Chapter 468 - 285: How Did He Calculate This?
Chapter 468: Chapter 285: How Did He Calculate This?
Lin Zhenghong was startled at first, then his brows knitted together.
"Tell me everything."
"Well, it’s like this..."
When the Grain Store Chief Steward, dressed in a blue robe, finished speaking, Lin Zhenghong’s brow relaxed slightly, and he said in a dissatisfied tone:
"The word of a few beggars? Is that credible?"
"Hmph. I think someone saw how much the grain prices have risen and is just trying to stir up trouble."
The Grain Store Chief Steward hesitated for a moment. "Master, if this is true..."
Lin Zhenghong raised his hand to interrupt him. "So what if it’s true?"
"But..."
"Enough with the ’buts.’ Let me ask you, what was the cost of the grain we brought in from Ji State?"
The Grain Store Chief Steward understood and said with a bitter smile, "For one stone of fine grain, it was less than a tael."
Hearing this, Lin Zhenghong snorted. "Then what are you panicking for?"
"Even if Lv Jiunan isn’t really dead, it would only eliminate the threat of an attack from those horse bandits from Poshisu Country."
"And don’t forget, that Barbarian Prince who ended up in Shu State still hasn’t been found."
At this, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. His expression relaxed, and he said nonchalantly:
"Even if the worst should happen, the Lin’s Grain Store will still turn a profit. It’s just a question of whether we make a lot or a little."
The Grain Store Chief Steward watched him, his own brow furrowing imperceptibly.
After a moment of silence, he said softly, "If your father knew what you’ve become, he’d be angry enough to jump out of his coffin."
Lin Zhenghong was stunned, looking at him in astonishment.
It was as if he were seeing him for the first time.
"You... how dare you!"
Lin Zhenghong slammed his teacup down, splashing tea and leaves across the table. He glared, furious.
"Li Sanyuan, you dare to insult my late father!"
"Are you taking advantage of the fact that I’ve just taken charge of the Lin Family? Is this a rebellion?!"
The Grain Store Chief Steward, Li Sanyuan, was no longer meek and subservient. He slowly straightened his posture.
"They say a tiger father cannot beget a dog of a son. I’m beginning to doubt that."
He looked at Lin Zhenghong mockingly. "Do you really think the Lin’s Grain Store belongs to the Lin Family?"
"Didn’t Lin Huai’an tell you, before he died, about the responsibilities he shouldered when he came to Shu State?"
Lin Zhenghong stood up, about to berate him further, when a sudden thought made his expression change.
"You... you’re from... Ji State? No, I mean, from the Trading Company?"
Seeing that he’d caught on, Li Sanyuan snorted. "So you’re not a complete idiot."
Saying this, Li Sanyuan walked forward, forced Lin Zhenghong to one side, and casually sat down in his seat.
He then gently smoothed the hem of his robe over his knees, rested a hand on the arm of the Grandmaster’s Chair, and looked directly at Lin Zhenghong, his expression once again calm.
"Since you know of the Trading Company, you must have heard the name Pingzheng Hall as well."
As he spoke, he produced a Black Iron Token from his sleeve. Inscribed upon it was the single word: "Pingzheng."
"I am Li Sanyuan, Wind Patrol Envoy of Pingzheng Hall of the Ji State Trading Company. Forgive my impertinence, Patriarch Lin."
Though his words were apologetic, his gaze was far more arrogant than before as he stared fixedly at Lin Zhenghong.
In contrast, Lin Zhenghong’s face was now pale, sweat beading on his forehead.
"I... I... no, it’s... I did hear my father mention Pingzheng Hall. Please... please, forgive me."
He couldn’t help but recall Lin Huai’an’s warning before his death—
The full name of the Ji State Trading Company was the "Ji State Five Prefectures He Yuan Trading Company," and it was indeed initially founded by several families within Ji State.
But as time passed, its members had long since gone into hiding.
Even the whereabouts of the five founding families of the Ji State Five Prefectures He Yuan Trading Company were now unknown.
Perhaps they had all assumed new identities.
But the internal organizational structure of the Trading Company was still preserved.
It was a complete hierarchy, from the upper echelons of the Five Mansions Old Hall, the Chief Shopkeeper, and the Hall Masters; down to the six divisions of Accounts, Escorts, Auditing, Works, Transport, and Clients; and further down to the Shopkeepers and Cashiers in every state.
Beyond these, the Ji State Trading Company had also established a unique division known as Pingzheng Hall.
Its name meant "to pacify turmoil and restore order from chaos."
According to Lin Huai’an, the Hall Master of Pingzheng Hall was utterly uncompromising. It was common for him to punish minor offenses severely, and major ones even more so.
Within the Ji State Trading Company, he was known as the "Living Yama."
Consequently, Pingzheng Hall was also called "Yama Hall" by those within the Trading Company. Anyone they targeted would be lucky to escape with their life; even then, they would be flayed.
And Li Sanyuan was one of Pingzheng Hall’s three special envoys—the Clear Wind Envoy, the Wind Patrol Envoy, and the Wind Listener—serving as the Wind Patrol Envoy.
His specific duty was to oversee the Trading Company’s branches at the state and county level.
Furthermore, at critical moments, the "Three Envoys" of Pingzheng Hall could also intervene in the business affairs of those branches.
When that happened, it almost always meant that the branch’s Shopkeeper and Cashier were about to be punished.
This was what Lin Zhenghong feared.
Li Sanyuan stared at him for a long time, watching until sweat was pouring down his face, before finally giving a slight nod.
"A man’s greatest fear should be a loss of reverence—reverence for the heavens and the earth, for the Imperial Court, and for his parents."
"The fact that you still hold some reverence for the Trading Company is, at least, a good thing."
He paused, his tone shifting. "However, were it not for Lin Huai’an’s unexpected death... The Company’s plans in Shu State are of great importance. As you are now, you are far from qualified to be promoted to ’Shopkeeper.’"
Hearing this, Lin Zhenghong bowed in acquiescence. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he said in a low voice:
"Your... your criticisms are just."
"I still have many shortcomings. I hope... I hope Lord Wind Patrol Envoy will be lenient with me."
Li Sanyuan glanced at him and gestured with a wave. "Sit down. We can talk."
"Yes."
Once Lin Zhenghong was perched on the very edge of his chair, his mind finally began to clear. He forced a smile and asked:
"My lord, you... you wanted to discuss the matter of Lv Jiunan?"
Recalling what had just happened, he instantly understood why Li Sanyuan had taken out the Token to reveal his identity.
It had to be because of his dismissive attitude toward the news that "Lv Jiunan wasn’t dead." He had clearly displeased Li Sanyuan, the Wind Patrol Envoy.