Chapter 493 - 27: Change

The fall of the Qingyi Gang affected the livelihoods of many, but across the whole of Taiyuan Prefecture, it barely made a ripple.

No!

Rather, the common folk were rejoicing.

After all, the Qingyi Gang’s forced levies and increased taxes over the years had drawn widespread complaint.

Now that they were destroyed, they had only themselves to blame.

"As expected of Lord Zhao, acting as the Emperor’s hand. He used the Qingyi Gang to collect next year’s tax silver, then immediately eliminated Hong Qingyi for inciting public outrage. He manages to quell the people’s anger while still reaping the benefits."

Inside the carriage.

Zhu Ju spoke with admiration in his voice:

"What a brilliant move!"

"The Zhao Family has held the hereditary position of City Lord for a century now. There’s a reason they’ve stood for so long," Zhou Ruxuan said, sitting across from him.

"Brother Zhu, aren’t you practicing your Martial Arts today?"

Several days had passed since Hong Qingyi’s death, and the two of them had been meeting frequently during this time.

Drinking wine, admiring flowers, discussing matters both ancient and modern...

Zhu Ju was exceptionally handsome. Although he seemed a bit naive for some reason, he had a perfect sense of propriety in conversation.

After spending more time with him, Zhou Ruxuan found that she had grown to like this feeling.

It was like being with an old friend she had known for years. There were no inhibitions when they were together, only relaxation.

She didn’t have to be tense, either physically or mentally.

The only drawback...

...was that, in her eyes, Zhu Ju lacked ambition on the Martial Arts Path and was not a suitable match.

"The Martial Arts Path requires a balance between tension and relaxation."

Zhu Ju smiled faintly.

"My practice time for today is over. I’m heading to the teahouse to listen to the storyteller. They’ve been telling the story of the divine General Wei Mu these past few days."

"This General Wei came from a humble background as a fisherman who couldn’t even afford to eat, yet in just a few decades, he advanced to become a First-Grade Expert and the great general who suppressed the Sea Race. His life is the stuff of legends."

"Hmm..." Zhou Ruxuan pursed her lips.

"You have so much leisure time. You’re quite good at rewarding yourself."

An old saying goes: one day of training, one day of progress; one day without training, a hundred days of regression. Skip three days and you’re a stranger to your art; skip four and you’ll be left staring blankly.

Anyone with aspirations on the Martial Arts path must spend at least three to four hours on Cultivation daily.

But Zhu Ju cultivated for one hour at most each day.

The rest of the time, he would be out and about, enjoying fine food, seeing beautiful sights, and listening to all sorts of stories.

He was the very picture of an ’ignorant and idle’ person.

Zhu Ju naturally knew what Zhou Ruxuan was thinking, but he just smiled faintly without offering an explanation.

He was currently in a ’strength recovery phase.’ His Physical Body was relatively weak, so Cultivation was of little use.

On the contrary, relaxing his mind to nourish his Primordial Spirit was far more effective than simply tempering his Physical Body.

"I must also thank the Zhou Family for their support. The Zhu’s Cloth Workshop’s business is so much better than before."

Letting down the carriage curtain, Zhu Ju said:

"This month, there will be a profit share of three thousand taels for you, Ru Xuan. Should I have someone deliver it to the Zhou Mansion, or will you come pick it up?"

"No rush." Zhou Ruxuan’s eyes curved into crescents.

"Just bring it next time we meet."

"Oh, right!"

"Don’t you dare tell anyone else about this, especially my second brother and my father. I don’t want them to know I’m taking advantage of you."

"How can you call it taking advantage?" Zhu Ju shook his head.

"The Cloth Workshop is selling goods to distant places via the Sanhe Gang’s waterways, and business in the city has also improved. This is all thanks to you, Ru Xuan. It’s only right that you get a share of the extra money we’ve earned."

"Hee hee..." Zhou Ruxuan giggled, covering her mouth.

"This should all be yours. No one would say a thing if you didn’t give me any of it. Thank you."

The Zhou Family helped Zhu Ju expand his Cloth Workshop’s business not to demand a share of the profits, but to foster a closer relationship.

