212: Father and son discussed the matter, and the Chen family entered the city.
Chen Changsheng took the land deed handed over by Xiao Seventeen, smiled slightly, and then said to Xiao Seventeen:
“Our agreement remains unchanged, but when my Chen Family shops open for business, please come and have a drink to celebrate, Young Master Xiao!”
Chen Changsheng's goal was to obtain the Xiao Family's public support; as long as he had the Xiao Family's endorsement, he would have a foothold in the top circles of the Prefecture City!
“No problem, Head of the Chen Family. At that time, I will personally visit your shop and bring a congratulatory gift!”
Xiao Seventeen was also a shrewd person; he understood Chen Changsheng's meaning. He already intended to recruit the Chen Family as his own faction, so using the Xiao Family to endorse Chen Changsheng was a trivial matter!
The two then discussed the situation within the Prefecture City. From Xiao Seventeen's mouth, he learned that among the Three Great Immortal Clans in the city, the Ning Family mainly dealt in the spiritual plant business, the Yue Family was in the Talisman business, and the Xiao Family stuck to their old trade of the Magical Artifact business!
Xiao Seventeen indicated that whatever business the Chen Family decided to do, it would be best not to have a direct conflict with these three great families!
Chen Changsheng now had a good idea of the situation. He had no intention of competing head-on with the three great families anyway, stating he only wanted to open a general store to sell some miscellaneous goods.
Furthermore, Xiao Seventeen emphatically reminded Chen Changsheng that while the three great families of the Prefecture City seemed high and mighty, they had an overlord above them—the Annan City Lord's Mansion!
This institution was established by the Great Xuan Dynasty to govern all affairs of the Annan Prefecture. Even the Three Great Immortal Clans had to tread carefully. Xiao Seventeen specifically warned not to clash with the City Lord's Mansion, otherwise, even if the Xiao Family wanted to settle the matter, it would be troublesome!
Chen Changsheng took Xiao Seventeen's words to heart. Afterward, the two exchanged more pleasantries and agreed on an opening date before Xiao Seventeen descended Jade Dragon Mountain.
After Xiao Seventeen left, Chen Changsheng called Chen Chuanwen over.
“Chuanwen, select some capable hands from the Black Ice Platform. First, set up an inn, a hotel, and a brothel. Note that our goal isn't just to make money, but to establish our own intelligence network in the Prefecture City.”
Chen Changsheng spoke to Chuanwen while drinking tea. Chen Chuanwen had been in charge of the Black Ice Platform for many years and was already very experienced in laying out intelligence networks. He nodded and said:
“Father, I understand. With our Family's strong chinese liquor and jasmine tea, it won't be hard to make them popular in the Prefecture City. I will take the opportunity to insert our people!”
Chen Changsheng nodded, then frowned and said to Chuanwen:
“We also have a shop in Xianju Alley. I plan to open a general store to regularly purchase Materials that are hard to find on the market. What do you think we should put on the shelves?”
Xianju Alley was the true center of the Prefecture City. If Chen Changsheng wanted to open up the Annan cultivation market, he had to make a name for himself there!
“Father, if you ask me, our Black Carp Spirit Fish farming has already reached a significant scale. No one else is doing the business of selling Spirit Fish; if we sell them, we'll be the only ones!”
“Also, regarding your Alchemy skills, Father—from what you said about the Three Great Immortal Clans, none of them do the Medicinal Pill business. We can fill that market gap. Besides, your skills are already quite recognized in the Prefecture City!”
“As for our Family's Ore and spiritual plants, let's not sell them easily. You can refine some Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills, Father. That way we earn more without easily infringing on others' interests!”
Chen Changsheng nodded upon hearing this. Chen Chuanwen was truly the most meticulous mind in the Chen Family, considering the situation very comprehensively.
“Good, we'll do as you say!”
Chen Changsheng affirmed Chuanwen's ideas, then patted Chuanwen's shoulder and continued:
“Chuanwen, someone needs to take the lead in the Prefecture City's affairs. You know our Family's situation; your eldest and third brothers are skilled at fighting and killing, but they are a step behind when it comes to the intrigue of business. I want you to be in charge of the Prefecture City affairs. You can pick whatever manpower you need. What do you think?”
Chen Changsheng had also pondered for a long time and finally felt that only Chuanwen could gain a foothold and handle the situation in the complex environment of the Prefecture City!
“Father, I am duty-bound to the Family's affairs. However, in the Prefecture City, we ultimately need one or two experts to hold down the fort, along with a few trusted subordinates!”
Chen Chuanwen nodded, not refusing Chen Changsheng's arrangement, and then offered his suggestions regarding manpower.
“I want Wang Meng to go with me to the Prefecture City to manage the business; I trust him. As for the expert to hold down the fort, Father, you must assign me one. Otherwise, if we encounter trouble and have to call for people from Jade Dragon Peak, the distant water won't quench the immediate thirst!”
Hearing Chen Chuanwen's words, Chen Changsheng felt they were very reasonable. Wang Meng was Chuanwu's brother-in-law, practically Family, so loyalty was not an issue!
The key was this expert to hold down the fort; he had to think about it!
Chen Chuanjie had a resounding reputation in the Prefecture City; originally, he was the best candidate to hold down the fort!
But Chuanjie had an agreement with Shangguan Zhuiyue. Orchestrating the ambush of the Crimson Flame Divine Sect's Saint was no simple matter and required much preparation; he certainly wouldn't have time to stay in the Prefecture City!
As for Shi Wuyou and the High Priest, their current focus was definitely the tribe's migration work. Moreover, they were wanted by the Great Xuan Dynasty and couldn't show their faces. Chen Changsheng intended for them to be a hidden force for the Chen Family, so staying in the Prefecture City was definitely inconvenient.
“Let Chuanwu go to the Prefecture City to hold down the fort for you. I will instruct him that the city's affairs will be led by you!”
Chen Changsheng considered it and finally decided to let Chen Chuanwu hold down the fort. With Chen Chuanwu's combat power, he had almost no rivals below Foundation Establishment!
“Alright, Father. I'll first go and open the hotel, brothel, and inn in the Prefecture City to set up the intelligence network!”
“As for the business in Xianju Alley, you will ultimately need to make a personal appearance, Father!”
Chen Chuanwen nodded, very satisfied with his eldest brother holding down the fort. After discussing the situation further with Chen Changsheng, he went down the mountain to make arrangements!
Chen Changsheng then began to prepare the Medicinal Pills needed for the general store in Xianju Alley. In the future, Medicinal Pills would be the Chen Family's flagship products; they had to make a name for themselves on the very first day of opening!
In the following days, Chen Changsheng immersed himself in the Pill Refining Room!
He refined thirty xiantian pills!
He refined sixty fetus-protecting pills!
He even prepared the four types of pills recorded in the fire worshipping pill scripture.
Fifty Muscle-Regenerating Pills for treating physical injuries.
Fifty Soul-Nurturing Pills for treating Divine Soul damage.
Fifty Detoxification Pills for poisons.
Fifty Qi Gathering Pills for increasing Qi Refining cultivation!
By the time Chen Changsheng emerged from the Pill Refining Room, a month had already passed.
At the same time, within that month, Chen Chuanwen had also gotten the businesses in the Prefecture City running and secretly established a small intelligence network.
On this day, Chen Changsheng took the three brothers and Wang Meng down Jade Dragon Peak and headed toward the Prefecture City!
Having weathered countless storms, the Chen Family finally, on this day, stepped from being a farming household in Kaoshan Village onto the central stage of Annan Prefecture!
Annan Prefecture City, the Chen Family has arrived!