Chapter 239: Interview Passed

Of course, it wasn't a free gift. The shop cost a total of 550 taels, which was incredibly cheap. Without the chaos of war, a prime location shop of this size on the main street of a provincial capital would easily cost at least 1,200 taels.

This clearly showed how determined the original owner was to sell the shop and leave.

After Steward Zhao left, He Lingchuan couldn't help but let out a long whistle. Even in this world, he was now a man of property!

"Congratulations!" Lingguang extended its paw towards He Lingchuan, a gesture known as "asking for a treat."

He Lingchuan had no choice but to give it a handful of winter melon milk candy. This candy was a specialty of the neighboring county and not cheap.

How did a disciplined and ascetic medicine ape become so worldly after following him?

While the monkey was happily eating candy, a servant reported again: Shan Youjun had arrived.

Shan Youjun certainly didn't neglect the first task He Lingchuan assigned him; he brought his recommended candidate, Ding Zuodong, before dinner.

Ding Zuodong was dark, thin, tall, and slightly hunched. He was almost the opposite of He Lingchuan's ideal image of a steward.

As soon as he saw He Lingchuan, he bowed deeply. "I, Ding, am unworthy, but I wish to serve as an assistant under the Young Master. You may call upon me for any errands."

Since He Lingchuan was unmarried and hadn't established his own household, Ding Zuodong couldn't be a full steward. So he simply called himself an "assistant" — a type of person who accompanies wealthy young masters, providing entertainment and running errands for them.

"Alright, I'll test you," He Lingchuan said, gesturing for him to sit. "A branch of the Songyang Prefecture opened on the main street today, do you know about it?"

Ding Zuodong nodded. "It opened this morning. Steward He and several officials from the prefectural yamen attended, and the Li, Zhan, and Shu families also sent representatives to show their support."

"Do you know their background? Tell me about it."

Ding Zuodong thought for a moment, then recounted everything he knew.

As He Lingchuan listened, he realized that Ding Zuodong not only knew the main business of Songyang Prefecture, but also even gossip about Marquis Songyang—

In other words, things that even a retired steward far away in Xiazhou, in the northern borders, knew about, he himself, in Shihuan City, was completely unaware of!

He Lingchuan once again lamented his own lack of information.

When he sighed, Ding Zuodong grew a little worried. "Young Master, why do you sigh? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, you're not wrong. The fault is mine."

"Shan Youjun personally assured me that you know Dunyu City like the back of your hand."

"He exaggerated. I only know some common gossip."

"So, you used to manage all of Third Master Shu's properties?"

This was quite impressive. As far as He Lingchuan knew, most of He Chunhua's properties in Heishui City were not entrusted to Steward Mo, who primarily handled the He manor's miscellaneous affairs.

Yet, under Third Master Shu, Ding Zuodong had to manage both internal and external affairs, making him a true model worker.

"Precisely." This time, Ding Zuodong did not act modest.

The Shu family had blocked all his avenues of livelihood in Dunyu. If he didn't want to slink away to the countryside and live out his remaining years in obscurity, he absolutely had to find a position with Young Master He to break through and start anew.

"What do you know about the shop next to Songyang Prefecture, the one on the east?"

"The one on the east? Isn't it a pharmacy called Huixiang Hall?"

He Lingchuan thought about it; it seemed to be correct.

"The owner of Huixiang Hall is named Cui. He's originally from Daji Township, and his family has practiced medicine for generations, settling in Dunyu in the second generation. However, his medical skills are mediocre, and the business of Huixiang Hall, despite its excellent location, is only average. Recently, medicinal ingredients transported from the south have been scarce, and the war in the north is going poorly. I hear that the Xunzhou army is advancing, and they even massacred two villages in Xinxiang, so he probably started thinking about moving south."

Currently, rumors are spreading, which is unsettling people the most. He Lingchuan smiled. "This shop's location is quite good, isn't it?"

"It's a prime location shop. Are you looking to buy it?" Ding Zuodong thought for a moment. "It's a pity, but if you had come two days earlier, I could have negotiated the price for you."

"It's not possible now?"

"I ran into an employee from Huixiang Hall at noon, and he said the shop had just been sold, right before the Songyang Prefecture branch next door opened." Ding Zuodong sighed. "Once it's sold and ownership transferred, there's nothing that can be done."

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. "Before Songyang Prefecture opened? Wasn't that just before he went there?"

Marquis Songyang clearly said she only bought one shop.

It seemed she had bought both shops, and quietly transferred one to He Lingchuan. Indeed, who would dislike having more shops in such a prime location?

He Lingchuan suppressed his doubt. "If I had sent you to negotiate then, what price could you have gotten?"

This time, Ding Zuodong calculated for a while before saying, "I could try to push the price down to 500 taels."

He Lingchuan laughed heartily, pulling out the deed for Huixiang Hall from his sleeve and unfolding it before him.

"Though not exact, it's not far off. The purchase price was 550 taels."

Ding Zuodong looked at it, greatly surprised. "Ah, so Young Master bought it! What excellent foresight!"

"This shop will remain Huixiang Hall, its purpose unchanged, as I also need medicine for my cultivation." He Lingchuan asked him, "How about I entrust its operation to you from now on? In ten days to half a month at the earliest, or forty to fifty days at the latest, the situation in Xiazhou should stabilize. As for the transport routes to and from the interior, you don't need to worry too much." He was a He, and if the transport teams wouldn't carry goods for other families, they certainly wouldn't dare refuse his.

