“Madam, what are you doing! Making the servants witness such a spectacle for no reason—where does this leave the Li family’s dignity?” Li Wantang had already made up his mind not to engage in verbal disputes with his wife, which was precisely why he had retreated to the salt fields. He never expected that early this morning, Mrs. Li would arrive at the salt fields with a group of accountants in an aggressive manner, demanding to examine over a year’s worth of ledgers, claiming repeatedly that she wanted to audit the accounts.

Even with Li Wantang’s inclination toward forbearance, faced with so many people from the salt fields watching, he had to display the bearing of the Li family’s head of household. He immediately put on a stern expression and forbade anyone from opening the accounting room door.

“It’s neither New Year nor festival—what accounts need examining out of the blue? Besides, I am the head of the Li household, and it’s hardly anyone else’s place to audit the accounts I manage.” Li Wantang glanced at Li Qin standing behind his wife, his eyes naturally commanding without anger. “Qin’er, is this your doing?”

Li Qin shrank under his father’s gaze. Mrs. Li raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Who knows who has something to hide.”

“More and more outrageous.” Li Wantang flicked his sleeve and was about to leave.

“Wait.” Mrs. Li spoke up. “Let me ask you—Qin’er made a bet with the Gu family, giving them one month to gather one million taels of silver to settle the salt payment debt, or else they’d have to roll back to their Huizhou hometown. Do you know about this matter?”

Of course Li Wantang knew. His two sons were like fire and water, and naturally this pained his heart. After hearing about this matter, he very much hoped Gu Pingyuan couldn’t gather this sum of money, so he could leave Jiangning and return to Huizhou. After all, the Gu family now had the Lanxue tea business, which would be enough to sustain them for life. It would be best if the Gu and Li families never met again, thus ending this cursed relationship.

“Qin’er had already cut off his financial sources, yet he managed to mobilize one million taels in bank drafts within three days. I really wonder where this poor boy found such wealthy friends!” Mrs. Li stared intently at her husband, speaking each word deliberately.

Li Wantang suddenly understood—his wife suspected he had given the salt field’s income to Gu Pingyuan. For husband and wife to suspect each other to this extent was truly heart-chilling.

“After receiving Qin’er’s report, I immediately ordered an investigation of all our family’s businesses in the northern five provinces. Since those accounts were clear, I had no choice but to examine the salt field’s books.”

“The salt field’s accounts are also crystal clear, so there’s no need to trouble Madam with them.” Li Wantang’s voice was quite harsh.

“Fine, so you won’t let me examine them.” Mrs. Li gave an order, and servants came over to carry a chair upholstered with golden monkey fur to the locked accounting room door. Mrs. Li sat down steadily.

“If I can’t enter this door, no one else should think of entering either!”

Li Wantang was immediately infuriated, knowing that if he didn’t yield, today’s matter would certainly end badly. He nodded and threw a string of keys to Li Qin.

Li Qin had always feared his father, but he also wanted to know whether Gu Pingyuan’s one million taels truly came from the Li family salt fields, and whether it had anything to do with his father. However, when he thought that if his father was indeed secretly supporting Gu Pingyuan, this household would likely be turned upside down immediately, his heart sank again.

“What are you standing there for? Investigate!” Mrs. Li shouted sternly. Li Qin had no choice but to avoid the iron-faced Li Wantang and, leading a group of accountants, moved out ledgers piled high as a small mountain and began examining them one by one. For a moment, all that could be heard was the rustling of ledger pages and the loud clicking of abacus beads.

Li An quietly approached Li Wantang, who stood under the eaves, saying, “Master, why don’t we go look at the brine boiling pots at the outer seven beaches? Yesterday they were set up according to your instructions—three hundred in total, all of the newest design, producing salt both well and quickly.” This was salt business that Li Wantang normally cared about greatly, but now he seemed not to hear, his face dark as water, not saying a word.

Li An helplessly swallowed and stepped aside. He was the one who truly had something to hide. A month ago, Wang Tiangui had invited him over, setting out a banquet of bird’s nest and shark fin. When the wine had taken effect, he slipped him a bank draft for twenty thousand taels. Having followed Li Wantang for so long, Li An’s horizons were quite high. Though this sum was substantial, what he truly wanted in his heart was to become the Li family’s chief steward. Compared to this aspiration, how could he lose the greater for the lesser? Thus he declined to accept it.

Wang Tiangui was truly cunning and shrewd, seeing right into his heart. He chuckled and said, “Originally Master Li said he’d let you manage half the salt shops, but now he’s handed them over to his two sons. Though you’re loyal, you’re still an outsider after all. Wanting to touch this top position is probably wishful thinking. However, you also heard at Jinshan Temple that the Li family business will sooner or later belong to Li Qin. When that time comes, he absolutely won’t tolerate Gu Pingyuan reaping benefits without effort. At that time, if I put in a few good words for you, you’ll be second only to one, above ten thousand in the Li family.”

While Li An hesitated, Wang Tiangui suddenly changed to a menacing tone: “I know you have your own business on the side. You haven’t been pocketing less of the Li family’s silver over the years, have you?”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Li An was like being scalded by a coal ball, immediately standing up and sneering coldly, “You want to use this to threaten me? Hmph, the master sent people to investigate me—I’m clean.”

“Not necessarily. Those few small shops you opened were honest enough, but you bought secret shares in the Li family’s competitors and privately leaked the Li family’s wholesale prices. This alone would be enough for Master Li to have you prosecuted.”

“How do you know…” Li An was greatly shocked and spoke without thinking, showing a deeply regretful expression.

“The people Master Li sent to investigate you were all Li family people. You had long been wary of this and naturally found them easy to buy off. But when I investigate you, I work in secret. Even if you were an iron-headed monkey, I’d still knock off a piece.” Wang Tiangui softened his tone again. “But you and I have no grievances—why would I target you? Rest assured, helping me means helping young master Qin. There’ll be no shortage of wealth and honor in the future.”

Thus, Li An hesitantly took the bank draft, boarding Wang Tiangui’s ship and secretly watching Li Wantang’s movements for him. Just yesterday Wang Tiangui had summoned him again, sternly inquiring about the source of Gu Pingyuan’s money. Li An had never seen Li Wantang have any contact with Gu Pingyuan. Moreover, to move one million taels from the accounts would require running to over ten money houses—this was simply impossible. It seemed Wang Tiangui didn’t believe Li An’s answer, which led to today’s “palace search.”

The group worked from mid-morning until noon, cross-checking three ways, ultimately finding nothing. The salt field’s accounts were crystal clear—every entry could be verified. Far from one million taels, there wasn’t even a shortage of a few dozen taels.

Li Qin reported the results to Mrs. Li. She was also slightly stunned, her expression finally softening. After thinking, she walked behind Li Wantang and said, “Master, don’t blame me for being suspicious. This matter truly has suspicious aspects. Of course, now it’s proven that Master hasn’t favored outsiders, and I’m at ease too.”

“It seems I’ve truly made Madam uneasy.” Li Wantang said coldly. “Since you came to audit accounts, and now the books are clean and error-free, and it’s getting late, please hurry back to Jiangning city.”

Mrs. Li had originally felt somewhat apologetic for wrongly suspecting her husband, but hearing Li Wantang actually issue an eviction order in front of so many people, his disgust overflowing in his words, she immediately flew into a rage.

She bit her teeth and gave a cold laugh: “The accounts are finished, but the business isn’t.”

“Oh, what other business? Does Madam want to take over managing this salt field and have me return home to be an idle old gentleman, enjoying leisure?” Li Wantang said sarcastically.

“Master has indeed guessed correctly—I do have something to say about this salt field’s management. I don’t care about other matters, but there’s one thing: from now on, the salt price for Gu family salt shops from this salt field must be at least fifty percent higher than the price for the salt shops managed by Qin’er. I’m talking about at least fifty percent more expensive. If Master wants to earn more from the Gu family, I won’t stop him.”

Salt fields could produce salt by sun-drying brine year-round. Spring and summer were easy but prices were low; autumn and winter were difficult but prices were high. On average, salt leaving the salt fields cost dozens of wen per jin during peaceful times, but by the time it reached Anhui, Jiangxi and other places, the price would increase seven or eight times. When the Taiping Rebellion erupted and water and land transport were largely cut off, salt prices flipped and tumbled, increasing more than ten times. Small households could only afford a few drops of salt water for cooking, while countless poor families spent money buying salt-bearing soil from the seaside.

Now that the great chaos had just settled and salt prices had dropped somewhat, many families still couldn’t afford large-grain salt. Private salt was sold everywhere precisely because official salt was too expensive. With such salt prices that common people could barely afford, if wholesale prices became more expensive, even immortals couldn’t sell it. Never mind fifty percent more—even half a percent difference would force Gu Pingyuan to watch his salt shops close one by one.

Li Wantang let out a long breath, slowly turning to look at Mrs. Li, his voice carrying a trace of hoarseness: “When you initially proposed giving half the shops to Gu Pingyuan, this was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

“So what if it was?” Mrs. Li stared directly into Li Wantang’s eyes, her gaze showing no avoidance whatsoever. “The shops in two rivers and three provinces—half each. My son must not lose to that woman’s son.”

Li Qin stood to the side, staring blankly at his parents. He suddenly felt that although the whole family was here, he was utterly alone. His father seemed like a stranger, and his mother wanted him to compete with Gu Pingyuan, but only for the sake of the stifled breath in her own heart.

