Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

A sedan? You still need to ride a sedan after entering the residence?

Xie Xian looked at Du Lingfeng in confusion.

Du Lingfeng familiarly strode through the gate and into the sedan inside the courtyard.

Xie Xian could only follow closely and enter the sedan together.

Inside the sedan, Xie Xian clung to the window, trying hard to observe.

What met his eyes was a beautiful scene.

Bamboo forests swayed gently, with fish ponds, rockeries, and various pavilions and waterside structures not far away...

"Brother Du, why do we still need to ride a sedan after entering the residence?"

"It seems you have your ignorant moments too," Du Lingfeng smiled smugly.

"Brother Xie, how is the scenery? This is just the outer residence of the Lü family!"

"The Lü family's residence is definitely beyond your imagination!"

"The inner residence covers more than twenty acres! This outer residence is a full two hundred acres! Although we have entered the gate of the Lü family, we have not actually entered the Lü family yet. Do you think we can avoid riding a sedan?"

Xie Xian looked at the scenery outside the window and murmured, "My heavens, the imperial palace only covers a thousand acres. The Lü family is so extravagant! Aren't they even trying to hide it?"

"They are hiding it, with that big gate outside."

"......."

"Speaking of which, you wouldn't believe it, but when the Great Qian was still around and the country was in chaos, it is said that the Lü family's inner and outer residences expanded to over a thousand acres. Of course, that's just a legend. I've never seen it."

"It's hard to imagine. Is the Lü family really not afraid of being investigated?" Xie Xian was increasingly shocked.

His master was already bold enough, with almost nothing he wouldn't dare to do.

But even so, he was usually extremely low-key to prevent any mishaps.

His own residence was located in the backyard of the county government office.

The area and decoration were just those of an ordinary residence, without any special features.

That the Lü family could be so awesome was truly astonishing!

Du Lingfeng chuckled, "With the heavens high and the emperor far away, this place is three thousand miles away from the capital. Who can find out? But its size also has its reasons. The Lü family, including its subordinates, must gather here for business and to entertain guests. First, it's presentable, and second, it's practical, so being this big is still very necessary."

Xie Xian sighed, "Isn't that like a small court?"

"Yes! Correct, very apt, a small court! Except that it's only responsible for selling salt and managing the salt gang."

Xie Xian observed the layout of the outer residence and stopped asking questions.

He didn't know how much scenery he saw or how long it took.

The sedan swayed and finally arrived near the inner residence. Although it was called the inner residence, it actually had no gate.

The reason it could be distinguished was because the number of buildings visibly increased.

The two alighted from the sedan here.

Du Lingfeng walked in front of him, introducing as he walked, "Brother Xie, this is the inner residence."

"Don't speak for now. I'll do the introductions. Wait until Young Master Lü asks you before you speak."

"Alright!"

Following Du Lingfeng, they passed through one building after another, eventually arriving at a main hall.

A man who seemed to be a steward came to greet them. Du Lingfeng first made a bow and said in a low voice, "Steward Lü, Du Lingfeng requests an audience with the young master."

Steward Lü had narrow eyes and a mustache. Stroking his long beard, he looked at Xie Xian and said, "This person is the Xie Xian you mentioned?"

Xie Xian hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"Indeed."

"Well, wait here! The young master is meeting with distinguished guests. I'll inform you after they finish talking."

With that, Steward Lü turned around and left!

Xie Xian watched his back and leaned close to Du Lingfeng, saying, "Brother Du, this person speaks with some arrogance."

"This person is the chief steward of the Lü residence, with a pivotal position. Be careful."

"If he says a few bad words about someone in front of the young master, the consequences are unimaginable!"

As they spoke, a maid came forward to serve tea.

The two sat across from each other and chatted quietly.

"Brother Du, what kind of person is Young Master Lü? What should I pay attention to when I meet him later?"

"Ah... it's hard to say. He... is somewhat capricious, but he most dislikes people arguing back. If they're unimportant people, he'll just beat them to death."

"Even those with some status have been dealt with miserably... so be very careful."

"Whatever he brings up later, just go along with him. With your eloquence, Brother Xie, there definitely won't be any problems!"

Xie Xian nodded, then sipped his tea, mentally preparing himself.

How should he lick up to him later...?

After three cups of tea, they finally waited for the servant to announce them.

Du Lingfeng swallowed, looking somewhat nervous, and signaled Xie Xian with his eyes before quickly walking towards the backyard.

In a courtyard in the backyard.

Lü Renjie lay on a reclining chair with his eyes closed, with four or five delicate maids standing beside him.

He slowly opened his eyes only after Du Lingfeng and Xie Xian stood before him.

Xie Xian carefully sized up Lü Renjie.

He saw that he was about thirty years old, with a somewhat pale complexion, but overall, his face looked a bit sinister.

He didn't look like an easy person to get along with, which was no wonder Du Lingfeng didn't like him much.

"Young Master Lü," Du Lingfeng bowed, and Xie Xian followed suit.

"Lingfeng, what's wrong? Can't the Jianjiang business continue?" Lü Renjie didn't get up, his tone revealing a sense of laziness.

"Yes... the buyers there are a bit too talkative. If we continue, I'm afraid there will be some risks."

"However, I met Brother Xie in Jianjiang. This person is exceptionally capable and is willing to cooperate with me. I hope you will see that, Young Master."

Du Lingfeng was still speaking with his head lowered, not daring to breathe loudly.

Lü Renjie smiled and slowly got up.

"Oh? You're Xie Xian, what did you do before?"

"Brother Xie opened a brothel in Jianjiang, but..."

"I didn't ask you!" Lü Renjie coldly snapped, and Du Lingfeng immediately fell silent.

Xie Xian bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Reporting to Young Master, I was in the brothel business, but I was careless and someone took it for themselves. Later, I was fortunate enough to meet Brother Du."

"Since Lingfeng brought you here, that means he trusts you a lot. But... selling smuggled salt is a business that gets your head chopped off. Do you dare to do it?" Lü Renjie's eyes slowly shifted over Xie Xian's body.

Xie Xian gritted his teeth and raised his head, looking at Lü Renjie with a slightly fanatical gaze: "I dare!"

"As long as there's money to be made, what's there to be afraid of!"

"Opening a brothel is no different from selling smuggled salt. Smuggled salt can still be sold in secret. If you make too much money openly, you might be targeted!"

"To be honest, I was initially worried, but after seeing Young Master Lü today, all my worries have disappeared!"

"Merchants are regarded as lowly, but only after seeing the Lü family did I understand that it's not that merchants are lowly, but that merchants without money are lowly!"

"Someone as wealthy as Young Master Lü can make even court officials bow their heads!"

Lü Renjie looked around in surprise, then smiled and said, "Heh... heh! Talent, truly a talent!"

Then he pointed to Xie Xian and looked at Du Lingfeng, saying, "I like this person!"

"Well said! Merchants are lowly, but definitely not salt merchants!"

"Would officials dare to say another word in front of salt merchants? Money makes the world go round, and they are the ghosts..."

......

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