Chapter 14: Bizarre Situation

The Chief Manager and Steward of the Four Seasons Trading Firm need appointment by the Headquarters' Grand Clerk.

The Head Clerk, Senior Clerk, and Shop Assistant must also have their names recorded in the Headquarters' personnel register.

As for promotion, the Chief Manager's promotion to Owner of the Headquarters or the clan's External Affairs Elder requires the Family Head of the Pingyang Zhang Family to decide personally.

The Head Clerk's promotion to Steward, and the Steward's promotion to Chief Manager, require the Owner of the Headquarters or the clan's External Affairs Elder to decide.

The Senior Clerk's promotion to Head Clerk is decided by the Chief Manager who directly oversees them.

The Shop Assistant's promotion to Senior Clerk requires nomination by the Steward and approval by the Chief Manager.

Zhang Guiping was promoted two ranks without merit, aware that there must be a reason, and after thinking asked, "What is the background of that Lord He Xiang?"

"You truly discerned from a few words.

Lord He Xiang entered official service during the reign of Emperor Geng Yuan and is a veteran of three dynasties.

At forty‑seven, he founded the 'Three Provinces School,' whose name shook the world.

He once served as Provincial Education Commissioner in several provinces, presided over three spring examinations, and had thousands of disciples.

Even Deputy Grand Secretary Yao Dongyuan of the Imperial Court and Crown Prince's Grand Tutor Chen Mudao were among them.

The result is that such a great figure had a daughter, and for some unknown reason she favored Zhang Jiuqing.

I truly cannot understand.

How could Zhang Jiuqing's demeanor possibly attract such a Noble Lady, especially since Lord He Xiang is a great scholar and his family education must be strict.

"Don't claim it's sour just because you can't reach the grapes.

【7】9】 Brother Jiuqing may not be as good looking as you and I, but he's still fairly handsome.

Brother Jiu Qing, though not as good‑looking as you and I, is still fairly handsome.

Besides, matters between men and women are the most unpredictable.

A single glance during a spring outing, or a lingering little poem, could make a distinguished Noble Lady fall hopelessly in love with a seemingly refined yet rogue man.

So don't try to analyze love, that unsolvable problem."

"I think the timing just doesn't match."

"They say a single glance can cause love; you've been apart from Brother Jiuqing for several days, right? Tens of thousands of glances have already occurred.

How can the timing not match?"

"Just continue with the main point."

"The main point is that Zhang Jiuqing's department no longer takes the imperial examination; after marriage he'll study behind closed doors.

Yet even someone like me, a 'green persimmon,' can see that he received a hint from Lord He Xiang and is pretending to 'cultivate reputation.'

He'll study for a few years, have a child, then wander in learning for a few more years, becoming a successful candidate at twenty‑eight or twenty‑nine, and a top scholar at thirty.

By then he'll have a family, offspring, and reputation; after securing fame, he'll achieve further deeds at a steady pace, everything falling into place—that's the true path."

"Zhang Jiujiang, your reasoning this time is crystal clear, the guesses fit perfectly.

Could it be that you've been hiding your clumsiness before me?" Zhang Gui said, surprised.

"I hide nothing at all.

This path is one I charted for myself after years of reading countless legendary tales since I began studying, spending over a decade pondering, only for Zhang Jiuqing to take the lead."

"Ah, legendary tales—so Zhang Jiuqing truly resembles a character from those stories."

"Indeed." Zhang Jiujiang said dejectedly, "So Zhang Yan also gave him great face.

He didn't even need me to bring it up; he said that when the next large fleet returns home, I'll go back with them.

Thus, using Zhang Jiuqing's younger brother status, he'll offer a marriage proposal to Lord He Xiang's family.

He also assigned me the West Market, which Zhang Bazhong had overseen before his death last night.

He said that when I return home, he'll temporarily entrust the East and West Markets to you, and no benefit will be missed.

After saying that, without waiting for my reply, he drove me away immediately.

