Edward Harper said, “The Liu family is determined to win this deal, and we simply can’t compete with them.”

Brian Grant understood. Since they couldn’t win anyway, it was better to give him a chance to learn. Truly thoughtful. He nodded and said, “Your son-in-law understands.”

Edward Harper waved his hand and said, “You may go now.”

“Yes. Your son-in-law takes his leave.”

Brian Grant stood up, and the always-silent Sarah Harper also stood up. Only then did Brian Grant realize there was a beautiful woman here, but he quickly remembered that all along, Sarah Harper had always been quiet and reserved. No matter how foolish Brian Grant had been, or how badly he had messed up a deal, she never complained—not even once. In fact, she was always the one cleaning up his messes.

Suddenly, Edward Harper said, “Sarah, you stay.”

Brian Grant glanced at Sarah Harper, then walked out. After all, it wasn’t on his way.

Edward Harper looked at Sarah Harper and sighed, “I know you’ve always been upset with me, but there’s nothing I can do. You are clever and capable—when it comes to business, you’ve even surpassed me. Without your help behind the scenes, our family business would have closed long ago. But… but in the end, you’re a woman. Sigh… You can’t step forward to negotiate deals. So, no matter how disappointing Brian Grant is, we still have to rely on him.”

Sarah Harper replied calmly, “Your daughter understands.”

“I hope you truly understand your father’s good intentions.”

Edward Harper gave a bitter smile and continued, “Recently, the Liu family has been pressing hard, snatching several of our deals. From the looks of it, they seem to be targeting us on purpose. You must be extra careful.”

Sarah Harper nodded lightly.

Seeing that Sarah Harper was still as silent as ever, Edward Harper felt helpless and said, “You may go as well.”

Chapter 0002: First, Keep the Rice Bowl

“Heh! Who would’ve thought that my role as a live-in son-in-law would actually match my professional background? Is this fate?”

Walking down the corridor, Brian Grant thought about the task Edward Harper had just given him and couldn’t help but find it all very strange.

His previous job was actually to help employers acquire and merge companies. Sometimes, he was even responsible for splitting up acquired companies and selling them off, earning huge commissions in the process. The task Edward Harper had just given him was basically the same thing, just less complicated, but the essence was exactly the same.

At the same time, he was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected the commodity economy of the Ming Dynasty to be this developed.

“Should I be doing something?”

Since it matched his expertise, Brian Grant couldn’t help but think more about it. But soon he dismissed the idea, shaking his head, “Forget it, forget it. Since fate has arranged for me to live off my wife, why bother the gods? I’d better just stay home and serve my lady well!”

“I can’t think like that!”

Brian Grant suddenly frowned, because those unfamiliar memories began to tell him that the business of the Kou family hadn’t been going well lately. He couldn’t help but think, if the Kou family went under, there’d be no more easy living for him.

To keep living off his wife, the prerequisite was that the Kou family’s business had to prosper, with plenty of money to support him.

“Master-in-law!”

Suddenly, a shout came from ahead.

Brian Grant responded absentmindedly, but then looked more closely. He saw a middle-aged man with two thin mustaches walking toward him. Huh, this guy looks familiar! Oh… now I remember, this is the jerk who threw me onto the carriage. Too bad there’s nowhere to file a complaint.

In fact, this man was the Kou family’s chief steward, William Harper.

Though a steward, his status was actually much higher than Brian Grant’s. When Brian Grant spoke in the Kou household, aside from Xier, almost no one paid him any attention.

“Wait a moment.”

Brian Grant suddenly called out to William Harper.

William Harper stopped and asked, “Does master-in-law need something?”

Brian Grant pretended to be embarrassed and said, “Just now, Father-in-law asked me to go to Jinyu Tower tomorrow to discuss a deal. Could you give me some information?”

But William Harper replied, “Didn’t the master tell you?”

Brian Grant said awkwardly, “He just mentioned it briefly.”

“That’s fine then! Master-in-law, I think it’s best if you say as little as possible when the time comes.”

What he meant was, with your intelligence, knowing too much would only make things worse. Clearly, William Harper knew exactly what was going on.

Brian Grant scratched his head and said with an embarrassed smile, “I wasn’t planning to say much anyway. I’m just afraid I won’t even know who’s the buyer and who’s the seller, and end up making a fool of myself.”

“Oh, I see!”

William Harper hesitated for a moment, thinking he should explain things to Brian Grant. In the past, Brian Grant really did often get confused about who was the buyer and who was the seller. Because what brokers do is earn commissions in the middle, which is different from buying vegetables. In this business, buyers and sellers can switch roles at any time, and the big brokers themselves are actually buyers or sellers too. The old Brian Grant was a bookworm—one plus one equals two—sometimes he just couldn’t wrap his head around it.

So William Harper started to explain some things to Brian Grant. Unlike modern times, where there are professionals who provide very detailed information, now it’s all based on word of mouth.

William Harper originally intended to just say a few words, mainly to clarify who was the buyer and who was the seller. But Brian Grant would occasionally ask a question at just the right moment, causing William Harper to explain in more and more detail.