Chapter 99: Preparing to Leave the City
Wang Zongxiu had a bad feeling: "What do you mean by real or fake? What do you want to discuss with me?"
Zhu Mingyue leaned closer mysteriously and asked, "Do you want to make money?"
"Nonsense, who doesn't want to make money?" Wang Zongxiu snapped his fan into his pocket. "It's a mess outside right now. I haven't had any business in ages. I have to support myself, not to mention these guys under me."
It's a sad story. These guys are all top-notch at escorting goods, but when they're not, they're complete idiots. Their line of work carries a certain menacing aura, and nobody in the city wants to hire them. They've been in Ganzhou for days, just living off their savings.
He looked at Zhu Mingyue, his eyes gleaming: "What? You want to help me make money?"
Zhu Mingyue nodded.
"I knew I was right about you, you're a true friend!" He clenched his fist, ready to strike Zhu Mingyue in the chest.
Zhu Mingyue was terrified and quickly dodged to the side. He couldn't withstand that punch. Besides, he hadn't finished speaking yet, "I have conditions."
Wang Zongxiu covered his mouth with his fist, which he hadn't had time to loosen, and coughed awkwardly twice: "What are the conditions? Let me make it clear beforehand, I really am not going to Jizhou."
Zhu Mingyue helplessly declared, "I'm not going to Jizhou, why are you so nervous?"
"Which of my conditions and my requirements would you like to hear first?"
Wang Zongxiu immediately perked up: "Money! I want to hear first how you plan to help me make money."
Seeing that he had indeed taken the bait, Zhu Mingyue smiled and held up her index finger in front of him: "Mingyue Tower in Shangyang County, one percent profit."
Wang Zongxiu clutched his chest, so excited he could hardly breathe and couldn't speak for a long time.
Mingyue Tower! That's Mingyue Tower! Now, it's quite famous not only in Shangyang County, but also throughout the entire Ganzhou region.
In Shangyang County, any wealthy young master or lady who doesn't know the poem "Gazing at the bright moon from the Bright Moon Pavilion, savoring delicacies from the finest dishes" is now considered outdated by their peers.
His friend, who had sold the restaurant at a low price, regretted it several times.
The only problem is that he doesn't know how to market. Although Mingyuelou's dishes are more novel and taste better than those of other restaurants, the real reason why these young masters and ladies from wealthy families flock to it lies in a recent anecdote about Mingyuelou.
Legend has it that a hundred years ago, in a village along the Ji River, lived a loving newlywed couple. Tragically, on their wedding night, the husband was captured and sent to fight on the frontier. The wife waited at home day after day, hoping for his return. Decades passed, and in despair, knowing her beloved would never return, she finally threw herself into the Ji River in her old age. She became the river spirit after her death, unaware that her husband had already ascended to heaven after his death in battle. Heaven, moved by their steadfast love, used the moon as a medium, so that whenever the moon's reflection appeared on the Ji River, it was the time for the two to reunite.
Zhu Mingyue not only spread this poignant story, but also asked He An to find the best painter in Shangyang County to paint the story and post it in Mingyue Tower.
Those who heard it were all moved to tears.
Even Wang Zongxiu came to inquire whether his story was true.
Zhu Mingyue smiled but remained silent. Of course it was all fake; it was all made up by him based on myths from later generations.
The first and second floors of Mingyue Tower are thriving, but the third floor has yet to open. It makes sense, since there are plenty of inns and restaurants in the county town, and who would have the time to spend the night in a restaurant near the dock?
Zhu Mingyue was at her wit's end and had only recently come up with this idea. Unexpectedly, it worked remarkably well; many literati and wealthy families came specifically to rest here, hoping to see the moon's reflection on the Ji River at night. The more people who sought to appear cultured, the more the second floor even hosted several poetry gatherings.
As a result, Mingyue Tower made a fortune, making others even more envious.
Wang Zongxiu's heart was pounding, and it took him a long time to finally speak: "You're really willing to give me 10% of the profits?"