“Why must it be so? They are brothers after all.” Li Wantang’s eyes met his wife’s, gradually filling with sadness, which, along with the stubbornness in Mrs. Li’s eyes, formed like two layers of cataracts, separating the two people who were so close yet so far apart.

“Li Qin is an only son—he has never had any brothers!” Hearing Mrs. Li’s final decisive words as she left, Li Wantang’s heart felt as cold as being pierced to the bone marrow by the bitter wind of the ninth month.

“Outrageous, truly outrageous!” Secretary Hao found Gu Pingyuan with his face flushed red with anger, eyebrows and beard all aquiver. Climbing the steps, he nearly stumbled, but fortunately Gu Pingyuan was quick to step forward and steady him.

“Elder brother, who has angered you so?” Gu Pingyuan had been carefully examining the inventory accounts from various shop locations, making records entry by entry. This work could easily have been left to any accountant, but he insisted on doing it personally, allowing no one else to be present.

Seeing Secretary Hao arrive in such a state, Gu Pingyuan knew the matter must concern him. He set aside his paper and brush, ordered tea for his guest, and sat beside him waiting for him to speak.

Secretary Hao calmed his breathing somewhat and said indignantly, “The Li family just sent word to the Salt Transport Commissioner’s office, claiming that due to the recent tidal disaster and the fact that many salt workers have died of illness over the past six months, labor costs have increased dramatically, so they’re raising the ex-field salt price by fifty percent. The Li family produces and sells their own salt—it’s just moving silver from left hand to right hand. Whether they raise prices is pure nonsense. This is clearly aimed at you. Conducting monopoly business so brazenly—I’ve never encountered such a thing before. The Li family has gone too far.”

This move by the Li family had been discussed when Gu Pingyuan hadn’t yet taken over the salt shops, but everyone thought that with “Li Half-City’s” great reputation, he wouldn’t disregard his good name to resort to such blatantly domineering tactics. Even if he raised prices, it would be at most half or one percent. No one expected he would actually raise prices by fifty percent—this was equivalent to pointing at Gu Pingyuan’s nose and telling him his business was finished.

Logically, this should be a fatal blow to the Gu family salt shops. No matter how composed Gu Pingyuan was, he couldn’t remain unmoved. Yet he didn’t even raise an eyebrow, sitting quietly as if he’d just heard some idle gossip unrelated to himself.

“Old brother, don’t worry.” Secretary Hao thought he was stunned with shock. “When there’s a will, there’s a way. The Li family relies on controlling the salt fields, planning to force people to death without compensation—it won’t be that easy. If worst comes to worst, we’ll file a complaint at the Two Rivers Governor’s office.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled faintly: “Though Governor Zeng manages military affairs when mounted and civilian affairs when dismounted, as long as Li Wantang hasn’t broken national law, he has no authority to intervene. Just like that Merchant Chen who hoarded grain—the grain was his, and as long as he didn’t shortchange the state’s taxes, with one willing to buy and one willing to sell, not even the Prime Minister could do anything about it, never mind the Governor.”

Secretary Hao was stunned. He too had been confused by anger, thinking only that Zeng Guofan’s word was law in the Two Rivers territory, not considering that officials and merchants were different. If the Li family was truly determined not to stop until they destroyed Gu Pingyuan, using official authority against the Li family might not be effective. Moreover, given Zeng Guofan’s consistent way of handling affairs, asking him to mediate between two merchants or even intervene would be very difficult.

Seeing Secretary Hao sitting in silence, sweat beading on his face from anxiety, Gu Pingyuan instead comforted him: “Elder Brother Hao, as you just said, ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way.’ The Li family wants to take what they please—this wishful thinking probably won’t work out so well.”

Secretary Hao had seen everything, and hearing the tone immediately brightened: “Old brother, you mustn’t hide anything from me. Do you have some plan to deal with the Li family?”

“To tell you the truth, ever since I took over the salt shops, I’ve been guarding against this move by the Li family. Fifty percent?” Gu Pingyuan smiled somewhat coldly. “Hmph, I originally prepared for them to double the price.”

“Then… Li Qin’s shops sell salt so much cheaper than Gu family salt shops—anyone would go buy Li family salt. The Li family doing this has probably prepared to steal your half of the shop business.”

“Naturally. Not just this half in Jiangsu—even ordinary families in Jiangxi province could pool money and send someone to neighboring provinces to buy salt from Li family salt shops, which would be much more economical than buying from my Gu family stores.”

As Gu Pingyuan spoke to this point, seeing Secretary Hao staring at him with wide, uncomprehending eyes, he beckoned and whispered a few words in Secretary Hao’s ear.

“Ah!” After listening, Secretary Hao shuddered, lowered his head in thought for a moment, then nodded and heavily patted Gu Pingyuan’s shoulder. “Old brother, you truly are something. This is indeed a desperate measure. You must think clearly—one wrong step could bring great disaster.”

“Whether we can contend with the Li family—this is the key to success or failure. Elder brother, rest assured, I have ways to protect myself.” Though Gu Pingyuan spoke thus, Secretary Hao knew the hidden dangers within. One careless move could bring disaster to the entire family, so his face continued to show worry.

“Does Administrator Qiao have anything to say after learning of this matter?” Gu Pingyuan asked.

“I asked him to intervene immediately, but he said the marketplace isn’t the same as officialdom, and the Li family’s reasons for raising prices aren’t easily refuted. He wants to observe further—it seems he doesn’t want to get involved.”

Hearing the dissatisfaction in Secretary Hao’s words, Gu Pingyuan offered an excuse: “The last incident of using the Salt Transport Commissioner’s seals to seal my family’s warehouse was already very difficult for Administrator Qiao. What he says isn’t without reason. If he truly favored me, the Li family has also cultivated relationships in official circles for many years. If they brought out some censor to submit a memorial, wouldn’t that implicate him?”

“You’re overthinking that. This Administrator Qiao’s backing is so solid—what censor could touch him?” Secretary Hao scoffed.

“Backing?” Gu Pingyuan didn’t quite understand.

Secretary Hao knew he had spoken carelessly in his agitation, but given his long-standing friendship with Gu Pingyuan and the fact that Qiao and Gu had always known each other, not speaking clearly would indeed be inexcusable. Seeing no one around, he lowered his voice and spoke at length, truly leaving Gu Pingyuan dumbfounded.

It turned out Qiao Henian was a spy placed in the Two Rivers by Zhejiang Governor Li Hongzhang!

When Li Hongzhang originally recommended him to the Two Rivers, ostensibly it was to avoid Anhui Governor Yuan Jiasan’s endless troublemaking, borrowing the great tree of the Zeng family for shelter. In reality, Qiao Henian was secretly commissioned by Li Hongzhang to watch the Zeng brothers and the Xiang Army, to see whether the much-rumored talk of “rebellion” was groundless or not.

This matter naturally required secrecy, so Qiao Henian hadn’t even told Secretary Hao. But correspondence between Jiangsu and Zhejiang required a messenger, so Li Hongzhang assigned Secretary Cai from his staff to Qiao Henian, ostensibly to handle paperwork, but actually writing secret letters.

“This Old Cai is a decent person, and like me, he enjoys studying epigraphy. That day I gave him an excellent rubbing of the Northern Wei Zhang Menglong Stele. He was so delighted he insisted on inviting me to drink together. After getting drunk, he accidentally revealed the inside story. I’ve pretended not to know ever since. Otherwise, how could I say Administrator Qiao has solid backing?”

“Li Hongzhang sent someone to monitor Governor Zeng… there’s a big story here.” Gu Pingyuan remembered Su Zixuan’s words about Zeng Guofan wanting to raise troops in rebellion, and his heart sank. Could this be true? Could it be that the always astute Li Hongzhang had also caught wind of something, which was why he had Qiao Henian serve as his eyes and ears in the Two Rivers?

“Perfect—I’ve been keeping this bottled up for ages, and I wanted to find someone to discuss it properly.” Secretary Hao pulled out his tobacco pouch. Gu Pingyuan offered matches, but he waved them away, indicating he wasn’t used to them, and struck his own flint. After puffing vigorously, he continued, “Zeng Guofan’s Xiang Army is invincible under heaven. If he rebelled, the court would probably be helpless against him. Keeping the Yangtze River as a boundary would be fortunate. The only variable comes from Li Hongzhang’s Huai Army—men like Cheng Xueqi and Liu Mingchuan are no slouches in battle, comparable to the Xiang Army’s Peng Yulin and Bao Chao.”

“So you’re saying if Zeng Guofan doesn’t rebel, fine, but if he does, he’d need to bring the Huai Army along?”

“Or devour the Huai Army!” Secretary Hao added coldly.

“Hmm. So Li Hongzhang placing Administrator Qiao as a spy—is it for self-protection, or…”

“Don’t underestimate this Lord Li. He might want to strike first. When he could have taken Tianjing but didn’t, willingly letting Zeng Guoquan have this greatest achievement under heaven—this man’s official wisdom is masterful. He’s Zeng Guofan’s student, and now he’s quietly placing someone in the Two Rivers. It doesn’t look like he wants to join forces—more like he wants to preempt.”

“That seems unlikely.” Gu Pingyuan didn’t quite believe it. “There’s teacher-student affection after all. If he knew of this, he should first try moral persuasion out of love—how could he coldly observe with intent to destroy?”

“Ha ha.” Secretary Hao laughed. “Moral persuasion? You think it’s like between you and that Teacher Bai of yours? I’ve seen through these officials. Even while doing the most sordid things in the world, they can be as respectful as if offering incense to ancestral tablets. Anyway, the character for ‘official’ has two mouths—however they speak, they’re always right. You say he’s betraying his teacher and destroying family bonds, committing great treachery, but he’ll say it’s destroying family for the greater good, serving the state.”

