Insufficient balance

  "Firstly, we have the support of the government; secondly, we should seek cooperative partners; and lastly, we should expand our business."

  After listening to Mu Sheng's words, the eldest sister looked worried and said: "Mu Sheng, your suggestion is probably difficult to implement. The official government of Wuchao has explicitly prohibited officials and merchants from having relationships, and we cannot find a relatively strong official power for the time being. Moreover, all the business houses with some strength are now controlled by the Chamber of Commerce, and it's hard to find a cooperative partner. Furthermore, our funds are currently insufficient, so expanding our business is absolutely impossible."

  Seeing Da Jie's lack of confidence, Mu Sheng said: "Xin Ya, you don't have to worry, I'll take care of the first two, as for the third one, when our business is doing well, it won't be a problem either."

  Seeing Mu Sheng's confident expression, the young lady was puzzled and asked unintentionally: "Mu Sheng, are you sure you can do it?"

  "Hey, Xinye, don't worry! I'll go first. If anything happens, I'll come find you." After saying that, he walked out and disappeared from view. Looking at his receding back, the young lady thought to herself: "Musheng, how many more secrets do you have?"

  After leaving the Zhao residence, Mu Sheng returned home and saw Xiao Lü in the backyard. He asked, "Xiao Lü, where is Grandfather Sima?"

  Hearing Mu Sheng's words, Xiao Lü replied: "Young Master is back, Grandfather Sima is in the house, and it seems that he is discussing something with Grandma."

  Once he knew where Sima Chengfeng was, Mu Sheng rushed straight over.

  Watching Mù Shēng hurry away, Little Green muttered: "Why is Young Master in such a rush to find Sīmǎ Yéye? It's really strange, but it's none of my business. Why hasn't Wén Hào Young Master returned yet?" Thinking of Wén Hào Young Master, Little Green's face involuntarily flushed red.

  Arriving at Sima Chengfeng's door, Muyi lightly knocked a few times. Only then did he hear Sima Chengfeng's voice say: "Who is it?"

  "It's me, Mochen," said Mochen.

  "Come on in! The door isn't locked." Her mother-in-law's voice came from inside.

  Mu Sheng pushed open the door and saw Sima Chengfeng and his mother-in-law sitting in chairs beside the table, seemingly discussing something. Seeing Mu Sheng enter, Sima Chengfeng asked: "Mu Sheng, what brings you here?"

  "Grandpa Sima, Grandma, I think it's time for me to have a good talk," said Mu Sheng with a smile. Sima Chengfeng looked at him with some confusion, but thought to himself, "Impossible! How could this kid have figured it out?!" Ignoring Sima Chengfeng's gaze, Mu Sheng continued, "Grandpa Sima and Grandma are not just teaching in Hunyuan City, right?" After finishing speaking, Mu Sheng casually glanced at the two elderly people.

  Upon hearing Mu Sheng's words, Sima Chengfeng snorted and thought to himself that this kid seemed to have figured it out. However, he said aloud, "Then what do you want to say?"

  "Grandpa and Grandma Sima, I'll get straight to the point. First, please listen to me tell you something!" And so, Mu Sheng recounted what had happened in the woods on their way back from visiting the two immortals.

  The two old men were shocked by Mu Sheng's words, but they quickly recovered. Only then did Sima Chengfeng say: "Mu Sheng, you're not an outsider either, so I won't hide it from you. My wife and I are here for two reasons: one is to investigate the Wuxiang Sect, and the other is to supervise the merchant associations of the five prefectures in Jiangnan."

  "So you're saying you have an imperial edict?" Mu Sheng asked.

  "Not bad," Sima Chengfeng said with certainty.

  Seeing Sima Chengfeng nod in agreement, Muyang said: "Mr. Sima, I think we can cooperate."

  "What does it mean?" Sima Chengfeng asked in confusion.

