Chapter 421

Xu Mo, a sixth-rank official working in the Hanlin Academy, was tasked with copying histories and recording epics every day. Though it didn't seem like an impressive job, it was a stepping stone to become a high-ranking official trusted by the emperor.

Xu Mo considered himself quite clever and well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, but attending the Hanlin Academy for the first time still made him nervous. Though he kept a calm and composed expression, standing at the entrance of the Academy and facing his colleagues who came to welcome him, he was so nervous that he had to swallow his saliva.

"This must be Xu Zhuangyuan, right?" The Chief Compiler stood at the very front, speaking solemnly and enthusiastically. "Our Hanlin Academy is honored to have a talent like Zhuangyuan Xu. It brings great glory."

"Master Chu, you should call him Xu Drafting Secretary now," someone reminded him.

The Chief Compiler immediately smiled and corrected himself, "Please come in, Drafting Secretary Xu."

Xu Mo was still nervous. Glancing back at his grinning younger siblings, he gradually calmed down.

His third younger brother had gone to the battlefield, facing slaughter and death without fear. Facing the sinister Hanlin Academy, what did he have to be afraid of? Even if Fang Yuan and his old classmate who passed the imperial exam were here, even if exam fraud was brewing.

"Please, Master," Xu Mo smiled lightly and indifferently. "I'm new here. If I have any inadequacies, please kindly point them out Master Chu, I'll be very grateful."

"Secretary Xu is too modest. We're colleagues from now on, there's no need for criticism, only mutual assistance." The Chief Compiler was not arrogant at all.

Surrounded by others, the two walked into the Hanlin Academy with steady and calm steps.

"Master, there is something I don't quite understand. May I ask you about the difference between a Compiling Secretary and a Drafting Secretary?" Xu Mo asked softly.

"Well, apart from the difference in rank, it lies mainly in the words 'drafting' and 'compiling'," the Chief Compiler answered evasively.

Drafting means innovation and freedom in arrangement. Compiling means gathering and following established practices.

Xu Mo revealed a meaningful smile, glancing at Fang Yuan who had entered the Academy early. He knew a new battle was about to begin.

Just as his fifth younger brother said, he had to work diligently, but also gain a reputation, using his Zhuangyuan title to expand his connections.

He wanted the scholars of the world to see who really deserved the Chief Examiner position, and who was the fraud.

Justice lies in people's hearts. As the doors of the Hanlin Academy opened and closed, the siblings standing outside clicked their tongues in unison.

"This is eldest brother's battlefield. None of us can help," Zheng Ruqian spread his hands. "What should we do next?"

The taciturn Wen Zhiyun clenched his fists. "I'll go to the Wu's residence."

"Aren't you on leave today? You're still going?" Zheng Ruqian was surprised. "Diligent students like you are rare nowadays."

"It's not diligence or for the medical skills," Wen Zhiyun said solemnly. "I want to ask Master how to maintain a low fever for days without harming the body."

After all, he was still worried about little Wu Chang in the palace.

Afraid that he would truly develop a fever, afraid that he couldn't endure it for days.

Wen Zhiyun, the fourth child, had a soft personality and loved to cry. But once he steeled his resolve, no one could stop him.

He got on the carriage to the Wu's residence, sent by Jiang Sanzai.

Only the two siblings were left looking at each other.

"Second brother, what should we do?" Jiang Sheng was worried. "We can't just do nothing and be idle rice worms waiting to be fed, right?"

Although that was her dream.

"Keep dreaming about being a freeloader," Zheng Ruqian bared his teeth in a grin. "Have you forgotten the lychees that Little Song arranged to be transported from Lingnan? They should be arriving soon."

And the first batch of lychees were to be delivered to the palace.

As the first time doing business with the royals, Zheng Er said he was a little nervous. "Anyway you're free, come with me."

Somehow they had achieved mutual understanding among brothers to work as one. The profits were theirs to divide.

The first batch of lychees arrived outside the city. At the same time, they received more bad news from Wang Xiaosong, "Master, the Fang family also transported lychees."

Indeed, no one could resist such a meaty deal.

Last year Zheng Ruqian fought fiercely with the Liao family. Now that the Liaos had declined, he thought he could monopolize the business. But the Fang family came along.

It was impossible not to feel angry, but anger wouldn't solve anything.

The Fang family transporting lychees could be to seize the market for profit, or it could simply be to strike at Eldest Brother Xu Mo's younger brother. Regardless, Zheng Ruqian could not tolerate spitting out meat that was already in his mouth.

"Since General Jiang helped me obtain this deal, I must have it this year." He paced with his hands behind his back. "But I can only guarantee this year, can't say for sure next year."

Jiang Sheng and Wang Xiaosong nodded along.

"So this year, we must make the Fang family's lychees unsellable, make them take a loss." Zheng Er looked up with shrewd, wealthy eyes. "I could defeat the Liaos, so I can defeat the Fangs too."

Time flowed by, and not just Xu Mo and Fang Heng had grown up. Zheng Er had also become a true businessman.

Faced with difficulties, he no longer wailed and retreated in embarrassment. Instead he bravely moved forward.

"But Young Master..." Wang Xiaosong reluctantly reminded him, "The Liaos and the Fangs are not on the same level."

The Liaos were just a small family profiting from the Jiangs. Their greatest skills were putting human-shaped poop statues outside the Palace of Nine Treasures, or desperately ramming the Fang's lychee carriages at the cost of mutual destruction.

The Fangs were different. As the foremost family in the capital, not only did they have the family head in the cabinet, they also had countless huge social connections, in-law families, imperial favor, and even a prince as backup.

As small-time businessmen, how could they fight?

If it was the past, Zheng Ruqian might have retreated in cowardice.

But now, he glared and scolded, "You're just boosting the enemy's morale and defeating our spirit. What if they're a prominent family? Don't we have one too? What if they have someone in the cabinet? Our Eldest Brother is in the Hanlin Academy!"

Although the two were hardly comparable...but he was still an official, all right?

Xu Mo: "Achoo! Achoo!"

"Of course the most crucial thing is, the Fangs are a prominent family, yes. But the Liaos have been in business for generations, and absolutely have more experience than the Fangs in business matters. The business world is different from the officialdom and battlefields. No matter how amazing the Fangs are, they may not be amazing at business."

Eldest Brother was fighting in officialdom, Third Younger Brother fighting on the battlefield, and Fifth Younger Brother deep in danger in the palace.

Then business matters in the commercial world would be left to him!

Somehow they had achieved mutual understanding among brothers to work as one. The profits were theirs to divide.

"Do you know where the Fang's convoy is to receive the lychees?" Zheng Ruqian asked.

"Half a day behind us," Wang Xiaosong answered without hesitation.

"Half a day huh." Young Master Zheng rolled up his sleeves. "Let's go, back to the capital to deliver the lychees!"

Since the fight was inevitable, let it be a thrilling one.

"Wait for me, Second Brother, wait for me!" Jiang Sheng lifted her skirt and ran after him. "I'm with you!"