"Young Master, rest assured, I will handle it perfectly." Ding Zuodong stood up and bowed to him. "Third Master Shu also used to have a pharmacy under his name, which I managed."

"You have connections, excellent!" He Lingchuan pulled him back down to sit. "You and Shan Youjun are truly strange. One loves to stand, and the other loves to kneel."

Both men laughed.

He Lingchuan continued, "From now on, you can just call me 'master.' Also, you know I've just arrived in Dunyu and need to acquire some assets here. If you see anything suitable, acquire it for me."

Ding Zuodong couldn't help but lean forward. "'Mountain and water businesses' would also be acceptable, right?"

He Chunhua smiled slightly. "Of course."

"Mountain and water businesses" refer to mines and timber on land, and fish and salt from lakes and rivers. While these necessities circulate in the market, mines, timber yards, fisheries, and salt fields are not businesses ordinary merchants can operate.

These are provincial-level enterprises, each with designated management.

Even if sellers wish to liquidate during this turbulent period, those who want to take over must be qualified.

In Dunyu, naturally, only the four great families were originally qualified. Now, abruptly, there was also a family named He.

Ding Zuodong was overjoyed and abruptly stood up again. "I'll go back right away and draw up a detailed list!"

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "Don't rush. First, let me tell you my bottom line: I only have 100,000 taels at hand."

Ding Zuodong pondered for a moment. "It should be enough if we manage it carefully. Good properties are cheap these days. Master, rest assured, I will be frugal where I should and spend where I must."

He Lingchuan smiled and tossed him a ten-tael silver ingot. "First, go get yourself some decent attire. You can't be too shabby working for me. Use the rest to buy some fruits and snacks for your kids; tell them it's from me."

Holding the silver, Ding Zuodong's stern expression softened. He recalled how, in his prime, managing Third Master Shu's properties, hundreds or thousands of taels of silver were beneath his notice.

Alas, times change, and even a hero can be stumped by a single penny. His grandson had recently pestered him for ice cream, but he hadn't been able to afford it. Ding Zuodong bowed deeply to He Lingchuan. "I, Ding, will certainly dedicate myself completely."

He Lingchuan pointed at Shan Youjun, who had been listening silently the entire time. "Take him to Huixiang Hall to get him treated. Return me a lively, top-tier enforcer as soon as possible."

It was late now, so after the two men bowed in thanks, they took their leave.

Once they had left, Sun Hongye said, "After only one meeting, Master, you've revealed your intentions?" People of this era preferred not to flaunt their wealth.

"Don't employ those you doubt. Those with no other options can be trusted." He Lingchuan chuckled. "Once he's a formidable Steward Ding again, then I'll have to be wary of him."

He was confident that Ding Zuodong, desperate to seize this last chance for a comeback, would wholeheartedly work for him. At least for a considerable period, this would be true.

"Shan Youjun and Jiao Tai were captain and vice-captain respectively when they served as rangers in the north. They have experience with reconnaissance, ambushes, scouting, and interceptions, and they've killed many people. Shan Youjun is steady and shrewd, while Jiao Tai is straightforward and loyal," Sun Hongye said. "When I found Shan Youjun, he had already visited the prison twice and told me that if Jiao Tai was rescued, both their lives would belong to the Master."

"Do they have families?"

"Neither of them does."

"Good. After Jiao Tai is rescued, have them swear a blood oath of allegiance to me." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "You handled this matter very well. Keep up the good work." It was like buying one and getting one free, as he unexpectedly gained Ding Zuodong as well.

Ding Zuodong's interview had been a success. He hoped the fellow would also perform well later.

Five days swiftly passed amidst the mixed feelings of Dunyu City's inhabitants.

He Chunhua and his son spent three days living and working at the yamen, and whenever they went out, it was to inspect various places. When He Chunhua returned home on the evening of the fifth day, he was met with Madam Ying's resentment, which seemed to almost spill out of the manor.

"Madam, I had no choice!" After finally calming his wife, He Chunhua and his wife bathed and changed, and the family of three had a hearty dinner.

He Lingchuan was missing.

He Chunhua also hadn't seen his eldest son for several days. Previously, He Lingchuan used to visit the yamen, but now that the father had no time for his son, was the son also not looking for his father?

"Where's Chuan'er?"

"Where's my brother?"

Father and son spoke in unison.

"He left early this morning and didn't say where he was going. You only sent word at noon that you'd be home tonight, and I couldn't find him either." Madam Ying said plaintively, "You're all busy, one more than the other, leaving an old woman like me to guard this large manor alone."

Father and son quickly apologized. He Yue laughed, "Don't you have your own fun, Mother?"

The renovations of the large manor, overseen by Madam Ying, were constantly underway, with hammering and clanging all day long. He and his father hadn't been home for three days, partly due to busyness, but also to avoid the noise.

Madam Ying grunted, not refuting him. She was indeed having a good time.

After dinner, He Chunhua returned to his study.

Steward Mo brought him rinsing tea, then closed the door behind him. "How have things been at home these past few days?"

"Everything's been smooth, no problems," Steward Mo replied. "Except Madam wasn't satisfied with the western wing's corridor and asked the foreman to tear it down and rebuild it."

"And the household expenses?"

Steward Mo gave him a few key figures, which didn't exceed He Chunhua's expectations. "We've just arrived in Dunyu City and haven't yet found our footing, so we must be careful with our money and not be extravagant."