In Dongwu City, numerous horse-drawn carriages laden with goods were parked at the entrance of a large warehouse.

Sweat-drenched workers unloaded large bamboo baskets one by one from the carriages and carried them into the warehouse.

"Careful now! Make sure you stack them properly. Don’t knock any of the baskets over," Wang Gui said to the workers moving the large bamboo baskets.

"Don’t you worry, Boss Wang! We’ll handle everything just right. There won’t be any problems," a middle-aged worker with a damp towel draped around his neck said to Wang Gui with a smile.

At the same time, he was quite puzzled. ’Why is this Boss Wang having them move so much worthless "trash" into the warehouse?’

And from the looks of it, he seemed to treasure this worthless "trash."

After hearing the foreman’s words, Wang Gui nodded. He gazed at the growing number of large bamboo baskets in the warehouse, each filled to the brim with flawless white pearls, and thought, ’This is all money!’

After completing two pearl transactions with Lin Li, Wang Gui knew that their business relationship could be a long-term one.

As it happened, Wang Gui had a warehouse that was currently unused, so he decided to put it to use.

Before his next deal with Lin Li, he would collect the required pearls in advance and store them in this warehouse.

A dozen or so carriages made several trips back and forth, hauling an untold number of baskets, until the empty warehouse was finally full.

"Alright, that’s all for now. Thank you for your hard work today..."

Wang Gui said to the workers who had been moving the pearls. He then instructed his own servant to pay the workers their wages before leaving the warehouse in his carriage.

...

「The Zhou Mansion.」

The servants’ dining area.

Dozens of the Zhou Family’s servants were chatting as they ate.

Wang Xiaoliu sat at a table with a few of his followers, laughing and boasting.

Just then, an older servant entered the dining hall and walked up to the table where Wang Xiaoliu and his followers were sitting.

"Mr. Wang." Seeing the servant, Wang Xiaoliu quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and greeted him respectfully.

This old servant, also named Wang, was a distant relative of Wang Xiaoliu. He was one of the Master’s personal attendants and had served him for many years.

He was the one who had brought Wang Xiaoliu from his poor, remote village to the Zhou Mansion to work as a servant, and had arranged for him to serve the young master, Zhou Tianci.

To Wang Xiaoliu, this distant relative was a great benefactor who had changed his life!

It was because he had followed him to the Zhou Mansion that the monthly wages he earned and sent home allowed his family—who previously couldn’t even afford to eat meat once a month—to now have it every two or three days.

"Xiaoliu! The Master sent me to find you. Come with me," Wang Shan said.

"The Master is looking for me?" Hearing Wang Shan say that Zhou Qiqiang wanted to see him, Wang Xiaoliu froze for a moment.

"Don’t just stand there. Hurry up and come with me! Don’t keep the Master waiting," Wang Shan said.

Urged on by Wang Shan, Wang Xiaoliu snapped out of his daze. He nodded quickly and followed Wang Shan out of the dining hall, heading toward Zhou Qiqiang’s study.

"Um... Mr. Wang, did the Master send for me because he has a task for me to do?" Wang Xiaoliu, feeling anxious, asked quietly as he trailed behind Wang Shan after they had walked for a bit.

"How would I know the Master’s thoughts? You’ll find out when you get there... By the way, the young master hasn’t been causing any trouble lately, has he?" Wang Shan asked.

"Er..." Wang Xiaoliu stammered for a moment before replying, "No! The young master has been very well-behaved recently. He’s either been reading and cultivating in his study or going to the Zhu Family to request a meeting with Miss Zhu."

The experienced Wang Shan frowned upon seeing the unease in Wang Xiaoliu’s eyes. He then warned him in a grave and earnest tone.

"Xiaoliu! When you see the Master, whatever he asks, you answer. Do not hide anything. If you do, and the Master gets angry, he could throw you out of the Zhou Mansion."

"Huh?" Terrified by Wang Shan’s words, Wang Xiaoliu stammered, "Mr. Wang... you... you can’t be serious! Don’t scare me like that!"

Being thrown out of the Zhou Mansion was a terrifying prospect for Wang Xiaoliu.

If he were really thrown out, he wouldn’t be able to earn his wages anymore. Then, he wouldn’t be able to send money home each month, and his family would be plunged back into their old, poverty-stricken lives. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The thought of his parents and his younger siblings having to go back to that miserable life, barely scraping by and not even eating meat once a month, made Wang Xiaoliu’s heart tremble with fear.

Seeing Wang Xiaoliu turn pale and start to tremble slightly from his words, Wang Shan nodded in satisfaction. He reminded him again.

"I’ve given you the warning you need. Just remember: when the time comes, whatever the Master asks, you tell him the truth. Don’t you dare hide anything."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Wang! How could I, Wang Xiaoliu, dare hide anything from the Master! Whatever he asks, I’ll answer. I absolutely won’t deceive him in any way," the frightened Wang Xiaoliu said, nodding profusely.

The Zhou Mansion was immense, covering at least a hundred mu. The old servant Wang Shan led Wang Xiaoliu through a labyrinth of winding, gloomy corridors. After about ten minutes, they finally arrived at the door to the study of the Zhou Family’s master, Zhou Qiqiang.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...

Having brought Wang Xiaoliu to the study door, Wang Shan raised his hand and knocked. A moment later, a steady voice called out from within.