MLMD -Chapter 35 Cutting Someone’s Rice Bowl

When Li Yuan entered the guest room where Yue Yang was staying, guided by Shunbao, Yue Yang had already taken off his armor and changed into casual clothes. He was sitting quietly in a chair, watching him.

Li Yuan didn’t wait for Yue Yang to speak. He hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting, smiling broadly: “Ah, wise nephew Yue, I must apologize for visiting so late at night. I hope you won’t take offense!”

Although Li Yuan kept apologizing, there wasn’t a hint of embarrassment on his face. His thick-skinned audacity was almost admirable, and Shunbao, standing to the side, couldn’t help pursing his lips in exasperation.

What impressed Shunbao even more was that Yue Yang seemed completely unfazed, as if he had no connection with Li Yuan. With a faint smile, he greeted Li Yuan: “So it’s the head of the Li family. Surely you didn’t come at this late hour just to exchange a few pleasantries?”

Li Yuan seemed not to notice the subtle mockery in Yue Yang’s words. His smile remained warm and “friendly” as he clasped his hands again and said: “Wise nephew Yue, you are truly perceptive. My visit tonight is first to thank you for your help today, and second to show a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept this humble gift.”

With that, Li Yuan pulled a red gift list from his sleeve. Shunbao quickly took it and handed it to Yue Yang.

Yue Yang glanced at the list and couldn’t help but smile. Looking at Li Yuan, he teased: “Head of the Li family, this ‘humble gift’ of yours is far from humble—five thousand taels of silver, a thousand taels of gold. I’m afraid I cannot possibly accept it.” He then tried to hand the list back to Shunbao to return it.

Seeing this, Li Yuan panicked and quickly said, “Wise nephew Yue, don’t be hasty. If you feel this gift is too small, we can certainly negotiate further.”

“What exactly do you want, Head of the Li family?” Yue Yang’s smile began to fade. He didn’t believe that this old fox had come in the dead of night just to give him silver.

Li Yuan’s smile grew slightly awkward. After a brief hesitation, he said quietly, “I wish to purchase the armor and weapons you possess. Would that be possible?”

Yue Yang looked at Li Yuan’s old face, and a strong impulse to punch it flat surged within him.

Taking a deep breath, he repeatedly told himself to stay calm. After a few minutes, he finally managed to steady his emotions. He looked at Li Yuan coldly and said: “I’m truly sorry, Head of the Li family, but these armors were also purchased from foreign merchants. I have no extras to sell. My apologies. Shunbao, return this list to the Head of the Li family. See him out!”

Yue Yang stood up, clearly unwilling to waste any more words on the old man.

Seeing Yue Yang rise, Li Yuan grew anxious. He hurriedly stood as well, loudly saying: “Wise nephew Yue, please wait, I still have words to say!”

“What words?” Yue Yang felt his patience reaching its limit. He realized he had underestimated just how thick-skinned some people could be. What on earth was Li Yuan thinking? Didn’t he know that this armor was Yue Yang’s lifeline in this era? To think he could buy it with silver… Did he really think Yue Yang was some naive three-year-old?

Yue Yang glared at Li Yuan. He had decided that if this old man uttered another word of nonsense, he would immediately throw him out without hesitation.

But Li Yuan was no ordinary man. This old fox, seasoned in dealing with people all his life, could clearly see that Yue Yang’s patience was nearly exhausted. If he could not show sincerity that would convince Yue Yang, tonight’s visit would be in vain.

Thinking quickly, Li Yuan immediately said: “Wise nephew Yue, I know your family estate usually relies on rent from the fields. Perhaps you are interested in doing business in Yingzhou or Shanxi? If so, I have some connections, and we could cooperate. What do you think?”

“Hmm?”

Li Yuan’s words hit Yue Yang like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the unnamed fury that had just arisen within him. A glimmer of sharpness appeared in Yue Yang’s eyes as he pressed: “Head of the Li family, are you serious?”

“Absolutely serious!” Li Yuan hurriedly confirmed. He fully understood that he was essentially inviting a wolf into his home. Yue Yang’s estate had long been bullied because it was a land-owning gentry dependent on the elements, with no presence in commercial circles. That’s why men like Wang Shoucheng and Lin Yuanteng could bully them with impunity—simply because Yue Yang’s silver was less than theirs.

But if he could draw this young, strong-willed Yue Yang into the commercial world, the consequences could be unpredictable. Yet to Li Yuan, the future was uncertain anyway. What threatened him most now were the roaming bandits. If he could secure the loyalty of this young man, his family’s safety would be guaranteed—and that was the most important thing.

Yue Yang was overjoyed at the olive branch extended by Li Yuan. Recently, as he had been forming a militia, he felt his silver flow like water. From settling fees, military pay, to the daily necessities of his soldiers, the costs were immense. With just over five hundred men, he was already feeling the pressure. If the militia grew tenfold or a hundredfold, the funds and supplies required would be astronomical. Establishing a stable source of income was an urgent matter.

At this thought, Yue Yang finally smiled tonight. “Hehe, since Head of the Li family says so, I will not refuse. I hope you won’t mind the intrusion.”

“That greedy little rascal! At the mention of benefits, he immediately calls himself ‘your nephew.’ Didn’t he just call me the same?” Li Yuan scolded inwardly, but his face remained smiling as he said: “Of course. If you wish to do business, just tell me. I can’t help with everything, but arranging a few shops and connecting with some merchants and gentry, I can manage.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!”

True to the saying “strike the snake while it’s on the stick,” this was Yue Yang’s real state of mind. He immediately said: “Since Head of the Li family says so, I won’t be polite. Since forming the militia, I’ve felt funds run tight. I want to trade some goods. Could you arrange a few shops for me so I can conduct small business? Don’t worry, I will pay the market price.”

“This kid really doesn’t know how to be modest!” Li Yuan muttered, but he knew this was no time to worry about shops. The bandits had just withdrawn, and no one knew when they might return. Securing Yue Yang’s loyalty could at least protect his family, so a few shops were nothing.

With a forced smile, Li Yuan said: “Wise nephew Yue, that’s fine. If you like, I’ll have three shops arranged for you tomorrow. As for the payment, don’t worry—when you’re in surplus, you can repay me later.”

Yue Yang, raised in the 21st century’s modern “thick-skinned” generation, could not resist a bargain. He quickly clasped his hands in thanks: “Then I won’t be polite.”

“Alright, I can bear it!”

Li Yuan took a deep breath and cautiously asked: “Wise nephew, since you want shops, that’s no problem. But what kind of business do you intend to do?”

Feeling elated at acquiring a few shops, Yue Yang’s eyes gleamed as he said with a sly smile: “Don’t worry, Head of the Li family. I won’t compete in fur or leather. I only have some salt I wish to sell, and need the shops as storefronts.”

“What? You want to sell… private salt?” Li Yuan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

In China, salt was a state monopoly under any dynasty, especially in ancient times. Salt and iron were key state revenues, and selling private salt was severely punished. By the late Ming, government control had weakened, so Li Yuan was not surprised Yue Yang wanted to sell salt. What shocked him was that Yingzhou’s private salt market was long dominated by Wang Shoucheng—and now Yue Yang openly wanted to enter it. This… was practically cutting someone else’s rice bowl.