Chen Li wasn’t angry. He glanced back and smiled at Liu Yunfeng before turning to County Magistrate Li and Chief Steward Qian. "Lord Li, Chief Steward Qian, it isn’t convenient to count the silver here. Might we move to the entrance of the Government Office? The silver is already outside."
Liu Yunfeng sneered. "I just came in from outside. The entrance was completely empty. Where is this silver you speak of? Have you gone mad, spouting such nonsense here?"
County Magistrate Li and Qian Yiqian were skeptical, but they followed Chen Li out the main doors of the County Magistrate’s Office anyway.
Liu Yunfeng’s brows knitted tightly, his mind a nest of suspicions as he trailed behind them.
Just as they reached the entrance of the Government Office, a procession rounded the corner.
At the head of the procession were more than ten powerfully built men guarding a banner of the Weiyuan Escort Agency. Following them were five two-horse carriages, each carrying two large, heavy wooden chests affixed with seals. The deep ruts carved by their wheels were a clear testament to the cargo’s immense weight.
The Leader of the Escort stepped forward and clasped his fist in salute to Chen Li. "Master Chen, your one hundred thousand taels of silver have been delivered safely!"
Immediately after, a smaller party approached from the opposite direction.
Chen Shouheng was leading several disciples from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall, escorting three carriages that were also laden with six large chests.
Only then did Chen Li turn to explain to County Magistrate Li and Chief Steward Qian, "Lord Li, Chief Steward Qian, the total sum here is one hundred fifty-six thousand taels. Please have your men count and inspect it."
In the three days leading up to the auction, Chen Shouheng had traveled to the Commandery City to arrange for the Zhou Family to transport the silver.
Chen Li hadn’t been idle, either. He transported twenty thousand taels of the family’s savings to the county seat, storing them at the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall. At the same time, he collected the twenty thousand taels that Linglong and Bai San had swindled from Jiang Li the previous year.
After the auction, he went to the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall to borrow the twenty thousand taels of silver previously arranged with Li Weikun, thus gathering the full one hundred fifty-six thousand taels needed for the purchase.
County Magistrate Li and Qian Yiqian exchanged a look, then immediately summoned the government constables and clerks from the Household Department. They had the silver boxes carried into the County Magistrate’s Office, where they were opened for inspection, weighing, and verification of the silver’s purity.
Liu Yunfeng stood to one side, his expression shifting from sinister to ashen, and finally to a deep, flushed red as he watched chest after chest of gleaming silver being carried into the County Magistrate’s Office.
He had never imagined that the Chen Family had already prepared the silver and would deliver it for the transaction so quickly and so directly!
That meant all his previous arrangements—interceptions, inspections, frame-ups...
All of it had become a complete joke!
The humiliation of being played for a fool, intertwined with the furious rage of a failed plan, brought him to the brink of losing control.
A powerful wave of regret washed over him. ’If I had known,’ he thought, ’I never should have listened to that old steward during the auction! If I had just raised the bid a few more times, perhaps Chen Li would have backed down!’
The transaction was completed without a hitch.
Qian Yiqian solemnly handed the land deed, now stamped with the official seal, to Chen Li.
Chen Li carefully tucked the documents away, then turned to Liu Yunfeng, whose face was so dark it looked as if he might explode. Cupping his hands, Chen Li spoke in a perfectly placid tone, "Young Master Liu, thank you for... holding back in the hall just now."
The words landed like pure mockery in Liu Yunfeng’s ears.
He glared daggers at Chen Li, his chest heaving violently, and spat through clenched teeth, "Good... Very good! Chen Li, you remember this! We’ll see if you live long enough to enjoy those four thousand acres of fine farmland!"
A vicious, murderous glint flashed in his eyes. With a sharp flick of his sleeves, he turned and strode away, his very back radiating unrestrained fury.
...
Chen Li spent a little more time with Qian Yiqian in the Household Department, where he paid the Chen Family’s autumn Land Tax for the previous year in advance. Only then did he leave the County Magistrate’s Office with Shouheng, taking the remaining silver with them.
