Chapter 202: Duan Hefei

Yu Liancheng had, of course, heard the name Duan Hefei.

Because he was traveling downriver by boat, and Duan Hefei was the largest financial magnate in the Changjiang River basin; he had monopolized almost all the most profitable businesses in this region.

As for the person before him, she was Duan Hefei's only daughter; it was said she had two older brothers, but they had already died, so everyone called her San Guniang.

Even though this San Guniang's appearance was not outstanding and her mannerisms were like those of a man, as long as word got out, given this family fortune that could rival a nation, one feared that those coming to propose marriage would line up for ten miles.

Now, Yu Liancheng was in this Nü Mengchang's carriage.

The carriage was wide and large, paved with soft cushions, and San Guniang's method of driving was also very skillful, without the slightest bump.

Yu Liancheng sat comfortably in the carriage, sipped some wine, and said indifferently, "What business does your father have with me?"

San Guniang laughed, "Although my father can only be considered half a person of the Edo, he has always admired Edo heroes. After hearing of your deeds at Emei Mountain, he sent people to inquire about your whereabouts. As soon as there was news of you, he sent me over to pick you up."

Yu Liancheng chuckled, "Your Duan Family's intelligence is quite fast."

San Guniang laughed, "In business, if your intelligence isn't sharp, you'll sooner or later become a pauper."

Yu Liancheng revealed a faint, elusive smile, "It's just a pity that your intelligence isn't fast enough."

"What?"

"Nothing, let's continue on our way."

It did not take long for Yu Liancheng to see Duan Hefei.

Duan Hefei was welcoming him in front of that grand mansion, which was so imposing it could frighten people.

For important guests, it was not a strange thing for a host to welcome them at the door.

But the moment Yu Liancheng saw Duan Hefei, he knew the other party valued him—valued him very much.

This was only because this Duan Hefei was a bit too fat, looking exactly like a large meatball.

And this kind of fat was not the coarse, powerful fat of Da Huanxi Nu Pusa.

It was a very frail kind of fat.

He walked three steps, and it looked more exhausting than someone else walking three miles.

If he stumbled and fell, one feared he wouldn't be able to crawl back up without someone to help him.

For such a fat man to be able to come out to welcome him, he had already shown more than enough courtesy.

San Guniang had already walked up in a flurry and supported Duan Hefei, saying, "Father, you just recovered from an illness, why have you come out? If you catch a chill, it will inevitably be a lot of trouble."

"Look at what you're saying, San Guniang, your father is in perfectly good health."

Duan Hefei chuckled, his gaze shifting to Yu Liancheng, a glimmer of depth revealing itself in his murky eyes, "That Yu Gongzi could come, Duan Hefei is truly very happy. A banquet has long been prepared in the hall, specifically to welcome you, Gongzi."

Yu Liancheng had only eaten a crystal pork knuckle at Yuloudong, so his stomach was indeed not yet full. And since the Duan Family was immensely wealthy, he figured they would not be stingy with guests, so he already had expectations.

But Duan Hefei was truly too fat, too frail.

And this large mansion had courtyard after courtyard, so the speed naturally could not be fast.

The group talked as they walked, and Duan Hefei asked smilingly about the situation at Emei Mountain at the time, clapping his hands in praise from time to time, greatly lauding "heroic deeds," and his words seemed to carry a probing intent. But he asked very cleverly, never making anyone feel the slightest bit uncomfortable.

Once the matter of Emei Mountain was finished, Yu Liancheng suddenly changed the subject, "Old Master Duan, you invited me here today, I fear it is not simple."

Duan Hefei raised his brows, "Oh?"

"Let me guess," Yu Liancheng laughed, "The Duan Family's business is very good and quite famous in the Changjiang region. But your Duan Family does not have a true expert. Doing big business and big deals inevitably leads to others wanting a share of the pie. And if you encounter a high-martial-arts bandit, I fear that not only will the property not be kept, but your life will also be hard to preserve."

Duan Hefei nodded, "What Yu Gongzi says is extremely reasonable."

"You heard of my reputation, sent people to scout for news of me, understood my martial arts and character, and since I have no background in the Edo, I am very likely to become a retainer for your Duan Family."

Yu Liancheng continued, "But you are also unwilling to be at ease, fearing I am a person of wolfish ambition who would swallow up your Duan Family's property, so this time there is also an intent to probe."

"Yu Gongzi is indeed clever," Duan Hefei revealed an expression of admiration, "However, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were not that kind of person. I, Duan Hefei, started from nothing and accumulated this family business, which has a lot to do with my eye for people. If I saw wrong, I would just consider it my own fault."

In his tone, there was also a sense of pride.

Pride in starting from nothing, pride in his own judgment.

Yu Liancheng laughed, "But you still have one more thing to consider now?"

Duan Hefei said, "Oh?"

Yu Liancheng said, "A few people just died at my hands, and there are a few others who, while not killed by me, are not much different. These people are all quite famous, such as 'Jade-Faced Divine Judge' Xiao Zichun, 'Golden Lion' Li Di... oh right, I also offended 'Jiangnan Hero' Jiang Biehe, hehe, what are your thoughts now?"

Every time he said a name, Duan Hefei's originally ruddy face turned pale.

And when the three words 'Jiang Biehe' were spoken, his face, pale as paper, actually turned a ghastly green.

Yu Liancheng laughed heartily, "How are you considering it now?"

Duan Hefei coughed a few times, his complexion finally returning to normal, "Yu Gongzi... what you said is true?"

Yu Liancheng said, "This naturally cannot be fake; you only need to send someone to Yuloudong to inquire, and you will know."

Duan Hefei revealed an expression of hesitation and struggle.

The decision he made now might even affect the life and death of the entire Duan Family.

After a long while, as they were about to enter the main hall, a look of decisiveness appeared in his eyes, "Good, as long as you are willing, my Duan Family welcomes you to become a retainer at any time. You won't need to do anything usually; you only need to give my Duan Family a hand at critical moments. And whatever you want, my Duan Family will do our best to satisfy you."

Yu Liancheng seemed somewhat surprised, "Oh, I couldn't tell, you have a lot of guts."

"If you want to make business big, how can you not have guts."

Duan Hefei's gaze sharpened; this amiable fat man, at this moment, actually possessed a gripping wildness, as if he were a beast in the wilderness, "Xiao Zichun, Jin Di, and the others usually colluded and, relying on their martial arts, frequently suppressed my Duan Family. Now that they are dead, it is time for our Duan Family to expand our territory and pay them back."

Yu Liancheng looked at Duan Hefei carefully and nodded, "Very good. As long as your Duan Family does not actively seek death, I guarantee that neither the black nor white paths will be able to come and cause you trouble. Of course, I also have some matters that will require your Duan Family's help when the time comes."

"Good, I also promise Yu Gongzi, where the Duan Family can help, we will definitely help; where we cannot help, we will find a way to help."

Duan Hefei looked at Yu Liancheng, and in his small eyes, there seemed to be a different kind of edge, "But I would like to know, is your martial arts truly as formidable as the legends say?"

Yu Liancheng chuckled.

His palm suddenly flipped.

Boom!

The air currents surged, as if a wind disaster had passed through.

……

PS: Four updates, requesting monthly votes.