Chapter 31: The Capital’s Zhang Clan (1/2)

After eating dinner and visiting his grounded little sister, Wang Chong returned back to his room to rest. Suddenly, the door opened. Shen Hai and Meng Long rushed in from outside.

“What’s wrong?”

Wang Chong frowned and lifted his head.

“Gongzi, someone is looking for you!”

Two abrupt visitors had visited the Wang Clan’s Residence and they had specifically pointed out that they would like to meet Wang Chong. It just happened that Shen Hai and Meng Long were punished by Madam Wang to stand sentry by the entrance. As such, no one knew of this matter except for the two.

Initially, Meng Long and Shen Hai intended to report this matter to Madam. However, Madam had too many worries within this short period of time and if she were to knew that young master had ’caused trouble’ outside once more, she would definitely fly into another rage. As such, the two decided to hide the matter from her.

“Third Young Master, I think it would be best for you to meet them outside. Otherwise, if Madam were to find out, you will probably be punished.”

The two bowed respectfully.

Wang Chong chuckled. Shen Hai and Meng Long probably didn’t notice the changes in their attitudes toward him. They would never have said such words before.

Looks like King Song’s ‘intentional’ high evaluation of him had worked its wonders. At the very least, the two no longer saw him as a profligate scion as they did before.

Walking out of the residence, Wang Chong saw the two uninvited guests. To tell the truth, Wang Chong was also curious where these two came from and why they would come looking for him.

“You are Wang Chong?”

Before Wang Chong could even say anything, the two people outside had already started to question him. Actually, from the moment Wang Chong walked out of the residence, the two were already evaluating him from afar.

These two were curious to know what kind of person Wang Chong was for him to hinder their plans. Less than a handful of people knew about the matter regarding the Hyderabad ore, and it was beyond the means of an average person to purchase these ores with at such an exorbitant price before them!

These two were interested to know who their competitor was. Just that, they didn’t expect for Wang Chong to be so young.

Just like the two Sindhi monks said, the other party was really just a kid!

It was truly hard to believe that a matter highly valued by the Zhang Clan and its clan head could be foiled by a little child.

“Who are you two?”

Similarly, Wang Chong was also trying to discern their identity. Wang Chong did not remember meeting him beforehand, but he could identify the deep scent of metal, sulfur, and charcoal from them, even from afar.

Those who carried such scent with them must be people who had been put under unique working conditions for long hours. Wang Chong had a rough idea of the background of the two, but he needed confirmation.

“I am Zhang Jian!”

“I am Zhang Cong! Wang gongzi may not know who we are, but we are from the capital’s Zhang Clan.”

The two said. The capital’s Zhang Clan mainly managed smitheries, mines, the sales of weapons and armors. Even though they were famous in the smithing industry, the two did not think that a fourteen to fifteen-year-old child would know of them.

“As I expected, it’s them!”

Wang Chong looked calm and indifferent on the surface, but his heart was already beating anxiously. He didn’t think that the capital’s Zhang Clan would come looking for him so soon.

In his previous life, the little bit of Wootz steel weapon made from the material the Sindhi monks left in the Central Plains were made by the capital’s Zhang Clan.

If he hadn’t appeared, the Zhang Clan should have been the one to negotiate with the Sindhi monks and buy the Hyderabad ores off them.

In the smithing industry, the Zhang Clan was a celebrity. They held a prominent standing in the industry and if not for them, there probably wouldn’t be any Wootz steel in the Great Tang at all.

However, it was a pity that even though they were able to tell that the Hyderabad ore was not any normal metal ore, they were unable to realize the true worth of it.

They only bought a small sample portion of the Hyderabad ore from the Sindhi monks. Furthermore, due to their inappropriate refining and crafting methods, they were unable to bring out the true value of the metal. It was truly regrettable.

“May I know the reason behind your visit?”

Wang Chong smiled.

“You see, I’ve heard that gongzi had bought a little bit of ore from two Sindhi monks.”

The two chose their words carefully and spoke extremely politely.

Their clan head had emphasized that the matter regarding the Hyderabad ore must not be leaked outward. At present, the two did not know whether Wang Chong truly understood the worth of the ore or he was just fooling around.

All in all, before they understood Wang Chong’s situation, they didn’t want to reveal too much on the matter.

“Hehe, as I expected.”

Upon hearing those words, Wang Chong smiled on the inside. The two were indeed here for the Hyderabad ore. Furthermore, it was likely that they knew about him after a futile meeting with the two Sindhi monks.

“Indeed, I bought a little bit of the ore. Why, are you two interested in the ore as well?”

Wang Chong flung his sleeves, placed his hands behind his back and said with a carefree expression.

Bought a bit? He bought all of it! Not just that, he even bought the rights to monopolize the sales of the Hyderabad ore in the Central Plains.