Chapter 21: Li Mansion
San Dezi had a vacant look in his eyes and said, “He’s lost his mind, really. He just got married a couple of years ago, and before that, they were all lovey-dovey, sleeping arm in arm, not leaving the house until broad daylight… How did he suddenly change like this?”
So he’s being forced to practice martial arts?
Chen Shun’an turned his head upon hearing this, and saw Scarred Liu not far away, looking completely focused and immersed in martial arts practice.
No improper desires at all.
“Maybe this is pretty good.”
Chen Shun’an thought to himself, then turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the long saber in San Dezi’s hand before suddenly pausing, and he said in surprise,
“Medium sharp knife? North Gate Bureau make?”
The Sacred Dynasty’s weapons come in official make and private make varieties.
Official make ones are generally excellent, with uniform standards, crafted by the Hall of Mental Cultivation Manufacturing Office and the Martial Armory Institute, further divided into ‘Imperial Make’, ‘Institute Make’, and ‘Ministry Make’.
Private make ones vary greatly in quality, with all sorts of strange weapons, from roadside blacksmith shops to sword-casting manors everywhere—they all count as private make.
‘Bureau make’, on the other hand, refers to blacksmiths who retired from the Manufacturing Office or Ministry of Works or were eliminated, who then opened their own shops outside to make use of their remaining skills.
So the quality is generally not bad, and they can flexibly modify according to the client’s needs, with custom measurements.
Of course, the price isn’t low either.
Moreover, these sharp blades require regular maintenance, wiping with lard and soaking in tung oil.
Even after combat and chopping people, repairing the nicks costs quite a bit of silver!
Chen Shun’an had once been tempted to buy a medium sharp knife himself.
But faced with the high price and ongoing maintenance costs, he could only give up the idea.
San Dezi noticed the envy in Chen Shun’an’s eyes, casually performed a saber technique with a whistling hum, and said proudly,
“Not expensive, just thirty liang of silver.”
Chen Shun’an watched with his heart burning, and asked,
“San Dezi, did you strike it rich?”
“Made a windfall.”
San Dezi glanced at the others nearby, leaned in close to Chen Shun’an’s ear, and said in a low voice,
“I took the news of Qianning Country’s delegation visiting the Sacred Dynasty, broke it up, and resold it! Made quite a bit from buying low and selling high!”
You sneaky intelligence broker!
No wonder you could spread rumors that I’ve broken through to second-rate!
Chen Shun’an gave San Dezi a look.
He realized this guy was quite a talent!
“By the way, Brother Chen.”
San Dezi suddenly remembered something and said, “Interested in doing something big?”
“Oh? Tell me more.”
San Dezi: “Qianning Country’s delegation visiting the Sacred Dynasty will send twelve ocean-going treasure ships and one ten-mast copper ship with a thousand-ton capacity, passing through the Grand Canal. Never mind the gold and silver treasures, those Qianning barbarians all have blond hair and deep-set eyes, some even with three heads and six arms, freakish shapes… There’ll definitely be crowds surging and spectators like clouds!”
San Dezi grew more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the grand scene that day.
“I’m planning to have Shopkeeper Li step in and talk to the brother well stations with fresh water wells about making ice and brewing drinks, selling chilled drinks while it’s hot! Monopolize the drink business at Banye Ferry Crossing on the day of visiting the Sacred Dynasty!”
“We can definitely make a killing then! Brother Chen, want to invest?”
Chen Shun’an was somewhat tempted.
San Dezi’s plan sounded extremely reliable at first listen.
But… could people like San Dezi and Shopkeeper Li really handle a business this big?
Unless Landlord Zhao steps in.
But lately, Landlord Zhao has been busy bribing officials and buying an official post to rise up, probably too busy for this small change.
Moreover, ever since touching a corner of the Changbai Sacred Dynasty’s secrets and discovering hibiscus paste fire, Chen Shun’an always felt that Qianning Country’s delegation visiting the Sacred Dynasty wasn’t as simple as just promoting trade between the two countries on the surface.
The final outcome of this matter would probably be beyond expectations.
“Sigh, if you’d told me earlier, I’d have asked for the errand of delivering water to the Li Family—I’m fronting nearly one liang of silver a day just for blessed water, really no spare cash!”
Chen Shun’an looked regretful.
San Dezi opened his mouth, wanting to persuade Chen Shun’an not to be so superstitious, that delivering that blessed water was a total waste of money.