“That’s all future talk.” Gu Pingyuan felt a stuffiness in his chest hearing this, stood up and took a breath. “As long as Zeng Guofan is determined not to rebel, then Li Hongzhang can place one chess piece in the Two Rivers or arrange an entire game—it’s useless.” “This brings us back to Administrator Qiao. You and I both know he’s quite enthusiastic about it now. If the Xiang Army truly rebelled, and it was his timely warning that let Li Hongzhang achieve this unprecedented feat, stepping on the Zeng brothers’ heads to become ‘the first minister under heaven,’ the rewards would undoubtedly be immense. So I’m somewhat worried…” Secretary Hao glanced at Gu Pingyuan and didn’t finish his sentence.

“You mean Administrator Qiao might falsely accuse the Xiang Army of rebellion to curry favor with Li Hongzhang?” Gu Pingyuan was shocked.

Secretary Hao waved his hand: “I don’t see any signs of that now, and he may not have the ability. I’m just speculating based on circumstances. You must keep this absolutely secret—this matter must never spread.”

He actually intended to reveal this to Gu Pingyuan to prevent his old friend from trusting Qiao Henian too deeply and being harmed as a result.

“I understand. Let’s hope the Two Rivers remain peaceful, the Xiang Army is disbanded soon, and the people live in peace and happiness. Then our worries would all be unnecessary.”

“Let’s hope so.” Secretary Hao stood up. “Regarding what you mentioned earlier, since I know about it and work at the Salt Transport Commissioner’s office, if I hear any unfavorable rumors, I’ll definitely rush to send you word.”

After seeing off Secretary Hao, Gu Pingyuan quickly finished organizing his ledgers and called for Peng Haiwan, instructing him to summon all the salt shop managers to Jiangning.

“Last time you gave the same instruction, but later you said calling them all was useless and had me recall all the clerks I’d sent out.”

“Different times, different measures. Go send people quickly—the faster the better.”

Shunde Tea House had a large warehouse built in a town on the outskirts of Jiangning city. The interior was over ten zhang in circumference and had originally been used to store aged tea. During the frequent warfare, the tea inside had all been looted, and now it sat empty. To prevent fires, the building was right by the river. Gu Pingyuan asked Peng Haiwan to find a secluded place to gather over a hundred salt shop managers for discussion. After much consideration, Peng Haiwan chose this location.

He sent people to work busily for two days, cleaning up the warehouse inside and out. They arranged several large rows of square tables and benches, deliberately opened windows in the ceiling, installed two large exhaust windows on the riverside wall, and hung a row of oil lamps on all four walls—they stopped just short of completely repainting and refinishing everything.

Liu Heita’s face broke into a wide grin upon seeing this: “Manager Peng, I’d say you’re decorating a bridal chamber—why are all the candles on the tables red?”

Peng Haiwan also laughed: “I heard Master Gu is gathering his shop managers together for discussion for the first time. Since I’m the host, I absolutely cannot let Master Gu lose face.”

Indeed, when Gu Pingyuan met with the travel-weary managers, he didn’t immediately discuss business matters but went from table to table greeting everyone. He truly had an exceptional memory—when he had originally ordered Manager Peng to register and catalog all the capable businessmen from various provinces, then hired them as shop managers for the Gu family, he remembered all their backgrounds and circumstances, including their families and friends. His words were all caring inquiries, meticulous in their concern.

As the proprietor showing such courtesy to his subordinates, everyone was naturally moved, feeling this proprietor was different from others—unlike the former employers they’d encountered who only saw money. However, this was merely a momentary feeling. Recently, various rumors about the Gu and Li families had been spreading wildly. These people were all sharp businessmen who, after briefly assessing the situation, knew that with the Gu family opposing Li Wantang without owning salt fields, the prospects were truly worrying. Particularly when news of the Li family raising prices by fifty percent spread, all the managers shook their heads. Many pessimistically felt that today’s gathering would likely see Gu Pingyuan delivering “official words”—inviting everyone to a farewell banquet.

“Gentlemen, after we finish discussing business today, as the proprietor, I naturally want to treat everyone to a simple meal. The head cook from Tongqing Restaurant has already built the heating system and set up the stove, ready to light the fire.” Gu Pingyuan climbed onto a pre-arranged wooden platform with a smile, his voice resonant and face cheerful, speaking unhurriedly. “This meal naturally has significance, but it’s not called a farewell banquet—it’s a celebration feast.”

A celebration feast? On the verge of being forced into a corner by the Li family, and still celebrating? Everyone stared at each other, unable to guess what medicine Gu Pingyuan was selling.

“Of course we should celebrate. The first achievement is everyone’s recent efforts and dedication for the salt shops, making substantial profits in the salt business. I said we’d split profits seventy-thirty. At that time, the Li family was still the proprietor of these shops. Apart from the large portion they took, I, Gu Pingyuan, could get ten percent pure profit, of which I only wanted thirty percent—the rest all belongs to everyone. Though it’s neither New Year nor festival time, and not yet time for profit distribution, since the shops have changed their surname to Gu, let’s settle this account clearly first.”

Gu Pingyuan had been busy with many matters at Shunde Tea House these past days, and this was one of them. He directed Liu Heita and Peng Haiwan to distribute red envelopes to each seated manager.

Having money to receive was naturally good, but today this money felt somewhat hot to handle. Everyone’s faces showed no joy, silently looking at each other. Finally, a middle-aged man in his early fifties stood up under everyone’s encouraging gazes, cupped his hands and said, “Master Gu, I am Fei Ruxi from Songjiang Prefecture.”

“Manager Fei, please sit and speak—no need for formalities.” Gu Pingyuan recognized him. He was the manager of Suzhou’s “Old Nine Gates” salt shop and the most trusted disciple of Chief Manager Tu Ying. Originally, to comfort Chief Manager Tu, on the opening day of the Suzhou salt store, Gu Pingyuan had invited Tu Ying to serve as manager for one day. The eighty-year-old man had grandly handed over his abacus, which was passed into Manager Fei’s hands.

Manager Fei hesitated slightly, somewhat embarrassed: “Master Gu, my master originally instructed me to respect you as an elder. Today I’ll speak plainly. I heard that the Li family from the capital doesn’t follow business rules and integrity, cutting off our salt supply. Though the salt shops still have large inventories, those were bought by the proprietor at market prices and must be sold at high prices. Not only are they hard to sell, but over time we’ll inevitably exhaust our resources. Even selling sparingly, we’ll struggle to continue after six months. Given this unexpected situation, I think we shouldn’t mention the ‘seventy-thirty’ profit split anymore. We managers have corresponded about this matter—as long as we can be given wages to support our families, we’ll be content. When Master Gu is facing difficulties, if we still demand seventy-thirty profit splits, wouldn’t that be as unprincipled as the Li family? Gentlemen, am I right?”

“Right, Manager Fei speaks correctly.”

“Master Gu, take the money back. Since we can share good fortune, we can share hardships too.”

“If we Two Rivers merchants took this money, wouldn’t we be looked down upon by the Li family?”

Everyone responded in unison, placing the bank notes they’d just received and not yet warmed back on the table in front of Gu Pingyuan.

Gu Pingyuan had intended to boost everyone’s morale, but was first moved by everyone’s actions, his heart warming. He raised his hand high, nodding repeatedly with gratification: “Managers, your words truly warm my heart. There’s a saying: ‘When brothers unite, their strength can break gold.’ Though you and I aren’t brothers by name, at this moment you’re willing to share hardships with me, giving us the reality of brotherhood. Being able to work with everyone, even through countless difficulties and dangers, I’m willing to venture forth. As for this money…” He pointed to the pile of bank notes before him, “What Gu has said is like water poured out—there’s absolutely no reason to take it back. Next, I need to rely on everyone to conduct a tremendous business—driving the Li family from the Two Huai salt fields and bringing all salt field profits under the control of us Two Rivers merchants.”

This was something no one had previously imagined. After listening for a long while, Manager Fei was speechless, stammering: “Master Gu, we all know you’re always resourceful, but I’ve also worked with an abacus in the business world for half my life. The Li family holds the salt fields in their grasp—that’s like grasping our throats. When they loosen their grip, we can catch a breath. If they tighten it, then…” He smiled with difficulty.

“There’s nothing to avoid discussing. The Li family raising salt prices by fifty percent is like strangling our necks with rope—we can only gasp and meet the King of Hell.” Gu Pingyuan nodded calmly. “Manager Fei, let me ask you—how much does the Li family’s salt shops in Jiangsu’s coastal areas currently charge per jin of salt?”

“About four hundred wen. When transported to Anhui and other places, it rises to one tael and three qian silver per jin. I heard local people often pool money to buy salt, then dissolve it in well water to make salt water, with each family receiving drops as their ration.”

“So you’re saying that with my purchase price fifty percent higher than theirs, I’d have to sell at six hundred wen in Jiangsu, and two taels silver per jin in Jiangxi just to break even.”

Everyone fell silent. The situation was clear—salt at two taels silver per jin was more expensive than meat. Who could afford it? This was simply an unsaleable price.

“I refuse!” Seeing everyone hanging their heads in silence, Gu Pingyuan declared resolutely, causing everyone to look up in surprise.

