Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

This letter was written by Cui Shuang to Chen Mo.

The letter explained that through his continuous efforts, he secured a deal for Chen Mo to purchase red copper at a price 40% below the market value per pound.

However, for coarse salt, Chen Mo had to handle it himself, as Cui Shuang couldn't convince Yuan Youchun.

"Forty percent below market price, not bad, this money wasn't spent in vain..." Chen Mo murmured, feeling that Cui Shuang was still worth dealing with, at least he worked for the money.

Of course, if Chen Mo knew that Yang Minggui agreed to sell it to him at half the market price, and that Cui Shuang pocketed 10% from it, he wouldn't think so.

Chen Mo called Zhang River and asked Wang Ping to send over two clerks, then immediately led a team to Xia Lin to purchase 30,000 pounds of red copper back.

Indeed, Chen Mo feared Yang Minggui might go back on his word during the period, so he hurried to buy the red copper back.

With 30,000 pounds of red copper, if utilized properly, one could craft 1,000 pieces of Bright Armor.

At the same time, Lu Yuan also carried 1,000 pounds of refined salt and thirty bottles of perfume made over the past two days to Jiangnan.

Since this was their first cooperation, the volume couldn't be large. After all, if the other party swallowed it, the sunk cost would be too high.

According to Shenghuang Commerce Association's 60-40 split, for the 1,000 pounds of refined salt, Chen Mo's expected price was to recover six hundred coins.

After all, according to Shenghuang Commerce Association, the profit could only be split after selling, leaving a lot of room for manipulation.

So, Chen Mo had to have his own expected price, which could be said to be a bottom line. If he couldn't recover at least six hundred coins, it would mean Shenghuang didn't intend to cooperate with him.

For thirty bottles of perfume, Chen Mo's expected price was one hundred coins.

...

On the other side, Qingtian County.

Bai Shu had just returned and hadn't even caught a breath when Yuan Youchun called him over, impatiently asking about Xia Lin's matter: "Did the Commander agree to stand up for me?"

Bai Shu shook his head, his face sullen. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "The Commander said, Commander He was at fault first, it's not Chen Mo's fault. General Yuan, you should drop this matter, besides..."

Before he could finish, Yuan Youchun couldn't help but frown slightly, angrily saying: "How can this be, Jin Wu is my adopted son, and is considered the Commander's foster grandson, how can this just be dropped."

After speaking, he realized Bai Shu hadn't finished and quickly asked, "Besides what."

"Be...sides the Commander has found that the tax amount on coarse salt reported by the General is incorrect, there was concealment, far more than five thousand pounds, therefore the General is penalized to submit the tax for ten thousand pounds of coarse salt to Xia Lin within ten days from receiving this news, and a fine of five...five thousand coins." After saying this, Bai Shu immediately lowered his head, not daring to breathe heavily.

"Ah…"

As expected, the next second, Yuan Youchun shouted loudly.

This loud shout was like a great bell, resounding throughout the hall.

The vases, teacups, teapots, and other items in the hall all shattered in response.

Bai Shu felt his eardrums prick with pain and quickly covered his ears.

How could Yuan Youchun not be angry, not only gaining no benefit but also having to lose money, his eyes narrowed slightly, exuding coldness, he turned his head to look at Bai Shu, and said: "What is going on, why would the Commander suddenly investigate our tax amount?"

"Subordinate found out, it was Cui Shuang who accused, and Chen Mo provided the information, saying that buying our coarse salt alone exceeded ten thousand pounds, so..." Bai Shu said softly.

"Bastard." Yuan Youchun's face was as dark as water, then suddenly thought of something, his gaze sharp, and said: "What about the refined salt matter? Did that kid Chen Mo give Cui Shuang some benefit, otherwise why would Cui Shuang stand up for that kid."

"It's said that the refined salt was extracted from coarse salt by Chen Mo, and the method of extraction has already been told to the Commander by Chen Mo." Bai Shu replied.

"I see, a bunch of usurious corrupt officials, so they got this big benefit and wanted me to drop this matter."

"..."

Bai Shu didn't know how to respond to this.

Yuan Youchun held back his anger, paced two circles in the hall, and then said in a low voice: "This can't end here, this affair has already become big. If this just ends, where would my face be put, and a stinky kid can ride on my head and shit."

"But the Commander has already ordered to drop this matter, General, if you act rashly, and upset the Commander, then..." Bai Shu frowned. Although he also had resentment towards Chen Mo, the Commander had already ordered it, and doing anything else would be disobedience.

A light flashed in Yuan Youchun's eyes, he said in a deep voice: "Didn't Chen Mo previously say that Jin Wu and their identities were fake, that they were bandits? Then we will be bandits once."

"General's meaning is?"

"Aren't the rice fields just outside Pingting County about to mature? You take people, dress like bandits, harvest them under the cover of night. This way, you can vent your anger and also make up for our loss, while the other side has no evidence against us." Yuan Youchun said.

"Yes."

...

Until nightfall, when the moon was high.

Bai Shu, dressed in black, with a piece of black cloth covering his face, took advantage of the night with about two hundred people, sneaked out of Qingtian County, and even the weapons they carried became cleavers. These works could serve as both weapons and sickles for harvesting rice.