The temptation was indeed significant for him. He had always been in a dangerous business, not only risky but also risky if he encountered robbers he couldn't defeat, losing both the goods and his profits. What seemed like high earnings were actually hard-earned money, and with a group of brothers to support, he didn't actually make much.
If he had Zhu Mingyue's brains and methods, he would have long ago retired from his life of crime and used the money he had saved over the years to run a stable business.
Seeing that his eyes were red, Zhu Mingyue knew that he was extremely tempted by this offer. He calmly presented his own offer: "As long as you can help me make that thing happen, I will definitely keep my word and give you this 10% profit. If you are not at ease, we can sign and seal the agreement at that time."
Wang Zongxiu took a sip of cold tea to calm his nerves: "Go ahead and say it." Reason told him that this 10% profit wasn't so easy to obtain; it all depended on whether he had the ability.
With the atmosphere built up to this point, Zhu Mingyue saw no need to beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Help me transport someone."
Wang Zongxiu asked in confusion: "I can transport goods and people, but you have to tell me how many people I'm transporting, what kind of people I'm transporting, and where I'm transporting them to."
Cough cough, Zhu Mingyue was actually a little guilty. Although he and Wang Zongxiu had some acquaintance, it wasn't very deep. If he hadn't been desperate, he wouldn't have pinned his hopes on Wang Zongxiu.
To be honest, he was very uneasy, as he didn't know whether Wang Zongxiu would report him to the authorities.
But this was the only way out he could think of at the moment. After a moment of contemplation, he finally mustered up the courage to speak: "Just one person, a criminal wanted by the imperial court who is currently being searched for in Shangyang County. The requirements are not high, just get him out of Shangyang County."
What the hell is this?! Not asking for much!
Wang Zongxiu shook his hand, and the teacup almost fell to the ground.
His lips twitched wildly: "Well done! Your courage has grown!"
He really underestimated Zhu Mingyue. He said he was a coward, but he dared to go to Jizhou during the war and dared to kill bandits. Now he even dares to harbor criminals. What will he do next?
He was indeed deceived by Zhu Mingyue's appearance; this guy was no good at all, and was incredibly audacious.
"Don't worry, I, Wang Zongxiu, still have my bottom line when it comes to friends. I won't reveal a single word you said today. But," Wang Zongxiu said with a heavy heart, "I can't do this job."
Zhu Mingyue's disappointment was palpable. He bit his lower lip lightly and said, "Then forget it. I've bothered you."
Wang Zongxiu was also feeling bad, only regretting that he should have listened to the demands first. If he hadn't heard the conditions Zhu Mingyue could offer him, he wouldn't be in such a distress.
The gleaming silver was beckoning to him, but he dared not take it; this was the first time in his life he had ever encountered such a thing.
"I've asked the kitchen to prepare some good wine and food for you. You and Guan Jing can enjoy your meal. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Zhu Mingyue forced a smile, turned around, and prepared to leave. Brother Cui was still waiting for him at home.
It was reasonable for Wang Zongxiu to refuse; he wouldn't complain at all.
Honestly, if I were in their shoes, I definitely wouldn't accept it either. The risk is too great. No matter how tempting the conditions are, or how many layers of compensation are added, it would still be in vain, because even if you make money, you have to be alive to spend it.
"Wait!" Wang Zongxiu's voice rang out from behind.
Zhu Mingyue turned around in surprise: "You agreed?"
"Let me think about it some more."
Wang Zongxiu was going crazy with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he felt he shouldn't take the risk, but on the other hand, he felt he wasn't as brave as that young lad Zhu Mingyue.
He was already in a dangerous business, and he wasn't even afraid of bandits who killed and robbed people on the road, so why should he be afraid of those government officials?
Want to make money without taking risks? There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Wang Zongxiu, I think you've lost all your courage by spending your days tending to flowers and playing with birds.
He gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind, saying, "Why don't you add some more?"
Zhu Mingyue stared wide-eyed, her face filled with disbelief: ? ? ?
