Lost and Found Again!

Luo Zheng was clearly stunned for a moment by that answer.

"Hahahaha!" Then he burst out laughing, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes.

Luo Zheng didn't care that the others were looking at him like he was a fool. He just rubbed his eyes.

"A-Chuan, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. But the more you say that, the less I can bring myself to hold back your future."

"I'm going to talk to Tang Xiang right now!"

Li Chuan grabbed him and lowered his voice.

"Senior Brother Luo, think carefully. Is the Tang Family really such a good place to go?"

At that, Luo Zheng immediately sobered up.

"What do you mean?"

Li Chuan analyzed the situation calmly.

"Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Tang Family, the Wang Family in the Inner City, and the County Magistrate are clearly in league with one another."

"The three families want to join forces against the other three families in the Inner City. Almost everyone knows it."

"We don't have enough information to understand what's really going on."

"Under these circumstances, getting involved in the heart of the storm without thinking it through isn't a good idea!"

"And besides..." Li Chuan looked Luo Zheng in the eye. "I do care a lot about having a place in the Inner City. I need somewhere to settle my family. But would it really be safe to put them in Tang Xiang's hands?"

"If danger comes and someone has to lead the charge, who do you think they'll send?"

"By then, with my family in his hands, would I even be able to say no?"

Luo Zheng rubbed his chin.

"You have a point, A-Chuan. Looks like you've thought this through carefully."

"I know Tang Xiang's character well. He never lifts a finger unless there's something in it for him, and he never lets himself take a loss."

"Now that I think about it, for him to offer you such a high price... the price you'd have to pay is probably far greater!"

The two exchanged a look, both understanding what that price might be.

It might be their lives!

Luo Zheng clapped Li Chuan firmly on the shoulder.

"Whatever happens, A-Chuan, you chose my Luo Family. I won't let you down."

"You really need a place in the Inner City? My family happens to have a courtyard there..."

"Nobody lives in it anyway. I'll go ask my father later and have him give it to you!"

"Then you'll have nothing left to worry about."

Li Chuan was a little surprised.

He hadn't expected the place in the Inner City he'd lost to come back to him this way.

And it was an even better choice than before.

If he put it in Tang Xiang's hands, he'd inevitably be threatened with it.

But with a courtyard belonging to the Luo Family, he could finally feel at ease!

As for the extra silver Tang Xiang had offered, it was nothing.

A courtyard in the Inner City was worth at least several hundred taels of silver.

Besides, that money would have been payment for risking his life!

Li Chuan clasped his hands. "Thank you, Senior Brother Luo."

Luo Zheng smiled wryly.

"I can't promise anything, but I'll do everything I can to persuade my father."

"Come with me."

The two chatted as they walked out of the Flying Swallow Pavilion.

Not far away, a young man in blue robes asked in confusion:

"Brother Tang, what's wrong?"

Tang Xiang turned his gaze away and smiled faintly.

"Nothing. I was hoping to recruit a junior brother as a retainer for my family, but he turned me down."

The young man in blue robes immediately perked up.

"He's so sought-after that someone from one of the four great families in the Inner City stepped in?"

Tang Xiang shook his head.

"No, just the Luo Family Apothecary."

The young man in blue robes scoffed.

"This man really has no eyes. Doesn't he know the Tang Family is worth two Luo Families?"

Tang Xiang chuckled.

"Who knows?"

At that price, it wouldn't be hard to find someone with Dark Force to take the risk.

But he might not find anyone as simple-minded and easy to handle as Li Chuan.

Those with Dark Force out in the world were all shrewd as foxes.

Getting them to risk their lives... difficult!

The Luo Family Pharmacy.

Luo Zheng led Li Chuan to a tea table and said solemnly:

"A-Chuan, wait here. I'll go talk to my father."

After saying that, he went into his father's bedroom.

Luo Houping followed behind him, looking puzzled.

In the master bedroom.

A stern-faced man with a square jaw sat at his desk.

It was the head of the Luo Family, Luo Weiyuan!

Hearing familiar footsteps, Luo Weiyuan rubbed his sore eyes.

"Zheng, you're here. What do you need?"

Luo Zheng nervously rubbed his fingers together.

"Father, I have a good friend—the junior brother with Dark Force I told you about last time. His surname is Li..."

Luo Weiyuan cut him off, his tone tinged with mockery.

"Li Chuan. You've only ever had one good friend with Dark Force, of course I remember him."

"What is it? Didn't we already discuss his pay last time? It was a very generous offer. Wasn't he satisfied?"

Luo Zheng hurried to explain.

"No, no, he was very satisfied. He even turned down invitations from other factions because of it."

"But it seems someone has their eye on his family, so he wants to move them into the Inner City."

"I remember we have a residence in the Inner City..."

"Bang!" Luo Weiyuan slapped the table and shot to his feet, furious. "A residence in the Inner Courtyard? That's worth several hundred taels of silver! We could hire several people with Dark Force for that!"

"I think someone's put a spell on you. How can you even say something like that?"

"I suspect this is a trap he deliberately set, just waiting for you to fall into it."

"Someone so crooked in character—don't have anything more to do with him!"

Luo Weiyuan turned to Luo Houping behind them.

"Big Brother, you're good at judging people. Tell Zheng what kind of man Li Chuan is."

Luo Houping thought for a moment, then answered hesitantly.

"I see him often when I deliver medicine. Every time we talk, he praises Zheng and says he knows how to repay kindness."

"He's also diligent and responsible with the medicine team. Every time, he treats the work as if it were his own."

"In my opinion, he's not the kind of person you say he is."

Luo Weiyuan had hoped to get some support from Luo Houping, but instead he got an answer he hadn't expected.

His lips trembled with anger.

"Big Brother, you're taking Zheng's side too? That's a residence in the Inner City, not a head of cabbage!"

Luo Zheng's face flushed red, but he still spoke quietly.

"Father, didn't you say we should be 'honorable and righteous'?"

"He turned down the Tang Family's invitation for my sake..."

Luo Weiyuan laughed in exasperation. "Turned down whose invitation? Which family?"

Luo Zheng glanced at his father's expression and added:

"The Tang Family in the Outer City. They were willing to offer twice what we did just to recruit A-Chuan."

"A-Chuan remembered how much I'd helped him, so he turned down the Tang Family's invitation."

Luo Weiyuan opened his mouth to scold Luo Zheng, but then realized he didn't know what to say.

For Li Chuan to turn down such a generous offer from the Tang Family for Luo Zheng's sake was certainly "loyal."

He had always taught Luo Zheng to treat his friends with sincerity and put profit second.

So why was he the one who had changed?

Ever since taking charge of such a large business, he'd always put profit first...

For a moment, Luo Weiyuan sighed inwardly.

He waved his hand.

"No one lives in that residence anyway. Fine, fine."

Luo Zheng asked, overjoyed, "Father, you agree?!"

Luo Weiyuan scolded him with a laugh.

"Get out of here before I change my mind!"

Luo Zheng rushed out, overjoyed.

Luo Weiyuan and Luo Houping exchanged a smile.

For some reason, he suddenly didn't feel so reluctant to part with it anymore.