Chapter 22

"I admire righteous men like you who can do this much for a friend; let me toast you!"

"My lord, you overpraise me! It is I who should toast you!"

Old Dian Wei was not stupid at all at this moment; he hurriedly took the wine cup handed over by Su Xuan and toasted Zhang Miao: "My lord is a benevolent and righteous master; I have often heard of your reputation for being kind and generous; compared to you, what I have done is nothing at all!"

"Haha!"

Zhang Miao felt extremely comfortable upon hearing this, and after exchanging a few more cups with Old Dian Wei and Su Xuan, he stopped.

He also took full responsibility and said: "Su Boyuan (Su Xuan's courtesy name), leave Mr. Old Dian's matter to me! Tomorrow I will issue an order in the name of the Administrator's Mansion to the Jiwu magistrate, ordering him to cancel Mr. Old Dian's wanted warrant and charges."

"A righteous man should not suffer from unjust grievances! That Li Yong was not a good person to begin with, so he deserved to die."

Su Xuan hurriedly bowed to Zhang Miao in thanks: "Then thank you, my lord!"

Old Dian Wei also followed suit and bowed in thanks.

Afterwards, Su Xuan chatted with Zhang Miao for another half hour before taking his leave.

Watching Su Xuan leave the Administrator's Mansion, Zhang Miao's eyes were deep.

The Chief Clerk on the side couldn't help but speak: "My lord treats this Su Xuan with such courtesy; could it be that you think highly of this person?"

"This person is just a merchant; is he worth the Administrator lowering himself to associate with?"

The Chief Clerk really didn't understand.

"Hmph! What do you know?"

Zhang Miao shook his head amusingly upon hearing this: "This Su Xuan is not a merchant; his father is the magistrate of Deng County in Nanyang, and his ancestor is Su Wu;"

"Although they have declined in recent years, they cannot be underestimated!"

"Especially this Su Xuan; I felt it during our previous chat—this person is not inferior in either literary or military strategy; coupled with his temperament and character, he will definitely not be ordinary in the future;"

"Furthermore, it's just a small favor! To be able to get a generous gift and a favor for this, plus the business interests between me and the Su family, is enough for me to do this."

How did he get his reputation for being kind and generous?

Wasn't it accumulated bit by bit by bestowing favors and associating with people he thought highly of?

Cast a wide net, catch many fish.

Even if only one-tenth of the people he invested in and associated with could achieve something, they would be his connections in the future.

"So that's it! My lord is wise!"

The Chief Clerk hurriedly flattered him upon hearing this.

"Haha!"

On the road,

"I didn't expect the matter to be resolved just like that? This is killing an official, after all! Tsk tsk!"

Old Dian Wei shook his head and complained.

"Otherwise, what did you want?"

Su Xuan shook his head amusingly upon hearing this: "Could it be that you would only be comfortable if you were caught and punished?"

"Besides, who said this matter was simple?"

"In addition to that generous gift, your lord has also owed Zhang Miao a favor because of this!"

"That Zhang Miao is the Administrator of a commandery; this favor won't be easy to repay in the future, yet you still have the nerve to make sarcastic remarks?"

Of course, Su Xuan was just saying it.

It was just a favor from Zhang Miao; to him, it would be very simple to repay in the future.

At worst, he could just save his life at a critical moment.

"Hehe!"

Old Dian Wei scratched the back of his head in embarrassment upon hearing this, looked at Su Xuan apologetically and said: "My lord, I was wrong!"

"Don't worry, from now on, this life of mine is yours!"

"Whatever you tell me to do in the future, I will do."

He was so poor that all he had left was this life and this bit of strength, so he sold it directly to Su Xuan.

It was just right to eat off a wealthy family, and it saved him from worrying about food and clothing.

After spending more than a day together, he also felt that his lord was a very good person.

That was enough.

"Haha!"

Su Xuan laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Done! Then it's settled!"

Su Yi, not far away, looked at Old Dian Wei and couldn't help but click his tongue in his heart: "Tsk tsk! How did big brother know there was such a fierce general in Jiwu? And he recruited him so easily?"

"As expected of big brother, he is truly amazing."

PS: New book uploaded, seeking collections, flowers, and reviews! ===== CHAPTER 44 =====

5 days later,

After a bumpy journey and encountering two waves of mountain bandits on the way, Su Xuan and his party finally arrived at Ma Yi City.

They met the head of the Zhang family and Zhang Liao.

"Uncle Zhang, Su Xuan, Su Su Boyuan, greets you! The goods have all been transported here; please move to take a look, I believe you won't be disappointed!"

Su Xuan stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Zhang Jiu, pointed to the caravan behind him, and gestured.

This time, it was the first trade of Drunken Immortal Brew, soap, scented soap, refined steel weapons, white sugar, and refined salt since their family re-negotiated with the Zhang clan.

Naturally, they had to let them inspect the goods so they could be completely at ease.

"Haha! Nephew Su Boyuan, hello! No rush to inspect the goods."

Zhang Jiu also returned the greeting enthusiastically: "I heard long ago that Brother Brother Ziyan (Su Lie's courtesy name) had a good son who had already been recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt official! Today I finally got to see you!"

"Come! Let me introduce you! This is my son, Zhang Liao, fifteen this year; you young people should interact more in the future!"

As he spoke, Zhang Jiu signaled Zhang Liao on the side to come forward.

Zhang Liao also smiled and bowed slightly to Su Xuan: "Zhang Liao, Zhang Zhang Wenyuan, greets Brother Su Boyuan!"

"Brother Zhang Wenyuan, you are too polite!"

Su Xuan also smiled and returned the greeting, then pulled Su Yi over to introduce him to Zhang Jiu and his son: "By the way! This is my fourth brother, Su Yi; if I don't have time in the future, he will likely be in charge of trade with Bingzhou;"

"A-Yi, greet Brother Zhang Wenyuan and Uncle Zhang!"

Su Yi hurriedly bowed slightly to Zhang Jiu and Zhang Liao: "Su Yi greets Uncle Zhang and Brother Zhang Wenyuan!"

"Haha! Nephew, please rise quickly!"

Zhang Jiu hurriedly helped Su Yi up, looked at him, and clicked his tongue in wonder: "I really envy Brother Brother Ziyan! Four sons, I've seen three, and they are all extraordinary; I imagine the remaining one is the same."

"Uncle, you overpraise us!"

Su Xuan and Su Yi both smiled modestly.

Next, Zhang Jiu and the others first inspected the new goods and tasted the white sugar, refined salt, and Drunken Immortal Brew.

They tested the refined steel weapons.

Zhang Jiu praised them endlessly: "All good things! Su Boyuan, you have put in the effort!"

"I believe these things will definitely sell well in Yanmen."

"I wonder how much of the goods I can get this time?"

He wished he could keep all these things, but he knew it wasn't realistic.

So, he simply didn't make that request, only hoping to take as many goods as possible.

As long as these things were resold, they would definitely make a big profit.

"Fifty percent! I didn't bring enough this time!"

"Mainly because I wasn't sure if it would be to your liking, Uncle; since you like them, we can trade more next time; just give me a number, and we will prepare with all our might;"

"That would be great!"

Zhang Jiu nodded with satisfaction.

Fifty percent was already quite a lot.

"By the way!"

At this time, Su Xuan continued: "Previously, I mentioned in my letter that we don't want money this time; we want to exchange everything for warhorses, fur, wool, and even cattle; this is no problem, right?"

"Haha! Of course!" ===== CHAPTER 45 =====