"This..."
Seeing Li Changqing return the token, Yan Botao's face changed dramatically.
Yan Botao's original abacus was to use this token to bind Li Changqing to the Yan family's chariot, with such a great god to guard the Yan family, the future would be immeasurable.
But he didn't expect that Li Changqing would actually return the token.
"Clan Leader Yan, your abacus was quite well calculated, but is a small house like yours capable of clinging to a strong person like Elder Changqing?"
Xu Muhai shook his head: "Eat according to the size of your bowl; if you eat too much rashly, not only will the bowl spill, but it could also lead to your own demise."
"Peak Master Mu Hai's lesson is indeed true." Yan Botao really felt desperate at this moment.
Indeed, it was a whimsical idea from the very beginning.
Li Changqing, such a strong person, with his wood carving skills even surpassing paintings, could go anywhere he pleases; why would he remain with the small Yan family?
"Staying with the Yan family as a great benefactor isn't impossible either." At this time, Li Changqing tilted his head to look at Yan Botao.
Yan Botao and Xu Muhai looked at Li Changqing in surprise.
Is there a turnaround?
"But freeloading is certainly out of the question. Given that I'm the Yan family's great benefactor, shouldn't there be some payment?" Li Changqing stared at Yan Botao.
His own son, Li Hengsheng, was in need of money now.
With Xu Muhai being such a pauper, surely he couldn't rely on him. The Yan family seemed quite wealthy; better secure a first pot of gold for his son.
"Of course, that's possible!" Yan Botao agreed without a second thought.
What is money?
Could money alone invite such a formidable expert?
"Elder Changqing, please wait a moment." Yan Botao turned around and left Yanhui Hall at this moment.
"Elder Changqing, are you really going to stay?" Xu Muhai was also incredulous, then said, "Isn't staying at this small Yan family a bit..."
"Hengsheng needs resources for cultivation; of course, I need to earn some money for Hengsheng's cultivation." Li Changqing sighed lightly.
All this for the sake of the child.
"Elder Changqing, there's no need to worry about that. I'm here!" Xu Muhai patted his chest loudly: "With the support of my Mu Hai Peak, how could Li Hengsheng lack cultivation resources?"
Seeing Xu Muhai's confident face.
Li Changqing pondered for a long time, considering that while earning money for Li Hengsheng, maybe he should also donate something to Mu Hai Peak.
He was always afraid that Xu Muhai would starve to death on the mountain one day.
"Thank you, Peak Master Xu, it's good enough to have that intention. What you give is what you give; what I provide is my heart for my son." Li Changqing didn't have the heart to say it directly.
"Alright then." Xu Muhai nodded.
Not long after, Yan Botao returned, his expression serious: "Elder Changqing, as long as you are willing to serve as our Yan family's benefactor, we will give you fifty percent of all our business profits."
"Fifty percent?" Li Changqing's eyes lit up.
The Yan family splitting the earnings fifty-fifty with him?
Isn't that a great fortune?
The Yan family, after all, was one of the top families in Changting Town, surely with considerable wealth.
Looks like his son will have the money for cultivation.
"Alright, I agree." Li Changqing did not refuse and directly agreed.
With that, Li Changqing retrieved the token from the table.
Seeing this scene, Yan Botao could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but immediately he was elated; the Yan family had indeed secured a powerful ally.
Although Yan Botao didn't know how strong Li Changqing really was, he was at least of the Innate Level, right?
Then Yan Botao briefed Li Changqing about the entire Yan family's enterprises.
After listening, Li Changqing was a bit surprised: "The Yan family's real profits come solely from a few mines?"
"I see the Yan family has a lot of businesses in Changting Town as well, none of which are profitable?" Li Changqing asked in surprise.
"Great benefactor, among the families in Changting Town, the Bai family has the best inns. Seventy percent of the inns in Changting Town are owned by the Bai family, including Jinhong Tower, which you like, is also the Bai family's enterprise."
"The fabric and silk businesses belong to the Zhao family. While our Yan family has enterprises too, clearly they don't do as well."
"The rest of the businesses are almost equally divided; our Yan family can only maintain a meager profit."
Saying this, Yan Botao handed over the account books directly to Li Changqing.
Curious, Li Changqing opened the books and indeed, the monthly profits were really not high, only the mines had decent revenue.
Each month, the Yan family could profit four to five hundred thousand taels of silver from the mines.
"This month's mines..." Li Changqing suddenly noticed something unusual about this month's mining revenue.
"I just discussed this with Peak Master Mu Hai; something strange has appeared in the mines, affecting their output." Yan Botao cautiously glanced at Xu Muhai.
"Hmm, it does seem like there's something odd over there. Since it's within my jurisdiction in Minghong State, I plan to check it out later." Xu Muhai nodded.
"I'll go too." Li Changqing closed the ledger book and said earnestly.
"Elder, you're going too?" Xu Muhai's eyes lit up. With Li Changqing tagging along, wouldn't the matter be absolutely secure?
"It's hindering my earnings, of course I'll take a look." Li Changqing squinted his eyes as he spoke.
What exactly is it that's causing him to lose so much money this month!
"Uh." Xu Muhai was rendered speechless by Li Changqing, not expecting him to be such a money-grubber.
Having a father like this, Li Hengsheng is truly blessed to the core, isn't he?
"Shall we head out tomorrow morning?" Xu Muhai couldn't help but ask.
"Why not go now?" Li Changqing, worried that dragging it out might complicate things, thought it best to resolve it as soon as possible.
"Alright, with both elder and my stamina, we should reach Nanshan Mine by dusk." Xu Muhai nodded.
"Run there?" Li Changqing's eyes widened.
"How else would we get there?" Xu Muhai looked at Li Changqing puzzledly.
"Uh." Li Changqing felt a bit embarrassed; he practically knew nothing, but Xu Muhai and Yan Botao constantly referred to him as elder.
If he claimed ignorance, wouldn't his image as a high-level person crumble?
If he lost this image, would Yan Botao fire him on the spot?
Xu Muhai might not respect him anymore, and might even ignore his son in the future.
So he couldn't show weakness.
"Ahem, it's nothing. I suddenly remembered, your Cultivation Realm is low, and you can't fly. Since that's the case, we shall run there." Li Changqing said with a faint, indifferent face.
"Elder can fly?> Xu Muhai was shocked.
"There are legends of people soaring on air, but that requires mastering a powerful force to achieve; could it really be true?" Yan Botao also looked at Li Changqing with admiration: "I wonder how far elder can fly?"
"How far one can fly depends more on external factors; you haven't reached this realm yet, it's of no benefit to know too much." Li Changqing dodged the question; he didn't want to dwell on this topic any longer.
"External factors?" Xu Muhai and Yan Botao exchanged glances, suddenly realizing, could it depend on the strength of the force?
However, in his heart, Li Changqing thought sarcastically: "How far I can fly depends on how fast the car hits me..."