“The salt from my Gu family salt shops, as long as it’s within the Two Rivers and three provinces territory, will have unified pricing. Whether it’s coastal salt shops or salt stores in Jiangxi’s mountain towns, they’ll all sell at the same price: three hundred wen per jin! I, Gu, want to compete with the Li family on this stage!”

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, staring in disbelief at Gu Pingyuan standing on high. After a long while, Manager Fei came to his senses: “Master, business can’t be conducted based on emotions—acting on emotion means gambling with money. The Li family’s salt fields are money trees given by heaven, with inexhaustible sea brine. Even if you had a golden mountain, you couldn’t withstand being washed away by their salt water.”

“Yes, business can’t be done emotionally.” The other managers also thought Gu Pingyuan had lost his mind to anger, hurrying to dissuade him with their words.

“Ha ha ha!” Gu Pingyuan suddenly burst into laughter, then looked at the bewildered managers. “Gentlemen, I’m not boasting—as long as you’re willing to help me, at most one year, at least three months, the Li family will definitely be finished. I’ll make Li Wantang and his son leave the Two Rivers empty-handed.”

“Master Gu, your words are too profound and mysterious. Could you speak more clearly?” Manager Fei was perceptive, observing coldly that Gu Pingyuan’s eyes were bright and clear—he didn’t seem to be talking nonsense in a mad fit.

“Very well. You’re all veterans of the business world—haven’t you noticed that the Li family’s salt field business has one enormous weakness?” Gu Pingyuan didn’t beat around the bush, asking and answering himself: “That is the salt tax that must be paid to the court for their special license to operate the Two Huai salt fields. As everyone knows, though salt fields are profitable, they don’t generate enormous profits. Only when combined with salt shops does it become a tremendously profitable business. The Li family using half their salt shops as bait to lure me into a trap actually took great risks. If I could barely manage to continue operating, then for the Li family it would mean losing half their financial resources, only able to rely on profits from Li Qin’s half of the salt shops to maintain the salt fields’ expenses and taxes. That’s why when one plan failed, they devised another, planning a quick decisive victory to crush me and reclaim this half of the salt shops.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled mysteriously at this point: “Now I want to ask everyone—what if Li Qin’s half of the salt shops also couldn’t make money? What method would Li Wantang have to pay the enormous salt taxes that must be submitted on schedule? Salt taxes are due every forty days. Without salt shop income for support, just two or three periods of salt tax would completely collapse the Li family business. Because as far as I know, to secure the salt field business, the Li family has invested almost all their money into it, even closing many previously profitable northern shops. In other words, Li Wantang has staked everything on the Two Huai salt fields. If we can catch him off guard here, though the Li family is a colossus, once it falls it will crush itself to pieces!”

After Gu Pingyuan finished speaking, Manager Fei was first to react, murmuring: “Fortune and misfortune depend on each other. So the Li family’s relied-upon weapon is also their own weakness.”

“Exactly so. Two Rivers businessmen all think that the Li family’s control of salt fields makes them invincible, not realizing that the accompanying enormous salt taxes could kill the Li family at any moment.”

“Master, then I truly don’t understand something. You say you want to unify Gu family salt shop prices at three hundred wen—I understand this is to steal Li family business. But this is pure mutual destruction, buying at high prices while selling at low prices, requiring vast amounts of money. It’s simply an unimaginable bottomless pit. Can you really obtain so much silver?”

“Also, the salt we sell is all purchased from Li family salt fields at fifty percent markup. Though salt field prices are small profits compared to salt shop prices, in the end we’re still the ones losing.” Another manager also raised objections.

“Right, after all this talk, we’re still making wedding clothes for the Li family. I think the master is confused—this method simply won’t work.” Everyone discussed among themselves.

“Hey! Stop talking and look at this!” Liu Heita had been unable to contain himself. Finally seeing Gu Pingyuan give him a look, he walked to the exhaust windows by the river, reached out and pulled a rope. The exhaust windows over a zhang long opened with a “creaking” sound, revealing the broad Yangtze River waterway before them.

This day happened to be the fifteenth with a full moon, its bright light shining on the river surface. These managers were surprised to discover a fleet of boats quietly anchored outside the window, each vessel riding deep in the water, clearly fully loaded with cargo.

Gu Pingyuan gestured for all managers to come to the windows, then clapped his hands. The lead boatman bowed respectfully to him, then the boat’s bow and stern poles pushed forcefully, propelling the boat across the water. As it passed the central section by the exhaust window, sailors on the boat lifted the oilcloth covering the cabin, revealing a brilliant white expanse like snow and jade, crystalline in the moonlight.

“It’s salt!” Manager Fei exclaimed softly, but the truly astonishing sight was yet to come. Salt boats passed by one after another on the river. Counting carefully, there were fifteen boats total, all fully loaded. This much salt already exceeded the current inventory of Gu family salt shops.

Gu Pingyuan signaled Liu Heita to close the windows. A young manager urgently spoke: “That was over ten thousand shi of salt that just passed, wasn’t it? We still have plenty of inventory, and now suddenly purchasing so much salt from Two Huai salt fields—the capital costs are unbearable, especially with the Li family’s high salt prices. This…” He gasped, unable to continue.

“Who said this was salt from Two Huai salt fields?” Gu Pingyuan’s tone was light, but no less than thunder in the room.

“Master Gu, what did you just say?” Manager Fei thought he’d misheard.

“I said this isn’t salt from Two Huai salt fields—it’s salt I sent Liu Heita to buy elsewhere.” Gu Pingyuan spoke each word clearly.

Since the Qing Dynasty’s establishment, salt had always been sold by designated regions—salt purchased from Two Huai salt fields was designated for sale in Two Rivers and three provinces. Salt from elsewhere, even official salt, if sold across boundaries into Two Rivers territory, was called smuggling. Once discovered by authorities, not only would the salt cargo be confiscated, but extremely severe punishments would follow, possibly including family property confiscation and execution. Previously, Chang Si’s father had nearly been forced to jump into the sea beyond the passes because strict anti-smuggling enforcement made it impossible to transport his private salt inland.

Now Gu Pingyuan was also taking desperate risks—this was conducting business with one’s head on the line. The room fell into complete silence.

“Brother Heita, first tell everyone how this batch of salt came about.” Gu Pingyuan had invited everyone today precisely to explain everything clearly.

Over a month ago, Liu Heita received Gu Pingyuan’s orders and departed Jiangning with nearly all the Gu family’s money, heading for Sichuan and Yunnan. Gu Pingyuan’s instructions were clear: invest everything to purchase well salt produced in Sichuan and Yunnan, then find ways to transport it back to the Two Rivers.

Having money to buy salt wasn’t difficult. Sichuan and Yunnan had much lower salt taxes than Two Huai, with cheaper salt prices. When news of Liu Heita’s large-scale salt purchasing spread, local operators of yellow and black brine wells all came calling, driving salt prices to rock bottom. However, they all declared that while outside merchants buying local salt were welcome as major customers with negotiable prices, there was one condition: they managed selling but not transport! This “transport” specifically referred to shipping to provinces outside Sichuan and Yunnan’s designated sales regions.

Liu Heita was a straightforward person who stuck to principles, insisting on combined sales and transport services. As a result, no one dared take this business. What had been a bustling marketplace suddenly became deserted. Liu Heita had thought buying goods with money would be easy, never expecting this outcome. He had no choice but to negotiate with local horse caravans about transporting salt into the Two Rivers.

Who would have thought that upon hearing it was transporting smuggled salt, and such a large quantity, they all shook their heads like rattle drums—no one would take the job. Eventually, whenever Liu Heita entered teahouses where horse caravans gathered to discuss business, the caravan leaders would avoid him as if he were not a customer but a plague god.

Of course, there were also curious inquiries. Though they wouldn’t take the business, they’d still ask who the cargo was for. This couldn’t be concealed—after all, transport required a destination. Liu Heita was initially tight-lipped, but later inadvertently let slip that it was for Huizhou merchant Gu Pingyuan.

Once this news spread, that very night someone came to find Liu Heita, immediately asking whether this so-called Huizhou merchant Gu Pingyuan was the same merchant who had once crossed the Black Water Swamp and won the world’s finest tea. Liu Heita didn’t know whether this was fortunate or ominous, but since the conversation had reached this point, being evasive would make it even harder for anyone to do business with him. He simply nodded straightforwardly. The visitor looked Liu Heita up and down, but said nothing and left.

Liu Heita was truly anxious. Without finding horse caravans to transport salt, even spending all his money to buy over ten thousand shi of salt would be useless. He even considered using part of the money to buy horses and transport salt himself, but while horses were easy to buy, horse handlers couldn’t be hired. With just himself and the few assistants he’d brought, trying to lead an entire horse caravan from Sichuan-Yunnan back to the Two Rivers—Liu Heita knew he lacked this ability.

Having no alternative, he again approached horse caravans for negotiations, offering extremely high transport fees, but still no one dared agree. Seeing the situation hopeless, Liu Heita was dejected and already planning to pack up and return. Suddenly, a horse caravan appeared at the inn’s entrance. The horses were top-quality Yunnan horses with glossy coats, excellent for mountain roads with great endurance. The handlers were all strong young men, led by the very person who had come inquiring about Gu Pingyuan that night. Even better, the horses already carried sacks of well salt. Upon counting, the quantity exceeded what Liu Heita had negotiated with salt well owners by twenty percent. Moreover, the caravan’s transport fees were surprisingly cheap—after deducting food and drink for the round trip, it was almost like delivering salt to the Gu family for free.

