Chapter 83: Raising the Banner for Profit

These days, he wanted to figure out one thing.

Li Xingchao is skilled at scheming; he would choose to step forward to protect himself, surely he has some motive, wanting to get something from him.

Although it's still unclear what he wants, this free banner—might as well raise it.

The blood food shop in town, he originally planned to sell it directly to Xing Ji, but now there's a better way than selling the shop.

"Sister Rong, I'm straightforward, so I'll just get straight to the point." After both sides sat down, Fang Xu spoke directly.

Xing Rong smiled slightly: "Young Master Fang, I like straightforward people the most."

Fang Xu nodded and said: "To be frank, I'm friends with Young Master Yun, and I'm greatly favored by the Seventh Prince; this blood food business can certainly be run by myself."

"However, I've already obtained the Ascension Immortal Assembly's sect permit; at year's end I have to go participate in the Assembly's examination, so I really can't spare the energy to run the blood food shop."

Upon hearing this, Xing Rong's heart trembled slightly.

Being friends with the Yun family's direct heir, greatly favored by the Seventh Prince, and possibly becoming a disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly!

This...

"Young Master Fang, you're truly talented at a young age!" Xing Rong said, piling on smiles with flattery.

Fang Xu waved his hand and laughed: "Bringing this up, I just want to tell Sister that in Fenglin Town's blood food trade, I have a say."

"That blood food shop—I plan to take a stake; I'll leave the shop to you, Xing Ji, to manage, and each month I'll take twenty percent of the profits. What do you think, Sister?"

Twenty percent share?

Xing Rong frowned slightly, seemingly pondering whether a twenty percent share was worth it.

Seeing her hesitate, Fang Xu spoke again: "Sister, you're not the direct line of the Xing family, are you?"

Xing Rong froze for a moment, then nodded; she indeed wasn't the direct line of the Xing family, and precisely because of that, although the Qinghe County she manages brings the family huge wealth each year, she never receives the family's favor, only able to silently stay in that small place.

"Sister wants to be valued by the family, whether it's the Yun family or the Imperial family—as long as one side supports her, the future..."

Fang Xu's words trailed off.

Observing people and expressions, in his previous life in the military, psychology was a required course for special missions; Fang Xu could see from Xing Rong's brows and eyes that she was an ambitious person, unwilling to settle as merely the manager of a Qinghe County blood food shop.

Knowing a person's desires allows better control over them.

Raising the banners of the Yun family and the Imperial family, Xing Rong would surely know which is more important.

"Twenty percent is too much." Xing Rong said slowly: "I'd like to befriend a talented young man like Young Master Fang; please give me an honest price."

Fang Xu shook his head: "Twenty percent is already the lowest price."

"Do you think the Yun family isn't worth this money, or the Imperial family isn't worth this money?"

Upon hearing this, Xing Rong's expression changed slightly, and she immediately gave a bitter laugh:

"Young Master Fang, you're making things difficult for me."

"However, twenty percent exceeds my authority; how about this: ten percent of the profits, and I can also promise to give Young Master Fang five hundred catties of first-grade blood food each month."

Xing Rong gritted her teeth and said:

The price of five hundred catties of first-grade blood food is one thousand taels of silver; with this money she can launder it cleanly through profits, but any more would be hard to handle.

"Deal!"

As soon as her words fell, Fang Xu readily agreed.

Actually, his bottom line was ten percent.

The house isn't worth much, the two banners are free, getting ten percent profit for nothing is already quite good.

With the Tilan Mountain ruins opening, for a long time to come the number of martial artists in Fenglin Town will be large, the blood food trade will naturally thrive, and ten percent profit is not a small amount.

Seeing Fang Xu agree so readily, Xing Rong was slightly startled, then her face lit up with joy.

Exchanging ten percent profit for an opportunity close to the Yun family and the Seventh Prince of the Imperial family—no matter how you calculate it, it's not a loss-making deal.

