Chapter 84: Leveraging Momentum
Riverside Inn.
Sun San and Sun Si found Li Yunjie.
“Young Master, we’ve done exactly as you instructed,” Sun San sighed. “But not a single proprietor dared to step forward.”
“I’m aware,” Li Yunjie replied calmly. “Words alone aren’t enough. Why would anyone risk rebelling alongside you without proof?”
“Then what was your intention in doing all this?” The two brothers were utterly perplexed.
Li Yunjie chuckled lightly as he wrote, “Those canal merchants hesitate because they’re afraid.”
“You only made minor changes to the décor, and Liu Zhen burned it all down in a single night.”
“That was a warning to others.”
“They fear becoming the next target.”
“That’s why they’re afraid to make any move.”
The brothers furrowed their brows and nodded.
“So what should we do next?”
“What’s the rush?” Li Yunjie finished his letter, laid the brush aside unhurriedly. “Did the rumors I asked you to spread reach the streets?”
Both nodded. “Now everyone in Jiangnan believes the authorities are interested in Miss Zhang’s umbrella craftsmanship.”
Li Yunjie’s lips curled into a smile. “Let the rumors fly a little longer.”
The brothers nodded, half understanding.
“By the way,” Li Yunjie suddenly asked, “Did anyone see you come here today?”
“Rest assured, Young Master,” Sun Si replied, “We took a long detour.”
Li Yunjie nodded slightly, sealed the letter, and sent the two to deliver it to the Jiangnan magistrate’s office.
As soon as they left, Su Qingmeng pushed open the door.
“You’ve gone to such lengths—aren’t you exhausted?” Su Qingmeng scoffed. “A mere unscrupulous canal merchant—check his accounts carefully and you can convict him. Why bother with all this?”
Her words were not without reason. Liu Zhen had spent a fortune greasing the wheels with officials over the years; his accounts could not withstand scrutiny.
As the head of the Court of Justice, Li Yunjie could easily bring him down.
“What do you know?” A ruthless glint flashed in Li Yunjie’s eyes. “Liu Zhen burned my brothers’ shop.”
“I’ll destroy his spirit.”
...
At the docks, Liu Canal Shipping.
“Master,” a young servant said respectfully, “The Sun brothers somehow secured an order for fifty thousand umbrellas from Zhang’s shop.”
“Zhang’s shop?” Liu Zhen narrowed his eyes. “I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Apparently, it’s a new establishment,” the servant relayed his findings. “Their craftsmanship is good, and they’ve caught the attention of a noble from the capital who wants to support her business.”
“A noble from the capital?” Liu Zhen drew out his words. “Which noble?”
The servant clicked his tongue. “I heard the family name is Zhao.”
Liu Zhen’s pupils contracted suddenly. “The imperial family?!”
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The servant nodded solemnly.
“If it’s goods for the authorities,” Liu Zhen mused, “why choose an obscure little shop like the Sun brothers’?”
He sensed the scent of conspiracy. “Hold off for now. Keep a close watch for a few days.”
“Yes,” the servant replied.
“And the new magistrate, is he taken care of?” Liu Zhen eased himself into the grand chair.
The servant nodded, “Rest assured, Master. Magistrate Lu has accepted your gifts.”
A wicked smile spread across Liu Zhen’s face. “In times like these, who isn’t greedy?”
Three days later.
The servant reported, “Master, there’s news.”
“Speak.” Liu Zhen’s tone had lost its previous calm.
“Zhang’s umbrella shop has prepared thirty crates of goods, ready to ship to the docks.”
Liu Zhen’s expression darkened. “Those two pests really seized the opportunity.”
“If this deal goes through, the Sun brothers will have turned their luck around,” the servant said.
Liu Zhen snorted. “Turning their luck? It’s not that easy.”
“Come with me. I’ll meet this Boss Zhang myself.”
No one knew what was said during their meeting.
But someone saw Liu Zhen storm out of Zhang’s umbrella shop in a fury.
“That Zhang Shu!” Liu Zhen smashed the purple clay teapot in his hand. “Refuses a toast but accepts punishment!”
“I offered to cut the price in half, and she still refused!”
“She talks about integrity with me?!”
“Profit is a merchant’s nature!”
“Calm yourself, Master,” the servant said anxiously. “Boss Zhang has the authorities backing her—we shouldn’t go head-to-head.”
“You think I need your advice?!” Liu Zhen inhaled deeply, exhaled heavily.
His gaze grew fiercer as his fingers tapped the table, lost in thought.
...
Riverside Inn.
“Young Master, Liu Zhen hit a wall this time. He might act out of desperation,” Sun Si said with concern.
“He doesn’t have the nerve,” Li Yunjie replied calmly. “Striking now would only prove his guilt.”
“That Liu is really stingy,” Sun Si continued. “It’s just a business deal—what’s the big deal?”
Li Yunjie laughed. “You think he cares about getting this deal?”
“What else?” Sun Si’s eyes were puzzled. “He just can’t stand seeing us succeed, right?”
“You fool.” Sun San slapped Sun Si’s head. “This shipment is nothing to Liu Zhen.”
“What he cares about is the person backing Boss Zhang.”
“What do you mean?” Sun Si scratched his head.
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Sun San frowned and spoke gravely, “Now all of Jiangnan is saying Boss Zhang has the authorities behind her.”
“If any canal merchant can connect with Boss Zhang, they’ll have a chance to curry favor with the authorities. Their business will flourish.”
A glimmer of satisfaction flashed in Li Yunjie’s eyes—at least one of the brothers was sharp.
Sun Si suddenly understood. “So that’s it.”
The room fell silent for a moment before Sun San spoke again, “Young Master, what’s the next step?”
Li Yunjie’s gaze was sharp as he declared,
“Ship the goods.”
In the days that followed, two major events occurred at the Jiangnan docks.
First, the Sun brothers’ merchant ships sailed brazenly, fully loaded with goods.
Second, Liu Canal Shipping’s shops were surrounded by the magistrate’s men.
Today marked the third time.
A crowd gathered outside the shops—mostly canal merchants, some deliverymen.
“How strange,” someone in the crowd remarked. “Why has Boss Liu been investigated so often lately?”
“Yes, this never happened before.”
“Maybe the new magistrate isn’t playing by Boss Liu’s rules?”
At that moment, the Sun brothers’ loud voices rang out from the riverbank.
Their old, shabby boat had been replaced with a luxurious vessel.
“Have you noticed the Sun brothers are moving more and more goods lately? They even hired boatmen!”
“Yes, I heard they’ve connected with the authorities.”
“So the rumors are true?”
The group exchanged glances.
“Shall we go ask?”
With that, they ran over to the Sun brothers.
At a nearby teahouse, Li Yunjie and Lu Xin sat facing each other.
Lu Xin watched the scene unfold with interest and sighed, “Master Li, your plan strikes at the heart.”
“Mind your words,” Li Yunjie replied with a faint smile. “I call it ridding the people of evil.”
“A noble cause indeed.”
Lu Xin clasped his hands in admiration.
He clicked his tongue and continued, “But Master Li, you’ve gone in quite a circle.”
“Is ridding evil your only aim?”