Branch President

On the third day of auditing the caravan's accounts, Xiao Chen finally drew his blade.

For the first two days, he had done nothing.

The accounts were still being checked, and the people were still being watched, as though everything was proceeding methodically.

At noon that day.

Every member of the Xiao Clan caravan was summoned to the courtyard before the council hall.

Xiao Chen stood atop the steps with his hands behind his back. Behind him, two trusted aides held two ashen-faced stewards under guard.

The courtyard buzzed with noise. The stewards gathered in twos and threes to whisper among themselves, and no one knew what this Elder Patron was planning.

"Everyone, I gathered you here today for only one matter."

Xiao Chen spoke slowly. His voice was calm, yet it carried clearly to every ear.

"Audit the accounts, audit the accounts, and fucking audit the accounts!"

The courtyard fell abruptly silent.

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward the two restrained stewards.

"Steward Zhang, the accounts show that the medicinal herbs you handled were reported as suffering an extra three hundred jin in transport losses every month."

Xiao Chen's eyes settled on one of the stewards.

"Over three months, you embezzled an additional nine hundred jin of the Xiao Clan's medicinal herbs. At market value, that comes to eight thousand one hundred and forty gold coins."

Steward Zhang's legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Mercy, Elder! Mercy! I was blinded by greed for a moment... I-I'll return it all at once! I'll cough up every bit of the medicinal herbs I took!"

"Cough them up?"

Xiao Chen gave him an indifferent glance.

"What you can return are medicinal herbs. But what the Xiao Clan lost was its rules. Without rules, how am I supposed to lead this caravan?!"

"Steward Zhao."

Xiao Chen's gaze shifted to the other man.

"You were rather clever. You did not steal medicinal herbs—you stole time. Whenever payment for goods reached your hands, you always held it for a month before turning it in. The interest from that month went into your pocket... isn't that right?"

Steward Zhao's face went deathly pale. He trembled like a leaf and could not even force out a word of defense.

No matter how hard he thought about it, he could not understand how this elder had uncovered the delayed payments, which he had handled so flawlessly.

Xiao Chen pushed two account books forward and said in a deep voice, "The evidence is irrefutable. You were caught red-handed. According to Xiao Clan rules... anyone guilty of embezzlement shall receive thirty strokes, be expelled from the Xiao Clan, and never be hired again!"

"Carry it out!"

At his command, two guards stepped forward and forced Stewards Zhang and Zhao to the ground. The boards came down again and again, drawing ceaseless screams from the two men as blood soaked through their robes.

The blows were expertly delivered. They avoided vital areas, yet every strike pierced to the bone.

After thirty strokes, the two stewards lay sprawled on the ground, without even the strength to beg for mercy.

"Throw them out the Xiao Clan gates. Let them fend for themselves."

Xiao Chen spoke indifferently.

The two guards obeyed, hauling the men up and dragging them away like dead dogs.

Outside the courtyard gates, Xiao Clan disciples and neighboring townsfolk watched, pointing and talking.

"Those were stewards of the Xiao Clan caravan! They were beaten just like that, expelled just like that!"

"This new Elder Patron is ruthless!"

"The Xiao Clan's business may truly be changing from now on..."

Everyone in the courtyard stood silent as cicadas in winter, cold sweat streaming down their backs.

Those blows seemed not to land on Zhang and Zhao alone, but on every one of their hearts, making their scalps tingle with fear.

"Is... is this elder some kind of immortal?!"

"We couldn't even spot Steward Zhang's little tricks. How did he catch him at a glance?"

"From now on, we'd better not try any clever tricks in the Xiao Clan... this Elder Patron is not someone to provoke!"

Whispers rose and fell as everyone looked toward Xiao Chen with deep reverence.

Xiao Chen slowly swept his gaze across every steward present.

His voice was not loud, yet it drove straight into every heart.

"Today, I will make this clear! From now on, every entry in the Xiao Clan's accounts must be crystal clear. Whoever dares reach out again will share Zhang and Zhao's fate!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Rest assured, Elder! We would never dare again!"

The stewards answered in quick succession, nodding like pecking chicks.

Only then did Xiao Chen nod in satisfaction and wave his sleeve.

"Dismissed. Go back and sort out every account in your hands anew."

"Yes!"

As though granted a pardon, the stewards scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits.

That night, the accounting room of the Xiao Clan caravan remained brightly lit.

The stewards sat obediently at their desks, copying out the accounts anew. No one dared play even the slightest trick again.

Within just a few days, the Xiao Clan caravan had taken on an entirely new look.

That day, Ya Fei arrived in an unusual state.

Gone was her usual radiant smile. When she entered, her brows were clouded with worry.

"Miss Ya Fei, what is the matter?"

Xiao Chen set down his teacup and asked with a smile, "Who upset our great beauty?"