This Fang Xu is still young!

Both parties had their own thoughts, each feeling they hadn't lost in this trade, so the agreement was naturally settled quickly.

"Sister Rong, let me take you to see that blood food shop." After the agreement was set, Fang Xu rose and led a group to the town's blood food shop.

The shop was originally built by the Zhang family; after Lu Zhiyuan took over, he carried out extensive renovations, and although it hasn't been long, it's still quite new.

After seeing it, Xing Rong was very satisfied and immediately said she would arrange staff to come clean and stock it, to open as soon as possible.

"There's one more favor." Fang Xu suddenly said: "I have a sister-in-law who used to help out in this shop; after you open, Sister, could you reserve a position for her so she has something to do?"

Madame Wang has been living in Zhiyuan Hall with no source of income.

It's not that I can't support her; it's just that I'll eventually leave Fenglin Town, so I need to prepare a fallback for Madame Wang.

"This is easy to handle, Young Master Fang, just rest assured." Xing Rong had no hesitation and directly nodded in agreement.

The helpers she hires also need to be paid wages; those wages are the same no matter who gets them.

After looking at the shop, Xing Rong followed Fang Xu back to Zhiyuan Hall, with no intention of leaving; during their conversation, Fang Xu could discern her thought—nothing more than wanting him to help recommend her to pay a visit to Seventh Prince Li Xingchao.

But he doesn't have that ability.

He could only deflect, saying: "You also know the situation in Fenglin Town, Sister; the Seventh Prince is stationed here, busy all day and can't free himself, otherwise he wouldn't have asked me for help."

"Once this busy period passes, Young Master Fang will certainly help you with a recommendation."

Upon hearing this, Xing Rong felt somewhat unwilling: "I've heard the Heir Apparent is also in Fenglin Town; Your Highness is busy, could Young Master Fang help recommend the Heir Apparent?"

Xing Rong isn't a fool; with ten percent profit plus the five hundred catties of first-grade blood food given out, she needs to see some return before she can accept it.

Fang Xu also knew that if he kept deflecting, it would surely make her suspicious; he immediately nodded and said: "Young Master Fang can go report to the Heir Apparent, but whether the Heir Apparent has time is uncertain."

Xing Rong immediately said that the Qinghe County shop currently has nothing major, so she can wait in Fenglin Town.

Fang Xu felt helpless, only able to grit his teeth and agree.

After seeing Xing Rong off, Lu Qingluo frowned and looked at Fang Xu, saying: "Using the Yun family as an excuse might not be a big problem, but Li Xun's side..."

Fang Xu pondered for a moment, then said: "No problem, I'll go see Li Xun."

From Zhiyuan Hall rushing to the government office, after Fang Xu met Li Xun, he directly got to the point and explained that the Xing family wanted to pay a visit to him.

Li Xun frowned: "Xing Family, the Xing Family of Yellow Prefecture?"

Fang Xu nodded slightly, waiting quietly for Li Xun's reply.

"Yellow Prefecture Xing Family..." Li Xun muttered, beginning to calculate the Xing Family's basic information in his mind.

In his impression, the Xing Family in Yellow Prefecture could only be considered a third-rate family, mainly operating part of the blood food business in Yellow Prefecture; the clan head seemed to be of comparable cultivation to himself, a veteran martial arts master who had reached the consummate realm.

To his father, such a force was at most a mosquito leg.

However……

Considering that since arriving at Maple Forest Town he had accomplished nothing and kept hitting walls, if he could now help his father subdue the Xing Family, it would also count as a minor merit.

Even a mosquito leg is meat; although the Xing Family's overall strength is not great, it is still a wealthy clan, perhaps useful in the future.

"I, the prince, know of this; you did well." Li Xun nodded in agreement, and also praised Fang Xu.

He discovered that Fang Xu was becoming more sensible; such a person is truly good.

(End of chapter)