HUS Chapter 80: This Night is Not Quiet at All
HUS Chapter 80: This Night is Not Quiet at All
January 9
Yang Can nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight.
"You're right. I wasn't thorough in my thinking. Since you have more important matters to handle, tomorrow we'll choose other people to serve."
Yang Can pondered for a moment, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. "The commercial routes in Longshang are treacherous. Without guards, one can't move an inch.
Leopard Head still needs to remain by my side, so tomorrow why don't you go see Kang Zhengyang?"
"Corps Commander Kang?" A flash of surprise crossed Rena's eyes.
"Precisely."
Yang Can gazed toward the deep night outside the window. "He's long had mercantile intentions, and recently suffered the pain of losing a relative.
Having to care for his clan, his finances must be strained. This is the perfect time to invite him."
Rena smiled sweetly. "Master is wise. Corps Commander Kang commands Feng'an Estate's corps. Having his assistance would be ideal."
What Yang Can didn't state was that binding this military commander firmly to himself was his deeper, more far-reaching plan but there was no need for Rena to know this. When the trade routes became increasingly prosperous, Kang Zhengyang would naturally become an indispensable piece in this game.
"There's one more matter."
Yang Can's voice pulled Rena's thoughts back. "I had originally planned to mention this to you in a few days, but it's better to let you start planning sooner."
"Please speak, Master."
Learning she could relinquish her service duties tomorrow, the thin frost between Rena's brows quietly melted away.
Candlelight illuminated her flame-colored hair. Her azure eyes rippled with glistening waves, causing Yang Can a moment of distraction.
"Ahem! I want to invite everyone to participate in this grand undertaking, not act alone."
Yang Can chose his words carefully. "The stewards of the eldest branch's main lineage, the heads of the five major estates and three major pastures, all must be gradually invited to invest."
"This involves the matter of partnership. You understand, right?"
Yang Can wasn't sure if the concept of shareholding already existed in this era, so he wanted to explain more clearly to Rena but before he could begin his explanation, Rena was already smiling knowingly.
"I understand, Master. My father is a 'Sabao.'"
Rena answered cheerfully.
As commerce developed and matured, rudimentary forms of modern partnerships and shareholding systems had already appeared.
This business model already featured the separation of investors from operators through equity participation.
For instance, some great merchants, nobles, or monks from Samarkand only invested without operating, taking dividends.
Meanwhile, other managing partners might invest only small amounts of capital, or even not invest any money themselves but they were the actual leaders of the entire caravan, responsible for transporting and trading across thousands of li.
This was remarkably similar to the grand stewards of the eight great clans.
Including Yang Can as estate head, he had management authority but not ownership.
The actual executors of such caravans were called "Sabao" in the Western Regions, equivalent to modern CEOs.
And Rena's father was precisely the "Sabao" of such a large Western Region merchant group.
A large caravan was itself a commercial consortium.
The caravan leader "Sabao" was the general manager.
Each member of the caravan simultaneously played multiple roles.
They were members of the merchant group, proprietors of their own family businesses, and had partnership agreements belonging only to pairs of members.
It sounded very complex, but the structure was also very flexible.
Hearing her explanation, Yang Can couldn't help but be speechless.
This Rena understood and could operate shareholding systems better than he, a transmigrator!
"In that case, I'll leave drafting the specific regulations to you."
Yang Can shook his head helplessly, though his eyes showed appreciation.
"Yes, Master."
Rena answered playfully, her red hair tips tracing a bright arc as she turned.
She had noticed the sense of defeat in Yang Can's eyes. This Master Yang was quite interesting.
When she pulled open the shoji door, Rena froze in place.
"You..."
"Shh!"
Dugu Jingyao held a finger to her lips. The moonlight coated her plain white garment with a layer of clear radiance.
"Little Master, why have you come?"
Rena quickly lowered her voice, asking softly.
They were both slaves Shopkeeper Qian had acquired. Not only did they already know each other, but as fellow sufferers they got along well.
Dugu Jingyao sighed, hesitating to speak. After thinking, she sighed again.
"Alas! Forget it. This is a long story. In short, well, in short it's hard to explain in a few words. I won't tell you."
Dugu Jingyao pointed at the room. "Has he gone to sleep?"
"Not yet."
"Good. I'll go talk to him. You go rest quickly!"
Dugu Jingyao straightened her clothes, instantly transforming back into that unstained worldly immortal maiden.
She lightly knocked on the door, her voice clear. "Is the Estate Head in? Jingyao has a matter to discuss."
"Master Jingyao? Please come in quickly."
Yang Can's voice came from the room. Dugu Jingyao waved at Rena and entered.
Rena's brows furrowed slightly. This little nun was acting so strange. What did she mean?
She shook her head and walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back.
Could this little nun who had suffered misfortune be planning to return to secular life and entrust herself for life?
The more Rena thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
A young nun whose temple was destroyed, with such outstanding appearance and temperament, she was practically a "calamity magnet" who would have difficulty taking a single step forward from now on.
Perhaps, while young and beautiful, returning to secular life early and depending on an estate head like Yang Can who was young, wealthy, and powerful would be her best destination?
