Chapter 35: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership, a Seventy-Thirty Split

The box opened to reveal salt inside. Unlike the dark, yellowish salt common to the era, this was snow-white, crystalline, and as radiant as fine jade. Mi Zhu reached out, touched a pinch with his index finger, and tasted it. There was no mistake; it was salt. Yet, it lacked the bitter aftertaste of ordinary salt, possessing instead a superior, savory richness.

Why was Mi Zhu so shocked and stirred? Because this touched upon his family’s core expertise. The Mi family’s ancestral home was in Qu County, Donghai—today’s Lianyungang. In the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, Qu County was largely coastal, and the Mi family had lived by the sea. After Mi Zhu entered politics, he moved the family to Xiapi, but their industrial base remained in their ancestral home. The question then arose: what industry required a coastal location and could help the Mi family accumulate vast wealth? Indeed, it was salt. It was highly probable that the Mi family held a monopoly on the salt and iron trade in Xu Province; otherwise, they could never have ascended to the highest echelons of power there. Salt held such strategic importance that its value in ancient times was comparable to oil today.

Li Yi pointed to the brocade box and said to the incredulous Mi Zhu, "Biejia, this is refined salt. My master once taught me the method for refining it. I am willing to offer this technique as a betrothal gift to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage. Furthermore, I propose a three-to-seven split of the profits from this refined salt. What does Biejia think?"

Refining salt was not difficult; Li Yi had mastered it in a single day. Ultimately, it was just a matter of filtering raw salt. It required only basic knowledge, specifically the principles of filtration. The challenge was not the technique, but the operation. Without a powerful family background and an extensive network of connections, Li Yi would never have dared to operate a refined salt business alone. Partnering with the Mi family, leveraging their strength and influence for mutual support and benefit, was the preferred choice. Moreover, Mi Zhu was a man of integrity, and Li Yi trusted his character. Even without the marriage proposal, Li Yi would have considered collaborating with him, as the production of refined salt relied on the refinement of raw salt—a process requiring the Mi family’s financial resources and manpower.

Salt production was labor-intensive, requiring constant wood-cutting and water-hauling, with fires burning from dawn until dusk, only to yield a small amount of crude salt. Given the cost in time and effort, few ordinary families could afford to engage in such an endeavor. To then use filtration to produce refined salt and gain a cost advantage required two necessary conditions: a well-connected sales network and a stable political environment. This further illustrated why aristocratic clans loathed chaotic times. Without a secure base, the immense profits brought by salt were difficult to harvest and protect.

After careful consideration, Mi Zhu thought that his younger sister was of a similar age to Li Yi, and the young man was clearly promising. Marrying her to him would be a stroke of good fortune for her. Furthermore, from a practical standpoint, as a merchant, he understood exactly how profitable this refined salt could be. With this in mind, he said to Li Yi, "My sister has reached the age of marriage, and your stature is a suitable match for our family. If you do not mind, let us formalize this engagement, and we shall choose an auspicious date for your wedding in the future. How does that sound?"

Li Yi nodded, "That would be excellent." Currently, the political situation in Xu Province was volatile, and it was indeed not the time for a wedding. The purpose of the engagement was to cement the partnership with the Mi family, which would allow him to expand his efforts later.

Mi Zhu could not help but glance at the salt in the box again; such crystalline white salt was a rare sight in his lifetime. He could not help but marvel at Li Yi’s talent in producing such a thing in such a short time. "This refined salt is enough to shake the foundations of the world. I fear many will soon seek it in vain. Since you have so generously offered a thirty percent share of the profits, you should reconsider..."

Mi Zhu was indeed a true gentleman; knowing the immense potential profit, he did not seek to exploit the situation, but instead worried that Li Yi would suffer a significant loss. However, Li Yi understood that his "intellectual property" was merely standing on the shoulders of those who came before him. Refined salt was, at its core, a commodity, and commerce was built on mutual benefit and cooperation. If one only thought of personal gain without allowing others to benefit, it would be impossible to grow.

Li Yi smiled, "Biejia is truly a man of honor, and I admire that. However, I am also sincere in my wish to marry your sister. Please accept this thirty percent profit share as a token of my heart; I hope you do not find it too little."

What spirit! Mi Zhu’s expression showed his admiration. He knew that Li Yi’s words held deeper meaning. While it seemed like a thirty percent share, it was actually a wager on the Mi family. By entrusting his livelihood to them, Li Yi was demonstrating his sincerity—a pledge of mutual cooperation with no turning back. Since this young man possessed such courage, Mi Zhu saw no reason to shrink away.

"Good! Very good!" Mi Zhu exclaimed. "Xu Province is currently in a time of great turmoil. Since you do not doubt me, I shall immediately set people to work refining this salt."

The two reached an agreement instantly. For Li Yi, without the Mi family, he would have had no way to produce or sell refined salt on his own, even as a strategist for Liu Bei, due to a lack of connections and sales channels. By simply teaching the method, he had secured seventy percent of the profits and a beautiful bride—a massive victory. Of course, the Mi family did not lose out either. They had always followed the strategy of "hoarding rare goods for a rainy day." Li Yi was a stock with great potential and would undoubtedly become a core member of Liu Bei’s group. Investing in him would eventually benefit the Mi family as well.

With the partnership sealed, Mi Zhu was in high spirits and called out, "Someone, prepare a feast! Today, I shall drink a thousand cups with Master Li, and we shall not stop until we are drunk!"

...

In the south of Xiapi, at the Chen residence, within a bedroom.

"I heard you suffered a relapse today. Have you had a physician examine you?" Chen Gui looked at his son, Chen Deng, who was lying on the sickbed, his expression a mix of helplessness and irritation. His son was accomplished in every way—literate, skilled in martial arts, and knowledgeable in agriculture—yet he was hopelessly addicted to sashimi. It would be one thing to eat it occasionally, but the boy made it his staple diet. Even after physicians explicitly ordered him to stop, he continued to eat it at every meal, treating their advice as child's play. He was only saved today by good fortune; had he not been, the elderly Chen would have been forced to suffer the agony of burying his own son.

Chen Deng climbed out of bed and grinned at Chen Gui, "Father, do not worry. I have obtained a miraculous medicine from Master Li, and the ailment is gone."

"I see your eyes are clear, and you still have the energy to joke, so I assume you are indeed out of danger," Chen Gui noted, his eyes narrowing as he stroked his long beard, adding meaningfully, "I hear that Liu Bei has recently gained a new strategist, surnamed Li, given name Yi, style name Ziyu. It is said he possesses the talent to devise strategies and govern the world. When Cao Cao withdrew his troops, it was this man who proposed the rear-guard pursuit, helping Liu Bei crush the Cao army. How did you, Yuanlong, manage to strike up a friendship with such a man?"

Chen Deng chuckled and stood up.