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"It's all my fault for being careless and losing the travel permit issued by the village," Xu Qing added, trying to smooth things over. "I can't get away right now either. What a mess. I guess I'll have to think of another way."

As he spoke, he made to leave.

"Hold on, young master, don't rush off! While you can't get an identification plaque without a travel permit, it doesn't mean the permit itself can't be obtained!" the brokerage clerk called out, stopping Xu Qing. Seeing him turn back, the clerk put on airs. "However, a travel permit is more expensive than an identification plaque. I have to be upfront about the price. It'll be this much!"

The clerk held up two fingers.

"Two hundred wen?"

"Two taels of silver!"

Xu Qing turned and walked away. Nearing the door, he saw the clerk wasn't following and, as if nothing had happened, turned back.

Taking out two taels of silver, Xu Qing weighed them in his hand. "I have the money, but your identification plaque and travel permit can't be fake."

"Impossible! This is an official brokerage, approved by the prefectural yamen. See this stamp? It's issued by a legitimate government office, absolutely no forgery!" The brokerage clerk was driven by greed. Seeing a business opportunity, he spoke smoothly, making a series of assurances before inviting Xu Qing to the inner room.

Obtaining a travel permit was no small matter. The clerk couldn't make the decision; it had to be reviewed by the brokerage manager. Only after deeming Xu Qing to be no trouble would they 'fabricate' the permit.

There were five managers at the Linhe Fang brokerage. Each had their own responsibilities: some managed brothels and gambling dens, some handled fishing and water affairs, and others oversaw the various businesses on Linhe Street.

The clerk was now taking Xu Qing to see Fourth Master Li, who was in charge of managing Linhe Fang's miscellaneous trade.

It was still early, and besides Fourth Master Li, Third Master Huang and Fifth Master Chang were also present.

Fourth Master Li looked like a refined gentleman, dressed in a scholar's robe and wearing an indigo scholar's cap. He often kept a folding fan by his side.

Upon learning that Xu Qing needed a replacement travel permit, Fourth Master Li looked him up and down.

Seemingly catching the scent of perfume on Xu Qing, he suddenly smiled. "You seem like a refined person, not someone who causes trouble. We'll handle your travel permit."

With that, Fourth Master Li had the clerk bring ink and paper and began asking for Xu Qing's birth date, place of origin, and name.

Xu Qing used the name of Xiaoshitou Village, where Liu Youdao had lived as a child, as his hometown and filled in Xiangyin County as his place of origin. In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the travel permit and identification plaque were ready.

It had to be said, things moved quickly when you had money!

Fourth Master Li happily accepted the two taels of silver and a bit more. Though the sum wasn't large, it felt easier to accept than before.

In the past, those applying for travel permits and identification plaques were always hesitant when paying. This customer today, however, paid without any hesitation, settling the full amount without missing a single coin.

"Brother Xu is a straightforward person. What business do you do? Perhaps I can patronize your establishment one day."

Xu Qing, tucking away his identification plaque, shook his head. "My business is probably not something most people can patronize!"

"Brother, do you think I'm joking? Tell me, I don't believe there's any business in Linhe that our brokerage can't support!"

Xu Qing looked at the disbelieving brokerage manager and clerk, finding it amusing.

"It's not a rare business. I've opened a Corpse Driver's Shop. I usually handle tasks like collecting and embalming bodies, and spirit relocation and burial..."

Fourth Master Li's breath hitched at this. Meanwhile, Third Master Huang and Fifth Master Chang were delighted.

"Fourth, didn't you just say you could patronize Boss Xu's business? Why don't you go home today, Fourth? Just lie down in a coffin, and we'll carry you over to Boss Xu's shop to show our support!"

As Third Master Huang finished speaking, the brokerage was filled with cheerful laughter.

"Huang Laosan, don't mock me. So what if he deals with the dead? I can still get involved!"

Fourth Master Li spat and turned to Xu Qing.

"To be honest, Boss Xu, our brokerage travels all over the streets. We know who lives on which street, how many dogs there are, or which young wife ran off with someone. Not to mention who has died. If you're willing, I can have my subordinates help connect you. From now on, any funeral procession can be handled by you."

Brokerage clerks also served as brokers, similar to intermediaries or headhunters, adept at making connections and profiting from them.

Xu Qing didn't believe they were offering such kindness for free, suspecting some hidden agenda.

As expected, Fourth Master Li immediately added, "Of course, the brokerage can't make these connections for nothing. If Boss Xu is willing, how about we split the profits fifty-fifty?"

A fifty percent cut! Anyone else would have been furious.

You only make the initial connection, while others do all the actual work and labor, and then you demand half the profit – what shamelessness!

