Chapter 333: Zhu Shao Finds Making Money No Easy Task

After waking from a deep sleep, Xu Yuan suddenly realized a problem:

Regarding Second Uncle's inability to judge people correctly... he misjudged his own elder brother, and he misjudged Zheng Rongkui as well.

He saw the good as bad, and the bad as good.

When I first saw him yesterday, he appeared dignified and majestic, walking with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

Could it be that he is merely a showpiece?

If one claims that rising to the top within the Demon-Extermination Army proves his capability—Xu Yuan would have believed that before, but now that he understands the true nature of the "Three Zhancheng Yamen of Strange Affairs," he would not draw such a simple conclusion.

"When negotiating business with him, one must exercise an extra layer of caution."

"The calculated schemes of evil men might not fool me, but I fear the sudden inspiration of a fool..."

After getting out of bed, he first checked the almanac.

First, he confirmed that today was not a "Day of Forbidden Gazing," and breathed a sigh of relief.

But with a sword always hanging overhead, the feeling was still terrible.

Today's prohibitions:

Earth-moving, quarreling, painting, and taking medicine.

Xu Yuan shook his head straight away: "Not a good day."

First, the capabilities of the Wen Xiu were halved.

Then, the method for a Dan Xiu to rapidly recover by consuming Longzhu Waidan could no longer be used.

However, the Wu Xiu rejoiced wildly.

Prohibiting quarreling? That is excellent; our consistent principle is: if you can fight, do not talk.

Breakfast was eaten together with Aunt Wang—mainly because Aunt Wang's breakfast was exquisite and abundant.

After not seeing each other for decades, the Three Sisters Society's scribes were eager to make up for the "filial piety" they had neglected in such a short time.

Every morning at dawn, they brought breakfast to the Great Grandmother Ancestor.

The varieties were numerous and the types were rich.

They covered all three meals of the day.

If my lord Xu had not given advance notice last night, they would not have eaten at Wumei Tower, but rather at the even more abundant banquet they had prepared.

Thinking of last night's dinner, my lord Xu felt he had lost out.

If I had known you missed my father so much, why would I have invited you to eat?

My father and his stepmother—that is our family matter.

Between you and my father, I will certainly side with my kin rather than with reason!

Moreover, you are not in the right anyway.

"That meal last night cost this official fifteen taels of silver—this money must be added to this deal," my lord Xu noted secretly.

Aunt Wang watched Ah Yuan eat from the side with a smile, feeling more enjoyment than if she were eating herself.

Seeing which dish Ah Yuan liked, she kept serving it to him.

Aunt Wang also understood in her heart that the old men like Master Fei and the crooked seedling were truly coming to pay their respects to her.

But the younger generation of the Three Sisters Society, such as Miao Yan, also ran to the Nancheng Patrol Office every day, naturally to get closer to Ah Yuan.

Aunt Wang did not get angry; instead, she felt very proud: Our Ah Yuan is truly capable!

Miao Yan was currently reporting to my lord Xu from the side: "My father has already confiscated all of Shen Qingpeng's assets; he will return this afternoon. There are silver taels, a residence, shops, and farmland, totaling around four hundred and fifty thousand taels. The specific list is with the old master himself."

Xu Yuan smiled; finally, there was some good news.

"You have done well."

Receiving a word of praise from my lord Xu, Miao Yan's face immediately flushed with joy.

Just as they were finishing, Zhu Zhanlei stuck his head in from outside the door with a cheeky grin, shouted "Brother Yuan," and then smoothly slipped inside.

Xu Yuan exclaimed: "You must be born of a loach." He looked behind him and saw neither Miao Yu nor Zhu Zhanmei.

"Stop looking, it's just me." Zhu Zhanlei sat down at the table with the familiarity of an old friend, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and started eating: "Your food is truly excellent, better than what we eat at home."

Xu Yuan stopped after eating his fill, and Aunt Wang stood up, saying to the group from the Three Sisters Society: "You few, help me out to get some sun."

A large crowd of "filial sons and virtuous grandsons" from the Three Sisters Society immediately swarmed around the Great Grandmother Ancestor, supporting her as they went out.

Zhu Zhanlei stopped his chopsticks, looking at the retreating figures of Aunt Wang and the others with disbelief.

"What's wrong?"

Zhu Zhanlei forcefully swallowed the food he had been chewing: "Do not think that because I am not a Fate Xiu, I cannot see anything.

