Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 22 Business
From afar, Chen Shunan saw a group of thin, emaciated men with their eyes slightly closed, sitting at the head of the hall.

The skeleton is extremely large, yet there is almost no trace of blood and qi circulation.

This appearance is extremely similar to the hidden dragon appearance described by Coach Lin, which is characterized by inner brilliance and a return to simplicity. Even Coach Lin could not achieve this!
Master!

A true master!
Chen Shunan became alert.

Then I got closer and took a look...

Oh, so it's malnutrition. He's so hungry he looks emaciated. That's alright then.

Master Li stood up shakily, leaning on his cane. When Butler Zhao saw this, he quickly stepped forward to help him up.

"I'm fine, I just took a short nap."

Master Li's eyes were cloudy and his voice was low. He patted Steward Zhao's hand before shifting his gaze to Chen Shunan.

Master Li laughed.

"As expected, it's Brother Shun'an. We met briefly at Mr. Zhao's 30th birthday banquet. I never expected you to come and deliver water to my house."

Throughout the Holy Dynasty, from officials to businessmen, the custom of celebrating "three festivals and two birthdays" was prevalent.

During the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the birthdays of officials and their wives, banquets are held to entertain guests and collect various gifts, water gifts, and birthday presents.

Chen Shunan has also suffered greatly from this over the years. Sometimes, his monthly allowance has already been pre-spent before he even receives it.

He was just a middleman.

Chen Shunan, feigning surprise and delight, said, "Thank you for remembering my name, Master Li."

"I heard that Brother Shun'an fell into a well a few days ago. Are you feeling better?"

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Li. I have fully recovered."

"Why call me 'Master'? I, Li Shicheng, am a few years older than you. You might as well call me Brother Shicheng."

"Hey, Brother Shicheng!"

Chen Shunan shouted very fluently.

Li Shicheng's attitude towards Chen Shunan was unusually polite.

He even held Chen Shunan's hand and invited him to sit to his left.

Chen Shunan's heart stirred.

As expected, Li Shicheng changed the subject and said,
"I wonder how Zhang Xiaoqi is doing? Back then, we were comrades-in-arms, and we were both tested on archery by Lord Qualanda. More than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye..."

Chen Shunan replied in a deep voice.
“My father-in-law is still the same as ever. But I haven’t seen him much these past two years…”

"Oh dear, look at my brain, I forgot about that."

Li Shicheng patted his forehead, as if waking from a dream, and said apologetically,
"I've been too talkative, I really have been too talkative, I hope Brother Shun'an won't take it to heart."

The two then exchanged some polite words, with Li Shicheng occasionally probing Chen Shunan's relationship with the Zhang family.

Chen Shunan remained tight-lipped throughout, seemingly oblivious to Li Shicheng's implied meaning.

Finally, Li Shicheng couldn't hold back any longer, and with a troubled expression, he said...

"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Brother Shun'an, but my household is really at its wits' end, and we're almost out of food to pay the monthly allowances to our servants!"
Therefore, I would like to ask my brother Shun'an if the Zhang family is short of instructors for archery and horsemanship. Although I am old, I can still eat a peck of rice and ten pounds of meat, and I still have martial arts skills..."

Chen Shunan was somewhat surprised.

Li Shicheng's words gave the impression that a company boss had to go out and work to earn money in order to support his employees.

It seems that the situation at the Li residence is worse than I thought.

Chen Shunan paused for a moment, then said bitterly, "I am truly willing but unable to do anything about this matter. My father-in-law treats me like trash... Even if you, Brother Shicheng, were to enter the Zhang family through my connections, you might still be harassed by others."

Upon hearing this, Li Shicheng slumped back in disappointment, his thin back scraping against the wooden chair with a harsh, mocking sound.

Manager Zhao stood quietly beside Li Shicheng from beginning to end, without saying a word. Only at this moment did he step forward and pour a cup of tea for Master Li.

"I was just desperate and grasping at straws, so I'm nagging you, Brother Shun'an."

Li Shicheng sipped his tea and forced a smile.

The two exchanged a few more casual pleasantries.

Chen Shunan finally revealed his purpose in bringing the blessed water.

In his mind, the Li family had already reached this point, and they were almost out of food.

Li Shicheng had no reason to refuse himself.

