Apotheosis Begins with Tai Chi

But thanks to his connection with Chen Cheng, Zhou Long didn’t have to marry into his wife’s family. In fact, he was held in high esteem by his mother-in-law, who had gradually entrusted him with the management of several embroidery workshops and two silk shops.

His mother-in-law had been widowed long ago and had only one daughter. After she passed, the entire vast family fortune would essentially be his.

For the Zhou Family, this was a genuine leap up the social ladder.

Without Chen Cheng, his family of four wouldn’t have dared to even dream of such good fortune.

This was why they were so grateful to Chen Cheng. They were so overwhelmed that they would try to bow to him in thanks the moment they saw him, completely disregarding the time or place.

The emotions were simply too overwhelming to suppress; it was a pure, unrestrainable impulse.

They chatted for a while longer.

Somehow, the conversation turned to Liang Guang and Cao Bado.

Zhou Long leaned closer to Chen Cheng, lowering his voice.

”After I got injured, those two never came to see me once. They didn’t even send word... Then they heard you’d become an accomplished Martial Artist, and suddenly they were cozying up to me every day. It’s disgusting, truly!”

”It’s the same today. I don’t know how many strings they pulled through my wife’s side of the family, but they managed to get in. On a joyous occasion like this, I can’t very well throw them out... so I just have to tolerate it.”

Zhou Long paused, then couldn’t help but sigh.

”Speaking of which, they’ve both fallen on pretty hard times...”

”Last year, Cao Bado took the preliminary Martial Selection. His name was clearly on the list when it was posted, but it was gone the next day. Some young master from the Inner City took his spot.”

”The official family just said that the new Scribe made a mistake when copying the list, brushing him off with that one sentence. Cao Bado had no way to appeal and could only suffer the injustice in silence.”

”The real problem is that his family’s business ran into trouble, so they can no longer support him while he studies full-time. If he takes the exam again next year, I’m afraid... he’s probably just fated to fail.”

Chen Cheng didn’t respond, his expression thoughtful as he mulled something over.

The Great Shang Country had been established for eight hundred years, and its government was rotten to the core. Within the Civil Servant Group, selling offices and titles was commonplace. As for the local Martial Selection, didn’t it all come down to what a small handful of people decided?

Getting your name on the Golden List was actually simple. You just needed one of three things: money, power, or connections.

The Martial Selection, by comparison, was much fairer.

While one couldn’t call it absolutely fair, at least you’d never see a situation where a weaker candidate took the spot of a stronger one.

To put it bluntly, if a weakling tried to force their way into a Military Officer’s position, they wouldn’t just be humiliating themselves. One wrong move, and they could very well get themselves killed.

”Liang Guang has it even worse...”

Zhou Long sighed again and continued speaking.

”After his godfather, Tang Yunlong, died, he lost his footing in the Patrol Office. All the people he’d offended while throwing his weight around under his godfather’s protection came out of the woodwork to get him. They came at him both openly and from the shadows, each one more ruthless than the last.”

”The thing is, he’s a real piece of work himself. His godfather hadn’t even been dead a week before he was out carousing. Before, he’d ride on his godfather’s reputation, visit brothels, and leave without paying, and people were too scared to say anything. He tried to pull the same thing again—just pulled up his pants and tried to walk out without so much as a word.”

Zhou Long shook his head, lowering his voice even further.

”The very next day, the madam dragged him to court. She was not someone to be trifled with. She had a whole stack of ledgers with every single one of his debts recorded in perfect detail. After just a few questions from the court, he confessed to everything. His position as a Scribe was stripped from him, and he was ordered to pay back a huge sum, principal and interest.”

”That madam had some Gang connections. No sooner had he stepped out of the courthouse than her people grabbed him to settle the account. With compounding interest, the debt had snowballed into a terrifying number. He had to sign over his house and everything else of value just to break even.”

”Now, he’s moved back to Kuhuai Village... He’s living hand-to-mouth, not knowing where his next meal is coming from... Now, anyone and everyone dares to walk all over him...”

As he spoke, Zhou Long glanced at Chen Cheng to gauge his reaction before adding:

”He most likely wrangled his way in here today to try and cozy up to you. He’s probably thinking that whatever scraps you might let fall from your table would be enough for him to make a comeback and return to his old comfortable life.”

”And?”

Chen Cheng smiled.

”Are you worried I’ll go soft and help him?”

Zhou Long nodded and said irritably,

”A guy like him is completely shameless. If you show him the slightest bit of kindness, he’ll be out there throwing his weight around under your name! I’ve learned that lesson the hard way!”

”Don’t worry.”

Chen Cheng waved a dismissive hand.

”I’m not that charitable, and he doesn’t have the nerve.”

”Heh, that’s my Brother Cheng for you, always sharp.”

Zhou Long smiled, then lowered his voice, his expression turning serious.

”Brother Cheng, my mother-in-law has always wanted to sell the silk she produces in other regions. She made some inquiries and heard that you’re a Tributor Martial Artist for the Yongsheng Store. Could you help make an introduction?”

”You need an introduction for something that simple?”

Chen Cheng laughed.

”You can just go negotiate with them directly.”

”If only it were that simple.”

Zhou Long gave a wry smile.

”Over the past month, the Yongsheng Store has become the number one business in the South Outer City. They hold the Southern Road Trade Document, and there must be eight hundred, if not a thousand, merchants vying to partner with them... A small business like ours doesn’t even qualify to get in the queue.”

”Is that so...”

Chen Cheng’s thoughts stirred.

He hadn’t expected this. In the month he’d been in seclusion, Shen Mi had somehow revived the all-but-bankrupt Yongsheng Store, and now its momentum was far greater than before.

’Of course, Wu Ziyu’s support must have been behind this as well.’

’And behind Wu Ziyu stood her father, the Chief Commercial Inspector of the South District Commerce Inspection Bureau, and her grandfather, the president of the South District Commerce Association.’

’They didn’t even have to do anything. Just by standing behind Shen Mi, they created an unstoppable momentum. It would have been difficult for Yongsheng not to thrive.’

Now, the stage was set. All that was needed was for the ice and snow to melt in the spring, and the caravans could depart.