Chapter 62

Chapter 62

A day later, Chen Jinan personally came to the inn to invite them.

Xie Zhiwei was in his room reviewing the information Si Guang had gathered over the past few days—a full page of scattered notes, mostly concerning dealings between the Chen family and the Linyuan county office, along with some movements of the Luoqi merchant caravan.

When the inn's attendant came to fetch him, Xie Zhiwei was somewhat surprised. Things were going even smoother than he'd expected.

"Then let's go see Chen Jinan." Xie Zhiwei folded the paper and tucked it away, then headed to the inn's lobby with Pei Dinglan to meet him.

"Young Master Xie." Chen Jinan greeted Xie Zhiwei with an eager bow of his clasped hands, his smile even warmer than at their last meeting at Jinyun Manor. "My father has specifically sent me to invite you. Might you have time today?"

"Young Master Chen is too kind." Xie Zhiwei returned the salute. "We appreciate Elder Master Chen's kindness. My brother and I will be a bother."

Xiao Yang just happened to step out of his room at that moment, still holding the book *The Love Gu Curse*. Seeing them all dressed and ready to head out, he stopped mid-step.

"Xiao Yang." Xie Zhiwei walked over and crouched down to meet Xiao Yang at eye level. "We're visiting the Chen family today. You wanna come along?"

Xiao Yang blinked. "Me too?"

"Yes." Xie Zhiwei reached over to fix his collar. "You've been stuck in the inn for days. It's good to get out. Besides, it's just for fun."

Xiao Yang didn't agree right away. He lowered his head and thought for a moment. He wasn't used to strangers—especially after those years in the palace, where the Grand Dowager had kept him on a short leash. Even warming up to Xie Zhiwei had taken forever.

"If Xiao Yang doesn't wanna go, that's fine." Xie Zhiwei didn't push. "You can stay at the inn if you prefer, and Si Guang will keep you company."

Xiao Yang looked up, his gaze resting on Xie Zhiwei's face for a moment. "I'll go."

"Good." Xie Zhiwei's eyes crinkled in a smile. He rose to his feet and waved at Pei Dinglan. "Pei Sanlang, let's go."

Pei Dinglan gave a quick "ay" in response and waved for Li Gandang and Zhao Wuwei to follow.

The six of them left the inn and headed toward the Chen residence.

Chen Jinan rode ahead on a chestnut horse, occasionally turning back to chat with Xie Zhiwei in the carriage about Linyuan County's local customs. He was attentive without being a suck-up, hitting just the right note.

The Chen estate was on the east side of town, a good ways from the inn, so it took a while to get there.

Xie Zhiwei stepped down from the carriage at the gate and quietly scanned the place.

The Chen place had the classic three-courtyard layout. Inside the main gate stood a screen wall carved with a pattern of five bats circling the character for longevity. The brickwork was decent but nothing special. Past the screen wall was the front courtyard, paved with gray bricks, with a pomegranate tree on each side.

Farther in, through a hanging-flower gate, was the main courtyard.

The main courtyard was a lot bigger than the front one. The main hall had five bays, with three bays of wing rooms on each side. The painted beams and columns were new, but the paint wasn't top-notch—flashy from afar, but a bit tacky up close.

Xie Zhiwei mentally compared it to his own place back home.

The Xie residence had been established by his grandfather—a three-courtyard compound, one courtyard bigger than the Chens', with seven bays in the main hall and five bays of wing rooms on each side. It also had a small garden with rockeries and a fish pond.

Even though the Chens were the richest family in Linyuan County, compared to capital households, the gap was huge.

With no one in three generations holding official rank, no amount of money could upgrade their house. It wasn't that the Chens didn't want to build bigger—it was that imperial law wouldn't allow it. Your rank dictated your house size, and going over the line was a serious crime. Money couldn't buy that kind of freedom.

But Xie Zhiwei also noticed some details.

A few pieces of porcelain sat on the antique shelf in the main hall. They looked plain at first glance, but Xie Zhiwei had seen similar pieces in the capital—these were top-quality wares from the previous dynasty's imperial kilns, priceless on the market. Each one would go for at least a few hundred taels of silver.

