Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wu Liba didn’t bother to say anything; he just used his coin-like eyes to stare at the storekeeper while the latter maintained his composure.
With Wu Liba as the naysayer to discourage her from buying, Madam Wu Liba didn’t get to purchase the dragon-phoenix hairpin. The storekeeper’s honey-sweet tongue and convincing articulation was irresistible, and it was eventually bought by a wealthy lady for 50700 strings of coin.
That madam took out her jade hairpin immediately and wore the magnificent dragon-phoenix hairpin. Tassels of pearls dangled and swung as she walked, and the ringing sound was pleasing to the ears. When she walked in the sunlight, those vibrant colors made her the center of attention.
When the other ladies saw, their hearts were filled with much regret. Expectedly, Madam Wu Liba was so furious she went pale.
If her husband hadn’t been such a wet blanket, that hairpin would certainly be owned by her, yet there it went on someone else’s head.
She controlled her fiery temper and repeatedly reminded the storekeeper to let her know as soon as the other pins arrived.
The storekeeper smiled and agreed, but as for what his heart thought, only he knew.
The more easily one possesses an item, its value will proportionally diminish. It was wise to let these madams look on with envy at the hairpin for some time. After they were done being jealous, envious and burning with hatred, he would showcase the new glass accessories. Each would surely fetch a high price.
The tribe of Sages was considered disgraceful but surely, they surpassed the naive and simple North borderline people.
The storekeeper had lived in the North borders for years, and he knew its internal affairs. With Dongqing’s political scene as complicated as it was, he knew that if he didn’t prepare, he would not be able to catch up and stop the iron horses of the North.
As a businessman, the only thing within his means was to earn as much from the people of the North borders, so the atmosphere would be more receptive to foreigners.
Since times past, women and children were the easiest targets to acquire money from. The old master’s words were wise indeed.
The north borderline had no lack of money. To exchange a big sum of money, it was impossible for them to use loose coins. They would pay instead in the form of jewellery, gold and silver.
Hence, when the total sum of 203,000 strings of coin reached the shop, even the storekeeper who was used to seeing such large sums of money, was flooded with emotion.
“Earning this money is certainly more relaxing than having the wind in your face.”
Because the businesses the treasure house engaged with involved smuggling goods, the cost at both places would differ. So when he took out a sum of money to buy 500 colts of average quality and ten thousand’s worth of sheep’s wool, nobody suspected anything. They just assumed the treasure house intended to travel to Dongqing to make money from the war.
The North borders produce many quality horses. The treasure house didn’t buy the best warhorse, so what was sold was considered sold. As for what the sheep fur was for, they couldn’t have cared less. Every household possessed this item; even if it was laid on the ground as carpet, it would be despised for being smelly.
Hence, when those goods and resources were transported with the remaining valuables back to Chongzhou, no one investigated.
When Liu She saw these, he sighed for a long while, “money that the wind brought.”
The storekeeper changed into his central plains attire.
He wore his head crown, a wide-sleeved garment, and other than his features being deeply mysterious compared to people from the central plains, he looked exactly like someone from Dongqing.
Having heard Liu She’s words, he found it amusing saying, “Countless gold, silver and precious jewels, how strong a wind it must’ve been…”
Liu She choked, touched his forehead with his hand and helplessly remarked, “You – Your glib tongue has become more convincing.”
Ever since Gu Min had passed on, the storekeeper had not set foot in Dongqing’s territory. Liu She trusted his loyalty toward Gu Min completely; otherwise he wouldn’t have dared to hand the Liu family’s concubine’s external business to him to be managed. Yet he returned alone, and that surprised Liu She greatly. “In the past when you were invited during festivals, you always declined, saying your body and bones were unwell. Why have you returned this time?”
The storekeeper narrowed his eyes briefly and said, “I came back to see young master.”
The business that Gu Min ran should have a descendent to inherit it. The storekeeper was worried at first, but he was no longer.
