Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 202: Second Brother, I Want to Improve So Much

Those who win the championship will be paraded through the streets on horseback after receiving various rewards.

Yang Yuan did not go forward to disturb him. Today's glory belonged to Brother Ya.

He rode a horse and followed the team beating drums and gongs from a distance.

The team, with Lu Ya surrounded, marched into the Imperial Street in Lin'an City, where he was greeted with constant cheers and applause from the people along the street.

The spectacular scenery lasted until dusk fell. Yang Yuan then stepped forward to congratulate him, and they returned to Houshi Street together, chatting and laughing.

When they arrived at Lu's Mule and Horse Inn, the Lu family had been waiting eagerly. When they learned that their son had won the first prize, the old man Lu and his wife were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling.

Yang Yuan spent a little money and let a half-grown child run to the Qingshi Lane.

He went to tell the Song father and daughter that Erlang would be holding a celebratory banquet for Ya Ge at Lu's Mule and Horse Inn tonight and would not be going back for dinner.

That night, Ya Ge's family, neighbors, and Mr. Fan who was studying hard in his room were all invited.

Yang Yuan ordered several tables of wine and meat and set up the banquet in the spacious courtyard of Lu's mule and horse inn.

The big red lanterns were hung high, and everyone drank happily.

After dinner, it’s time for Brother Ya and his family to share the joy.

Yang Yuan went to Mr. Fan's room and sat for a while. Before leaving, he took out a can of tea from under his robe and gave it to him.

Yang Yuan, feeling a little tipsy, walked back to Qingshi Lane.

His horse was just stored at Lu's Mule and Horse Shop, and there was no place in Fengwei Building to accommodate such a large animal.

Luxi got the message and knew that his second brother would not be back for dinner tonight, so he cooked two fewer dishes and prepared an extra hangover soup, which he slowly simmered.

When Yang Yuan came back, the hotel was already packed with people, and all the private rooms were occupied.

Lu Xi pulled Yang Yuan into her boudoir, brought him some sobering soup, and then couldn't wait to share with him what had happened that day.

How much has Fengweilou's income increased today? She and Sister Danniang have already chosen a big house...

"Brother, when you have time, go over and see if there is anything you would like to renovate."

Yang Yuan thought for a moment and said, "That house has a river in front and a mountain in the back, right?

We need to build an ancestral hall in the right location."

"When we move, I will bring back the ancestral tablets.

I have told my eldest brother that we will buy a big house to live together, and he also wants to return to the ancestral hall."

The tablets of the Yang family's ancestors are still kept in the thatched cottage of Xu Danian's family deep in Xixi.

On the Ghost Festival in July and October, Yang Yuan secretly went to the suburbs to visit his brother's grave. He also went to Xixi on the way to burn incense and paper for the ancestors of the Yang family.

Now that he still doesn't have a house of his own, he didn't bring the tablet back.

Lu Xi agreed solemnly: "Don't worry, second brother, I will remember this matter as well.

After the house is transferred, Dan Niang and I will go find a Feng Shui master to take a look and determine the location."

Then, Lu Xi talked about the Siamese merchants seeking help from the "Youqiusi".

Lu Xi finished speaking, blinking her big cute eyes and looking at Yang Yuan hopefully: "Second brother, did I make the right decision on this deal?"

That look was like that of a child who was trying hard to improve himself and wanted to be recognized and praised by adults.

Yang Yuan was amused by her innocent and cute expression and said, "Luxi, remember, this is different from opening a restaurant."

"We run a restaurant. When people pay, we have to serve them food that satisfies them."

"Regardless of whether the matter is completed or not, the deposit will not be refunded by Youqiusi.

We have used our connections, thought hard about solutions, and spent time running around. Don’t these things cost money? "

"So, in this line of work, unless you can't get any business, as long as you get it, it's just a matter of how much you make. There's no reason to return the money to him if the business doesn't go well."

Lu Xi asked hurriedly: "Then second brother, do you think we can accomplish this?"

Yang Yuan asked, "Since you have accepted this business, do you have a solution in mind?"

Lu Xi stuck out the tip of his tongue and said embarrassedly: "I...I haven't thought about it yet."

Seeing Yang Yuan's amused look, Lu Xi hurriedly explained, "I only met the Siamese businessman very late today.

Then I hurried back to cook for you. I was thinking... I'll think of a solution tomorrow."

Yang Yuan scratched her nose and said with a smile, "Okay, then I'll go over the matter carefully. You listen carefully and think about it now."

When Luxi heard this, he immediately sat up straight and perked up.

Yang Yuan repeated in a very organized manner the key points of what Lu Xi had just told him.