The situation was too good to be true—so good Liu Heita almost thought he was dreaming. The lead handler introduced himself, saying this caravan belonged to Yunnan’s “Wang Si Horse Caravan.” He’d recently returned to ask the caravan owner ‘Wang Si.’ Wang Si said he’d heard of Gu Pingyuan’s reputation—he was a merchant worth associating with. So he took this business, with the extra salt as a gesture of friendship for future dealings.

Liu Heita didn’t dare believe this completely. This rough man had learned to be more cautious after following Gu Pingyuan for several years. He went to horse caravan teahouses to inquire, and surprisingly, everyone gave thumbs up upon hearing “Wang Si Horse Caravan.”

Yunnan had been plagued by bandits in recent years, with roads cut off. Common people wanting to sell their produce found no buyers, and needing to buy necessities found no sellers. Villages and towns suffered economic depression with people in misery. Someone called “Yunnan Wang Si” organized a group of fearless young people, establishing “Wang Si Horse Caravan” to specialize in inter-regional trade, immediately making substantial profits. This Yunnan Wang Si, relying on his keen insight and great courage, completed many major deals. However, he also had failures. Once, knowing a certain town in Luxi urgently needed a large batch of medicinal herbs, he agreed on prices and raced to the provincial capital to purchase medicine. Upon reaching the capital, he was dumbfounded—this batch of medicinal herbs had just been bought up by others, and with “scarcity increasing value,” remaining herb prices immediately multiplied several times. Seeing this situation, some in the caravan advised Wang Si to abandon this deal, or buy the herbs and similarly mark up prices when returning. After deep consideration, Wang Si not only ignored this advice but purchased herbs at current high market prices, then sold them at the originally agreed low prices. This single transaction cost him the profits from over ten previous deals.

Many people thought Wang Si was making life difficult for himself, spreading this story as something foolish. Unexpectedly, the more widely this “foolish deed” spread, the more renowned “Yunnan Wang Si” became, and the better his caravan’s business thrived. By now, common people would rather buy on credit than sell their goods to anyone else, saying that if even Yunnan Wang Si couldn’t be trusted, then no caravan could be trusted.

“Hearing this situation, what was there to worry about? I arranged with the caravan leader to meet at the dock for delivery. Fearing Brother Gu would be anxious, I hurried back immediately.” Liu Heita also gave a thumbs up as he spoke. “Hey, their great reputation isn’t undeserved. On the appointed day, the caravan arrived on schedule without asking for an extra penny. Moreover, they said that for future salt purchases, we need only find them—same price, same transport fees. Just send word and the goods will be delivered to the Two Rivers before payment.”

Liu Heita’s words left these managers astounded. Manager Fei slowly nodded: “This Wang Si is also a man of integrity in the business world. Probably recognizing heroes and valuing heroes, having heard Master Gu’s reputation, he acted thus.”

When Liu Heita returned to report, Gu Pingyuan also found it incredible. Setting aside other matters, regarding salt prices alone, Gu Pingyuan had consulted knowledgeable people and learned that while Sichuan salt was indeed cheap, it wouldn’t be cheap to this extent. Wang Si’s caravan must have subsidized the difference, and with the nearly free transport fees, they had saved Gu Pingyuan a substantial sum. How could strangers act so generously? Even if it were to cultivate customer relationships, once would suffice—why promise the same terms for all future transactions? Gu Pingyuan couldn’t fathom this. He’d even wondered if the Li family had anticipated his plan and arranged this trap. But on second thought, if Li Wantang could truly predict events so precisely, there would be no point in continuing to contend with the Li family.

“Now this batch of salt costs much less than what Two Huai salt fields charge their own salt shops. Mixing it with Two Huai salt and selling at three hundred wen per jin, I can still profit several times over. If the Li family lowers prices, I’ll match them. When the Li family reaches the point of no profit, the salt field’s heavy taxes will crush them.”

This was Gu Pingyuan’s calculation, truly leaving nothing to chance. However, everyone present was experienced businessmen. After contemplating, Manager Fei still had concerns: “Even if the smuggling route encounters no problems, over time, how could the Li family not notice? If they find evidence of our salt smuggling, then…”

“Manager Fei speaks very reasonably.” Gu Pingyuan nodded approvingly. “Therefore I’ll continue buying salt from Two Huai salt fields. Never mind fifty percent markup—even if they double it, I’ll still purchase. However, I’ll buy several times more Sichuan salt than Huai salt. With over a hundred shops scattered across Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces, distributing this salt among them, it won’t be easy for outsiders to discern our true situation. By the time they figure it out, finding evidence won’t be so simple. I won’t rely solely on current shops—after earning money, I’ll invest everything in opening new stores. The more shops I open, the less they can track our quantities. All head clerks must prepare to become managers, opening stores in Li Qin’s territory. For every salt shop I open, I’ll steal all Li family business in that area. If they want to raise salt prices for profiteering and monopolistic practices, I’ll use low prices to make them reap what they’ve sown.”

Having spoken to this point, seeing everyone listening intently, Gu Pingyuan smiled slightly: “Next I want to discuss the ‘reverse seventy-thirty’ profit sharing. Previously we split the ten percent pure profit the Li family gave me. Now these shops all belong to my Gu family, so I’ll offer all ten percent pure profit, still in reverse seventy-thirty distribution.”

What! Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily stood up. Even Peng Haiwan, who hadn’t known beforehand, stared at Gu Pingyuan in amazement.

This was because salt shops yielded the greatest profits among all businesses. Previously, giving most of one percent pure profit to managers and clerks had already made these people work devotedly for Gu Pingyuan. Now suddenly increasing it tenfold—this wasn’t just working for a wealthy master, but enabling them to potentially rival the great Yangzhou salt merchants of old, living lives of building mansions and spending thousands with a wave of the hand.

The money Gu Pingyuan was offering represented wealth rivaling nations—no wonder everyone looked at him with disbelief.

“Master, these shops are yours, the salt is yours too. Though we’re managers, in terms of status we’re no different from clerks. Speaking more deeply, before you hired us, many lived in poverty and destitution. Thanks to your providing us livelihood, we’ve only recently enjoyed days without worry about food and clothing. How dare we desire more and covet the master’s profits? Wouldn’t that be unconscionably ungrateful?” Manager Fei, being the most senior and experienced among this group, had never heard of such arrangements. In his excitement, his hands shook repeatedly.

“Manager Fei, fellow managers! That’s not how it should be viewed. Everyone knows that the Li family from the capital and my Gu family are now irreconcilable enemies—we must determine superiority and settle victory or defeat. By helping me, you’re making enemies of the Li family. Should things go awry, given the Li family’s influence in the Two Rivers and their consistent methods, I fear that besides myself, none of you could continue operating in Two Rivers commercial circles. Since you’re willing to take such great risks for me, how could I be a greedy person? Naturally I must share the money everyone works hard to earn—only then can my conscience be at peace.”

As everyone was about to speak further, Gu Pingyuan raised his hand to stop them, declaring loudly: “I’ve decided to compete with the Li family decisively in the salt business. Among those present, whoever is willing to follow me—this reverse seventy-thirty profit sharing will remain unchanged for life. I, Gu, will only manage opening shops and transporting salt. You’ll each show your abilities like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. How much wealth you can accumulate depends on individual capability. Even if you earn a golden mountain, the names carved on it will be those of the managers and clerks. Heaven is my witness—I, Gu Pingyuan, will never break my word!”

These words stirred everyone’s hearts with excitement. Peng Haiwan, seeing the moment was right, ordered clerks to break the clay seals on twenty jars of fine wine bought from Tongqing Restaurant. Amid the pervasive wine fragrance, Gu Pingyuan and all managers drained large bowls.

“Tonight is like the gathering of seventy-two heroes at Jia Family Tower, planning the great enterprise of overthrowing Sui and establishing Tang to pacify the realm.” Gu Pingyuan drained his bowl in one gulp.

“Excellent! We’ll follow Master Gu to the end—we won’t rest until we drive the Li family from the capital back to their hometown!” Amid the mild intoxication, the room erupted in cheers. Partly moved by Gu Pingyuan’s generous treatment, partly motivated by wealth—this was equivalent to others opening shops while they reaped profits. Where in the world could such opportunities be found? Yet this master was willing to offer it. If they couldn’t lead their clerks to great profits under these conditions, they’d truly be unworthy of calling themselves “businessmen.” All the managers rubbed their hands eagerly, faces showing impatience to begin their great endeavor.

This was exactly the spirit Gu Pingyuan wanted. He was certain these managers and clerks would throw themselves into salt selling, staying in salt shops twelve hours a day, even dreaming of ways to sell one more jin of salt.

Salt smuggling couldn’t last long. Though the Sichuan-Yunnan route had Wang Si’s caravan as guarantee, and the Two Rivers waterways had Helmsman Lu and other naval officers secretly coordinating, smuggling would eventually be exposed. Previously the Li family wanted quick victory; now Gu Pingyuan would also fight speed with speed. Ideally, before the Li family understood what was happening, he’d force them to abandon the Two Huai salt fields and retreat to the capital. This would not only drive away the evil tiger but also vent his accumulated resentment. Therefore he needed to mobilize all these salt shop managers and clerks to crush the Li family at maximum speed.

As everyone was in high spirits, Manager Fei quietly approached Gu Pingyuan, whispering: “Master, the saying goes ‘without secrecy, nothing succeeds.’ We’re smuggling salt, violating national law. With so many people knowing, should this be exposed, the consequences would be severe.”

