Chen Gan's old eyes lit up. He called toward Scar Meng outside, "Tell him to wait a moment."
After Scar Meng left, Chen Gan slapped his thigh and gave a sly chuckle. "That Luo Lie fellow took the initiative to bow his head and admit defeat!"
"You've swallowed the fat meat of Eastern Market!"
"Zhong Sanyuan must be green with regret!"
Su Mo understood this much. "I'm wearing the Imperial Guard's skin. He has to acknowledge me whether he likes it or not!"
Chen Gan stroked his beard and laughed. "A pupil who can be taught!"
"However, though he has no choice but to submit, you mustn't underestimate him or treat him carelessly!"
"Since he has arranged a banquet, hurry over."
People in this era generally ate two meals a day, with breakfast being the more important one.
Early that morning, Luo Lie had sent someone over to invite Su Mo to a banquet and discuss the handover arrangements.
His sincerity was absolutely overflowing.
Su Mo smiled. "Mm!"
"I'll conveniently buy the county magistrate's return gift while I'm at it."
Chen Gan was slightly surprised. "You've made up your mind?"
Su Mo replied casually, "What is there to think about? A seal and a calligraphy scroll!"
Chen Gan was stunned. "You've already decided to lend him a hand?"
He became serious. "This is no joke!"
"Xue Shan is the chief official of a superior county. If he goes any higher, he can't be transferred to another county; he'll have to go to a prefecture government."
"This is a promotion for a sixth-rank official. The Imperial Guard Centurion's connections will definitely have to be used for it to succeed!"
"And even if she is willing to intervene, she'll probably have to expend quite a bit of favor and connections."
"Are you confident you can persuade Captain Lin?"
He still couldn't believe it.
Just the day before yesterday, his nephew had been no more than a lowly yamen runner.
Today, he already had the ability to influence the transfers and promotions of Principal Seventh Rank imperial officials. It was simply beyond reason!
Su Mo laughed. "Third Uncle, you're overthinking it!"
"When did I ever say I was going to beg that centurion?"
This time, it was Chen Gan's turn to be confused. "You're not going to use the Imperial Guard Centurion's connections?"
"How are you going to help the county magistrate get promoted?"
He drew a deep breath, shock showing in his eyes. "Could it be that you have some other connections or channels?"
Su Mo looked at his old uncle strangely.
How could he not understand such a simple principle?
He explained, "Xue Shan has already served in Changping for six years!"
"According to convention, a county official can serve for no more than nine years!"
"Changping County is being governed quite well, and the great assessment is approaching. If nothing unexpected happens, Xue Shan should be able to move up another step."
Chen Gan frowned. "That may be true."
"But this happens to coincide with the unrest caused by the evil cult!"
"If a major disaster breaks out and Xue Shan is lucky enough not to die, he'll certainly lose that official's hat, let alone get promoted!"
Su Mo blinked. "If he loses his official's hat, what does that have to do with the seal and calligraphy scroll?"
"Once he steps down, can he still dismiss me?"
For a moment, Chen Gan was rooted to the spot, utterly speechless!
This was clearly a cost-free business, a sure win with no losses!
How had he not thought of that?
Had he drunk too much yesterday, leaving his brain in a daze?
Seeing Chen Gan's dumbfounded expression, Su Mo felt secretly delighted. "Old Uncle, I'll go meet that Luo Lie now!"
It took Chen Gan quite some time to recover.
He poured himself a large bowl of strong tea and drained it in one gulp.
Hmph!
Though he felt somewhat vexed inside,
he was also immensely gratified!
His nephew was born for the officialdom!
His growth was truly astonishing!
After a while longer, there might be nothing left for him to teach.
There was nothing much to say about meeting Luo Lie.
Luo Lie came alone.
After exchanging a few polite words, he took the initiative to hand Su Mo a yellowing booklet.
It contained information and points to note regarding Eastern Market.
It listed more than a hundred shops with relatively plentiful profits—brothels, gambling houses, wine shops, and so on—as well as records of how much regular fee each paid every month.
Su Mo skimmed through it twice.
The income from just the shops listed in the booklet amounted to more than eighty taels of silver each month!
No wonder Luo Lie had looked as though he wanted to eat Su Mo alive yesterday.
This was like having an iron rice bowl with an annual income securely above ten million in later generations, only to have it snatched away by force. Who wouldn't lose their temper?
A thousand taels of silver might even have greater purchasing power than ten million in later generations!
For nothing else, in Changping City, it would definitely be enough to buy eight or ten three-courtyard residences!
With ten million in later generations, you wanted to buy ten large commercial apartments in a second- or third-tier city? What were you dreaming about?
