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"Big brother, aren't you going?" Zhao Rong was taken aback.

Zhao Feng waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the mottled earthen wall.

"I have something more important to discuss with you, sir."

Although Zhao Rong was impulsive, he instantly understood the deeper meaning in his elder brother's words. He nodded, turned around, and ordered his men to rush away.

In an instant, only Zhao Feng remained in the alley.

Chen Qian, who was inside the wall, also noticed the change.

[Audio Recognition] All that came back was a steady breath.

For Zhao Feng at this moment, catching that mouse hiding in the shadows was a meritorious achievement.

If they can't catch them, it'll just be a matter of putting in more effort, and at most they'll get a few scoldings from the county magistrate.

If I had only bought a piece of information with those fifty taels of silver and the jade pendant, it would have been a losing proposition.

But in this world, only power and interests are truly real.

Compared to catching thieves, this is the immense wealth that can transform Zhao Feng and even the entire Zhao family.

As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth.

In business, if you want to get good goods from someone, how can you do business if you don't first bend down and offer them a chair, or first pay them to show your sincerity?

The fifty taels I just received were not only money for asking for directions, but also a gift for our first meeting.

The proper etiquette was observed, face was given, and the other party's authority was overshadowed.

The heat is just right now.

Zhao Feng raised his eyes, his gaze burning with intensity:

"Sir, you've come here today with the intention of making this business a success."

"My Zhao family has been rooted in Linjiang County for three generations; I dare not say anything else."

"There are people, methods, and some convenient but unrefined things, there are always some."

"I'll cut to the chase and ask you to name your price, sir!"

Medicinal herbs, ancient books, martial arts knowledge... these are what he craves most right now, things that can be directly converted into strength.

The Zhao family, being a local bigwig, could definitely get their hands on these things, and it was much more reliable than him trying his luck on the black market.

The problem is that you can't take it with you.

Or rather, they're not easy to take care of.

A long night can bring many unforeseen events; delay can lead to unforeseen changes.

With each contact, the risk of exposure increases exponentially.

Silver and money are the most flexible and hidden hard currency in chaotic times.

Lightweight and easy to store, it can be exchanged for small quantities of supplies that are most needed at any time.

It can also be used to make connections, obtain information, and even escape in critical moments.

Although it would result in a loss compared to directly acquiring supplies, it is safer, more flexible, and involves a clear settlement.

In a flash, Chen Qian made his decision.

But he couldn't appear to only love gold and white things; that would be too vulgar.

Silence enveloped the narrow alley again, this time for a slightly longer time, as if a wise man behind the wall was deep in thought, assessing the value of the Zhao family's sincerity.

The silence made Zhao Feng involuntarily hold his breath, and his palms became slightly sweaty.

Finally, Chen Qian's calm voice rang out again, but instead of directly stating a price, he posed a question:

"Officer Zhao, what do you think this item is worth?"

He gently kicked the ball back, both to test the Zhao family's price range and to position himself as the judge.

Zhao Feng's spirits lifted; he knew the test was coming.

He pondered for a moment, then cautiously replied, "This item can counteract Yin energy, making it an invaluable treasure for those of us who walk on the edge of danger."

"The amulets and consecrated ritual objects circulating in the market often cost hundreds of taels of silver, but most of them are merely for show or have little effect."

"Sir's items are highly potent, if compared to gold and silver..."

"Zhao dares to estimate that one tael of ash is worth more than a hundred taels of gold. Moreover, it is in demand but priceless."

He gave a very high valuation, which showed his sincerity and also left room for negotiation.

Chen Qian, behind the wall, had a sudden thought. A tael of ash for a hundred taels of gold?

The Zhao family was indeed willing to invest heavily.

This was much higher than he had expected.

But he remained expressionless, his tone still revealing neither joy nor anger: "Gold and silver are worldly possessions, but they are of little help to my cultivation methods."

First, belittle them to elevate your own position.

"However," he changed the subject, as if with a touch of helpless worldly consideration, "when walking through the world, there will inevitably be times when one needs something."

"Since Officer Zhao says he has a way and it's convenient, I'll speak frankly."

Zhao Feng immediately said, "Please speak, sir!"

"Firstly," Chen Qian said slowly, "it's our first transaction, so the amount is small, only two ounces."

Since he only has a small amount of food, keeping it might be useful later.

"This item is extremely difficult to refine, and cannot be forced by human effort. Whether it can be produced again depends on fate."

