Chapter 00239: Opportunities on Every Street
# Opportunities on Every Street
Chapter 239
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 239: Opportunities on Every Street
He Lingchuan's eyes flashed with understanding.
"Your Lordship speaks wisely."
Li Qingge said meaningfully, "Where power lies, wealth follows."
"I haven't assumed my post yet."
"But you are the eldest son of the He family, the first heir to Chief He. You stand right beside great authority."
Li Qingge smiled.
"As they say, one takes on the color of their company. Young Master He, why not make good use of this in the future?"
He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow.
"Now that, I like!"
"If you have faith in your family and in Xiazhou, now is the time to sweep up goods at low prices."
Li Qingge continued advising.
"At a time like this, your status as Chief He's son is more useful than anything else. Even if there's resistance, it can easily be broken. Once the crisis passes, these will all become golden geese laying eggs. Would you still worry about money then?"
He Lingchuan stood and bowed deeply to her.
"Your words are like a wake-up call. Many thanks, Your Lordship."
He had never done business before—this was a gap in his thinking.
But with Lady Songyang's guidance, everything suddenly became clear.
Indeed, the entire city of Dunyu, the whole of Xiazhou, was eager to curry favor with the new Chief Administrator—except for him.
How could he not make full use of such an advantage?
Forget fairness or unfairness.
A wise man knows how to ride the tide.
Li Qingge waved a hand.
"A trivial matter, just a few idle words. That neighboring shop is truly excellent—would you like me to help you secure it?"
"Alright."
This time, He Lingchuan didn’t refuse.
In the jianghu, it was impossible not to owe favors—he’d find a way to repay her later.
"Then I’ll trouble Your Lordship."
He accepted her goodwill, and Li Qingge smiled with particular satisfaction.
He Lingchuan sighed as he looked at her.
"Why are you helping me like this?"
"I’ve said it before—my judgment is excellent."
Li Qingge was straightforward.
"The Songyang Estate conducts business in three tiers: the lowest invests in land and shops, the middle in ventures, and the highest in people. I have high hopes for Young Master He."
She was willing to befriend him for this reason.
He Lingchuan chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Seems I’ll have to start from the lowest tier."
Li Qingge laughed lightly.
With nothing left to discuss and having gained unexpected insights, He Lingchuan stood to take his leave.
Lady Songyang stood by the loft window, watching him cross the covered walkway below and return to the front hall.
Then she asked the maid behind her, "Has Manager Zhao settled the deal for the neighboring shop?"
"It’s already done. The contract was finalized at noon."
"Tell him to change the buyer to Young Master He. Before dinner, this contract must be delivered to the He residence."
---
He Lingchuan made another trip to the bank, exchanging the large 100,000-tael note for smaller denominations.
Then, he deliberately took a carriage ride around the city.
The streets were filled with hurried pedestrians, few of them smiling.
Dunyu was a city of contrasts—the main streets still bustled with prosperous businesses, the grand taverns packed with guests at night.
Yet on the other side, industries languished, and unease gripped the people.
He Lingchuan had just passed several grain shops with long queues outside.
Two clerks planted "Sold Out" signs in front of the barrels, leaving the latecomers dismayed.
These were not good signs.
He Yue had told him that Dunyu wasn’t actually short on grain.
The sudden panic-buying stemmed from fear and hoarding.
Not to mention, the wealthy gentry had recently bought up grain to curry favor with the new Chief Administrator.
He Lingchuan didn’t believe his father was blind to this, but the government had done little to reassure the people beyond posting stiff, bureaucratic proclamations—predictably ineffective.
Before meeting Lady Songyang, He Lingchuan would have lamented the cruelty of war.
But after leaving the Songyang Estate branch, his perspective shifted.
Now, it seemed like gold and silver beckoned to him from every street corner.
Not taking advantage would be a disservice to himself.
Back at the He residence, renovations were still in full swing.
He Lingchuan returned to his courtyard to find the Rock Wolf gone again—its keen ears couldn’t stand the endless hammering, so it had gone off to play with He Yue’s black wolf.
He Lingchuan drank water while studying the Mountain Cutter.
Its golden hue deepened—clearly, the broken blade was eagerly absorbing the rare metal.
He was eager to see the sword’s transformation.
He Lingchuan stroked the hilt, suddenly recalling the shop the Pengcheng Agency had specifically exchanged for him.
Had the blade been hinting that he could replicate this in reality to solve his financial troubles?
Too bad he hadn’t grasped it until Lady Songyang spelled it out.
"My apologies, I was slow on the uptake."
The blade surely understood him.
"But next time, could you make the hint a bit more obvious?"
The sword, of course, didn’t answer.
Just then, the monkey bounded in from somewhere and rapped on the doorframe.
"Sun Hongye is here, and he’s brought someone."
It was practically becoming He Lingchuan’s doorman—shouldn’t it get a raise?
Sun Hongye entered the courtyard, closed the door behind him, and gestured to his companion.
"Boss, this is Shan Youjun."
One of the two former Li family private soldiers he’d recruited for He Lingchuan.
