Big Business

Chen Bao came to visit, naturally to thank Su Mo for coming.

Don't look at Heroine Chen only getting an Assistant Servant position.

But looking at Chen Gan's current status, you know that an Assistant Servant is already quite extraordinary!

Moreover, with Su Mo's support, wouldn't it be a sure thing to be promoted to Regular Servant later?

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 couldn't even fool Su Mo, how could it fool the sharp eyes of the old hand, Chen Bao?

Chen Bao couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Even though Xue Yishu was disguised as a man, one could still tell her foundation was excellent, and her beauty was probably not inferior to his own daughter's!

As expected, a man as outstanding as Su Mo wouldn't lack women admiring him!

Seeing Xue Yishu's delicate brows slightly furrowed, Su Mo immediately explained, "I am a yamen runner for the government, so I have to greet and send off people frequently."

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

Xue Yishu looked at Su Mo and nodded, "My father is just like that!"

"I just didn't expect Brother Su to be like this too. Your social circle is indeed wide, which surprises me a bit."

She paused and then asked, "Brother Su, have you prepared a place for me to stay?"

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

It was obvious she knew Su Mo and Chen Bao had matters to discuss and it would be inconvenient for her to stay.

A young lady from a prominent family indeed had much higher insight and upbringing in this regard than Heroine Chen.

Su Mo nodded, "Of course, it's prepared, but I haven't had time to tidy it up..."

Xue Yishu waved her hand, "No need to trouble you, Brother Su, I can tidy it up myself."

Just as Su Mo was about to lead her to the side room, Chen Bao suddenly interjected, "Nephew Su, why don't you let Qianyu go along? She can tidy up the side room at the same time."

"Uncle Chen has to return to the stronghold. I'll entrust my daughter to your care from now on!"

Su Mo was slightly surprised and couldn't help but glance at Chen Qianyu, "Miss Chen will also be living here?"

Chen Bao sighed, "Uncle Chen isn't afraid of losing face!"

"Nephew Su should know that Uncle Chen has been quite short of funds recently."

"The inns in the city are very expensive, so I can only have my daughter stay at Nephew Su's place for now. Anyway, my daughter will be working under Nephew Su in the future and taking his orders, which will be more convenient."

Su Mo was speechless.

Since Chen Bao had said so, what else could he say?

Moreover, seeing Heroine Chen pouting, although she seemed willing, she didn't voice any objection.

Just a few days ago, his residence was full of yang energy and devoid of yin.

Now it had become yin-dominant and yang-deficient!

When the little widow comes again.

Wouldn't it be three women and one man?

One woman is happy, two women are better, but three women are troublesome!

If another one joined, they could form a mahjong table!

Su Mo felt he didn't know if he could handle it!

Fortunately, the residence had two side rooms and one main bedroom. Xue Yishu and Heroine Chen each took a room. If Qin Bi'er came, she would naturally take the main bedroom, which was just enough space!

Su Mo led the two to the side room and let them tidy up themselves.

Then he returned to the back hall.

Seeing Chen Bao preparing to leave.

He called out to Chen Bao, "Uncle Chen, please wait a moment!"

"From now on, I will be taking over the East Market, and I plan to have Qianyu oversee it."

"Uncle Chen, do you have any plans to open a shop in the East Market, perhaps... a salt shop?"

Chen Bao's eyes suddenly lit up!

Wasn't this the crucial part he was waiting for when he invested heavily in Su Mo?

He suppressed his excitement and took a deep breath, "What does Nephew Su mean?"

Su Mo didn't beat around the bush.

"I can find a way to handle the procedures for the salt shop and the official salt permits."

"The rest will depend on Uncle Chen."

"Also, regarding the salt trade, if Uncle Chen encounters any trouble, you can tell me directly. I will definitely help if I can."

Given that he'd said so much, Chen Bao, that old hand, understood perfectly!

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

Everyone knew that salt shops officially sold government salt, but in reality, they sold a lot of private salt as government salt. Who could possibly keep track of it all!

Private salt, costing three copper coins a jin, would be sold in government salt shops for ten copper coins, a profit of more than double.

Selling it privately to rural households only cost five copper coins, and it still carried the risk of execution!

The vast difference in profit aside!

Just talking about it brought tears to his eyes!

However, dealing in salt, iron, cloth, and grain wasn't something one could do on a small scale.

Chen Gan, as an Assistant Servant, couldn't suppress it, nor did he have the influence!

