Where Immortals Once Walked-Chapter 242: Interview Passed

Of course, it was not a free gift. Still, the shop had only cost him five hundred and fifty taels altogether. That was an absolute steal. In ordinary times, a prime storefront this large on a provincial capital’s main street would not go for even a copper under a thousand and two hundred taels.

This simply went to show just how determined the former owner was to dump it and run.

After Steward Zhao left, He Lingchuan could not help letting out a long, low whistle. Even in the real world, he was now a man with property to his name!

“Congratulations, congratulations.” Ling Guang extended a paw expectantly, asking for a red envelope[1] in its own way.

He could only scoop a generous handful of winter melon milk candies into the ape’s palm. They were a specialty from the neighboring county and far from cheap.

How had a meditative, desire-free medicine ape become so worldly just by sticking to his side?

While the medicine ape was happily munching its sweets, a servant arrived again with a report: Shan Youjun had returned.

It was the very first task He Lingchuan had set him, and he had not dragged his feet. Before dinner, he had already brought Ding Zuodong, the candidate he had recommended.

Ding Zuodong was a dark-complexioned, tall, thin man with a slight hunch to his shoulders. He was almost the opposite of the image of a steward in He Lingchuan’s mind.

The moment he saw the young master, he bowed low, clasping his hands together. “I, Ding Zuodong, am not of great talent, but I’m willing to serve as a hanger-on[2] under Young Master. I can be someone to run errands and take care of things whenever needed.”

Since He Lingchuan was not married and had not yet opened a household under his own name, Ding Zuodong could not very well call himself a steward. He simply termed himself a hanger-on, the sort of fellow who accompanied a young lord in his daily comings and goings, taking errands and chores off his hands.

“All right. Let me test you.” He gestured for Ding Zuodong to sit. “A new Songyang Mansion branch opened on the main street today. Do you know about it?”

Ding nodded. “They opened this morning. Governor-General He attended with several officials from the yamen, and the Li, Zhan, and Shu families all sent people to show support.”

“And their background, do you know it? Tell me.”

Ding Zuodong thought for a moment, then laid out what he knew in clear, orderly fashion.

Listening, He Lingchuan realized that Ding Zuodong not only knew Songyang Mansion’s main lines of business, but he even knew the gossip around the Marquis of Songyang.

This meant that something that a washed-up steward all the way up here in Xia Province knew... he, who had lived in Shihuan City, had been utterly ignorant of.

Once again, he marveled at how out of touch he was.

He sighed, and Ding Zuodong immediately looked worried. “Young Master, why sigh? Did I say something wrong?”

“No. What’s wrong is me.”

“...?”

“Shan Youjun swore you know Dunyu City like the back of your hand.”

“He exaggerated. I only keep up with idle talk from the streets.”

“You handled all of Third Master Shu’s properties yourself?” That would have been no small thing. From what he knew, even in Heishui City, his father did not leave more than half of the He Family’s enterprises to Old Steward Mo, since the old man focused on running the household.

Ding Zuodong, on the other hand, had managed both inside and outside for Third Master Shu. He was overworked and indispensable.

“That’s correct.” This time, Ding Zuodong did not play humble.

The Shu Family had choked off every path in Dunyu he might take. If he did not want to slink off to the countryside and spend the rest of his life in obscurity, he had to secure a position under Young Master He. It was only then that he could break out and be reborn.

“What about the shop next to Songyang Mansion—the one to the east—how much do you know about it?”

“The one to the east? That’s a pharmacy, isn’t it? Huixiang Hall?”

He Lingchuan thought back. That sounds about right.

“The owner’s surname is Cui. He’s originally from Daji Township. His family has practiced medicine for generations. They’ve been settled in Dunyu for two generations now. However, his medical skill is middling, and for such a good location, Huixiang Hall’s business is only so-so. Recently, medicinal stock from the south has been short, and with the war going poorly in the north, with rumors even saying that Xun Province troops have pressed all the way down and slaughtered two villages in Xin Township, he’s been thinking of moving south.”