Gu Pingyuan looked at him gratefully: “I’ve considered this matter repeatedly. Since we’re risking our lives, we can’t keep everyone ignorantly in the dark. Even if loose tongues expose us, I won’t regret it.” He didn’t mention that with Gu Pingyuan offering such enormous profits, which manager would work against their own silver?

Manager Fei gave a thumbs up: “Even so, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I have a method for escaping disaster…” He lowered his voice further, hidden in the general clamor.

After listening, Gu Pingyuan thought briefly before nodding: “This plan works. Leave it to Manager Peng to handle.”

Gu Pingyuan returned to Jiangning city in high spirits, but upon entering the tea house, he was startled—Chang Yu’er was waiting inside the door.

“Yu’er, when did you arrive?” Gu Pingyuan was both surprised and delighted, looking at his wife and her visibly pregnant belly.

“This afternoon, just after you left.” Chang Yu’er remained gentle and considerate, brushing dust from her husband’s clothes. Seeing his gaze occasionally look behind her, she smiled: “I had Second Brother and Sister stay in Zhenjiang with Mother. I came alone.”

Gu Pingyuan immediately became anxious: “If there’s business, send someone to tell me and I’ll visit you. How can you travel far distances alone while several months pregnant!”

“My body isn’t so heavy that movement is inconvenient yet.” Chang Yu’er glanced at nearby people with a flushed face, responding softly.

As Gu Pingyuan was about to say more, Chang Yu’er spoke first: “This evening, a customer came to the shop wanting to see you. When I said you weren’t here, he insisted on waiting.”

“Who?” For some reason, Gu Pingyuan’s heart suddenly sank.

“He… surnamed Li.” Chang Yu’er’s expression said everything.

“The manager arranged for him to wait in the shop?” Gu Pingyuan’s face immediately darkened, breathing heavily.

“I arranged it.” Chang Yu’er said calmly. “Given his status, I could only treat him courteously and wait for your return to decide.”

“I won’t see him!” Gu Pingyuan refused outright.

Peng Haiwan quickly approached, asking quietly: “Is it Master Li from the capital?”

Chang Yu’er nodded. Peng Haiwan grimaced, thinking this was troublesome.

“Master, continuing this standoff isn’t right. Why don’t you avoid him temporarily? I’ll tell Master Li you’ve gone out of town and won’t return for several days.”

“Why should I hide from him in my own business?” Hearing Li Wantang had come, Gu Pingyuan immediately felt angry. “Moreover, it’s not worth lying for this person. Go call him out—I’ll meet him in the courtyard.”

“Yes.” Peng Haiwan hurried to comply.

Soon, Li Wantang stepped out from inside. Seeing Gu Pingyuan standing upright in the courtyard with Chang Yu’er, Liu Heita and others present, his eyes flashed as he said in a deep voice: “I have matters to discuss with you. Have the others step aside.”

Peng Haiwan looked around, tentatively taking a step, when Gu Pingyuan sharply commanded: “Stand still!”

“Except for you, no one here is an outsider. What you can say, they can hear. There’s nothing between us requiring privacy.” Gu Pingyuan’s voice was extremely cold and hard.

Seeing his face showed no room for negotiation, Li Wantang nodded and took a bank draft from his sleeve, extending it.

Gu Pingyuan glanced at it without moving a finger, saying coolly: “Master Li, what is the meaning of this?”

“This is the bank draft you sent someone to deliver to the salt fields yesterday to buy salt. I had it investigated—this is from Chengnannei Pass Money House, not money you deposited there, but borrowed at monthly interest of one percent and one li.”

All of Gu Pingyuan’s money had been given to Liu Heita for out-of-province salt purchases, leaving him with nothing. But to maintain the pretense and avoid revealing flaws, he had to continue purchasing from Two Huai salt fields, requiring money house loans.

“Buying salt at high prices already yields no profit, especially when this money is borrowed at high interest from money houses—equivalent to adding another ten percent to purchase costs. Business is for earning money, not emotional disputes…”

Gu Pingyuan interrupted Li Wantang: “Master Li, I don’t quite understand your words. You operate salt fields and raised prices so high, clearly intending to profit greatly from my Gu family. Now I’m borrowing money to buy salt, which suits your wishes perfectly—you should be grinning from ear to ear. Oh, I understand now. As they say, ‘human hearts are never satisfied, like snakes trying to swallow elephants.’ Are you unhappy I’m buying too little, wanting me to borrow more and buy more?”

Li Wantang looked at him intently, not acknowledging the sharp sarcasm, continuing: “Those shops needn’t be designated as salt shops. The Two Rivers are settled, all industries await revival. Jiangxi has much wood but few medicines, Jiangsu has much silk but lacks grain. Commerce is about mutual supply of needs. You could very well…”

“Master Li!” Gu Pingyuan interrupted again. “Why are you saying these things to me? I’m a Huizhou merchant, you’re a capital merchant—we’re not so close, are we? Your Li family has a son named Li Qin—you can very well pass these business secrets and methods to him. As for me, from childhood no one taught me how to conduct business, yet I’ve walked this path step by step. As long as no one sets traps and creates obstacles behind my back, that’s already divine protection. Regarding this bank draft, take it back—I want salt!” Gu Pingyuan spoke decisively.

Seeing his adamant attitude, Li Wantang had to speak what he’d been holding back, his tone low but each word clear: “I’ve already wronged you mother and son greatly. Day and night I think of this with an uneasy conscience. I don’t want to see you destroy your family and business in a moment of anger.”

“How ridiculous!” Gu Pingyuan sneered through clenched teeth. “Don’t forget your surname is Li—what status gives you the right to say such words to me?! You were the one who abandoned wife and child, and you’re the one expressing regret now. You’ve done both building temples and tearing down Buddhas—which eye should people view you with?”

Chang Yu’er watched from the side, silently sighing and slowly approaching Li Wantang: “It’s nearly time for the night watch. Master Li should return now. Staying longer benefits no one.”

Li Wantang looked at the pregnant “eldest daughter-in-law” before him, nodding wordlessly. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Pingyuan called out to him.

“From now on, don’t come here saying such disgusting words.” As he spoke, Gu Pingyuan rolled up his sleeves. Everyone involuntarily gasped in shock—Gu Pingyuan’s forearms were covered with wounds, crisscrossing knife scars. Some had just healed, others were still scabbed, clearly all recent injuries.

Chang Yu’er, both anxious and pained, grasped her husband’s arm with tears falling. Liu Heita’s eyes blazed with fury, stepping forward: “Who did this? I’ll never spare them!”

“I did it myself.” Gu Pingyuan’s words silenced everyone present, including Li Wantang who stared at him in shock.

“Properly speaking, body and skin are received from parents and shouldn’t suffer the slightest damage. But since learning the truth outside Jinshan Temple, I’ve wished I could drain half the blood in my body—keeping only the half my mother gave me while letting the other half flow away completely!” Gu Pingyuan glared viciously at Li Wantang, forcing words through gritted teeth: “Now do you understand?”

Li Wantang stood frozen in the courtyard. After an unknowable time, he finally moved and walked out of Shunde Tea House. Not far outside was Jiangning’s city gate. Under night’s shroud, the dark gate opening resembled a monster’s gaping maw, ready to devour all who passed. Li Wantang suddenly remembered that twenty years ago, when he first came to Beijing, he’d also walked through an almost identical city gate in dim twilight. He must have thought about something then—ambitions, or concerns for wife and children. These had all blurred, leaving only his impression of that gate in memory: devouring people by choice. Had he already been swallowed without knowing it? Thinking thus, he smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly.

Inside the tea house, Chang Yu’er carefully applied medicinal wine to her husband’s wounds, observing his expression while softly saying: “From Master Li’s words, it seems this fifty percent salt field price increase wasn’t his idea.”

“Whether it was or wasn’t no longer matters.” Gu Pingyuan felt no sting from the medicinal wine—the pain in his heart had numbed him to everything else. “He’s Li family, so it’s the Li family’s decision…”

Li An reported Li Wantang’s visit to Shunde Tea House to Wang Tiangui, who naturally “inadvertently” revealed it to Li Qin.

When Mrs. Li learned of this from her son, she raised her eyebrows, squinted at the sun outside the window, and said with a half-smile: “People act while Heaven watches. Since he can’t forget old feelings for the Gu family, let’s see how far he can go.”

The Li family mother and son had expected Gu Pingyuan to be “confused by anger,” purchasing salt at such high prices only to have it all stuck in his hands. Not only did they think so—Two Rivers business circles also felt Gu Pingyuan was destined to lose. Cold mockery and sarcasm followed, saying he should have been content operating the world’s finest tea in Huizhou instead of coming to Two Huai salt fields to fight the Li family from the capital—this was asking for trouble. The Li family controlled salt field profits, equivalent to occupying undefeatable ground. Li Wantang was especially cunning and calculating—how could he be defeated by a young man?

News from the Governor’s office indicated even Zeng Guofan was quite concerned about this matter, having Secretary Xue monitor Two Rivers salt prices. If it truly reached the point where people couldn’t afford salt, he’d memorialize for relief and open granaries to distribute salt. This showed even Zeng Guofan wasn’t optimistic about Gu Pingyuan’s battle with the Li family, being increasingly dissatisfied with soaring salt prices but temporarily helpless since the Li family continued paying salt taxes on schedule.

However, events developed completely contrary to everyone’s expectations. On the day Gu Pingyuan had designated, early in the morning, all Gu family salt shops simultaneously posted signs reading “three hundred wen per jin,” immediately causing a sensation throughout the market.

