Fan Jin accidentally let some profanity slip.
Mo Hua asked, "Do you know who’s blocking you?"
Fan Jin gave a bitter smile, "When it comes to internal promotions within the Taoist Court, I, a small-time Supervisor with no power or influence, have no right to know. I’m nothing more than a pawn to be manipulated from above."
Mo Hua gave Fan Jin a subtle glance.
As he knew, positions in the Taoist Court mostly depended on interests and connections, but it wouldn’t be without reason to block the promotion of a small Supervisor.
Perhaps someone wanted to keep Master Fan in Solitary Mountain City?
Sometimes motion doesn’t beat stillness.
Someone doesn’t want changes in the personnel of the Taoist Court in Solitary Mountain City...
"Master Fan," Mo Hua asked, "are you familiar with the Shen family?"
"Yes."
Fan Jin pondered for a moment, "I’ve dealt with them a bit, but the threshold of the Shen family is too high. I can’t form close ties, so no, not really familiar."
Mo Hua nodded and asked again, "To the north of Solitary Mountain, there’s a large area of mountains belonging to the Shen family. Are they still mining there?"
Fan Jin shook his head, "I’m not sure about other things, but there’s absolutely no way they can keep mining there. Back then, the major families swarmed in like locusts, extracting everything possible from Solitary Mountain. Not even a sip of soup is left; how could there still be anything to mine?"
"Since there’s nothing left to mine, why does the Shen family still hold onto that mountain, not letting others approach?" Mo Hua was a bit puzzled.
"It is indeed strange," Fan Jin frowned, "but after all, the Shen family bought that mountain, so they can do whatever they want, and others can’t interfere..."
Fan Jin spoke, glancing suspiciously at Mo Hua and lowered his voice to ask, "Young master, why are you asking about the Shen family?"
"Oh, nothing," Mo Hua blinked, casually saying, "I passed by and saw it, got curious, so thought I’d ask."
"Oh..."
Fan Jin seemed dubious.
Mo Hua took another sip of tea, then got up to bid farewell, "It’s getting late, I should be going back."
Fan Jin panicked and hurriedly said, "Young master has come from afar, you must let me do my duty as a host and properly entertain the young master."
"Master Fan, you’re too kind," Mo Hua politely declined.
Fan Jin earnestly pleaded, "Please grace us with your presence, young master."
He didn’t want to let a "noble person" who came by drop by the wayside, for his efforts would be in vain otherwise.
At least have a meal to build some relationships. Otherwise, if you miss this chance, who knows when the next will come by?
Mo Hua hesitated slightly.
He wasn’t being insincere, but his break time was limited, and he really had other things to investigate.
Seeing this, Fan Jin immediately said, "Young master, I’ll invite you to Hongyan Building, the largest Food Building in Solitary Mountain City."
The largest Food Building?
Something piqued Mo Hua’s interest, "Could this Food Building be Shen family’s property?"
"Indeed," Fan Jin said.
Mo Hua’s eyes flickered as he nodded, "Then it would be a treat, Master Fan."
"Not at all," Master Fan rejoiced, cupping his hands, "Young master, please."
"Please."
Master Gu, who was watching on the side, thought to himself, "This Fan Datou is really willing to spend big... But then again, to have that kind of eye and knack for maneuvering, if it weren’t for such poor background and lack of power and connections, he’d have surely made it by now."
Then Fan Jin led the way, and the group left the Taoist Court and headed to the busiest area of Solitary Mountain City, to the largest Food Building:
Hongyan Building.
Upon arriving at Hongyan Building, Mo Hua looked up, a bit surprised.
This building was magnificent.
A wealthy and splendid building in an otherwise marginal and impoverished third-grade Immortal City, rivaling some high-end Food Buildings within a fifth-grade state boundary like Taixu City.
Indeed, even the poorest places have their wealthy individuals.
Conversely, it’s because some places have such wealthy people that the poor get poorer.
"The Shen family..."
Mo Hua’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Fan Jin booked a private room at Hongyan Building and ordered a lavish table of dishes specifically to entertain Mo Hua.
During the meal, Fan Jin continually poured wine and served food to Mo Hua.
Even though he was a Golden Core cultivator with a strong build, he did it with such ease as if he were wielding his hammer against Demon Cultivators.
Mo Hua even praised him as being quite talented.
After a few rounds of drinks, the three chatted casually, becoming more familiar with each other.
Mo Hua asked, "Does the Shen family own many businesses in Solitary Mountain City?"
"Of course," Fan Jin, his face rosy from the drinks, pointed to the ceiling, "this Hongyan Building, belongs to the Shen family. Moreover, on the way here, you saw those Pill Pavilions, Artifact Refining Pavilions, stores... they’re all owned by the Shen family."
There were some things not suitable for minors that Fan Jin didn’t mention.
Those places with their dusky beauty are mostly mundane and vulgar, used for business meetings and entertaining.
The young master, a person as pristine as a breeze or bright moon, should not be tainted by such squalor.
Fan Jin continued, "These were all industries the Shen family set up when Solitary Mountain was prosperous to mine the Bright Yellow Copper Ore."
"The Shen family bought the mountains, mined the ore, made a wave of Spirit Stones, established leisure and entertainment industries, and made another wave."
Mo Hua frowned, recalling something: "As the saying goes, ’relying on the mountain to eat the mountain.’ According to the general regulations of the Taoist Court, since Solitary Mountain City is next to Solitary Mountain, its mineral resources should be jointly owned by all cultivators of the city. Why was it sold to the Shen family?"
"The situation is a bit complicated..." Fan Jin found it hard to explain.
Mo Hua poured him a cup of wine.
Fan Jin was instantly flattered, then sighed, "Oh well, everyone with clear eyes knows about these things, so I won’t hide it from the young master..."
"The regulations of the Taoist Court are just regulations. This Solitary Mountain’s mine is nominally owned by all cultivators of Solitary Mountain City. But, in reality, who takes it, who gets more, who gets less, there are so many intricacies involved."