Chapter 45 First Salt Delivery, 1,000 Taels in Hand

He narrowed his eyes but did not react. Instead, he simply shouted, “Hyah!” and urged the horse forward.

Nothing happened along the way, yet that very absence made him frown slightly.

The carriage moved quickly. Before long, he had entered Pingyang County City. He first sold the wild birds and received 3 taels of silver.

Even a grasshopper is still meat. When it comes to accounts, every coin must be calculated precisely.

However, he did not leave. Instead, he took out a jar of wine, wine that had been soaked with deer blood.

“Shopkeeper, have a look at this wine.”

Li Chen produced a small one-kilogram jar, broke the clay seal, peeled back the oiled paper, and pushed it across the counter.

“Ha, isn’t this the same sorghum liquor you bought from me last time? What’s so special about it?” The shopkeeper recognized his own wine and chuckled.

But before he finished speaking, he noticed the color and caught the scent. He froze.

“Hmm? No, no. What did you add to it?”

Startled, he lifted the jar and examined it closely.

After staring for quite some time, his eyes gradually grew fiery.

He poured a small amount into a bowl. The liquid showed a faint, warm red hue.

He took a sip. His eyebrows shot up, and he looked at Li Chen in disbelief. “This… this is deer blood wine?”

“You know your wine, Shopkeeper. Yes, it’s sika deer blood wine. As for its effects, you understand them well enough.”

Li Chen nodded. The man clearly had skill in tasting.

“My heavens. It’s been years since I’ve seen deer blood wine, and this one is so rich. What’s rare is that the wild character is still so strong… Young man, where did you get a deer? Those things are harder to hunt than ghosts. They’re cunning and fast. Ordinary hunters can’t catch them… Wait, if you have deer, will you sell?”

The shopkeeper grew visibly excited, even stepping out from behind the counter, staring at Li Chen with burning anticipation.

“I don’t sell deer. I sell deer blood wine. Name a price.”

Li Chen looked at him steadily.

“This wine is so rare… Fine. For this small jar, 1 tael of silver. How about that?”

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, offering a high price.

“Deal.”

Li Chen nodded.

He had spent 1 tael to buy 5 kilograms of sorghum liquor. After adding deer blood, he earned ten times the profit in a single resale. Of course he would do such business.

But instead of taking the silver, Li Chen exchanged it for 50 kilograms of liquor and loaded it onto the cart.

He would return next time. And then, it would be 100 taels’ worth.

The shopkeeper was overjoyed. Even after Li Chen had walked far away, he stood at the tavern entrance waving reluctantly, like a young maiden seeing off her beloved.

After that, Li Chen went to the salt shop.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw the shopkeeper.

As soon as the shopkeeper spotted Li Chen, a strange glint flashed in his eyes before he broke into a broad smile and hurried forward. “Young sir, we meet again.”

“Is the young proprietor here?”

Li Chen asked calmly. He had noticed the fleeting odd expression but gave no sign.

“Yes, yes. I’ll call her at once.”

The shopkeeper’s attitude was completely different from before. Cheerful, he rushed inside to summon Lin Ling’er.

Soon the curtain lifted, and Lin Ling’er stepped out from the inner hall.

Even without makeup, she was captivating. Yet the faint chill and sharpness between her brows gave the sense that strangers should keep their distance.

Before she could speak, Li Chen stepped forward and clasped his hands. “Greetings, Young Proprietor. I’ve brought what you requested.”

“So soon?”

Lin Ling’er was genuinely surprised.

To refine 500 kilograms of salt into fine salt at a salt yard would take at least a month.

Yet this young man had completed it in two days.

One day earlier than their agreed three-day deadline.

“You may inspect and weigh it.”

Li Chen smiled lightly and carried over the sacks, one in each hand.

After days of recovery training, his strength had grown steadily. Carrying 50 kilograms in each hand posed no difficulty.

What pleased him even more was that this body had immense potential. He saw no bottleneck yet. It seemed even more capable than his former self.

He found himself looking forward to seeing what this body could become once its full potential was unlocked.

Watching him carry 100 kilograms with ease, Lin Ling’er’s eyes flickered. “You are remarkably strong, sir. You remind me somewhat of an acquaintance I once met.”

“I’ve merely done more physical labor. Nothing compared to your refined upbringing, Young Proprietor.”

Li Chen pretended not to hear the implication, firmly denying any hint.

Lin Ling’er studied him for a moment but said nothing more. Instead, she turned to the assistants. “Weigh it first. Then pour it out for inspection.”

The assistants hurried forward. The salt weighed exactly 100 kilograms.

They poured it into large basins.

The salt was as fine as sand, as white as snow, sparkling brilliantly. Even its appearance alone was irresistible.

The shopkeeper beside them watched Li Chen with flickering eyes, a trace of greed hidden deep within.

Lin Ling’er tasted the salt. Delight filled her eyes. She nodded firmly. “The salt has quality and quantity. The man has integrity and trustworthiness. Excellent.”

She turned to the shopkeeper. “Prepare a draft for 1,000 taels of silver.”

“Yes, Young Proprietor.”

The shopkeeper quickly produced a draft for 1,000 taels of silver and handed it over.

Li Chen shook his head. “I don’t want a draft. Give me 900 taels in silver and 100 strings of copper coins.”

If he wanted convenience, he would have chosen the draft.

But he needed cash to purchase goods and to pay wages to the villagers during this period.

“Give it to him.”

Lin Ling’er did not hesitate.

She was decisive and efficient.

The assistants brought the money in cloth sacks.

900 taels of silver and 100 strings of copper coins weighed heavily in his hands.

Perhaps that was the pressure of wealth.

Li Chen suddenly thought of how much Yu Qingwan loved counting money. If he converted all this silver into copper coins, she might spend days counting them. And at night, she certainly would not be able to lift such weight in her arms.

He looked at Lin Ling’er and paused. “Young Proprietor, there are further matters to discuss.”

“Please.”

Lin Ling’er gestured inward, inviting him into the inner hall.

Carrying the silver and the sack of coins, Li Chen entered.

“Four matters.”

He spoke without hesitation.

“Speak.”

Lin Ling’er looked at him calmly, returning to her composed and resolute demeanor.

Yet beneath that calm exterior, her thoughts were in turmoil.

When Bai Yuxiang returned the day before yesterday and reported that she had lost track of him, Lin Ling’er had been greatly shocked.