However, Xu Qing was no ordinary person. He wasn't particularly interested in how much money he made; the key point was the introduction of 'dead people.'

He knew he could earn rewards from the Duren Sutra by transcending corpses. As long as there were enough dead people, why worry about not making enough money?

Xu Qing immediately agreed. Fourth Master Li brought out paper, and the two signed an agreement. This whole process left Third Master Huang and Fifth Master Chang stunned.

Brilliant, truly brilliant!

There were no shortage of wealthy people in Linhe Fang, with many officials and nobles. In the future, anyone who died and required spirit relocation and burial would surely not be stingy and would want a grand ceremony!

If there was one funeral a month, that would be twelve income opportunities a year. Thinking of the hidden profits, both men felt a pang of envy!

He truly lived up to his reputation as someone who had studied and passed the Xiucai exam. Fourth Master Li really knew how to make a business out of dealing with the dead!

After this small interlude, Xu Qing's mind became active, and he asked Fourth Master Li if there were any channels for buying corpses in the area. As long as there was supply, he would buy.

The price could be negotiated.

Fourth Master Li's breathing hitched again. This Boss Xu had some unconventional methods!

"I misjudged you. I didn't realize Boss Xu was such an expert."

Before this, there had been 'rumors' in Linhe Fang about a Corpse Laborer mill. Although the authorities had suppressed them later, it didn't mean the rumors were baseless!

As an official broker, Fourth Master Li was privy to some secrets.

This young man with a pale complexion might be involved in the Yinmen trade, or perhaps he's an expert with connections to it!

"Boss Xu, I've heard a bit about the business you're talking about. Those places that store and transport corpses, the Yi Zhuang, they do this kind of business. An unclaimed body generally goes for between one hundred and five hundred wen.

Every autumn execution, the yamen also buys bodies, but you have to give them a heads-up beforehand. After all, a whole body and a beheaded one aren't priced the same."

As he spoke, Fourth Master Li couldn't help but bare his teeth. Even with his extensive experience, he didn't know much about these fringe Yinmen matters.

"Heh, I don't know what those people do with these bodies. Do they dig coal in the mountains, or push millstones in the gristmill..."

"But none of that matters. We in the brokerage just facilitate the deal. As for how each shop owner runs their business..." Fourth Master Li said with a smile, "That's their own affair. We don't get involved."

Xu Qing understood what he meant. So, the brokerage just collects the money, and whether the money is clean or not has nothing to do with them. If anything goes wrong, they'll shoulder the blame themselves!

They say all merchants are crafty, and it's true. The profession of brokers and middlemen is the cream of the crop.

Although the business deal was settled, Xu Qing still had some things to clarify upfront.

"I trust your skills, Fourth Master, but I also have some requirements for the source of goods. They must be unclaimed bodies. No stolen or robbed bodies, and none dug up from graves in the middle of the night. I believe that would incur bad karma.

After all, the dead are also people..."

While Xu Qing claimed it was about avoiding bad karma, the main reason was that unclaimed bodies were less likely to cause trouble.

As the saying goes, where there are people, there is a world of conflict. When someone has just died, that world becomes even more turbulent. If you take someone's body without permission, who knows how their family and friends might react.

Therefore, for the novice Xu Qing, it was best to avoid trouble if possible!

Fourth Master Li pondered for a moment and didn't disagree.

The government executed so many criminals each year, and in the end, some were buried, some were sold. Not many families came to claim the bodies.

After the two finalized their deal, Xu Qing felt he had made a good impression. He figured that if one of the masters at the brokerage were to kick the bucket, they might even send him their business for embalming and funeral arrangements. After all, he was practically one of them now, and they'd likely give him some discounts.

Leaving the brokerage, Xu Qing felt much refreshed.

It had only been half an hour since he left home, and he had not only obtained an identification plaque but also found a new source for his business.

Perhaps one's luck improves after death?

Xu Qing chuckled. Maybe it wasn't luck after death, but rather that he had been too constrained in life, which had affected his own feng shui.

This was also mentioned in the Arts of Civil and Martial Geomancy.

Now that he was a zombie, he had no pressure from mortgages or car loans. His mind was clear and open, which naturally influenced his external fortune.

Arriving at Caishikou, Xu Qing looked at a high platform – the place where autumn executions were carried out, also known as the execution ground.

It was the first month of the lunar calendar, and the execution ground was deserted. However, below it, there were many vendors selling vegetables and miscellaneous goods, creating a lively morning market scene.

"The Corpse Nurturing Scripture states that old persimmons gather the essence of moonlight at night. When ripe, yin reaches its extreme and gives birth to yang. The taste changes from astringent to sweet, like eating honey, which can make zombies salivate..."

