Chapter 100 Melting the Ice and Overturning the Ship: A Battle for a Day or Two

The grass is growing and the orioles are flying; it is already March.

Under the reforms in Liyang, Baijia Restaurant has been making a considerable profit.

As the water thawed, Lu Jie was about to set sail again to the south to purchase goods, and the new year's shipping was about to begin. Before his departure, the group gathered at the Bai Family Restaurant for a meal.

Li Yang: "Master Fei, Lu Jie, if it weren't for your help, I would still be stuck in Songshan Town, worrying about the Kuilong Pearl."

In the past few months, thanks to Youfeng's efforts at Baijia Restaurant and the mediation of Feiye and Lujie, the Kuilong Pearls brought by Liyang have almost run out.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jie smiled and turned his gaze to Fei Ye.

Master Fei nodded and asked with a smile, "Now that the stock of Kuilong Pearls has been sold out, I wonder what Miss Li's next plan is?"

Xiao Bai eagerly replied, "Miss Li has already written to her hometown, and the new tea will arrive soon. Thanks to Miss Li, the restaurant's business is booming. Miss Li is truly the Guanyin Bodhisattva of our Bai family."

He was naturally unwilling to return to his hometown of Liyang. Not to mention the restaurant's business, if she left, the master he had finally found would also have to leave. How could that be allowed?

That day, he returned home and told his mother about his apprenticeship in playing the zither, which caused his mother to faint.

Afterwards, when Miss Li and her party returned home, they said they wanted to move out. He then accused his family of treating them badly, which upset them, and they started making a scene at home.

Later, I learned that they had met a good friend in Beijing who took care of all the accommodation matters, and that's when the matter was dropped. But after that, they went to the restaurant every day, both day and night.

However, his mother's cold attitude was so obvious that his master no longer treated him very well.

A young man's thoughts cannot be hidden, and thinking of this, he chuckled at Ziyan.

Ziyan turned her face away, pretending not to see.

Fei Ye nodded without saying a word, while Li Yang continued, "Originally, I came to the capital just to sell off all the tea I had in stock. But who in business doesn't want to grow bigger? With the state of things in the capital now, I'd like to try and see if I can turn this branch into a century-old shop."

The other party said calmly, "You've been away from home for several months. Are you at home feeling safe?"

At home...

Li Yang smiled. Home? Which home?

She wrote to Songshan Town frequently, but never received a single word from them mentioning the Chen family. It seemed that Chen Junbo had already forgotten about her, and now that no one in the Chen family could do anything to him, he probably didn't need to find someone to pretend to be his wife anymore.

"In a few days, Chengli will be taking the imperial examination. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Chengli the best of luck in winning the top prize."

"Oh? Brother Zhou is taking the imperial examination this year?" Master Fei raised an eyebrow casually. "May I ask who your teacher is?"

Seeing the other party's extraordinary demeanor, Zhou Chengli politely replied, "Back in Songshan Town, after the imperial examination, I followed the scholar Mr. Zheng to pursue my studies."

He deliberately concealed the fact that he was a disciple of Zhuang Xiang. Relationships in the capital were complicated, and he did not know the other party's background. If they did not get along, it could cause trouble.

After a toast by the group, Xiao Bai was the first to get drunk and asked someone to take him back to the Bai family home.

Fei Ye and Lu Jie headed back home.

Xuan Ying darted into the study. "Master, we've found Lang Ge's trail."

Fei Ye looked up. "Where?"

Xuan Ying said, "They couldn't stand it anymore. I heard that he went to the Prime Minister's residence today, and not long after he returned, he invited the imperial physician over, and that's when the news came out. Lang Ge has been imprisoned in the Fourth Prince's residence."

Fei Ye frowned deeply.

Xuan Ying couldn't contain himself: "Master, as long as you give the order, the brothers will charge in and definitely snatch Lang Ge back."

"Nonsense!" Fei Ye said angrily. "Do you think I don't want Lang Ge to come back? It's just that the time isn't right yet. Maybe we won't even be able to bring him back, and we'll have to risk a few lives instead."

"Send someone to keep an eye on that area."

Xuan Ying accepted the order and left.

-

Inside the Bai Family Restaurant, several ladies tidied themselves up and then sat down to drink tea.

Inside the room, Ziyan sat at the octagonal table and said calmly, "Zhaozhao, Manager Zhong's tea business is almost finished, and Youfeng has already gone back to prepare to pack the tea for the capital. I think your shop is almost ready too, so I'll go back to Songshan Town later."

"Why is Sister Ziyan leaving all of a sudden?" Li Yang blinked. "Is Sister Ziyan bothered by that little disciple?"

Ziyan glared at her irritably, "Don't talk nonsense."

“Sister, I’m serious.” Li Yang put his hands on Zi Yan’s arms. “If you have no more attachments in Songshan Town, why don’t you come to the capital and start a tea business with me? Or is it that you still care about Songshan Town?”

In Fang Yuan's letters, she frequently mentioned that people came to the teahouse to inquire about them. The most enthusiastic visitors were Mr. Zheng, Aunt Sang, and even the old Taoist priest from Xiahai Temple had visited the teahouse.

Putting aside what others might say, Mr. Zheng must have come for Ziyan.

Now, she sees Ziyan caught in a dilemma, torn between Mr. Zheng's concern in the south and her little apprentice's entanglement in the north.

"Does Sister have any ideas? Mr. Zheng, or that little apprentice?"

Ziyan frowned, "Over the years, it has been absolutely impossible for me to be with Zheng Qingbo, but he himself can't see it."

"So that's your little apprentice?"

"That's impossible too." Ziyan shook her head with a bitter smile.

“How can it be impossible? I can see that your little apprentice’s heart is with you, his master. How can it be absolutely impossible?” Li Yang said, puzzled.

