Green Mountain

At 7 p.m., Chen Yue was overlooking from the building, just in time to see Chen Bin leading more than ten assistants entering through the back door, heading straight for the entrance of Meirui Building.

After waiting for thirty minutes, Chen Bin led people out of Meirui Building angrily saying, "I asked yesterday if you have the salt permit, you said yes and told me to fetch it today. Today I came, but now you say you don't have it? Was it not Meihua Ferry Crossing's own rule to settle within a day?"

In the darkness, someone grabbed Chen Bin and said gently, "Dear customer, whatever the issue is, let's discuss it inside Meirui Building, so as not to disturb other guests."

But Chen Bin suddenly broke free and ran toward Cold Plum Building, shouting, "Murder! Meihua Ferry Crossing committed a murder! I handed over 80,000 taels of silver to you, and you say you can't get the salt permit. I asked for my silver back, and you said you couldn't refund it now. Are you trying to swallow my 80,000 taels of silver?!"

In Red Plum Building, Chen Yue exclaimed, "Meihua Ferry Crossing swallowed the customer's 80,000 taels of silver?!"

80,000 taels of silver is not a small sum anywhere. If given to Zhang Zhuo, it's enough to buy a high-ranking official position. The guests at the seating area, upon hearing this, all gathered at the railing to look below, whispering among themselves.

Next door, ten or more people opened their previously closed windows in Cold Plum Building to look out.

They heard Chen Bin continue shouting, "The hidden landlord behind Meihua Ferry Crossing is Chen Ji at Fuyou Street, bastard son of the Chen Family, and Hundred Households of the Yulin Army. I thought the Chen Family would act with some dignity, but who would have expected him to resort to cunning ways, swallowing the silver of us salt merchants..."

Someone exclaimed upstairs in Red Plum Building, "Chen Family on Fuyou Street! No wonder Liu Xingshou left the White Jade Garden and came here, perhaps because the wastrel son of the Chen Family on Fuyou Street has been coercing and enticing Liu Xingshou?"

Seeing the situation escalating, some people even left the banquet to observe from the courtyard.

Whenever the people from Meihua Ferry Crossing wanted to stop Chen Bin from speaking further, Chen Bin would loudly shout that Meihua Ferry Crossing was committing murder, forcing the staff of Meihua Ferry Crossing to restrain themselves in front of the officials.

Brother Pao stepped out from the crowd, bowing to Chen Bin, "This brother might have misunderstood something. We at Meihua Ferry Crossing have no intention of swallowing your silver."

Chen Bin angrily said, "Then return my silver."

Brother Pao politely replied, "I can't return it. Our accounts at Meihua Ferry Crossing do not currently have that much silver."

Chen Bin laughed in anger, turning to the observing officials and shouted, "Did you all hear? Meihua Ferry Crossing today wants to use cunning force, and he admitted it himself!"

Chen Yue sat calmly by the railing in Red Plum Building, and upon hearing Brother Pao admit that they didn't have enough silver, he finally let out a long sigh of relief and poured himself a cup of wine with a smile.

The third floor had already emptied, but the songstress was still strumming and singing to herself.

Chen Yue's gaze inadvertently swept over the songstress, feeling that she looked like his childhood sweetheart from Lu State. Back then, he abandoned their engagement and came alone to the Imperial Capital, and when he returned to Lu State, she was already married.

He pointed at the songstress, "Assistant, today I will groom this young lady. Charge all expenses in Red Plum Building to my account. Consider it a Peach Blossom Banquet for the young lady."

The assistant's eyes lit up, "The guest is serious?"

Chen Yue laughed heartily, "Could it be false? Go ahead, tell your landlord, today I have a great joy, let's organize a Peach Blossom Banquet for the young lady, making it a double celebration!"

Just at that moment, someone came up the stairs, "What joy is Chen Shopkeeper celebrating that makes him so happy?"

Chen Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, "Chen Ji? Why aren't you downstairs handling the chaos, what are you doing here?"

Chen Ji lifted his robe and came upstairs, sitting across from Chen Yue.

He calmly watched the hoarse Chen Bin downstairs, "With the deadly setup Chen Shopkeeper has prepared for days, what's the use of me going down now? I'm just curious, why does Chen Shopkeeper insist on bringing me to ruin?"

Chen Yue lifted the wine cup to his lips, sarcastically saying, "Don't blame me either. Making a living in this Imperial Capital, many are waiting to step on me to rise. If I don't drive you out of the capital, those few fence-sitters under me will definitely switch allegiance to you, kicking me when I'm down. Only this way can they sit in the shopkeeper position."

Chen Ji nodded, "So that's how it is... Next, it's time to call Shuntian Prefecture to arrest me, right?"

Chen Yue's expression changed, "How did you know?"

Chen Ji smiled, "Apart from this path, you have no other means to bring me to ruin, isn't that right?"

Chen Yue quickly calculated whether Chen Ji had any other cards: Chen Lizun was still in Tanggu, and no salt permit had been brought to Meihua Ferry Crossing today, so Chen Ji probably had no other support...

Feeling slightly reassured, he became playful, "Don't worry, landlord, the masters won't just sit by, they'll help you cover this silver as long as you leave the Imperial Capital quietly."

Chen Ji smiled, "That's good, if truly forced to leave the capital, I'll go back to Luocheng City and open a small pharmacy."

Chen Yue laughed arrogantly, "I'll cover the money to open the pharmacy for you!"

Chen Ji's tone shifted, "But Chen Shopkeeper's outcome won't be as simple as leaving the capital."

Chen Yue paused.

Chen Ji pointed downstairs, "Take another look."

Meanwhile, Brother Pao calmly cupped his hands to the onlookers, "Ladies and gentlemen, I had no intention to disturb your pleasure today, but since this has occurred, I shall explain the causes and effects."

Without waiting for Chen Bin to react, Brother Pao continued, "Yesterday, a group came to Meihua Ferry Crossing to consign 20,000 salt permits from Jinling. Subsequently, this customer bought those 20,000 salt permits, requiring settlement within a day. Since it was consignment, those 20,000 salt permits were not in our possession. We went today according to the seller's address to facilitate the transaction, only to find the place deserted. After extensive inquiries, we learned that the other party left the Imperial Capital last night, never intending to actually sell the permits."