He underestimated the allure of money; it turns out that money really can make the devil dance. If the other party doesn't agree, it must be because the money wasn't enough.
"How much more do you want?" Zhu Mingyue asked tentatively.
Upon hearing this, Wang Zongxiu became even more conflicted.
Zhu Mingyue thought to herself that perhaps Wang Zongxiu didn't know how much to add either. He was clearly tempted, which meant he was very satisfied with the conditions offered. Perhaps he just needed an opportunity to convince himself to agree.
Zhu Mingyue thought about it carefully and asked, "Brother Wang, are some of your men still unemployed?"
Wang Zongxiu was a smart man and immediately understood what Zhu Mingyue meant by those words. He quickly said, "It's not just some, we haven't found any of them. Xiao Guan hasn't fully recovered since his injury, and the other brothers are all having their own difficulties. You know, once you've been in this line of work for a long time, other lines of work aren't easy either."
Zhu Mingyue lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before discussing with him, "How about this? You go back and tell them that I'll take anyone who's willing to work for me."
Zhu Mingyue's words were well thought out. He had traveled with Hehe and his group of people, and while he couldn't say he knew them deeply, he could tell from their interactions that they weren't bad people.
Each of them possesses some skill; if they were to guard the house, their imposing presence would certainly be enough to intimidate anyone.
“The Mingyue Tower in the county is not short of manpower right now, but we can still hire two guards. In addition, I plan to open Mingyue Tower in other counties after things have settled down for a while. At that time, we will definitely be short of manpower. As long as they don’t mind the job, I can arrange it for them properly, and the wages will be the same as everyone else.”
Wang Zongxiu waved his hand: "No problem, no problem!" How could he possibly complain? His brothers had all suffered since childhood. If they could have a stable job in the city instead of being escorts, they would naturally be more than happy to do so.
He grinned broadly, thinking that he wouldn't have to support them anymore.
He was just smuggling a criminal out of the city. When he was short of money, he would smuggle whatever he couldn't, and now he's doing just fine.
"Brother Zhu, I'll go back and make some plans now. Just wait for my news!" He scurried away, fanning himself with his fan. Before leaving the shop, he kicked away Guan Jing, who was trying to go back with him. "Get lost! Don't follow me. Just stay here. From now on, Young Master Zhu will be your boss."
Watching Wang Zongxiu's departing figure, Guan Jing was at a loss. His boss and benefactor had gone to discuss matters as soon as they entered the door, leaving him alone outside to eat his fill.
I don't know what exactly happened, but in just a short while, he changed employers. So, the boss sold him to his benefactor because he wasn't making any money all day.
Zhu Mingyue walked over to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Wang said you're still not fully recovered. You'll start working as a guard at Mingyue Tower tomorrow! Do a good job!" In other words, he would get 10% of the profits from Mingyue Tower from now on.
"Huh?" Guan Jing was shocked.
Zhu Mingyue asked gently, "What, do you not want to be a guard? Perhaps you have some other skills?" At the same time, he was thinking about where else Mingyue Tower needed people.
Guan Jing stammered, "I...I'm willing, but...but can I really work at Mingyue Tower?"
He and his brothers had looked for many jobs in the county these past few days, including restaurants and inns, but they were all turned down.
Aside from wielding knives, they had nothing else to do but manual labor, so finding a job wasn't easy.
Seeing his simple-minded look, Zhu Mingyue immediately laughed: "Why can't you do it? You just need to be responsible for maintaining the safety of Mingyue Tower. If anyone fights or causes trouble, just kick them out."
"The monthly wage is eight qian, and there will be a bonus at the end of the year."
Guan Jing could hardly believe that he had gotten a job so easily. He said excitedly, "I don't need money to work for my benefactor. I just need food and lodging."
He hadn't mentioned it, and Zhu Mingyue almost forgot, so she added, "Mingyue Restaurant now provides two meals a day for its employees, but not accommodation. Whether you get a job or not is a separate matter from your wages. Your older brother won't take care of you anymore, so you should use your wages to support yourself."
