Chapter 45 Just Want to Lie Down and Count Money

"I wouldn't dare, this humble one deserves death."

Pang Shiyuan immediately dropped to his knees, though truth be told, that was precisely what he had thought moments before.

Yet now, Lu Lan's actions completely baffled him.

Lu Lan gently took a sip of his Lao Jun Mei tea.

In his past life, when Pang Shiyuan came begging to purchase Mount Dadong, he had worn them down with persistent entreaties for over a year. Lu Yanbei and Yan Shiyue had hesitated the entire time, only finally nodding in agreement when the household's expenses could no longer be sustained.

Securing a mountain of gold for a mere eight thousand taels of silver—Pang Shiyuan had claimed with a straight face that he lost his shirt and that raising horses on it would take ages to turn a profit.

In reality, he had wept tears of joy while raking in a hundred million taels of silver, amassing a fortune that rivaled nations.

Otherwise, he never would have caught the eye of Gu Xingwan.

Lu Lan had already figured it out. He was not cut out for making money himself; rather than exhausting himself developing Mount Dadong, it was far better to find a capable professional to do the job.

Pang Shiyuan was the ultimate candidate.

Since he had managed to become the wealthiest man in the world in his previous life, he undoubtedly possessed extraordinary abilities.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have him make money for himself while he simply lay back and counted the cash?

However, this partnership had to be proposed by Pang Shiyuan himself; only then would the man dedicate himself heart and soul to working for him.

Lu Lan adopted a nonchalant, careless posture.

"The black stone on Mount Dadong is so abundant. If it could be put to use, it would create unimaginable wealth. As for the toxic gas, there's no need to worry at all. With all the talented and extraordinary people across the realm, surely someone can find a way to neutralize the poison... Tong Yan, show the guest out!"

"Mr. Pang, please!" Tong Yan said firmly.

Pang Shiyuan stood frozen in place.

This business deal had effectively ended before it even began.

Watching the mountain of gold and silver slip right through his fingers, a profound sense of frustration welled up within him.

He hailed from Shangcheng in the Southern Chu State, where the land was barren, trees were scarce, and winters were bitterly cold. For generations, the villagers had relied entirely on a single coal mountain for cooking and heating.

Initially, they too had suffered greatly from toxic gases, but after centuries of trial and error, his family had passed down a secret method for neutralizing the poison—the prototype of what would become the "fragrant coal briquette."

Pang Shiyuan had traveled far and wide trading horses. During the bitter winter of a few years ago, when he first arrived in the capital of Shengjing, he discovered that a single cart of firewood charcoal sold for as much as three taels of silver, yet demand still outstripped supply. Buying it even a little too late meant missing out entirely.

Three whole taels of silver—enough to sustain a poor family's expenses for an entire year, yet sufficient only to purchase a single cart of charcoal.

There was no helping it; the charcoal trade had already been monopolized by the nobility, who cared only for squeezing the lifeblood out of the common folk with zero regard for whether ordinary people lived or died.

Back in his hometown, however, a cart of fragrant coal briquettes cost a mere eight qian of silver.

Having keenly sensed a business opportunity, he had wanted to transport fragrant coal briquettes from his hometown to the capital to resell them for a profit.

Alas, the coal mountain in his hometown had already been exhausted after a thousand years of mining.

That notion had thus been abandoned.

Recently, he heard that Mount Dadong was rich in black stone and that the Duke of Yu's estate was looking to sell it off cheaply, which was why he had hurried over to inquire about the price.

Lu Lan was entirely correct; he was not the only one in the world who knew how to make fragrant coal briquettes.

Pang Shiyuan's mind raced at lightning speed. Since outright purchase was out of the question, he would have to settle for the next best option.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Grace, this humble one possesses an ancestral secret formula for removing toxins, one that can transform Mount Dadong from a toxic wasteland into a mountain of gold and silver. This humble one is willing to partner with Your Grace so we may both make a fortune."

"You have a secret formula? How do you propose we partner?"

Pang Shiyuan acutely detected the trace of greed in the depths of Lu Lan's eyes. There was no mistaking it—where there was greed, there was room for negotiation.

"Your Grace shall provide the black stone, while this humble one takes charge of producing the fragrant coal briquettes and securing the market sales. As for the profit split, let us do a three-seven division!"

Lu Lan slammed his hand down on the table, glared at Pang Shiyuan, and rebuked, "Why on earth am I only getting thirty percent?"

Pang Shiyuan: "..."

The corners of his eyes twitched violently, and he almost choked to death on the spot. "Your Grace... the seventy percent belongs to this humble one, and you, respected sir, shall take thirty percent."

Pang Shiyuan felt that since he was providing the secret formula, doing the processing, and handling the sales, while Lu Lan merely lay back and counted the money, it was only right that he take the lion's share.

"Audacious! How dare you try to outrank His Grace? You must be tired of living."

You Rong pointed at Pang Shiyuan and rebuked sternly.

Pang Shiyuan remained relatively composed. With the tip of his nose practically touching the cool floor tiles, he began analyzing the situation for Lu Lan:

"Your Grace, this formula of mine is an authentic, genuine ancestral secret recipe, passed down through nine generations as an only son, entirely unique to my family. You will not find a second person like this under the heavens.

"Just as Your Grace said, winter is coming. Think of how much firewood charcoal the citizens in the city will burn. Our black stone can completely replace it all, and at a much lower price. Once you calculate your share of those thirty percent profits, Your Grace will realize it is still a massive fortune."

A cart of charcoal cost three taels of silver—even a merchant like him found it exorbitant, leaving ordinary folk to shiver and starve through the bitter winters.

Once the fragrant coal briquettes went on sale in Shengjing, they would inevitably dominate the market.

He dared to propose this profit split because he was certain that Lu Lan could not possibly find anyone else capable of making fragrant coal briquettes in the short term.

Right now was the absolute best time to negotiate terms, and he was determined to claim seventy percent of the profits.

A cold smile lingered at the corner of Lu Lan's mouth.

*You bastard really are greedy.*

Yet, he did not fear greedy people.

Greed was the driving force that compelled a merchant to continuously amass wealth.

If this scoundrel weren't greedy enough, how could he ever become the wealthiest man in the Southern Chu State?

However, Lu Lan would certainly never agree to a mere thirty percent cut.

It wasn't a matter of earning more or less; You Rong was right. This business had to be led and controlled by him; he could not allow Pang Shiyuan to overpower him.

"Pang Shiyuan, you should head back for now. This heir shall consider it further."

Little did Lu Lan expect that after this parting, he would never lay eyes on Pang Shiyuan ever again.