Chapter 34: Walls Have Ears

  After having a full meal, Yang Yun contentedly rubbed his belly. Although he had been eating fish fins and shrimp at sea, he hadn't been depriving himself. In terms of nutritional value, the seafood was still more abundant, but the dishes carefully prepared by the wine house were more satisfying in taste. Eating too much seafood could be overwhelming.

  Several people rushed to pay the bill, and finally Yang Yue paid. Without hurrying to leave, several people drank tea, ate the fruit snacks given by the wine house, and discussed the arrangements for the future.

  "I want to go home for a visit, last time I gave my family some money but not much, my parents must have saved it and won't spend it, this time when I go back let them be happy too." Yang Yue said.

  Yang Yun also had this idea and when he heard Er Ge say it, he quickly nodded in agreement. "I still have over 500 taels of silver here, take 400 taels back with you."

  "You'd better keep some silver on you when studying in the provincial capital."

  "More than 100 taels is enough, a few days ago we wouldn't have dared to think of having 100 taels of silver."

  Yang Yue thought so too, anyway this money would be kept by his parents for San Di.

  "Brother Yue, I'm alone and have no relatives, so I'll follow you wherever you go," said Chen Hu.

  "That's right, a seven-foot-tall man with skills and money, what's there to fear about not finding a good marriage? This time, come back with me, pick out which family you like, and I'll find someone to be the matchmaker for you."

  Chen Hu was overjoyed and laughed loudly.

  Yang Yun and Meng Chao naturally went to Haitian Academy for further study, only Lian Pingyuan had not decided where to go.

  When dividing up the wealth, Lian Pingyuan was considered one of the people from Xia Dao. Although there were many people on the island, they only received 30% of the treasure, which worked out to about 50-60 taels of silver per person.

  For the fishermen on the small island, 50 or 60 taels of silver can also be considered a huge sum of money, but after eating a meal, even Pingyuan saw that the prices at Fengming House were not cheap, and since Lian didn't have a place to stay either, 50 or 60 taels of silver would not be enough for him to live off.

  "I'd like to find a way to make a living in this prefectural city, does anyone have any ideas?" Lian Pingyuan, although born on a small island, still had high aspirations. This time he left the island mainly for Haizhu, but also partly because he wanted to come out and see the world.

  "This world is vast, with 360 professions, but only a few can stand out. Yang Yun counted on his fingers, "Reading books to take the imperial examination and become an official is the path that I and Lao Meng are taking, and even you, brother, are not suitable for it. Being a soldier to gain military merit and get rewards, now there's no war."

  Yang Yun did not say that a war would break out in one or two years, now those who joined the army have all become cannon fodder.

  "Now the most suitable place is actually from commerce. Our Wu State has been stable in national affairs for many years, and both officials and civilians have surplus wealth, so trade is flourishing every day. The western and northern Da Chen, the southern Shan Yue, all have commercial routes coming and going. The maritime trade route directly connects Da Chen, Northern Liang, Qingquan, Shangui, and even Nanyang and Persia. Many people who engage in commerce have made a fortune, to say that the wealth we obtained this time is just a small one compared to those giant merchants. This Fengming Prefecture is an example, from the dock all the way here, how many magnificent courtyards have we seen? The prosperity of this place can be imagined."

  Lian Pingyuan's heart was stirred a little; what he wanted to find was of course not a laborious job, but doing business sounded pretty good.

  "I just don't have much capital and no connections or influence, doing business in Fengming Prefecture is probably not feasible."

  Business is divided into sedentary merchants and traveling merchants. Opening a store in the city to sell goods is a sedentary merchant, which requires capital and connections. However, traveling merchants are different. The most important thing for traveling merchants is to find unique goods and be able to transport them.

  "What special goods? Where can I find them?" Lian Pingyuan asked, Yang Yun's words had already given him the intention of doing business, but he hadn't thought of a specific way yet.

  "Haha, even you, brother, are guarding a treasure island without realizing it." Yang Yun pointed out.

  "Are you referring to Xia Island?"

  "That's right, before the Xia Island was adjacent to the notorious Fog Island, and few people approached. Now that the evil snakes on Fog Island have been eliminated, it can be said that there is no danger on the navigation route. This point is not known to others, as long as this secret can be kept, at least for one or two years, this will be an exclusive navigation route. I don't know about other specialties of Xia Island, just that kind of silver-shelled shrimp is rarely seen elsewhere, and transporting it here would be a unique business."

  Lian Pingyuan's eyes lit up, and his initial intention to leave Xiadao was long forgotten. His mind turned quickly, and he immediately thought of the Changfu ship.

  "Yes, most of the sailors on the Changfu are going home, maybe I can find a shipowner to rent or buy the Changfu, and we can raise the money from the islanders, then this route will be established."