These days, rumors swirled like dead leaves on the wind, and nothing shook hearts more. He Lingchuan smiled and said, “The shop’s location is decent, isn’t it?”

“It’s a choice spot. Were you thinking of buying?” Ding paused. “But your timing is just a shade off. Had you mentioned it a couple of days earlier, I could’ve gone to negotiate.”

“Not possible now?”

“I ran into one of Huixiang Hall’s clerks at noon. He said they had just sold the shop right before the Songyang Mansion opening next door.” Ding Zuodong sighed. “Once papers are signed and hands are shaken, there’s no pulling it back.”

A flicker stirred in He Lingchuan’s chest. “Right before the opening?” That means they bought it right before I arrived?

The Marquis of Songyang explicitly stated that she had bought only one storefront.

It looks like she bought both and passed one along to me without making any fuss.

That makes sense. Who would ever think they had too many storefronts in a location like that?

He set aside the thought. “If I had sent you then, what price could you have gotten?”

This time, Ding Zuodong calculated for a while. “I could have tried pushing it down to five hundred taels.”

He laughed, drawing the deed to Huixiang Hall from his robe and spreading it before Ding Zuodong. “Not spot on, but not far off either. The purchase price I got was five hundred and fifty taels.”

Ding Zuodong’s eyes lit with real joy. “Ah, so Young Master already bought it. Excellent eye!”

“We’ll keep it as Huixiang Hall. Its functions won’t change. I need a pharmacy for my cultivation anyway.” He Lingchuan then said, “I’ll turn it over to you to manage. In as little as ten days, and at most forty to fifty, Xia Province’s situation should stabilize. As for transport lines to and from the further inland of the realm, you don’t need to worry.” He was of the He Family; the transport convoys might refuse other people’s goods, but they would not dare refuse his.

“Rest assured, Young Master. I’ll see to everything properly.” Ding Zuodong stood and bowed respectfully. “Third Master Shu also ran a pharmacy, and I was the one who managed it.”

“You already have channels? Perfect.” He Lingchuan tugged him back into his seat with a grin. “You and Shan Youjun are quite the odd pair—one loves to stand, the other loves to kneel.”

Both men could not help laughing.

He Lingchuan said, “From now on, just call me Master. I’ve only just arrived in Dunyu and need to acquire a few assets here. If you see a good one, handle the purchase for me.”

Ding Zuodong could not help leaning forward. “How about mountain-and-water enterprises?”

He Lingchuan’s smile tilted. “Of course.”

The so-called mountain-and-water enterprises referred to mines and timber on land, and fish and salt from rivers and lakes. These were everyday necessities in the market. However, mines, logging camps, fisheries, and salt pans were not businesses an ordinary merchant could touch.

Those were enterprises stamped with the word “州 (zhou).” They were state-run enterprises with designated overseers.

Even now, in troubled times, when a few sellers might be keen to unload, anyone seeking such assets still needed the right qualifications.

In Dunyu, originally, only the four great families had those qualifications.

Now, by sheer force of reality, there was a fifth, the He Family.

Delight flashed across Ding Zuodong’s face. He shot to his feet. “I’ll go home and draw up a detailed list right away!”

He Lingchuan held up a hand. “No rush. Right now, I only have a hundred thousand taels.”

Ding Zuodong considered briefly. “Used carefully, it should be enough. Good things are cheap right now. Young... Er, Master, don’t worry. I’ll scrimp where I must and spend where I should.”

He Lingchuan laughed and flipped him a ten-tael silver ingot. “First, get yourself a proper outfit. If you’re working under me, you can’t look shabby. Use the rest to buy your grandkid some fruit and sweets, and say they’re from me.”

With silver in hand, even Ding Zuodong’s stern features softened. In the old days, when he managed Third Master Shu’s estates, sums of a hundred or a thousand had not even caught his eye.

But times changed, and heroes stumbled over a single coin.