To everyone's surprise, Li Shicheng refused without much thought. "I appreciate Brother Shun'an's kindness. But my Li family is a family of martial arts masters, and the descendants of the Chief of the Transport Gang. How can we accept such charity? If word gets out, we will be laughed at by our old friends."

"You won't be shortchanged by a single penny of the amount due!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shunan suddenly felt a toothache.

Li Shicheng was a stubborn and corrupt man, yet he was willing to serve in the Zhang family to earn money and support his family.

They claim to be flexible and adaptable, yet they cling to ancestral glory and remain aloof and arrogant.

Fortunately, Chen Shunan had made worst-case plans and anticipated this before he arrived.

Chen Shunan paused for a moment, then said, "If I have any information, perhaps it can help your family overcome this difficulty, or even allow you to rejoin the Grand Canal Gang?"

Li Shicheng asked with amusement, "Brother Shun'an, are there any other connections?"

Li Shicheng didn't really take it seriously.

He and Chen Shunan had only met once. What Li Shicheng cared about most was Chen Shunan's status as the son-in-law of the Zhang family.

He really couldn't imagine what other information Chen Shunan, this Shui San'er, had that would allow him to make such a boast and help the Li family rejoin the Canal Gang.

Chen Shunan did not hide anything and chose to tell the whole story.

“There was a foreign country called ‘Qianning Kingdom’ visiting the Sage. They traveled north from Nanhai Prefecture, passing through the Three Rivers and Five Lakes, and crossing the Grand Canal…”

At that time, the exchanges between the two countries, whether it's transporting foreign goods like gold-threaded carpets, wool felt, and phonographs from Qianning Kingdom to our own land for buying low and selling high, or stockpiling the supplies and military provisions needed by Qianning Kingdom in advance... I think Brother Shicheng should understand this better than I do.”

If Chen Shunan's prediction is correct.

This news will soon circulate among the upper and middle classes of the Holy Dynasty, becoming an open secret.

But now it's all about seizing the time advantage.

The faster you move, the more meat you eat.

It's too late; there's not even any leftovers or scraps left.

Li Shicheng was still somewhat dismissive.

But the more he listened, the more serious his expression became, and the more he felt that this matter had great potential and could be made into a major undertaking!
Finally, he couldn't help but straighten his back, sit up straight, and confirm.
"Is this news true?"

"I cannot guarantee anything. But if Brother Shicheng has any doubts, we can wait a few days and the truth will come out. However, by then..."

Chen Shunan smiled.

Upon hearing this, Li Shicheng immediately believed it to be true.

The Qianning Mission's visit to the Emperor was a momentous event, yet few dared to fabricate or spread rumors about it.

That would cost you your head!
As for profiting from this...

The Holy Dynasty actually has laws and regulations such as "prohibiting speculation and profiteering, prohibiting buying low and selling high, and shutting down any businesses that are reported."

But if you listen to it the other way around, it means "It's definitely speculation, definitely buying low and selling high, don't reveal it, let's all make money together."

Li Shicheng's expression was unpredictable, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

A few breaths later, he stood up, solemnly clasped his hands in greeting to Chen Shunan, and said...
"If this matter succeeds, I, Li, will grant Brother Shun'an 10% of the profits!"

……

Chen Shunan poured a whole cartload of water, 500 jin of turbid water, into the Li family's water tank.

He took only one coin, pushed the cart away, and left.

Deep in the courtyard, a gourd ladle bobbed endlessly in the water vat.

Li Shicheng leaned on his cane, squinting his eyes.

"Old Zhao, what exactly is Chen Shunan up to? Giving away water for blessings? That's a lot of hard-earned money..."

Steward Zhao said in a deep voice, "This person has been delivering blessed water to more than ten poor families during this period, without ever making a profit... It seems that he is really just praying for his own good."

"Alright, you go to Banno Tsutoku first and deliver your visiting card to Qian Longtou. I'm going to take a nap. It's getting hot, and I'm sleeping less and less. My body is always sticky and itchy..."

As Mr. Li spoke, he rubbed one foot against the belly of the other, and with a rustling sound, large patches of wrinkled dead skin fell off, just like a worm shedding its skin.

Butler Zhao pretended not to notice, his lips trembling as if he were hesitant.

"Qian Longtou has quite the appetite..."

Master Li slammed his cane heavily on the ground and said in an unquestionable tone,
"Then let's sell the family's secret techniques again!"

(End of this chapter)