Chapter 362: Business Has Come

Early in the morning, Chen Ji heard a stir outside the door.

He threw back his covers and, dressed only in white undergarments, walked out the door.

Under the dim sky, Xiaoman was scattering a basket of white ash from outside the courtyard, all the way into the annex room. A small black cat followed closely behind her, like a puppy.

It was the second day of the second month, when the dragon raises its head, inviting the dragon back home.

This white ash, used to invite the dragon back, had to be scattered in a circle around the well first, then all the way into their own kitchen stove, to pray for good fortune and wealth.

Chen Ji spoke, "It's rare to see you awake so early."

Xiaoman looked up at his words. "Young Master, you're awake? I'll boil water for you after I finish scattering the ash. Today is the second day of the second month, so you should leave a bit later. I also need to make you pancakes later to celebrate the festival."

"Eating to celebrate the festival" meant consuming foods specific to the holiday.

There were many foods to eat on the second day of the second month: dumplings were called 'dragon's ears,' pancakes 'dragon's scales,' thin noodles 'dragon's whiskers,' fried cakes 'dragon's gallbladders,' and wontons 'dragon's eyes.'

These foods symbolized warding off disasters, praying for blessings, and immunity from all illnesses.

Chen Ji leaned against the doorframe. "How can a handful of white ash truly invite a dragon into our home for promotion and wealth? And eating 'dragon's food' doesn't necessarily make one immune to all illnesses. Why not sleep a little longer?"

Xiaoman earnestly retorted, "No, that won't do. Auntie used to say that inviting the dragon back won't necessarily make us rich, but if a family doesn't even celebrate a festival, it won't feel like a home."

"On New Year's Eve, even the poorest families would cut some meat to make dumplings. On New Year's Day, regardless of wealth or poverty, everyone would buy gold foil paper, cut it into butterflies, and wear them on their heads."

"On the fifteenth day of the first month, we admire lanterns; in the third month, during Qingming, we honor our ancestors; in the fifth month, during Duanwu, we wear mugwort leaves; in the eighth month, during Mid-Autumn, we eat mooncakes. In the ninth month, we eat jujube cakes; in the tenth month, we send winter clothes; on the eighth day of the twelfth month, we make Laba porridge; and at the end of the month, we make sugar cakes to offer to the Kitchen God. Auntie said life was too hard, and each festival was a glimmer of hope."

Chen Ji listened intently.

He suddenly remembered that in previous years during the Spring Festival, his parents had insisted on him putting up couplets. Even though he was on winter break and wanted to sleep in every day, he would be dragged out to write and paste the couplets himself, which he found incredibly annoying.

But now, looking back, those things he had once resisted had become anchors in his memory.

Chen Ji turned and went back inside to get dressed. "Next time there's anything to do for a festival, call me to help. Don't busy yourself alone in secret."

"Alright!" Xiaoman smiled, revealing her small canine teeth, then showed a worried expression. "Young Master, the servants in the estate are all saying that the salt house managers have pulled the rug out from under you. They say that with you taking over the salt house this time, you'll likely be completely humiliated by the managers."

Chen Ji put on his clothes and walked out. "Where did you hear all this?"

Xiaoman explained, "The Chen family estate is deeply intertwined. Yesterday afternoon, the head manager of the salt house came to the estate, and that's how the news about the salt house spread. The Second Branch people in the Qinzheng Garden are wary of me, but I can go to the Zhuozheng Garden to inquire. I can find out a lot of things for just a few coppers."

Chen Ji chuckled. "You actually spend money for me?"

Xiaoman raised her eyebrows. "Young Master said he'd hand all future business over to me. Your business is my business!"

Chen Ji suddenly asked curiously, "Xiaoman, if you wanted to mend a relationship with someone, what would you do?"

Xiaoman replied as if it were obvious, "Invite them to eat."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. "What if the other person has no desire for food?"

"Who doesn't like to eat?" Xiaoman asked in surprise. "I don't know about others, but if someone makes me angry, and then treats me to something delicious, I become very happy. Sister Liqiu used to coax me with food... Young Master, are you going to treat me to food?"

"No," Chen Ji shook his head. "When you make the pancakes later, make two extra."

"Oh."

At that moment, a knocking sound came from outside the door.

Chen Ji looked up. The door wasn't closed, and the lean Chen Lizun stood by the doorway like a green pine tree, with several young servants behind him carrying two boxes.