The cause of the incident was that a Japanese lord wanted to build a magnificent ancestral temple.

He handed the matter over to a builder named Suzuki.

Suzuki ordered a batch of precious wood from the Siamese businessman Kun Tai.

A Siamese merchant named Kun Tai used a Srivijaya ship to deliver goods to Japan, but a shipwreck occurred on the way, the goods were lost, and the ship owner died.

If he fails to deliver the goods in time, Suzuki will miss the deadline for the completion of the family temple, and Suzuki Taro will be punished by the lord.

Therefore, Suzuki required Kuntai to redeliver the goods within the delivery deadline.

But Kuntai was a newly-established businessman, and this loss dealt him a heavy blow.

After the news of his shipwreck and debt spread, he was unable to borrow money and was unable to buy another batch of wood.

Kuntai is holding the family of the ship owner from Srivijaya accountable, hoping to obtain compensation from the freight company and then pay Suzuki.

But the problem is that Suzuki can't wait. Once the deadline is over, his life will be in danger.

Kuntai couldn't afford to delay either. If Suzuki was finished, even if he could recover his losses from the ship owner's family, he could not escape the huge compensation from the Suzuki family.

What's more, the ship owner is currently involved in a lot of lawsuits and has no money to compensate him.

The two men therefore filed a lawsuit.

However, both sides were worried that they would suffer losses if they filed a lawsuit in the other country. It just so happened that the shipwreck occurred in the waters of the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, both parties chose to file a complaint with the suzerain state, the Song Dynasty, and asked the Song Dynasty to give them justice.

As the highest institution in the shipping system of the Song Dynasty, the "Municipal Shipping Affairs" should have been responsible for adjudicating such cases.

However, the "Municipal Shipping Affairs" of the Song Dynasty is now in trouble. Due to the fact that Li Lin, the judge of the Municipal Shipping Affairs, had secret communications with the Jin Kingdom, the entire "Municipal Shipping Affairs", including the various municipal shipping offices under its jurisdiction, are currently under investigation by the court.

At this time, which official would still be willing to give justice to Siamese and Japanese merchants?
So the case was delayed indefinitely.

The crux of the problem is that neither the plaintiff nor the defendant can afford to delay.

This case is truly amazing. The plaintiff, the defendant, and the presiding judge, each party has their own crises and troubles.

And behind each side, there is a predator more powerful than them, eyeing it covetously.

If this case were taken out separately and the game between the parties involved, the plots behind the parties involved, the grievances between the parties, and the family turmoil within each party at the critical moment were written about, it would be possible to write a massive novel of at least five million words.

Yang Yuan held back his laughter and looked at Lu Xi. This girl is really good.

Dan Niang looked like a smart girl, but unexpectedly she was also a talented person.

They actually dared to take on such a complicated case spanning four countries.

Lu Xi felt a little scared when Yang Yuan looked at him, and couldn't help but ask guiltily: "Second brother, did I... cause you trouble?"

Yang Yuan said: "No, didn't I tell you that even if the matter cannot be done, we still have the deposit."

"But if things fail to be done, won't it affect the reputation of 'Youqiusi'?"

She lowered her head and said a little aggrievedly: "I... I just want to be with my second brother, not just a cook who hangs around the stove..."

Yang Yuan smiled helplessly and patted her head lovingly. This little girl...

Yang Yuan originally wanted to analyze the case and then guide Lu Xi to use his brain to find a solution.

No one is born with the ability to solve problems.

Looking back now, many of his actions when he first entered the industry were childish and embarrassing, but he was proud of them at the time.

How could he ask too much of a young girl in her prime?

Although in this era, many girls aged thirteen or fourteen have become mothers, but in Yang Yuan's eyes, his Luxi is still at an age where she should make mistakes.

Forget it, I'll wait until there is a simpler case before giving it to her to practice on.

Yang Yuan thought for a moment and said, "In this case, Suzuki and Kuntai both have their own difficulties, and they also have problems that must be solved immediately."

"In fact, for such a confusing case, even if the city's shipping officials are willing to pay attention to it now, it will be difficult to conduct a clear and fair trial."

"But what do we at Youqiusi do? We help our clients solve crises, not administer justice for them or serve as judges for them."

"Therefore, as long as we can resolve the crisis they are facing and remove the knife hanging over their heads, we will be done."

Luxi's eyes rolled around and a look of joy gradually appeared on his face.

She threw herself into Yang Yuan's arms excitedly, and couldn't help but said happily: "Good brother, do you have a solution? Is that right?"

Yang Yuan had just drunk some wine and was feeling a little tipsy, and his whole body was relaxed.

