Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

As soon as Chen Siwu said this, Xie Xian immediately stared intently.

He saw a tall, handsome young man in the distance, entering while embracing a maid and teasing her.

In his other hand, he held a fan, constantly fanning himself, with a poem inscribed on it.

Looking at his appearance, he didn't resemble a merchant but rather a scholar.

This person was one of those on the initial investigation list.

Haiyuan City, Du Lingfeng!

"Manager Chen, you must take a good look for me. Are you sure this is the salt merchant you saw trading with the Sun family's manager back then?"

Chen Siwu stopped eating, squinting at Du Lingfeng.

"I can't be wrong! I have a deep impression of him!"

"The Sun family's steward has never been so polite to anyone. It must be him!"

Xie Xian nodded solemnly, "Okay! You eat first. Don't worry about anything else. If anyone mentions any expenses, just say it's on my account."

With that, he got up and walked towards Du Lingfeng.

Xie Xian didn't hesitate and walked directly to Du Lingfeng, cupping his fist in greeting.

Du Lingfeng, who had been teasing the maid in his arms, was suddenly stunned when he saw someone approaching him with a cupped fist.

He asked in confusion, "What can I do for you, brother?"

"I am Xie Xian, the manager of the Fenghua Brothel."

Du Lingfeng sized him up and briefly recalled.

He remembered Xie Xian. Although he had never seen him in person, he had heard of him as a regular at the Fenghua Brothel.

Why did he suddenly come to see him?

Du Lingfeng became somewhat vigilant, pushed away the maid in his arms, and returned the greeting to Xie Xian, "So it's Manager Xie. I've heard a lot about you! My name is Du Lingfeng."

"I wonder what brings Manager Xie here?"

Xie Xian smiled slightly, "Brother Du, don't worry. I have no other intentions."

"I just heard that Brother Du is a regular at my Fenghua Brothel, but the staff said you've never signed up for a membership. So, I wanted to ask if there's anything we haven't done well enough to serve you?"

Du Lingfeng breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "So that's it!"

"Manager Xie, you're overthinking it! The Fenghua Brothel has truly opened my eyes! It can be said that I feel right at home. There's nothing to be dissatisfied with."

"It's just that I'm not from Jianjiang, so I won't be staying here for long. I might leave in a few days."

Xie Xian lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said with "regret", "So that's how it is. It's a pity that Brother Du can't stay in Jianjiang for long."

"Judging by Brother Du's attire, are you perhaps a scholar? Few scholars come to the Fenghua Brothel."

Although the Fenghua Brothel was a place of entertainment, the expenses were too high, and few scholars came.

Ordinary scholars couldn't afford it, those with official positions didn't dare to come, and those with backgrounds were being cautious due to the new appointments.

Speaking of scholars, a hint of pride was evident on Du Lingfeng's face.

"Haha, Manager Xie, you're too kind. I'm just a down-on-his-luck scholar who's now doing some leather goods business."

He really is a scholar! He actually went into business, how rare!

A trace of disappointment flashed across Xie Xian's face, "Oh, so that's how it is. Then I won't disturb Brother Du any further."

Seeing his expression, Du Lingfeng suddenly felt his self-esteem being pricked and hastily stopped Xie Xian, who had already turned around.

He said with slight displeasure, "Manager Xie, what do you mean by this?"

Xie Xian turned his head and smiled wryly, "To be honest, I am actually a Juren from the Jinghe Eight Year. Just now, seeing that Brother Du had a scholarly aura, I couldn't help but come up and strike up a conversation."

"But hearing from your own mouth that Brother Du is both a scholar and a businessman... I, Xie, have been rude."

"We are both wanderers from different places, why did we ever meet before?"

The bitterness on Xie Xian's face stunned Du Lingfeng, who murmured, "We are both wanderers from different places, why did we ever meet before... What a poem, what a poem..."

This Manager Xie is a man with a story!

Who knows the suffering in the heart of a scholar who becomes a merchant?

Not only are they looked down upon by other scholars, but they are also looked down upon by other merchants. It can be said that they cannot integrate into either side.

Now, this Manager Xie in front of him is actually the same kind of person as him, and even a Juren!

That's really rare!

Xie Xian turned to leave again, but Du Lingfeng quickly grabbed Xie Xian and said, "Brother Xie, please wait! Brother Xie, what a talent for poetry! Can you chat with me for a while?"

Xie Xian turned his head and looked at him again, hesitatingly nodding.

Then, he found a nearby seat and sat down. Du Lingfeng immediately sat opposite him and asked without hesitation, "Brother Xie, since you are a Juren, why are you doing business here?"

Xie Xian closed his eyes, shook his head gently, and recalled painfully, "Speaking of which, I'm not afraid of Brother Du's ridicule. Although I am a Juren, my family has been poor since I was young, and I was also oppressed by the local gentry. I thought that passing the Juren exam would allow me to turn over a new leaf, but I didn't expect that the gentry's family also had powerful people. With nowhere to go, I came to Jianjiang to start a business. A person in the pugilistic world cannot control their own destiny! Alas ~"

Hmm? Well said, well said!

Du Lingfeng exclaimed, "Brother Xie, what you said truly resonates with me. A person in the pugilistic world cannot control their own destiny, truly golden words!"

"However, I am different from Brother Xie. I really can't pass the Juren exam... but I want wealth and glory in the world, so I can only become a merchant."

"That poem you just said, 'We are both wanderers from different places,' is there a complete version?"

"Forgive me for speaking frankly, but with Brother Xie's poetic talent, it's really a pity to be doing business!"

"If the entire poem can be spread, it will surely shake the world!"

How the hell would I know what the whole poem is? I only heard it from Master!

Master composes poems one line at a time, and I don't know where he copied them from.

It's fine if he copies, but he doesn't even know how to copy the whole thing!

It's obvious that he wasn't good at studying since he was young. I asked him twice how much it cost to buy a Jinshi title, but he wouldn't tell me...

I'll ask him again when I get back!

Xie Xian complained inwardly, while still dealing with Du Lingfeng on the surface, "To be honest, I only had a chance encounter with an old friend, and I was inspired after drinking. After waking up from the alcohol, it was difficult to continue, so there is only this one sentence."

Du Lingfeng immediately said regretfully, "So that's how it is, then it's really too bad."

"I didn't expect that there would be someone in Jianjiang City who has the same experience as me. It's really a fortunate thing to meet Brother Xie today."

"However, Brother Xie is a Juren, and I am just a small Xiucai...."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Xian glared, "Brother Du! We are all wanderers, do we still need to talk about superior and inferior?"

"The things of the past have long since disappeared for me.... Now that I have met Brother Du, why don't I be the host and we have a good chat?"

Du Lingfeng blinked, somewhat surprised.

He didn't expect this Manager Xie to be such a sentimental person!

He slapped the table and said readily, "Okay! It's really a fortunate thing to meet Brother Xie today, but it's not appropriate for Brother Xie to be the host. How about I be the host!"

Xie Xian smiled, "Brother Du, have you forgotten? I have the final say in this Fenghua Brothel, there's no reason for you to spend money!"

"Someone come! Bring up good wine and good dishes!"