Originally, the two were quite good partners.
After Zhu Xiaosuo returned from Black Snow Ridge, he even considered promoting Shen Ma to the position of County Magistrate in the future.
However, due to uncontrollable reasons, the two parted ways.
He had said what needed to be said.
He had given all the advice he could.
He hoped Shen Ma wouldn't make a decision that would put him in a difficult position.
Next, he could only find someone else to take over the affairs in Mountain Chicken County.
A strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
Even though the Zhu Clan was powerful, they couldn't take care of everything.
For the entertainment industry he wanted to establish, he first needed to manage all the local bullies and ruffians.
The business had to be extremely prosperous, and the scene had to be unprecedentedly lively.
In this way, regardless of the actual income, his cultivation resources could be reasonably explained.
And the constables were the most convenient shield.
Wei Min's qualifications were too shallow; being promoted to the Arrest Warrant position in Yellow Dog County was already an exceptional promotion.
In Mountain Chicken County, Wei Min was not qualified to be an Arrest Warrant.
What Zhu Xiaosuo needed most was a County Constable.
So he had to look for another candidate.
"It seems I need to have a good discussion with my mother about the new County Constable candidate."
Zhu Xiaosuo shook his head again:
"Even if I rely on the granary, I can't forget to fertilize and weed my own small plot of land."
After all, no matter how full the granary is, it's the granary of the City of Seeking Immortality. No matter how barren the small plot is, it's Zhu Xiaosuo's own small plot.
Although Zhuang Yun's breakthrough failure was not long ago, the relationship between Madam Feng and Zhu Xiaosuo had transformed from irreconcilable to steadfast allies.
The main reason was that Zhuang Yun and Zhu Xiaosuo had reconciled.
Madam Feng couldn't stir up much trouble on her own.
Moreover, Zhu Xiaosuo managed the Zhu Clan's business, with most of the profits supporting Zhuang Yun's breakthrough, and even transferred some shops to the young Zhuang Yingdi's name.
Naturally, Madam Feng stood firmly by his side.
She also provided Zhu Xiaosuo with many conveniences.
When it came to understanding the upper echelons of Mountain Chicken County, Zhu Xiaosuo admitted he was not as knowledgeable as Madam Feng, who had been immersed in the Zhu Clan for many years.
When Zhu Xiaosuo told Madam Feng that Shen Ma, being from the Ma Clan, was unusable, Madam Feng immediately understood his intentions.
"Shen Ma is unusable, but we still have to fight for the County Constable position. The County Constable holds the highest authority over Mountain Chicken County's affairs. Without the County Constable's support, Zhu Liusong's opera troupe plan might be shut down by a group of constables before it even starts."
Talking to smart people indeed saves effort.
Zhu Xiaosuo, having run a shop, knew how difficult business could be without managing the constables properly.
Today they would check the tables and chairs, tomorrow the kitchen, never giving a moment's peace.
The key was that they all acted within the law, leaving no room for complaints.
If he couldn't handle these constables, the entertainment business would surely suffer.
That would make it impossible to conceal his massive cultivation resources.
"Exactly. But finding someone who can be promoted to the County Constable position is too difficult. Shen Ma's promotion to County Constable was not only due to our Zhu Clan's help but also the support of other clans and his years of prestige in the Arrest Warrant position."
Madam Feng thought for a moment and said:
"Currently, it seems the County Constable should be promoted from the Arrest Warrant. Mountain Chicken County has four Arrest Warrants: Gu Wenke, Lu Zhongze, Qian Rufeng, and Shen Ma. Besides Shen Ma, the other three also have a chance to advance."
"Oh? Can you tell me more, Mother?"
"When there's nothing, you call me by my name, but when there's something, you call me Mother. Zhu Xiaosuo, you really have a way with words."
"Hehe, Mother, you're generous."
"Stop it. Besides Shen Ma, the other three Arrest Warrants have rather complex backgrounds.