Chen Bao said without hesitation, "If this matter is successful, I'll give Nephew Chen five-tenths of the salt shop's profits!"

"Additionally, for the business outside the city, as per custom, Boss Chen can take one-tenth."

He paused, then added, "If Nephew Chen provides protection, then for the new avenues Chen Family Village develops in the future..."

He took a deep breath, "Uncle Chen will give Nephew five-tenths, how about that?"

Su Mo had already inquired about his third uncle's private salt business.

After a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Agreed!"

Then he added, "However, Uncle Chen, please start cautiously. A steady hand ensures a long journey!"

Chen Bao chuckled, a hint of fighting spirit flickering in his eyes, "With Nephew's words, Uncle Chen feels confident!"

"And it will put Nephew's mind at ease too!"

"Uncle Chen knows what he's doing!"

"If Nephew has no other matters, I'll head back and prepare now!"

Su Mo's caution and steadiness actually made Chen Bao feel more at ease.

After all, most young people were impetuous and prone to causing trouble through carelessness.

Su Mo nodded and smiled, "Go ahead!"

"Be careful with everything!"

As soon as Chen Bao left.

Chen Gan arrived.

He had likely been waiting outside for Chen Bao's carriage to depart before coming in.

He had initially intended to ask Su Mo about the handover with Luo Lie, but upon seeing Chen Bao, 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 this private salt business are enormous. It would be a shame to let it pass by."

He paused, then asked, "Third Uncle, how far do you think Chen Bao's reach can extend?"

Chen Gan thought for a moment before whispering, "Chen Family Village has many men who dare to fight and kill."

"And Chen Bao himself is deeply hidden; I suspect he's a master-level expert."

"If he's allowed to go all out."

"I fear that within a hundred-mile radius outside the city, the private salt business will all belong to Chen Family Village in the future! A monthly share of one-tenth wouldn't be less than a hundred taels!"

He wasn't afraid of Su Mo being unable to control Chen Bao once he grew powerful; he worried about other things.

"But if this matter is somehow linked to you in the future, it would be very detrimental to your pursuit of an official position!"

Su Mo smiled, "Third Uncle needn't worry, your nephew has his own plans."

Chen Gan nodded.

He had given his reminder.

His nephew was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

But he wasn't impulsive or reckless, so he would surely consider this matter seriously.

Aside from the matter with the young widow, Chen Gan hadn't seen Su Mo act rashly.

Chen Gan then asked, "How did the handover in the East Market go?"

Su Mo handed the ledger Luo Lie had given him to Chen Gan, "That scoundrel Luo Lie was quite sensible."

"With this book, taking over the East Market will be much simpler!"

"I never imagined that the East Market alone would yield over a hundred taels of 'oil and water' each month!"

"However, I've given the vacant Regular Servant position of Leper Zhou to him!"

Chen Gan heard this and showed a hint of regret.

He actually coveted this Regular Servant position too.

However, exchanging one Regular Servant for the smooth handover of the East Market was more important; he knew the difference.

"A mere Regular Servant, let him have it!"

Then he clicked his tongue in admiration, "What a huge piece of fat meat!"

"No wonder Zhong Sanyuan has been coveting the East Market for so long, and Luo Lie refused to let go despite multiple threats!"

He paused and then asked, "How much are you planning to give him?"

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

"Uncle, what's your opinion?"

Chen Gan had clearly considered this question already and immediately held up one finger: "Ten percent!"

Su Mo's eyes widened instantly: "Ten percent?"

"Luo Lie said that Zhong Sanyuan used to take a full fifty percent!"

Chen Gan sneered, "That was before!"

"Don't you need to bribe the Imperial Guard? Don't you need to bribe the county magistrate?"

"How dare he, Zhong Sanyuan, demand fifty percent from you!"

He then added, "You take twenty percent and send it to the Imperial Guard, and another twenty percent to the county magistrate!"

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

"Furthermore, if the yamen runners who previously followed Luo Lie come to join you, you can offer them slightly better terms than before, and you'll easily win their hearts!"

"Don't forget, the Subordinate Clerks and Assistant Servants below are our foundation!"

Su Mo nodded, indicating he understood.

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

Su Mo smiled, "Two have already been chosen."

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

Chen Gan was stunned upon hearing this: "Chen Qianyu?"

"Why would you take that foolish girl?"

Su Mo couldn't help but want to explain Chen Qianyu: "She's just a bit naive, not foolish."

Chen Gan rolled his eyes and sneered, "Isn't naive the same as foolish?"

Su Mo...

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