Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Employment

Ye Shi looked at the crystal card in his hand, his eyes gleaming. After deducting the 700,000 in costs, he made a net profit of 3.1 million. If the other weapons can be sold at this price, raising 60 million stones should be no problem.

The mere thought of giving 60 million stones to Ye Xun made Ye Shi's stomach turn. Why should he have to buy something that rightfully belonged to his biological father, and at such a steep price? Ye Xun sure has nerve asking for so much.

If Ye Xun hadn't tried to get money from him, perhaps he'd have never known that Ye Xun had their father's belongings. The thought made waves of resentment rise in Ye Shi's heart.

Ye Shi clenched his teeth. Regardless, he first needs to prepare the 60 million and then see if he can negotiate the price.

"I wonder how much the remaining weapons can fetch," Ye Shi muttered to himself.

While Fu Yuanbao might appear slow-witted, he's actually quite sharp. He overheard Ye Shi's mutterings, asking, "There are more weapons?"

Ye Shi nodded, replying, "Yes, there are."

Fu Yuanbao had a realization. Mu Chen had bought several weapons, all with flawed inscriptions. Could it be that not only did he complete the inscription on the large hammer but on the other weapons as well?

"Ye, why not entrust me with selling the remaining weapons?" Fu Yuanbao said, his face hopeful.

Ye Shi looked at Fu Yuanbao warily and asked, "What are your terms?"

Fu Yuanbao gave an awkward laugh, holding up a finger. "A one percent commission. It's a steal, trust me. Miss this opportunity, and you'll regret it."

Ye Shi narrowed his eyes, glaring at Fu Yuanbao.

Fu Yuanbao chuckled nervously, hesitating before suggesting, "How about 0.9%?"

"0.5%," countered Ye Shi.

Fu Yuanbao shook his head. "0.8%."

"0.6%," Ye Shi responded dismissively.

"0.7%. It's a bargain. And remember, I'll also have to bear the promotional costs," Fu Yuanbao said, putting on a pitiable face.

Reluctantly, Ye Shi nodded, "Fine."

Seeing Ye Shi's agreement, a hint of joy appeared on Fu Yuanbao's chubby face. Doing business is tough, especially when dealing with rich but stingy customers like Ye Shi.

"Let's go check. After all this time, Mu Chen should've repaired the weapons by now," said Ye Shi.

Fu Yuanbao nodded and followed.

Fu Yuanbao, head bowed, thought to himself: Mu Chen is truly impressive. If only I had even a tenth of his skill, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state now.

…………

"You're here?" Mu Chen said gently, his eyes deep and warm as they met Ye Shi's.

Ye Shi nodded obediently. "Yes, I am."

"Did you sell the hammer?" Mu Chen inquired.

With a blush on his face, Ye Shi continued to nod, "Yes, I sold it for 380,000 Yuan stones."

A look of surprise flashed across Mu Chen's face, "380,000? That's a lot."

Ye Shi nodded with a hint of pride, "Indeed!"

"You're quite talented, Ye Shi. A natural at business," Mu Chen complimented.

Ye Shi replied, looking down modestly, "Not really. You're the talented one. If it wasn't for the inscription you crafted, it wouldn't have fetched such a price."

Mu Chen chuckled, "I was initially thinking of selling it for 200,000 to a merchant. You managed to get 380,000."

Fu Yuanbao listened as Mu Chen and Ye Shi exchanged compliments, feeling a bit out of place. To them, he seemed invisible.

Fu Yuanbao thought with a sigh: How could these two overlook someone as prominent as me?

Suddenly, Ye Shi pointed at Fu Yuanbao, "It's because of this guy! If not for him, I could have gotten an even better price."

Fu Yuanbao's eyebrows raised in surprise. One should be careful with their words! Without him, Ye Shi wouldn't have sold that hammer at all.

Mu Chen eyed Fu Yuanbao, "You're Fu, right?"

Fu Yuanbao nodded, "Indeed."

"I've heard tales of your keen eyes, Fu. I'm quite impressed," Mu Chen said with a smile.

For some reason, facing the reputedly rude and ungrateful Ye Shi was easier for Fu Yuanbao than facing the gentle and courteous Mu Chen.

Awkwardly, Fu Yuanbao chuckled, "My minor skills are nothing compared to what you see, Mr. Mu. Have you repaired the inscriptions on the weapons?"

Mu Chen nodded, "All done."

"One, two, three... ten. Mu Chen, seems like a few are missing!" Ye Shi couldn't help but remark.

Mu Chen acknowledged, "Yes, with the hammer, it makes eighteen in total. Seven couldn't be repaired."

Ye Shi blinked, "That's a shame."

Fu Yuanbao twitched a bit, thinking: Only seven out of eighteen weren't fixed, and Ye Shi still thinks it's a shame? What does he want?

Ye Shi said to Mu Chen, "This guy says he'll help us sell the weapons for a 0.7% commission."

