“Salt Inspector Zhang is an old friend of Sixth Master,” Old Lu said as he introduced Zheng Tong, then turned to Sixth Master. “These days, most of the salt licenses in Ningbo are in Brother Zheng’s hands. Some days ago, Lord Zhang’s concubine came to visit, and naturally all the salt shops treated her very generously…”
Old Lu sighed. “But there are always jealous troublemakers spreading rumors that there are problems with the Zheng family’s salt business. In the past, it didn’t matter—those who are innocent will clear themselves. I only fear that if the concubine hears these rumors and tells Lord Zhang, it will only cause him unnecessary worries. If these words were to reach your respected wife as well… If Chengju could say a few kind words for Brother Zheng in front of Lord Zhang, it would save a lot of trouble.”
With just a few casual words, Old Lu had turned Zheng Tong, a ruthless profiteer, into an upright and honest official. But Zheng Tong still felt guilty. He squeezed the people dry and did many terrible things—anyone with sense knew there were dirty secrets behind it all. And that man… he had once been so upright and hated evil. Would he really help him?
In the past, he definitely wouldn’t have. But now… Zheng Tong was no longer sure. After so many years, what kind of person had he become?
The Sixth Master spoke calmly, “How much benefit did Zhang Jiantang’s ‘concubine’ take from the salt shop owners?”
The question went straight to the point, quietly exposing Old Lu’s earlier “kind words.” Zheng Tong looked little awkward, but since things were already out in the open, there was no need to hide it anymore. Gritting his teeth, he told the truth. “More than ten silver ingots. Several hundred tales.”
“She’s quite capable, then.” The Sixth Master curled his lips as if smiling. His calm tone gave no hint of praise or blame.
Zheng Tong felt the reply was strange, but couldn’t tell why. Seeing Sixth Master’s gentle expression, he thought there was hope and begged eagerly, “If Sixth Master is willing to help, you’d truly be living Bodhisattva saving my life!”
“You flatter me too much, Boss Zheng.”
But the Sixth Master did not continue the topic. He picked up a jar of fish food and strolled to the corner of the cabin, leisurely teasing the sea fish in a blue-and-white porcelain tank.
“Come and look, both of you. In this tank I keep several deep-sea fish caught from the Qiongzhou Strait. You’d have to dive at least twenty fathoms into a trench to catch them.”
Before serious business, there always had to be some idle talk. Zheng Tong could only comfort himself with that thought and forced a smile as he went over to look. Candlelight reflected on the dark water. He couldn’t see the fish, only the faint reflection of his own face. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped back and gave a dry laugh.
“I’ve never seen treasures from the deep sea. The Sixth Master has really opened my eyes.”
The Sixth Master took a net from the wall. “Boss Zheng, want to try your luck?”
Zheng Tong didn’t understand and looked to Old Lu for help. Old Lu was also confused but signaled him to go ahead.
Suppressing his anxiety, Zheng Tong took the net and plunged it into the water, splashing as he pulled up a struggling fish—just like his usual way of doing things: bold, fierce, and full of killing intent.
Sixth Master glanced at the fish. Its gills shone like gold foil under the candlelight. He sighed, “Boss Zheng, you’re very lucky. You caught the most valuable fish in my tank.”
So much beating around the bush, yet still not getting to the point.
“Is that so?” Zheng Tong replied politely.
“This black-cheek fish is the Fish King worshiped in Zhangzhou fishermen’s shrines. To buy it, I donated a large cask of agarwood to the local temple. Tell me, weren’t those fishermen ruthless?”
The small talk had gone far, and Zheng Tong couldn’t help looking at the fish a few more times. “Wow, Sixth Master really spared no expense.”
“Yes. If you want rare things, you must show sincerity in the trade.”
What sounded like a casual remark struck Zheng Tong like a blow to the head. He finally understood the Sixth Master’s meaning.
With a soft puff, Sixth Master lit a fire starter. Only then did Zheng Tong and Old Lu notice a small shrine in the corner of the cabin, with a statue of Guanyin of the South Sea placed on it.
Sixth Master lit three sticks of incense and bowed three times respectfully, then placed them in the burner and said slowly, “Boss Zheng, do you know that among Guanyin’s thirty-three manifestations, one is a merchant? If one’s sincerity is not enough, even the Bodhisattva will not save them.”
Zheng Tong cursed inwardly. So all that just now was to set a price for him. One hu of agarwood—at market price, about a thousand taels of silver. And he could only give more, not less.
The Sixth Master wanted money, but in such a hypocritical way—never mentioning money, yet every word tested Zheng Tong’s sincerity. Zheng Tong had known the man had changed, but hadn’t expected his heart to become this dark—worse even than his own.