Ziyan looked at her, stunned, and said, "Let alone the fact that he is so much younger than me, even considering my past, how could a pampered young master like him accept it?"

Li Yang disagreed, "Sister, you're wrong. You haven't told him, so how do you know he won't accept you? When it comes to feelings, you either like someone or you don't. That's how things are in the world. Yes is yes, no is no. Why is it so hard to decide? Sister, don't beat around the bush."

“He’s young now, so maybe he doesn’t mind. But what about in the future? As I grow old, he’ll have comparisons to make. Even if he doesn’t mind, the people around him—his mother, the shopkeeper—will become thorns in his heart if they talk about it too much.” Ziyan lowered her eyes. “Since I knew this would happen, why should I be greedy for a moment?”

"Is that so?" Li Yang murmured. "Why be greedy for a moment? Sister, I think that if you know you like something, even if you only fight for it for a day or two, as long as you have tried your best, you will have no regrets even if you don't get it."

The two looked at each other in silence, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"Sister Ziyan, let's finish the rest of the wine while the moonlight is just right tonight."

Ziyan blinked gently, "Take advantage of the perfect moonlight tonight."

When Xiao Lu finished her work and returned to the private room, she saw that the two ladies were flushed and talking nonsense, with wine jars and cups lying haphazardly in the room.

She frowned, sighed, and continued tidying up. She really didn't know what she was after coming to the capital, but staying in Songshan Town didn't make sense either. Wherever she went, she was destined to clean and tidy up. This young mistress hadn't taught her anything about business.

Little did they know that at that moment, a merchant ship from Jiangnan was about to break through the waves and head north.

-

Guazhou Ferry Crossing.

Bi Fang finished tidying up the cabin. "Young master, write home when you get there. Or, I might as well come with you."

“You stay here. Lord Lin still needs your help.” Chen Junbo pondered for a moment. “Keep an eye on Zhang Youdao’s whereabouts. His term of office is coming to an end, and he will definitely be active in various places. Send me any news as soon as possible.”

At this moment, Madam Sang hurried over and placed a carved lacquer box on the table. "Master, please give this box to Ziyan. That heartless girl, she's been gone for so long and hasn't even sent me a letter. Inside are all the things she's accumulated over the years on the pleasure boat. Without money, you can't go anywhere when you're traveling."

“Mother Sang is so thoughtful,” Bi Fang chuckled. “Now that Miss Ziyan is with the young mistress, she certainly has enough to eat and wear. Back when she was in town, I never saw you worrying about her like that.”

Mrs. Sang pointed her index finger at Bi Fang's forehead and said, "What do you know?" Then she turned and left.

Bi Fang looked at Chen Junbo with a teasing smile, "Young Master."

“Keep it, one more box won’t make a difference.” He was still worried. “Make sure to keep a close eye on Zhang Youdao. I will also be visiting various places during my trip to Beijing. These big rats, having stayed in the gutter for so long, are probably up to no good.”

Bi Fang repeatedly agreed.

Liu Yitong, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. "This babbling is ridiculous. If you ask me, Ziheng, you shouldn't have gone to the capital. Your sister-in-law couldn't make it there, so she naturally came back. You, a grown man, went after her. What kind of behavior is that?"

Seeing Chen Junbo's face turn cold, Li Yuhan quickly supported him with her arm.

Liu Yitong then added, "However, Ziheng is different from us. Aren't all rich families prone to romantic escapades? Perhaps Ziheng has found true love this time, unlike us..."

"Bi Fang, when you return, deliver these words of General Manager Liu to the Liu residence, and make sure that Aunt Peach Blossom hears them with her own ears."

"Ziheng, no, no, no, I have a bad mouth, I have a bad mouth. Don't go looking for peach blossoms, hehe." Liu Yitong always changes his mind faster than turning the pages of a book. "I wish you a smooth journey, and that you and your sister-in-law will reconcile soon, and that the two of you will have a perfect marriage and live happily ever after."

Chen Junbo glanced at them without saying a word. Everyone burst into laughter.

This time, Chen Junbo and the other salt merchants joined forces with Lin Yihuai to turn the Lianghuai Salt Bureau upside down, and Zhang Youdao, who had been lingering there for many years, naturally had a lot of bad debts.

The fact that the various parties are now irreconcilably at odds is precisely what worries him.

Lord Lin is good in every way, except that he acts too extremely, and there is no way to dissuade him.

"I am going to the capital this time. You all stay in the town and do not be careless. The salt administration investigation is not yet over. Lord Lin is decisive and has offended many people. Please be careful."

Li Yuhan frowned deeply. “Ziheng, that’s right. We’ve offended Lord Zhang this time. We both know the power of the people behind him. Don’t forget to make arrangements when you go to the capital.”

Chen Junbo nodded.

The person they were talking about was writing furiously by candlelight. "Madam, this letter must be sent to my sister's residence. Please ask my brother-in-law for help. This Lin fellow really thinks he's some kind of upright official, running around in the salt administration. I'm afraid if we investigate further, it will implicate my brother-in-law."

He wasn't afraid at all. His brother-in-law was practically the emperor's brother-in-law. No matter how powerful Lin Yihuai was, could he possibly surpass that person in the palace?

Consort Li's favor with the emperor is now at its zenith, even Consort Gao has to give way. He's on this large ship; what can the salt industry of Lianghuai do to him?

Over the years, he has been busy with many things, but he has never forgotten to tie himself to those few people. Now, these people are his lifeline.

"Lin Yihuai, Chen Junbai." Zhang Youdao trimmed the wick, and the lamp flickered and then stabilized, casting two figures, one sitting and one standing, on the wall.

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Author's Note: We're now entering the final stage.