Then there was the long table in the corner—old wood, fine carving, clearly not your average piece. That kind of table would cost at least a thousand taels in a capital shop.

Even though the Chen place couldn't exceed its allowed size, these unassuming corners showed off their wealth everywhere.

Chen Wanguan was already waiting at the entrance to the main hall. Fifty-six years old, medium build, in a stone-blue silk robe, with a square face and three long beard strands. He didn't look much like a merchant—more like a scholar-official, really. But when he smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gave away the merchant's shrewdness.

"Young Master Xie, Young Master Pei, your presence brightens my humble home!" Chen Wanguan hurried forward with a cupped-fist salute, his manner warm yet measured.

Xie Zhiwei returned the salute. "Elder Master Chen is too kind. Sorry for dropping by unannounced."

"Not at all, not at all. It's my honor to have you." As Chen Wanguan spoke, his gaze fell on Xiao Yang and paused briefly. "And this young gentleman is..."

"My younger cousin," Xie Zhiwei introduced. "Surnamed Xiao. He's tagging along with us to see more of the world."

"So you're Young Master Xiao." Chen Wanguan gestured for them to enter the main hall. "Please, come in. Tea's already ready."

The main hall was already set up with furniture—a rosewood octagonal table with matching armchairs, a dark red tablecloth, and a celadon tea set on top.

Chen Wanguan invited Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan to sit, then took the host's seat himself, with Chen Jinan sitting below as company.

Xiao Yang sat next to Xie Zhiwei, Si Guang stood behind him, and Li Gandang and Zhao Wuwei posted up at the main hall's entrance.

A maid brought in tea—good Longjing. Xie Zhiwei picked up the cup and took a sip. This time, he didn't frown.

Chen Wanguan was quietly checking out Xie Zhiwei. The young man looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, with a fair face and refined features. Sitting there, he had an easy, unhurried poise.

Not a put-on composure—it came from the bone.

Chen Wanguan had his read on him.

"I hear from my son that Young Master Xie is looking for new ventures in Linyuan County?" Chen Wanguan said with a genial smile.

Xie Zhiwei set down his teacup. "That's right."

"I gotta admit, I'm a bit surprised Young Master Xie would take an interest in this small place." Chen Wanguan stroked his beard. "May I ask why you chose Linyuan?"

"To be honest, Elder Master Chen, my family runs a small business in the capital—just enough to get by." Xie Zhiwei smiled, his tone casual. "The capital's packed with the rich and powerful, and I don't count for much there. Besides, I came south because someone in my family pointed me this way, saying there were opportunities in the southwest worth checking out."

The words were chosen carefully.

"Just enough to get by" was self-deprecating, but given Xie Zhiwei's clothes and how freely he spent, no one would take it at face value.

"I don't count for much there" was a strategic retreat—the capital was full of nobles and officials, yet the Chens couldn't even get in with a minor official. It boosted his own standing without looking showy.

As for "someone in my family pointed me this way," it left Chen Wanguan with plenty to imagine.

Chen Wanguan definitely caught the hint, his smile widening a little. "Does Young Master Xie have family in office in the capital?"

Xie Zhiwei didn't answer directly. He just smiled, picked up his teacup, and took another sip.

"Elder Master Chen." Xie Zhiwei set down the cup. "I hear the Chens have been doing business in Linyuan County for over twenty years, with a good number of years in mining too?"

Chen Wanguan's expression flickered, but he quickly recovered. "Young Master Xie is well informed."

"I'm not all that well informed." Xie Zhiwei leaned back in his chair. "I'm looking to do business, so I need to check out the market first. With your decades in Linyuan, no one knows the mining business better than you."

Just then, a young woman of about seventeen came into the main hall, briefly cutting off the conversation.

She wore a pale yellow ru skirt, had delicate features, but a hint of sadness shadowed her brow—like something was on her mind.

"This here's my daughter, Jinxiu." Chen Wanguan waved her over. "Jinxiu, come say hello to our guests."

Chen Jinxiu stepped forward and gave a proper bow: "Jinxiu greets the young masters."

