Fan Li was stunned. Before he could speak, Yan Shifan burst into laughter.
"Just a joke. Don't be nervous, Master Fan. I'm a generous man. I just like to joke around." Yan Shifan walked forward and patted Fan Li's shoulder familiarly.
Generous?
Fan Li's expression was strange. He had just witnessed Yan Shifan bullying Xu Fan to the point of smashing things and cursing. But he was playing the role of a merchant now. Before the Grand Secretary's son, he had to appear somewhat deferential.
"May I ask why Junior Grand Secretary Yan has summoned me?" Fan Li asked, putting on an attentive expression.
"Hahaha!"
Yan Shifan laughed again. He was clearly satisfied with Fan Li's reaction. Merchants should naturally be afraid of officials.
"Master Fan, your Fan Clan Trading Company does good business. So good that even I want to do business with you." His words were incredibly inappropriate.
The Great Ming's laws strictly forbade relatives of the imperial family and officials of the fourth rank or higher, as well as their families and servants, from engaging in commerce.
Yan Shifan had just broken the law with a single sentence. But he was clearly flaunting his family's power, their ability to disregard the law.
Fan Li's reaction was also fitting. He immediately replied, "If we have the honor, the Fan Clan Trading Company will do its utmost to cooperate."
"Good! Clever!"
Yan Shifan nodded with satisfaction. No wonder the Fan Clan Trading Company was successful throughout the world. Their representatives were all so astute. It was no wonder they were wealthy.
"I heard that your Fan Clan Trading Company's face masks, essences, toners, and emulsions are selling incredibly well in Wei, Han, and Wu. Our Great Ming has millions of citizens, a vast market. Why haven't you sold these new products in the Great Ming?"
Fan Li thought to himself, 'How is that my fault?'
The Great Ming had strict import and export regulations. Ninety percent of the Fan Clan Trading Company's goods were banned from entering the country. Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
Fan Li replied tactfully, "Junior Grand Secretary Yan, what you said is certainly true. But new products must be inspected and approved before they can enter the country. The New Year is approaching, and the various ministries are busy with many matters. Our company doesn't want to trouble the Great Ming. We were planning to submit our application after the spring…"
Yan Shifan immediately waved his hand dismissively. "That's a minor issue. I can smooth things over for you with a single word. I'll ensure your products enter the Great Ming without any obstacles."
Fan Li hastily replied, "I'm eternally grateful. Your kindness, Junior Grand Secretary Yan, I don't know how to repay you."
Yan Shifan had been waiting for those words! Although this task had been personally assigned by Emperor Jiajing, even if he didn't receive any benefits, Yan Shifan had to complete it.
But if he truly helped Fan Li without receiving anything in return, he wouldn't be the Junior Grand Secretary.
Plucking feathers from a passing goose… Yan Shifan's style was more like plucking the entire goose.
"What repayment? I'm just smoothing things over for you. There are many officials in the various departments who need to be… taken care of…"
Fan Li had been waiting for him to say that. If Yan Shifan agreed to help him without asking for anything in return, Fan Li wouldn't be able to sleep soundly. He was relieved that Yan Shifan had extended his hand.
"Taking care of the expenses of the various departments is our duty. But our company doesn't know the officials personally. Would it be possible to trouble Junior Grand Secretary Yan to distribute the funds on our behalf? Our company is willing to provide two million taels of silver and one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones annually…"
How could Yan Shifan know the profit margins of cosmetics?
Simply for providing import convenience for the Fan Clan Trading Company's new products, a task assigned by Emperor Jiajing, he could earn an additional two million taels of silver and one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones annually. Yan Shifan was delighted.
As for smoothing things over with the various departments, a single word from him was all it took. What expenses were there to cover?
Yan Shifan nodded. "Master Fan, we truly hit it off. We must interact more often. Speaking of which, is this your first time at the Smoke and Waves? You should enjoy yourself tonight."
"What?"
What was he talking about?
Tonight?
Enjoy?
The auction was nearly over. Wasn't the barge about to return to the docks?
Yan Shifan, seeing his confusion, laughed. "Tonight, the Qinhuai River won't freeze. The Smoke and Waves will sail throughout the night, only returning to the docks at dawn. Master Fan, are you afraid of your wife? You wouldn't dare to stay out all night, would you?"
He burst into laughter.
Fan Li was speechless. So, after the charity auction, there were… other services?
The Smoke and Waves truly was the Great Ming's premier pleasure barge. Even a charity event ended with its true nature on display?
"Don't be nervous, Master Fan."
Yan Shifan winked at him, then glanced at Xue Susu greedily.
"Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."
…
Back in his private room, the auction was nearly over. Several more items had been presented, but their prices were far lower than that of Fan Li's "Tao Te Ching."
Fan Li yawned, wondering how he would get through the night. He didn't consider himself a gentleman, but he had no shortage of women in his life. He didn't need to seek entertainment in a pleasure barge.
Later, if the Smoke and Waves made arrangements for him, he would simply find an excuse to decline.
"Ding!"
The long-silent system notification suddenly sounded.
Fan Li was startled.
Damn it!
This troublesome system, it had previously forced him to be a traitor. Tonight, it wasn't going to force him to be a gigolo, was it?
"Special environment detected. Random mission triggered. Please choose."
"Mission One: Pure as Jade."
"Mission Description: Host will stay the night on the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge. Please avoid all contact with women."
"Mission Reward: Detailed information about Grand Master Xue Susu."
"Mission Two: Embrace Debauchery."
"Mission Description: Host will accept any woman who knocks on his door tonight, spending the night with them."
"Mission Reward: Slight increase in favorability from a random Sage Ruler of the Great Ci Dynasty."
"Only one mission can be chosen."
Fan Li was baffled.
What kind of ridiculous missions were these, especially the reward for Mission Two – increased favorability from a random Sage Ruler?
What if it increased Sage Ruler Jin De's favorability…
Fan Li shuddered and chose Mission One without hesitation.
"System, I choose 'Pure as Jade'!"
The auction ended.
Over five million taels of silver had been raised, along with countless spirit stones and other cultivation resources.
"I, Susu, thank you all once again for your generosity. Tonight, please enjoy yourselves on the barge. All expenses are waived. It's a small token of our appreciation."
The guests' gazes towards the stage turning excited and suggestive. At that moment, a group of beautiful women appeared from both sides of the stage. Although not all of them were stunning beauties, they were all attractive and alluring.
Before the guests could even choose, the women walked into the crowd, selecting their companions.
Fan Li noticed that those who were first to be embraced by the women were the guests who had been most generous during the auction. And the women in their arms were the most beautiful.
As expected, there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Fan Li wondered, would he be considered stingy or a generous contributor?
If a woman approached him, what would she be like?
As he pondered this, someone knocked gently on his door.
"Master Fan, are you there? It's me, Xue Susu…"