Green Mountain
Chapter 303 - 243, Buy a shop

Chapter 303: 243, Buy a shop

Chen Ji listened to the hastening footsteps of Xiao Man getting fainter and more distant until they disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Sometimes he couldn’t make heads or tails of this maid; she was sometimes foolish and sometimes shrewd, with vacillating moral standards.

Could she be called a bad person? Yet she never did anything to wrong Chen Ji, repeatedly picking up and putting down the Buddhist Treasure.

Could she be called a good person? But then again she considered murder and selling information...

It was as if someone had missed imparting a few crucial bits when teaching her right from wrong. Or maybe, this was precisely how her teacher was, and Xiao Man was merely imitating.

What boggled Chen Ji now was why she, already an Executive Officer, would willingly stay at the Chen Mansion as a maid?

Just then, the curtain inside the room was lifted, and Zhang Xia emerged neatly dressed, smiling as he asked, "Aren’t you going to ask her what she needs so much silver for? One thousand and eleven taels is not a small amount."

Standing by the window, Chen Ji casually replied, "If it’s already given, what’s the need to ask more?"

While they were speaking, there came a knock on the door.

Chen Ji gave Zhang Xia a sign with his eyes, grasping the Whale Blade and walked alone to the door, cracking it open just a slit.

The Shopkeeper stood outside in a black robe, bowing with a smile, "Good morning, Guest. When are you planning to start the sermon? My fellows have reserved a table for you, with some pastries and candied fruits ready."

Chen Ji unobtrusively leaned the Whale Blade against the wall and then fully opened the door, answering with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Shopkeeper. We’ll come down a little later."

The Shopkeeper changed the subject: "Guest, have you decided where to go after the sermon? Fengsheng State on the Western Capital Road of the Jing Dynasty is a nice place to visit."

Chen Ji, recalling the screams and the stench of blood in the secret tunnel, immediately answered, "Haven’t decided yet, I might stay a few more days. Who knows, there might be business opportunities right here in Guyuan City."

The Shopkeeper sincerely said, "Guest, being a stranger here, you might not know that Guyuan City is quite chaotic, especially every time our Dragon Gate Inn hosts a ceremony, it becomes a playground for demons. By then, those coveting the immense wealth in your hands will swarm like carps crossing a river."

Chen Ji retorted, "Are you saying they dare to force their way into Dragon Gate Inn?"

The Shopkeeper narrowed his eyes slightly, "They would not dare to force their way into Dragon Gate Inn... Well, if the guest plans to stay a few more days, I will not try to persuade you any further, lest you think I have ulterior motives."

Chen Ji cordially responded, "How could I? I’ll remember your kindness, Shopkeeper."

The Shopkeeper made a bow, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"Shopkeeper, take care," Chen Ji slowly closed the door, and the moment the wooden door completely shut, the two men inside and outside, each with their own schemes, had their expressions turn icy.

The Shopkeeper stood before the door pondering for a moment, then turned and went downstairs, gesturing to Xiao Wu, who was sweeping.

Xiao Wu hobbled over with his broom, "What’s up, Shopkeeper?"

The Shopkeeper instructed, "Spread the news of someone delivering a sermon outside, let the local tyrants of the street gather. Let our guest understand what kind of place Guyuan is."

Xiao Wu, puzzled, said, "Didn’t you say they had Lamp Copper Coins with them? Are we still going to bite the hand that feeds us? And they are under the eye of Lord Third Elder, we shouldn’t mess with them, right?"

The Shopkeeper spoke calmly, "We naturally shouldn’t act ourselves, but once the others have had their turn, it won’t be against the rules for us to pick up what’s left, right?"

Xiao Wu muttered softly, "If Lord finds out, he will despise you even more."

The Shopkeeper glanced at him coldly, "Do you think I’m doing this for myself? How much of the money earned over the years at the inn went to my own pocket? There are so many people depending on this for food and clothes; if we don’t earn money, what will they eat and drink?"

Xiao Wu shrank his neck, "Got it, got it, I’ll go do it!"

The Shopkeeper returned to the main hall of the inn.

In less than thirty minutes, the inn’s cotton curtain was flipped open, and six men with bushy beards and mustaches filed in, finding a table in the corner to sit. The six men each had a short knife belted around their waist, with turquoise stones engrained into the shiny handles.