Zhao Feng was slightly disappointed when he heard that there were only two ounces, but when he heard that "it is extremely difficult to refine" and "it depends on fate", he felt that it made sense.

Such a treasure would be strange if it could be mass-produced.

"Two taels is already a generous gift, and I, Zhao, am deeply grateful!" he quickly expressed.

Secondly, regarding the price.

Chen Qian then got to the heart of the matter, "I do have a need, but it can't be simply measured in gold and silver. How about this..."

He paused deliberately, making Zhao Feng's heart leap into his throat.

"Of these two taels, half will be valued at the equivalent of one hundred taels of gold, as Constable Zhao stated. I need silver notes in small denominations that can be exchanged."

He emphasized that banknotes and small denominations were convenient to use and easy to conceal.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng felt somewhat relieved; getting the money would be easy!

The Zhao family may lack other things, but they still have some money, after all, they've been in that position for so many years.

"No problem! One hundred taels of gold, which is equivalent to about one thousand taels of silver at market price, is already prepared by me!"

"Hmm." Chen Qian responded noncommittally, which was taken as acceptance of the conversion method.

"As for the other half..." Chen Qian's tone changed slightly, taking on a probing tone, "What I want is not money."

Zhao Feng's heart tightened again: "What does the gentleman need? Please tell me!"

"I want two things."

Chen Qian stated clearly, "First, information. I need to know everything that has happened in the past six months, both inside and outside Linjiang County, regarding the Li family of Heishan, regardless of its size, whether the government has recorded it, or how absurd it may sound."

"Chief Constable Zhao is in charge of criminal cases and comes into contact with all sorts of people, so it should be easier for him to collect these information than for others."

This is the most core and secure need; information doesn't take up much space, but it's indeed very important to him now.

"Secondly, I want to find a martial art for my disciple."

"The moves should be refined, not flashy or beautiful, but decisive and ruthless."

Chen Qian spoke calmly, as if he were talking about a trivial matter: "My unworthy disciple is dull-witted and cannot learn my divination techniques; he is only suited to this kind of straightforward killing method."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng, who was outside the wall, felt a sense of relief.

He was initially worried that this person would ask for some secret internal energy cultivation method.

If that were the case, he would really feel a pang of regret, since the law should not be passed on lightly.

However, if all one seeks is a method of killing, then for the Zhao family, which rose to power through martial arts and is in charge of criminal investigations and thieves, it would be a piece of cake.

The treasury is piled high with so-called martial arts techniques seized from notorious bandits.

Zhao Feng immediately agreed, "I happen to have a copy of 'The Eight Blades of Breaking the Edge,' a fierce soldier's sword technique that circulated in the army in the early years."

"After improvements, the dross was removed and the essence was retained, making it the most ferocious and domineering, which is exactly what your disciple is going for."

"As for the news about the Li family of Heishan..."

A hint of apprehension flashed in Zhao Feng's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute look: "I don't know much either, but for your sake, I will have someone organize the files right away, and I will make sure that even the most obscure and fragmentary historical records are not overlooked."

"Very good." Chen Qian's voice revealed a hint of satisfaction. "Tomorrow it's still the tea stall. Just leave your things there. I'll have someone come and pick them up."

Before the words were finished, there was a soft "whoosh".

A dark shadow suddenly leaped over the earthen wall, tracing an arc in the air, and headed straight for Zhao Feng's face.

Zhao Feng's eyes narrowed, and he reached out and caught it steadily.

It feels slightly cool to the touch; it's a rough porcelain bottle.

His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively uncorked the bottle, releasing a familiar scent instantly.

It is a treasure worthy of being passed down as a family heirloom!

It weighs exactly two ounces, not a penny less!

"Sir, what is this?" Zhao Feng held the porcelain bottle, his face full of astonishment, and he was momentarily unable to react.

In business, it's always the case that money is exchanged for goods. There's no such thing as receiving goods before the money has been paid.

"Since it's a transaction, honesty is essential."

From inside the wall, Chen Qian's voice drifted out, carrying an air of nonchalant composure and arrogance: "Here are these two ounces for you, so that Constable Zhao will not feel uneasy."

"I doubt the Zhao family would tarnish their reputation for something so trivial, would they?"

These words, though seemingly innocuous, struck Zhao Feng's heart like a heavy hammer.

What gives them such confidence?

This shows that they are not afraid of the Zhao family defaulting on their debts, nor are they afraid of the Zhao family cheating them!