Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Lü Renjie's arrogant attitude made Xie Xian break out in a cold sweat.

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

For a merchant to reach this level, he could be considered unparalleled in the world.

Lü Renjie looked at Xie Xian's reaction with appreciation.

Those words just now struck a chord with him; he didn't expect this newcomer to be so perceptive.

"Alright, since you have the guts, this young master is willing to give you the opportunity."

"The rules... Lingfeng has already explained them to you, right?"

So easy?

This thought flashed through Xie Xian's mind, and he quickly replied, "Not yet."

"Well, then I'll give you a simple explanation." Lü Renjie paced back and forth, a faint smile on his face.

"Since ancient times, salt merchants and smugglers have been mortal enemies, but do you know why my Lü family engages in smuggling?"

Xie Xian thought for a moment and honestly replied, "I don't know."

"Although the government relies on salt merchants to sell salt, the prices have always been set by the government. The prices are too high, so smuggling has never been eradicated."

"In the early years, my Lü family also fought wits and courage with smugglers, but those who risked their lives for profit were like carp crossing the river, impossible to eliminate."

"Since smuggling cannot be eliminated, why shouldn't we do this business?"

"Therefore, the first thing I did after taking charge of the family was to sell smuggled salt."

"In the past three years, within the area controlled by the Lü family, there are no more smugglers besides our own people."

Lü Renjie shook his head and swayed his body as he told this story, seeming exceptionally proud of his work.

Xie Xian flattered with a smile, "Young Master's methods are truly brilliant!"

He understood this a little; the master had told him about it.

This is called price discrimination. Those who can't afford government salt will never be able to afford it, so naturally, they can only buy smuggled salt.

The Lü family sells both government salt and smuggled salt, which is equivalent to gobbling up the entire market.

"Following my Lü family, you won't suffer any losses."

"In the future, 60% of the profits from all the smuggled salt you sell in Jianjiang must be sent back to Haiyuan City."

"Lingfeng is your introducer, and 20% goes to him. You keep 20% for yourself. Lingfeng should have told you about this, right?"

Xie Xian looked at Du Lingfeng in confusion.

So half of the profits from my work have to be given to the introducer; this is a bit too black!

Du Lingfeng smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything.

Lü Renjie laughed heartily at their reaction, "Of course, you can also discuss it yourselves."

"If the government investigates and punishes you, Lingfeng will also be punished... As for what to do when that really happens, ask him privately."

"Don't underestimate these 20% profits; they are enough to make you a superior person. Anywhere in Da Jing, they can make you a wealthy man!"

"Of course, you don't have to just sell in Jianjiang. If you have the ability to sell smuggled salt all over Da Jing, the Lü family will definitely support you. The more you earn, the more you will be allocated."

"This is an opportunity to leap through the dragon gate. Lingfeng is considered an old member of my Lü family. It's your luck that he introduced you."

"Yes! Yes! Xie Xian also feels extremely fortunate to meet Young Master Lü!" Xie Xian nodded repeatedly.

Lü Renjie was extremely satisfied, "You don't have to be so polite. Once you enter the Lü family's door, we're all brothers from now on!"

"Someone! Bring Nongyu here!"

The maid obeyed and turned to find someone, and soon brought back a woman with bright eyes and beautiful teeth.

Her figure was slender, and there was a hint of charm between her eyebrows, but her expression also seemed a bit shy.

She could be called a masterpiece among women.

Lü Renjie first put his arm around the woman, then pushed her in front of Xie Xian.

He smiled and said, "Nongyu, this is the young master's new brother, take good care of him."

Nongyu sweetly agreed, and then stood softly next to Xie Xian.

This move made Xie Xian panic for a moment. He didn't expect Lü Renjie to be so easy to talk to, even giving him a woman right away.

This situation was beyond his expectations!

"You stay in Haiyuan City for a month or two and slowly enjoy yourself. Don't rush to Jianjiang. Wait until I notify you before you go. You can go home now. I still have some things to talk about with Lingfeng."

