In feudal times, salt merchants were synonymous with immense wealth. Behind every successful salt merchant stood a powerful family, and usually, that family had someone in a position of power within the government. Otherwise, it would be impossible to secure such a lucrative business.
While bandits represented the interests of ordinary gentry and wealthy landowners, salt merchants represented the interests of the most influential families in the capital. Even someone like Quing Xin Yao, the top official in Xichuan, wouldn't dare to interfere lightly. When he granted Jin Feng the rights to produce and sell salt in Guangyuan, it was because those rights were already under his control.
Nevertheless, when news spread that Jin Feng was selling salt for only ten copper coins, the Quing family still faced resentment from many other powerful families, including some of their allies. To mitigate the damage, the Quing family had to make certain concessions. So, Quing Xin Yao could only smile wryly and shake his head: "Sir, it's not that I'm trying to avoid responsibility, but there are things I simply cannot do!"
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