"After that incident, Jiao Tai was arrested, and Shan Youjun left the private army. Neither belongs to the Li family anymore."
Shan Youjun immediately knelt, declaring firmly, "If you can save Jiao Tai, this lowly one will serve Young Master with the loyalty of a dog or horse!"
The abrupt movement aggravated his backside injury, making him grimace in pain.
"Get up."
He Lingchuan hauled him to his feet.
Shan Youjun was surprised by the sheer strength—he couldn’t resist standing.
This rich young master seemed to have some real skill.
He Lingchuan asked Sun Hongye, "Can we get Jiao Tai out?"
"I’ve found three or four eyewitnesses who can testify that someone else knocked down the pregnant woman into the rockery, not Jiao Tai."
Sun Hongye said.
"They’ve already given statements at the magistrate’s office. Once the real culprit is caught, Jiao Tai should be released soon."
He paused.
"The Li family will likely learn of my involvement quickly."
"The one who pushed the woman was just a minor officer in the private army, a distant relative of Li Zhi. The Li family won’t protect him at a critical moment. If Li Shuang is smart, he’ll hand him over to the magistrate soon."
He Lingchuan smiled at Shan Youjun.
"Don’t worry, this will be resolved quickly."
For the past two days, Shan Youjun had been frantic, crushed by his inability to save his friend.
Yet here was Young Master He, casually deciding two men’s fates with a few words.
He moved to kneel again, but He Lingchuan stopped him.
"Enough, enough. How can you serve me with such weak knees?" He turned and poured tea for both men.
Sun Hongye accepted it calmly, while Shan Youjun was visibly nervous.
"In the next couple of days, I need you to find me one more person."
He Lingchuan made another request of Sun Hongye.
"This one must be a seasoned hand, intimately familiar with Dunyu’s customs—high society and the underworld alike. He should know the ins and outs of the four major families’ affairs like the back of his hand. Someone like..."
He thought for a moment, then found a comparison.
"Like Liu the Facilitator in Shihuan City."
Sun Hongye had only met Liu briefly before He Lingchuan left Shihuan, but he understood what such facilitators did.
"Boss wants someone well-versed in Dunyu’s affairs?"
Well summarized.
He Lingchuan wagged a finger.
"More than that. This person must also be skilled in trade, able to manage finances for me."
He could already foresee that his future would revolve around cultivation and warfare—where would he find time for business?
Thus, he needed a capable manager.
Shan Youjun suddenly spoke up.
"I have someone to recommend."
"Go on."
Of course—this guy was a local.
"He was the old steward of the Shu family’s Third Master, surnamed Ding—Ding Zuodong. A Dunyu native, lived here over forty years. When the Third Master was alive, Ding handled all procurement and household affairs flawlessly. Among the Shu brothers, his household was the best-run."
"After the old patriarch died, the Third Master foolishly contested the succession with the eldest. He lost and was sidelined. Two years later, he drowned in a river while traveling. The Shu family found an excuse to dismiss Ding Zuodong."
"Ding found several jobs afterward, but the Shu family sabotaged each one. He was utterly frustrated and recently considered moving south with his family—a real shame."
Sun Hongye asked, "What’s his character like?"
"Good."
Shan Youjun said.
"Right after the Third Master died, a wealthy gentleman from Daji Village offered him a steward position with high pay. Ding refused because the Third Master left behind a widow and three children. From what I know, after leaving the Shu family, Ding settled the Third Master’s remaining assets properly before handing them over."
He Lingchuan nodded, then suddenly asked, "How do you know all this so well?"
"The four families’ stewards are often discussed among us. Ding Zuodong’s reputation is quite decent."
Shan Youjun coughed lightly.
"Also... he’s my uncle. I originally came to Dunyu to seek him out."
He Lingchuan chuckled.
That explained it.
"Then how come he worked for the Shu family while you served the Li family?" Different employers.
"When I arrived, he’d just been dismissed by the Shus."
Shan Youjun sighed.
"He was in no position to help, so he pulled strings to get me into the Li household."
He and Sun Hongye exchanged a glance, and the latter gave a slight nod.
He Lingchuan said, "No need to avoid recommending family. Go talk to him. If he’s willing to work for me, bring him for an interview tonight."
Shan Youjun brightened.
"Yes, I’ll go now!" After bowing, he hurried out.
Sun Hongye remarked, "Boss returned in high spirits. Did something good happen?"
Sharp observation.
He Lingchuan shared Lady Songyang’s advice.
"Very true. I should’ve thought of it sooner."
Sun Hongye blamed himself.
"Opportunities everywhere, yet I missed them?"
"Your talents don’t lie in money-making."
He Lingchuan laughed heartily.
"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have spent so long in Shihuan just patching clothes."
---
The afternoon passed swiftly.
Before dinner, Manager Zhao from the Songyang Estate arrived, delivering a box to He Lingchuan.
Inside was the deed for the shop next to the Songyang branch.
He Lingchuan just needed to register it officially, and the property would truly be his.
(End of Chapter)