Green Mountain

The onlookers realized too, this was a setup by someone with intent.

"Don't distort the truth," Chen Bin sneered coldly at Brother Pao across from him: "Since you can't produce the salt permit, just return my silver. Is what I gave you not genuine silver?"

The observing officials also jeered: "Yes, even if you've been set up, just give the silver back to him."

Brother Pao shook his head: "No need to return it."

Chen Bin laughed heartily: "Then there's nothing more to say, let's meet at the Shuntian Prefect's office!"

Brother Pao motioned to someone behind him: "I said there's no need to return it because at Meihua Ferry Crossing we just happen to have twenty thousand salt permits. Although the seller from last night ran away, we at Meihua Ferry Crossing can still supply these permits."

Er Dao led people carrying several large chests into the crowd and placed them on the ground.

Chen Bin said disdainfully: "What I want is the salt permit from Jinling, don't substitute it with other permits."

Brother Pao replied calmly: "Naturally, it's the salt permit from Jinling."

Chen Yue suddenly stood up, coming to the wooden rail: "How is that possible?"

Chen Bin hurriedly lifted the lid of the chest, taking handfuls of salt permits to examine them. Moments later, he subconsciously turned his head to look at Chen Yue in the Red Plum Building, eyes filled with uncontrollable fear.

Chen Yue also couldn't maintain his composure, immediately asking loudly, "Are they really Jinling's salt permits?"

Chen Bin replied dryly: "Yes!"

Chen Yue suddenly turned to look at Chen Ji, but Chen Ji leisurely poured him a new glass of wine: "Shopkeeper Chen probably doesn't feel like hosting the 'Peach Blossom Banquet' today, have a drink to calm your nerves. But remember to pay for this round of drinks before you leave."

How many salt permits did Chen Ji really have? Hundreds of thousands of them.

A few days ago, Bai Long secretly came late at night, bringing more than ten chests of salt permits. These permits were rewarded by Emperor Ning to the Inner Court every year for personal revenue.

These salt permits originated from the wealthiest regions of the Ning Dynasty. Not to mention twenty thousand pieces from Jinling, even fifty thousand, Chen Ji could produce them.

After pouring Chen Yue a drink, Chen Ji looked up and smiled: "Shopkeeper Chen, after coming to the Imperial Capital, an elder taught me a principle: here, rules aren't important, business isn't important, who you belong to is what's most important... you chose the wrong opponent."

Chen Yue stumbled back to his seat, face ashen: "Since you had the salt permits, why didn't you bring them out earlier? Why wait until Chen Bin caused a scene in front of officials to reveal them?"

Chen Ji pointed downstairs: "No rush, let's watch a bit more."

At this moment, Brother Pao handed the salt permits to Chen Bin, then bowed to the onlookers: "After what happened today, Meihua Ferry Crossing has learned a lesson. From today onward, to prevent skipping payments as happened today, all who consign salt permits with us must first deposit a twenty percent guarantee, which will be fully refunded within seven days after the transaction."

Chen Yue's pupils suddenly contracted as he looked back at Chen Ji opposite him: "No wonder your commission is only one for every thousand; you had no intention of gradually earning money, but rather wanted to use this twenty percent deposit for circulation from the start!"

Considering the transactions at Meihua Ferry Crossing over the past few days, with this rule, they could instantly grab tens of thousands of taels of silver. If Meihua Ferry Crossing becomes the largest salt permit trading site in the Ning Dynasty, sellers could deposit a million taels of silver here.

Chen Ji sat serenely, slowly pouring himself a cup of tea: "There was no excuse before, with so much silver, the court wouldn't have permitted it... but now it's different. I must thank the Shopkeeper for delivering such a convenient excuse."

He smiled amidst the lamplight, raising his cup to Chen Yue: "With tea instead of wine, to the Shopkeeper."