Chapter Thirty: Same Boat, Shared Fortune

  "When did I become... a shareholder of Zui Xian Lou?"

  A whole box of silver was still in the house, emitting a dazzling silver light. Cao Yi glanced at the account book with a sly smile and said.

  Xiao Fan pulled out a contract from his pocket and handed it over calmly, saying: "Noble sir, you must have forgotten, but this contract clearly states that the Drunken Immortal Pavilion has half of its shares belonging to you. According to imperial decree, officials are not allowed to engage in business, so the contract does not bear your name. Perhaps this shareholder is a friend or distant relative of yours, or perhaps it's just some ordinary person named Zhang San or Li Si - you can fill it in yourself. Besides, since the year-end is approaching, I took the liberty of sending over the Drunken Immortal Pavilion's annual dividend for you to collect, totaling 2,100 taels of silver."

  Cao Yi took over the contract paper and didn't rush to look at it, but stared tightly at Xiao Fan, with some shock in his heart.

  There are countless ways to bribe and be bribed in this world. Cao Yi has been following Prince Yan for many years, so he has seen a lot of things. However, he has never seen anyone as brazen as Xiao Fan, who directly offered shares as a gift. This move is quite impressive! It's almost as if he has legitimized the act of bribery, making it impossible to investigate even if someone from above finds out. Xiao Fan is not a simple person!

  Xiao Fan naturally thought it was very ordinary, in his previous life, this kind of bribery method had already been very common, he just borrowed it to use it for a while, but the ancient people's vision was not broad, and such a clever way of bribing was rarely used. It was only because the ancients were accustomed to family-style business, and partnership-based businesses with shares were rare, let alone using share-giving as a means of bribery.

  Cao Yi tapped the thin contract paper in his hand and asked faintly, "No pay for no work, this official has no reason to take this silver."

  Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Sir, you're being too serious. You're a straightforward and honest man, so I won't speak politely to you. Let's just say it straight out - the Chen family is in business, and businessmen need backing or they can't do business..."

  Cao Yi's face was calm and couldn't see his emotions.

  "So the Chen family wants to rely on me as their backing? Don't forget, in Jiangpu County, there is still Magistrate Huang above me. I am just a newly appointed outsider, what virtue or ability do I have to be your backing?"

  "Adults are thin, grass citizens have said that adults are a very motivated person, it's impossible to be just an eighth-grade county lieutenant for a lifetime..."

  Cao Yi smiled: "Your words are quite bold, if they get out and Huang Zhixian finds out, what do you think will happen to the Chen family?"

  Xiao Fan's eyelid twitched, and he still spoke in a respectful tone: "Doing business is risky. A sum of money invested may yield a tenfold return or it may be lost entirely. The commoner has already placed his bet, and the outcome is no longer within his control."

  Cao Yi suddenly wiped the smile off his face, his eyes gradually becoming sharp and piercing. An invisible aura of authority spread throughout the room, staring at Xiao Fan for a long time before coldly snorting: "You say you want to surrender to me? Must I let you surrender just because you want to? What is the Chen family to me? Are they Chen Si's lackeys? His running dogs?"

  "I dare not, sir! Your words are too heavy!" Xiao Fan's heart was racing, and a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "Sir, please forgive me for my reckless words. Nowadays, throughout Jiangpu, whether in official circles or among the people, everyone knows that you and Huang Zhixian are like two tigers competing with each other. I humbly ask sir, apart from the Chen family, who else has such audacity to make such a heavy bet on you before the competition between the two tigers has even begun? The Chen family's sincerity is genuine, please don't misunderstand, sir."

  Cao Yi was speechless, and Xiao Fan's words were true. At this moment, the entire Jiangpu County government, regardless of whether it was the chief clerk, historian, or police officer, all had an attitude of watching a tiger fight from a safe distance towards the impending power struggle between Cao Yi and Huang Zhizhou. Cao Yi wasn't an idiot, so he naturally saw through their intentions. The Chen family dared to stand by his side without hesitation in his conflict with Huang Zhizhou, which was truly bold and courageous. Such a merchant who knew how to seize the opportunity, how could Cao Yi bear to push him away?

  Xiao Fan saw that Cao Yi was not speaking, so he continued: "Sir has just taken office as county magistrate, and it is the time when you need to build up your power. Although the Chen family is only a humble merchant, they still have some face in Jiangpu County. Sir will soon be competing with Huang Zhixian for power, regardless of whether or not sir accepts this shareholding, sir will still have to do what needs to be done. Why refuse the Chen family's offer to add flowers to the brocade? Sir needs to build up his power and create a team, and the silver needed is no small sum..."

