Chapter Sixty-Five: Talents Are Hard to Come By

In Ziyang City, the highest official without question was the garrison commander, Di Hong. A man who mastered the art of compromise and self-preservation, he commanded twenty thousand troops, making him the most powerful figure in all of Ziyang. Yet even with such authority, Di Hong still held a measure of respect, even deference, towards another man: Lin Xuesong, the wealthiest magnate in all the southern lands.

Di Hong had men and arms; when his twenty thousand soldiers marched, their might was overwhelming. But such a vast force consumed enormous resources every day, and with the imperial court preoccupied with its own troubles, the question of self-sufficiency became his greatest concern.

Fortunately, he had managed to curry favor with Lin Xuesong, lowering himself without shame before wealth. Thanks to this, his soldiers were spared hunger and cold, and he could rest easy in his position as the city’s defender.

By this reckoning, it was Lin Xuesong who truly held sway over Ziyang. Yet even a man such as he had someone he feared.

With only one child in the family, Lin Xuesong doted upon his daughter Lin Rou with boundless indulgence. Over time, his spoiling of her had reached the point where it knew no bounds.

That morning, Lin Rou was in a towering rage at home, leaving Lin Xuesong at a loss, scrambling to hide under the table to avoid having his skull cracked by flying objects. When a pair of blue-and-white porcelain vases worth eight hundred taels was smashed to pieces by Lin Rou, Lin Xuesong did not even blink; scrambling to his feet, his first concern was to ask if his daughter was hurt.

Lin Rou cast him a withering glance and snapped, “This is all your fault! You insisted I invite that wretch Jiang Chen to dinner—well, look what’s happened now! You’ve cost us both our dignity!”

“That man not only refused my invitation, he didn’t even bother to send a reply. Clearly, he has no regard for our family at all—it’s utterly humiliating!”

What so infuriated Lin Rou was that, the previous night, Jiang Chen had ignored her invitation entirely, not even deigning to appear. When had the illustrious Miss Lin ever been treated with such disregard? No wonder the pent-up fury of the night before now burst forth upon her father.

Lin Xuesong chuckled sheepishly. “My dear, there’s no need to be so angry. Men like Jiang Chen are always a little eccentric—we needn’t stoop to his level.”

“The important thing is to win people over, especially someone like Jiang Chen. He’s an exceptional talent; if we can recruit him to our cause, it will only bring us endless benefit.”

While Lin Xuesong expounded on his philosophy of managing people, Lin Rou paid not the slightest heed to his words.

Whenever Jiang Chen’s face appeared in her mind, she longed to tear him limb from limb, for nothing else could ease her wrath!

“Master, Jiang Chen has returned to the city!” The steward hurried in, and his first words were of Jiang Chen.

To everyone’s surprise, the corpulent Lin Xuesong sprang to his feet with remarkable agility, his face alight with excitement, urging Lin Rou to change her clothes and come with him to find Jiang Chen.

At that moment, Jiang Chen was strolling leisurely through Ziyang. He had just parted ways with Luo Tiancheng at the city gate, and knowing that Wu Yue and the others had safely set out for Longjiang put his mind at ease.

As he walked, he saw a commotion ahead—a splendid carriage escorted by a dozen horsemen came to a halt directly before him.

“Isn’t that Master Lin and his daughter?” Jiang Chen mused, curiosity piqued as to what could prompt such a display from the Lin family on his account.

The expressions on the father and daughter made the encounter all the more intriguing: Lin Xuesong beamed with obsequious delight, while Lin Rou glared at Jiang Chen with unconcealed fury, as if she wished to flay him alive.

“Master Jiang, at last we’ve found you. Might we speak in private?” Lin Xuesong’s round face quivered with his ingratiating smile, and Jiang Chen could not help but detect the scent of a cunning merchant about him.

“I’m sorry, Master Lin, but I have urgent business. If you have something to say, speak here.”

“Very well. The medicinal wine you brew is remarkably effective for injuries. I wish to invite you to work for the Lin family. Once we’ve opened up the market, these wines will surely bring us a fortune!”

“As for compensation, rest assured, I appreciate talented men like you. You would never be treated poorly in my employ!”

Lin Rou could listen no longer. She interjected anxiously, “Father, what are you thinking, asking someone like him to work for us? Aren’t you afraid he’ll ruin you?”

“And honestly, there are plenty more capable than him. Why humiliate yourself by begging him?”

Lin Xuesong gave an awkward smile but paid his daughter no mind.

He had built his empire step by step through shrewd business acumen, and he trusted his own judgment absolutely. Jiang Chen was no ordinary man. Recruiting such a talent was the key to the Lin family’s continued prosperity.

Initially, Lin Xuesong had no interest in the medicinal wine he purchased from Jiang Chen. It was only by chance that he learned his daughter had used it to treat her injured ankle.

To his amazement, after just a single day, she was moving about pain-free and restored to full mobility.

Such a miraculous remedy was a heaven-sent opportunity for the Lin family, and with his keen instincts, Lin Xuesong immediately resolved to bring Jiang Chen over, sending his daughter to extend the invitation.

Thus had come last night’s ill-fated banquet, which Jiang Chen simply ignored.

Yet Lin Xuesong was not the sort to sacrifice profit for pride. He was perfectly willing to humble himself to achieve his aims.

“I’m sorry, Master Lin. I’m honored by your regard, but I must accompany my family on a journey. I cannot stay,” Jiang Chen replied, politely declining.

The shrewd merchant immediately switched tactics. “If that’s the case, would you consider selling me the recipe for your medicinal wine? I won’t beat around the bush—the recipe is worth at least a hundred thousand, and I’m prepared to pay twice that amount.”

Jiang Chen was taken aback—Lin Xuesong’s extravagance was astonishing. Two hundred thousand taels for the recipe! If he’d known, he would have set a higher price for the wine.

Regretting his earlier generosity, Jiang Chen replied with studied calm, “Since Master Lin values the recipe so highly, I might as well give it to you as a gift.”

“I ask nothing in return, save to make your acquaintance as a friend.”

At this, Lin Rou’s expression grew even darker. The idea of Jiang Chen befriending her father infuriated her all the more.