I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 48 Plum Blossom Monster!
"What? Six hundred taels?!"

In the inner courtyard of the Li Mansion, when Li Ru heard his son's words, he slammed the table, knocking a blue and white teacup to the ground and smashing it to pieces.

The Li family had been engaged in business for two generations, so originally they had few major expenses and could be considered to have accumulated a considerable amount of wealth. However, ever since Li Shaoyun started training in martial arts, the various expenses of purchasing resources and making arrangements... became very high.

Madam Li went over to comfort Li Ru, "Now that things have come to this, it's time to vent your anger and let it go. We still need to find a solution."

Unlike Li Ru, a shrewd businessman, Madam Li was originally a servant in a wealthy family in the county town. She learned to read and write from her master and was considered well-educated. After marrying into the Li family, she managed the house in an orderly manner. She was well-known in Wuqiao Town as a virtuous wife and was highly praised by the local gentry.

Perhaps because of this, Li Ru tended to listen to Mrs. Li's advice on matters not involving money.

After comforting Li Ru, Madam Li asked Li Shaoyun, "Did you offend this new deacon?"

Li Shaoyun carefully reviewed what had happened and finally shook his head. "I've been in the Blood Ridge black market for four months, and only today did I meet the new deacon for the first time. During this time, I've been diligent and conscientious, and I never offended this new deacon. Perhaps... this new deacon and Zhang Biao don't get along, and seeing that I bribed Zhang Biao but not him, he gave me the cold shoulder."

Madam Li and Li Ru looked at each other and agreed with this speculation.

Although the deacon was the lowest-ranking official in the Tiger and Wolf Sect, he held real power. For the Li family... he was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend.

Li Ru grumbled and hesitated for a while before finally making the bold decision, "I'll have Chen Yuan take some antiques to the county town to sell them. I'll raise the six hundred taels for you."

……

However, Xie An's life continued to become peaceful.

As Zhang Lin continued to vigorously eliminate the bandits in the area around the Blood Ridge Black Market, the safety factor of the Blood Ridge Black Market was steadily improving. As a result, business naturally continued to grow.

Xie An and his men got along better and better. There were a few troublemakers among them, and after Xie An repeatedly admonished them without success, he had Liang Zhi break their legs.

From then on, no one dared to offend Xie An, the new deacon.

He would practice martial arts, drink tea, chat with his colleagues, and occasionally go out on patrol to show off his prowess. The rest of the time, Xie An was devoted to martial arts training.

For the elderly Xie An, he enjoyed this peaceful and stable life.

One morning three days later.

Xie An was practicing the Fuyang sword technique in the yard.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Xie Anmeng looked up and said, "Come in."

As the door was pushed open, Liang Zhi walked in carrying a cloth bag.

Xie An took the cloth bag and opened it.

Silver that emits a silvery glow.

A full six hundred taels.

Liang Zhi said, "Young Master Li is quite efficient."

After saying this, Liang Zhi took out a ten-liang silver ingot from his inner pocket and handed it to Xie An. "Mr. Li also gave me ten liang of silver, but I feel guilty about it and shouldn't take it."

Xie An glanced at Liang Zhi, and his heart was more certain about him. "Take it." Liang Zhi wanted to accept it very much, but he was afraid that Xie An was testing him, so he prevaricated, "I am begging for food with the steward, so I should know how to repay the favor. I dare not take it for myself."

Xie An smiled, then suddenly changed the subject, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, "If I say you can take it, then you can take it."

Sensing the determination in Xie An's eyes, Liang Zhi accepted the silver and bowed to express his gratitude, "Thank you, Deacon."

Xie An waved his hand, signaling Liang Zhi to leave.

Over the past few months, Liang Zhi had been diligently working under him, with no second thoughts. He was highly capable and knowledgeable about the ways of the world, making him a very handy person to use, saving Xie An a lot of effort.

I took six hundred taels, so it is only right that others take ten taels.

Xie An even thought that it was reasonable to give Liang Zhi a little more based on his performance, but Xie An did not open the floodgates.

On the one hand, if the gate is opened too easily, it will easily encourage corruption among subordinates.

On the other hand, if he really wanted to show some favor to Liang Zhi, it shouldn't be now. He should go back with some gifts and money to visit his seriously ill mother. Only then would he be truly grateful to him.

Xie An accepted the silver with satisfaction, "Now I have enough money to customize a heavy sword. Only when I hold the heavy sword can I unleash the true power of Fuyang Sword Technique."

There is a blacksmith shop in the Blood Ridge black market that is open all year round and is also open during the day.

It is much more convenient.

After a simple breakfast, Xie An just went out and met Zhang Lin who was returning from inspection.

Seeing Zhang Lin's worried look, Xie An couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhang, why are you so worried?"

Zhang Lin leaned his bloodstained sword against the door frame and sighed, "It's all because of the Plum Blossom Monster. Yesterday, the Plum Blossom Monster reached out to our Blood Ridge black market..."

After listening to Zhang Lin's narration, Xie An finally understood what had happened: a stall owner with 800 taels of silver in his pocket was ambushed on his way home from selling goods in the early morning. A red wooden plum blossom was left at the scene.

Finally, Zhang Lin sighed in frustration, "I've stepped up patrols around here day and night, finally clearing out the bandits and helping to improve the black market business. But now, because of a Plum Blossom Monster, everyone is panicking, and all my efforts have been wasted. This Plum Blossom Monster truly deserves to be killed."

Even Wei Xiangzhu was injured by the Plum Blossom Monster. Zhang Lin knew that he was no match for it, so he could only vent his anger here.

Xie An's heart tightened when he heard this. "Brother Zhang, can you let me see that plum blossom?"

Zhang Lin pulled out a wooden plum blossom painted red from his pocket and handed it to Xie An. "This is it. People are afraid of this thing now. I'm afraid the black market business will decline again."

Xie An looked at the plum blossoms for a while, but couldn't figure out anything, so he put them in his pocket and comforted Zhang Lin, "Brother Zhang, you've been patrolling all night, go to bed early. I'll think of a way to deal with this strange plum blossom thing."

After several months of getting along, Xie An was basically established as the boss of the black market, and Zhang Lin was the second in command. Now that something happened in the black market, Xie An naturally had to take the lead in dealing with it.

After saying goodbye to Zhang Lin, Xie An went straight to the blacksmith shop in the black market, with an invisible sense of urgency in his heart.

It is urgent to forge a heavy sword.

(End of this chapter)