Capital City Storms: Business Blueprint

I looked at everyone's solemn faces and couldn't help laughing. Only then did they notice their own expressions, and they all laughed as well. Mainly because everyone had felt guilty when leaving the hall today, and now that serious matters were being discussed, they wanted to perform a little better.

I laughed loudly. "Haha, don't be like this, everyone. If you keep it up, I'll be under a lot of pressure too. There isn't much going on today. Mainly, we need to confirm the matters concerning Dragon Soaring Jade Shop once more. Brother Wang will naturally manage the jade shop, while Uncle Zhang will handle the jade carvers. First Wife and Sister Yu will stay home and manage the estate. Everyone else, aside from Big Brother Lang Feng, should stay in the estate and properly study the martial arts I've taught you. Is there anything else you want to say?"

Big Brother Lang Feng looked at me and asked in confusion, "Second Brother, then what am I supposed to do?"

Looking at my big brother, I smiled. "Haha, Big Brother, you're coming with me to study at the National Martial Academy. I also want to see just how many good martial arts manuals there are in that academy."

Everyone looked at Lang Feng with envy. The National Martial Academy was the place with the most secret manuals in the entire Ming Dynasty. But its tuition was simply too expensive—fifty thousand taels of silver per person every year. That was no small sum! Someone of Lang Feng's background would originally never have had the chance to study in such a place, but because of me, it had all become possible. A person's fortunes really were impossible to predict!

Yet Big Brother Lang Feng looked utterly bewildered. He had never even heard of the National Martial Academy, so how could he know how rare it was to enter? He thought it was just some ordinary private school among the common folk! He stared at me for quite a while before finally saying:

"Second Brother, your big brother gets a headache the moment he sees all those writings. Please spare me! I really can't stand that kind of environment. You'd better let me cultivate the secret manual you gave me in the estate! Sorry, I don't mean it that way. I just really can't take it!"

Seeing the apologetic look on Big Brother Lang Feng's face, I could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing. How had I never noticed before that my big brother had such a talent for being funny?

Brother Wang could not help laughing either. As for my first and second disciples, there was no need to mention them. Having spent so much time with Uncle Zhang, they had heard of the National Martial Academy before. Yet Lang Feng had actually mistaken it for a place to study books—it was simply... too hilarious! Their laughter grew so loud that even we could not bear it. Lang Feng's mother had seen more of the world and had also heard of that famous holy land of martial arts. She too found her son's simple honesty amusing.

Li Da immediately said, "If you don't want to go, why not give the opportunity to me?"

The moment Lang Feng heard that, his face bloomed with delight. He quickly said, "Sure, sure! Fine, it's settled then! Don't go back on your word! Second Brother, let him go with you. He wants to go himself, so just spare me!"

I glared at Li Da, then looked at Big Brother Lang Feng and said with a smile, "Big Brother, the National Martial Academy isn't the kind of place for studying books that you think it is. It's a holy land of martial arts, with many secret manuals inside. Going there is nothing much—just looking at the moves. As for Internal Cultivation, what secret manual could possibly compare to the ones I gave you?" A surge of pride rose within me.

The moment Lang Feng heard "holy land of martial arts," he knew he had to go. How could he possibly miss such a good place? So that bastard Li Da had been up to no good just now! Thinking this, Lang Feng shot Li Da a fierce glare and immediately said to me, "Second Brother, you should've made it clear earlier! How could I not go to a place like that? Let's go—when are we leaving? I'm ready anytime!"

First Wife looked at her son, her face full of smiles. Clearly, she was delighted that he could go to such a place.

I looked at Lang Feng, glanced at Li Da from the corner of my eye, and said, "Big Brother, didn't you just say Li Da should go? How can a person go back on his word? Don't you agree?" I deliberately teased Big Brother Lang Feng.

Hearing this, Li Da immediately dashed out and said, "Master, it's truly wise of you to let me go. If I go, I can help you with many things. He's your big brother—how could you ask him to do certain things? Master, don't you agree?"

When I heard that, it actually made sense. Why hadn't I thought of that just now? Taking Li Da along really would let him help me with plenty of work, and he would not object. If I took my big brother, how could I ask him to do things? It made sense—absolutely made sense! Li Da had actually thought of this. Not bad, not bad. I'd take Li Da! Looking at that bald head of his, the more I looked, the more pleasing it became. How had I never noticed his intelligence before?

Lang Feng saw me grinning foolishly at Li Da. This was bad—if things went wrong, that fellow might really snatch this opportunity away. With a quick turn of his mind, Lang Feng said to me:

"Second Brother, didn't you choose me from the start? How can you go back on your word? Besides, how could I, Lang Feng, possibly refuse to help you? Second Brother, as long as you give the order, your big brother will dare to do anything!"