I have seen plenty since I was young!

Those old servants around your elders are all?"

Master Fei and the others had been stuck at the Seventh Rank for decades.

After Aunt Wang supplemented their subsequent inheritance, they had all risen to the Sixth Rank in these past few days.

However, due to their advanced age, this is as far as they can go in this lifetime.

Furthermore, because of their poor physical condition, they are at the lower end of the Sixth Rank.

But this is, after all, a genuine Sixth Rank!

Four or five people willingly supporting an old lady?

Zhu Zhanlei recalled that even his own Great Grandmother Ancestor did not have such luxury.

"You told me you came from a humble family," Zhu Zhanlei said in a low voice, "I suspect you are lying to me."

Xu Yuan smiled: "Aunt Wang's situation is quite special; it cannot be explained in a few words. What exactly do you come to find me for?"

Zhu Zhanlei spoke while eating: "It is not that I want to find you; the Canal Zhancheng Yamen sent me. They also specifically emphasized that I should not bring my eldest brother-in-law or my third sister."

This young man had a skill: he could speak while eating very quickly, his pronunciation remained very clear, and he could ensure that no food crumbs would fly everywhere.

"Although this young master also looks down on the conduct of those at the Canal Office, I have always been particular about helping others."

So he didn't bring those two and came to find Xu Yuan himself.

He never thought that without Miao Yu accompanying him, Xu Yuan might not buy into his offer.

He simply felt that "this young master" must have that kind of face!

"The Canal Office wants to buy something from your hand. I don't know what it is, and those bastards won't even tell me."

"However, the price they offered is very high: three thousand taels of silver, plus two seventh-grade Longzhu Waidan."

Xu Yuan snorted coldly: "Go tell them I have already sold that item to the Demon-Extermination Army."

"Really?" Zhu Zhanlei blinked his eyes.

Xu Yuan was at a loss for words: "Of course it's a lie! But if I didn't say that, they... never mind, never mind. Even if I explained it clearly to you, you wouldn't be interested in listening. Just listen to me and tell them exactly that."

"Alright then." Zhu Zhanlei smiled, patted his belly, and prepared to leave, but turned back to ask: "If the matter succeeds, will you help me deposit one thousand taels of silver at the White Moon Pavilion?"

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "There will definitely be benefits for you."

Zhu Zhanlei left, satisfied.

Zhu Zhanlei didn't understand, but the Canal Office side understood Xu Yuan's meaning.

They quickly found out that there was a Commander of the Demon-Extermination Army in the city.

This was too easy to find; he was living in the guesthouse...

So my lord Xu's judgment that Second Uncle's ability might be overestimated was correct.

The Canal Office grew anxious and negotiated with Xu Yuan several times.

Zhu Zhanlei ran errands five times in a single day.

The young master of a prominent family cursed inwardly; earning this one thousand taels of silver was originally so difficult!

In the past, asking the family for one thousand taels came with just opening one's mouth.

Every time Zhu Zhanlei came, Xu Yuan went to the guesthouse, and each time he added fifteen taels of silver to the Canal Office's price.

Finally, the price Xu Yuan negotiated with the Canal Office was somewhat unexpected.

Xu Yuan demanded a shop on the Champa Canal wharf.

Afterwards, Xu Yuan went to the guesthouse again.

Hearing this final price, Second Uncle's expression changed several times: "I have been to the wharf. That shop you mentioned cannot be obtained for less than fifty thousand taels."

He struggled for a long time and helplessly sighed: "Sell it to them; we cannot afford so much money."

The matter of the King of Ghosts Wang Shen, at its root, was simply that the Demon-Extermination Army wanted to embezzle more silver.

Getting them to gather fifty thousand taels... was harder than killing them.

On the Canal Office side, there were many ways to make money, so their spending was naturally much more generous than the Demon-Extermination Army's.

He did not use the name of "one family" to force Xu Yuan to sell to them at a low price, which made Xu Yuan's impression of him slightly better.

My lord Xu hummed a little tune and returned from the guesthouse to the Nancheng patrol station. Today, Old Qin was guarding the gate again: "My lord, there is someone over there who wants to see you."

An old farmer with his hands tucked inside his sleeves squatted at the base of the wall outside the gate.

Xu Yuan looked at him and found him somewhat familiar.

"My lord, this humble one is the village head of Yujing Village."

(End of this chapter)