They strolled along the bluestone-paved street, eventually stopping before a pharmacy whose sign read "Ji’an Hall."
The plaque was old, but the calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, clearly showing its age.
The pharmacy had a wide storefront, and its interior was clean and tidy. Rows of dark brown medicine cabinets stretched from floor to ceiling, their drawers labeled with apricot-yellow paper slips bearing the names of herbs.
The air was thick with the rich, slightly bitter fragrance of herbs.
Behind the counter, a young apprentice, one of the same apprentices Elder Su had previously let go, was deftly portioning out herbs, his use of the small steelyard scale incredibly precise.
Further inside, his daughter-in-law, Li Jinru, sat behind a consultation desk. Dressed in a simple gown, her expression was serene as she carefully leafed through a medical casebook.
However, patients were few and far between. Occasionally, one or two would sit down, but they would look at Li Jinru with hesitation and distrust. Most would ask a question or two and then leave; very few stayed for a proper diagnosis.
"Father, Elder Brother, what brings you here?"
Chen Shouye, who was checking the ledgers behind the counter, looked up to see his father and elder brother. He quickly set the book down and hurried over, a happy expression on his face. "How did it go with the family land? Was everything successful?"
Hearing his voice, Li Jinru also rose and curtsied gracefully. "Father, Elder Brother."
Chen Li nodded slightly. "It’s all settled. The deed is in our hands."
His gaze swept across the shop. "We were in the area, so we came to have a look. The shop is well-managed."
A smile bloomed on Chen Shouye’s face as he hurried to lead them to the inner hall to sit down. Li Jinru served them hot tea.
"How’s business?" Chen Li asked casually after taking a sip of tea.
Chen Shouye gave a wry smile. "To be honest, Father, it’s not great. We’ve been open for two months, and our total revenue has only been a little over two hundred taels. After factoring in rent, the cost of herbs, and the apprentice’s wages, we haven’t just failed to make a profit—we’ve actually lost a little money."
He paused before explaining in more detail. "It’s mostly because of the high startup costs for equipment and renovations. If we subtract those one-time expenses, our day-to-day operations are turning a small profit of about twenty taels a month. For now, we’re relying mainly on selling herbs. As for Jinru...
"People tend to trust older physicians. Even though Jinru was taught by her own grandfather and inherited his true skills, she’s young, and patients are still hesitant. It will take time to build her reputation. Because of that, the income from consultations is... very limited."
Chen Li set down his teacup, his tone calm. "You’re just starting out; simply keeping things afloat is an achievement in itself. Don’t worry too much about profit and loss. Building a reputation and earning trust is more important than any amount of silver."
He paused, then looked at Shouye. "This pharmacy of yours... could it possibly sell... Medicinal Cuisine required for Cultivation?"
Chen Shouye froze, having clearly never considered the idea. He hesitated before replying, "That... that kind of Medicinal Cuisine is highly specialized. I’ve never heard of any pharmacy selling it directly."
Li Jinru added, "Father, those kinds of medicines are extraordinary. I’ve heard one needs a special permit from the Government Office to sell them. The approval process is incredibly strict and hard to pass. In all of Liyang Commandery City, I hear only one or two pharmacies have such a license."
Chen Li nodded, not pursuing the topic. He changed the subject, asking, "How has your Cultivation been lately?"
At the mention of Martial Arts, Chen Shouye’s expression turned serious. "I have reached Qi Realm Perfection. I am currently consolidating my foundation and building my reserves, seeking an opportunity to break through to the Spirit Realm."
"Mm. A solid foundation is what’s most important. A breakthrough should be a natural process," Chen Li advised. "When you feel the time is right, come home to attempt it. I will watch over you."
"Yes, Father," Chen Shouye replied respectfully.
As evening fell, the family had a simple dinner.
Chen Li was just about to take Shouheng back to Lingxi when Li Jiwei appeared in the back hall of the pharmacy, hurrying in with an anxious look on his face.