinking of this, Chen Shun’an instantly showed a grief-stricken expression, walked a few steps to the desk in front of Zhao Guangxi, and wailed,
“Forgive me, Landlord; it’s truly that this old man is short of money. First, the martial path is arduous, with daily provisions costing a fortune; second, those children in the Nurturing Infant Hall are orphans, and this old man couldn’t bear to see it, so I added silver!”
“Chen Mou is the type to put on powder before entering the coffin—someone who cares too much about face. I couldn’t bring myself to borrow from colleagues or the landlord, so I could only… wuwuwu, sorry for your cultivation, sorry for this shopkeeper identity…”
“Stop stop stop!!”
Zhao Guangxi sensed something wrong with this momentum.
Crying poor was one thing, but why was he about to retire to his hometown?!!
“Forget it, forget it; no need to repay the money… That’s it, no next time!”
Zhao Guangxi irritably waved his hand, tore up the IOUs, and threw them into the charcoal stove.
“Thank you, Landlord, thank you, Landlord…”
Chen Shun’an immediately switched to a tearfully grateful expression, repeatedly bowing, and slowly withdrew.
In his heart, he was already calculating: They’re all acquaintances who know each other well; maybe he could squeeze some small loans from Guangxi Money House in the future?
After Chen Shun’an left.
Zhao Guangxi called the steward, saying,
“In the future, for lending at Guangxi Money House, strictly review the borrower’s background and capital. Guarantor and collateral are both indispensable!”
“Especially… the Four Great Pounding Houses, these rivals, and Chen Shun’an—no lending!”
……
To make Landlord Zhao further trust and use him, reassure the people above, and take on the reputation of being lecherous.
As soon as he left Zhao Mansion, Chen Shun’an hurried nonstop to Mianyi Residence.
Lin Shou Zhuo tactfully took his leave.
Mianyi Residence was located east of the county, in the Nine Great Families area.
It was called the Nine Great Families because the nine wealthiest landlords of Wuqing County once resided here.
The courtyards they built were naturally of blue bricks and green tiles, extraordinarily grand.
But with His Majesty the Emperor’s several incognito visits, stretching justice everywhere（plundering silver）, these nine landlords were either confiscated or exiled…