Chen Ji cupped his hands in greeting. "Uncle."

Chen Lizun said gently, "Don't be so polite. Your aunt made you a few light robes. You can change into them when spring arrives and the flowers bloom."

The servants behind him carried the boxes into the courtyard. Upon opening them, one box contained black boots, and the other clothes.

Chen Ji did not decline. "Thank you, Uncle."

Chen Lizun waved his hand at the servants, who bowed and exited the courtyard.

Chen Lizun then silently looked at Xiaoman.

Realizing, Xiaoman quickly said, "Ah... I'll go make pancakes for the Young Master."

After Xiaoman left, Chen Lizun found a stone stool and sat down. "I heard you took all the salt permits from the salt house?"

Chen Ji affirmed, "Yes, Uncle."

Chen Lizun pointed to the stone stool beside him. "Have a seat. Last night, Chen Yue, the head manager of the salt house, came to the estate. He went to your Second Uncle to discuss this matter. He probably intends to scheme. Unfortunately, the salt house has been under your Second Uncle's control for years, and I haven't had a chance to get any leverage on those managers, otherwise, I could help you."

Chen Ji asked sincerely, "Why do you want to help me, Uncle?"

His unstated question was: Wasn't Chen Yu good enough?

Chen Yu was not only a freshly appointed imperial scholar from three years ago but also held the sixth-rank position of Chief Clerk in the Ministry of Revenue at just over twenty years old. His character, talent, and appearance were all impeccable. Although Chen Yu belonged to the Second Branch, if he were adopted into the First Branch, his allegiance would naturally be with them.

Why not choose Chen Yu?

The Third Branch had been in Luocheng for three years, and Chen Lizun had waited for three years.

Chen Lizun was silent for a moment, then finally changed the subject. "What do you intend to do with those salt permits? If they have no particular use, leave the ledgers for later investigation and return the permits. Otherwise, if the Second Branch uses the salt house's closure to criticize you, you won't be able to explain yourself. Don't be afraid of losing face; it's nothing."

Chen Ji said earnestly, "Your nephew has a use for this batch of salt permits and cannot return them just yet."

Chen Lizun was somewhat surprised. "Oh?"

Chen Ji lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Please forgive me, Uncle, I cannot disclose my plans just yet, but your nephew wishes to conduct some business with you first. Even if you hadn't come to find me today, I would have sought you out."

Chen Lizun grew interested. "Tell me about it."

Chen Ji talked with Chen Lizun for a long time before leaving. He held pancakes wrapped in palm leaves, walked along the path, and exited through the side gate. There, he saw Si Cao Gui, wearing a bamboo hat, leaning against a carriage, resting with his eyes closed.

Hearing footsteps, the man opened his eyes, which gleamed sharply.

Just that glance was like a long blade drawn from its sheath.

"Young Master," Si Cao Gui bowed and bent down to set up a footstool for Chen Ji.

Chen Ji casually handed the palm-leaf package to him. "The pancakes Xiaoman made taste good."

Before Si Cao Gui could refuse, Chen Ji had already placed the palm-leaf wrapped pancakes into his hand and, bending down, entered the carriage himself.

Si Cao Gui looked down at the pancakes in his hand and casually tossed them onto the ground.

He sat sideways on the carriage, and the vehicle slowly began to move.

Inside the carriage, Chen Ji asked in a low voice, "Why isn't Sir Si Cao eating?"

Under his bamboo hat, Si Cao Gui's expression was indifferent. "Instead of doing useless things, you should think more about how to manage the salt house well. For me, as long as what you do benefits our Jing Dynasty, then you are one of us. Whoever wants to kill you, I will kill them. If it's of no benefit, I will not be lenient or benevolent towards you, even for your uncle's sake."

He changed the subject abruptly. "Chen Ji, do you know why I came to the Southern Dynasty?"

Chen Ji said nothing.

The carriage passed through the bluestone street of Fuyou Street, its wooden wheels making a clattering sound against the stone slabs.

Si Cao Gui leaned against the carriage body and spoke unhurriedly, "Back then, I was an infantryman in the Tiger Leopard Cavalry. I didn't know your uncle then; I was just an unknown foot soldier in the Tiger Leopard Cavalry."

He continued to recall, "In the twenty-seventh year of Lizong's reign, the Tiger Leopard Cavalry achieved a great victory at Chongli Pass, suffering eight thousand casualties but killed thirty-seven thousand soldiers of the Southern Dynasty's Datong Border Army in battle. Everyone joyfully returned to the capital, but the promised rewards never came, and the pensions for the fallen soldiers disappeared without a trace."