  Then, Mù Shēng recounted the events of last year's Wu Fu Chamber of Commerce. Sīmǎ Chéngfēng and his mother listened with furrowed brows, seemingly realizing the severity of the matter. The people from the Chamber of Commerce had kept it so secret that they only found out now.

  "What do you want us to cooperate on?" Sima Chengfeng asked. "I represent the Zhao family and need to get support from the government, so as to strike at the Chamber of Commerce. At the same time, the Zhao family will also give the government a certain reward, but this reward cannot be given for now, it must wait until the Zhao family develops." Mu Sheng said slowly, seeing Sima Chengfeng frowning and not speaking, Mu Sheng continued: "Sima grandfather, I think you also know that if we continue to let the Chamber of Commerce develop unchecked, the harm it will bring about is clear. If we cooperate with the Zhao family and keep the two in balance, I think this is the best."

  "Alright, I'll agree with you." Sima Chengfeng said gritting his teeth.

  Then, Mu Sheng handed two secret letters to Sima Chengfeng and said: "This is more important for you, so I'll give it to you."

  Simachen Feng took a look at it and then put it in his bosom, saying: "Musheng, let's talk about the detailed cooperation plan."

  Next, Mù Shēng had a secret conversation with Sīmǎ Chéngfēng in his room for several hours. After coming out, Mù Shēng took a deep breath and said: "Negotiating with the old man is really not easy!" Then he went to find Xiāng Líng, hoping to spend more time with her now. In a few days, he would have to go to Qīngzhōu City, it seemed that he should meet Miss Duàn after all. Hopefully, it wouldn't be a mistake! If they could cooperate, the chances of winning in the struggle against the Chamber of Commerce would also increase.

  Back in the room, Xiang Ling was sitting on the edge of the bed sewing clothes. Mu Sheng asked: "Ling'er, what are you doing?"

  Seeing Mu Sheng walking in from outside the door, Xiang Ling smiled and said: "I'm making clothes for my husband!"

  "Xiang Ling, are you ready?" Mu Sheng said as he walked up to Xiang Ling's side.

  "It's almost done, just a few more stitches." Xiang Ling said, looking at Xiang Ling with her head down, her forehead seemed to be sweating slightly, the needle moving back and forth without stopping. Looking at Xiang Ling's meticulous and serious expression, Mu Sheng thought: "What more could a husband ask for in having such a wife?" So he sat down beside Ling'er, watching her sew his clothes stitch by stitch.

  After a while, the clothes were finally sewn up, and Xiangling let out a sigh of relief. She raised her head to find her husband staring at her, and she couldn't help but blush, saying: "Husband, the clothes are done, try them on, if they don't fit I'll make adjustments."

  "Good," said Mu Sheng, standing up. Xiang Ling helped him put it on and felt that this blue cotton robe was quite fitting. After helping Mu Sheng get dressed, she smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes and said, "Master, take a walk and try it out."

  Mo Sheng walked back and forth a few times, feeling very comfortable and satisfied, and said: "Ling'er, your hands are really skilled, I won't take off this clothes." After hearing Mo Sheng's words, Xiang Ling also agreed, thinking that as long as her husband was satisfied, it was good. After walking for a while, Mo Sheng sat back on the edge of the bed, and Xiang Ling tidied up the clothes Mo Sheng had changed out of.

  "Mei, I'm going to Qingzhou City in a few days and might not be back for some time. Don't worry at home, take good care of yourself, okay?"

  When Mu Sheng was about to go on a long trip, Xiang Ling's nose suddenly turned sour and she said: "Husband, why do you have to leave again after just coming back for a few days? Are you not fond of Ling'er anymore?"

  "How could that be? Ling'er is my little treasure, but the eldest sister's side really has something going on, and Qingzhou City is a must-go. Ling'er, don't worry, I'll hurry back to accompany you as soon as possible." Mu Sheng comforted.

  "Hmm, will you accompany me for these few days?" Xiang Ling asked with deep feeling.

  "Alright, alright, I won't go anywhere these few days, just stay home and accompany my darling Ling'er." Mu Sheng said with a smile, the young couple sweet-talked in their room until lunchtime before coming out.