Then she... came tonight to offer herself?
Recalling Yang Can's gaze on her just now, Rena couldn't help but feel her ears burn as some suggestive, unspeakable images surfaced in her mind.
As an international merchant who had traveled between East and West for many years, her horizons clearly weren't confined to inner chambers.
Moreover, Western women matured earlier, so there were many things she understood.
Rena hurriedly lifted her skirt and left quickly. She didn't dare continue these thoughts.
If she did, her heart would involuntarily palpitate.
...
Inside the room, candlelight flickered. When Yang Can emerged from behind the screen, he saw Dugu Jingyao standing in the hall.
Moonlight streamed through the lattice window, creating a faint halo around her.
"What brings Little Master to visit so late at night?"
Yang Can calmly observed this little spy who kept stealing meat to eat.
Could it be she hasn't discovered anything through investigation and plans to seduce me?
Isn't she afraid I'll eat the candy coating but send the cannonball back?
Dugu Jingyao took a deep breath and pressed her palms together. "Estate Head, this nun has come to bid farewell."
"Farewell?" This was beyond Yang Can's expectations.
"Yes. This nun was sheltered by the Estate Head, a kindness I'll never forget. However, the mortal world is tumultuous..."
Dugu Jingyao sighed and shook her head. Goodbye, my pork knuckle! Goodbye, my grilled lamb...
"After much thought, this nun feels it would be more convenient to practice at a nunnery. Previously the Estate Head mentioned there is a Manjusri Nunnery at the foot of Maiji Mountain. This nun wishes to go there to practice, fulfilling this life's vow before Buddha."
The room fell silent for a moment, only the crackling of candlelight breaking the stillness.
After a long while, Yang Can's gaze swept over Dugu Jingyao, carrying scrutiny and playfulness.
"Oh? Why has Little Master suddenly changed her mind?"
Dugu Jingyao sighed faintly. "It's all because this nun overestimated her devotion to Buddha. Practicing in the mortal world inevitably attracts dust."
"But I wonder, what dust does Little Master speak of?" Yang Can slowly stood up.
He was just pondering how to send away this little nun with her suspicious identity and unclear intentions. And now she actually wanted to leave of her own accord?
Something's not right. There must be a problem!
Master Bao came, the Dailai City heir came, the chieftains of two great Xianbei tribes came and at this time the little spy suddenly wants to leave?
There must be some major reason I don't know about then as long as I do the opposite of what this little spy wants, I definitely won't be wrong.
Thinking this, Yang Can's gaze alighted like a butterfly on her brows beneath the crown, finally settling on those lips like pink cherry blossoms.
Yang Can countered, "Little Master, isn't cultivation about purifying the heart and mind, remaining untainted by dust? If there is dust in the mortal world and you avoid it, can that be considered cultivation to a state without dust or obstruction?"
"This..."
Yang Can suddenly stepped two paces closer, his voice soft as spring water. "Little Master, have you considered that the destruction of your nunnery and being cast into the mortal world might be a period of cultivation Buddha has granted you?"
"Ah?"
Dugu Jingyao parted her lips in confusion.
Her lips needed no rouge, they were like flower petals washed by ice and snow, with a naturally translucent pink.
Yang Can cleared his throat. Teacher Zhao's magnetic voice resonated in the quiet hall, "Little Master, do you know that since your arrival, even the moonlight in my estate has become several degrees purer? If you leave now, with whom shall I share this garden full of moonlight in the future?"
Ahhhh~~~
Dugu Jingyao screamed frantically in her heart. What the hell are you saying!
A faint blush spread across her porcelain-white cheeks.
Such explicit words rushed through her heart like an unexpected flood.
Dugu Jingyao hastily rose, her plain white skirt rippling like water.
"Estate Head, please don't jest..."
Dugu Jingyao had envisioned Yang Can's various reactions and prepared how to politely decline if he tried to make her stay.
The one thing she hadn't imagined was that Yang Can would actually say such things to her.
Dugu Jingyao's image of cool, immortal-like detachment was now on the verge of collapse.
"Estate Head... please... stop joking..."
"This nun is a person outside the mundane world..." Her voice trembled, wanting only to escape this heart-disturbing ambiguity.
"But from the moment you came here, you and I were fated to meet."
Yang Can's gaze fell on her forehead, where the lacquered gauze crown sat.
The crown not only covered her short hair but also concealed the small lock character tattoo on the upper right of her forehead.
The lock tattoo was the mark of a female slave, signifying she was "locked property," and her master was her sole "keyholder."
Yang Can was her keyholder.
"This... isn't acceptable. This nun is one who has left home..."
A blush uncontrollably spread across that snow-white, delicate face.
Dugu Jingyao was no longer considering whether to leave or not. She wanted to run, get as far from this terrifying man as possible.
"No! You cannot leave. Since I've already spoken, I want to make myself clear!"
Yang Can secretly smiled as he grasped her wrist, startling Dugu Jingyao until her delicate body trembled, frantically screaming in her heart:
I don't want to hear your nonsense! Let me go quickly! I... I have no hair! You even like bald heads, is there something wrong with you...
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