At this moment, a sweet, soft, happy and angry girl threw herself into his arms and acted coquettishly and silly towards him. How could he bear this?

Luxi suddenly noticed something strange and her face turned red.

She is no longer a little girl who knows nothing.

Before, Mrs. Feng showed her the "treasures at the bottom of the box" and the "dowry painting" and explained them to her one by one.

Later, she met another bad friend named Dan Niang.

When the two girls were together, Dan Niang would drive very fast, drifting around corners at lightning speed. She had already led the little girl from Luxi into the door of a new world.

As soon as he realized something was wrong, Lu Xi quickly got up, shyly brushed his hair, and didn't know where to look.

Yang Yuan deliberately frowned and said, "I am just teaching you how to analyze the key points of this matter, but this case is too complicated. How can I have a good solution?"

Lu Xi didn't believe it. She had already seen a positive answer from Yang Yuan's expression.

Lu Xi pulled Yang Yuan's clothes and used her trick of acting like a spoiled child that always worked on Yang Yuan:

"Oh, good brother, please teach me. You must have a way, right?"

"No, we have no losses anyway. You don't have to pay attention to Kuntai.

Let's delay it for a while, and then we'll tell him that we've thought of a solution, but there's no way. If there's really no other way, just tell him to jump into the sea."

When Lu Xi heard this, he knew he was teasing her, but she became even more anxious.

"No, no, no, we should have a conscience. We can't do business like that. Good brother, just tell me. It's no big deal, it's no big deal... um..."

Lu Xi bit her lip, as if she had suddenly made up her mind, and leaned close to Yang Yuan's ear and whispered, "I'll... I'll help you in a moment..."

After she said this, her face turned into a big piece of red cloth.

Unable to contain her shame, Lu Xi tore open Yang Yuan's clothes and buried her head in them, refusing to show up again.

Yang Yuan was stunned. He really didn't expect that Xiao Luxi would say such a thing to him.

My little Luxi has grown up!

After waiting for so long, is the melon finally starting to emit the sweet smell of maturity?
Yang Yuan asked in disbelief: "Are you serious? Lu Xi, tell me, is this true?"

Lu Xi twisted her body in shame, but refused to stick her head out. She said in a muffled voice in his arms: "Yes, it's true, it's true. It's good that you know it, don't say it out loud, it's so embarrassing..."

Yang Yuan immediately smiled: "Okay, you said it. My Lu Xi always keeps his word and will definitely not lie to me."

Lu Xi was so angry that she bit his chest, and it hurt like a fish lip pecking.

"Don't say that again! I'm going to get mad!"

"Okay, okay! I won't say anything more!" Yang Yuan said with a smile on his face.

He couldn't bully her anymore. If he made the little girl angry and embarrassed, wouldn't he lose everything?
Yang Yuan quickly perked up and changed his voice: "If we try to solve this problem from the perspective of solving the case or being fair, there will be no solution." "However, if we change our perspective and only consider how to solve the crisis they are facing, then everything will become clear. We just need to..."

How could Yang Yuan not try his best to teach his wife skills?

He patiently explained: "In this crisis, all the problems actually come down to one person and one point, that is Kuntai and Kuntai's goods."

Lu Xi nodded seriously. Indeed, as long as this person's problem was solved, all problems would be solved.

But the biggest problem now is that Kuntai’s difficulties cannot be solved.

But she was sure that since her second brother said so, he must have a way.

Lu Xi believed that her second brother would not be unfaithful to her, but she did not want to rely on her second brother's favor and protection to survive in the Yang family for the rest of her life.

She wanted to be a confident woman, and to do that, she couldn't just be a cook.

Yang Yuan said: "There are many ways to solve a problem. Youqiusi doesn't have to stick to any one of them. As long as it can solve the problem, it is a good way."

"If this method can bring us greater benefits, then why should we act as mediators? Why can't we join the game?"

"We will also join in... and solve the problem of Kuntai's batch of wood..."

Luxi murmured a few words, and his eyes gradually brightened.

"Second brother, are you saying that we can solve this problem by lending him money?"

"Using Kuntai's business connections in Siam, we provide the capital and we make the profit."

Lu Xi thought about it and followed this line of thought.

"Kuntai is just trying to get through this difficult time, so he will do his best to make this deal happen."

"Well..., but if we help him make up for the shortfall in Shanghai, I'm afraid there won't be much profit."

Lu Xi rolled his eyes and suggested, "We need to make him sign a contract. After successfully claiming compensation from the Srivijaya ship owner, the money will belong to us."

"Also, since he still has money to ask for help from the 'Youqiu Division', that means the rotten boat still has three pounds of nails. We want these three pounds of nails too!"

