Chapter 702: Chapter 698: The Ambitious Cui Dayou

As a proprietor who was diligent in reflection and learning, Cui Dayou had risen to his position from being a mere orphan in a charitable hall. It was his diligence and caution that allowed him to rise, much like a slow bird that flies first.

He knew whether a person was valued or not, depended on two factors: feelings and worth.

As for Tang Luo, a stunning talent who was wholly devoted to martial arts, Cui Dayou dared not stake his future on how affectionate the latter could be towards him. Instead, he focused all his energies on improving his own value.

He had to properly execute all the tasks assigned by the head of the family; he had to anticipate potential problems and consider everything for the head of the family; he had to earn the master’s trust and have more tasks assigned to him.

Although they had not been together for long, Cui Dayou had already keenly noticed one of Tang Luo’s traits – he had an extreme lack of concern for anything outside of martial arts.

Or put another way, aside from martial arts, there was nothing of significance in the eyes of this exceptional talent.

A lower servant promoted from within the house, had managed to set up the purpose-unknown Star Pavilion. Even during a catastrophe, they enjoyed the best treatment. A few servants along with a proprietor and a pavilion leader, though producing nothing, had several boxes of gold bars available as reserve funds. These were at the disposal of the Proprietor Hua Ji, with no need to maintain account books or approval slips, let alone manage affairs.

The situation with the Righteous Business Group was even more extreme. A notorious gang leader was highly valued, and had been miraculously appointed to establish the largest agricultural tools merchant in Xiling. This was a treasure pot with billion-gold transactions. It was simply left untouched, not cared for. The Righteous Gang and the Righteous Business Group from top to bottom were all Gong Zheng’s people. As harsh as it may sound, if this guy had ulterior motives, he could just take the money from the business group and leave Xiling. There would be no place to search.

But Tang Luo still seemed unaffected. He didn’t even consider assigning a steward. Cui Dayou still remembered when he was first dispatched to operate the Righteous Business Group, the rogue leader clenched his hand, his face relief-stricken as if he had just survived a catastrophe: “The master has finally sent someone! Mr. Cui, if you didn’t show up, I would have had to apologize to the master!”

Only then did Cui Dayou realize the extent of mismanagement in the Righteous Business Group. Misuse of public resources, misappropriation of public funds, and other issues were far from surprising. With daily expanding sales, no internal supervisory mechanisms, the Group was riddled with problems. The proprietor and the workers of the Righteous Business Group were gangsters picked from the Righteous Gang. Following along Gong Zheng, although these ruffians might no longer oppress the innocent, their “dirty hands” were not viewed as wrong in their eyes. As these people worked hard for the Righteous Business Group, they thought, what’s wrong with grabbing a few gold coins?

Not one of the account statements from any of the branches matched. Gong Zheng had lost his temper over this countless times, but every time the workers and the steward would look horrified, apologize, but then forget about it once they turned around.

The ordeal of collective irresponsibility fell heavily on them. If only one person was culpable, the issue could be resolved by making an example of him, but what if all of them were guilty? Killing them all would end the Righteous Business Group’s hard-earned establishment.

If the Righteous Business Group, onto which the head of the family had placed great hopes, were to fail in this way, it was frightening to think about the punishment Gong Zheng would receive. Hence, when he met Cui Dayou, he saw him as a savior.

Cui Dayou also saw his path in the crisis of the Righteous Business Group’s management. Since the head of the family disliked being distracted by business matters, he would become the person who took care of those for the master.

Having found his position, Cui Dayou felt his path ahead was clear and all his doubts and worries disappeared with this realization.

Moreover, the more he thought about his position, the more he realized that Tang Luo’s high regard for him seemed to be based on this plan. Otherwise, he would not have assigned him his first job as the head of the Marshal Star Pavilion.

Because the head of the Marshal Star Pavilion was responsible for the overall planning of all monetary and grain resources, as well as the guarantee of the logistical medical support. Looking at his work at the Marshal Star Pavilion over the period, he believed that Tang Luo would need many similar industries like the Righteous Business Group, to afford this unparalleled gold-burning entity in the future.

As a steward of a wealthy family who had experienced a wide range of things, he had never seen a martial arts organization that burned money like the Marshal Star Pavilion.

This was not simply cultivating martial arts practitioners, this was like raising young masters!

The situation seemed manageable during the flood, but just after the disaster had passed, Tang Luo had personally adjusted the treatment standards of the Marshals of Marshal Star Pavilion. Even the lowest-ranking third-class Marshals were offered both meat and vegetarian meals every day. The daily medicinal baths of the second-class Marshals were beyond enviable. As for the treatment of first-class Marshals, it almost surpassed that of a normal family’s scions, taking spiritual food every meal, daily medicinal baths, and even tailored martial arts styles after choosing secret methods, continuous follow-up resources, training with top Fierce Realm experts, leisure time for reading and learning, all of which almost made these youths of humble birth feel that they were illegitimate children of the Tang Family.

The enormous daily resource consumption of Marshal Star Pavilion was dependent on the supplies from the Righteous Business Group. Therefore, Cui Dayou took it as a task he had to fulfil. Fortunately, these gang members who had followed Gong Zheng all along, although rascals, had feelings and respect, and were not blinded by interests.

With the implementation of the new guidelines in the Righteous Business Group, the fatally flawed giant was somewhat patched by Cui Dayou. The success of this task also drew the attention of the old families in Lanshan City who had been waiting to see Tang Luo’s jokes, their eyes now turning to the resounding proprietor, Cui Dayou.

There was no question that Cui Dayou should be Tang Luo’s retainer now. Everyone subconsciously assumed this because of his power to represent the head of the family and handle the most important businesses. There was no doubt that this was a symbol of trust.

Although Cui Dayou was clearly aware that his position in Tang Luo’s heart might not even be higher than the Proprietor of Star Pavilion, he did not want to explain too much about these misunderstandings. After all, as a steward with dreams, he felt that although he was not the most trusted subordinate of the master now, he would definitely be in the future.

Not denying Cui Dayou’s position, many families mistakenly thought that they found the right person to approach. These days an unknown number of families came to visit him at work, talking about the same issue.

“All clans in Lanshan city are willing to assist the young prodigy, Tang Luo, to surpass the head of Qutang City, Tang Yao, and win the test for the young clan’s leadership!”

Every clan subtly but solemnly expressed this attitude in front of Cui Dayou. This made him take seriously all the rumors that had been making rounds these days.

This time, he and Gong Zheng jointly came to the residence of the boss, to communicate to Tang Luo the impact of this matter.

Handing over the secret note respectfully, Cui Dayou said in a respectful tone, “More than a dozen clans in Lanshan City are willing to openly support the head of the family in competing for the young clan leader position. They will send their excellent siblings to Lanshan City Martial Arts Hall, and will also submit secret family martial arts methods to fill the Scripture Pavilion of the Secret Arts Pavilion of the Martial Arts Hall. With the help of these families, the head of the household will surely be able to steadily win over Tang Yao, the head of Qutang City, and secure the position of the young clan leader.”