  Cao Yi thought for a moment, and finally smiled, the intimidating atmosphere in the room instantly dissipated, Xiao Fan's body felt lighter, and he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

  How terrifying is this turtle-like aura...

  Cao Yi glanced at it briefly, then put the contract into his bosom. He picked up the wine jug on the table and took a big gulp of wine. Then he said calmly: "You're quite eloquent... Alright, you can go now. From today on, Chen family's affairs are this official's affairs. The silver is collected by this official, tell Chen Si Liu that this official owes him a favor, but it's not the Chen family's favor, it's Xiao Fan's."

  Xiao Fan was overjoyed and bowed deeply, saying: "Thank you, sir, for your kindness. I am grateful beyond words!"

  Cao Yi gazed at Xiao Fan with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, saying meaningfully: "This official has figured it out, you're no ordinary person. Today, giving half of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to me must have been your idea, right? Heh heh, your brain is quite useful, don't be polite, maybe in the future this official will still have requests for you."

  Xiao Fan's face lit up with joy, and he didn't take the words to heart. Instead, he immediately changed the subject: "Speaking of the Chen family's affairs, there is one thing that needs your help right now, sir. Two months ago, a new brothel called Jinyu Tower opened across from Zui Xian Lou. It's said to be secretly owned by Huang Zhixian..."

  Cao Yi fell silent for a moment before saying, "This official understands."

  Xiao Fan didn't say much more and Shi Li said: "In that case, I'll take my leave."

  He had just taken two steps back when Cao Yi called out from behind him: "Xiao Fan..."

  "The common people remain."

  "...I, the old master, am also a survivor from the pile of dead people. The Chen family has such guts, how can I, as an official, not be like that fat Chen? Do it freely, but mind the official face, I will handle things carefully. However, don't cause any loss of life, it's not yet time to break with County Magistrate Huang, do you understand my meaning?"

  Xiao Fan was overjoyed in his heart, didn't say a word, only made a long bow to Cao Yi, then walked towards the gate of the government office.

  Only the benefits of real gold and silver are the best means of collusion between officials and merchants. Xiao Fan understood this principle very well, sending away a mountain of gold was not as good as sending away a hen that lays golden eggs every day and month. Under the trend of long-term interests, Cao Yi may have been able to be on the same page with himself.

  From now on, Cao County Magistrate was tied to the Chen family and Zui Xian Lou in the same boat.

  With this mountain as support, what is the Golden Jade Building?

  Bullshit!

  The next day, Xiao Fan ordered the Drunken Immortal Building to close its doors. Since there was no business anyway, it was better to close the door and think carefully about how to deal with Jin Yu Building, this opponent.

  "Invite two more cooks and recruit some more helpers, those who were fired before, see if they can be invited back...". Xiao Fan instructed Old Cai: "Opening a wine house, the taste is the first priority, only when the dishes are well-made will people come to patronize, this is the foundation, cannot be neglected."

  Lao Cai nodded silently in response.

  "...then dismantle all the decorations in this hall and rearrange them, leaving a two-zhang square empty space on the east side against the wall, set up a wooden stage, and from time to time invite some opera troupes, storytellers, or courtesans from the brothel to sing and play music, make it lively..."

  Lao Cai nodded, and then said with a difficult expression: "Boss, what's the use of doing this? The Golden Jade Building is suppressing us. No matter how many people we invite, if there are no customers coming in, isn't it just a waste of expenses?"

  Xiao Fan smiled mysteriously: "We're all doing business, maybe the boss of Jin Yu Building will suddenly come to his senses one day and stop making things difficult for us..."

  Lao Cai was shocked, this shopkeeper... isn't he too naive?

  "Will the old master agree with what we're doing?"

  "Don't worry, he'll agree. In his eyes, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion is already a dead horse. Since it's already a dead horse, it has no value left. No matter how we deal with it, he won't have any opinions."

  Just as Old Cai was discussing in a low voice how Drunken Immortal Pavilion could rise again from the ashes, an unexpected event suddenly occurred.

  The only sound was the huge gate slamming open with a loud "bang", and a thick wooden door panel was kicked open by someone. A rude and arrogant voice shouted loudly: "Which son of a bitch is Xiao Fan? Get over here for me!"