Chapter 424 - 424: Safe Deduction

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The next day, Ji Xiang went to the Wang Family Village and told the tenants about Li Yu’s decision. Tang Yong and the tenants looked at Ji Xiang in surprise, suspecting that they had heard wrongly. Even He Dachun looked surprised.

Ji Xiang looked at them and said to them, “My Madam said that the rent has been lowered and the lease has to be signed again. We only have one request. Everyone has to pay the rent on time. You can’t owe the rent unless there are extraordinary circumstances.”

Tang Yong stepped forward and took out the contract. “Chief Manager, is it really 40-60? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

Ji Xiang looked at Tang Yong happily. “There’s no mistake. Everyone, take out the old contract and sign your lease.”

When the tenants heard this, they cheered. Those who did not have a contract hurriedly ran home, afraid that Ji Xiang would change his mind. Only when they obtained a new contract did they feel relieved.

Ji Xiang hired a craftsman in the village to paint the house. He brought other craftsmen to the bamboo forest outside the backyard to take a look and asked them to dig the cesspool outside and build two pig pens. He modified the toilet and bathroom in the residence according to Li Yu’s preferences.

After the craftsman saw Ji Xiang’s drawing, he told Ji Xiang that it would not be completed until the end of May at the latest. Ji Xiang thought that he could not keep watch here often; thinking that the person called Tang Yong was capable, he went to the field to find Tang Yong.

When Tang Yong saw that Ji Xiang had found the field, he smiled and stood up. “Chief Manager, what can I do for you?”

Ji Xiang smiled and said, “Brother Tang, I’ll hire you to repair the courtyard according to the salary you get for going out to work. Plant some melons and vegetables in the empty place and help watch the craftsmen work. Also, find a few people to help plow the empty fields. I’ll bring some seeds to plant in a few days.”

Tang Yong looked at Ji Xiang in surprise. After a moment of shock, he replied,

“Chief Manager, thank you for your trust. I will do a good job.”

Ji Xiang smiled and cupped his hands at him. “Alright, work hard. My master won’t treat you badly.”

Ji Xiang went back to keep an eye on Han San for more than thirty days before taking the corn seeds to Wang Family Villlage. He brought Tang Yong and the others to prepare the seeds and instructed Tang Yong to hire some people before returning to the city to look for Han San.

Han San smiled at Ji Xiang. “Chief Steward, don’t worry. We’ve already contacted each other. I found a boy around his age and lured him there several times. The people in the casino like it when someone lures the children of big families to the casino. As long as they get addicted, they will have a lot of money.”

Ji Xiang thought for a moment and asked, “Is the casino you found strong and powerful enough?”

Han San leaned over and whispered into Ji Xiang’s ear, “Chief Manager, that casino is run by the family of the Eldest Princess’s husband.”

Ji Xiang felt a chill in his heart when he heard that. How shameless could such a family be to open a casino?

Han San chuckled and said, “Chief Steward, you don’t know this, right?

Nowadays, some of the imperial clansmen are already relying on pawning to live. Do you think that the imperial clansmen are really that rich? They eat, drink, and fill up their facades. Which one of them doesn’t want silver?! Those who aren’t good at business and can’t bring themselves to go out and earn money can only rely on their ancestral roots to survive!”

When Ji Xiang heard this, he felt that it made sense. Back then, when Young Master brought everyone to Qingchuan, he relied on Uncle Zhou to open a small shop. His life was also tight. Later on, Young Master pulled himself together and took care of the business, and his life improved. Then, Young Master met Madam, and his family’s life became prosperous.

Ji Xiang patted Han San. “Do your best. I’ll wait for you to come. We brothers will share the burden of Master and Madam.”

“Brothers! Hehe!” Han San was overjoyed by Ji Xiang’s words. “Many thanks,

Chief Manager. I will definitely do my best to help Master.”

Ji Xiang looked at him and warned, “Let me tell you, my Master and Madam treat people the best, but in our family, we have to abide by the rules. If you do things like bullying, my Master and Madam will definitely sell you to the salt factory. You can forget about making a comeback in your next life.”

When Han San heard this, his expression didn’t change as he nodded. “Chief Manager, don’t worry. Although I, Han San, am an unorthodox person, my father had instructed me when I was alive that the Han Family is not allowed to kill, steal, or separate people’s flesh and blood.

“You’ve also checked on me. Look at how I’ve been stirring up trouble all these years. Those gamblers who are addicted to gambling are also up to no good. For those who want to earn easy money but are mostly upright, they can at most be fooled once. The next time, no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to lure them.”

Ji Xiang felt that what Han San said made sense and nodded. “Yes! I’ll leave first. I’ve been very busy these days, so I won’t come to see you. If there’s anything, give me a message.”

Ji Xiang returned home and told Zhou Jia what Han San had said. Zhou Jia smiled bitterly and said, “Great Yong’s empire has existed for more than a hundred years. Back then, Emperor Taizong raised them in captivity because he was wary of the imperial clan. Now, most of the imperial clan’s disciples have already developed the habit of reaching out and taking what they want. His Majesty has already begun to recruit intellectuals from the imperial clan.

Those people who don’t want to improve will have to suffer.”

“Master’s analysis is right. I don’t know what these people are thinking. With the status of the imperial family, no matter what business they do, no one will dare to take it. As long as they’re willing to do it, they won’t have to pawn their lives away. They won’t be able to lose face. Do they have to resort to pawning their lives?”

That was right! For example, the person in the old residence divided the house in half. As long as one wasn’t extravagant and wasteful, it was enough to survive on rent. However, he insisted on saving face and pawned everything that the Old Master had bought. Sigh! It was difficult to start a family and also protect the family! When Zhou Jia thought of this, he felt he definitely couldn’t pamper the children. He had to let them know that life wasn’t easy.

In the blink of an eye, it was early June. The weather was getting hotter and hotter. It was especially hot in the capital. It was as if she was in a steamer. Li Yu was more than three months pregnant. Zhou Jia planned to send Li Yu to the manor to avoid the heat during the break.

Old Master Zhou came to the Zhou family to eat good wine and food. After eating and drinking his fill, he said to Ji Xiang, “Bring Young Master here. I have something for him.”

“Wait for me to go to the backyard to invite Young Master for you.” Ji Xiang went to the backyard and told Zhou Jia what Old Master Zhou had said. “Master, what do you think?”

Zhou Jia thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, bring Young Master there!”

Ji Xiang went to the garden and found Yangyang, who was holding Xiao Bai and playing with Little Loach. He said to him, “Young Master, the Old Master wants to see you and says that he has something for you.”

Yang Yang looked at Ji Xiang and said, “Uncle wants to see me!” With that, he handed Little White to Little Loach and followed Ji Xiang to the front yard.

Old Master Zhou stood at the door and saw Ji Xiang coming with Yang Yang. He quickly went back and sat on a chair. Yang Yang entered the room and bowed to him. “Yang Er greets Uncle.”

“Get up quickly.” Old Master Zhou looked at Yangyang with a smile. He took a safety buckle and placed it in his hand. “Take it. I took it to the Daoist temple to bless Yangyang.”

Yangyang took it and knelt down to kowtow. “Thank you, Uncle.”

Old Master Zhou nodded with a smile. “Yes! Study hard. I’m going back.”

Yang Yang looked at him and said, “Uncle, is your house far away? Yang’er will send you off!”

Old Master Zhou waved his hand and refused. “No need. Your Uncle Xiang can just send me. Go back and rest early..”