Making Money Faster Than Robbery

After a stick of incense.

Once his men had finished inspecting the goods, the smile on Chen San's face grew even wider.

He immediately had someone bring out a wooden chest and said to Lin Changqing with a chuckle, "Young Master Lin, according to our agreement.

"One Ninth Rank Divine Weapon is priced at 180 gold.

"Two make 360 gold.

"It's all here. Count it..."

As he spoke, Chen San casually opened the chest before him, revealing a box filled to the brim with gold ingots.

The sight left everyone dazzled, and they unconsciously swallowed hard.

Lin Yongfan and Lin Hu in particular nearly had their eyes pop out of their heads.

According to the Great Zhou Dynasty's exchange rate, one tael of gold could be exchanged for one hundred taels of silver. Three hundred and sixty taels of gold meant thirty-six thousand taels of silver!

If converted into copper coins, it would be enough to bury them alive.

At that moment, the way Lin Yongfan and Lin Hu looked at Lin Changqing changed even more.

It was as though flames were burning in their eyes.

That was the gaze of worship.

He had earned over thirty thousand taels of silver in just ten-odd days. Damn, even robbery did not pay this fast!

Lin Changqing, however, wore a calm expression. He did not inspect the gold, because he was certain there would be no problem with it—unless Chen San had water in his brain.

He closed the chest and said, "Not bad. Payment and goods are both settled.

"As for next month's materials, Shopkeeper Chen can have someone deliver them at the beginning of the month..."

"No problem!"

Chen San hurriedly nodded and said in a deep voice, "On the first day of next month, I'll send someone to deliver the materials. It's just... Young Master Lin, could the number of Divine Weapons..."

"No. Two per month. That is fixed. Shopkeeper Chen, say no more."

With a wave of his hand, Lin Changqing directly cut Chen San off.

His heart was like a bright mirror. He knew exactly what Chen San was thinking. He did not truly want to increase the quantity; he was deliberately testing him.

The corners of Lin Changqing's mouth lifted in a slight smile as he gave a light laugh. "However, the number of Divine Weapons cannot be increased.

"Ordinary weapons, on the other hand, can also be forged in our Green Mountain Village.

"I wonder whether Shopkeeper Chen is interested..."

"Ordinary weapons!"

Chen San frowned, clearly not very interested.

The Divine Weapon Pavilion had its own forgemasters and lacked no ordinary weapons. What it lacked were Divine Weapons.

"Though they are ordinary weapons, their quality is absolutely top-notch. Shopkeeper Chen, why not look at the goods first?"

As he spoke, Lin Changqing called out to the still somewhat dazed Lin Yongfan, "Father... bring out the swords and sabers you forged for Shopkeeper Chen to inspect..."

"Ah... all right..."

Lin Yongfan froze for a moment, then quickly nodded. He turned and entered the Forging Room, emerging with five long sabers and swords in his arms.

These were all ordinary swords and sabers Lin Yongfan had forged using the forging methods Lin Changqing had taught him.

Though they could not compare to Divine Weapons, they were still the finest among ordinary weapons.

"Hm?"

Chen San had initially been dismissive, but after glancing at the swords and sabers in Lin Yongfan's hands, he froze. Then he gave a soft cry and casually grabbed a longsword.

He flicked the sword through a flourish. At once, a clear sword cry rang out, like Divine Echo in an empty valley.

A sharp gleam immediately flashed through Chen San's eyes.

He was secretly shocked.

This longsword was of exceptional quality, absolutely among the finest of ordinary weapons. It was even superior to the weapons sold by their Divine Weapon Pavilion.

"Younger Brother Lin, did you forge all these weapons?"

Chen San immediately looked at Lin Yongfan, and his gaze had changed completely.

Though he was not a forgemaster himself, he had managed the Divine Weapon Pavilion for many years and possessed a keen eye.

Chen San was certain that the forgemaster who had forged this batch of weapons had already reached a pinnacle in skill.

All he needed was an opportunity, and he would have a great chance of becoming a Divine Weapon Forgemaster.

Of course, such an opportunity was not something just anyone could obtain.

Many forgemasters even remained stuck at this step for their entire lives. But Chen San knew that Lin Yongfan definitely would not.

Because there was a Divine Weapon Forgemaster behind Lin Changqing.

Given Lin Changqing's relationship with that person, giving Lin Yongfan a few pointers would be no difficult matter.