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In their ways of running the business, this young master was more cunning than the old master. At least the money earned previously was honest and proper. The young master directly robbed money from others.
Liu She asked, “How about these sheep’s wool and colts?”
Speaking softly, the storekeeper said, “The cold weather will descend on us in about a month. After the Dongqing earthquake, the North was nearly a life-and-death battle. Many lost their homes. How many household items could they carry? Getting through winter will be hard. This wool is cheap, and if the pungent smell can be somehow removed then they can be knitted to sweaters and can insulate heat far better than regular sackcloth.”
He continued, “As for the colts, the armored horses in the North borders are mature yet the ones in Dongqing are…” He paused to sigh. ” How can horses be separated from armies in wars? The quality of horses isn’t optimal, and neither are they from a warhorse’s bloodline. Often, they are butchered as meat for food so it will not arouse any suspicions.”
Due to this being the first time, the storekeeper restrained himself from selling too many. He planned to slowly strategize.
Liu She kept silent for a time, and then said, “You’re more meticulous than me. I thank Lanting on your behalf. Using my influence, I’ve held back a load of rations at Hu county. Please take it along when you visit Lanting. She is governing the area well, a daughter worthy of Ah Min placing her high hopes on.”
This was, after all, the first female Emperor in all of history. How could she not be outstanding?
The storekeeper added, “Since the parents are extraordinary, the children are naturally exceptional.”
He finished speaking but then seemed to recall something. He frowned, asking, “How is your control over Hu county?”
Liu She smiled. “Still acceptable.”
He may have been appointed as the magistrate at Chongzhou, but nonetheless Hu county was the large organization he had been overseeing for years.
Dongqing Emperor’s random new appointment of the Hu county chief was just rubbish. All those years he had yet to gain control of Hu county. Adding on to his troubles, the earthquake in the north which led the Emperor to move his capital city, the prowess of the court had deteriorated tremendously. He was but a county chief with an empty title.
Otherwise, how would he have authority to hold back rations from the autumn harvest?
All those years, he had already accumulated a large batch of rations. Surely it would be enough to sustain the war in the north!
His daughter seemed to have other plans. Liu She decided to lay low and await his daughter’s next move.
Liu She tasked the shopkeeper to transport 200,000 ten pecks of rations and dispatched 5000 troops on foot and 2000 men with bows and arrows to escort them.
The north was in disarray, the fight between Red Lotus group and Tsing Yi army was intense, and if the escort along the way was inadequate, it might end up being destroyed.
In a blink of an eye, it had approached the middle third of September, and the summer’s heat was gradually lessening. The residents of Xiangyang district changed into casual and light autumn clothes.
Feng Jin’s Changsheng was almost five months old. Active and full of life, she often rolled from one corner of the room to another. It was boring for her to stay home all day, so she frequently mumbled and wished to roll out of her room. The servant ladies sometimes tried to carry her, but she’d fumble and hit their hands. If they insisted, she would cry her lungs out until it could be heard from afar. It was the kind of crying that was devoid of tears, more akin to pure shouting.
As time passed, Feng Jin and his wife relented to their child.
Except, it never occurred to them as the child grew up, she would become even more willful.
For example, she was especially close to Feng Jin one day where she hugged his sleeves and refused to let go. In one sitting, she wanted to hide inside his sleeves.
“Jingxian, carry Changsheng away. If your husband does not leave for the political affairs hall, Lanting is going to be disparaging again.”
She probably understood what Feng Jin said, and Changsheng pouted and wept quietly, every drop of her tears was audible.
Her cries were silent, and she didn’t bawl out loud. She just looked quietly at Feng Jin and silently let her tears flow. Soon she was drenched with her tears.
Wei Jingxian’s heart was broken. She couldn’t bear for her child to cry and could only endearingly suggest, “How about bringing Changsheng to work with you?”
Feng Jin stared with his large eyes and said solemnly, “This is preposterous, how can children be brought to one’s workplace?”