What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 41 Big Business

Chen Bao came to thank Su Mo for coming.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Lady Chen only got a minor official position.

But judging from Chen Qian's current status, it's clear that the assistant is no ordinary person!
Moreover, with Su Mo's support, being promoted to a regular soldier in the future is a sure thing, right?
The three of them entered the inner hall together.

Chen Bao and Chen the Heroine were taken aback when they saw Xue Yishu.

Xue Yishu's clumsy disguise couldn't even fool Su Mo, so how could it possibly fool the sharp eyes of the seasoned veteran Chen Bao?

Chen Bao couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Despite Xue Yishu's disguise as a man, it's still clear that she has a very good foundation, and her looks are probably no less than her own daughter's!

Sure enough, a man as outstanding as Su Mo would never lack women's admiration!
Seeing Xue Yishu's eyebrows furrow slightly, Su Mo immediately explained, "I am a government official, and I am inevitably involved in welcoming and seeing off guests."

"Please don't take offense, Brother Xue."

Xue Yishu glanced at Su Mo and nodded, "That's how Father is!"

"I never expected Brother Su to be like this. His wide-ranging knowledge of people is quite a surprise to me."

He paused, then asked, "Brother Su, have you prepared a place for me to stay?"

"I would like to go and take a look."

He clearly knew that Su Mo and Chen Bao had something to discuss, and it was inconvenient for him to stay here.

The daughter of an official is indeed far more knowledgeable and well-mannered than Lady Chen in this regard.

Su Mo nodded: "I'm all prepared, but I didn't have time to pack..."

Xue Yishu waved his hand and said, "No need to trouble Brother Su, I can tidy up myself."

Just as Su Mo was about to take her to the side room, Chen Bao suddenly interjected, "Nephew Su, why don't you let Qianyu come along too? We can tidy up the side room at the same time."

"Uncle Chen is about to return to the village. My daughter will be in your care from now on!"

Su Mo was slightly surprised and couldn't help but look at Chen Qianyu: "Miss Chen also lives here?"

Chen Bao sighed: "Uncle Chen, aren't you afraid of losing face?"

"Nephew, you should know that Uncle Chen has been really short of money lately."

"The prices at the inns in the city are too high, so my daughter can only stay at your home for now. In any case, my daughter will be working for you in the future and will be at your beck and call, so it will be more convenient."

Su Mo was speechless.

Since Chen Bao has already said that, what else can he say?

Moreover, seeing that Miss Chen pouted her little mouth, although she seemed somewhat willing, she did not voice any objection.

The day before yesterday, the house was full of yang energy and completely devoid of yin energy.

In the end, it became a case of yin dominating and yang declining!

Wait for the young widow to come again.

No more than three women and one man?
One woman is delightful, two women are even better, but three women are a real challenge!

If we add one more, we could have a whole mahjong table!

Su Mo said she didn't know if she could handle it!

Fortunately, there were two side rooms and one main bedroom in the house. Xue Yishu and Lady Chen each occupied one room, and Qin Bier naturally had the master bedroom when she came. It was just enough room for everyone!

Su Mo led the two to a side room and let them tidy up on their own.

They then returned to the back room.

Seeing that Chen Bao was preparing to take his leave.

He stopped Chen Bao and said bluntly, "Uncle Chen, please wait a moment!"

"The kid will be taking over Dongshi in the future, and I plan to have Qianyu oversee things."

"Uncle Chen, do you have any plans to open a shop in the East Market, perhaps... a salt shop?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Bao's eyes suddenly lit up!
He placed a huge bet on Su Mo, wasn't he just waiting for this crucial moment?

He suppressed his excitement and took a deep breath: "What does my nephew mean?"

Su Mo didn't beat around the bush.

"I can manage to handle the salt shop procedures and the official salt permits properly."

"The rest is up to Uncle Chen."

"Furthermore, regarding the salt trade, Uncle Chen, if you encounter any trouble, please feel free to speak up. I will certainly not refuse to help if I can."

Having said all that, Chen Bao, this seasoned veteran, certainly understood!

He had long wanted to open a salt shop in the city.

Everyone knows that the salt shops ostensibly sell official salt, but in reality, how much smuggled salt is sold as official salt? Who can really calculate it?
Smuggled salt, which cost three large coins per pound, was sold for ten large coins in official salt shops, yielding a profit of more than double.

They sold it to villagers in the mountains for only five coins, and even then, they risked being beheaded!

The difference is so huge, I won't even go into it!

It's all tears when I try to tell you!

However, the business of salt, iron, cloth, and grain was not a small-scale operation.

Chen Qian and his gang couldn't be suppressed, nor did they have the face to do so!

Chen Bao replied without hesitation, "If this succeeds, my nephew, you can have 50% of the profits from the salt shop!"

"In addition, according to custom, Chen Laoda can get 10% of the business outside the city."