"Commander Bai, we're going to Pingting County this time, bringing only this few people, won't it be insufficient?" a subordinate said.

"We're just going to harvest rice under the cover of night, not to fight. Too many people would create too much disturbance. Just follow orders, no need for so much nonsense."

"..."

The group took advantage of the night and arrived within Pingting County. Passing by Dadong Lake under Pingting County's jurisdiction, a man squatting in the ditch underneath the dam poked his head out. By the moonlight, he saw many sneaky figures heading towards Willow Village.

The man's name is Zhang Fusheng, still a member of the Divine Brave Guard. It wasn't his turn for duty tonight, so he took the opportunity to night fish during his rest time.

Not only him, but many Divine Brave Guards also enjoyed night fishing because it was easier to get fish at night, and you could also catch yellow eels and field frogs in the fields.

If lucky, a night's harvest could earn a month's salary.

But as more people go night fishing, the harvest naturally decreases. Compared to May, there are now much fewer night fishers.

Being sensitive to his identity, Zhang Fusheng immediately recognized those sneaky people as certainly not good folks. He squatted by the lake, cleaned his butt a few times, pulled up his pants, and ran towards the village.

As a native of Pingting County, he was very familiar with the local terrain. Even if he ran with his eyes closed, he wouldn't fall.

Soon, Zhang Fusheng overtook Bai Shu and his group.

...

With the harvest approaching, the Divine Brave Guard set up sentry posts and arranged patrols in Willow Village, Xiaogao Village, and Wang Family Manor.

However, the area of several villages is too large, and even if the Divine Brave Guard were spread out, some places could still be overlooked. Plus, the guards need to switch shifts and rest, so there are fewer people on patrol.

Willow Village isn't large, but it has a considerable amount of farmland. Previously, this farmland belonged to the city lords, but only recently was it distributed to households.

At the entrance of Willow Village, Su Qi, on duty with the team, was telling some dirty jokes he heard from who knows where.

Something about an official from a neighboring county having an affair, a rich merchant's newly acquired concubine cheating with his son...

These stories, whether true or false, were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Some were so amused that they were in awe.

When the conversation reached this point, it completely derailed.

Stories about conquering eight women in a night and something about not collapsing like a vajra came up.

Just then, a noise came from the sentry post ahead.

"Password."

"Fifth Brother Li, it's me."

"Password."

"Oddity changes, evenness doesn't change."

"Symbol looks at the quadrant. Password correct, go ahead."

"..."

Upon hearing the sounds, Su Qi and the others, who were talking about women, immediately quieted down and hurried over.

During this period, the training of the Divine Brave Guard has been quite effective. Although not yet reaching the level of the Qingzhou Army, they are much stronger than the previous Defense Army, and definitely not sloppy when encountering issues.

"Zhang Fusheng, why are you back empty-handed? Weren't you out night fishing?"

The Divine Brave Guard knew each other, and Su Qi said with a smile.

"Captain Su, something happened. When I was night fishing just now, I found many sneaky people heading towards Willow Village, so I took a shortcut to come back first." Zhang Fusheng hurriedly told Su Qi what he had seen.

As a Squadron Leader, Su Qi knew about the conflict between the County Magistrate and Yuan Youchun. Upon hearing Zhang Fusheng's words, he immediately thought of an impending night raid by the opposition.

"This is bad, prepare for battle. Zhang Fusheng, quickly go to Xiaogao Village and Wang Family Manor to notify Captain Hu and the others to come and support, and then return to the county... no, Immortal Master Chen is at the stockade tonight, go back and inform Immortal Master Chen." Su Qi immediately ordered.

"Understood."

When Hu Qiang and Han Wu arrived with their Divine Brave Guards, the fire in Willow Village had already gone out. Su Qi and his troops were hiding in the darkness, waiting for the thief's raid.

However, when Hu Qiang and Han Wu came, and there was no sign of the enemy, Su Qi realized that something was off.

The possibility of Zhang Fusheng giving false information was low, then it must be...

"The rice..."

Su Qi, Hu Qiang, and Han Wu exchanged a look, all thinking the same thing, and they hurriedly led their men towards the fields.

On Bai Shu's side.

Upon seeing the fields, Bai Shu didn't start cutting immediately but led his men to the fields at the mountainside. It was quietly calm here, with no one around for miles and far from both the village and roads. By the time they finished cutting all of this area, no one would have noticed.

"Take up your position." Bai Shu ordered.

Two hundred members of the Tiger Swift Army took a small wooden stick and put it in their mouths, ensuring no sound would be made.

"Cut." Bai Shu instructed again.

The group surged into the fields, moving quickly, knives rising and falling, and being of farming origin, the Tiger Swift Army was very adept at farm work.

In just a short time, several acres of fields were harvested, with the rice tied into bundles and loaded onto donkey carts.

Right then, a blaze of firelight appeared not far away.

"Coo coo coo..."

Then a bamboo whistle was blown, producing a series of owl-like sounds.

"There are thieves stealing the rice, kill them!"

"Don't let them escape, kill them all."

"Release arrows, release arrows!"

Immediately, shouts of killing echoed, completely breaking the tranquility under the night sky.