Gu Wenke used to be a servant of the Yang Clan but defected to the Niu Clan for unknown reasons. However, the Niu Clan's support for him is limited because their grain business is a hard currency and doesn't require much local management. The Niu Clan doesn't need a County Constable, so they traded the County Constable position for control over the County Deputy. Gu Wenke must have some resentment about this. Whether he can be won over, I can't say; you'll have to judge for yourself.
Lu Zhongze is from the Lu Clan in Black Donkey County. The Lu Clan dominates Black Donkey County, with everyone from the County Magistrate to the Arrest Warrant bearing the Lu surname. When Lu Zhongze, then the County Constable of Black Donkey County, failed to secure the Vein Opening Pill, he was pushed to Mountain Chicken County to be a head constable. I've collaborated with him quite a bit; it was him I found to set up a checkpoint outside Mountain Chicken County to intercept you. However, being an official in a different place, the Arrest Warrant is basically his limit. For the sake of face or interests, the Four Great Clans won't allow the Lu Clan from Black Donkey County to become the County Constable of Mountain Chicken County.
Lastly, there's Qian Rufeng, a female Arrest Warrant. She's from the Qian Clan in Mountain Chicken County. The Qian Clan is one of the top three surnames outside of our Four Great Clans. It's said they are backed by a family in Immortal-Knocking Town and have many business collaborations with the Yang Clan's money house and the Ma Clan's cloth business. The Qian Clan's way of doing things is mainly about trust. Once they take money, they will definitely get things done. You should have experienced the Qian Clan's style when you dealt with Qian Banshi, the head constable in Yellow Dog County, who has now been transferred to Mountain Chicken County as a head constable. However, getting the Qian Clan to side with us might be difficult. Even without our help, they have an eighty percent chance of securing the County Constable position this time."
Zhu Xiaosuo sighed.
"These three don't seem like good matches for our Zhu Clan."
"Who says they are? Without Shen Ma, it's hard to find a suitable replacement."
Gu Wenke's background is too complicated, Qian Rufeng's background is too simple, and Lu Zhongze's background is too disadvantageous.
Choosing any of them feels like picking the best among the worst.
Zhu Xiaosuo was at his wit's end.
Seeing Madam Feng still teasing the recently walking Zhuang Yingdi, Zhu Xiaosuo picked up Zhuang Yingdi in his arms.
While playing with Zhuang Yingdi, he said:
"Call me brother, call me brother. Mother, don't just throw the problem at me. The Zhu Clan's business is all meant to feed your family's two big money bags. You have to give me a complete plan."
Madam Feng, a bit anxious, said:
"Put my son down, don't spoil him."
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"He can't even speak yet, how can I spoil him?"
"Who says he can't? He called me 'mama' this morning!"
Unable to argue with Madam Feng, Zhu Xiaosuo handed Zhuang Yingdi back to her.
Looking at Zhuang Yingdi's adorable little face, he couldn't help but tease him.
"Call me brother, call me brother."
"Don't talk! Son, let's ignore him."
After having the nanny take Zhuang Yingdi away, Madam Feng said:
"Fine, I do have a candidate, but whether to use him is up to you."
"Thank you, Mother!"
"Don't thank me yet. The person I'm talking about is the County Constable of Yellow Dog County, Dogged Luck."
The name Dogged Luck stirred Zhu Xiaosuo's memory.
Old Huang had mentioned the value of spirit stones, saying that County Constable Dogged Luck had bought his position with a spirit stone.
"Him? I don't know much about him."
"This Dogged Luck is Zhu Wulun's cousin. When he was an Arrest Warrant, he somehow got hold of a spirit stone and had Zhu Wulun present it to your father. Your father then spoke to someone to get him promoted to County Constable of Yellow Dog County. I've had Zhu Liusong ask Dogged Luck to do a few things, and he did them beautifully, so he should be a usable person."
"Sounds promising. So why can't I use him?"