Profit from the Price Difference

Wei Manor's gates were tightly shut, leaving Zhu Kui outside.

Citing the late hour, Wei Mao declined Zhu Kui's visit. The gifts on the carriage did not even catch a glimpse of Wei Mao before being hauled back the way they had come.

"Eldest Cousin, we're relatives. Why be so cold? Good or bad, he's still a connection."

On the path through the backyard, Lu Bei asked curiously.

Wei Mao was cold on the outside but warm at heart, not someone ignorant of courtesy. His attitude toward Zhu Kui just now had clearly been one of keeping him at arm's length and driving him away.

"He is your Senior Sister Zhu's distant relative, not mine. Likewise, he is not your relative either."

Wei Mao stressed this first, then said, "Zhu Kui's trading house works with the Alchemy Room, supplying large quantities of the raw materials needed for pill refinement. Your Senior Sister Zhu manages the Alchemy Room's accounts and is also his distant relative, so she should avoid suspicion all the more."

Besides, with that muddled head of your senior sister's, if someone started playing the relatives card, she would likely fall straight into a pit.

"So he's pretty impressive, then. His business must be huge."

"His eldest uncle is the Prefect of Qi Commandery."

"..."

How painfully realistic!

Lu Bei rolled his eyes. "Eldest Cousin, judging by Zhu Kui's name, his branch should have given up its claim to power. How does he still have an uncle serving as such a high-ranking official?"

"There are always exceptions."

Mentioning Prefect Zhu Ting, Wei Mao spoke with a trace of admiration. "Regardless of one's origins, some people can still climb to great heights through their own abilities, even after giving up their status."

"If that's the case, Eldest Cousin, you shouldn't be shoving your cold ass into his face."

Lu Bei worried for him. "What if he badmouths you before the prefect and makes things difficult for you?"

"It does not matter. I answer to the commandant, and the commandant does not get along particularly well with the prefect."

"..."

So that was the kind of avoiding suspicion this was.

Meanwhile, in the departing carriage, Zhu Kui's face was grim and uncertain.

Wei Mao's less-than-subtle refusal had been within his expectations. What he could not quite make sense of was Lu Bei's attitude. He wore a false smile, and his gaze made it seem as though Zhu Kui were merely a passerby.

Three months ago, through his eldest uncle Zhu Ting's connections, he had squeezed out the Alchemy Room's original supplier and successfully taken over the business.

In only two months, he had made a small fortune through the little trick of lowering the quality of the raw materials.

Not much—just profiting from the price difference.

Anyone in business understood that a price difference meant selling at a loss for the sake of reputation, practically the same as working for nothing.

As for what effect inferior raw materials would have...

Other than making it difficult to refine quality pills, there was no other impact.

The pills produced by Dasheng Pass's Alchemy Room were not high-grade. They mainly consisted of Qi Gathering Pills and Blood Replenishing Pills. The Huangji Sect kept some as stock, while the rest were sent to various places throughout Dongqi Commandery.

Since they were not high-grade pills, most users were ordinary soldiers. To those people, as long as they were not useless pills, whether they were quality pills or not did not matter.

Throughout Wu Zhou, trading houses surnamed Zhu all did business this way. Even those not surnamed Zhu would occasionally, for a month or two, secretly lower the quality of their raw materials.

It could not be said that every merchant was unscrupulous; it could only be said that all pursued profit. Businessmen were all like this.

They could do it, so could he. Zhu Kui earned this money with a clear conscience.

He was not the sort to keep all the spoils for himself. If there was money to be made, everyone made it together. The alchemists working in the Alchemy Room had all accepted his benefits. No one would gossip, nor would anyone be so full of themselves as to interfere with how the Zhu family conducted business. It should have been secure.

Yet unexpectedly, the matter was still exposed.

A spy had suddenly been dropped into the Alchemy Room. He had refined Qi Ling Pills continuously for an entire month, and every bottle had been completed successfully. According to Lin Bohai, every pill's quality was identical down to not even a bit, as though measured with a ruler.

Was that pill refinement? What normal person would refine Qi Ling Pills nonstop for an entire month?!

This was clearly an experiment to gather evidence!