Xu Qing walked around but couldn't find any vendors selling fresh persimmons. However, there were two selling dried persimmons.

"Hiss—Sweet!"

Xu Qing tasted a piece of dried persimmon covered in white frost. His mouth watered. Although he didn't feel any significant changes in his body after consuming it, it was a perfectly edible treat to satisfy his cravings.

Besides persimmons, bayberry fruit was also on the zombie's menu.

The reason was simple: bayberry also had the effect of condensing moonlight.

This was also why Xu Qing felt an intense urge to gnaw on candles whenever he passed a incense and candle shop.

The reason was that the raw materials for the candles in the incense and candle shops included bayberry oil and animal fats.

And both of these were ingredients that zombies could consume.

After buying the ingredients, Xu Qing also browsed the streets for a few items that could improve feng shui.

These included the Four Treasures of the Study, auspicious beast wood carvings, and the like. In addition, he asked the vendors in the flower and bird market to send a few pots of clivia and money trees to his shop when they had time.

He wasn't short of money for the time being. Even if he used up Liu Youdao's coffin money, he still had the Golden Clapper and Silver Clapper he obtained from superintending beggars at the Corpse Laborer mill as a backup.

Of course, he wouldn't use the clappers to beg for alms by performing Lianhua Luo. Instead, he could pawn the clappers or melt them down into gold and silver ingots, and the money would be there again!

It was just a pity about the Dog Beating Staff he received as a reward when he superintended a beggar back then.

At that time, to evade the constables chasing him into the alley, he had no choice but to discard the Dog Beating Staff and the beggar's iron bowl outside the alley.

Speaking of the Dog Beating Staff, it wasn't particularly special, mainly because Xu Qing, in both his past and present lives, had never seen such a straight stick.

It was practically a dream stick, unforgettable in both his lives!

Perhaps it was fate, but just as Xu Qing was lamenting the lost Dog Beating Staff, a few constables on patrol came from the opposite end of the street.

And the officer leading them was tapping a shiny, smooth stick against his other hand.

Before Xu Qing could get a good look, the stern-faced officer, who looked like a bully, turned his head and looked over.

"So effeminate, smelling of perfume, pfft!"

Zhao Zhonghe, the patrol captain, wrinkled his nose and spat to the side.

Hearing this, Xu Qing stumbled but managed to suppress the urge to turn back.

If it weren't for the need for disguise and embalming, who would bother with powder and moisturizer?

Holding his stick and still daring to mock him, Xu Qing had thoroughly remembered the man.

"Just you wait, if one day you end up in a coffin, I'll scrape a few layers of white plaster off your face!"

Back at the Corpse Driver's Shop, Xu Qing took down the four door panels. While waiting for business, he began preparing the next meal for the zombies.

He sliced the candles bought from the incense shop into thin pieces and arranged them neatly on a plate. The remaining candle tips with wicks were placed in the center of the plate and lit as decoration.

The persimmons, covered in a layer of white frost, were placed in a new dish. A circle of egg white was drizzled around them, instantly making them gleam with a translucent white, like a snail's trail, sparkling like snow.

Finally, the main course was a bowl of steamed pig's blood.

After finishing dinner and lighting a stick of Spirit Incense, it was simply too comfortable!

The only regret was that no business had come in for two consecutive days. It wasn't just Xu Qing's shop; the paper-cutting shop and the incense shop next door were also deserted, with hardly any customers.

Xu Qing, having nothing else to do, started tending to his plants and flowers, and took the opportunity to improve the feng shui of the shop.

However, he didn't arrange it according to the feng shui of a dwelling for the living, but rather used the feng shui principles for graves to decorate his living space.

As a zombie, he naturally had to adapt to local customs. The heavier the Yin energy in the shop, the more comfortable he would be!

This day, Xu Qing opened the shop door early. He had expected to get a job before dark, which would be considered prosperous business. But to his surprise, before even a cup of tea had passed, two yamen runners arrived at the shop carrying a corpse wrapped in old cloth.

After inquiring about the identity and reason, Xu Qing learned that Fourth Master Li from the brokerage had put in some effort. This corpse was precisely a prisoner who had died in the prison cell yesterday.

"Fourth Master said it's convenient and the price is right to receive corpses here, so we came. Normally, these bodies would have to be handled at the yamen. As for the price, a corpse is worth at least two or three taels of silver..."

Xu Qing didn't bother to verify the truthfulness of the yamen runners' words. He went directly to the counter, took out three taels of silver, and handed it to them, no more, no less.

The two yamen runners immediately beamed with joy.

"Fourth Master was right indeed. Shopkeeper Xu is a generous man! We won't say anything else, but when there's more business, we'll definitely come back to support Shopkeeper Xu's shop."