Chapter 78: Young Master, Will You Return to Beiling?

“We have neither power nor influence, and as outsiders, we’re left with nothing but oppression from the authorities,”

“Not to mention enduring hostility from our fellow tradesmen.”

“If it weren’t for that wretched official Song Yongnian’s downfall, which gave us the chance to seize some calligraphy and paintings to sell...”

“My brother and I might not even have enough to eat.”

Sun San’s words trailed off, but then his eyes brightened. “Only later did we learn that the upright official who brought down that scoundrel was none other than you, young master!”

Hearing their tale of hardship, Li Yunjie felt a complex mix of emotions.

“So it was you two who snuck into the Song residence that night, searching for silver?” he asked.

Sun San gave a wry smile. “Exactly.”

“We only meant to take advantage of the chaos to find some valuables, but as luck would have it, we ran into you by accident.”

Li Yunjie suddenly recalled Sun San’s strangely familiar behavior that night.

So he’d recognized him at the time.

No wonder he’d spoken with such hidden meaning.

“Then why didn’t you come to find me?” Li Yunjie asked, raising his brows slightly.

He hadn’t been deliberately hiding his whereabouts; it wouldn’t have been hard to find him.

Sun San forced a smile. “After that night, I did intend to ask around for your address.”

“But the landlady at the village entrance was hounding us for rent.”

“We had no choice but to run about, selling those paintings and calligraphy to scrape together enough for the rent.”

As he spoke, his eyes flicked to the scattered scrolls in the corner. “But since these were ill-gotten goods, few dared buy them.”

“Even when we managed to make a sale, the price was pitifully low.”

“We spent days on the verge of starvation, which delayed us...”

Sun San’s expression suddenly turned bright again as he finished, “But Heaven rewards the persistent. Meeting you here today, young master, is our good fortune!”

Sun Si nodded. “We’ve been wanting to go to the capital to seek you out.”

“But the capital’s household registration is strictly enforced. Years ago, we abandoned our posts and are blacklisted by the authorities. We can’t enter the city...”

His tone was tinged with unmistakable disappointment.

Sun San fell silent, resignation etched on his face.

Seeing this, Li Yunjie patted them both on the shoulder and joked, “It’s a good thing you didn’t come to the capital.”

“If you’d seen me spending my days in drinking, gambling, and idle pleasures, you’d have been sorely disappointed, wouldn’t you? Ha!”

Sun Si responded heartily, “Absolutely not!”

“In fact, young master, your romantic exploits have long been the talk among us brothers!”

“Truth be told, that art of identifying women by their scent you invented—we tried it every time we went to a broth—”

Sun Si’s eyes shone with admiration, and at the mention of his technique, his face was full of excitement.

But before he could finish, Sun San kicked him flat to the floor.

“What he means to say is, young master, you are wise and valiant, and we admire you greatly!” Sun San said hurriedly, eyes brimming with panic.

He coughed to cover his embarrassment, then changed the subject. “Young master, what brings you to the docks today? Is there some important matter?”

Li Yunjie picked up the thread. “There is, in fact, something I need.”

The three of them sat around the low table. Sun Si muttered and cursed under his breath, the words indistinct.

“Pray, speak freely, young master,” Sun San said, pouring tea for him.

Li Yunjie accepted the cup and glanced at the conspicuous sign across the street.

“How much do you know about the Liu Shipping Company?”

“The Liu Shipping Company?” Sun Si snorted. “A bunch of dogs who bully others by relying on their connections.”

“What makes you say that?” Li Yunjie asked, frowning.

“You may not know, young master,” Sun San sighed, taking over. “The company’s owner, Liu Zhen, used to be close to Song Yongnian. He shamelessly bullies merchants, monopolizes cargo, and has turned the docks into a den of corruption.”

“Any merchant who doesn’t curry favor with him is squeezed out, unable to carry on business.”

Li Yunjie looked around and laughed. “Judging by your circumstances, you two must be among those being squeezed out.”

The brothers exchanged sheepish glances and scratched their heads. “Young master, you’re sharp as ever. You saw right through us.”

“All goods at the eastern docks have to pass through the Liu Company’s hands first.”

“They take the pick of the lot, and whatever’s left trickles down to the next tier.”

“By the time it reaches us, only scraps and sundries remain, with barely any profit to be had.”

“Who do they usually deal with?” Li Yunjie probed.

Sun San pondered a moment and listed several merchants, all wealthy, well-known men from Jiangnan.

But none were the answer Li Yunjie sought.

“What about the Thousand Gold Gambling House?” Li Yunjie pressed.

At the mention of that name, Sun Si suddenly remembered. “Right, there’s also the Thousand Gold Gambling House!”

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten.”

“But that place is odd. Every delivery to them is made in the middle of the night.”

“And the crates look extremely heavy—it takes two men to lift one, and even then it’s a struggle.”

Li Yunjie’s mind raced at this.

So the gambling house’s actions weren’t a reaction to his deliberate provocation the other day.

Rather, they regularly shipped out cargo at intervals.

And from Sun Si’s description, the cargo was very heavy.

Putting these clues together, Li Yunjie had his answer: the crates contained silver.

Shipping out such sums, year after year, would add up to a staggering fortune.

“Where do those crates go?” Li Yunjie continued.

The brothers shook their heads. “The Liu family’s business is vast, with shops in every corner of the empire.”

“All twelve provinces, none are beyond their reach.”

“And their company rules are strict—no one is allowed to reveal where the cargo comes from or goes.”

“So apart from the boatmen, no one knows the destination of their goods.”

Li Yunjie gazed at the tightly shut doors of the Liu Shipping Company, deep in thought.

After a long silence, Sun San spoke again. “Young master, why are you asking about this?”

“It’s nothing,” Li Yunjie waved it off. “Just following up on a case.”

“A case?” The two men’s eyes lit up. “We’d be honored to help you, young master!”

Li Yunjie hesitated, then declined gently, “I can handle things for now.”

With that, he rose to leave.

Before departing, he drew out a silver note and placed it on the table.

“Young master, what’s this for...” Sun San frowned, troubled.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Li Yunjie said solemnly. “This is neither pity nor charity.”

“As personal guards of the royal household, for you two to have fallen to this state is nothing but a disgrace to me.”

“Take this money, get yourselves some proper attire, and secure this shop for yourselves. Get it cleaned up.”

“How else are you going to compete with that Liu fellow?”

With those words, he unfurled his oil-paper umbrella and strode out in style.

“When you’re ready, come find me at the Linjiang Inn.”

His voice lingered in the cramped room long after he’d gone.

The two brothers stood rooted in place, eyes glistening.

Gazing at Li Yunjie’s departing figure, they called out in unison:

“Young master, will you ever return to Beiling?”

Li Yunjie heard the longing in their voices. He hesitated, then answered in a low voice, “I don’t know.”

He took two steps forward, sighed softly, and added,

“But one day, I’ll return!”