At first, Zhu Kui did not take the spy Lin Bohai mentioned seriously. Only after conducting some investigations and tests did he realize that trouble had come knocking.

First, Lu Bei's origins were mysterious. He had arrived at Dasheng Pass at night, then entered the Alchemy Room through Zhu Yan's introduction less than two days later.

Zhu Yan had even handled household registration for him during this time. One look was enough to tell there was a problem.

Second, according to the observations of Zhu Kui's informant in the Alchemy Room, Lu Bei kept to himself. He had been at Dasheng Pass for a month, traveling only between Wei Manor and the Alchemy Room every day. No socializing, no entertainment—not even a single outing for a walk.

Most frightening of all, the alchemists in the Alchemy Room repeatedly mentioned Yunshui Tower. Some had even invited him, yet the guy had not made a single move.

Normal men generally came in two types: those who lusted after women, and those who lusted after women very much.

If a man did neither of those things, that was enough to prove he was not normal!

Zhu Kui had also sent people to inquire about Zhu Yan. She only said that Lu Bei was a distant relative of hers, and when pressed further, she said nothing.

This month, Zhu Kui had found neither food nor tea appetizing. Just as his stock was exhausted and he was preparing to supply the Alchemy Room with normal raw materials, Lu Bei suddenly left and headed to the military camp overnight.

To Zhu Kui, this news was no different from a bolt from the blue. Then...

There was no news after that.

Once he calmed down, Zhu Kui understood.

That was right. His surname was Zhu—the Zhu of Wu Zhou. It was not some rebellion worthy of losing his head. Even if they arrested him, he would not be punished heavily. Lu Bei's evidence gathering, threats, and coercion were merely meant to get some benefits from the opportunity.

As expected, after Zhu Kui waited outside Wei Manor for several days, Lu Bei showed himself of his own accord.

What puzzled Zhu Kui was that they both understood without saying it, and they had already met. Why had they refused his gifts?

Too little?

You did not even look at them. Why should you say they were too little?

Zhu Kui did not understand. Considering that Wei Mao, who held military authority, was present, he assumed Wei Mao also wanted a share of the pie. He had the driver turn the carriage around and arrived at Prefect Zhu Ting's residence.

The Prefect's residence.

Prefect Zhu Ting was around forty. He dressed like a refined scholar, yet his build was much like Zhu Kui's—they were both tall and powerfully built.

After hearing the cause and course of events, Zhu Ting's hand holding the teacup did not move in the slightest. He took a small sip of hot tea and calmly said, "I'll speak to Lin Boxian at the Huangji Sect. Admit to a punishment and make up the shortage, and this matter will pass."

Lin Boxian was the Huangji Sect's steward at Dasheng Pass, and his cultivation was exceptionally high. Zhu Ting was his friend despite their age difference. Within Qi Commandery, the Huangji Sect's harmonious coexistence with the local government had much to do with the close friendship between the two.

"Eldest Uncle, what about that spy and Wei Mao? Do we leave them alone?" Zhu Kui asked cautiously.

"Leaving them alone definitely will not do. Tomorrow morning, send an invitation to Wei Manor. Tomorrow night, accompany me to Bright Moon Tower, where we will host General Wei. As for that spy..."

Zhu Ting pondered for a moment. "Give him some benefits so he does not end up working for nothing. If his greed knows no bounds, report the matter truthfully to the Huangji Sect. Cut through the mess with a sharp blade. Do not go looking for bad luck and create complications."

"Then won't my business be gone too?"

"Heh heh."

Zhu Ting gave two cold laughs, then slammed his teacup onto the table with a bang. "Do not abandon great gain for petty profit. If the business is gone, you can start another. But once your reputation stinks, you will have nothing left. Do you understand?"

"Eldest Uncle's lesson is correct." Zhu Kui lowered his head to receive the reprimand, not daring to argue.

"Right, is there any news from your Big Brother?"

"Not yet."

Zhu Kui shook his head and added, "Calculate the time, and he should be back within the next few days."

"When he returns, have him come see me. I have something that needs handling."

"I understand."

With a solemn expression, Zhu Kui nodded. He did not ask what it was that needed handling. Taking the invitation bearing Zhu Ting's handwritten letter, he hurriedly left the Prefect's residence.