Green Mountain

Second Manager Ye's eyes lit up, "Has that kid lost his mind?"

Chen Yue urged, "Quickly fetch the silver, I'll have Chen Zhe take a trip."

Once he got the silver, he led the lean fellow named Chen Zhe to the door and instructed Old Fu, "This person will go with you."

Old Fu's face changed, "This won't do! Shopkeeper Chen, you know what kind of business we're in, how can we bring an outsider along? If the Huang Family finds out, I won't have a good outcome."

Chen Yue patted his shoulder, "If you don't take him, you won't have a good outcome right now."

…

…

Chen Zhe got on Old Fu's ox cart and headed towards the Eight Great Hutongs.

Upon reaching the alley where the back entrance of Meihua Ferry Crossing was located, he saw several usually discreet salt merchants waiting at the alley's entrance.

Old Fu was the last to arrive. As soon as he met them, he asked, "Where is the Huang family's kid?"

The others shook their heads, "Not here yet."

Old Fu asked again, "Is it true what they say that the Chen family fop scattered the salt permits everywhere at will?"

One salt merchant corrected him, "The Huang family's kid said that Chen Ji is not a fop, just a family scion who doesn't value the merchant's way... but it's true the salt permits were scattered everywhere."

At this moment, Huang Que arrived from afar.

Old Fu looked back, anxiously asking, "Did you secure the salt?"

Huang Que, with a weathered face and panting heavily, said, "I secured it. I personally rode to the Changlu Salt Field. Initially, I thought it would be troublesome, but unexpectedly, the salt official at the field was very polite after seeing the salt permit. I've never met such a polite salt official before."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that we secured it." "It's good that we secured it."

Some people, smiling brightly, began calculating, "With this batch of salt permits, as long as we can secure the salt smoothly, we can mix it with our private salt and turn it around for a profit of six silver taels..."

Huang Que's face darkened, "Sixth Brother Cao, is this something you can say outside? If you can't watch what comes out of your mouth, then don't get involved in our business anymore."

Sixth Brother Cao glared, "Who are you, Huang family's kid, to lecture? Out of respect for your father, I give you some face. By seniority, you should call me uncle, so don't push your luck."

Huang Que calmly said, "Why don't you ask others, see if anyone wants to associate with a boastful person like you? If you want to die, don't drag others down with you."

Sixth Brother Cao looked around, only to see other salt merchants turning their heads away.

He hurriedly slapped himself on the cheek, smiling apologetically, "It was my fault, uncle."

Yet, the usually humble and courteous Huang Que at the Qi family, seemed like a different person at this moment. He silently gazed at Sixth Brother Cao with composed eyes.

Sixth Brother Cao held his stance for a moment, gritting his teeth and slapping himself again, "It was my fault, villain."

As Huang Que walked past him, he solemnly said, "We're in a business that risks our heads. If you don't want to die, keep your mouth shut."

Having said that, he suddenly noticed Chen Zhe beside Old Fu, and asked in a firm voice, "Who is this? Didn't I advise not to bring unfamiliar faces?"

Old Fu hastily explained, "I'm getting on in years and can't handle it as well as I used to. This is a younger relative, and I brought him to broaden his horizons."

Huang Que stared straight at Old Fu, "You vouch for him?"

Old Fu gritted his teeth, "I vouch."

Huang Que said no more, "Let's go."

He led the group to the back entrance of Meihua Ferry Crossing and politely spoke to the guard, "Sir, we are guests of Young Master Chen, who came a few days ago."

The guard scanned over them and gently pushed open the side door, "The Landlord is waiting for you in Meirui Building."

Huang Que followed his memory and walked towards Meirui Building.

There were two men guarding the front of Meirui Building. Upon seeing them, they pushed open the bright red door.

As soon as the door opened, Huang Que and the salt merchants hesitated. The well-lit inside was in stark contrast to the darkness outside. The tables and red carpets were all removed, and the curtains hanging from the ceiling were all torn down.

The warm incense screens were gone, and the boxes of scattered salt permits on the ground were nowhere to be seen.

In the spacious main hall of the Covered Building, only rows of long tables remained, at which accountants sat, rapidly moving their abacuses.

On the wall behind the accountants hung bamboo tags, each with red paper attached.

In front of a table, Chen Ji was engaged in a low-voiced discussion with Brother Pao. Upon hearing the door open, he turned around, smiling and clasping his hands, "Brother Huang, glad you're back."