Qian Dafu is a fifty-year-old man. Unlike many people in Beijing who have endured years of hardship, he has lived a comfortable life since childhood and his family is well-off.

Although they don't live a life of luxury, they are not troubled by financial difficulties.

Because his father had a unique vision in business, he earned a lot of money in the early days and later settled in the capital with a large sum of money.

After that, the Qian family gradually rose to prominence in the capital, and at its peak, they were even more prominent than the Wan and Liu families are today.

In addition, the Qian family used their earnings to maintain various private relationships with many officials, thereby gaining them greater status.

Even without holding any official position, there were still many people who would call him "Master Qian" at certain times.

Unfortunately, when Qian Dafu was twenty-six years old, the Qian family was suddenly purged, and the imperial power ruthlessly struck the family.

The former glory crumbled in an instant, leaving nothing behind.

The entire Qian family, numbering over a hundred people, either died or fled, all meeting a tragic end.

Unfortunately, Qian Dafu, the only son, managed to save his life thanks to the connections his father had left behind, and then disappeared without a trace.

After that, Qian Dafu rarely appeared in public in Beijing.

Until a few years ago, this down-on-his-luck young man suddenly reappeared, spending lavishly, speaking eloquently, and becoming close to many wealthy businessmen and officials.

He looked exactly like his father from many years ago.

Some people tried to find out what Qian Dafu had been doing all these years, but they couldn't find out. In the end, some people even threatened to stop the investigation.

"Brother Qian, I've heard that Tang Huan's business is quite extensive now. Aren't you interested in getting a piece of the pie?"

The speaker was a salt merchant in the capital who used his vast wealth to cultivate relationships and secure this business deal that allowed him to cooperate with the imperial court.

At this moment, he looked at Qian Dafu with respect and asked the question that had been bothering him.

Qian Dafu continued walking forward, and not far away was the private room he had reserved in advance.

Just as they reached the door, someone quickly stepped forward, pushed it open, and gestured for Qian Dafu to enter first.

Qian Dafu nodded slightly in satisfaction, then turned to the salt merchant and said, "Old Liu, Tang Huan is indeed remarkable, and his business is enviable, but it's not a business we can just do whenever we want."

"Brother Qian, is this a reconciliation?"

Salt merchant Lao Liu stayed close to Qian Dafu. Everyone present knew that Qian Dafu could occasionally reveal secrets that no one else knew. If they could seize the opportunity, they could also make a small fortune.

Everyone present was a businessman, unlike Qian Dafu who had a mysterious background, and naturally they all hoped to make more money.

As soon as Qian Dafu sat down in the main seat, Lao Liu immediately called out, "Quickly bring up the best wine first, don't delay Brother Qian from drinking."

When Lao Liu came to his senses and looked over with great seriousness, Qian Dafu noticed that everyone else was also looking at him intently.

The fat face immediately broke into a smile, and the fleshy part of it trembled.

Her small eyes were almost completely squeezed out of her flesh, leaving only a tiny slit.

It was a very funny sight, but no one dared to laugh.

"Take Fenjiu, which you've been drinking lately, for example. How long has this liquor been around?"

"It only appeared before winter, and within just half a month it seized a huge market share. After that, it became one of the most popular drinks in the capital. From high-ranking officials to merchants and laborers, everyone wanted to try it," someone replied.

As businessmen, they naturally keep a close eye on all of this.

Qian Dafu nodded and said with a smile, "That's right. Three months ago, it was exactly when Tang Huan came to Beijing, and he was the one who brought Fenjiu to the capital."

Old Liu said anxiously, "Yes, we all know that. That's why we want to cooperate with Tang Huan. Even if we can't get anything, we'd be happy to just have a sip of soup."

"That's right, Mr. Qian, your family is large and powerful, with deep roots. We are just small fry. You are no less powerful than the Wan or Liu families, but we are insignificant..."

Qian Dafu looked at the person who had just spoken with a smile. He was very pleased, but still said modestly, "Ah, that was decades ago. The Wan family still leads the business world in Beijing. I was just lucky and am now struggling to survive."

No one believed these words.

After saying that, Qian Dafu looked around and said, "Actually, besides Fenjiu, as far as I know, Tang Huan does a lot of business in Beijing now. Why don't you guess what they are?"

Salt merchant Lao Liu was the quickest to think. He didn't think about the most profitable businesses in the capital at the moment, but instead thought about what had suddenly appeared in the past few months.

But upon reflection, the answer became clear.

The businesses that have emerged recently happen to be the most profitable right now.

"Hot pot... comic books... barbecue... Fenjiu liquor..."

Salt merchant Lao Liu looked up, his face full of surprise, and asked, "Was all of this done by Tang Huan?"

The others were also astonished upon hearing this. Everyone knew that Tang Huan was very capable, but if this guess was true, it was something unbelievable.

Faced with the curious gazes of the crowd, Qian Dafu nodded affirmatively and said, "Although I haven't confirmed who exactly is doing business with Tang Huan, Tang Huan's shadow is indeed behind these businesses."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, Tang Huan has now helped Daqing facilitate trade with the Northern Region. Think carefully about just how many businesses he has on his hands."

As soon as this was mentioned, someone anxiously said, "That's precisely why we should seize the opportunity!"

There were quite a few people who came with Qian Dafu, about seven or eight in total.

But all these people combined are no match for Qian Dafu. Their goal is simple: to persuade Qian Dafu to lead everyone to participate in Tang Huan's business.

Qian Dafu shook his head with a sullen face. "On the surface, now is indeed the best opportunity to get involved in business, but in reality, we have already missed this opportunity. And have you ever thought about it? Getting close to Tang Huan rashly now would be very dangerous."

"Danger? What danger?" Old Liu pressed.

Qian Dafu shook his head and sighed with a hint of disappointment, "The business is too big, it's too easy to attract attention, especially since he's an official, and so many people are watching him. Have you all forgotten how our Qian family was wiped out in the first place?"

These words were like a wake-up call.

After getting in touch with Qian Dafu, everyone investigated the events of that year to some extent.

After the Qian family's downfall, who took over that enormous business? It was the imperial court that took it over.

"Tang Huan is indeed highly regarded by His Majesty, and the people also have high hopes for him. However, it is a fact that he has offended Prime Minister Cui. In less than half a year, he has become too powerful and has stolen the limelight from too many people. I wonder how many people are watching him in private."

Salt merchant Lao Liu said seriously, "You mean, Tang Huan is in danger?"