Yang Yuan couldn't help laughing after hearing this. This girl really has the potential to be a business person.

He gently scratched the tip of Luxi's nose and said with a smile: "Look, isn't this problem solved?"

Lu Xi said happily: "Yes, no matter if it is one mess or two messes, I will chop it off with one knife!"

Lu Xi clasped his fists towards Yang Yuan and said, "Thank you, Second Brother, Master, for giving me some pointers."

Yang Yuan smiled and said, “If I were you, it would be perfect to achieve this.

However, I happen to know some other information. So, we don't have to make this a one-time deal, but... we can use some chickens and eggs."

"Hmm? How do you borrow chickens to lay eggs?"

Luxi, who had a strong thirst for knowledge, immediately asked with his eyes shining.

Yang Yuan said: "There is a Fanfang at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain, where many foreign merchants gather, including those from the East, South, and West."

"Among them, the most powerful are the Arab merchants, and these Arab merchants will soon suffer heavy losses and will not be able to recover within ten years."

Luxi sat obediently on the chair, almost putting his hands behind his back.

She looked at her second brother teacher with admiration, although she still didn't understand what he was planning.

But she was sure that her second brother must have a perfect idea in his mind.

Moreover, the second brother spoke to her so seriously because he wanted her to host this event.

Once this matter succeeds, it will surely establish her unshakable prestige and status in the Yang family.

Yang Yuan said: "The Japanese and Nanyang people in Fanfang are in a very miserable situation now. They just live by picking up the leftovers of the Arab merchants."

"I went to Fanfang today and saw that they were fighting over the business of a small wine shop, and even killed someone."

Lu Xi was surprised and asked, "Is Fanfang so chaotic? No wonder my father never let me go to such a place, and the government doesn't care about it either?"

Yang Yuan smiled and said, “The government allocated a piece of land to them and appointed a chief.

As long as they pay taxes obediently, the government will no longer care about what happens in the Fanfang.

In fact, the government is also raising chickens, as long as they lay eggs."

"Oh!" Luxi opened her cute big eyes and nodded seriously.

Yang Yuan said: "Once those Arab merchants suffer a severe setback, it will take eight to ten years to recover. The Japanese and Southeast Asian merchants will take the opportunity to rise and seize the market."

"But this will happen in the near future. They don't know now that a great opportunity will fall upon them soon, understand?"

When Luxi heard this, he finally came to his senses.

Lu Xi said excitedly: “So, we are not going to lend it to that Kuntai.

Instead, let Kuntai be the leader and take those poor Japanese and Nanyang people out to do business with us."

Yang Yuan said: "This is called luring the tiger away from the mountain!"

"Well, when those Arabs get into trouble, we will take over their ships and become the boss behind the foreign market."

"This is called changing the cage and replacing the bird!"

"When they come back, they will just crawl into the chicken coops we have prepared for them, and from now on they will just lay eggs obediently..."

Seeing the increasingly appreciative smile in his second brother's eyes, Lu Xi knew that he had guessed right, and he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

Even though she seldom left Qingshi Lane, she knew that those foreign merchants had to brave the seas and endure the dangerous storms.

But as long as they don't die at sea, they can become rich overnight.

If the information that the second brother said was accurate, she could use this foresight to enter the market, then in the future...

If a big shot wants to make his people rich, there is no need to resort to any crude or illegal means.

He only needs to reveal a little bit of information, and the trendsetters standing at the forefront will emerge!
Luxi walked around the room excitedly, and became more and more excited the more he thought about it.

Yang Yuan said: "In fact, as long as you work hard, opportunities are everywhere. For example, the spices over there are many and complete.

If you can get praise from the royal family when you cook in the palace, and with this title, you can also sell exclusive spice bags, who can compete with you?"

The more Lu Xi listened, the more excited he became: "Second brother, what's wrong with your brain? It's so amazing!"

Yang Yuan smiled proudly and said, "If you don't understand something in the future, just ask your second brother for help. I will teach you until you understand it."

"How are you talking?"

Lu Xi put her hands on her waist and said proudly, "Who are you with? Do you know that I will be rich enough to rival a country in ten years? If you make me unhappy, I will divorce you, believe it or not."

"Ten years later, right? Okay, then for the next ten years, you should just be humble and humble!"

As Yang Yuan spoke, he opened his arms to her.

Luxi screamed, turned around and ran away in panic.

Unfortunately, although her legs fell fast enough, her strong arms were even faster.

A pair of large hands quickly clamped around her slender waist, and her legs were left "spinning" off the ground.

