The Litchi Road Episode 29 Recap
> The Litchi Road Recap
Attendant Yu Chengen tricked Li Shande into giving him the transportation plan, pushed Li Shande to a dead end, and then gave him the approval document. Li Shande, unaware of the inside story, was extremely grateful to Attendant Yu Chengen. Attendant Yu Chengen seized the opportunity to persuade Li Shande to meet the Right Chancellor and recommend him to transport lychees to Lingnan in front of the Right Chancellor. He wanted to make a huge profit from this opportunity.
The Right Chancellor, ignoring the opposition of many officials and under the banner of establishing prestige for the Great Tang, agreed to let A Mita and Attendant Yu Chengen assist Li Shande in transporting the lychees. The Right Chancellor guessed that Attendant Yu Chengen was advising Li Shande from behind the scenes and was very displeased. Attendant Yu Chengen gambled for fame and profit, and he won.
Attendant Yu Chengen recalled a humiliating incident from three years ago when he accidentally broke a bowl and was severely reprimanded by Supervisor Wang. The Right Chancellor sent someone to call away Supervisor Wang, the head eunuch, which allowed Attendant Yu Chengen to escape. The Right Chancellor ordered Supervisor Wang to send someone to purchase white wax for the palace. Because the budget was only one-tenth of previous years, the eunuchs were reluctant to go.
The Right Chancellor was very angry and threw the golden bowl used for feeding fish into the pond. Without a second thought, Attendant Yu Chengen was about to jump in to retrieve the bowl. He voluntarily offered to purchase the white wax, and the Right Chancellor readily agreed. Li Shande and Attendant Yu Chengen discussed how to save on the budget.
Attendant Yu Chengen disagreed, stating that there were many uncontrollable factors during transportation, and it was better to exceed the budget than to be strapped for funds. Otherwise, they would both be held responsible if the task was not completed. Li Shande thought he made sense. The heads of the various departments felt that Li Shande's budget was too economical and suggested increasing the number of relay stations, horses, medicine, and grain.
They also proposed multiplying the funds several times, stating that if the lychees were transported back successfully, exceeding the budget would not matter. If they were overly meticulous with finances, everyone would be implicated if the transportation failed. Attendant Yu Chengen even wanted to double the amount again on top of that. The department heads all saw through Attendant Yu Chengen's scheme. Attendant Yu Chengen wanted to make a huge profit by transporting lychees. They all worried for Li Shande.
If the lychee transportation was successful, Attendant Yu Chengen would steal Li Shande's credit. If the transportation failed, Attendant Yu Chengen could withdraw completely and push all the responsibility onto Li Shande. Li Shande was set to depart for Lingnan tomorrow, and officials from various departments sent him generous gifts, all of which Li Shande declined one by one. Li Shande, A Mita, and Attendant Yu Chengen's group hurried to Lingnan on horseback, traveling day and night.
When He Youguang heard that A Mita had returned with Li Shande, he was furious. He Youguang had sent Zhao Xinmin to search for A Mita everywhere, never expecting A Mita to have run off to Chang'an. Zhao Xinmin was terrified and quickly explained. He Youguang worried that A Mita had been commissioned by the Right Chancellor to confront him.
Zhao Xinmin advised him not to overthink it, saying that Attendant Yu Chengen was a greedy man, and as long as he was well taken care of, He Youguang could rest easy. He Youguang instructed Zhao Xinmin to constantly monitor the movements of Li Shande's group. Attendant Yu Chengen heard that Li Shande had a conflict with He Youguang and advised him to have a good talk with He Youguang after arriving in Lingnan.
Li Shande's group smoothly reached Lingnan, and He Youguang personally came to welcome them, flattering Attendant Yu Chengen profusely. Attendant Yu Chengen wanted to reminisce with him, and the two conversed happily while Li Shande observed coolly. He Youguang took the initiative to greet Li Shande. Seeing the silver plaque on his waist, he guessed it was given to him by the Right Chancellor and became servile towards him.
He Youguang feigned concern for A Mita, but A Mita did not appreciate it and was cold towards him. He Youguang put on a smiling face and played the family card with A Mita. After exchanging pleasantries, He Youguang offered to host a welcoming banquet for Attendant Yu Chengen and his party. Attendant Yu Chengen politely declined and asked Li Shande and A Mita to express their thoughts.
Li Shande only wanted to transport the lychees as quickly as possible and asked He Youguang to have the relevant departments assist him, which He Youguang readily agreed to. A Mita deliberately created a difficult situation for He Youguang in front of everyone, falsely claiming that He Youguang would fund the transportation in the name of the Hu Merchants Guild. Attendant Yu Chengen was naturally delighted and thanked He Youguang for contributing money and effort to the lychee transportation.
He Youguang was cornered by A Mita and gnashed his teeth in anger, yet he had to force a smile. He Youguang arranged accommodation for Attendant Yu Chengen. Attendant Yu Chengen told Li Shande to stay there, while he had already found his own lodging. Li Shande decided to stay at the relay station with A Mita. Upon arriving in Lingnan, Attendant Yu Chengen immediately put on a posture of integrity and incorruptibility.
He disdained these petty gains and wanted to make a huge profit through the lychee transportation. Attendant Yu Chengen instructed his subordinates not to accept any gifts sent by He Youguang. He Youguang saw that Attendant Yu Chengen was difficult to deal with, but Zhao Xinmin thought that Attendant Yu Chengen was just putting on a show for Li Shande. He Youguang reminded Zhao Xinmin repeatedly not to let Attendant Yu Chengen realize that Lingnan was a lucrative opportunity.
Zheng Pingan returned to the relay station and saw Li Shande. He learned that Li Shande had brought Attendant Yu Chengen to Lingnan. Zheng Pingan worried that Attendant Yu Chengen would expose his impersonation of Ma Guiyun and complained that Li Shande shouldn't have brought him along. Li Shande could do nothing about it. Su Liang heard that Li Shande had returned to Lingnan and immediately went to the relay station to find him.
He had gone to the lychee orchard earlier. Su Liang quickly went to the lychee orchard to find Li Shande. Li Shande told him to discuss the specific details of the lychee transportation with Attendant Yu Chengen. When Su Liang learned that A Mita represented the Hu merchants, his heart sank. He repeatedly confirmed with Li Shande that the lychee transportation and business along the route were entirely handled by him before feeling relieved.
Li Shande had specifically brought back wine from Chang'an and asked A Tong to call Lin Yinu to taste it with them. Only then did Li Shande learn that Lin Yinu had died, and he sighed with sorrow.
