A Big Deal

Chen Bao had come to the door to thank Su Mo, naturally.

Never mind that Heroine Chen had only managed to become an Assistant Servant.

Just look at Chen Gan's current position, and it was clear that being an Assistant Servant was already quite extraordinary!

Besides, with Su Mo backing her, wouldn't promotion to Regular Servant be a sure thing?

The three of them entered the inner hall together.

Chen Bao and Heroine Chen were naturally stunned when they saw Xue Yishu.

Xue Yishu's clumsy disguise could not fool even Su Mo, so how could it escape the eyes of the old hand Chen Bao?

Chen Bao could not help sighing inwardly.

Although Xue Yishu was dressed as a man, it was still obvious that she had excellent features. Her looks were probably no worse than his own daughter's!

Sure enough, an outstanding man like Su Mo would never lack women who admired him!

Seeing Xue Yishu's willow brows knitting slightly, Su Mo immediately explained, "I work as a constable in the government office, so I inevitably have to receive and see people off."

"Please don't take offense, Brother Xue."

Xue Yishu looked at Su Mo and nodded with a hum. "That's just how Father is!"

"I simply didn't expect Brother Su to be the same. You certainly have an extensive circle of acquaintances, which did surprise me."

After a pause, she added, "Brother Su, have you prepared a place for me to stay?"

"I'd like to go take a look."

She clearly knew that Su Mo and Chen Bao had matters to discuss, and that it would be inconvenient for her to remain there.

A government official's daughter was indeed far more knowledgeable and well-mannered in this regard than Heroine Chen.

Su Mo nodded. "Of course I have. I just haven't had time to tidy it up..."

Xue Yishu waved her hand. "There's no need to trouble Brother Su. I can tidy it up myself."

Su Mo was just about to take her to the side room when Chen Bao suddenly cut in. "Nephew Su, why not have Qianyu go with her? She can tidy up the side room at the same time."

"Uncle Chen is heading back to the stronghold. I'll be leaving my daughter in your care from now on, Nephew!"

Su Mo was slightly surprised. He could not help glancing at Qianyu. "Miss Chen is staying here too?"

Chen Bao sighed. "Your Uncle Chen isn't afraid of making a fool of himself in his old age!"

"You should know that your Uncle Chen has been rather short of money lately."

"The inns in town are terribly expensive, so I can only have my daughter stay at your... your residence for the time being. She'll have to work under you and obey your orders from now on anyway, so it will be more convenient."

Su Mo was speechless.

Chen Bao had put it that way. What else could he say?

Besides, though Heroine Chen had pursed her little lips and looked somewhat reluctant, she had not spoken up against it.

Just the day before, the household had been overflowing with masculine energy, without a trace of feminine energy.

In the blink of an eye, the yin had flourished while the yang had declined!

Once the little widow came again...

Wouldn't that make three women and one man?

One woman was delightful, two women even better, but three women would be a catastrophe!

With one more, they could even make a mahjong table!

Su Mo had no idea whether he could handle it!

Fortunately, the residence had two side rooms and one main bedroom. Xue Yishu and Heroine Chen could each take one side room, while Qin Bi'er would naturally have the main bedroom when she came. There was just enough room!

Su Mo led the two women to the side rooms and left them to tidy up on their own.

He then returned to the rear hall.

He saw that Chen Bao was preparing to leave.

Su Mo called out to him and said bluntly, "Uncle Chen, wait a moment!"

"I'm going to take over Eastern Market later, and I plan to have Qianyu keep an eye on things there."

"May I ask whether you plan to open a shop and do business in Eastern Market, perhaps... a salt shop?"

Chen Bao's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard this!

He had staked his entire fortune on Su Mo. Wasn't this exactly the juicy meat he had been waiting for?

Suppressing his excitement, he drew a deep breath. "What do you mean, Nephew?"

Su Mo did not beat around the bush.

"I can find a way to settle the salt-shop permits and the official salt certificates."

"The rest will depend on Uncle Chen."

"Also, if you run into trouble with the salt trade, feel free to tell me directly. If there's anything I can help with, I certainly won't shirk it."

With things said to this extent, how could the old hand Chen Bao fail to understand?

He had long wanted to open a salt shop in the city.

Everyone knew that salt shops openly sold government salt, but who could say how much privately produced salt was being sold as government salt?

Private salt that cost three large coins per pound could be put in an official salt shop and sold for ten large coins—a profit of more than double.

Selling it privately to mountain villagers for only five large coins also meant risking having one's head chopped off!

The difference was simply too great to even discuss!

Just talking about it brought tears to the eyes!

However, businesses dealing in salt, iron, cloth, and grain were not small-time ventures.

Chen Gan was only an Assistant Servant. He could not suppress the matter, nor did he have enough face for it!

Chen Bao said without hesitation, "If this succeeds, the salt shop's profits can be split with Nephew five ways to five!"

"Besides, according to custom, Chen the Elder can take one share of the business outside the city."

After a pause, he continued, "If Nephew provides protection, then in the future, regarding the new routes that Chen family produces..."