Of course, Zhu Ju wasn’t so thoughtless. He had secretly signed an agreement with Zhou Ruxuan to give her a certain percentage of the profits each month.

Judging by the rate of the Cloth Workshop’s expansion, it was three thousand taels a month now, but soon it would be five thousand, then six thousand...

Tens of thousands of taels of silver a year was no small sum even for Zhou Ruxuan. It would allow her to buy many things she previously couldn’t bring herself to purchase.

"Yesterday, Mother called me over and asked some questions about you."

Her eyes shifting, Zhou Ruxuan asked tentatively:

"Brother Zhu, when do you plan to marry?"

"Marry?" Zhu Ju shook his head.

"It’s too soon."

"Oh!" Zhou Ruxuan’s eyes lit up, and she said hurriedly:

"I think so too. A martial artist shouldn’t be distracted by other matters before the age of thirty. Only those with no hope of advancing their Cultivation should focus on marriage."

"Yes," Zhu Ju nodded in agreement.

"That makes sense."

"Then..." Zhou Ruxuan’s hands tightened.

"About us... should we talk about it again in a few years?"

"Of course." A playful look flashed in Zhu Ju’s eyes.

"There’s no rush."

「A short while later.」

Zhou Mansion.

Mrs. Zhou frowned at a nervous-looking Zhou Ruxuan.

"That can’t be right!"

"Zhu Ju is still young to marry, but it’s about time to settle the engagement. Marrying early to continue the bloodline is a serious matter. How can he not be in a hurry?"

"Mother," Zhou Ruxuan said.

"Before the age of thirty, one’s Qi Blood is still rising, so one should focus their energy on practicing Martial Arts."

"I think Brother Zhu’s decision is a good one."

"Hmm..." Mrs. Zhou pursed her lips and looked at her daughter.

"What do you think of him?"

"He’s wonderful!" Zhou Ruxuan said hurriedly.

"He’s handsome, understands the bigger picture, and is interesting to talk to. I feel very relaxed when I’m with him."

The key was...

...he wasn’t in a hurry to marry her!

Although she was a girl, she also had aspirations on the Martial Arts path.

If she could reach the Sixth Grade before she turned thirty, she would no longer have to obey the family’s arrangements for her marriage.

If she failed...

Between the ages of thirty and forty, one’s Qi Blood begins to decline. While the possibility of another breakthrough isn’t zero, the chances are incredibly slim.

And after forty, unless one consumed some heaven-defying Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, one’s Cultivation would only regress.

"As long as you’re satisfied." Mrs. Zhou, naturally unaware of her daughter’s thoughts, smiled and nodded upon hearing this.

"Since you’re satisfied, spend more time together. I think that young man, Zhu Ju, is quite excellent as well."

*

*

*

Qian Family.

Patriarch Qian Weng stared at the account book in his hands, his face pale and a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Thirty percent!"

"Our revenue has plummeted by thirty percent! There’s almost no net profit. Next month, we’ll definitely be losing money."

He put down the account book, his expression troubled.

"We can’t sustain the business!"

"Master," the steward said in a low voice.

"The silk farmers outside the city have refused to sell to us. The inventory in our warehouses will only last for two months."

"After two months..."

"...we won’t even be able to weave new silk."

"Ah!" Qian Weng’s face grew even paler.

"To make the silk farmers too afraid to sell to us... it can’t be the Zhu Family. It must be the Zhou Family that Zhu Ju has latched onto."

"Back then..."

"...I never should have let Guo Jie target him. Now, not only is Guo Jie dead, but even the Qingyi Gang is finished!"

A new ruler brings in his own court.

When the Qingyi Gang was in power, the Qian Family was one of the three great cloth merchants.

Now that the Qingyi Gang has been destroyed and the Sanhe Gang is in charge, they will surely cultivate their own cloth merchants.

And Zhu Ju, having latched onto the Zhou Family early on, was naturally able to expand his business territory.

The Qian Family...

...found it difficult to continue.

"Go!"

Qian Weng ordered:

"Bring Shiyao here. Zhu Ju used to be quite fond of her. I hope she can help the Qian Family survive this crisis."