Chapter 46: Uncle Wang, for this matter, you’ll need to pay more!

“Uncle Wang, have you finished your work? How do you have time to visit your nephew?”

Seeing Wang Youdao arrive, Li Yuanjing quickly smiled, cupped his hands in greeting, and ushered Wang Youdao into this large warehouse, which had yet to be put to use.

Once Chen Chunyan brought in a brazier steaming with heat and carefully closed the door, Wang Youdao laughed and said,

“Yuanjing, I thought I already saw you in a high enough regard, but it seems I still underestimated you. It’s only been a few days, and you’ve managed to get things running so well here?”

Li Yuanjing promptly cupped his hands, smiling, “This is all thanks to your guidance, Uncle Wang.”

The two exchanged glances and could not help but laugh heartily together.

After a few pleasantries, Wang Youdao steered the conversation to the main topic, lowering his voice:

“Yuanjing, have you heard about what’s been happening over in Yicheng these past few days?”

Li Yuanjing instantly tensed. Knowing Wang Youdao as he did, he understood the man would never speak without purpose.

After considering for a moment, he replied with a smile, “Uncle Wang, I know a little. It seems things are a bit chaotic in Yicheng?”

When Wang Youdao saw that Li Yuanjing was already aware of the news in Yicheng, his smile grew even wider.

“Yuanjing, between us men, I won’t play games with you. Right now, I’ve got a deal on hand—a deal that could earn you at least this much!”

Wang Youdao raised a single finger, his voice low and full of temptation. “Yuanjing, do you dare take it?”

Li Yuanjing knew well that one finger meant a hundred taels of silver. But he also knew that, while he and Wang Youdao might be on friendly terms and have some minor connections, their interests were far from truly aligned. Would Wang Youdao really be so generous, leaving such a fine opportunity for him?

Still, Li Yuanjing was a seasoned old hand—outwardly, he betrayed nothing, instead feigning delight: “Uncle Wang, your favor is more than I could ever repay, even with my life. May I ask, what would you have me do?”

Wang Youdao appeared satisfied with his attitude, but sighed deeply before continuing:

“Yuanjing, you know the times. I don’t need to spell it out. We’re the kind who stand alone, with enemies everywhere—we must keep a few ways out for ourselves.”

Seeing Li Yuanjing nod in agreement, Wang Youdao went on in a hushed voice:

“I’ve got a batch of grain on hand. As it happens, an old acquaintance in Yicheng is looking for just such a shipment. But right now, I don’t have enough people I can trust…”

“Yuanjing.”

Wang Youdao fixed Li Yuanjing with a direct gaze.

“Can you help your uncle out, and get this grain across to Yicheng for me?”

“No need to take it all the way into Yicheng—just detour to Chenjiazhu Ferry, get the grain across the river, and deliver it to Huangniwa Village. That will be enough.”

“As long as you’re willing to take the job, I can pay you half up front!”

“Well?”

Wang Youdao pulled over a large cloth bag and poured out a heap of gleaming silver onto the floor—a full fifty taels at least.

Li Yuanjing feigned hesitation, his eyes greedily drawn to the silver.

But inside, his mind was clear, turning rapidly!

Though Wang Youdao acted as if this were a simple errand, Li Yuanjing’s keen senses had already picked up on the core details.

First and foremost, the price Wang Youdao was offering was far too high for what seemed like a straightforward delivery. There were only two possible explanations: either the grain itself was problematic—perhaps something hidden inside—or the buyers were, and in a very serious way.

Considering recent events—especially the rumors that Wang Youdao had fallen out with Old Dong from their village—Li Yuanjing could already see the outline.

Wang Youdao was an old fox; faced with danger, he would never just sit and wait for doom. Yet he also liked to appear as a man of principle.

Li Yuanjing reached his own conclusion: it was highly likely that this grain was meant to be sold—or half sold, half gifted—to the remnants of the Fragrance Sect hiding across the river in Yicheng.

Even without direct evidence, his understanding of the larger situation told him it was a reasonable deduction.

Namely—

Old Dong, the blacksmith-merchant from Dagou Village, was probably the weapons supplier to the Fragrance Sect across the river. Only that would explain Wang Youdao’s anxiety—he needed to win favor with the sect’s remnants, to keep the balance and protect himself.

Otherwise, with the Fragrance Sect’s current desperation, Old Dong need only stoke their anger a little, and they’d likely wipe Wang Youdao out to the last.

“Uncle Wang, I have no objection to handling this for you. After all, we’re family, aren’t we? But…”

Li Yuanjing paused, feigning difficulty, and looked at Wang Youdao.

“Uncle Wang, I’ve heard that Chenjiazhu Ferry is currently guarded by government troops—elite guards of some noble, no less. That…”

In truth, he had no idea what the situation was at the ferry, but based on Wang Youdao’s nervousness, he decided to probe.

Wang Youdao’s face tightened, but he quickly regained composure.

“You needn’t worry about that! I’ve already taken care of things in town. You’ll be using the Zhang Grain Shop’s name—everyone will be from Zhang’s. I’ve also smoothed things over at the ferry. No one will trouble you. Just get the grain to Huangniwa.”

“Yuanjing, do you still not trust your uncle?”

Li Yuanjing saw his test had rattled Wang Youdao; for the first time, the man was applying real pressure.

“Uncle Wang, well…” Li Yuanjing’s face remained troubled, though inwardly he was clear as crystal.

There was no way this was as simple as Wang Youdao claimed. Even if the man was genuinely delivering grain, more likely he was putting on a show for the Fragrance Sect’s remnants.

As for Li Yuanjing, the one actually doing the work—

Wang Youdao was only using him as a tool. For the sake of his family’s safety, what did Li Yuanjing matter to him? If something happened, so be it. If all went well, perhaps he’d even take over Li Yuanjing’s business in Quanzi Village.

In these turbulent times, with warlords and bandits everywhere, if the Murong family ever asked after Li Yuanjing, who would question a simple explanation?

As he pondered this, Li Yuanjing could only smile bitterly to himself.

Indeed, humanity is the most terrifying cancer on this planet—whenever there’s a scramble for resources, it always ends in blood and betrayal.

But Li Yuanjing soon composed himself.

Wang Youdao’s plan was nearly flawless—but it was rooted in the limitations and understanding of his own era. Li Yuanjing, however, was viewing the situation from far above, with insight spanning multiple dimensions.

The core of Wang Youdao’s plan was to get this grain across the river—or at the very least, to be seen trying at Chenjiazhu Ferry, so the Fragrance Sect remnants in Huangniwa would believe he wished to help them. In essence, he wanted to play both sides—seeming virtuous while seeking advantage.

Yet, thanks to his own knowledge and memories, Li Yuanjing had already spotted the flaw.

To follow Wang Youdao’s route, getting the grain from Quanzi Village to Huangniwa would require a detour of seventy or eighty li, circling the vast, surging Yi River—which, even in winter, never froze solid enough to cross. Only Chenjiazhu Ferry had boats for such a crossing.

But in truth, the direct distance from Quanzi Village to Huangniwa was no more than thirty li—twenty-seven or twenty-eight, at most. The only reason no one crossed directly was the lack of boats and the wide, swift river.

For Li Yuanjing, however, this posed no real difficulty.

“Yuanjing, have you still not made up your mind?”

By now, Wang Youdao’s patience was running thin, and he leaned harder on Li Yuanjing.

“Ah?” Li Yuanjing finally seemed to snap out of his reverie, replying with feigned reluctance,

“Uncle Wang, it’s not that I can’t do it… but you know the risks involved. I must plan ahead. You’ll need to pay more, so I can make the proper arrangements…”