"What do you think his meaning is?"

Zhang Gui fell silent, pondering for a long time, then said softly:

"I can't figure out what Zhang Yan means.

Or perhaps he has no meaning at all.

You and Zhang Jiuqing are bloodwise uncle‑nephew brothers, but relationally you are as close as brothers.

Provided your life is guaranteed, whatever Zhang Yan did secretly—

must be acknowledged, at least no extra resentment.

As for me, I'm merely a tiny figure without even a generational rank in the Pingyang Zhang Family, just a sesame‑sized nobody.

Zhang Yan promoted me to Head Clerk, and later, on the spot, will take over the two markets you manage, already giving ample face.

If we are not satisfied, that is our fault.

In our view, the greatest benefit is, upon close thought, merely the rice crumbs that fall from someone's mouth corner.

In our view it's a tremendous benefit, but upon careful thought it's merely the rice crumbs that fall from someone's mouth.

Zhang Jiujiang, hearing that, opened his mouth in protest, seeming to want to retort but speechless, finally clenched his teeth, lowered his voice, and, staring at the furnace, said through gritted teeth: "Zhang Gui, could you not be so blunt when you speak?"

In the days that followed, no further incidents occurred in Blackwood Town.

Relations with the main family continued as usual, as if everything had passed and returned to tranquility.

Strangely, the number of merchants in the town kept decreasing.

It is now less than half of the usual amount, and continues to dwindle.

Fortunately, Blackwood Town, besides being a trade hub, also houses a high‑demand large counterfeit weapons workshop, whose clientele will never run out.

The market streets are not overly desolate.

Zhang Gui served as Head Clerk for several days, gradually becoming seasoned.

Because Zhang Jiujiang was lazy and had no mind to manage the two markets far apart.

He simply moved to live in the more bustling West Market, leaving the annex house in Dongfang Market for Zhang Gui to reside.

Moreover, because Zhang Jiujiang deliberately transferred all the Head Clerks to West Market for use, only Zhang Gui remained the biggest in Dongfang Market.

It actually became a situation where the tiger was not at home and the monkey claimed to be the overlord.

Giant Snake Head Island, although its area exceeds one hundred thousand square kilometers, is comparable to a province on the continent.

But because the entire Yuanluan Ocean basin is affected by the two cyclonic streams, the Crow Wind and the Monkey Wind.

The climate is very uniform.

Each year, in June, July, August, and September, because the Monkey Wind's influence is stronger, it is summer.

In October, the Monkey Wind's influence gradually recedes, while the Crow Wind's influence is not yet sufficient, so it is autumn;

From November through December, and the following January, February, March, and April, the climate is ruled by the Crow Wind, with occasional strong snowstorms, thus it is winter;

When May arrives, the Crow Wind‑dominated cold dissipates, bringing a one‑month spring.

In this way the cycle repeats, ten thousand years as one.

After May, June arrives, and Kuroki Town welcomes a scorching summer.

The blazing sun overhead gave Zhang Gui some ideas.

The second courtyard of the Dongfang Market Office has long been exclusively his.

Zhang Gui, lacking virtue, brought a smoking contraption, used urine lye to burn the thriving grapevine, and then dismantled the grape trellis.

After that, every day he closed the courtyard gate, and during the day lay on the five‑zhang low‑leg wooden bed in the courtyard, filling bucket after bucket with well water to sun‑dry.

It was noon.

The hot wind brought by the Monkey Wind and the glaring sun ruled the sky over the ocean and islands.

The air, due to the high temperature and humidity, was filled with scorching heat.

So that even objects appeared slightly distorted.

On the five‑zhang low‑leg wood.

Zhang Gui wore a pair of pants whose legs had been cut off halfway, his upper body naked, greedily bathing in the sun's brilliance.

In the courtyard, some hidden summer cicada emitted a shrill cry.

And the divine cluster within him seemed to respond to the cicada's song, trembling faintly.

(End of chapter)