His grandson had begged for iced cream last time, and he had not had the heart to buy it.

Ding Zuodong bowed again, deeply. “I will devote myself to your cause wholeheartedly.”

He Lingchuan pointed at Shan Youjun, who had listened quietly the whole time, “Also, bring him to Huixiang Hall for treatment. I want my top bruiser bouncing again as soon as possible.”

Evening had fallen by then. The two men took their leave with thanks and withdrew.

Only after they left did Sun Hongye speak up. “After just one meeting, you showed him all your cards?” People in these times preferred not to show their wealth.

“If you doubt someone, then don’t bother using them. If a man has nowhere else to turn, you can trust him.” He Lingchuan grinned. “When he’s back to being Steward Ding, all high and mighty again, that’s when I’ll have to keep an eye on him.”

He was certain that Ding Zuodong would cling tight to this last stalk of straw and throw himself into the work.

At least for a good stretch of time.

“Up north, Shan Youjun and Jiao Tai were captain and deputy captain of a roving cavalry unit. Whether it be infiltration, ambushes, recon, or interdiction, they’ve done it all, and they have plenty of kills. Shan Youjun is steady and cunning, while Jiao Tai is blunt but loyal.” Sun Hongye went on, “When I found Shan Youjun, he’d already visited the jail twice. He told me once Jiao Tai is saved, both their lives belong to Master.”

“Family?”

“None.”

“Good. When Jiao Tai’s released, have them both swear a blood oath to follow me.” He clapped Sun Hongye’s shoulder. “You’ve done well with this. Keep it up.” Buy one, get one free, and an extra Ding Zuodong to boot.

Ding Zuodong’s “interview” had gone smoothly. Now, he could only hope that he would deliver just as smoothly in the days ahead.

* * *

Time in Dunyu City sped by. Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

For three of those days, He Chunhua and his younger son ate, slept, and worked at the yamen. When they did step outside, it was to make inspection rounds. On the evening of the fifth day, when He Chunhua finally came home, he ran straight into the wave of grievance practically overflowing the manor gates from Madame Ying.

“My lady, I truly had no choice!” It took some doing to soothe his wife. After they both bathed and changed, the couple sat down to a richly prepared family dinner.

However, He Lingchuan was absent.

He Chunhua realized that he had not seen his eldest son in days. Before, the boy would at least come by the yamen; now the father had no time to see the son, and the son did not come seeking the father.

“Where’s Chuan’er?”

“Where’s Big Brother?”

Father and son spoke in unison.

“He went out at first light. He didn’t say where he was going. You sent word at noon that you’d be home late, but I couldn’t find him anywhere,” Madame Ying said faintly. She sighed, all delicate melancholy. “One busier than the next, and I’m left to guard this great big house like an old widow.”

Father and son apologized in a hurry. He Yue tried to tease, “Mother has plenty of fun of her own, doesn’t she?”

Renovations under her supervision had been in “always on” mode—hammering and clanging from dawn to dark. The two men had stayed away three days running; besides being busy, they were also hiding from the noise.

Madame Ying sniffed, but she did not deny it. She was enjoying herself.

After the meal, He Chunhua retired to his study.

Old Steward Mo brought in rinsing tea, set it down, and quietly pulled the door closed behind him.

“How are things at home these few days?”

“Everything’s gone smoothly,” Old Mo replied. “Apart from Madame disliking the west-wing gallery and ordering the foreman to tear it down and redo it.”

“And household expenses?”

Old Mo recited a few key figures. None of it exceeded He Chunhua’s expectations. “We’ve only just arrived in Dunyu City and haven’t found firm footing yet. Money must be spent carefully. We can’t afford to be extravagant at the moment.”

1. For those of you who aren’t familiar, this is a part of Chinese customs where red packets filled with money are usually given as gifts. ☜

2. I know that this might seem off, but that’s because there isn’t an exact translation to the word the author used. The word that was used was 帮闲, which means “to hang on to and serve the rich and powerful by literary hack work,” according to the dictionary. ☜