"Hoo..."
Leaving the private room, Steward Xu's steady pace gradually quickened, eventually turning into a run back to Cave Dwelling Room D-6.
As soon as he pushed the door open, Chen Yu was already sitting at the table, sipping the sweet tea from the cave dwelling.
"Steward Chen, I have not failed in my mission!"
Steward Xu gasped for breath, while Chen Yu looked up at him with a smile, beckoned him over, and poured him a cup of tea as he sat on Xu's shoulder.
"You've worked hard, Old Xu."
"Steward Chen, you really think too highly of this old bone of mine." Steward Xu tilted his head back and gulped down the tea, his face contorted in a grimace. "I was so afraid I'd slip up. Before I came to the cave dwelling, I was just a simple farmer. How could I possibly do any negotiation?"
"But you still managed to negotiate it, didn't you?" Chen Yu said, patting his shoulder with a smile.
The Steward Chen before them was not actually a steward of the Free City-State. A few days prior, the Eldest Son had mentioned that the Seventh Prince's capable subordinate was a greedy individual, and Chen Yu had decided to employ the method he had initially prepared.
Bribery!
He had said before coming that throwing ten million gold coins at the steward's face would ensure success, even if it were impossible.
However, ever since Chen Yu revealed his possession of the tiger tally, his identity had become much more conspicuous. If he had personally gone, there would have been no room for negotiation.
Little Demon and Nuo Yi had also been by his side the entire time.
With those around him not being suitable, Chen Yu had no choice but to find a suitable person from the city-state and proceed to the royal city with the scroll provided by the Eldest Son.
The person Chen Yu had set his sights on was the one before him.
Xu Maoshan!
Formerly a diligent farmer outside the cave dwelling, his proficiency in agriculture had led him to be among the first people Chen Yu recruited into the city-state.
In the city-state, he had indeed put his farming skills to good use.
Hundreds of acres of fertile land
were all meticulously managed by him.
Chen Yu had interacted with him quite a bit during his time in the city-state and felt that he was an honest and upright person. Chen Yu had once wanted to promote him to the position of head steward of agriculture, to oversee all agricultural matters, but Xu Maoshan had declined, stating that while he was good at farming, he lacked the ability to manage, so Chen Yu had dropped the idea. However, he had still increased his salary and allocated a larger piece of land for him to manage.
However, the core reason Chen Yu chose to transfer him here was not his honesty and uprightness.
It was his face!
Years of farming outdoors had weathered Xu Maoshan's face. The first time Chen Yu saw him, he vaguely felt as if a powerful minister were standing before him.
It was just that as soon as he grinned innocently, that feeling would instantly disappear.
Chen Yu was about to bribe the Seventh Prince's most capable subordinate. To become a prince's most capable subordinate, it was evident that this person must have some abilities. If he were too ordinary, he might not be able to intimidate him. However, if he were to find someone from his city-state who could make the other party feel wary at first glance, he truly had no recollection.
For this reason, Chen Yu thought of Xu Maoshan and had Kailin send him over overnight.
Upon arriving at the royal city, Chen Yu did not contact anyone directly. Instead, he had Liya train him for a period. The training curriculum was simple: do not smile.
As long as he didn't smile, didn't grin, no one could fathom his depth.
"It's negotiated, but I was truly terrified," Xu Maoshan said, his face full of trepidation. "Steward Chen, please don't ask me to do this again in the future. I was so scared that I almost forgot the words I was supposed to say and was about to blurt out the farmer's talk. My mind was racing, thinking about what would happen if I slipped up, afraid of delaying your important business."
"You've worked hard."
Chen Yu patted his shoulder and said.
"You have made the greatest contribution this time. When we return, go find Kailin. She will give you 500,000 gold coins as your reward."
"That's not necessary."
Steward Xu waved his hands repeatedly.
"Steward Chen brought me from the wilderness to the city, and this old man is already very satisfied. Moreover, I don't lack food or drink now. What do I need so much gold for? If you want to give me something, give me a few cows, sheep, chickens, and ducks. I used to raise these when I was outside."
"Hahahaha, alright, I promise you!" Chen Yu nodded with a smile.
"Yes, yes, yes, thank you, Steward Chen in advance." Xu Maoshan grinned from ear to ear, and Chen Yu also patted his shoulder.
"It's just that I'll need you to stay here for a few more days. Once the Seventh Prince's people deliver the stamped document to you, you will then hand it over to... " Chen Yu glanced at the Eldest Son, who was sitting upright by his side, "hand it over to this lord."
"Just hand it to me," the Eldest Son said, smiling and standing up.
"How long did Gangmen say they would reply?"
"Three days."
"Good, then I will be here again at dusk in three days." The Eldest Son nodded with a smile, then cupped his hands towards Chen Yu, saying, "Mr. Chen, I will also return now to begin my preparations. I look forward to our future cooperation."
"Certainly."
After seeing the Eldest Son off with a broad smile, Chen Yu also arranged for Xu Maoshan to rest in the room, leaving Chen Yu, Little Demon, Liya, and Nuo Yi in the living room.
"Liya, you'll need to keep Old Xu safe."
Chen Yu's gaze was focused. He wasn't entirely at ease with the Eldest Son or Gangmen.
"No problem, I will definitely take good care of Old Xu." Liya patted her chest with conviction. Chen Yu didn't have many doubts about her.
In Chen Yu's eyes, Liya was a capable person.
Since she had made the corresponding promise, there shouldn't be any major issues.
"Sir, are you planning to leave the royal city?" After a moment, Liya frowned. "Where will I find you if you leave the royal city? The assets of the Elton family have not yet been liquidated."
"Don't we have contact information?"
Chen Yu pointed to his wristband and said.
"If you want to meet in person, you can go to Hurricane City. I should be staying there for a while."
"Understood." Liya didn't inquire too deeply into Chen Yu's reason for going to Hurricane City. Nuo Yi, however, frowned uncharacteristically. "Brother Chen, are you really planning to cooperate with that Eldest Son? I always feel like that guy is full of schemes and isn't a good person."
"Hmph, cooperate?"
Unexpectedly, Chen Yu let out a snort of laughter, his expression suddenly turning grim.
"Cooperate with him? What a joke. I'm just using him to get the certification. If I really cooperated with him, I'd be out of my mind. A declining prince in the royal family, racking his brains to make a comeback, even stooping to find me. Didn't Liya say that he looks down on others if they have some ability? If I help him rise, wouldn't he turn against me? Cooperation with him is impossible. Using him as a pawn, however, is not bad."
As he spoke, Chen Yu stretched lazily, twisting his neck.
"Let's pack up and get ready to set off."