Xu Di nodded and said proudly, "It's only natural to find someone. I'm the head of the household, so I need to know what's going on in the business. I have to visit all the shops every year."

The man's gaze towards Xu Di had changed. Xi Jing'an dared not look directly at Xu Di's serious face, lowering his head and trying his best to suppress his laughter. He couldn't hold it in any longer, so he bit his lip, turned around, and stood with his back to Xu Di.

Fortunately, the man's elder brother arrived at this moment. Upon seeing him, Xu Di thought, "No wonder he has the nickname 'Jade-Faced Third Brother.' He is indeed handsome and has a good demeanor. He should dress up properly and go to the capital to say that he is a young master from some family." Xu Di also became suspicious of this man's identity and became even more determined to go to their mountain stronghold to investigate.

Upon seeing the approaching figure, the man waved from afar and shouted, "Brother, come quickly! I've stopped a big shopkeeper today!"

Jade-faced Third Brother rode closer on horseback, looked at Xu Di and his group, and then said to the man, "Second Brother, what are you doing?"

The man said, “Brother, didn’t you tell us a few days ago that you wanted to lead us to do some legitimate business? This young man told me that his family’s business extends from Liaodong all the way to Qiongya. You see, isn’t this just like someone bringing us a pillow when we’re sleepy?”

The Jade-Faced Third Brother smiled and said to Xu Di, "My brother here is honest and straightforward, and has offended me in many ways. May I ask where you gentlemen come from and where you are going?"

Xu Di cupped his hands in greeting to the Jade-Faced Third Brother and said, "We come from Lüzhou and are heading to Wuzhou. I have already told this brother that we are going to Lüzhou to discuss the sale of bamboo paper. Once the deal is settled, we need to hurry to Wuzhou to prepare the deposit. Brother, we don't know how much toll you will have to pay when we pass through here, but we are willing to pay it. Just let us go so we can deliver the deposit to Lüzhou."

When Yu Mian Sanlang heard that Xu Di came from Lüzhou, he smiled and said, "I heard a few days ago that Lüzhou was attacked by the Great Yan. Young brother, you came from Lüzhou. Do you know how the battle is going?"

Xu Di was somewhat certain, but he wanted to confirm it further. He had already marked the road, and if Ma Ming saw that he hadn't arrived for a long time, he would definitely send people to look for him. He could take this opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. So he smiled and said, "We are just business people. We dare not get too involved in these matters. But I think things in Luzhou are pretty much the same as usual."

Upon hearing this, Jade-Faced Third Brother frowned and said, "My second brother just said that your business is quite large. I have some things I would like to ask you. I would like to ask you all to come with me to our mountain stronghold."

Xu Di glanced at the guards behind him, his face showing difficulty. The Jade-Faced Third Prince did not urge him, but just looked at Xu Di coldly. Xu Di was embarrassed for a while before he said, "The sale of bamboo paper in Luzhou requires a lot of silver. I need to borrow some money from my family. I'll have the guards go home first to discuss whether it's feasible."

Jade-Faced Third Brother sneered twice and said, "Are you afraid I'll detain you and not let you leave? Don't worry, I won't do that. Gentlemen, please."

Xi Jing'an looked at Xu Di with a panicked expression. Xu Di looked somewhat embarrassed. The handsome man looked at Xu Di with a stern face. Judging from his expression, if Xu Di did not agree, he might just kill him on the spot.

Xu Di feigned composure and said to the Jade-Faced Third Brother, "In that case, I will go up the mountain with you. Please, brother, take us down."

Jade-faced Third Brother nodded with a forced smile, turned his horse around and galloped up the mountain. The man whom Jade-faced Third Brother called Second Brother smiled and said to Xu Di, "Manager, this way please. Our Peach Blossom Debt is a bit far from here, so we'll have to trouble you all to come back with us."

Xi Jing'an was about to ask if there were horses when he saw several people come out from behind the man. They not only led the horses over, but also took off the bundles that the men were carrying. Fortunately, none of them were carrying anything that could prove their identity, otherwise it would have been difficult to explain.

Xu Di stood under a tree by the roadside, smiling as he watched the man and his henchmen rummage through the belongings of several people. After a while, the man asked Xu Di, "Didn't you say you signed a contract with that workshop? Where's the contract?"

Xu Di smiled and said, "The contract is a very important thing. How can we just take it with us like this? We sent the contract to the Luzhou post station. It's slower, but safer to send the contract through the post station. We want to go back in advance to prepare the money to pay the deposit."

Xi Jing'an, who was standing next to him, sighed and whispered, "Sir, please don't mention any more deposits to them. They're only after money. What if they kidnap us and demand a ransom to get us released?"

Xu Di smiled slightly and said, "I was afraid they wouldn't detain us and would make us wait for the ransom to be sent. Alright, you explain to the brothers that we'll go with them to that Peach Blossom Debt place and properly investigate their strength. This stronghold isn't an ordinary mountain stronghold; I reckon it should have what we want inside."

Xi Jing'an looked confused after hearing Xu Di's words. Then, as if he had thought of something, he looked at Xu Di in surprise. Xu Di nodded to him, and Xi Jing'an nodded in return. He then took the opportunity to give some instructions to the guards.

These guards came from the Imperial Guard, not only to protect Xu Di's safety but also to monitor his daily life. Xu Di had no objection to this; any power needs a mechanism for supervision. In Emperor Liang Cheng's view, he was capable and had a strong background. If the power in his hands were amplified infinitely, he might eventually do something that would harm the country. In order to make Xu Di somewhat wary, he sent these Imperial Guards to follow Xu Di.

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