The morning mist in Guyuan carried a faint sll of earth, as Chen Ji left the Dragon Gate Inn with brisk strides.
Wu Yun lightly stepped across roof eaves, moving alongside him, a man and a cat advancing together into the thin fog. The lurking local tyrants of Qiu Ci Street silently began to follow.
The next mont, Chen Ji turned off Qiu Ci Street and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
The local tyrants quickened their pace, not expecting Chen Ji to be waiting for them around the corner. The one at the front collided unprepared into Chen Ji’s arms, and before he could react, Chen Ji dislocated his shoulder with a swift move.
Chen Ji grabbed this person by the neck and slowly retreated backwards.
His eyes coldly fixed on everyone: "Fellow jianghu heroes, why are you following ?"
A man in gray clothes, seeing his brother being choked by Chen Ji, hurriedly explained: "You misunderstand, we have no ill intentions!"
Another added: "Sir, you were taken care of by Third Elder, we wouldn’t dare to harbor ill thoughts. We really are cornered, without grain or way out. Now we just want to buy so information, to find out what situation Guyuan is actually in!"
Chen Ji replied indifferently: "I don’t know either."
The gray-clothed man beca anxious: "Yesterday, soone saw General Hu invite you to the city gate tower, you certainly know more than us. Please, do us a favor, even just a hint will do, we’ll pay with silver!"
Chen Ji suddenly realized.
No wonder last night the Dragon Gate Inn was filled with people buying information, and why these people waited outside all night. However, the matter that Hu Junxian spoke of was too sensitive, he could not sell this information.
Chen Ji slowly released the man in his hand, his voice deep and stern: "I don’t have the information you want. Stop following , or next ti I won’t be so polite."
Having said that, he pushed away the man he had restrained and dashed into the mist. Despite Chen Ji’s previous warning, the local tyrants still tried to follow, but after only trailing him for a couple of streets, they completely lost track of him.
Two incense sticks later, Chen Ji stood outside the wall of a grain and oil shop, scanning the alley in both directions.
Above his head on the eave, Wu Yun owed: "No one around."
Chen Ji lightly leaped, grabbing the eaves and flipped into the courtyard: Inside, the place was empty, tables, chairs, and cabinets had all been taken away to be used as firewood. This grain and oil shop must have been searched countless tis by many people, until there was nothing left to scavenge.
He slipped into the well following the rope and confird the grain was still there, only then did he feel at ease.
He hoisted the bags of grain to the surface, carrying them for a full two hours until even his strong executive officer’s body felt arms swollen and back sore.
Chen Ji looked at the small mountain of grain: "Wu Yun, stay here and guard it, and if anyone cos..."
Wu Yun interrupted confidently: "I understand, kill anyone who dares to steal."
Chen Ji looked up at it: "And what if a grand official from the Seeking Dao Realm cos?"
Wu Yun was unconcerned: "Easy."
Chen Ji: "..."
He shook his head: "If a powerful executive officer cos to rob us, do not fight for your life, just give him the grain. Keeping your life is more important than anything."
Wu Yun responded with an "Oh": "Understood!"
Chen Ji patted its head and with a toss, sent Wu Yun onto the rooftop, then he himself turned and climbed out of the yard.
...
...
Yuancao Hall.
Third Master Hu sat lazily on a Taishi Chair in the main hall, legs crossed at the knee.
He gently blew on the tea in his cup and took a light sip, smiling, "Shopkeeper knows how to enjoy himself. This top-notch Pu’er tea from Yunzhou, with its floral aroma and llow aftertaste, must be the new tea brought by the horse team from Ice Island Village, right?"
The Shopkeeper, however, was not in the mood to savor tea leisurely. He stepped out from behind the counter, placed three gold bars on the table, and said in a low voice, "Third Elder, I’ve had the tea and presented you with the gold bars. Can I please have my grain back now?"
Third Master Hu acted as if it were no concern of his and blew on his teacup again before asking in a soft voice, "I don’t quite understand what the Shopkeeper is talking about. What grain? Have you lost your grain?"
Seeing his feigned ignorance, the Shopkeeper angrily said, "Third Elder, it’s aningless to do sothing and not admit to it!"