I looked at Big Brother Lang Feng. He wore the expression of someone who would dare charge through a mountain of blades and a sea of fire. Then I remembered his words. Right—I had announced from the beginning that Big Brother would come with me, so how could I change my mind now? Besides, he had said that no matter what it was, he would handle it as long as I gave the order. Most importantly, he was my big brother no matter what. Since Big Brother had put it that way, how could I possibly refuse? Mm! I'd let my big brother go.

I looked at Li Da's eager face and hardened my heart. "Big Brother Lang Feng will come with me. Li Da, you stay in the estate and properly cultivate the Mysterious Yang Art I taught you. I'll inspect your progress after a while. If you haven't improved at all, then get ready to enjoy some time in the Eight Formations. Don't worry, it won't kill you."

Big Brother Lang Feng immediately looked at Li Da like a victor, while Li Da drooped his head in dejection. There was no helping it—who told me to be his master? Would he dare disobey anything I said?

"Enough. Starting now, first matter: Brother Wang, has the shop you bought been renovated yet? If not, speed things up. Second matter: prepare rooms for Uncle Zhang's friends and the families who came with them. Sister Yu, I'll leave that matter to you. And there's one last, most important matter—prepare for the New Year, ha..."

Everyone remembered that tomorrow was the first day of the New Year, and they all began to laugh...

Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside, I was in an excellent mood. Yesterday, Brother Wang had even bought a beautiful pleasure boat and placed it in the artificial lake before my door, saying it was a surprise for me. But when I watched the young couple whispering sweet nothings aboard the boat, I felt as though I had been tricked.

Green hills and clear waters, a pleasure boat and stone bridges—living in such a wonderful place in the most prosperous city was truly an enjoyment. It had been worth buying; even one million taels of silver would have been worth it. That great osmanthus tree in the distance had no idea how many years of life behind it, yet it blocked nearly half the artificial lake.

"Happy New Year! May Little Master be happy every year. Little Master, those guests you mentioned have already arrived. There are quite a few of them!" My personal maid, Xia Shui, came to my side and spoke. Among all the servants, she was the only one who knew I could transform.

Oh, those treasures had finally arrived! I had been waiting for them for so long. It seemed they had hurried here to celebrate the New Year with me. Unable to wait any longer, I ignored my maid and rushed straight toward the front gate.

My speed was absolutely fast, but by the time I reached the gate, there was no sign of anyone. Had they left? I immediately went outside and looked along the street. There was no one unusual, only people strolling the streets for the New Year. Turning back to the two gatekeepers, I asked:

"You two, did you see a group of people come here? The sort who brought along their whole families."

"Reporting to Little Master, there was indeed such a group here just now."

I immediately asked again, "Then where are they now?"

"Reporting to Little Master, Uncle Zhang has already taken those people into the estate."

The moment I heard that Uncle Zhang had brought them into the estate, I immediately rushed toward Uncle Zhang's room. Xia Shui, who had already run to my side, called out, "Little Master, I hadn't finished speaking. They're at Uncle Zhang's place right now."

Why hadn't you said so earlier? I raced like the wind and shot like lightning to Uncle Zhang's room, then immediately stopped outside. After straightening my clothes, I strode into Uncle Zhang's room.

Uncle Zhang was talking with his old friends about recent events. The moment he looked up and saw me enter, he immediately said to his four friends:

"Come, come, everyone. This is my employer—Little Master Zhang Xingfeng."

The four old men all turned their gazes toward me. I could still sense the indifference in their eyes. People like them, who had been dismissed by Baoyuxiang, were mostly not the kind to fawn over a Second Young Master. They were wholly devoted to the art of carving, so how could they respect a child? Even if I was their employer.

Naturally, I did not get angry with them. Smiling, I said to Uncle Zhang, "Uncle Zhang, have their food, clothing, lodging, and travel arrangements all been taken care of? You'll have to look after their matters more from now on. I only came to take a look. Now that I've seen them, I'm at ease. I won't disturb your conversation any longer. Gentlemen, I'll take my leave first. Let Uncle Zhang show you around the estate!" After saying that, without waiting for Uncle Zhang's reply, I smiled at the four old men and walked out.

I had no desire to stay with these old scholars. Now that I had seen them and knew they had arrived, I was at ease. With them, fine jade pieces would flow forth without end, and Dragon Soaring Jade Shop would make profits without losses. Sigh, I'd better go enjoy the happiness of the New Year with Big Brother and the others. After all, I was still a child!

I immediately headed toward Big Brother Lang Feng's place...