Yang Yuan's hot breath sprayed on her ears, and the devil's voice rang in her ears: "You should fulfill your promise, my little wife~"

Lu Xi covered his face and said, "I can't do that!"

"Your second brother will teach you until you learn it!"

A long, straight leg stretched out and gently hooked the door, and the bolt fell down with a click.

……

Shifeng Tea House is brightly lit tonight.

The thugs who were caught before they could escape had their hands tied behind their backs and sat dejectedly in the large courtyard of the tea plantation.

With Feng Qihuai around, Zhang Xin did not run away. What's more, Zhang Xin's face was covered with blood, which was caused by the branches of the bushes when he was running away.

A row of dead bodies covered with white sheets were neatly laid out in front of them.

About a dozen people died, some of whom were trampled to death by their own people in the chaos. Their faces were covered with footprints, it was a horrible sight.

There were even more wounded, from swords, clubs, etc.

No one applied medicine or bandage to them, and they were thrown among the thugs who were tied up with their hands behind their backs, leaving their lives to fate.

Li Shishi's residence was not in the tea plantation, but in the tea set factory opposite, which was quieter and more elegant.

Although Li Shishi rarely lives here, she has always been particular about refinement, so her boudoir is naturally not bad.

……

There is a six-panel painted screen with golden partridges, and behind it is a bed with a cushion and a dressing table.

There is also a small semi-circular table with high legs under the window. There are slender flower branches inserted in a white porcelain vase, straight, tilted, and slanted, and a faint floral fragrance wafts in the shadow of the corner.

Leng Yuchan sat on the couch. It was still hot and humid in early autumn, but the jade-boned ice mat on the couch had not been removed yet.

A pillow with a water-blue lotus leaf edge and a mandarin duck embroidery was placed horizontally on the mat. Her naked arm was resting on the pillow, as cold and smooth as jade.

The round shoulders had been smeared with medicinal oil, and under the light, they had a faint golden color.

Next to it is a collarbone, just like a slender flower branch slanting out from the white porcelain vase under the window.

Li Shishi, wearing a silk robe and sitting in front of the dressing table, looked like a beautiful and noble lady living a leisurely life, delicate and gentle.

Her hair was still damp, tied up in a loose bun with a jade hairpin inserted diagonally, and her body exuded the fragrance of algae beans.

When Leng Yuchan was protecting Li Shishi and displaying her magical powers, she was hit on the shoulder by a stick. Although she relieved the force in time and did not injure the bone, it was still swollen.

While she gently stroked the medicinal oil on the wound with her fingers to make it penetrate into the skin faster, she said to Li Shishi: "Madam Li, what kind of kung fu did you use today..."

Li Shishi looked at herself in the mirror and said calmly, "I don't know any kung fu. I just saw you using a stick and I followed your example."

"But... the strength of your stick..."

"Oh, you mean strength. I was born with supernatural strength."

Li Shishi smiled sweetly at herself in the mirror and answered nonchalantly.

She has gone from being indifferent to the kung fu passed down by Taoist Chen to treating it like a treasure.

She didn't plan to let outsiders know about this technique.

She will not easily pass on this skill to others in the future, not even half a chapter.

She also planned to turn around and remind Yang Yuan, although Yang Yuan might understand the principle of "keeping secret skills to oneself" better than she did.

As for Dan Niang, you can at least call me godmother. It’s not that I can’t pass the next chapter to her. Anyway, I have already made an exception for Erlang.

The Luxi girl also needs to be told.

I, Li Shishi, am not someone who takes advantage of others for free. I always have to give something in return.

Giving her the secret of eternal youth, isn't this a generous gift?

As for everyone else, get up!
Seeing that the other party refused to speak, Leng Yuchan had no choice but to give up.

With her vision, she could certainly see that Madam Li must possess an extremely magical internal energy technique.

Although she practiced external skills, as a palace guard, she had seen true peerless masters.

Unfortunately, such people regard all their martial arts as treasures. Even if they are formally disciples, they may not be able to learn the master's hidden skills, let alone her, an outsider.

Leng Yuchan sighed regretfully and moved to the inside of the couch. Her smooth and shiny black hair was draped over the mandarin duck embroidered pillow.

Such a big thing happened today, she has to protect Madam Li closely, although it seems now that Madam Li may no longer need her protection.

Li Shishi had already removed her makeup. Seeing that Leng Yuchan had gone to bed, she raised her hand to extinguish the oil lamp and walked slowly towards the bed.

Shishi climbed onto the couch lightly and lay down, and the two beauties slept on the same bed.

The bright moonlight slipped in through the screen window and splashed on the brocade couch, creating a scene of "hills piled high, willows dark and flowers bright again"...

(End of this chapter)