But Zheng Tong could only swallow his curses with a smile. Precisely because he himself was no good, he now had to beg someone even darker to solve his problem.
Some earlier doubts were now clear. So this was how the Sixth Master devoured people without leaving bones. No wonder even Old Lu had to flatter such a great sea merchant.
Still, Zheng Tong knew clearly that the Sixth Master had the ability to solve his current troubles. If money could fix it, then it was worth it.
Forcing a smile, Zheng Tong said, “Sixth Master, I feel this fish is fated with me. How about… you sell it to me?”
“You’re a friend brought by Old Lu. If you like it, just take it.”
Old Lu echoed, “Sixth Master is giving up what he loves. Brother Zheng, you must thank him properly.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I prepared a small gift for my visit. Sixth Master, please don’t refuse.” Zheng Tong placed a small wooden box from his sleeve onto the shrine. He had prepared silver ingots before coming—by usual custom, the box held one thousand taels. He hadn’t expected he would spend it all. This wasn’t the Sixth Master giving up a beloved fish—it was cutting flesh from Zheng Tong himself.
The Sixth Master smiled like a spotless immortal. Only after pocketing the silver did he say unhurriedly, “Boss Zheng, we hit it off at first sight. I have a word that may solve your problem.”
Zheng Tong and Old Lu both pricked up their ears—this was the real point of the night visit.
“As far as I know, Zhang Jiantang is not married, and he has no concubine.”
Old Lu and Zheng Tong were stunned for a long moment. Then realization struck, and they almost wanted to beat their own chests in regret.
A thousand taels, just to buy this piece of news.
They had both forgotten to check whether Zhang Jiantang even had a concubine. Who would have thought a woman would dare pretend to be a high official’s family member?
They had never even considered the possibility of a scam.
When they stepped out of the cramped cabin, the cold sea wind hit their faces. They were silent for a long time.
Zheng Tong felt a strange resentment rising and suddenly thought of something. “Old Lu, his return… What does Lord Siming mean by it?”
He didn’t dare say the rest—Lord Siming could easily deal with him.
Old Lu’s expression was hard to read. “The old master said it depends on his attitude from now on.”
The meaning of those words was subtle. Cold sweat suddenly broke out on Zheng Tong’s body.
The Sixth Master hadn’t returned through Lord Siming’s connections—did he have other powerful backers?
In an instant, Zheng Tong thought of all the recent events in Ningbo, and the upcoming Ruyi Harbor Shark Pearl Banquet. On the surface, everything looked festive, but beneath the waves, dangerous currents were surging. A storm was coming. He would treat this thousand taels as protection money and dared not ask more.
*
After seeing Zheng Tong and Old Lu off, Qinshan returned and saw Sixth Master sitting by the rail, quietly gazing at the sea, as if he had become one with the lonely anchored boat.
An unknown fish surfaced, shattering the reflection of the bright moon on the water.
Qinshan softened his steps. After staying by Sixth Master’s side for so long, he had grown sensitive to that feeling of an approaching storm.
The Sixth Master never interfered in others’ affairs lightly. Even though the hint he gave Zheng Tong was worth a thousand taels, that money was not a reason for him—at most, it was just a warning to Zheng Tong. If he chose to reveal that information, he must have had his own purpose.
“This woman is very interesting,” Sixth Master said calmly, raising the contract in his hand.
Qinshan suddenly realized something. “Could it be that she and the scammer who cheated Boss Zheng… are the same person?”
The Sixth Master neither confirmed nor denied it. “She reminded me of something—if you’re going to scam people, you should use professional scammers… There should be such an unexpected blade beside the Top Scholar.”
Qinshan’s mouth opened and closed several times, but he couldn’t form a full sentence. “But…”
“She took my money. I want the person.”
Qinshan felt like crying.
Before Old Lu left, he had also chatted a bit more with Sixth Master and invited him to attend the Ruyi Harbor Shark Pearl Banquet on April twentieth.
Sixth Master readily agreed and even said he had prepared a surprise for Old Lu.
Old Lu took it as polite small talk, but Qinshan knew exactly what that “surprise” was. For Old Lu, it would be a shock. The banquet was coming soon, and the Lu family was one of the hosts. He had tried every way to marry his granddaughter to the Top Scholar—but what if that Top Scholar already had a wife?
The Sixth Master insisted on being the one to stir up trouble. His plan was flawless, but what he didn’t know was that while there were countless women willing to marry the Top Scholar, the scammer he wanted was nowhere to be found.
Where could they find a scammer who had vanished into the sea?
With so many days passing, the scammer had probably already packed up and rushed out of Zhejiang. But the banquet was right around the corner.
Yet looking at the Sixth Master’s expression, he seemed completely confident.