Chapter 43 Poaching Talent

The cargo ship sailed against the current.

Three hours later, it arrived in Jinling.

At the dock outside the city, as the cargo ship finally moored, Manager Liu and Manager Xiao snapped out of their lingering astonishment.

People in high places had no shortage of capable subordinates, and competition for status was particularly fierce.

Countless individuals scrambled to climb the ladder.

A trusted household retainer needed not only absolute loyalty, but also the ability to generate value for the master's family.

Generations like Manager Liu and Manager Xiao were destined to be retainers.

Yet, they fought with every ounce of strength to extract more resources from their masters to cultivate the next generation.

If the next generation could attain an official rank, the master's household would pour in even more resources to ensure a smooth career path.

Opening up maritime trade was the key for them to acquire those resources.

At this very moment, in their hearts, they practically regarded Ye Xiu as a parent reborn.

"Are we not entering the city?" Cheng Pengju asked in bewilderment as he saw the three of them step off the boat.

"The warehouse is right here at the dock outside the city. Why would we go into town?" Ye Xiu stretched lazily on solid ground, loosening up his limbs.

"Young Master, even if we operate under the banner of government authorization, entering the city requires paying taxes," Manager Liu explained with a smile. "Levies, city gate taxes, shipping fees, miscellaneous duties... After layer upon layer of exploitation, we won't have any profit left."

"But..." Cheng Pengju scratched his head vigorously. "If we leave the goods right here, we don't have to pay taxes?"

"If the goods don't enter the city, on what grounds would they collect taxes?" Manager Liu wore a matter-of-fact expression. "When the time comes, all transactions will take place outside the city, so naturally, not a single coin of tax will be paid."

"So blatant? The prefectural yamen just turns a blind eye?" Cheng Pengju widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Even if they know, what can they do?" Manager Liu smiled smugly. "This dock and the surrounding land all belong to the Prefect and the Prince of Yan. Who would dare come to investigate?"

"They always say the imperial court is broke..." Cheng Pengju was dumbfounded. "If everyone operates like this, it would be a miracle if it weren't broke."

"Since that's the case, let's follow the Young Master's arrangements," Manager Liu said with a serious face. "Shall we have the cargo ships enter the city then?"

"On what grounds?" Cheng Pengju instantly panicked, revealing his true nature. "I refuse to pay!"

Hahaha!

Ye Xiu and the two head managers burst into hearty laughter.

Within the territory of the Great Qian Empire, there were still many such docks.

It was said that a certain dock in Yangzhou was even operated by his own Duke of Wei's estate.

The warehouse rent was exorbitant—easily the most expensive warehouse Ye Xiu had ever seen since transmigrating.

It cost twenty taels of silver a month.

Though expensive, they offered a guaranteed reputation, promising full compensation for any cargo damage.

The storage receipts bore the personal seals of all three men, and all three had to be present to claim the goods.

As evening approached, all the cargo was successfully moved into the warehouse.

Before the city gates closed, without any excessive polite pleasantries, everyone went their separate ways back home.

Returning to Wulong Lane, Ye Xiu fetched thirty taels of silver and handed them to Zhao Yide. "Brother Zhao, everyone has worked hard on this trip. Distribute this among the brothers."

"Isn't this too much?"

Working themselves to the bone all year round, these men could barely earn twenty-odd taels of silver.

Having gone out with Ye Xiu for just two days, pulling out thirty taels like this genuinely startled them.

Counting Zhao Yide, there were ten men in total. Over two days, each person would receive three taels of silver.

Looking at the money pouch, everyone spoke at once, trying to decline. The silver felt far too scorching to touch.

"This is what you've rightfully earned," Ye Xiu waved a hand. "Go back and get some good rest."

"Anyone wishing to join the Duke of Wei's estate can speak to my guard."

Seeing his chance, the chubby youth immediately began trying to poach talent. "The perks are ridiculously good, the benefits are outrageously superior—hey, why are you pulling me? I haven't finished yet..."

Before he could finish, Ye Xiu dragged him into the house.

