Chapter 135

Moreover, Fei Nanyu trusted Tang Mingrui to the utmost. Soon after he ascended to the throne, he bestowed Tang Family the sole imperial merchant status in Daxing Country.

As a result, during Fei Nanyu’s reign, Tang Family’s business thrived even more, becoming an existence as rich as a country.

Of course, this was not without the business acumen of Tang Family’s current head.

Moreover, historical books also mentioned that Tang Mingrui’s ancestors had run businesses for generations. Later, due to the Salt Gang’s plot, they almost suffered family ruin and death of their members.

To be able to revive Tang Family again, 17-year-old Tang Mingrui took his mother and two young brothers, and escaped his hometown using the little savings left in the family.

Afterwards, through many years of hard work and striving, he built up a business of no small size again. At the same time, he also secretly collected detailed information about the Salt Gang.

After Nan Qi ascended to the throne, Fei Nanyu brought men to crackdown on the Salt Gang. Tang Mingrui resolutely submitted the information he had collected over the years, and got acquainted with Fei Nanyu because of this.

At the same time, He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye also immediately thought of the Tang Family the officer had just spoken of.

It was very likely that the Tang Family mentioned by the officer was Tang Mingrui’s original clan.

At this time, what He Zhiran was thinking was, first not considering whether Tang Mingrui had any connection with Fei Nanyu.

After arriving at the Northwest, in order to let her family live better, she would definitely have to run some profitable businesses on the surface to conceal her using the silver from the national treasury.

However, Da Shun Dynasty had a rule that exiled people who did not have a special pardon order from the Emperor would have to live in exile for the rest of their lives, and could not leave the city walls for half a step.

Thus, the best method was to find a clever businessman to cooperate with.

Thinking thus, He Zhiran felt the most suitable partner to cooperate with her business was Tang Mingrui.

“Husband, this person looks quite pitiful.”

Mo Jiuye naturally understood her meaning. “Hmm, I’ll go over to take a look.”

Mo Chuhan did not think too much. He only thought his Ninth Sister’s womanly compassion had been aroused.

Thus, he also intended to follow Mo Jiuye.

However, Mo Jiuye stopped him.

“Eighth Brother, your health is weak. Leave this small matter to me.”

Seeing it was only a few men chasing with sabers, Mo Chuhan did not continue forcing himself as Mo Jiuye could totally handle it. Since Mo Jiuye chose to take action, he would naturally not leave any living mouths.

Moreover, he never had any good impressions towards the Salt Gang’s men.

He might as well go all the way and directly take their dog lives.

He hid in the shadows, and aligned the mini sleeve arrows at several Salt Gang’s men.

With a few swoosh sounds, the Salt Gang’s men all had an arrow in their foreheads and died on the ground.

Seeing the death of the chasers, Tang Mingrui clearly realized he had been saved.

As he heaved a sigh of relief, he continued walking towards Mo Jiuye’s direction.

“I am Tang Mingrui. Much thanks to Sir for saving my life.”

Having purposefully saved the person, Mo Jiuye would naturally not continue hiding.

After scanning the surroundings and seeing no danger, he flashed out from the shadows.

At the same time, He Zhiran also rushed over.

Facing one man and one woman, Tang Mingrui had no doubt that he was the one they saved.

He bowed with clasped hands again, “Sir.”

Mo Jiuye helped him up slightly.

“I just couldn't ignore an injustice on the road. Young Master need not take it too seriously.”

Having been saved, the first thing Tang Mingrui thought of was how to express some gratitude.

His hand habitually reached into his pocket, only to find it completely empty.

He was apparently somewhat embarrassed.

“I originally wanted to give you some silver taels to thank you for saving my life, but my family has run into some thorny issues recently......”

Mo Jiuye thought that since historical books recorded that Tang Mingrui’s future business prospects were limitless, even if he did not take action to save him today, Tang Mingrui would not die here.

Therefore, he did not place too much emphasis on saving the person.

Just when he was about to say ‘no need to stand on ceremony’, He Zhiran seized the chance to speak first.

“We are criminals who were seized and exiled under the court’s decree. We are now rushing towards Du Cheng in the Northwest.

My husband is called Mo Jiuye. Young Master, if you are truly grateful for our lifesaving grace, when you have some silver on hand in the future, you can send it to Yun City in Northwest for us. Our future lives will indeed require some silver.”

He Zhiran thought that since her purpose of letting Mo Jiuye save Tang Mingrui was for their future business partnership.

Rather than ambiguously declining now and severing possible future connections, it would be more straightforward to directly state their names and address, so he could find them accurately when repaying their kindness. Of course, He Zhiran was also gambling by doing this.

After all, no one was willing to set foot in the barren Northwest lands.

Whether Tang Mingrui would truly repay kindness and send silver to the Northwest in the future were unknown numbers.

She was doing this just to leave herself an additional pathway.

In case Tang Mingrui really had the heart to repay them, having him as a connection would benefit her future businesses.

Hearing Mo Jiuye’s name, Tang Mingrui froze for a moment.

Clearly, he was not unfamiliar with the name Mo Jiuye.

Tang Mingrui did not know why the Mo Family had declined to the point of being seized and exiled.

Since young, he often heard storytellers talk about the brave, enemy-slaying exploits of the Mo Family men. Hence, he had an extremely deep impression about them.

Especially a few years ago, the Third Young Master of the Mo Family had personally led men here to crackdown on the Salt Gang’s evildoers under decree.

He still clearly remembered the scene of the Third Young Master of the Mo Family pushing the Salt Gang’s boss at that time into the prisoner carriage.

This matter was praised by the commoners around the salt lakes for a very long time. Especially the Third Young Master of the Mo Family, the commoners spread tales of him even more exceptionally.

Who knew that after just a few short years, times had changed. The Mo Family men successively died on the battlefields. And today, they had even fallen to the extent of being seized and exiled.

He had assumed that after saying all these, Tang Mingrui would feel she was too realistic, politely decline on the surface then leave.

Unexpectedly, after hearing her words, Tang Mingrui's attitude became even more humble.

“Yesterday, my family had already taken a boat across the river. At this moment, they are waiting for me at Du Cheng pier to reunite.

That place is a necessary route heading Northwest. I have yet to decide where to bring my family, so why don’t I just follow Sir and Madam. Along the way, I can also think of ways to earn some silver.”

Hearing his words, He Zhiran did not hesitate at all and immediately agreed.

“It seems we really have an affinity with Young Master Tang. Let’s go together then! It’ll be safer with more people watching out for each other on the road.”

Tang Mingrui looked around and pointed at the few Salt Gang men’s corpses on the ground, then said:

“Sir had just taken their lives earlier in order to save me. I’m afraid people will discover them tomorrow morning.

The Salt Gang has great numbers. I cannot trouble you further. I won’t disturb you here. I will wait for you at Du Cheng pier tomorrow.”

He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye were not actually afraid of those Salt Gang fellows. But no one liked inviting trouble without reason.

Hence, they both agreed with Tang Mingrui’s decision.

“Alright, see you at Du Cheng tomorrow.”

After Mo Jiuye spoke, he pulled He Zhiran’s hand and left together to regroup with Mo Chuhan. Then, they returned to camp together.

He first gestured towards Liang Hao and others not far away. Very soon, Liang Hao brought men over.