  Lian Pingyuan, although young, has a high reputation on Xiadao Island. It was he who led the people of Changfeng to rescue everyone on the island. Moreover, the people of Xiadao have money in their hands, and staying on an isolated island is not a good way to spend it; investing in a merchant ship is indeed the best option.

  Yang Yun nodded, Lian Pingyuan was indeed a talented person, and what's more precious is that he valued relationships and righteousness. At the time, he risked drowning to swim to the Changfu ship for help, which can be said to be for survival, but when the captain refused to lend a hand, he didn't take advantage of the situation to stay on the ship, instead thinking of jumping into the sea to return to the island, this is truly admirable.

  There was also Chen Hu, and Yang Yue came together to the Changfu No. 1's sailors, not just him alone, but when Yang Yue climbed up the mast to rescue, only he followed up, that's the difference.

  Everyone has different choices, and the encounters are also different. Yang Yun wants to struggle out of a way in the chaotic world, and after cultivation, human relationships are also very important. Where he can pull up and help, he will not be stingy.

  Lian Pingyuan bowed his head in gratitude towards Yang Yun, took out a wine jug and toasted him several more cups.

  Meng Chao and Chen Hu were nothing to be surprised about, but Yang Yue was shocked with wide eyes. When did his own third brother become so fierce? Did he become smarter after becoming a disciple of an immortal master? In just one year, he seemed like a completely different person, as if he had been reborn.

  "Second brother, after you go back, advise Father and Mother not to use silver to buy land. It's fine whether they save it or spend it." Yang Yun suddenly remembered something and reminded Second Brother Yang Yue.

  "Why?"

  "It's not worth buying land now, in a year or two the price will become very cheap."

  "How come?"

  "Believe me for once, the person who told me this is very reliable, but he didn't allow me to say it out loud, so let's not mention this outside."

  Looking at the suspicious expressions of several people, Yang Yun secretly sweated. Now Wu Guo's faction is prosperous and peaceful, with land prices rising year by year. Who would have thought that a chaotic era would soon arrive? If he didn't say so, his parents' temper would definitely make them buy a lot of land. At that time, when the war broke out, land would be the least valuable thing.

  There was a commotion outside the door of their private room, as if a group of people had entered the next room. Yang Yun and the others didn't pay attention to it either.

  "Bai Liu Shao, this restaurant may not be the best, but it has a signature dish, vinegar fish, which is made to be snowy white and tender, just like **'s little sister's delicate flesh. You must try a few more bites today." A lewd voice said.

  "Haha, if you don't finish the vinegar fish, let's go catch a few live fish to eat tonight?" another person laughed.

  "It's no fun, tonight I'm not going anywhere, just staying at home."

  "Huh? Bai Liu Shao, your wife hasn't even been married yet, how come you're being so proper all of a sudden? Are you afraid that your reputation will spread to the beautiful woman in Jinghai County?"

  Meng Chao's face changed suddenly, and Yang Yun thought in surprise, "It can't be such a coincidence, just arriving at Feng Ming Fu and running into that legendary white-haired boy."

  "Go——that little gate and small door, I don't know what medicine the old man took wrong to find her home. Even if she has a few points of charm, can it still be related to me? Even if she is an octopus like his father, I can cut off her paws. In the evening, the old man found me with something."

  "Hey, Brother Bai, you're being stubborn now, but when the beauty gives you a glance, you'll be crawling into her bed in no time. I'm just worried that by then, you won't even recognize us brothers anymore."

  "Ah, I've heard that your wife is the number one beauty in Jinghai County. You're a lucky man, Bai Shao - tsk tsk!"

  "What a quiet and beautiful lady, the several mothers who went to White House to take a look have all returned, and they are all talking about it in private, saying that there is no such beauty in Fengming House, now it has spread out that she is the first beauty of Fengming House."

  Yang Yun's ears were sharp and she heard a sound of swallowing saliva coming from the next room.

  "Alas, I'm so unlucky! The number one beauty of Fengming Manor! If I could marry her into my family, I'd be willing to not enter the house for three years!" someone exclaimed, pounding their chest and stamping their feet.

  "That beauty is just nice to look at, but where can you find a little sister like Xiao Rong who is so knowledgeable and interesting? And that one mouthful of jade flute playing..." Another person said in a state of infatuation.

  "It's not impossible to teach, it all depends on your skills now, hehehe."

  "Discipline, you must discipline her. But I don't know if the beauty's body is weak and can withstand your beatings, Brother Bai. You should get that Zhang family to send a few more maids as dowry - don't spoil the beauty."

  "Wow! The quiet sea produces beautiful women. We don't think about the great beauties, but when the time comes, won't we be lucky to get a glimpse of the little beauties?"

  "Haha, okay okay."

  A burst of laughter came from the next room, Meng Chao could no longer bear it, he stood up tall, his palms tightly clenched into tiger claws.

  Yang Yun pulled him back and said in a low voice: "Wait, don't reveal your identity." He gave the others a signal with his eyes and quietly left the room.