If it were him, let alone bringing a pig's head as a gift,
he might well have come straight to the door with a knife!
Luo Lie also spoke frankly.
Including all sorts of other miscellaneous income, he could probably earn a hundred taels of silver a month.
Half of it went to Zhong Sanyuan, while seven or eight Regular Servants under him took another two-thirds.
As for the informers and eyes in Eastern Market, local ruffians, and the like, he had to give them some benefits from time to time so they would be willing to work for him.
What Luo Lie actually kept for himself amounted to only a dozen or so taels of silver.
Of course,
more than a dozen taels of silver was no small sum.
The county magistrate's annual salary, converted into silver, was only fifty or sixty taels—less than the extra income of a deputy constable!
Luo Lie's cooperation was practically the same as placing his own face beneath Su Mo's feet and letting him trample it.
Su Mo was young, after all, and his skin was not as thick as that old fox Chen Gan's.
Thus, when Luo Lie made his small request, he agreed without much thought.
Luo Lie wanted the vacant Regular Servant position left by Leper Zhou.
Leper Zhou had been taken down by Su Mo.
Without Su Mo's word, who would dare snatch the vacant Regular Servant post?
He was a ruthless man who had even brought down the clerk!
After parting with Luo Lie,
Su Mo went to an antique shop called Eight Treasures Hall.
He spent several dozen large coins to buy a calligraphy scroll said by the shopkeeper to have been written by a great calligrapher of the previous dynasty, along with a private seal.
He was just about to seek out Magistrate Xue and make a shrewd little deal.
Who could have known that the moment he left Eight Treasures Hall, he would so coincidentally run into the female knight-errant Chen Qianyu, who had nearly bowled him over while carrying a child!
When Chen Qianyu saw Su Mo emerging from Eight Treasures Hall, her eyes immediately widened. She stared at him in surprise. "Su Mo... why are you here?"
Su Mo smiled. "Didn't someone come to deliver congratulatory gifts yesterday?"
"So I came to this antique shop to see whether there was anything suitable to give in return."
He lowered his head and glanced at the small cloth bundle Chen Qianyu was carrying, then casually asked, "Why are you here too?"
Heroine Chen faltered, unsure how to explain.
Su Mo frowned. "Miss Chen, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Let me see whether I can help."
He had obtained her Immortal Cultivation Method and even cultivated it successfully.
He was not the sort of person who wiped his mouth after eating and walked away. He genuinely wanted to help.
A rare bashful expression appeared on Heroine Chen's face.
The female knight-errant had been discovered to be short of money, and she was indeed somewhat embarrassed. In the end, she gritted her teeth and said, "Father wanted to buy some rice and grain to take home."
"Unexpectedly, grain prices suddenly rose quite a bit. We didn't have enough money, so..."
"So he sent me here to pawn two gold bracelets."
Su Mo was stunned.
Wasn't Chen Bao a private salt smuggler?
Smuggling salt should have been quite profitable. How could he be so short of money that he needed to pawn gold bracelets in an emergency?
Naturally, he didn't believe this talk of not having enough money.
They had even specially brought the gold bracelets along!
When buying something, one would naturally prepare a little extra. Chen Bao was an old hand and couldn't possibly have failed to consider that.
Also,
grain prices had started rising?!!
Su Mo thought for a moment, then smiled. "Forget about pawning the gold bracelets."
"How much silver are you still short?"
"I have some here. Take it first and buy the rice and grain."
Heroine Chen indeed shook her head. "How could I do that?"
After a pause, she stamped her foot as though she had thrown caution to the wind!
So what if it was embarrassing?
"The situation at the stronghold hasn't been very good lately."
"The bracelets will have to be pawned sooner or later."
We can't ask Su Mo for money every time.
Seeing how resolute Heroine Chen was, Su Mo did not insist. He nodded. "Very well."
"I'll go with you. Antique dealers are crafty as foxes. Don't let them cheat you."
He then casually asked, "Where's Uncle Chen?"
"How could he be at ease letting you come here alone?"
Heroine Chen widened her eyes and raised the treasured sword in her hand. "He dares!"
"Besides, Father said that no matter how much the other party offers, if it's less than thirty taels of silver, the gold bracelets must not be pawned!"
A female knight-errant was still a female knight-errant. She soon revealed her true nature!
Su Mo laughed inwardly.
It seemed Chen Bao also knew that his daughter was a little foolish!
He began pondering in secret.
The more money, the better. At a critical moment, it might even save a life.
Chen Bao was a private salt smuggler.
Could he produce more crystal salt and have Chen Bao resell it?
For one thing, it would increase his own income.
For another, it would count as returning a favor!
What a pity...
Before you continue