Chen Nan turned to look at Ma Jun, his brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "Do I seem preoccupied?"
Ma Jun suppressed his nervousness. "You clearly seemed preoccupied just now, didn't you, Brother Guo Yu?"
Guo Yu said indifferently, "Big Brother hasn't just been preoccupied moments ago; he's seemed to have something on his mind these past two days."
These were words Chen Nan had taught him.
Ma Jun was overjoyed.
It was true that Chen Nan had something on his mind.
If Ma Jun could help him resolve his troubles.
Wouldn't that earn him favor with the Ma family?
"Lord Chen," Ma Jun seized the moment, "You once said we became acquainted through conflict. Since we are friends, shouldn't we support each other?"
*Thump!*
A dull thud echoed from a distance.
An elder, having slipped, had fallen ungracefully to the ground.
Steward Wang, seeing the fine weather, had come to fish by the moat.
This was his favorite pastime.
He had not expected to encounter Chen Nan and Ma Jun.
If it were just that, it would be fine.
What he hadn't expected was for Ma Jun to try and curry favor with Chen Nan.
You troublesome child!
You truly don't understand Chen Nan's methods!
Generally, when he started trying to build connections,
It signaled he was about to set a trap for someone.
And here you are,
Actively seeking to build a connection with him?
Seeing Chen Nan's gaze,
Steward Wang offered an awkward yet polite smile.
He quickly moved his fishing rod to the side.
Not daring to get too close.
Because he always felt uneasy when he was with Chen Nan.
Of course,
He didn't stray too far either.
He wanted to learn how to set traps from Chen Nan.
Chen Nan hadn't expected to run into Steward Wang here either.
But he didn't go over to greet him.
In fact, their identities were mutually understood.
However, Steward Wang was a bit of a performer.
He didn't want to acknowledge their connection, and Chen Nan wouldn't break that pretense.
"I have indeed encountered a thorny matter," Chen Nan said, casting his fishing rod back into the water. "But this is a favor your Ma family might not be able to render."
Steward Wang, in the distance, raised an eyebrow.
If nothing unexpected happened,
Chen Nan would surely want to leverage the Ma family's influence to search for a Panlong Ginseng.
Or perhaps a Ten-Thousand-Year Netherworld Fish.
Ma Jun said with full confidence, "Lord Chen, my Ma family has considerable connections in Fengdu City. We hold a certain sway in both the imperial court and the martial world."
"If you truly have a difficult matter, our Ma family can indeed serve you diligently."
Chen Nan smiled and shook his head. "Don't be too hasty with your words. What if you can't fulfill it, and end up losing face?"
Ma Jun smiled. "That's unlikely."
Chen Nan pondered for a moment. "I need a Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng, and I need it within two months."
Ma Jun's expression froze instantly.
He didn't know what Panlong Ginseng was.
However,
He knew that once "Ten-Thousand-Year" was added before the name of a medicinal ingredient,
It was an exceptionally rare treasure.
Truly priceless.
At this moment,
Chen Nan's voice rang out, "You don't need to give me an answer right away."
"After all, a Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng is very uncommon."
"Go back and ask your father if he can find one."
"If he can, I will pay a high price for it."
"As a Fifth-Rank Yin Messenger, I cannot take advantage of your Ma family."
Ma Jun swallowed nervously. "Alright, I will return to the family immediately. Lord, please continue fishing; I will be back soon." With that, he quickly left the riverbank.
Steward Wang, standing nearby, was filled with admiration for Chen Nan.
He hadn't forced the Ma family to find the Panlong Ginseng for him.
Instead, he had inquired if the Ma family could find it.
His high emotional intelligence was evident here.
Even if the Ma family couldn't find the Panlong Ginseng,
They would certainly not utter the words "cannot find."
To do so would be to admit their incompetence.
Now that the Ma family wanted to forge a connection with Chen Nan,
Would they admit their incompetence?
Conversely,
If Chen Nan had forced the Ma family to search for the Panlong Ginseng,
The Ma family would have surely felt displeased.
You haven't even helped us make money yet,
And you're already pressuring us to do your bidding?
Do you still have us in your eyes?
If that were the case,
The Ma family might have become indignant,
And even refused to help Chen Nan find the Panlong Ginseng under the guise of inefficiency.
Simply put,
Chen Nan's attitude towards the Ma family was very friendly.
He respected them.
And given Ma Sanyuan's personality, even if searching for the Panlong Ginseng presented countless challenges,
He would definitely put on a show for Chen Nan.
Thinking of this,
He sighed inwardly.
Chen Nan was right.
Business was not just about financial exchange,
But also about human relationships and social graces!
Following him, one could truly learn a great deal!
---
The Ma Family.
Ma Sanyuan learned about Chen Nan's need for a Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng.
His brow furrowed.
He paced back and forth in the garden.
His eyes shone with disbelief.
"Chen Nan actually asked if our Ma family could help him find a Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng?"
"He... does he not know the capabilities of our Ma family?"
A Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng was not an unattainable item for the Ma family.
However,
To acquire it,
They would need to spend vast sums of money.
And deploy some connections they were reluctant to use.
If Chen Nan had forced the Ma family to search for the Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng,
He would have definitely fallen out with Chen Nan.
Although he was the Governor of the Water Transport Department,
His authority was limited to the docks of Tongcheng.
Beyond that dock, he was nothing.
For him,
He could simply establish a small dock upstream.
At most, they would unload the goods and transship them to Tongcheng.
This would be more troublesome, however.
But now,
Chen Nan had presented him with a dilemma.
He could use his influence and connections to find a Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng for Chen Nan.
But doing so would cost the Ma family dearly.
Yet, there was no need to refuse him.
After all, he had stated that
If the Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng was found, he would certainly not mistreat the Ma family.
He had already given the Ma family enough face.
How could the Ma family refuse such an offer?
Taking a deep breath, Ma Sanyuan said, "Go to the riverbank and inform Chen Nan that our Ma family will handle the Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng. It will be delivered to him within two months."
Ma Sanyuan ultimately chose to cultivate good relations with Chen Nan.
After all, to appease him earlier,
The Ma family had spent five million taels of gold to purchase a Soul Gathering Pill for him.
If they were to fall out with him now,
Wouldn't all their previous efforts be in vain?
Five million taels of gold!
That was no small sum!
"Yes, Father. I will go to the riverbank immediately and inform Chen Nan of this matter." Ma Jun turned and left.
Watching his son's departing back,
Ma Sanyuan couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
"If we help Chen Nan find the Ten-Thousand-Year Panlong Ginseng,"
"Our relationship with Chen Nan will undoubtedly become extremely close."
"Once the dock is built and the cargo ships dock,"
"He shouldn't make things difficult for our Ma family, right?"
"Even if our cargo ships were to carry some contraband, he would turn a blind eye, wouldn't he?"
"If he still made things difficult for us then, he would be truly despicable!"
"However, based on my understanding of him, he is certainly not such a base and shameless villain!"