Chapter 354: Disdainful and Humbly Descending

"Oh. The trading caravan is back. By custom, wages are due this afternoon, or tomorrow at the very latest. The workers are all waiting for their money to go home. Sir, would you mind signing this?"

"Also, the delivery date for this batch of cave spider silk is tomorrow. The Baoshu merchants are growing a little impatient, Sir..."

Previously, it was always Master Gan who signed before wages were disbursed. Now, Steward Zhao was at a loss as to who should sign. By order of seniority, it should be Second Master Gan, but...

Second Master Gan flew into a rage, slamming the table as he rose. "Money, money, money! My brother is dead, my mother is in a coma. At a time like this, are you still obsessed with money? Do you have any humanity at all?!"

"Second Master, please calm your anger. Compassion is important, but work must also be done. A large household like the Gan family must continue to operate as usual."

"Leave. Don't bother me with these trivial matters!"

Steward Zhao opened his mouth, but no sound escaped him.

Just then, the door creaked open, and an old maid emerged, announcing, "The Old Mistress is awake and crying for Second Master."

Second Master Gan hurried inside, not forgetting to turn back midway to warn Steward Zhao, "The Old Mistress cannot endure any more shocks. Handle these trivial matters as you see fit; do not add to our distress!"

Shortly after he went in, Steward Zhao heard Old Mistress Mao wailing heartbrokenly again.

Second Master Gan joined her in tears, their cries rising and falling, a chorus of shared grief.

Steward Zhao sighed a long, weary sigh.

As he walked out, he nearly collided with another person who rushed in.

"Third Master?"

It was indeed Third Master Gan, who had hurried back upon receiving the news.

His eyes were slightly red. Hearing the wailing from the inner room, he pulled Steward Zhao to the back hall to speak.

"Steward Zhao, what exactly is going on?!"

Steward Zhao gave a rough account of what had happened, naturally emphasizing how Master Gan had been killed.

Third Master Gan listened, his eyes wide and vacant. He then sank into a chair and, after a long silence, managed to ask with difficulty, "Have my elder brother's funeral arrangements been made?"

"Ah, yes, we just finalized them with Second Master." It had taken considerable effort.

Because Second Master was choked with sobs and unable to speak, they had to pause several times.

Third Master Gan murmured, "Oh, then what about... what about us now...?"

Normally, his elder brother was the pillar supporting the Gan family. Now that the sky had fallen, what would they do?

Steward Zhao patiently waited for his next words. With Master Gan dead, leadership of the Gan residence and the merchant guild would transfer to other members of the family. If they didn't take charge, what could mere servants like themselves decide?

Third Master Gan held a glimmer of hope. "So, Second Brother is temporarily managing the affairs of the merchant guild?"

"That... this humble one isn't sure." Steward Zhao offered a bitter smile. "Second Master is overcome with grief and unwilling to attend to these trivial matters."

Third Master Gan cleared his throat again. "Then wouldn't the merchant guild descend into chaos if no one manages it?"

"Third Master is willing to take over?" Steward Zhao could not hide his surprise.

Third Master Gan bit the bullet. "First, tell me what's involved."

"Alright, alright. Our Gan family merchant guild has 112 members. We primarily conduct business in the Demon Nest, dealing mainly in textiles, herbs, and ores, and we're also involved in seven minor categories. The Gan family owns 400 mu of prime irrigated land and 1,100 mu of medium-grade land. As for shops, we have eight in Wuze County and twelve in Bailong Township..."

Steward Zhao gave him a rough overview, which, if written down, would amount to six or seven hundred characters. He then added, "The rest you'll need to review at the account office; everything is clearly recorded in the ledgers... Third Master?"

Third Master Gan listened, his mouth agape, his eyebrows drawing tighter and tighter.

"So much. So much trouble."

He seemed to waver, then reluctantly said, "Alright, I'll look into it another day. Are these matters usually managed by dedicated personnel?"

"Some are, some aren't. In the past, Master would temporarily assign tasks, and Grand Steward An usually oversaw them." Steward Zhao subtly added, "Sometimes, Master would also have me handle them."

Even with such a clear hint, Third Master Gan merely grunted, offering no commitment.

Steward Zhao's heart immediately sank.

Indeed, Third Master Gan clearly hadn't considered entrusting the task to him; he was likely leaning towards someone named Luo taking over. Steward Zhao gave a quiet huff, then added, "Then there's one more crucial matter at hand."

"Hm? There's more?" Third Master Gan's reluctance was now undisguised. "Go on."

"The Gan family merchant guild's singular dominance in Wuze County isn't solely due to Master Gan's exceptional strategies; it also hinges on our exclusive business with the Demon Nest." Steward Zhao was still serving the Gan family merchant guild, so he had to speak plainly. "However, this time our caravan was abducted by mountain bandits and taken to the Spider Queen's territory to help them steal treasures from the underground palace. Although the bandits ultimately failed, the Spider Queen no longer trusts us as she once did. Consequently, she has given the token for entering and exiting the swamp to another young man."

"Oh..." Third Master Gan nodded. "And then?"

He usually had some knowledge of the family's business dealings.

Steward Zhao saw his expression and knew he hadn't grasped the full implications. "The problem is, without the pass, we can no longer enter the Demon Nest Swamp; we'll be blocked by the surrounding mirage mist. This means the Gan Merchant Guild will no longer secure the Spider Queen's exclusive business and will likely lose its advantage in Wuze County."

He gave a bitter smile. "The news of Master Gan's death will spread throughout the county within two days. At that point, people's loyalty will waver." That would be the moment the Gan family truly entered troubled waters.

Third Master Gan finally realized the gravity of the situation. "If this token is so important, why did the Spider Queen give it to someone else?"

