Chapter 50 Coal Mine in Hand
"You are really careful in your work, Otomo!" Chongzhen praised and set off immediately.

…………

"Alas... I never realized that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, are also a liar. I really trusted you wrongly!"

At Wang's Herbal Medicine Shop, Wang An sat behind the counter and couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the empty street.

Seven or eight days had passed since he had agreed with Chongzhen to jointly engage in the coal business, and his rich cousin had never returned, without any news of him.

Come to think of it, it's a big business worth 25,000 taels of silver after all. It doesn't seem realistic to ask others to invest and then share the profits with you.

After all, business is business. If he were in other people's shoes, Wang An didn't think he would be willing to independently invest in the acquisition of a coal mine and then give half of the profits to someone else. Even if that person had a fantastic business plan, it would ultimately be just a scam.

Unless you are stupid, I'm afraid you won't do such a business.

It seemed that my cousin was just trying to please me that day.

Without the investment from his rich cousin, Wang An himself didn't want to look for Zhou Jian anymore.

After all, I only have a few hundred taels of silver on me, so it’s useless to go looking for them again.

Just when Wang An was feeling discouraged and lamenting the decline of human nature and moral standards, his cousin, whom he had been thinking about, suddenly appeared.

"Brother, you are so leisurely!" Chongzhen smiled and strode into the herbal medicine shop.

He brushed the fallen snow off his body and sat down by the fire.

Wang An was overjoyed, and poured hot tea for Chongzhen with a little courtesy, and asked tentatively with a smile: "Where have you been these days, my dear brother? I miss you so much!"

Chongzhen laughed. Wang An's little thought was not concealed at all. He immediately pulled out the coal mine contract from his sleeve and said, "I have been running around for this little thing these days."

"Haha!" Wang An picked up the contract and couldn't stop smiling.

"I knew you were a man of your words. Even though it took some time, it's fine as long as it's done! Next, you can just wait for your dividends! I dare say that if the honeycomb coal business is successful, it will make much more money than selling medicinal herbs at the border with fear and anxiety!"

"Oh, if it is really so easy to make money, I would like to thank my brother for the favor." Chongzhen had the person (Yuan Chonghuan) and the money at this time, and he was in a very good mood.

Excluding Yuan Chonghuan, the 8 million taels of silver that had just been obtained and the expected 30 million taels of silver were all thanks to Wang An's idea, so he didn't mind saying a few flattering words.

In fact, Chongzhen had already thought about whether he should reveal his identity and directly transfer Wang An to the court as an official. Wasn't Wang An a member of the Ma Yi Gate? Whether it was the Imperial Observatory or the Daoluo Si of the Ministry of Rites, it was up to Wang An's wishes.

But later on I changed my mind and realized that by then the two of them would be in a relationship of monarch and subject, some things would be better if they could be spoken freely between "brothers".

Anyway, everyone regards Wang An as a military advisor. As long as this function remains, it doesn’t matter whether Wang An is a commoner or a minister.

So, I gave up this idea.

Wang An scratched his head embarrassedly when he heard this. Even with his thick skin, he felt a little feverish. He couldn't help but sigh that his cousin was so naive and kind.

I didn't spend a penny, but I got a share of this business worth tens of thousands of taels. The other party even wants to thank me for their support. I feel a little embarrassed when I think about it.

It is obvious that I took advantage of the other party, and I should thank the other party for the kindness.

However, the shame of deceiving the idiot was only fleeting. Wang An continued to speak shamelessly: "Brothers should support each other! Saying these things is too polite!" After that, he carefully put the contract into his arms.

The contract stated the specific address of the coal mine, so Wang An didn't ask where it was.

Wang An put away the contract and suddenly remembered, "At that time, I had an agreement with Zhou Jian to buy the coal mine and delivery yard, and also a yard of coal. Did you get it, brother?"

Wang An did mention this at the time, but Chongzhen didn't remember it.

Even for this coal mine, Wang Chengen was thoughtful and had informed the Ministry of Revenue early on.

So Chongzhen's smile froze and he looked at Wang Chengen awkwardly, hoping that this careful companion would take care of the cargo yard matters as well.

However, Wang Chengen also had a stiff smile and obviously had forgotten about this.

This coal mine was directly confiscated by the Ministry of Households, so Zhou Jian naturally would not be so kind as to offer "buy two get one free". It is also unknown whether the freight yard has been confiscated by the Ministry of Households, or is still in Zhou Jian's hands.

However, Chongzhen looked at him, so Wang Chengen had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "I accepted it, but I forgot to bring the house deed with me. It's still in the inn."

Wang An immediately said impatiently: "Oh, then please go and get it back, and we can start work as soon as we are waiting for the cargo yard."

Wang Chengen was still thinking about asking the Ministry of Revenue after returning, but who knew Wang An was so anxious.

He glanced at Chongzhen and saw him nod, so he turned around reluctantly and left the herbal medicine shop.

After Wang Chengen left, Wang An started to complain, "My dear brother, how much money did you give this steward? How could he be so careless and forget to bring something as important as the warehouse title deed? When we do business, the most important thing is to be meticulous, you know?"

If Wang An knew that if it weren't for Wang Chengen, he might not have been able to get the coal mine immediately today. He would probably feel ashamed of himself for gossiping behind his back.

The coal mine that he had been longing for was finally taken. Wang An was in a good mood instantly. He clamored to go to the big restaurant in Guangqumen to book a banquet for Chongzhen. However, he was shouting loudly but his butt did not leave the chair at all.

Chongzhen was "in love" with Wang An, so he didn't think Wang An was hypocritical. Instead, he stopped Wang An and said, "I'll let my servant do this little thing. Wouldn't it be better for you and I to sit here and chat by the fire?"

After that, he called out to the door, "Someone, come and reserve a table."

"Yes." There was an immediate response from outside the door.

Wang An stuck his head out and glanced a few times. It was still snowy outside the door, and there was no sign of anyone.

"It's great to be rich. My dear brother, your servants are so well-mannered! They don't feel cold outside in such a cold day, do they?" Wang An said enviously, "Why don't we let them come in and warm themselves by the fire? They are so pitiful."

"They are wearing thick clothes, it's okay." Chongzhen responded casually. After all, what he was going to discuss with Wang An were all national affairs, and the fewer people present, the better.

The two of them sat by the fire in silence for a while, and Chongzhen said thoughtfully, "Brother, do you know Yuan Chonghuan?"

Wang An glanced at Chongzhen and said curiously, "Yuan Tutu, I'm afraid it's hard for Chinese people not to know him! Why are you talking about him?"

Chongzhen grinned and told a lie he had been telling for a long time, "My family is in the medicinal materials business in Liaodong. Yuan Chonghuan was the governor of Liaodong before, and my father met him several times."

(End of this chapter)