Seeing this, the group of men burst into loud, cheerful laughter and went to divide the silver.

The door to the main room stood wide open, and clear, resonant sounds of recitation drifted from within.

Hearing this, Ye Xiu wore a satisfied smile at the corners of his mouth.

Selling everything to support his old man's studies had finally brought some peace of mind.

Walking over quietly, he found Ye Wuji sitting upright in a formal kneel, while Xi Xiren held a ruler with a stern expression.

In the kitchen, Zhao Youyou was busy tidying up the bowls and chopsticks.

Ye Xiu asked with a smile, "Has my dad been like this these past two days?"

"Mm-hmm," Zhao Youyou nodded.

"That doesn't sound like my dad at all," Ye Xiu remarked in wonder.

"He couldn't sit still at the very beginning," Zhao Youyou paused. "But after Master Ye had a word with him, he fell right in line."

"Just like that?" Ye Xiu still found it hard to believe.

"I'll imitate it for you." Zhao Youyou straightened up, cleared her throat, and earnestly mimicked Xi Xiren's demeanor. "A simple monthly exam, and you couldn't even take first place? With performance like yours, how do you expect to rescue your father from the sea of misery? How can you look your son in the eye when he works so hard to support your studies?"

Pfft—Ye Xiu chuckled. This was truly a case of bullies meeting their match.

"Young Master You'an, I'll be heading back first."

"Wait a moment." Ye Xiu drew a silver hairpin from his sleeve. "I bought this when we entered the city earlier. Do you like it?"

"I like it. Anything Young Master You'an gives me, I like." With that, Zhao Youyou blushed fiercely and sprinted out of the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Ye Wuji's voice floated from the room. "Teacher, I've been reading for half an hour. May I have a sip of water?"

"Studying brook no half-measures," Xi Xiren said in a grave tone. "The *Song of Righteousness* is the moral exemplar of a scholar, sustained entirely by a breath of righteous spirit throughout the entire piece. If that breath is broken midway, your reservoir of righteousness breaks with it."

"Then I'd rather take a break," Ye Wuji muttered, resorting to petty stalling. "It's already broken anyway."

"If you wish to drink water, you may. Once you finish drinking, you will recite it twenty more times," Xi Xiren narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening.

"I, I..."

Thinking of his father still locked up in the Censorate, and thinking of his son running around desperately for money, Ye Wuji let out a heavy sigh. "I shall continue reading."

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

"Were you not fed?" Xi Xiren tapped the desk a few times with his ruler. "Keep your posture straight, push the breath from your Dantian, and let your voice ring clear..."

Peering through the window at the people inside, the chubby youth shivered all over.

This was one of the figures in the capital who made his skin crawl just at the sight, yet he had no way of avoiding it.

"How on earth did you manage to invite Xi Xiren to your home to tutor him?" The chubby youth looked at Ye Xiu with a complex expression. "Do you know that great figures in the capital line up to invite him, yet none can get him to budge?"

Ye Xiu wore a playful half-smile. "I didn't think it was all that difficult."

"This is a man who has cursed the Emperor, cursed my grandfather, and cursed the three Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, yet he's still breathing today!"

The chubby youth rubbed his hands anxiously. "No, this absolutely will not do... He's your grandfather's political rival, and my brother-in-law is going to be driven to his death by him... I have an imperial edic—"

"Go back to sleep."

Before Cheng Pengju could finish, Ye Xiu grabbed the chubby youth's wrist and pulled him into his own bedroom.

"Wait..." The chubby youth wore an expression of extreme disgust. "You expect me to share a bed with you?"

"What, do you want me to wait on you hand and foot like a maidservant?" Ye Xiu glared at him, pulling out an extra set of bedding. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. My family is in decline; these are the conditions we have."

After washing his feet, the chubby youth lay down on the bed, just as he was about to close his eyes.

Suddenly, he whipped around and stared intently at Ye Xiu with dead-serious eyes. "Big nephew, do you seriously want Xie Dashen's daughter to be your stepmother?"