"Mr. Xiao, please stop teasing me."

Ya Fei sat down with a bitter smile and sighed.

"Mittel Headquarters intends to establish a branch in Wutan City and select one among several of us managers to serve as branch president."

"That is a good thing."

Xiao Chen raised a brow. "With Miss Ya Fei's capabilities, wouldn't the position of branch president be yours for the taking?"

"If only it were that easy!"

Ya Fei shook her head, her worries undiminished.

"What headquarters values is not seniority, but performance."

"But Ya Fei is still inexperienced, and my results have been nothing remarkable... Those competitors are all veteran managers with proven achievements. If this continues, the position of branch president may have nothing to do with me."

As she spoke, she took a letter from her robes and handed it to Xiao Chen.

"This is the selection document sent by headquarters. Please have a look, sir..."

Xiao Chen accepted the document and skimmed it, his eyes shifting slightly.

The Mittel Auction House, the Jia Ma Empire's greatest commercial giant!

If Ya Fei could become the branch president of Wutan City, the Xiao Clan's development would surely proceed far more smoothly!

"Miss Ya Fei."

Xiao Chen set down the teacup and spoke slowly. "You must secure this position of branch president."

Ya Fei froze. "But... the performance..."

"As for performance..." Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "Leave it to the Xiao Clan."

Ya Fei's eyes lit up.

"Mr. Xiao, you have a way?!"

"Of course I do."

Xiao Chen rose with a smile. "But Miss Ya Fei must agree to one condition."

"Please name it, sir!"

"Once you obtain the position of branch president, the business of Mittel's Wutan City branch..."

Xiao Chen turned back and gave Ya Fei a meaningful look. "The Xiao Clan will receive first priority."

Ya Fei paused, then broke into a radiant smile and clasped her fists solemnly.

"Deal! So long as Ya Fei becomes branch president, the Xiao Clan's business will be Mittel Wutan City's branch's first priority!"

"Good!"

Xiao Chen clapped and laughed. "Then I shall prepare a tremendous 'achievement' for Miss Ya Fei!"

That night, the two put their heads together and planned through the night.

"First, prepare the stock. All inventory from the Xiao Clan Medicine Hall will be supplied to the auction house as a priority."

"Second, raise the standards. Within three days, I will personally refine a batch of third-grade pills for you to use as the finale."

"Third, build momentum. Spread the word that Mittel's Wutan City branch will hold an unprecedented treasure appraisal convention. When the time comes, people will come flocking not only from Wutan City, but from several neighboring cities as well!"

"Mr. Xiao, what should Ya Fei do now?"

"No rush. It is late tonight, so Miss Ya Fei should return and rest first. Tomorrow, we will begin preparing the goods."

Ya Fei rose to take her leave. When she reached the door, she turned back and said solemnly, "Mr. Xiao, from this day forward, Ya Fei's life is in your hands."

"You overstate it, Miss Ya Fei."

Xiao Chen smiled and shook his head. "We are partners. Why speak of yours and mine?"

"Of course, having an 'us' would be even better!"

"Mr. Xiao... please do not tease Ya Fei."

Early the next morning.

Xiao Chen moved with swift decisiveness.

He first went to the Drug Hall, took stock of every pill in storage, and had them all packed and delivered to the auction house.

He then personally wrote a letter and ordered someone to deliver it by fast horse to Mittel's Wutan City branch, setting the date for the treasure appraisal convention. Finally, he shut himself in the pharmacy and began preparing the medicinal ingredients for the batch of third-grade pills that would serve as the finale.

For the entire day, everyone in the Xiao Clan saw this Elder Patron hurrying back and forth between the Drug Hall and the auction house. Everyone was curious, but no one dared ask.

"Elder, are you... planning some major move?" the Drug Hall elder could not help asking.

"Whether it is major or not, you will find out when the time comes."

Xiao Chen smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Old friend, for the next three days, not a single good medicinal ingredient from the Drug Hall is to leave. Save them all for me."

"Save, save them for what?"

"Pill refining."

That night, the news quietly spread.

Mittel's Wutan City branch would hold an unprecedented treasure appraisal convention in three days, with several precious pills appearing as the grand finale!

The merchants of Wutan City stirred at the news. Even wealthy merchants from several nearby cities in the Jia Ma Empire sent scouts to investigate.

"What is Mittel up to this time?"

"I heard there is a mysterious alchemist in Wutan City who is bringing out his best treasures!"

"Hmph, what good merchandise could a small city's branch possibly have? I want to see what tricks they can pull!"

Amid the endless discussions, Xiao Chen remained calm and composed.

"Backing Ya Fei's rise is an investment guaranteed to pay off. It will also make her owe me an enormous favor... why not?"

"Besides, the position of branch president is only Ya Fei's starting point. Mittel's business throughout the Jia Ma Empire is the real prize."