"She trusts that young man more, it seems." Steward Zhao explained, "The bandits' scheme ultimately failed because this young man disrupted it. He interceded for us with the Spider Queen, on the condition that the Gan family caravan escort him to the capital of Beijia Kingdom."

Third Master Gan breathed a sigh of relief. "This is easy enough. Just say I agree, and he'll give us the token, right?"

"It's not that simple." Steward Zhao shook his head. "The Spider Queen requires us to escort him to the capital of Beijia Kingdom *before* we can obtain the pass."

"What?" Third Master Gan looked displeased. "We have to escort him to the capital of Beijia Kingdom first? Then we'll miss the autumn shipping season!" Even though he paid little attention to business, he knew Master Gan was always busiest during the spring and autumn.

"That was the condition for the caravan to leave the Demon Nest. We had no choice but to agree."

"He'll still give us the pass after reaching the capital of Beijia Kingdom? That's preposterous! Only a fool would believe that!" Third Master Gan sneered. "This is clearly taking advantage of our misfortune. The Gan family must not be so rigid!"

Steward Zhao clarified, "Third Master, this effectively means the Spider Queen has placed the power to choose a caravan in young Master He's hands. We must treat this with utmost seriousness. He is currently at the Yuanzhi Inn, waiting to meet with the Gan family."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Third Master Gan's expression suddenly change, a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. "Yuanzhi Inn?"

"Tall, seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing coarse cloth clothing, sitting by the window?" *No, please, don't let it be!* "And looking arrogant?"

"He didn't seem particularly arrogant, did he?" Steward Zhao murmured, "Ah, precisely. Have you just come from the Yuanzhi Inn?"

"..." Third Master Gan cleared his throat. "Just passing by. Anyway, I have other matters to attend to. You can have Second Brother deal with him."

Second Master? Second Master had long since washed his hands of all other matters, focusing only on comforting the Old Mistress. Steward Zhao was momentarily speechless.

Third Master Gan, as if his soles were greased, slipped away even faster than he had arrived.

He Lingchuan picked at his ear.

So that's how it was.

A quarter of an hour later, someone came upstairs.

He Lingchuan, seated on the second floor, saw him approach: it was Steward Zhao.

Steward Zhao, his face wreathed in smiles, said, "Young Master He, please follow me."

"Are the Gan family members available now?" He Lingchuan asked, a humorless smile playing on his lips. "They've agreed to let me in?"

"Ah?" Steward Zhao gave a dry laugh. "Why do you say that?"

"Just now, Third Master Gan, by indulging his pet, caused an injury, then told me to wait here, threatening to 'make things difficult' for me." He Lingchuan spread his hands. "So, here I am, waiting."

Steward Zhao stared, dumbfounded.

No wonder Third Master Gan's expression had been so priceless when he heard young Master He was at the Yuanzhi Inn.

The important matter hadn't even been discussed, yet he had already offended the person.

He cursed Third Master Gan to hell and back in his mind, but on the surface, he forced a smile so wide it creased his face. "Surely, you've misunderstood me..."

"I've heard Second Master Gan never concerns himself with affairs. If you want Third Master Gan to talk to me, I'll await his presence here." He Lingchuan stated calmly, "If he doesn't arrive within a quarter of an hour, I'll leave. The Gan family isn't the only caravan capable of reaching the demon kingdom's capital."

Such a firm stance? Steward Zhao, upon hearing his last sentence, immediately agreed, "Very well." Then he turned and left.

With the eldest son gone, the Gan family was clearly a towering tree on the verge of collapse. And he had the Shi family merchant guild as an alternative; what was there to fear?

The two waiters nearby also recognized Steward Zhao. Seeing him treat He Lingchuan with such deference, they couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances.

This was completely different from Third Master Gan's attitude. What play was the Gan family performing? They didn't understand.

A quarter of an hour later, the inn's wooden staircase creaked again, but this time slowly, clearly indicating the person ascending was somewhat reluctant.

Third Master Gan arrived, followed by Steward Zhao.

Third Master Gan approached the table, cupped his hands, and said, "Many thanks, Young Master He, for your righteous intervention in the swamp and for rescuing our caravan."

He pronounced the word "righteousness" with particular emphasis.

Would a compliment about his righteousness truly make him shy? Third Master Gan clearly overestimated him. He Lingchuan didn't even set down his wine cup, merely swirling it twice in his hand. "I've been waiting for you, Third Master, waiting for the show."

"I was rude earlier." Third Master Gan, practically grinding his teeth, still had to adhere to the script of initial arrogance followed by humility. "I offer my apologies to you now."

He Lingchuan simply murmured, "Oh."

"Regarding the pass..."

"Is that it?" Could He Lingchuan simply let him off the hook? What about the cost of his time, sitting here idly for over an hour, even if his time wasn't particularly valuable right now? "Killing someone in the market, then trying to cause trouble for me here—and it's all settled with a flimsy apology?"

"You..." Third Master Gan's mind raced through a torrent of vulgarities. "What do you want?"

He Lingchuan leaned casually against the window. "Firstly, this meal is on you, and the damages to the Yuanzhi Inn are also your responsibility—no less than two gold coins."

Paying was humiliating, but easily done. Third Master Gan nodded to Steward Zhao, who immediately called the manager over and handed him two gold coins.

The manager, holding the weighty small gold ingots, thought he was dreaming.

This guest had indeed hit the mark; Third Master Gan, who usually wielded such power in Wuze County, was actually offering an apology.

"Secondly, the injured hunter you assaulted is at Beisong Pharmacy, I believe just two streets away. You are to compensate him for his losses, and you must ensure he is fully satisfied."