As the cotton curtain was lifted again, a fragrant breeze came wafting in. The brothel owner from next door, Red Sleeves, still oozing charm, waved a silk handkerchief, sashaying between tables, giggling as she greeted various people.

When she passed by, a man tried to forcefully pull her into his arms, but the brothel owner just laughed softly, turning her body lightly like a butterfly avoiding a flower, dodging away.

At the instant of their brief touch, the man’s wrist was cut by a small knife blade hidden between the brothel owner’s fingers, leaving a long gash with blood gushing out. The man, at a loss, dared not make a fuss and could only cover his wrist and rush out the door.

Someone at a table burst into laughter, "An idiot who doesn’t see clearly, daring to take liberties with the Black Widow of Red Sleeves!"

Various local tyrants of Guyuan thronged in and, in another thirty minutes, the main hall of the inn was filled to the brim, with only two tables still vacant.

The main hall of the inn, which had been quiet and empty, suddenly became hot as an oven; the mixed scents of greasy jackets, sweat, and spices blending together.

At this moment, the door curtain was lifted once more, and a man who was blind in one eye walked in nonchalantly, draped in a coat of lamb’s fur, extending into a piece of leopard fur sleeve.

All at once, everyone in the main hall stood up, with someone in surprise exclaiming, "Third Elder!"

"When did Third Elder return to Guyuan?"

"How have you been recently, Third Elder?"

Third Elder offered no response; scanning the crowd with his remaining good eye, he made his way past each square table towards the counter and calmly inquired, "Is someone starting a sermon today?"

Seeing that Third Elder was not interested in engaging with them, the guests all sat down and resumed their quiet conversations.

Seeing the Shopkeeper still unresponsive, Third Elder raised his voice, "I’m talking to you!"

The Shopkeeper did not even lift an eyelid, "Disappeared for two whole days, and even such a trivial matter as a sermon has alerted you, Elder?"

Third Elder scoffed coldly, "Who is holding the sermon?"

The Shopkeeper said off-handedly, "The one you’ve been watching."

Third Elder’s face changed, "Him?"

The Shopkeeper stared straight at Third Elder, "Why such a reaction? Who exactly is he?"

Third Elder glanced at the Shopkeeper, "You shouldn’t ask what you aren’t supposed to."

The Shopkeeper sneered, "Don’t trust me?"

Third Elder chuckled and said, "What makes me trust you? Little Brother, peel off that fake skin on your face, take a look in the mirror, and see the ’submit’ character tattooed on your face, then come back and tell me if I should trust you."

Shopkeeper lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth, angrily, "How many times do I have to say it? It was the General who sent me there. If it weren’t for me, Guyuan would have fallen that year! Even the Lord said he trusts me, why wouldn’t you?"

Third Elder gave him a deep look, then turned and walked to the empty table in the middle of the main hall and sat down.

The brothel owner at Red Sleeves waved a silk handkerchief in her hand and asked the Shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, didn’t someone say they were going to hold a session? Everyone has put down what they were doing and come over, why hasn’t it started yet?"

The Shopkeeper fell silent for a moment, then turned his head and instructed a servant beside him, "Go upstairs and rush the guest."

On the third floor, Chen Ji had been waiting since dawn until noon, and Xiao Man had not yet returned.

The servant went upstairs and urged three times in a row, while the guests downstairs were becoming restless and impatient, Chen Ji showed no intention of coming downstairs.

After the servant had come to urge for the fourth time, Chen Ji found an excuse to send the servant away and closed the door of the room.

Zhang Xia asked in confusion, "What on earth has Xiao Man gone to do, why hasn’t she returned?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Maybe she really ran away?"

However, as the words fell, Zhang Zheng suddenly said, "She wouldn’t run."

"Oh?" Chen Ji turned to look at Zhang Zheng, "You are the one who quarrels with her the most on regular days, why are you speaking up for her now?"

Zhang Zheng snorted, "I argue with her on regular days just to pass the time, but I know she doesn’t mean bad. Although she always snaps at me, when we met a thief on the road, she quietly helped me block them. Last night, she snuck to check Chen Ji’s clothes, I was awake and saw her take out the Buddhist Treasure and put it back. If she really wanted to run, she would have run last night, not wait until now."

Chen Ji sized up Zhang Zheng, "Then will you still argue with her in the future?"