Xie Xian made a bow, then turned and left, with Nongyu following closely behind.

Once the two of them left, the smile on Lü Renjie's face instantly disappeared.

He walked up to Du Lingfeng and slapped him hard on the face with a "Pa!"

Du Lingfeng's right face immediately swelled up high, and then he knelt on the ground with a thud, panicking and saying, "Young Master, please calm down! Young Master, please calm down!"

"You've been doing this for so many years, how could you reveal your tracks?"

Du Lingfeng swallowed and said tremblingly, "Jianjiang suffered a disaster, and the wealthy merchants in the city took on many government projects, so the expenses were huge."

"They have many disaster victims working for them and want to save some money, so I thought... I'd take this opportunity to sell more, so I could maintain long-term cooperation in the future... I didn't expect them to be so loose-lipped. It was Brother Xie who told me privately..."

"Is this Xie Xian clean?"

"Clean, absolutely no problem!" Du Lingfeng's heart was pounding.

He knew Lü Renjie too well; this guy would torment others at the slightest displeasure.

Lü Renjie's expression softened slightly, "Well, since he's the person you found, and there's no suitable manpower at the moment, I won't bother to investigate."

"But if something goes wrong with him, don't even think about living. Recently, the higher-ups won't let us continue selling. I don't know when they'll send someone to notify us. You stay in the city for now. During this time, it's best to investigate again and bring Xie Xian's family here. Get out!"

"Yes... Yes!"

Du Lingfeng scrambled back to the main hall.

At this time, Xie Xian was standing foolishly in the main hall with Nongyu.

Nongyu didn't speak, and he didn't speak either, making the atmosphere a bit awkward.

Fortunately, Du Lingfeng appeared in time, and Xie Xian took the initiative to greet him, "Brother Du, what... what happened to your face?"

Du Lingfeng covered his face and chuckled twice, then bowed to Nongyu first, then rubbed his swollen cheek and pulled Xie Xian aside, saying somewhat awkwardly, "I ran too fast just now and fell, fell!"

"That... Brother Xie, about the commission, I was too embarrassed to tell you. With our relationship, there's no need to say it. Just give me 10%."

Xie Xian immediately interrupted him, "Money is not important. Without you, I wouldn't be able to earn this money, so Brother Du doesn't need to feel embarrassed."

Du Lingfeng was a little touched, then his expression became bitter again, "This... there's one more thing I didn't tell you. Can... can you bring your family over? Don't misunderstand! It's not that I don't trust you, it's just the rule. My family is also in the city."

"In the end, as long as we have money, we can live anywhere. Haiyuan City has everything. As long as nothing happens to us, there won't be any problems!"

Hearing this, Xie Xian's heart was relieved.

That's right! Being so smooth made him uneasy!

But the act still had to be put on.

Xie Xian's face fell, and he said angrily, "Brother Du! Why didn't you say this earlier!"

Du Lingfeng stammered when he saw him angry, "I said you wouldn't dare to come... Sigh, Brother Xie, now that you're here..."

"I can't leave now, can I! Is it okay not to bring my family?"

"Not really... You know too much..."

Xie Xian sighed to the sky, "Brother Du, you should have said so earlier! If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess! Forget it! I'll write a letter home tonight and send it back."

"However, what's the matter with this Miss Nongyu? Is she Young Master Lü's maid?"

"Not a maid, she's Young Master Lü's concubine! After you're done playing, you have to send her back."

Concubine!?

Xie Xian's mind buzzed, and he looked at Nongyu in surprise and uncertainty.

This is Lü Renjie's wife? What kind of operation is this?

Sending concubines is actually quite common, but it's usually from the bottom up.

It's really rare to just give her to someone below so casually!

"What does this mean! Is this testing me? Touching her won't kill me, right?"

Du Lingfeng's expression gradually became lewd, "Touch her as you please! The women around Young Master Lü are like running water, sent around everywhere. If he gives her to you, you can do whatever you want."

......