Chapter 4374 — What Now?
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Everyone at their best—it seems I ought to put in a good word for you with Hong Zhong. A talent like yours, stuck as nothing but a deputy steward of a branch, is a waste." Wei Zhao could not help but laugh.
Now that Hong Zhong had taken the vice-chairman's seat, his greatest troubles were, apart from being ganged up on and squeezed out at the Zhongdao headquarters, the lack of outstanding talent beneath him. As a vice-chairman in name and standing, he needed at the very least a few branch offices firmly in hand; otherwise no one would heed a word he said, and he would be left a general without an army.
As for this Chai Laoshi, though Wei Zhao had not dealt with him much, he was at least certain that with the man's abilities, the post of branch steward was well within his grasp. Give him a line to Hong Zhong later, and he would be treated fairly, while also lending Hong Zhong a voice and a backbone. Two birds with one stone.
"Do good work and you won't be shortchanged. Off you go." Wei Zhao nodded.
"Yes, yes—this one will not disappoint you." Chai Laoshi departed at once, bursting with vigor.
He certainly had no intention of sleeping tonight. To repay Wei Zhao for recognizing his worth, his most pressing tasks, beyond managing the Weihu Branch well, were to find solid evidence to match the crimes recorded in the ledgers, so that Wei Zhaotong could be nailed down in one stroke and never rise again!
"Reward and punishment, each in its measure. Buying hearts—when did you learn that trick?" Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao came over and watched Chai Laoshi's receding back with a smile.
"Heh, I never studied it particularly. But after enough of this sort of thing, it comes naturally." Wei Zhao smiled. The more he had been through, the more polished and seasoned he became at handling matters. His true years were not many, yet he had weathered every kind of twist and turn, great and small. His experience truly was beyond comparison with others his age.
"So you're self-taught, then? What a thick skin!" Wang Xinyan teased, lips curving, and exchanged a knowing smile with Huang Xiaotao before asking, "So what do you plan to do next?"
"I've already written to Hong Zhong, asking him to step in and handle this. What's left is to hold the fort at the Weihu Branch and wait for word from his side." Wei Zhao was entirely at ease. He had done everything he could; how it would ultimately be resolved now depended on Hong Zhong's move.
"All right, then. Since that's the case, the two of us may as well head back." Wang Xinyan said. They had agreed with the East Sea Divine Nun to return after dinner, and now that there was nothing else to do, it was hardly proper for the two of them to linger out overnight.
"Good. I'll see you both off." Wei Zhao nodded.
"No need. You'd better keep an eye on this one, before he wakes up and kicks up a fuss." Wang Xinyan pointed at Wei Zhaotong, whom Wei Zhao had slapped unconscious beside them.
Wei Zhao thought it over, then dealt Wei Zhaotong, still dead to the world, another slap. He dragged back the hired expert he had earlier sent flying and bound him up like a dead dog, then called Chai Laoshi over and had him personally bring men to stand watch. Only then did he say, "There, no problem now. Compared with seeing you two home, everything else is nothing but clouds."
"All right..." Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao were caught between laughter and tears, yet warmth welled up in both their hearts, and they found it quite pleasing.
The three of them chatted and laughed as Wei Zhao escorted the two women all the way to the inn where the Morning Star Academy was lodging, watched them go upstairs, and then turned back toward the Hong Merchant Guild.