"The elderly father of a comrade, upon learning his son had died at Chongli Pass, was heartbroken and bedridden, passing away within a few days. His family didn't even have money for a funeral, so about a dozen of us pooled our money to buy him a coffin. Later, I found out that Jiang Xu, the Minister of Military Strategy, had embezzled the reward money and pensions, intending to use them to build an imperial palace by the North Sea for His Majesty."

"The following year, on the Lantern Festival, twenty-seven of us comrades secretly infiltrated Jiang Xu's manor, intending to kill that corrupt official. But we didn't expect to be discovered by Jiang Xu's personal attendants before we could even attempt the assassination. We lost nineteen lives just to escape. We fled south, but before we could get out of Liaoyang Prefecture, we found ourselves at a dead end. It was your uncle who hid us for a year. He gave us food, provided us with routes through official checkpoints, and then secretly sent us to the Southern Dynasty's Military Intelligence Bureau to change our names."

"Before we left, your uncle said he would overthrow Jiang Xu within five years, and he did it. Your uncle also said that as long as the two dynasties remained disunited, he would only wear plain clothes and eat a simple meal of coarse tea and plain rice every day. He also said that if he ever became like Jiang Xu, we could return to the Jing Dynasty and kill him at any time."

"Chen Ji, your uncle has long ceased living for himself. And the day I left the Jing Dynasty, I had already disregarded life and death. Forget your two pancakes; even if you offered me a lifetime of wealth and glory, it would not be what I seek. You do your part, I do mine. That is all."

Chen Ji said no more.

Si Cao Gui was a pure blade, and only a pure blade was sharp enough.

The carriage stopped outside the Governor's Mansion gate. Chen Ji entered the main gate, while Si Cao Gui led the carriage towards a small alley next to the Six Ministries' Yamen.

Between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel was a relatively wide alley. Further in, a spacious area between the Imperial Pharmacy and the Treasury was filled with the carriages and palanquins of the various ministers.

The carriage drivers and palanquin bearers gathered together, either chatting idly or gambling.

Si Cao Gui didn't try to squeeze in. He sat on his carriage, pulling his bamboo hat low, and pulled out the still-warm palm-leaf package from inside his clothes. Peeling it open layer by layer, the aroma of scallion oil wafted out.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally took a bite, chewing slowly.

Just then, a young man in gray cloth clothes slyly approached. He leaned close to Si Cao Gui and whispered, "Are you Chen Ji's carriage driver? Come with me."

The young man turned and walked away, turning into the deeper part of the alley.

Si Cao Gui glanced at him sideways and followed, eating his pancake. As soon as he entered the alley, he smelled a strong odor of urine. The drivers couldn't enter the yamen to use the latrine on normal days, so they had to relieve themselves there.

Si Cao Gui frowned, put the palm-leaf package back into his clothes, and called out to the young man leading the way, "Why did you call me?"

The young man smiled and said, "I am Chen Ertong from the Chen family's salt house."

As he spoke, Chen Ertong tossed a piece of broken silver through the air.

Si Cao Gui caught it. "What do you want to buy?"

Chen Ertong moved closer and whispered, "The salt house used to be Second Master's property, you know that, right?"

Si Cao Gui grunted, "Yes, I know. What about it?"

Chen Ertong moved even closer. "From now on, you'll report Chen Ji's whereabouts to me: where he went, whom he met, what he said—you must tell me everything. Not only will you get silver, but after this is done, you'll be promoted to a first-class carriage driver."

Si Cao Gui looked down at the broken silver in his hand. "How does Second Master intend to deal with Chen Ji?"

Chen Ertong smiled. "Naturally, he wants to expel him from the capital... Second Master wants to control a concubine-born son. You understand which side you should be on."

Si Cao Gui studied Chen Ertong, then looked around the empty alley, his fingers gently rubbing the uneven piece of silver.

He was silent for a moment. "I will report his whereabouts to you daily. How should I find you?"

Chen Ertong walked towards the alley exit. "I'll wait for you at the side gate of the Chen estate every day at Yinshi."

Si Cao Gui squinted behind him. "If I can't find you, who should I look for?"

Chen Ertong said without turning his head, "Look for Chen Yue, the head manager of the salt house."

Si Cao Gui pulled down the brim of his bamboo hat. "Understood."

