"A profitable business?"
When Zhe Kucun looked at Han Mo, his gaze instantly turned peculiar.
"If there's such a way, it's naturally good, but..."
Zhe Kucun stopped speaking at this point.
Han Mo understood his concerns, which were no doubt a case of "once bitten, twice shy."
The Great Song dynasty was unlike other dynasties; there was no concept of the state competing with its people for profit.
The imperial court, in its pursuit of wealth, had already extended its reach into all walks of life.
Especially the eunuchs in the inner court; there was no profitable venture they wouldn't undertake.
Furthermore, these individuals were utterly lawless, truly like rats spoiling a whole pot of soup.
Once they got involved in anything, it inevitably led to an unpleasant outcome.
"Uncle, don't worry. If we do it, we'll do a business that's one of a kind in this world! No matter who tries to cause trouble, we'll make sure they can't eat their fill!"
Han Mo smiled and said casually.
"If there is such a business, it wouldn't hurt to do it!"
Zhe Kucun's pupils constricted, and he immediately agreed.
He was clever enough not to ask how Han Mo intended to help him obtain the grain, and even avoided mentioning the matter again.
After all, he couldn't fathom this young man, Han Mo, and therefore decided not to pry.
The rest of the matters were simple. Although he had a head full of things he wanted to ask his daughter, since she was back, he would have plenty of time to chat with her later.
Without those bothersome matters, the conversation between the two became light and easy.
Han Mo's naturally thick skin was precisely what pleased Zhe Kucun at the moment.
Coupled with Zhe Kucun's own extensive experience, their exchange naturally became pleasant.
Zhe Kucun's hearty laughter soon echoed throughout the mansion. The servants in the entire residence now knew that their master seemed very pleased with his future son-in-law.
After a brief chat, Zhe Kucun waved his hand grandly, instructing the household servants to set up a banquet. For a time, all the servants in the mansion eagerly crowded towards the front hall, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the new son-in-law.
Many had heard that their new son-in-law was currently the most talked-about scholar in Bianliang City.
Although only two poems had been produced so far, both were considered timeless works.
That night, guests and host alike enjoyed themselves immensely. When the drinking reached a happy moderate stage, the new son-in-law specifically asked his maid to cook a dish for the young lady to taste.
The young lady of the Zhe family, who had been ill for many days and refused to eat anything, tasted it and was reportedly overjoyed. The new son-in-law then simply left his maid behind to specifically attend to the young lady.
This made all the servants in the mansion unable to help but praise that their young lady had finally met a good man.
Of course, the fact that the young lady of the Zhe family had to grit her teeth and say she loved the salty pickled radish dish was a matter that should not be discussed with outsiders.
Fortunately, Zhe Kucun was concerned about his daughter, and Han Mo's alcohol tolerance was quite good, which prevented Han Mo from returning in a daze that night.
Even so, Han Mo was already slurring his words on the way back.
He returned to his courtyard, lay on his bed, and after Chun Tao went to sleep in the outer room, Han Mo opened his eyes again.
He carefully opened the hidden compartment by his bedside and took out the ledger wrapped in the spring palace painting. After carefully inspecting the item, Han Mo finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
The grand examination was fast approaching. Although his memory was good and he had read many exemplary texts in the past few days, the deeper he delved, the less confident he felt.
Being able to read and being able to write were two different things. He was starting to doubt his own past blind confidence.
Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, he decided to take a risky gamble.
Although this approach might have strong repercussions, he couldn't afford to be too concerned about it this time.
With chaos looming, he needed the title of Jinshi to climb higher.
As for anything else, he could only take things as they came. After all, people were always forgetful, especially the powerful figures in the court.
Han Mo, having transmigrated from a later era, didn't have many preconceived notions. In his view, the influential figures in the court were no different from the courtesans in the pleasure houses.
If there was any difference, it was probably a matter of price.
Since they were all "for sale," there was no need to talk about who was nobler than whom.
Just as Han Mo was dreaming of the future, the door was opened without his knowledge.
Chun Tao, holding a candle, looked at the spring palace painting on Han Mo's lap, and her young face instantly turned crimson.
"No, I, listen to me, it's not what you think!"
Seeing the blush on Chun Tao's face, Han Mo felt a wave of headache.
Chun Tao, with a blushing face, quickly stepped forward to close the unlatched window, then silently walked out again.
Han Mo truly felt like dying of regret. What was all this?
His hard-won image in the young girl's eyes was now completely ruined.
"Second Brother, this ten taels of silver is the remainder from buying gifts today! It's enough to go to Xiaotianshui Lane..."
Just as Han Mo was filled with remorse, Chun Tao, with a blushing face, walked back in from outside and placed a silver ingot on Han Mo's bedside.
"No, I..."
Han Mo was truly at his wit's end. What was going on?
"Come back, listen to me explain! I..."
Watching the young girl run out again with a blushing face, Han Mo was driven to distraction.
My reputation of a lifetime!
When Han Mo chased after her, the young girl had already dived into her quilt, looking at Han Mo warily.
"I..."
Now, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't wash himself clean. Han Mo agonized for a long time, still unsure how to explain.
Returning to his room dejectedly, he impulsively threw the spring palace painting into the charcoal basin in anger.
With immense frustration, Han Mo returned to his bed, his mind calculating the events ahead.
As for other matters, it seemed that persuading Liang Shicheng to act against Cai Jing through the Crown Prince, and simultaneously taking over the disaster relief efforts, while difficult, was not impossible.
However, the biggest problem before him was how to see the Crown Prince and Liang Shicheng without alerting the spies from the Imperial City Department.
Both of them were important figures. When they traveled, they would certainly have Imperial City Department spies in action. How could he see both of them simultaneously without arousing suspicion?
As Han Mo was counting on his fingers and racking his brain, he suddenly noticed a yellowed piece of paper pasted on the opposite wall. That's right!
How could he have forgotten this?