Chapter 612: Let’s Have a Chat
Chapter 602 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens presenting: Li Daoxuan was strolling along the streets of Xi’an Prefecture, carrying a birdcage.Following a series... Don’t stop now!
Li Daoxuan was strolling along the streets of Xi’an Prefecture, carrying a birdcage.Following a series of “buy buy buys,” Li Daoxuan had secured control of at least half of Xi’an Prefecture’s industries. Notably, this half largely centered on the four core sectors of “clothing, food, housing, and travel.”
Grain shops, carriage services, fabric shops… real estate… oh, scratch that last one.
Acquired. All acquired.
Once Gaojia Village secured these four major industries, it immediately launched a ruthless campaign of “price slashing”— not arbitrary destruction, but calculated reductions based on the village’s existing productive capacity and supply-demand dynamics.
How could fabrics remain expensive with spinning machines now? Their prices had to be slashed.
With chemical fertilizer boosting food yield twofold, how could grain prices not be cut?
The severe price drops in these two essentials drastically lowered the common people’s cost of living, bringing immense relief. Stimulated by this, every industry began to flourish with new vitality.
The city’s overall appearance changed significantly almost overnight.
Li Daoxuan loved seeing this: his little people living peacefully, happily, and prosperously.
As he walked, he pondered: Xi’an hadn’t suffered heavy downpours recently, so it seemed less urgent. The real problem now lay along the Yellow River; heavy rain fell every other day. Continuing like this, trouble seemed inevitable. Xi’an was alright for now; I can only spare occasional glances. My main focus needs to shift to the Yellow River banks.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he spotted a plain litter carried by several carriers approaching up the street. The litter lacked ostentatious décor, finished in dark lacquer. It was heavily guarded by numerous escorts. It was clear the occupant was someone of significant status attempting a low-key excursion.
Li Daoxuan snorted a laugh. “Qin King Mansion?”
The wedding curtain lifted, revealing Zhu Cunjing’s face. “Mr. Li, could we find a place for a chat?”
As the heir apparent of the most powerful feudal lord —the Prince of Qin, no less— stopping a common merchant on the street to converse was truly an immense display of deference. This was likely only possible because he was still the Young Master; were he already formally installed as Qin King himself, he probably couldn’t have brought himself to do such a thing.
Li Daoxuan smiled. “Certainly!”
Zhu Cunjing pointed at the brothel beside the street named “Fragrant Pavilion.” “How about we go inside the brothel for our talk?”
Before Li Daoxuan could respond, the mynah inside the birdcage suddenly squawked:
“Going to a brothel serves no purpose! Can’t get it up! I ask you, how much sorrow can there be? Like a herd of eunuchs scrambling inside a brothel!”
Zhu Cunjing: Pffft!
Li Daoxuan burst into loud laughter. The silicone figure’s grin was horrifying — a stiff, eerie smirk. “Fine, fine. We’ll have our little chat inside the brothel.”
This unnatural expression made Zhu Cunjing shiver internally. But having issued the invitation, he was committed. Slightly apprehensive, he had no choice but to proceed.
The two arrived at the Fragrant Pavilion entrance.
Normally, the madam would rush out to greet patrons. To Zhu Cunjing’s surprise, however, no madam appeared today. Instead, a brawny man blocked his litter: “This establishment is no longer open to the public. It is now renamed ‘Starlight Talent Agency.’ Please do not enter without permission.”
Qin King’s heir was utterly baffled: “Huh? A what agency?”
Li Daoxuan stepped out from behind the litter, chuckling. “Ah, I nearly forgot. My people have taken over this place.”
The brawny man instantly snapped a crisp military salute upon seeing Li Daoxuan. He promptly stepped aside.
Li Daoxuan entered first. “After you.”
Thoroughly confused, Zhu Cunjing instructed his guards to wait outside and followed Li Daoxuan inside.
The once vibrant, incense-laced Fragrant Pavilion was utterly transformed. Gone were the seductive trappings meant to lure men. Instead, it resembled a theater troupe’s backstage, strewn with costumes of all kinds. Sheet music and instruments lay scattered on the floor as people darted about frantically.
As these people rushed past Li Daoxuan, they would immediately straighten up, salute respectfully, only to resume their frantic running once acknowledged.
On the central stage occupying the main hall, a few women – dressed plainly – were rehearsing a dance routine. Their performance was youthful and lively, clearly not aimed at enticing male patrons anymore.
Zhu Cunjing’s mind seemed to freeze mid-function. “What in the world happened here?”
Li Daoxuan smiled. “It’s still in preparation. In half a month, the first concert will debut, Young Master. Do come by then. A single glance will clarify everything.”
Zhu Cunjing: “Err… Alright.”
They moved to a private room on the second floor and sat down. No one attended to them, no tea was offered, no female companions entered. The refined chamber felt unnervingly silent, almost like a private study.
Zhu Cunjing had genuinely never experienced such “ignored by waitstaff” treatment. He was mildly outraged yet morbidly impressed, seething internally: Ignoring me, the Young Master, is one thing. But how dare you not even prepare tea for your own Master Li?!
Just then, he saw Li Daoxuan opposite him pour himself a cup of water.
Zhu Cunjing thought: Ah, he pours the water himself rather than having servants do it. A deliberate gesture of respect towards me, no doubt.
As Zhu Cunjing reached this smug conclusion, Li Daoxuan extended the cup towards the birdcage. “Good birdie… have some water.”
Zhu Cunjing: “!!!”
Zhu Cunjing’s anger gauge visibly started filling up…
Li Daoxuan: “What brings Young Master to seek me out for this chat?”
Zhu Cunjing cleared his throat (“Cough”). “Mr. Li, you’ve been managing the businesses for Wu Shen and Shi Kefa rather impressively these past few months.”
Li Daoxuan: “Average at best. World’s third-best.”
Zhu Cunjing didn’t understand the bizarre phrase, but recognized mockery instantly. His anger gauge jumped another two bars.
He forcibly tamped down his fury and pressed on: “Those two, Wu Shen and Shi Kefa, are merely pedantic scholars! Serving them must be unpleasant, Mr. Li? Selling goods dirt cheap to the poor, just because they said so… robbing you of vast profits, surely?”
Li Daoxuan: “Oh dear, nails it! You understand completely, Young Master! Many things are sold far too cheaply! Take the clothes your Qin King Mansion commissioned from my fabric shop, for instance. Sold at a terrible loss! At least… five thousand taels? No, ten thousand taels per piece! Only that price befits the dignity and status of the Young Mistress!”
Zhu Cunjing: “……”
Shoop! Shoop! Two more bars filled on the anger gauge.
Li Daoxuan continued: “And chicken, pork, beef… all criminally underpriced. Exclusive supplies for Qin King Mansion should never carry the same price tags commoners pay! They demand prestige! Upping everything to a thousand taels per catty! That way Qin King Mansion truly savors an unmatched nobility!”
Zhu Cunjing: “!!”
Shoop… Shoop… SHOOOOOP! MAX!
Zhu Cunjing just needed to spin the d-pad forward half a circle, twist it back half a circle, and hit the A button to unleash his ultimate rage combo…