  After lunch, Mu Sheng sat in the backyard watching Grandpa and Sima Chengfeng play chess. Xiang Ling sat beside him with her head on his shoulder. Little Lu had finished eating and was probably looking for Xiao Die again. His mother-in-law was doing the same as Xiang Ling.

  Simachen Feng said while playing chess: "Musheng! Tomorrow you call Zhao's people, we go to the city master's mansion."

  "Alright, I wonder what Master Sima is doing at the City Lord's Manor?" asked Mu Sheng.

  "This, let's talk about it later!" Sima Chengfeng carefully observed the chess situation and said casually, and in this way, the whole afternoon passed quickly.

  The next day, after breakfast, Mu Sheng and the Sima couple came to the Zhao residence through the backyard. Coincidentally, Big Sister was in the main hall. Seeing Big Sister standing in the main hall, Mu Sheng walked up and said: "Xin Ya, let me introduce you to Grandpa Sima and Grandma Sima."

  The young lady walked forward and slowly curtsied: "Xin Ya has seen Grandfather Sima and Grandma."

  "Hmm, not bad, being able to manage the Zhao family business up until now, your efforts are not in vain." Sima Chengfeng said with a smile.

  "Grandfather Sima is too kind." The young lady said modestly.

  "Ah Tong, don't be modest. Today we'll go to the City Master's mansion and discuss the cooperative matters with Xu Zijian, then negotiate the specific details." Sima Chengfeng said seriously.

  "Everything will be done according to Grandfather Sima's wishes," said Big Sister.

  Later, Mù Shēng had Xiǎo Sān hire a horse carriage, and the four of them got on. The space in the carriage wasn't very big, so Dà Jiě and Mù Shēng sat on one side. Due to being squeezed together, their bodies would occasionally touch, making Dà Jiě feel a burning sensation all over her body, and she couldn't help but blush. Mù Shēng didn't pay attention to these things; in his opinion, men and women touching each other a few times was no big deal. He had sat on crowded carriages before, where men and women were squished together in all sorts of ways, so he wasn't distracted by anything and just kept looking out the window at the scenery passing by.

  Musheng rushed to the window, completely unaware of the second sister's red face. However, the old lady in the carriage did notice it. Seeing the second sister's flushed face and occasionally stealing a glance at Musheng, the old lady thought to herself that the girl seemed to have some feelings for Musheng, but this boy was like a block of wood, completely clueless. She then spoke up, "Girl, how old are you this year?"

  "Twenty-two this year," replied the young lady with her head lowered.

  "You're twenty-two already, you're not young anymore. Don't you have a crush on someone? If not, I'll introduce you to a few people." The mother-in-law said with a smile.

  "Not yet, it hasn't happened yet." The young lady said with a guilty conscience.

  "Really not?" Grandma asked again.

  "It's true, it's really true." The young lady said with her head hung even lower, feeling a wave of shyness in her heart. She was sure that she had been caught by her mother-in-law while stealing glances at Mu Sheng earlier. How embarrassing! Damn Mu Sheng, stupid Mu Sheng, he's such an idiot. If I don't teach him a lesson, the young lady thought to herself with malice.

  Musheng was admiring the scenery, when suddenly he felt a chill in his heart for no reason. What's wrong with me? The weather isn't even cold! Why do I feel a bit chilly? He thought about it but couldn't figure it out, so he didn't think much of it and continued to enjoy the view.

  The old lady saw that the young girl's head was hung very low and didn't say anything more, knowing that the young girl had a thin face, while that little boy was like a block of wood, if she said something he probably wouldn't even understand, so the old lady just smiled and also fell silent.

  The horse-drawn carriage slowly passed through the streets, and because there were many people on the main street, it couldn't go too fast either. Looking at the crowds coming and going outside the window, Musheng couldn't help but sigh: "The prefectural city is indeed different from the county town! A big city is a big city, I wonder how Wen Hao is doing over there?"