Zhang Zheng laughed heartily, "Why wouldn’t I argue? It’s not like there’s anything else to do..."

Before he finished speaking, the room door suddenly swung open, and Xiao Man stood at the door, panting and glaring fiercely at Zhang Zheng, then said to Chen Ji, "My lord, I have returned."

Chen Ji asked with a smile, "What did you go to do, to be panting like this?"

"I was in a hurry to get back," Xiao Man said, taking out a deed from her sleeve and handing it to Chen Ji.

Chen Ji unfolded it, puzzled, "You bought a shop?"

Xiao Man explained, "Seeing that the Jing Dynasty is going to lay siege, I bought a grain and oil shop in advance, including the two thousand one hundred stones of grain in the shop. When the Jing Dynasty’s army arrives, the price of grain will triple at once! How about it, is this a profitable business or not?"

Chen Ji couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "What a time to be talking about it! Even if you make money, you need to live to spend it."

Xiao Man paused, then said, "There’s a well in the backyard of this grain and oil shop that hides a cellar. Even if we don’t sell those grains, it’s enough for us to hide in the cellar for a very, very long time."

Chen Ji was slightly startled, "How did you find out about this?"

Xiao Man lowered her head, whispering, "You don’t need to worry about that. In any case, if the Jing Dynasty really besieges Guyuan, that will be your escape route, my lord."

At this moment, there was a knock at the door, and the servant outside shouted, "Guest, the Shopkeeper asked me to come again and ask when you are coming down?"

Chen Ji put the deed into his sleeve and answered loudly, "I’m coming."

...

...

On Qiu Ci Street, Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo, dressed as ordinary people, wearing bamboo hats, quietly sized up their surroundings with four Yulin Army soldiers in plain clothes.

As they passed by, silk handkerchiefs from upstairs floated down like snow, and the chattering and laughter of women were incessant.

Qi Zhenzhuo whispered, "Brother-in-law, why did you bring me to a brothel? Aren’t you afraid I’ll go back and tell my sister?"

Li Xuan glared at him fiercely, "What are you thinking? It’s said that the Dragon Gate Inn on Qiu Ci Street is a gathering place for message traders, with frequent information exchanges. I brought you here to buy information, not to visit a brothel!"

Qi Zhenzhuo let out a sigh of relief, "I see now."

Li Xuan let the silk handkerchiefs fall beside him without giving them a glance, "You and I serve close to His Highness. Previously, the bastard of the Chen family stole the spotlight. If we don’t do something now, I’m afraid His Highness will think we are useless."

Qi Zhenzhuo got excited, "Exactly. If Chen Ji can get information in Guyuan City, we naturally can too... Surely we’re no worse than him."

Just then, several passersby hurried by, still muttering, "Better hurry, we might not make it on time."

Qi Zhenzhuo grabbed one of them and asked, "Brother, where are you guys going?"

The man he grabbed shook him off, "Someone is holding a session at the Dragon Gate Inn, of course we’re going there."

Qi Zhenzhuo was confused, "What does holding a session mean?"

The man scoffed, "You bumpkin from out of town, holding a session means someone’s selling important news that concerns the security of an entire city."

Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo exchanged a look, both flashing a gleam of delight.

Qi Zhenzhuo whispered, "Brother-in-law, what a great opportunity! We just got here in time!"

Li Xuan lowered the rim of his bamboo hat and quickened his pace, "Hurry, get the information and report back to His Highness as soon as possible."

They followed the passersby in a hurry to the Dragon Gate Inn and lifted the cotton curtain to enter with bowed heads.

The inn was bustling with noise and excitement.

Qi Zhenzhuo looked around as soon as he entered, exhilarated, "Brother-in-law, we really came to the right place this time. Last night, His Highness kept talking about Chen Ji, praising his astuteness and resourcefulness, with both bravery and strategy. This time, it’s our turn to shine."

In the midst of talking, the inn suddenly fell silent.

Footsteps thumped down the stairs, as someone descended the staircase.

Xiao Wu ran down the stairs ahead of everyone else, smiling apologetically to the guests in the main hall, "I’ve kept everyone waiting, the person holding the session has finally been persuaded to come down!"

Qi Zhenzhuo looked up towards the staircase, his expression suddenly froze, and he mumbled, "You son of a..."