At Shenshi, work ended.

Chen Ji entered the carriage, which then proceeded onto West Chang'an Avenue.

Not long after they set off, Si Cao Gui suddenly said, "Someone is following us. It must be people from the Chen family's salt house. They tried to buy me off today, wanting me to record your movements. The people from the Chen family's salt house are like persistent flies. When do you plan to get rid of them?"

Chen Ji said calmly from inside the carriage, "Sir Si Cao, I also want to get rid of them, but we must follow the rules of the capital. No killing."

Si Cao Gui said casually, "Don't worry, I know the rules of the capital."

As he spoke, he reined in the horses, guiding the carriage into Shuangmazhuang Alley, and then from Shuangmazhuang Alley into Chengxia Street.

However, a carriage was not like a horse; no matter how much it sped up within the inner city, it couldn't match the speed of a running person, making it impossible to shake off a pursuer.

Si Cao Gui asked in a low voice, "Are we still going to Meihua Crossing?"

Chen Ji lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Continue to Meihua Crossing."

After the carriage arrived, Chen Ji entered Meihua Crossing on his own.

Si Cao Gui led the carriage deeper into the alley. Chen Ertong, the salt house worker who had been following them, slyly approached. "Brother, what is Chen Ji doing here?"

Si Cao Gui extended his hand.

Chen Ertong grumbled, "I just gave you silver this morning. Why do you want more now?"

Under his bamboo hat, Si Cao Gui was expressionless. "Each question costs its own silver."

Chen Ertong took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve and tossed it to Si Cao Gui. "Speak."

Si Cao Gui lowered his head, counting the copper coins in his hand one by one. "Meihua Crossing is his property. He moved all the salt house ledgers and salt permits here to audit them, aiming to find evidence of the salt house managers selling smuggled salt."

Chen Ertong's expression changed. "Selling smuggled salt? He said that?"

Si Cao Gui whispered, "That's right, he mentioned smuggled salt. Furthermore, he also arranged to meet with a small salt merchant to sell the salt permits to him."

"Which small salt merchant?"

"A scholar from the south named Huang Que."

Chen Ertong turned and left immediately.

At this moment, in front of the main office of the Chen Family Salt Merchants, the head manager, Chen Yue, stood with his hands behind his back, just inside the threshold.

He looked back at the empty salt measures and quiet courtyard beside him, then out at the extremely bustling mule and horse market street beyond the gate. He felt a nagging sense of unease.

The new owner had seized the salt permits several days ago; by all accounts, he should have made a move by now.

However, Chen Yue had inquired with other salt houses, and no one had seen Chen Ji selling salt permits.

Chen Yue muttered to himself, "Strange, he's holding onto these salt permits but not selling them. What's he keeping them for?"

Chen Bin, standing nearby, quietly asked, "Could some salt house have secretly bought the permits at a low price but are lying about it?"

Chen Yue sneered. "No matter, even if someone bought them, they wouldn't have paid four taels of silver per permit. That kid's accounts will show a loss no matter what."

As they spoke, Chen Ertong came running from a distance. "Manager, this isn't good!"

Chen Yue paused. "What did you find out?"

Chen Ertong panted, "That Chen Ji's carriage driver has been completely bought over by me. He told me that Chen Ji is investigating our salt house for selling smuggled salt."

Chen Yue's expression instantly darkened.

For years, the salt house managers appeared clean on the surface, but in reality, their hidden fortunes all came from smuggled salt. If this matter were proven, it would be a capital offense.

Chen Ji investigating smuggled salt meant he wanted them dead.

Chen Yue hesitated. "What else did you find out?"

Chen Ertong recalled, "The driver also said that Chen Ji intends to sell the salt permits to a scholar named Huang Que."

Chen Yue was confused. "Huang Que? Isn't he the son of that notorious salt merchant? How did he get involved with Chen Ji?"

He turned to Chen Bin. "Did that Huang Que ever buy salt permits from our Chen family?"

Chen Bin nodded. "That's right. The Huang family is a well-known group of salt smugglers, operating along the Caizhou, Taihang, Huaian, Xuzhou, and Jinling line. It's said they have a hidden private salt field on an island near the coast and have recruited many runaway salt workers. The Huang family also has several small salt merchants around them; one named Old Fu is very close to us and is currently in the capital."

Chen Yue narrowed his eyes. "Take Ertong to find Old Fu and probe Chen Ji's intentions."