If these weapons had truly come from Lin Yongfan's hands, then he really would have to take Lin Yongfan seriously. There was a good chance that before long, Lin Yongfan would become a Divine Weapon Forgemaster.

And a Divine Weapon Forgemaster was absolutely worthy of being treated with courtesy by Chen San.

Of course!

If he had known that Lin Yongfan had actually forged a divine weapon today, his expression would probably have been even more spectacular.

"Yes, I forged all of these over the past few days."

Lin Yongfan smiled faintly at Chen San. "Shopkeeper Chen, do these weapons still meet your standards?"

"Of course they do!"

Chen San immediately said, "Younger Brother Lin, Young Master Lin, perhaps we can work together again!

The Divine Weapon Pavilion has an even greater demand for ordinary weapons.

From now on, you can supply the Divine Weapon Pavilion. For weapons of this quality, I can offer twenty taels... no, twenty-five taels of silver per piece..."

Chen San made his decision at once.

He wanted Lin Yongfan to supply the Divine Weapon Pavilion, naturally because he wished to draw Lin Yongfan in. In his eyes, Lin Yongfan was a prospective Divine Weapon Forger.

Someone worth taking action to win over and befriend.

Of course, the biggest reason was that the weapons Lin Yongfan forged were all of excellent quality—the finest among ordinary weapons.

If they could be sold in the Divine Weapon Pavilion, it would also bring great benefits to the pavilion.

They could even use this opportunity to suppress their competitors and seize market share.

After all!

Though the Divine Weapon Pavilion bore the name of divine weapons, its true bulk of sales still came from ordinary weapons.

Divine weapons were good, and their profits were high.

But they were not something just anyone could afford. Even with the Divine Weapon Pavilion's scale, it could not produce more than one or two a month.

Most of the time, divine weapons were merely a signboard.

They were only a means for the Divine Weapon Pavilion to build its reputation, and even for the Chen Family to forge connections.

"This..."

When Lin Yongfan heard Chen San's offer of twenty-five taels per weapon, he was immediately tempted.

Although the difference in price between a single blade at twenty-five taels and a divine weapon was truly enormous, the profit was already terrifying.

After all, the main material for ordinary blades and swords like these was iron.

The cost was not even one tael of silver.

At a solid twenty-five times the cost, Lin Yongfan considered it an outrageous profit.

He could casually forge three such blades or swords a day without any problem. At twenty-five taels each, three would make seventy-five taels.

That single day's income would be equivalent to what he had earned in an entire year before.

Just thinking about it made him excited.

However, Lin Yongfan did not immediately agree. Instead, he looked toward Lin Changqing.

He meant to let Lin Changqing make the decision.

Chen San was an old fox himself and saw through this at a glance. He then turned to Lin Changqing and said, "Young Master Lin, what do you think? You and I can work together once more.

Young Master Lin knows Chen's reputation..."

"Twenty-five taels is a little too little. The weapons my father forges may not be divine weapons, but they are absolutely the finest among ordinary weapons.

How about thirty taels each..."

Lin Changqing gave a light laugh.

"Thirty taels, this... Young Master Lin, that price of yours... You see, the Divine Weapon Pavilion has to make at least a little profit too, doesn't it?"

Chen San said with some difficulty.

Lin Changqing gave a light laugh, utterly unconcerned by Chen San's words.

This guy was an old fox, his acting skills worthy of an emperor of the screen. Anyone who believed his nonsense would be a true fool.

Lin Changqing picked up a longsaber and swung it. At once, a faint Sound of Breaking Air could be heard.

Then, with a casual sweep, he slashed it across the longsaber held by one of Chen San's Guards.

At once, there came a crisp crack.

The longsaber in that guard's hand, sheath and blade alike, snapped cleanly in two.

Hiss...

The guards in the courtyard all sucked in a sharp breath, their eyes instantly burning with fervor.

They stared fixedly at the longsaber in Lin Changqing's hand.

A masterpiece—an absolute masterpiece!

"Shopkeeper Chen, if a saber like this were sold in your Divine Weapon Pavilion, there'd be no shortage of buyers even at sixty taels apiece, right?"

Lin Changqing gave a light laugh. "I only want thirty taels per blade from you. Once you resell it, you'll make half again as profit. That's no small margin!

"Of course, if Shopkeeper Chen truly isn't willing, that's fine too.

"I can find someone else to work with. But rest assured, our cooperation over divine weapons will continue as usual. There absolutely won't be the slightest effect..."