Mu Chen looked at Fu Yuanbao thoughtfully, then turned to Ye Shi, "You can decide on that."

Ye Shi nodded, "Okay."

"Handle the weapon sales. With these, we should recover about 20 to 30 million. Plus the Yuan stones you have, we're a bit short of 60 million. I'll take on some refining tasks in the next few days to make up the difference," Mu Chen explained.

Ye Shi nodded, "Understood."

As Ye Shi left with the weapons, Fu Yuanbao followed, thinking to himself: It's no wonder Mu Chen is the most desired partner among the female students. He just handed weapons worth millions to Ye Shi without a second thought.

Remembering the 60 million Mu Chen mentioned, Fu Yuanbao curiously asked, "Ye, what do you need 60 million for?"

Ye Shi squinted, "That's none of your business. Don't pry."

Noticing Ye Shi's displeasure, Fu Yuanbao didn't pursue the matter further.

…………

"Did you hear? Ye Shi sold a tier-three weapon today for 380,000."

"I did. They say Mu Chen bought it for 700,000 Yuan stones, then repaired its inscription. The weapon was then resold for 380,000. It could've fetched more, but some instructor played foul, and Ye Shi, being naive, settled for that price."

"Who would've thought inscriptions could be so profitable!"

"It's not inscriptions that make money; it's Mu Chen's talent. No other inscription master has his skills."

"I heard Mu Chen has more restored weapons. If he sells them all, he could make 20 to 30 million."

"That Mu Chen, he really knows how to make money."

"…………"

Ye Rong lowered her head. Ever since Mu Chen rejected her without mercy last time, all her fantasies about him turned into deep resentment.

For this transaction, Ye Xun initially wanted only twenty million from Ye Shi. Upon hearing this, Ye Rong felt Ye Xun was being too conservative, and suggested raising the price to sixty million.

Ye Xun hesitated briefly before accepting her suggestion.

Ye Rong squinted her eyes. A single weapon for three million eight hundred thousand? Mu Chen truly knows how to profit. Perhaps their price of sixty million was still too low!

...

Ye Xun's temporary residence.

"Is this book the possession of Ye Shi's illegitimate mother's lover?" Wang Li inquired.

Ye Xun nodded, replying, "Yes, it is."

Wang Li gazed at the item in Ye Xun's hand, a glint of fervor flashed in her eyes.

"Sixty million, would that ungrateful Ye Shi agree?" Ye Xun couldn't help but murmur to himself.

After all, Ye Xun hailed from a small town. With Ye He around, the Ye family's annual net income was merely one to two million Yuan Shi. Hence, while Ye Xun contemplated overcharging Ye Shi, his quote was only twenty million. When Ye Rong suggested a deal of sixty million, Ye Xun hesitated even though he agreed.

"He'll agree. Rong sent a letter saying Mu Chen is helping Ye Shi raise the funds. Mu Chen is a shrewd businessman. Just a weapon with inscriptions fetches several millions. Our price of sixty million might even be on the low side," Wang Li confidently stated.

Thinking of the impending sixty million Yuan Shi transaction, Wang Li was so thrilled she could barely sleep.

Thinking of Mu Chen, Ye Xun felt a tinge of envy. Such a perfect son-in-law, but he's wasted on Ye Shi, an illegitimate child.

If only Ye Rong could woo Mu Chen. With such a lucrative son-in-law, he would never worry about finances.

"Mu Chen truly wears his heart on his sleeve for Ye Shi," Ye Xun remarked with a hint of jealousy.

Wang Li, with a somewhat distressed expression, said, "Indeed."

"It's a pity Rong'er isn't more capable," Ye Xun said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Wang Li's expression shifted subtly. Looking at the book in Ye Xun's hand, she changed the subject, "This book might be a priceless treasure, you know."

The father of Ye Shi seemed to have an unusual background. If this book turned out to be invaluable, wouldn't that mean Ye Shi got a windfall?

"No way. Their relationship was merely a passing phase. What good could she have possibly left him?" Ye Xun said with disdain.

In truth, Ye Xun had someone review the book long ago. Yet, after consulting many, nobody seemed to know its contents.

Those he consulted were of modest ability. He dared not show it to anyone too powerful, lest it truly turned out to be a treasure and invite murder.

"Regardless, make a copy just in case it's something useful," Wang Li suggested.

Ye Xun frowned, saying, "It's not that I haven't considered it, but the characters in the book are inscribed in an unfamiliar medium, making it impossible to transcribe."

Wang Li's eyes widened in shock, unable to contain her exclamation.

If the book couldn't be replicated, it might really be invaluable, and Ye Shi would undeservingly benefit.

Wang Li thoughtfully suggested, "Since Ye Shi doesn't even know what kind of book his bastard father left behind, why not simply replace it with another?"

Ye Xun frowned slightly, replying, "We'll decide on that later. Mu Chen is reputedly very astute. While deceiving Ye Shi might be easy, tricking Mu Chen would be challenging."