He paused, then continued, "If my nephew provides protection, the new path that Chen Family Village forges in the future..."

He took a deep breath: "Uncle Chen, how about letting my nephew have 15%?"

Su Mo had already inquired about her third uncle's private salt trade.

After a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Okay!"

He then added, "However, Uncle Chen, please be careful at the beginning. Better safe than sorry!"

Chen Bao chuckled, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes: "With your words, my nephew, I feel more confident!"

"And you can rest assured, my dear nephew!" "Uncle Chen knows what to do!"

"If my dear nephew has nothing else to say, I will go back and make preparations now!"

Chen Bao felt even more at ease knowing that Su Mo was so cautious and steady.

After all, young people are often impetuous and prone to making careless mistakes, which could lead to trouble for no reason.

Su Mo nodded and smiled, "Go ahead!"

"Better safe than sorry!"

Chen Baogang has left.

Chen Qian arrived.

I guess they waited outside until Chen's car left before coming in.

He had originally intended to inquire about the handover between Su Mo and Luo Lie, but upon seeing Chen Bao appear, he immediately changed the subject.

"Are you planning to get involved in the smuggled salt trade?"

Su Mo nodded: "Not bad!"

"The profit from this smuggled salt trade is enormous. Wouldn't it be a pity to let it go?"

He paused, then asked, "Third Uncle, how wide a path do you think Chen Bao can take?"

Chen Qian thought for a moment before saying in a low voice, "There are quite a few brave and daring men in Chen Family Village."

"Moreover, Chen Bao is extremely well hidden; he's probably at the level of a first-rate master."

"If we let him fight freely."

"I'm afraid that the private salt trade within a hundred miles outside the city will all belong to Chen Family Village in the future! They'll get a ten percent cut every month, which will be no less than one hundred taels!"

He wasn't worried that Su Mo couldn't control Chen Bao after he grew stronger; he was worried about other things.

"But if this happens, and someone later implicates you in this matter, it will be very detrimental to your plans for an official position!"

Su Mo smiled and said, "Third Uncle, there's no need to worry. Your nephew has his own plans."

Chen Qian nodded.

That's enough to get the reminder.

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to understand my nephew.

But he's not impulsive or reckless; he'll seriously consider this issue.

Aside from the matter of the young widow, Chen Qian had indeed not seen Su Mo act recklessly.

Chen Qian then asked, "How is the handover of the East Market going?"

Su Mo handed the booklet Luo Lie gave him to Chen Qian: "That Luo Lie is quite sensible."

"With this booklet, taking over Dongshi will be much simpler!"

"I never imagined that the monthly profits from the East Market alone could reach as high as a hundred taels of silver!"

"However, the vacancy for Zhou Laizi's regular role will be given to him!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qian felt a slight pang of regret.

He actually coveted the starting position as well.

However, he clearly understood which was more important: a regular service contract that ensured a smooth handover of Dongshi.

"A mere regular soldier, let him have it!"

Then he clicked his tongue in admiration: "What a huge piece of fatty meat!"

"No wonder Zhong Sanyuan has always coveted Dongshi and, despite repeated threats, Luo Lie has refused to give up!"

He paused, then asked, "What percentage are you planning to give him?"

Su Mo shook her head: "I haven't decided yet."

"Third Uncle, what do you mean?"

Chen Qian had clearly considered this issue beforehand, and immediately held up one finger: "Ten percent!"

Su Mo's eyes widened immediately: "Ten percent?"

"Luo Lie said that Zhong Sanyuan used to take half of it!"

Chen Qian sneered: "That was before!"

"Shouldn't we bribe the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Shouldn't we bribe the county magistrate?"

"What merit or ability does Zhong Sanyuan have to dare to ask for 50% of your money!"

He then added, “Take twenty percent and send it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard; give the other twenty percent to the county magistrate!”

"No one can take your place!"

"Furthermore, if the constables who previously followed Luo Lie come to surrender, we can increase their interest slightly, and we can easily win them over!"

"Never forget, our foundation lies with the clerks and servants below us!"

Su Mo nodded to indicate that she understood.

Chen Qian immediately asked again, "Has the selection of assistants been finalized?"

Su Mo smiled and said, "Two have already been ordered."

"One of them is Chen Bao's daughter, Chen Qianyu."

Chen Qian was taken aback upon hearing this: "Chen Qianyu?"

"Why did you take that silly girl in?"

For some reason, Su Mo couldn't help but want to explain for Chen Qianyu: "She's just a little naive, not stupid."

Chen Qian rolled his eyes and sneered, "Isn't being naive just being stupid?"

Su Mo...

I'm begging for your monthly votes! I'm just hoping to break into the new book charts! Even just 100th place would be great! Also, I've laid the groundwork enough these past few days; the real highlight is coming, and I promise I won't disappoint you, my dear readers!

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(End of this chapter)