"I have something to do today. I'll have He An take you there after the shop closes."
Guan Jing nodded frantically, deeply moved: "I will never forget your great kindness and virtue, and I will dedicate myself to you from now on."
Zhu Mingyue shook her head inwardly. This silly child, he didn't even realize he'd been betrayed. He was just doing Wang Zongxiu a favor; it wasn't anything great, and she couldn't possibly owe him that debt...
Money really does work; the very next day, Wang Zongxiu actually came to visit him in person.
Zhu Mingyue looked around warily.
Wang Zongxiu, with a blade of grass in his mouth, said, "Don't worry, no one will follow us."
Zhu Mingyue opened the door and welcomed him in.
"Wow, your house is quite luxurious!" Wang Zongxiu greeted Er Ya under the eaves immediately.
Zhu Mingyue asked in a low voice, "Why did you come here?"
Wang Zongxiu: "It's too much trouble. I've almost finished planning and the goods are ready, but I haven't seen the person you asked me to transport. I need to at least check on his condition. Didn't you say he was seriously injured?"
"Wait a minute, I'll go ask Brother Cui." After saying that, Zhu Mingyue left him in the yard and ran into the house in a flash.
"Tsk tsk," Wang Zongxiu spat out the foxtail grass and muttered to himself, "Comparison is the thief of joy. We both call him 'Big Brother,' but why does he address Brother Cui so sweetly?"
After a while, Zhu Mingyue poked her head out of the house and waved to him.
As soon as Wang Zongxiu entered the room, he smelled a faint fragrance of incense. He couldn't stand the smell and immediately choked on it a few times. "I say, you guys have quite the leisure and elegance. Even in this situation, you still don't forget to light incense."
Cui Jian lay on the bed, his face pale, but he had a handsome appearance and gentle features. He seemed to have just been talking about something interesting with Zhu Mingyue, and there was a faint smile on his lips. He looked like a young master who could only be raised in a noble family.
Wang Zongxiu glanced at Zhu Mingyue, then at Cui Jian on the bed, his feelings a mix of emotions.
This is the imperial criminal who almost had Shangyang County exhumed and exhumed? He's completely different from what he imagined. Shouldn't he look like a fierce demon?
The man surnamed Cui in front of me looks like someone who can wield a pen, not someone who can handle a knife at all. It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover!
Cui Jian nodded slightly to him, "I am Cui Jian."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zongxiu snapped out of his daze and cupped his hands in greeting: "I am Wang Zongxiu. Brother Zhu should have mentioned this to you before."
Cui Jian nodded, "Thank you for your trouble this time."
"No trouble at all," Wang Zongxiu replied readily. Having received a bribe from Zhu Mingyue, he was naturally willing to work.
“I’m just a merchant, and I’ll still need a carriage to take you out of the city. I’m here today to see if you can handle the bumpy ride,” Wang Zongxiu said.
After all, Zhu Mingyue asked him to transport a living person, not a dead one. If the person was shaken to death halfway, wouldn't his 10% profit be gone?
"I can handle it."
"I can't take it."
Cui Jian and Zhu Mingyue's voices rang out at the same time. The two looked at each other in surprise, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away.
Zhu Mingyue spoke first: "Brother Cui's wound is very deep. There is no medicine for wounds at home these past two days, so he has been using herbal medicine to keep it afloat. It's okay if he is lying in bed, but if he were lying in your carriage, it would be quite dangerous."
“Mingyue,” Cui Jian shook his head slightly at him, then said, “It’s alright, I can handle it.”
"No, you can't hold on." Zhu Mingyue frowned, her posture clearly indicating that she was not going to let Cui Jian speak again.
Wang Zongxiu picked up a leftover pastry from the table and ate a couple of bites. "Alright, Brother Zhu, just say what you need to say!" Hearing the two of them put on such a show in front of him made him feel like his teeth were about to burst.
Zhu Mingyue remained silent, only blinking her big eyes at him with an expectant look in them.
Wang Zongxiu: ...
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