Chapter 886: Feng Butler's Intelligence

“The original owner of that estate, I heard, has disappeared without a trace, and the servants were dismissed. The local farmers all say the manor is mostly abandoned and unmaintained.” He paused, then continued, “I assume the authorities had been observing it for several months, saw an opportunity, and simply took possession to resell it, hoping to make a quick profit. Unexpectedly, someone from Beijia showed up.”

He Lingchuan chuckled, “They tried to prey on a defunct estate but failed. It seems this isn't the first time the authorities have done something like this. Can you find out who the original owner of that estate was?”

“Apparently, it was an Imperial Advisor? But people around here couldn't give a specific name.”

A thought struck He Lingchuan: “Could it be Imperial Advisor Qingyang?”

In the past few months, the only Imperial Advisor from Beijia who fell from grace was Imperial Advisor Qingyang, and he was deeply involved with her downfall.

Furthermore, Imperial Advisor Qingyang had held a high position and significant power for over a hundred years, so it's not surprising she would own property anywhere.

Ahem, he mused, he never expected to hear news of Imperial Advisor Qingyang even after traveling thousands of miles away. What a coincidence.

“This move by the authorities is speculative, unethical, and risky.” After all, it's the property of a Beijian citizen; can it just be confiscated like that?

Of course, He Lingchuan had heard of such things even in his original world.

Such blatant opportunism can easily lead to trouble.

“So, how was this matter finally resolved?”

“I don't know how the two parties negotiated,” Ding Zuodong cleared his throat, “but the authorities returned the estate, and the original owner has entrusted someone to sell it. I think the estate is not expensive, and it seems someone has already set their sights on it. Does our master want to acquire it?”

He quoted a price, and He Lingchuan heard it wasn't expensive.

It seems Imperial Advisor Qingyang is determined to sell off all her overseas assets.

After being demoted to commoner status, she's an old woman nearly two hundred years old. With no children, what use are so many intangible assets? It's better to convert them into cash for personal use.

From this alone, He Lingchuan could gauge her general situation.

“Let's wait a bit longer,” He Lingchuan said. He had less than three hundred thousand taels, a fortune that most people couldn't earn in several lifetimes, but he still felt it was insufficient for building a business. “Every single coin is useful right now; I can't invest haphazardly. If we buy it, use your name.”

Ding Zuodong agreed and immediately withdrew.

The following evening, Lu Qiuwei, one of He Lingchuan's subordinates and a Rongshan native, also came to report:

“The Lu family once had a steward named Feng, who was dismissed half a year ago. Since no one else would hire him, he's spent the last few months drowning his sorrows at the Yellow Fish Tavern in the port. Whenever he gets drunk, he curses his former master.”

He Lingchuan had also been to the Yellow Fish Tavern. The liquor there was somewhat substandard, but the noodle soup was surprisingly good.

Because of its low prices, most of its regulars were peddlers, porters, and stevedores from the docks.

“Was he Lu Zhensheng's steward?”

Lu Qiuwei shook his head: “No, no, he used to be the second steward for Lu Zhensheng's cousin. I heard from people at the tavern that he was dismissed for dishonesty while working for his master, and then he went around badmouthing the Lu family. His former master was displeased, accused him of slander, and had him thrown in jail for half a month. After he got out, Steward Feng dared not stay in Qucheng and fled to Blade's Edge Port.”

Indeed, the Lu family was the ruling power in Bailie, so it would be effortless for them to have Steward Feng jailed. Blade's Edge Port is different; here, one can curse freely. He Lingchuan chuckled: “Then he truly has no qualms about cursing the Lu family.”

“I've bought him drinks twice, and now he treats me like a brother and even got into an argument with someone else on my behalf.” Drunkards are usually unguarded with strangers. “Tonight, a large fleet of ships is arriving at the port and needs to be unloaded by midnight, so most of the tavern's patrons will be working there, making it quiet here. I'd like to take the opportunity to ask him about some inside information on the Lu family.”

“Is it safe?”

“The bartender said that Steward Feng pours out his grievances to anyone who'll listen, having recounted them dozens of times to the point where his ears have almost grown calluses. No one should pay attention to me talking with Steward Feng.”

He Lingchuan immediately stood up: “I'll go with you.”

The Yellow Fish Tavern had a decent-sized facade and was situated near the port docks, making it convenient for regulars to grab a drink right after work. The faded sign looked a bit old, but He Lingchuan knew the business was always thriving.

It was cheap, but high-volume.

The interior wasn't cramped at all, accommodating over twenty square tables simultaneously, though the windows were small, keeping it dim.

This was intentional; people tend to become sensitive to light after drinking heavily.

As expected, the tavern was quiet today, with most patrons gone to work at the docks, and the pervasive smell of sweat had lessened. Lu Qiuwei jutted his chin towards a small table at the very back: “That's him.”

He Lingchuan looked, and saw the man with his back to the door, propping his head up, with a pot of wine still on the table.

Lu Qiuwei walked over and sat down at Steward Feng's table, while He Lingchuan took a seat by the window, two tables away from them.

The table corners were worn smooth and shiny from use.

The waiter brought a complimentary dish of pickled edamame whenever a customer arrived. He Lingchuan casually ordered a pot of spirits and a bowl of fish soup noodles.

He could drink both good and bad liquor. The spirits at this dockside tavern were dry and fiery, burning the throat; first-time drinkers often choked on it, and drinking too much led to a splitting headache the next morning.