Xie Zhiwei noticed that the young girl's bow was very standard, clearly the result of careful instruction, but her gaze was a bit fixed and distant, and there was no smile at the corners of her mouth. She seemed weighed down by something, carrying an indescribable air of gloom.

Xie Zhiwei glanced at Xiao Yang sitting beside him. Xiao Yang was looking down at his own fingers, lost in thought, quiet and still. Unlike Chen Jinxiu's oppressed stillness, Xiao Yang's quietness was of a different kind.

Xie Zhiwei's interest was piqued, and he turned to Chen Wanguan: "Elder Master Chen, this young lad here is still young, and listening to us adults talk must be dull for him. Could your daughter show him around?"

Chen Wanguan had been hoping for exactly that. Xiao Yang was young, and a few casual questions could easily coax out their background.

"Young Master Xie speaks wisely," Chen Wanguan agreed readily. "Jin An, take Jinxiu and Young Master Xiao to the back garden for a stroll. Make sure our guest is well taken care of."

Chen Jinan gave a quick assent and walked over to Xiao Yang, giving a slight bow: "Young Master Xiao, please."

Xiao Yang looked up at Xie Zhiwei, who nodded to him. Xiao Yang then stood and followed Chen Jinan and Chen Jinxiu out.

Si Guang followed as well, while Li Gandang and Zhao Wuwei remained at the entrance of the main hall.

Xie Zhiwei watched until they were out of sight before turning back, but he did not speak again, looking completely relaxed and unhurried.

"Young Master Xie was just speaking of the mining business," Chen Wanguan brought up the topic proactively. "To be honest, the Chen family has indeed been involved in mining over these past years, but it's all been small-scale, nothing compared to the truly big merchants."

"Elder Master Chen is too modest," Xie Zhiwei replied politely. "Linyuan County borders Luoqi, and with all these years of mining, the Chen family must have profited considerably."

"Young Master Xie may not know this," Chen Wanguan sighed. "The mining business looks profitable on the surface, but in reality, it's like treading on thin ice."

Xie Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled: "Why would Elder Master Chen say that?"

Chen Wanguan was silent for a moment before speaking: "Young Master Xie comes from the capital and doesn't know the situation in the southwest. Although Linyuan County is territory of the Great Zhou, being adjacent to Luoqi, the court's control is far looser than in the inland regions. The mining here is officially overseen by the government but run by private parties, but in reality..."

He trailed off, but Xie Zhiwei had already read between the lines.

Xie Zhiwei: "I don't care who runs the mines. I just care if I can make money."

Pei Dinglan added: "Elder Master Chen doesn't live in the capital, so of course you wouldn't know how much money it burns through."

Chen Wanguan's gaze shifted between Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan, his fingers idly tracing the teacup while his mind raced through several calculations.

In his twenty-plus years in Linyuan County, he had met all kinds of merchants—some seeking wealth, some seeking to curry favor with the powerful, some trying to whitewash their family's past—but he had never met a young master like Xie Zhiwei.

He was young but imposing, generous without being flashy. In conversation, he showed keen interest in the mining business, yet didn't seem all that concerned with the profits themselves. To him, silver was merely a means to an end.

The one who was truly interested in the mining business was whoever stood behind this young master.

And that person was an official in the capital.

At this thought, Chen Wanguan's heartbeat quickened. In all his years in Linyuan County, though he was the wealthiest man, he was ultimately just a merchant—no official rank, no backing, having to tread carefully at every step. That old bastard of a magistrate already bled him dry every year and still wasn't satisfied, now even daring to set his sights on his daughter.

If he could seize this opportunity...

Chen Wanguan raised his teacup, hiding the calculation in his eyes behind a sip.

"Elder Master Chen, if you have something to say, just say it," Pei Dinglan said with a nonchalant air. "We're not about to go stealing money from your Chen family's coffers."

Chen Wanguan chuckled: "Of course not. How could the two young masters think so little of my Chen family? Since you've been so forthright, I'd be willing to make the connection for you."

"Oh?" Xie Zhiwei tilted his head. "Elder Master Chen means that?"

Chen Wanguan: "A gentleman's word is his bond."

Xie Zhiwei clapped his hands: "Then I'll await Elder Master Chen's good news."