But out of respect for the old and young, and respect for Chen Shun’an, San Dezi could only suppress his inner grumbling.
He instead joked,
“That’s fine too. This venture does have risks, but with you generously sending blessed water everywhere, Brother Chen, if I go bankrupt and have nowhere to turn one day, I can still come throw myself on your mercy.”
Chen Shun’an smiled and nodded: “As long as you, San Dezi, are willing to beg at my door, I’ll definitely share a bite with you!”
……
The alley was deep and secluded, with blue bricks, gray roof tiles, and vermilion-lacquered doors hidden in the marketplace.
Chen Shun’an, in his short outfit tight-fitting clothes and covered in dust from travel, felt as if he’d intruded into another social class.
No commoners passed by; all around were martial artists, and occasionally even first-rate heroes could be seen, swords on their backs.
They wore silk, rode in sedan chairs, and their food and use far exceeded what ordinary folk could imagine.
Wuqing County was said to have east rich west poor, north noble south lowly.
And the Golden Snake Li Family was located east of the county, but not in the core area—instead at the under the sky bridge bordering West County.
The water cart stopped at the Li Mansion’s side door.
Two burly, bear-like guards in indigo cloud-pattern tight-fitting clothes, with knives and spears on their backs, gave Chen Shun’an a neutral glance.
“Here to deliver water? What’s your name?”
Chen Shun’an stepped forward two paces, casually pulled two sachets from his bosom, and handed them to the two.
The sachets were plump and round, bulging with copper coins, jingling crisply and pleasingly with the slightest shake—clearly full of sincerity.
Of course, there actually weren’t many strings of cash, probably just two or three hundred wen in total.
But they looked good and had face!
After all, if the greeting gift was too expensive, he’d injure muscles and bones himself, and others wouldn’t dare accept it.
If too cheap, it’d be shabby for both him and them.
Now, it was just right.
“You two good men, this lowly one is Chen Shun’an, water carrier from Weihang Street, here on Brother Sun’s behalf to take over delivering water to your mansion—hope you’ll take good care of me in the future.”
The guards pocketed the sachets, their faces showing more smiles.
“No need to stand on ceremony, Old Chen, wait a moment—I’ll go report to Steward Zhao first.”
One guard unhurriedly entered the mansion.
The remaining guard said softly,
“Old Chen… Steward Zhao will probably take you to meet Master Li first. Don’t worry, the master is kind-hearted and has always been on good terms with your well stations—he won’t make things hard for you, just ask a couple simple questions.”
This guard explained some precautions, like not barging into the inner courtyard or offending the ladies.
Thinking the money well spent, Chen Shun’an nodded with a smile: “Thanks for the tips, brother.”
In no time at all.
A plump middle-aged man with a goatee came out.
“You’re Chen Shun’an? Old Sun mentioned you. Come, follow me.”
Steward Zhao seemed very amiable, holding up his dangling robe as he led the way ahead.
Once inside the Li Mansion, it was five steps up stairs, three steps around corners, hard mountain style with gray roof tiles, the main hall topped with a roof ridge ornament, a full three courtyards deep!
Chen Shun’an’s low flat house was, in front of the Li Mansion, just the sort of place for servants and grooms.
But it couldn’t withstand close scrutiny.
Some bluish-gray roof tiles on the rooftop were badly broken, the vermilion-lacquered pillars had peeling paint, and the Li Mansion seemed unable even to afford the yearly repairs of lifting tiles and patching walls.
It was ultimately in decline.
But for Chen Shun’an, this was actually advantageous.
He paid special attention to the Li Mansion’s population structure.
The outer courtyard had guards, gatekeepers, grooms; the inner courtyard had maidservants, kitchen maids, Steward Zhao—a total of nine people.
And by Master Li’s generation, though there was a generational gap, there was still one principal wife, two concubines, and three daughters and two sons under his knee.
Although some offspring had already split off, either running a grocery store or working at the martial arts hall, there were still seven Li Family members remaining in the mansion.
And these maidservants, grooms, including Steward Zhao, were all dressed plainly, even with patches upon patches.
Only the two gate guards had bright clothes, clearly the Li Family’s face-saving props.
“This is a top-notch benefactor!”
Chen Shun’an’s heart burned.
Once the Li Family was developed into a benefactor, the average daily wish gains might double!