Looking at Steward Feng again, his clothes were made of good material but were wrinkled and patched in two places.

He was drinking cheap liquor that cost a single large coin per pot, with only a dish of seasoned dried shrimp skins as an accompaniment.

But when he saw Lu Qiuwei, his eyes lit up. The latter patted his shoulder: “Drinking alone again?”

Steward Feng chuckled self-deprecatingly: “Heh, isn't it always like this?”

Lu Qiuwei called the waiter over and ordered a pot of red rice wine, along with several meat dishes like braised pig's head skin and dried salted fish. Then he said: “Old Feng, I'll be heading north in a couple of days.”

“Oh? Where to?”

“Qucheng. Our master wants to open a shop there and test the waters.”

“Test the waters? Your master is going to Qucheng to test the waters?” Steward Feng took a swig of wine. “Is your master out of his mind?”

Lu Qiuwei asked, surprised: “What do you mean by that?”

He subtly glanced back and saw the “master who was out of his mind” calmly pouring and drinking by himself.

“Not just Qucheng, but who owns all of Bailie?”

“The Lu family?”

Steward Feng chuckled: “More than ten years ago, it might have been suitable, but in recent years, Bailie has been plagued by exorbitant taxes and levies. Ask anyone at this tavern; they've been operating here for over twenty years and still need to beg for favors to pay fewer taxes. If Blade's Edge Port is like this, Qucheng is even worse! If you outsiders, who are unaware of the situation, dare to do business in Qucheng, they'll fine you to death.”

Lu Qiuwei was puzzled: “I heard Bailie has been peaceful for decades, with no major wars. Why are they still trying to squeeze money out of everyone?”

Bailie has a good geographical location. To its west, the neighboring State of Mou is a major power, but it has good relations with Bailie. All around are small states, or even tribal territories like Bailie itself. Of course, the most unstable factor to the east is the rapidly rising State of Ya.

If Dragon Coil City could hold this place, Zhong Shengguang would truly wake up laughing from his dreams at night.

“'Squeezing money,' those two words are well-chosen!” Steward Feng slapped the table. “They could just outright rob you, but they insist on doing it under the guise of a fine.”

He asked his newly recognized good brother: “Do you know the origin of Bailie?”

“I know a little. I heard the people here are remnants of the State of Bailie, and they only came here after their former territory was occupied by Beijia.”

“This territory of Bailie—” Steward Feng kept poking the table with his middle finger, “actually, its original size was three times larger than it is now.”

“Oh? That's not small.” Lu Qiuwei was a little surprised. “What happened?”

“Over six hundred years, a piece was carved away in the east, a territory borrowed in the west, and disputed areas were yielded even further, slowly shrinking it to its current size.” Steward Feng shook his head: “Bailie has only been able to act tough these past few years. For decades before, it was soft, enduring humiliation first and talking about 'self-reflection,' 'self-reflection' whenever trouble arose...”

“Self-reflection? That's a commendatory term; how is it being used in this context?”

“Exactly! They just didn't dare to stir up trouble outside.”

“Oh, wasn't it said that the Lu clan leader's son had risen to prominence in the State of Mou, and a revival for Bailie was on the horizon?”

“Revival?” Steward Feng scoffed. “They'd be lucky not to go bankrupt!”

“Bankrupt?” Lu Qiuwei looked incredulous. “Owning such a large territory, how can they go bankrupt? I heard Bailie has fertile land, flourishing trade, and thriving industries.”

Given Bailie's geographical location, north of the bay and amidst various states, it serves as a hub connecting to all nations.

One would expect to get rich just by laying hands on such a prime piece of land.

At that moment, He Lingchuan's fish soup noodles arrived. The broth was milky white and incredibly fragrant, with a few green onions sprinkled on top, making for a very appealing presentation.

It looked like plain noodles—and indeed, there were no other toppings—but the broth was actually made from simmering a large quantity of assorted fish. The docks had no shortage of seafood, and the vendor specifically picked out the leftover, bottom-of-the-basket fish to make the soup, which meant it cost almost nothing.

That's why such a large bowl of noodles cost only three large coins, a fair price that even hardworking poor people could afford, making it one of the Yellow Fish Tavern's specialties.

He Lingchuan slurped, finding the soup rich and delicious, and the noodles quite chewy.

Steward Feng heard the sound, glanced back at him, then continued to Lu Qiuwei: “Fifteen years ago, although the Lu family was caught between various states, their internal affairs were quite prosperous behind closed doors. Now, they seem to have asserted themselves externally, but internally, it's a mess that only they themselves truly understand!”

Lu Qiuwei was surprised: “Are you saying they've spent all their money on appearances?”

Lu San was Lu Zhensheng's cousin, ranked third in the clan.

“Exactly!” Steward Feng sneered. “I was a steward at Lu San's household for over ten years. From the outside, his residence looks like a grand estate, large and imposing. In reality, half of the courtyards inside are closed off year-round, neither repaired nor cleaned. Two years ago, a wing on the west side creaked incessantly every night. Everyone thought it was haunted, but eventually, we found out a family of weasels had moved in there. They would often scamper over the well, causing the wooden bucket to rattle whenever they disturbed the rope.”

“Is that because there are few people?” The Lu family seemed to have a small household.

“Indeed, not many, but the wages they paid us stewards and servants were very stingy, even less than what merchants in Qucheng offered. No one believed me when I used to say that.”