CHAPTER 468: 356. THE FIRST STEP

Within the Imperial Music Bureau, amidst the clamor of voices, the Ru Nan Yuan Family and the Hongnong Yang Family raised the redemption money for the Wang Family’s Daughter to seventy thousand strings of coins.

Outside the Bureau, Shen Ye glanced at Chen Ji, smiling as he asked, "What, you don’t trust me? After all, I am the Poetry Champion of the Huqiu Poetry Society, and have been a guest of many nobles. It’s not surprising that I know some salt merchants."

Chen Ji chuckled and said, "Then please go ahead."

As Huang Que boarded the carriage, Si Cao Gui eagerly approached, "Allow me to assist you."

While speaking, Si Cao Gui supported Huang Que’s arm with his left hand, discreetly checking his sleeve for any weapons. With his right hand, he supported Huang Que’s back, swiftly passing his palm near the belt.

In an instant, the search was completed unnoticed.

When Shen Ye boarded the carriage, Si Cao Gui discreetly searched him again. After confirming that neither Huang Que nor Shen Ye carried weapons, he was finally at ease.

Chen Ji observed the scene calmly, feeling a sudden stir in his heart.

Now with the struggle for succession, Si Cao Gui seemed even more concerned about his life than he did.

At this moment, Si Cao Gui turned to look at Chen Ji, his expression ambiguous, "Master, please get in the carriage."

Chen Ji stepped into the carriage: "To Meihua Ferry Crossing, stop at the back door."

Si Cao Gui sat in the coachman’s seat, but his body was slightly turned towards the carriage. If anyone attempted to harm Chen Ji, he could immediately come to his aid.

The carriage swayed its way towards the outer city.

Once Chen Ji was in the carriage, he no longer discussed business but smiled as he looked at Huang Que, "Brother Huang, how are things with Second Miss Qi? At the last Literary Meeting, I noticed the two of you often exchanged glances, and today you frequently cast your eyes upon her."

Huang Que stuttered, "Second Miss Qi merely appreciates my writings, nothing more. Brother, don’t make random guesses and ruin Second Miss Qi’s reputation."

Shen Ye patted Huang Que’s shoulder, "Brother Huang, don’t be evasive with Brother Chen Ji. You and Miss Zhaoyun share mutual feelings, and now Lord Qi Xianshu also holds you in high regard. Why not speak openly?"

Huang Que sighed, "I am worried..."

Shen Ye picked up the conversation, "You’re worried that getting close with Second Miss Qi will lead the literati in the Capital to claim you’re climbing the social ladder and taking shortcuts? Brother Huang, with your talents, even without climbing high branches, you would readily pass the scholar examination. Why care about idle gossip?"

Huang Que shook his head, "I have failed the examination twice, and lack the talent Brother Shen speaks of. I am not concerned about being called a sycophant of the powerful; for Second Miss Qi, bearing some bad reputation doesn’t matter. What worries me is that I may not be worthy of the Qi family."

As he spoke, the carriage exited Yanle Alley and entered Chongwen Gate Street.

Seeing Chen Ji not discussing business for some time, Huang Que couldn’t contain himself, "Brother Chen Ji, didn’t you just say you possess three hundred thousand salt permits?"

Chen Ji smiled slightly, displaying the demeanor of a noble scion, "Indeed. Now my family has entrusted me to manage the salt business, but I find dealing with it too tedious. It would be easier to sell the salt permits, saving time and effort. With leisure, it’s better to go on an outing with a few friends."

Huang Que felt stirred, cautiously probing, "Brother, how much do you plan to price the salt permits?"

Chen Ji laughed and reassured him, "Brother Huang, there’s no rush to discuss this matter. We can talk it over while drinking wine when we reach Meihua Ferry Crossing."

The carriage exited Zhengyang Gate, and within just thirty minutes, reached the back door of Meihua Ferry Crossing.

The man at the door saw Chen Ji alight from the carriage and immediately paid respects, "Landlord."

Chen Ji discreetly pinched the base of his pinky finger with his left thumb: bringing outsiders.

The man understood, and gently opened a narrow brown door beside him, "Allow me to lead the guests."

Once inside, the man led Chen Ji towards Meirui Building.

Huang Que looked around curiously and asked, "It’s the bustling time for Baishun Alley. Why is Meihua Ferry Crossing so quiet?"

The man leading the way explained, "This guest may not know, recently the Four Dreams of Bianliang from the Imperial Music Bureau has become famous in the Capital. Coupled with Liu Xingshou from Jinling arriving in the Capital a few days ago and residing in the White Jade Garden of the Three Mountains Association, the Capital’s patrons either crowd into the White Jade Garden or head to the Imperial Music Bureau. Thus, business at Meihua Ferry Crossing has been slow."

Arriving at Meirui Building’s entrance, the man pushed open the vermillion door.

Huang Que and Shen Ye were taken aback, seeing the spacious Covered Building’s main hall deserted, with over a dozen large boxes casually left open on the ground. Inside the boxes were many salt permits, with a few scattered on the floor.

Huang Que hurried forward a few steps to pick up the salt permits on the ground, scrutinizing the writing on them, "Batch number 2369, now hired by Baotou Chen Family Salt Shop, transporting two hundred pounds of official salt to Gongyi County in Henan Province."

On the corner of the salt permits was an exquisite vermillion red seal, engraved with a Chen character, and a strange symbol beside it.

"These are the first batch of salt permits in the 32nd year of Jianing." Huang Que carefully stroked the salt permits, as Chen Ji made to go upstairs, "Brother Huang, these salt permits aren’t going anywhere, let’s go upstairs and have some wine, a banquet is already prepared upstairs."

Huang Que, however, put drinking out of his mind, "Brother Chen Ji, what’s the price for these salt permits?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "These salt permits, my Chen family acquired from the Ministry of Revenue for only four maces of silver, selling them to you for one tael of silver is fine."

Huang Que froze, rather tempted.

But he suddenly sighed softly, "Brother, the price you offer... truly awakens greed. But I cannot take such advantage of you. These salt permits could easily be sold to any salt merchant for two taels of silver, and I shall purchase them at two taels a piece. Even at two taels, it’s a huge bargain; the Eight Great Merchants sell permits to us at four taels each."