Chapter 1232: Chapter 1230: Gradual Immersion
Wang Haoâs doubts were quickly explained.
Little Fatty Zhu said, "Brother, how can commoners compete with nobles and powerful people? Thereâs a saying, âHaving a treasure invites trouble.â For an ordinary person without a solid background, holding such a hot potato could easily lead to disaster. But for the nobles!"
Wang Hao was intrigued, holding his cup without drinking, just listening quietly.
Little Fatty Zhu, as if having opened a floodgate of grievances, said, "Itâs too easy for the nobles to come by money. They have power, so what does holding a small mine matter to them? If youâre powerful enough, you can weather any storm. Besides, officials shield each other. But hey, brother, Iâm not talking about your Marquis Yonganâs Mansion!"
Wang Hao laughed, "Look at you, I didnât say anything!"
"Thatâs the way it is. Nobles holding onto something like this act as if nothing happened, but commoners canât. Itâs a matter of life and death. You tell me, would my friend dare?" Little Fatty Zhu said.
"Thatâs not necessarily true. If you discover gold and silver mines and donât report them, once found out, itâs a capital crime!" Wang Hao said.
Little Fatty Zhu dismissively shrugged, "Thatâs just for small officials. If someone like Sixth Master, an Imperial Kinsmen, was involved, would it still be the same story? Moreover, donât those nobles have their mines? Silver mines, iron mines, they hold onto them without saying a word. Look at the Leng Family, didnât they even get a coal mine? And those big merchants who deal in gemstones, donât they have a jade mine or two? Have you ever seen any of them get into trouble?"
Wang Hao felt a thrill inside, but kept his face composed and said with a smile, "You sure know a lot."
Little Fatty Zhu poured him a drink and sighed, "I just regret that my father didnât give me a brain for studying, otherwise I would have surely gone for the imperial exams and become an official. Even if not, if I had been born into a good family like you, I would have certainly taken that mine."
Wang Hao was flattered and delighted by these words. How could people be compared to one another? Being born into a good family wasnât something he could change.
"So, thatâs the deal." Little Fatty Zhu said, "This mine carries certain risks. Iâm not trying to trick you, brother. I donât know many people; if youâre interested, help me connect with someone and Iâll give you a commission as the intermediary. How about one-tenth?"
Wang Hao pondered for a moment and asked, "Where is the mine?"
"Ha, itâs not far. I found it strange too; a mine so close to the capital, could it be due to the aura of the emperor?" Little Fatty Zhu gave a rough location.
Wang Hao replied, "Itâs hard to say. Letâs just drink. By the way, where are you staying these days?"
Little Fatty Zhu gave an address and didnât bring up the topic again, starting to drink with him.
The two drank happily and only parted ways when it was completely dark.
Returning to Marquis Yonganâs Mansion, Wang Hao was immediately caught by his mother for a lecture. He tried to ask her for money, and Lady of Marquis Yongan said, "Your sister just sent a message asking for money. Does the family have a mine or something? Everyoneâs asking me for money. No, Haohao, you should behave..."
Wang Hao pursed his lips, his motherâs nagging buzzing in his earsâ"Does the family have a mine? The family has a mine!"
Returning to his courtyard, Wang Hao instructed his trusted servant, "You personally go and find out a few things. Be smart and donât slip up." Saying this, he relayed everything Little Fatty Zhu had said, except for the part about the silver mine.
He wasnât foolish; he couldnât take Little Fatty Zhuâs words at face value without investigating. If itâs true...
Thinking about a silver mine, Wang Hao swallowed hard, collapsing onto his bed as if seeing shiny silver ingots flying toward him.