He drew a deep breath. "Uncle Chen will give Nephew one and a half shares. How about it?"

Su Mo had already asked his third maternal uncle about the private salt trade.

After thinking briefly, he nodded. "Agreed!"

He then added, "However, Uncle Chen, please make sure your first steps are steady. A cautious sailor's ship sails ten thousand years!"

Chen Bao chuckled, and a hint of battle intent surfaced in his eyes. "With those words from Nephew, Uncle Chen has confidence!"

"And you can rest assured, Nephew!"

"Uncle Chen knows what to do!"

"If Nephew has nothing else, I'll return and make some preparations!"

Su Mo was so cautious and steady that Chen Bao felt even more reassured.

After all, young people were usually hot-blooded and impetuous. What he feared most was someone handling matters carelessly and bringing disaster upon himself for no reason.

Su Mo nodded and smiled. "Go on!"

"Safety comes first in everything!"

Chen Bao had just left.

Chen Gan arrived.

He had probably waited outside until Chen Bao's carriage had departed before coming in.

He had originally wanted to ask Su Mo about the handover with Luo Lie, but when he saw Chen Bao appear, he immediately changed the subject.

"You're planning to get involved in the private salt trade?"

Su Mo nodded. "That's right!"

"The profits from the private salt trade are enormous. Wouldn't it be a shame to let them pass us by?"

After a pause, he asked, "Third Uncle, how far do you think Chen Bao's connections can reach?"

Chen Gan thought for a moment before lowering his voice. "There are plenty of men at Chen family who dare to fight and kill."

"Besides, that fellow Chen Bao has hidden himself very deeply. He's probably a first-rate expert."

"If he's allowed to fight without restraint..."

"I'm afraid the private salt business within a hundred li of the city will all belong to Chen family in the future! A tenth of the monthly profits won't be less than a hundred taels!"

He was not worried that Su Mo could not suppress Chen Bao after he grew powerful. What concerned him were other matters.

"But if that happens, and someone drags you into this matter in the future, it will be extremely harmful to your plans for an official position!"

Su Mo smiled. "Third Uncle, there's no need to worry. Your nephew has his own calculations."

Chen Gan nodded.

A reminder was enough.

He was finding this nephew of his harder and harder to see through.

But Su Mo was not impulsive or reckless by nature. He would naturally consider the matter carefully.

Aside from the little widow incident, Chen Gan truly had not seen Su Mo act rashly in any other way.

Chen Gan followed up by asking, "How is the handover of Eastern Market going?"

Su Mo handed Chen Gan the ledger Luo Lie had given him. "That fellow Luo Lie is quite sensible."

"With this ledger, taking over Eastern Market will be much simpler!"

"I never expected a single Eastern Market to bring in more than a hundred taels in grease money every month!"

"However, I gave him Leper Zhou's vacant Regular Servant position!"

Chen Gan felt slightly regretful when he heard this.

He had actually coveted that Regular Servant position as well.

However, exchanging a single Regular Servant position for a smooth handover of Eastern Market was clearly more important. He could tell the difference.

"It's only a Regular Servant position. Let him have it!"

He then clicked his tongue in praise. "What a huge piece of fat!"

"No wonder Zhong Sanyuan has always coveted Eastern Market and threatened Luo Lie repeatedly, yet Luo Lie still refused to let go!"

After a pause, he asked, "How many shares do you plan to give him?"

Su Mo shook his head. "I haven't decided yet."

"What do you think, Third Uncle?"

Chen Gan had clearly considered this question long ago. He immediately raised one finger. "One share!"

Su Mo's eyes widened. "One share?"

"Luo Lie said that Zhong Sanyuan used to take a full five shares!"

Chen Gan sneered. "That was before!"

"Don't the Imperial Guard need to be greased? Doesn't the county magistrate need to be greased?"

"What virtue or ability does Zhong Sanyuan have to dare demand five shares from you?"

He continued, "You take two shares, send them to the Imperial Guard, and give two shares to the county magistrate!"

"No one will be able to touch your position!"

"Besides, if the constables who followed Luo Lie before come over to join us, you can increase their usual profits a little. You should be able to win their loyalty easily!"

"Don't forget—the Subordinate Clerks and miscellaneous servants below are where our roots lie!"

Su Mo nodded to show that he understood.

Chen Gan immediately asked again, "Have you decided on the Assistant Servant candidates?"

Su Mo smiled. "I've already chosen two."

"One of them is Chen Bao's daughter, Qianyu."

Chen Gan was immediately stunned when he heard this. "Qianyu?"

"Why did you take in that foolish girl?"

Su Mo did not know why, but he could not help explaining on Qianyu's behalf. "She's just a little naive. She isn't stupid."

Chen Gan rolled his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Isn't being naive the same as being stupid?"

Su Mo...

Begging everyone to support me with monthly votes! This foolish boy is dreaming of breaking into the new-book rankings! Even a hundredth-place finish would be wonderful! Also, the groundwork these past few days has been laid well enough. The real climax is about to arrive, and I absolutely won't disappoint all you esteemed readers!