Who Was She Guarding Against?

Cheng Xiao sighed and said:

"Father-in-law, to be honest, I was also swindled out of more than 1 million taels of silver by Feng Jiao this time."

I checked later, and those were all shops Feng Clan. You have no idea how heartbroken I was.

Eunuch Hai looked at him and said with a cold laugh:

"How do you think the Feng Clan got their fortune? Wasn't it through swindling and cheating? They've all cleaned up their act now."

Now you've really become a laughing stock in the Upper Capital City, but we can work together.

I'm actually thinking of doing some business with you. I wonder if you'd be willing to cooperate?

Cheng Xiao quickly nodded and asked, "What kind of business do you plan to do here?"

Eunuch Hai tapped his fingers incessantly on the table, saying, "Is there a secret passage through the mountains leading to the Snow Khanate if you head northwest from this area?"

Jiang Wu trembled with fear and said:

"The imperial court has stated that trade with the Snow Khanate is prohibited."

"Those who disobey will have their entire family executed... this... this seems inappropriate, doesn't it?"

"Hahaha... What kind of nine generations do we have left? Back then Feng Clan didn't spare our Hai Clan at all; all the men in our Hai Clan were killed."

But I'm not reconciled! Cheng Xiao, you are just like I was back then.

I want to make a lot of money, I want to ruin the Feng Clan, I want to make the women of the Feng Clan suffer unbearable pain.

"I'll show the men of the Feng Clan what Feng Clan 're going to become!" Eunuch Hai's eyes were sinister.

Cheng Xiao remained silent. Eunuch Hai said calmly:

"Cheng Xiao, the Snow Khanate wants quite a lot."

They buy all kinds of furs, grains, salt, iron, and medicinal herbs—anything we have here.

Moreover, the price they offered was significantly higher than the market price.

If you're willing to cooperate with me, I guarantee you'll make a fortune.

"In your current state, how can you possibly compete with the Feng Clan?"

Cheng Xiao frowned and said, "As far as I know, the Feng Clan is just so-so. According to Feng Jiao, her family doesn't have much money right now."

"Pfft, hahaha! Cheng Xiao, how can you be so childish? How can someone like you possibly survive in officialdom?"

"I know the Feng Clan better than you do. I've been fighting with old man Feng for over 30 years." Eunuch Hai took a sip of tea.

Looking at him, he said:

"Now I'll tell you the real situation of the Feng Clan."

The truth is that both of the Feng Clan's eldest and second sons hold official positions in Beijing, and you know perfectly well how important those positions are.

As for the third brother, he seems to have abandoned literature for business, reeking of money, and is not respectable.

Old Feng would point at him and curse him all day long, calling him a spendthrift and a spoiled brat.

But in reality, he was the true soul of the Feng Clan.

Cheng Xiao frowned slightly:

"What? Someone like Feng the Third, what kind of key figure could he be?"

He frequents brothels all day long; Old Man Feng hates him to the core.

Eunuch Hai sneered, lowering his voice even further:

"That's where Feng Three's shrewdness lies. He owns a money exchange, and half of the merchants in the city deposit their money there."

Even more terrifying, they are secretly maintaining a private army!

"Those people looked like guards, but in reality, they were all highly skilled and well-equipped."

They usually live scattered across various farms and docks, keeping a low profile, but when they really get involved, they are not people like us who can mess with them.

You think you can compete with the Feng Clan family with your meager resources and manpower? It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

Cheng Xiao's face turned deathly pale:

"You mean, Feng Jiao has been lying to me all these years? She's never told me about her family background."

Who... who is she guarding against? Am I really that untrustworthy to her?

Eunuch Hai was speechless when he saw this oddball; his intelligence was truly worrying.

The pie is so beautifully drawn, anyone would want to take a bite, right? But he's still agonizing over whether Feng Jiao is good to him or not.

Eunuch Hai sat there expressionless, wondering if he needed to find someone else to collaborate with.

"I will do it. I will crush the Feng Clan under my feet. I will make them wish they were dead. I will make them suffer eternal damnation."

Then Eunuch Hai chuckled and said:

"That's right! Why did I specifically choose you over anyone else?"

I feel we share the same goals, and also, I admire your talent.

I think you're different from others; you're much more knowledgeable than the average person.

Cheng Xiao's eyes lit up as she looked at Eunuch Hai and asked, "Does Eunuch Hai really think so?"

"Of course, and most importantly, I now have influence with His Majesty. Our collaboration is the perfect match."

"Once I've finished dealing with things here, I'll mention it to His Majesty when I return to the capital. How about promoting you to prefect? What do you think?" Eunuch Hai said casually.

Cheng Xiao looked at him and said, "Father-in-law, if you can really promote me to prefect, I will listen to you in everything from now on, and I will do whatever you ask me to do."

"Alright, it's settled then. A batch of grain and ironware will be delivered tonight."

"You can send someone to transport it directly then, and you can take a cut, 30% of the profits. What do you think?" Eunuch Hai explained his plan.

Cheng Xiao was completely dumbfounded. "You mean you want my people to deliver it? That's not appropriate, is it?"

Eunuch Hai laughed out loud:

"So you mean you just do nothing and wait for your dividends? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Actually, escorting goods is a very easy task. You can find some mountain strongholds to take on the job, or you can find a security escort agency to take on the job.

Those escort agencies had no idea what was inside.

Cheng Xiao nodded and said, "That's not a bad idea. Okay, then it's settled."

Eunuch Hai said with a smile:

"Our plan must be more meticulous. It's not just the Snow Khanate; your territory also connects to the Mobei Uyghur and the Kingdom of Khotan in the Western Regions!"

Like the Snow Khanate, these two countries lack food, salt, and medicine; they eagerly want anything we have that we can offer.

Eunuch Hai continued his deception, "As long as you nod your head, we'll open up three trade routes and send goods over continuously."

In less than three to five years, gold and silver treasures will be piled up like mountains.

"By then, the two of us will be richer than a country—that won't be just empty talk!"

There was nothing she could do; Cheng Xiao was short of money and had a grudge against the Feng Clan.

Cheng Xiao was tempted. "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

Eunuch Hai waved his hand and said:

"These two are people who work for me. They will assist you with your tasks, and they also know some martial arts and can protect your safety."

We will notify you promptly of any orders.

Eunuch Hai came quickly and left quickly.

After he left, Jiang Wu looked at Cheng Xiao with envy and said, "Lord Cheng, you're about to make it big! Don't forget to give me a hand after you've succeeded!"

Cheng Xiao smiled slightly and said:

How could I forget my little brother?

Don't worry, once I reach the top, you'll definitely have a place there.

What will the Feng Clan be then? I want to see Feng Jiao kneeling at my feet, begging and pleading.