“Three hundred wen per jin?!” Zeng Guofan initially didn’t believe it, until Secretary Xue told him that the din of voices faintly audible from outside the office was people carrying salt bags rushing to buy salt, fearing the price might rise again after a while.

“In this subordinate’s view, this is merchants’ usual trickery. At three hundred wen per jin, Gu Pingyuan is losing money to gain attention. He’s still acting on emotion—even if he can’t defeat the Li family, he wants to seize the initiative and steal the spotlight. At this price, he’ll dare sell for half a day at most—tomorrow it will definitely increase.” Secretary Xue was confident he wouldn’t misjudge this time.

But after hearing this, Zeng Guofan held his chess piece for a long while without placing it, then shook his head slightly again.

This time Secretary Xue was unconvinced, though he didn’t voice it, his expression revealed his feelings.

“What Gu Pingyuan is doing aligns perfectly with my thinking. Since they’re both rival merchant guilds and father-son-brothers, letting them fight it out isn’t necessarily bad—it prevents them from uniting against the government. The only concern is not letting it escalate to the point where people can’t afford salt, provoking civil unrest that would be difficult to contain. Like the Li family’s recent actions, raising salt prices so high—that was quite worrisome. But now Gu Pingyuan has suddenly pulled salt prices down. Setting aside whether he has the capability, just this approach alone I find quite admirable.” Zeng Guofan stroked his beard and smiled, saying to Secretary Xue across from him, “I’ve been observing people for decades and wouldn’t completely misjudge someone. This Master Gu is well-read and courteous, with great strategic wisdom in his heart. I don’t believe he’s doing this merely to gamble his entire fortune for show.”

“But he clearly lacks capital yet still places bets—if this isn’t madness, what is?” Secretary Xue frowned in thought. His black pieces were being continuously attacked by Zeng Guofan, and seeing no way to recover, he simply conceded defeat.

Zeng Guofan smiled slightly, slowly returning the pieces to their box: “According to Gu Pingyuan’s methods, it’s quite obvious he doesn’t intend to engage in prolonged battle with the Li family—he wants Li Wantang to concede mid-game.”

“What gives him that confidence?” Secretary Xue looked incredulous.

“If he dares do this, he naturally has some assurance. It appears the Li family is in considerable trouble this time.”

Secretary Xue had followed Zeng Guofan for many years and knew that when this Governor’s views differed from popular opinion, it was usually the masses who were wrong. Precisely because of this, he found it inconceivable—could Gu Pingyuan be an immortal, able to conjure a golden mountain from thin air to compete with the Li family’s resources?

“Let’s go.” While he was deep in thought, Zeng Guofan had already risen from the chess board.

Secretary Xue was startled, then remembered that today was one of Zeng Guofan’s regular teaching days at the academy—he lectured on the second and eighth days of each ten-day period. He suddenly smiled: “Sir, you surely wouldn’t expect that group of scholars and graduates pooled money to have your past year’s teachings at the academy—the essence of sages and great principles—carved into blocks and compiled into volumes, one copy per person. They say it combines practical learning with classics, establishing a new school of great scholarship. Competing to memorize it has become fashionable among Two Rivers scholars.”

Secretary Xue spoke half-jokingly, expecting Zeng Guofan to respond lightly, but unexpectedly the Governor slowly turned around and asked gravely: “Whose idea was this?”

“No one’s—it was purely the students’ spontaneous action.” Secretary Xue was taken aback. “Originally I didn’t know either. Later someone inquired about your daily notes and memorial drafts, which I keep, wanting to include them in the collection. I refused, saying that regarding your academy lectures, they could print whatever they had recorded, but I wouldn’t dare show other materials to outsiders without your permission.”

“You handled this correctly, but you should have told me earlier. Had I known, I would never have let them print such nonsense.”

Secretary Xue carefully modulated his tone: “Please don’t be angry, sir. In my view, these students act from sincere admiration—this behavior seems not excessive.”

“Ha ha.” A trace of mockery appeared at Zeng Guofan’s lips. “Sincere admiration? Secretary Xue, you’ve always spoken freely before me—why do you see clearly yet dare not speak? Regarding profound scholarship, sages have emerged throughout dynasties; concerning age and virtue, Jiangning city has countless well-read elderly gentlemen. Why don’t these scholars and graduates print collections for them? These people’s motives are easy to guess—they’re simply racking their brains for flattery, knowing I appreciate moral writings, so they cater to my preferences. As long as I hold the Two Rivers Governor position, my words naturally become golden rules. But should I someday retire to my hometown, when a decrepit old man appears before them, they might not even deign to glance at me.”

“These are truly words that penetrate worldly affairs.” Someone approached while loudly praising this statement, then continued: “If someday elder brother, you were imprisoned by the court, this crowd would rush to praise the court’s wisdom, while those sage words carved in collections would become malicious nonsense, only fit for wiping posteriors in latrines.”

Secretary Xue needn’t lift his head to know who had arrived. Only one person could enter this garden without announcement and dare speak thus to Zeng Guofan—his brother Zeng Guoquan.

Zeng Guofan’s face had already darkened: “Ninth Brother, you’re a provincial governor—how are you still as crude as when leading troops in battle? Speaking without consideration, spouting whatever comes to mind—this invites disaster.”

Zeng Guoquan laughed carelessly: “Speaking spontaneously is true, but speaking without consideration isn’t necessarily so. Two days ago the newly appointed education commissioner visited my office—truly a sycophant, serving up carloads of flattery. I gave him no pleasant expression, telling him bluntly that he doesn’t see me, Zeng Guoquan, at all—only the chair beneath me. Regardless of who sits here, he’d serve up the same words unchanged. Heh, though the previous education commissioner was quite stiff-necked before me and left in anger at my treatment, at least he was a genuine scholar, much better than this current bastard.”

Zeng Guofan sighed and shook his head. Having no way to handle this brother, he could only gently admonish: “Now countless eyes at court are watching us. You must be cautious in word and deed. The education commissioner is a scholarly official sent by the Ministry of Rites to a province, also a high-ranking red-capped official. Speaking of him thus not only insults his character but also shows disrespect to the court.”

“Hmph, without us brothers exterminating the Taipings, let him drink northwest wind as an education commissioner.” Zeng Guoquan was thoroughly unconvinced, then shifted topics: “However, elder brother, your earlier words gave me different insights upon hearing them.”

“Oh?” Zeng Guofan most worried that this ninth brother acted impulsively without thinking. Hearing he had insights brought joy, so he asked: “Tell me your thoughts.”

“Simple—a great man cannot go a day without power. Once power and influence are lost, it’s like a dragon in shallow water being teased by shrimp, only to be trampled underfoot by these petty people. That would truly be tragic.”

Though these words weren’t wrong, Zeng Guofan had always been wary of others saying he held high position and great authority, commanding troops independently. Hearing his brother’s words, he pondered silently without response.

“Forget it. Since I rarely visit, I won’t discuss matters that displease elder brother. Xueqin sent someone to my place to collect newly built warships and brought a letter for me to pass to elder brother.” Xueqin was the courtesy name of Yangtze River Navy Commander Peng Yulin. Among the Xiang Army, Bao Chao was acknowledged as the bravest in land battles, while Peng Yulin ranked first in naval warfare. Zeng Guofan’s appreciation and affection for Peng Yulin far exceeded that for Bao Chao. Bao Chao was purely a military man who couldn’t read a single character, while Peng Yulin was nicknamed “Little Zhou Yu,” mastering both literary and military arts, called “peerless in poetry and painting,” and having studied under Zeng Guofan, always conducting himself as a disciple.

Upon hearing of Peng Yulin’s letter, Zeng Guofan’s face first brightened with smiles. Taking the letter, he casually used the paper knife on the table to slice it open, extracting the letter paper—only one thin sheet.

Before Secretary Xue could see how many lines were written, Zeng Guofan’s expression changed dramatically. He angrily tore the letter to shreds, then turned to his brother suspiciously: “This is Xueqin’s own handwriting?”

“How would I know?” Zeng Guoquan seemed completely unsurprised. “I never opened the letter, don’t know who wrote it. But elder brother knows Xueqin’s handwriting best—why ask me?”

“Outrageous, outrageous—even Xueqin tests me thus.” Zeng Guofan frowned deeply, crumpling the torn letter into a ball and placing it in his mouth, swallowing it whole.

Secretary Xue was puzzled but could see this letter from Peng Yulin was extraordinary. Before he could think how to smooth things over, Zeng Guoquan said: “Elder brother, what happened? How did Xueqin anger you so? Tell me and I’ll go beat him up.”

Zeng Guofan glared at him furiously, turning toward his study while walking and angrily waving his hands: “You’re all trying to roast me alive over a fire!”

Secretary Xue was completely baffled, glancing at Zeng Guoquan: “Ninth Master, what on earth happened?”

“Nothing much. My office has many affairs, so I won’t bid farewell to elder brother. He’s learned in ancient and modern matters, knowing all dynastic affairs thoroughly. When you have time, remind him more often not to repeat predecessors’ mistakes.”

Watching Zeng Guoquan’s retreating figure leave the garden, Secretary Xue dimly guessed the letter’s contents and couldn’t help shuddering.

Secretary Xue guessed correctly. Peng Yulin’s letter contained only one line: “The southern half has no master—does the teacher have intentions?” The letter bore no salutation or signature, because if this letter fell into court hands, it would immediately trigger a tremendous scandal.

Zeng Guoquan returned to Suzhou and poured cold water on Su Zixuan, who had been waiting in his office.

“My elder brother seems determined to remain loyal to the court. He won’t entertain that notion.”

