I, Sun Shan, and the Imperial Examination

Chapter 1497 Dege's Talkative Skills Have Improved Again

As Sun Shan stepped out of the room, De Ge'er rushed towards him.

He wrapped his arms around Sun Shan tightly and said happily, "Shanzi, I'm back!"

Sun Shan carefully examined De Ge'er. He had gotten tanned and looked weathered after going out, but his spirits were still quite good.

Judging from his cheerful tone, you could tell that the trade trip went very smoothly.

With a broad smile, he asked, "Is everything going smoothly?"

Dege patted his chest confidently and said heartily, "Smooth sailing, of course it went smoothly! With me in charge, how could things not go smoothly? Hahaha~~~"

That smug look of his was really infuriating.

Sun Shan, looking exasperated, said, "I'm glad everything went smoothly. Tell me about this trade trip, what interesting things happened along the way."

Dege'er's face fell, and he rolled his eyes, saying, "Shanzi, being a merchant is such a tiring job, where's the fun in it? You sit in the yamen and don't know how hard it is outside. There are many difficulties and hardships along the way, and it's a winding and complicated journey. Being a merchant is not an easy thing."

Sun Shan said speechlessly, "You just said things were going smoothly, how come you're saying it's difficult now?"

Dege put his arm around Sun Shan's shoulder and chatted as they walked outside, saying, "Shanzi, the reason I said it went smoothly is because I was there. If I weren't there, it wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

The journey was fraught with peril, every step a struggle, akin to fleeing a disaster. It was only thanks to my support that we were able to return safely. Shanzi, without me, this grain trade would likely have been impossible.

Shanzi, you must remember my kindness. Ah, the journey was so difficult; if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gone on this trading trip.

Sun Shan: ...

He rolled his eyes at Dege and said in a nonchalant tone, "Then thank you for your hard work, Dege."

Dege chuckled, patted his chest, and said confidently, "It's hard work, but no matter how hard it is, I'll do it for you. Hey, what can we do? We're brothers, after all. For a brother, I'd go through fire and water for him."

Dege walked along with Sun Shan, chatting away, while Sun Shan's ears rang.

I knew Dege liked to talk big, but why did he talk even more big after going out?

His ability to pat himself on the back has increased to an unprecedented level, without batting an eye or blushing.

Dege'er's ability to boast has improved again.

Sun Shan truly admired De Ge'er's shamelessness.

The two walked into the main hall, where everyone had gathered.

Everyone's eyes lingered on the pile of things.

Uncle Sun led Little Fatty and Little Blackie to touch and explore a pile of things, their eyes filled with greed.

Sun Dali led his men forward to greet Sun Shan, saying, "Master, we're back."

Sun Shan said happily, "It's good that you're back safely. I've been thinking about you these past few days, waiting and waiting, and I'm so glad you're finally back."

He paused, then asked, "Was everything alright? Did you encounter any difficulties on the way?"

Sun Dali said with a smile, "Master, everything went very smoothly. Scholar Chen is really capable. He not only introduced us to merchants, but also to shipping companies. With Scholar Chen's letter, we were taken care of all along the way. Hehe, Master, this trip went so smoothly, all thanks to Scholar Chen's help."

Sun Dali was an honest farmer, far too simple-minded compared to Dege'er's flowery boasting.

Dege'er didn't blush at all when he heard Sun Dali say that.

He even put on a smile and said, "Master Chen only took such good care of us because of our Shanzi. Humph, without our Shanzi, this batch of grain wouldn't have sold so well."

Raising an eyebrow, he looked at Sun Shan and said, "Shanzi, the Wang family followed us all the way, acting like country bumpkins, all ignorant and petty. Heh heh, a small family is just a small family. They never knew that a wealthy family could solve a problem so easily with just a word."

He paused, then continued, "Shanzi, if we had enough manpower this time, we wouldn't have needed to cooperate with the Wang family at all. They were just helping with the transportation; we solved all the problems along the way."

"Oh dear, Shanzi, your share is too small. This trade trip was all thanks to our connections. Humph, without us, where would the Wang family have gotten so many high-quality, low-priced goods?"

Sun Shan glared at De Ge'er and said rudely, "Don't say that again. I have my reasons for doing things. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll send you back to Sun Family Village."

As soon as Sun Shan finished speaking, Uncle Sun, who had been touching this and that, stopped.

He slapped Dege on the shoulder and said fiercely, "You little devil, Dege, you've only been on one trade trip and you think you know everything? You dare question Shanzi's decision? You empty-headed idiot, are you looking for a beating?"

Turning around, he looked at Sun Shan with a fawning expression and said ingratiatingly, "Shanzi, Dege'er is all show and no substance, like a hollow bamboo. He makes a lot of noise when you knock on him, but he has no real skills. Don't mind him, he'll grow up after a few more meals."

Although Uncle Sun also felt that Sun Shan had given the Wang family too much of the profits.

But who is Sun Shan? A miser who loves money more than life itself!

He's the kind of person who steals and cheats, even his own third uncle, so there must be a reason why he had to give the Wang family so much money.

If he could, Sun Shan would love to take it all for himself; no, not only take it all for himself, but also cheat others.

Sun Shan glanced at his third uncle with admiration, never expecting his uncle to understand him so well.

He said with a smile, "Third Uncle, as expected, you are on the list of smartest people in Sun Family Village."

He turned to Dege and said, "Dege, you'll regret it if you don't listen to your elders. Listen to your third uncle more."

Dege scratched his shoulder, only to be slapped down by Uncle Sun, which stung.

She said with a wronged expression, "Shanzi, I'm not telling anyone else, I'm only telling you. My relationship with the Wang family is very good now, especially with Brother Ji Jun, we're so close."

Sun Shan's lips twitched. They're practically brothers now, their relationship must be really good.

Recalling Wang Jijun's personality and then looking at De Ge'er, the two really have the same temperament—both are unreliable and the kind of friends who are just fair-weather friends.

They might actually become so close that they could share a pair of pants.

Sun Shan pointed to a pile of things in the main hall and asked, "What are these? Are they goods?"

The jumbled pile of things—could this be the goods we brought back this time?

Dege said with a smile, "These are gifts I brought back from Dongting Lake. Hehe, everyone who sees them gets a share."

The chubby girl rushed over from a pile of gifts and pounced on Dege's legs.

With sparkling eyes, she asked, "Derber, is there a gift for Xiaoxiao inside?"

Dege'er answered confidently, "Of course I have her. I can live without anyone else, but I can't live without my Xiaoxiao."

The chubby girl was overjoyed and asked again, "Derber, is there anything delicious inside?"

Dege'er answered confidently, "Of course! My Xiaoxiao loves it the most, I'll definitely bring her some delicious food."

Little Fatty's world instantly blossomed with spring, filled with the fragrance of flowers and the songs of birds—a truly beautiful scene.