Su Zixuan showed no emotion whatsoever, as if Zeng Guoquan’s words were already within her expectations: “If he won’t rebel, your Zeng family will sooner or later face great disaster. Though he’s unwilling to be Zhao Kuangyin, you might as well have the yellow robe forced upon you. As for future matters… whether father dies and son succeeds, or elder dies and younger inherits, that depends on who gains more popular support.”

Zeng Guoquan’s heart immediately began pounding upon unexpectedly hearing such words. When Song Dynasty’s founder established the country, there was the eternal mystery of “axe sounds and candlelight shadows” at his deathbed, yet the throne ultimately passed to his brother Zhao Guangyi. He dared not continue thinking along these lines, mumbling something inaudibly.

“When conditions are ripe?” Su Zixuan smiled. “The Qing Emperor is young, relying entirely on Cixi and Prince Gong for governance—naturally difficult to unite people’s hearts. The Xiang Army has achieved unprecedented merit, and the people have always been grateful for their great kindness. Moreover, Lord Zeng is Han Chinese. Raising the banner of ‘Reviving Han and Eliminating Manchu,’ once uprising begins, the south will certainly respond en masse. Furthermore, the Mongol Prince Sengge’s cavalry, the only force capable of contending with the Xiang Army, has been routed by the Nian rebels. If such a once-in-a-millennium opportunity isn’t seized, future historians reading this will probably curse your Zeng family as ‘fools.'”

“This matter is of great importance and cannot be undertaken lightly.” However bold Zeng Guoquan was, he dared not act in such great matters without his elder brother’s knowledge, only shaking his hands: “The court currently only praises our Zeng family and the Xiang Army, showing no ungrateful acts. My intention is to wait longer, catching the court in some error to justify our cause.”

Su Zixuan pondered briefly, glancing at the book case in Sixi’s hands, smiling slightly.

Gu Pingyuan had anticipated that business at three hundred wen per jin would be good, but hadn’t expected it would be this good. Since the Gu family posted their price signs, silver flowed like water into Gu family salt shops. Salt prices had been unaffordably high for too long. This low price was like sweet rain after prolonged drought—people weren’t buying salt but stuffing silver into the salt shop clerks’ hands.

At this juncture, Manager Fei in Suzhou devised a “rob the rich to help the poor” method, earning more silver than shops elsewhere. His method imitated Gu Pingyuan’s grading of Lanxue tea in Huizhou, taking portion of the coarse salt inventory and reprocessing it with water filtering. Adding labor costs, he doubled the price, gave it the attractive name “Wealth Salt,” packaged it in red paper inscribed with “Wealth Salt Year” four characters, while ordinary coarse salt used yellow paper without writing. Manager Fei had his reasons for this, but before placing the wealth salt on counters, he felt uncertain. Unexpectedly, this salt costing double the coarse salt price received surprising acclaim. In Suzhou, not only truly wealthy families but even comfortable households willingly paid extra for this “Wealth Salt.”

“What’s the reasoning behind this?” Gu Pingyuan personally served tea, sincerely seeking Manager Fei’s instruction.

“I’m a Suzhou native who personally witnessed those great wealthy families forced to flee during the Taiping chaos. Ten years of turmoil exhausted their savings, forcing many to manual labor, even having wives and daughters sell their bodies for survival, associating with the poor mud-legs they’d always despised. In their words, this was losing face and disgracing ancestors.”

Gu Pingyuan nodded: “Indeed, the Pan surname salt merchant driven mad by Li Wantang was such a case.”

Manager Fei continued: “But now it’s different. Though money was spent, that was merely floating wealth—ancestral lands and great mansions remain. With the Taipings gone, these people moved back to their mansions to collect rent and live as before, still masters and mistresses, still ordering servants about imperiously. However, there’s one thing—a hurdle in their hearts they cannot overcome: they cannot forget those days of eating rotten noodles and doing hard labor alongside mud-legs. Face was lost—how can it be recovered?”

At this point, Gu Pingyuan was nodding frequently, smiling: “I understand. Manager Fei’s action lets these wealthy people feel superior to others.”

“Exactly—’people fight for dignity.’ I set up a separate counter for selling ‘Wealth Salt,’ so those gentry and wealthy merchants needn’t queue and compete with poor folk, making them feel dignified and willingly pay extra. This is actually a tremendous business opportunity in Two Rivers commerce, just not many have noticed yet.”

Gu Pingyuan was quite impressed after listening, praising repeatedly: “You truly deserve to be Chief Manager Tu Ying’s outstanding disciple—your insight is indeed unique. Looking at the ledgers, you’ve used all profits from selling ‘Wealth Salt’ to subsidize coarse salt, reducing the three hundred wen per jin price by another twenty percent.”

“Correct. I told the clerks that Master Gu trusts us, giving ‘reverse seventy-thirty’ bonuses. We can’t just drill into money holes. What Master Gu wants now isn’t profit but decisive victory over the Li family. The cheaper our salt prices, the more we corner the Li family. So I use extra profits to help poor people buy more salt.”

Gu Pingyuan slammed the table, loudly praising: “I was just worrying about finding someone virtuous and capable to oversee these salt shops. Manager Fei, demonstrating such business acumen and understanding of the bigger picture—what more need I seek? From now on, I must rely on you greatly.”

After slight hesitation, Manager Fei nodded: “Since Master trusts me, I’m determined to implement this method in all our salt shops. After earning money, first continue lowering prices, second immediately establish shops in Li Qin’s territory. Within three months, we’ll steal all Li family customers.”

The Li family salt shop had been the most prosperous on Jiangning’s commercial street, but since the Gu family bought up the cloth shop and pawn shop on either side, plus the wine shop across the street, opening them all as salt shops, the Li family hadn’t made a single sale in ten days. It was so desolate that clerks were too lazy to sweep the front entrance.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t buy from the Li family either. Why should I? Identical salt—neighboring and opposite shops sell at three hundred wen per jin. Who would come here to buy salt costing more than double?” Wang Tiangui drained his wine cup, looking at the empty vessel: “This Jiangxi merchant guild’s Hua Lianhui is truly interesting—originally a salt merchant, he opened Chengyi Distillery and brewed Maotai that’s truly exceptional.”

In the pavilion with front and back windows in the rear courtyard’s small building, two lightly dressed women served wine, one half-sitting in Li Qin’s embrace, occasionally twisting her body, hoping this wealthy young master would keep her several more nights.

Li Qin currently had no interest in drinking or appreciating these two courtesans from the pleasure quarters. His head felt ready to explode as he stared with bloodshot eyes at Wang Tiangui.

“Didn’t you originally say that someone like Gu Pingyuan, buying high and selling low, would face bankruptcy within a month? But look outside—his business is thriving while my Li family faces closure. What’s going on?”

“Need you ask? Either Gu Pingyuan found a treasure bowl, or someone continuously supports him with bank drafts behind the scenes. Otherwise, relying solely on the Gu family resources—humph—where would such capability come from?” Wang Tiangui was actually more shocked than Li Qin. The moment Gu family salt shop signs appeared, he sensed trouble. Having suffered great losses to Gu Pingyuan, he knew this person’s capabilities too well. If he dared act thus, he certainly had confidence. However, whether Li or Gu family won or lost, Wang Tiangui didn’t care—preferably both would suffer, allowing him to profit. Fearing Li Qin might retreat, he constantly encouraged confrontation with Gu Pingyuan. But unexpectedly, Gu Pingyuan could maintain such low prices for so long. This wasn’t selling salt but continuously throwing large silver ingots into water. Gu Pingyuan had only prospered from Lanxue tea for a few years—where did so much money come from? Wang Tiangui couldn’t figure it out despite racking his brains.

“Could Hu Xueyan disregard trust and secretly help the Gu family?” Wang Tiangui muttered to himself.

“Impossible. Hu Xueyan has re-deposited his foreign bank money. He’s the famous God of Wealth—once he gives his word, if he did such dishonest things and word spread, he’d be finished. Hu Xueyan is intelligent and wouldn’t act so.”

“Then it’s Huizhou merchants or Dongting merchant guild?”

“Neither of what you mentioned.” Li Qin shook his head. “Huizhou merchants and Dongting merchant guild combined are indeed formidable. But to support Gu Pingyuan thus would require stopping seventy to eighty percent of their businesses. I sent people to investigate—Huizhou merchants and Chen Qitai’s operations continue normally. I also got information from money houses they usually deal with—no large fund movements. Saying they’re helping Gu Pingyuan is impossible.”

“Truly strange.” Wang Tiangui gasped, stood and paced, then suddenly turned: “Originally we cut off his foundation, severing his connection with the God of Wealth, yet he still produced one million taels in short order—I couldn’t understand that. Now he can find money from unknown sources, spending so lavishly daily without showing the slightest shortage. Could he really have dug up Shen Wansan’s treasure bowl buried under Stone City?”

“Buying salt from my family’s salt fields at high prices, then selling at such low prices in salt shops—not just in coastal salt shops, but even in Jiangxi’s remote mountains, he sells at this damned price. This isn’t business—this is madness, madness!” Li Qin suddenly erupted in fury, pushing away the woman on him and smashing his wine cup on the ground, causing screams.

Wang Tiangui reflected somewhat: “Remember when he was in Shanxi, wasn’t his nickname ‘Madman Shopkeeper’?”

Li Qin turned to face Wang Tiangui, both seeing a trace of fear in the other’s eyes. Wang Tiangui’s voice seemed to float from far away: “Madness isn’t frightening—what’s frightening is being mad yet still winning!”