Third Master Hu just smiled, "Shopkeeper, don’t be so hot-tempered. I don’t know where you hid your grain, so how can you say I took it? I’m just an innocent ginseng buyer!"
The Shopkeeper was at a loss for words for a mont but then said in a deep voice, "In Guyuan, who doesn’t know about Third Master Hu’s capabilities? If you want to find sothing, of course, you can."
Third Master Hu put down his teacup and leisurely said, "Last ti, the Shopkeeper did not seem to take seriously; how co today you feel my capabilities have grown? Strange, are my capabilities really that great, or not?"
The Shopkeeper’s face twitched; he bowed and said, "I spoke out of turn before. I ask for your generosity, Third Elder, not to quarrel with the likes of . But that batch of ginseng represents half a lifeti of my effort; I ask for your rcy."
Third Master Hu laughed, "I’m not taking your ginseng for nothing. Ordinary wild ginseng sells for five taels per jin, and old ginseng for eight taels each. This is already a fair price, even in years of great disaster. I’m helping you."
The Shopkeeper said angrily, "No need to play dumb with , Third Elder. If I sell to you at this price, then my ten years in Guyuan would have been in vain. How is this any different from robbery?"
Ignoring him, Third Master Hu began counting on his fingers, "The border army has requisitioned cals, mules, and horses. Even if all the citizens of the city starve to death, they should at least last about ten days to half a month. By that ti, all the mbers of your family would probably starve..."
The Shopkeeper rebuked him in a low voice, "I’ve heard of Third Elder’s unparalleled benevolence and that you are Guyuan’s pillar of stability. Yet I never expected you to be such a scoundrel, scheming to exploit innocent civilians."
Third Master Hu sneered, "You know best whether you are an innocent civilian or not. Do you really think we don’t know what you’re all about?"
The Shopkeeper chuckled, "What do you an, Third Elder? If I’m not an innocent civilian, then what am I?"
Third Master Hu said indifferently, "Jing Dynasty, Zhongjing Road, Longhua State...or do you need to go on?"
The Shopkeeper’s face changed, and then he said fiercely, "Those are all trivial matters from the past, what do they have to do with my current business? Third Elder, do you really think if you seize my grain, I will just endure in silence? I’ve said before, I’d rather burn it all than give it to you. If people think Yuancao Hall is weak and can be bullied, how will I hold my head up in Guyuan?"
Third Master Hu muttered, "Then burn it."
The Shopkeeper was rendered speechless, then protested angrily, "If you do this, who will co to Guyuan to do business in the future? Third Elder, please leave. I’d rather lose face than steam buns; I won’t sell you the ginseng no matter what."
Third Master Hu grunted again, "Then sell it to soone else since no one else has grain. They’re about to starve to death themselves, who would care to buy ginseng?"
The Shopkeeper felt a tightness in his chest. As Third Master Hu said, he really could no longer buy grain; he couldn’t spend his silver even if he wanted to.
Just then, soone stepped across the threshold and calmly asked, "Shopkeeper, what’s the price of ginseng today?"
The Shopkeeper, startled, turned his head and saw it was the youth who had asked for the price not long ago.
Before he could respond, Third Master Hu had already darkened his expression and spoke to Chen Ji, "A new face, newcor?"
Chen Ji raised his eyebrows, "And you are?"
Third Master Hu said indifferently, "Guyuan, Hu Junyuan."
Chen Ji fell silent for a mont: "I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of him."
Third Master Hu imdiately sat up straight and narrowed his eyes slightly.
The shopkeeper next to him moved his gaze and asked diligently, "Does the guest wish to buy ginseng? Do you want to buy ordinary wild ginseng, or the aged old ginseng?"
Chen Ji replied politely, "Only the old ginseng."
The shopkeeper asked again, "How much does the guest want?"
Chen Ji suddenly asked, "How much do you have?"
Big deal!
The shopkeeper replied: "My Yuancao Hall has a total of eight hundred sticks of old ginseng!"
He glanced at Third Master Hu with the corner of his eye, then turned back to Chen Ji, his thoughts spinning between the two of them, considering how to negotiate with Third Master Hu using this unfamiliar face.
At this mont, Third Master Hu picked up a teacup and began to speak leisurely, "Young man, this shopkeeper is worried about the grain shortage. I’m afraid he doesn’t have the heart to do business with you."
The shopkeeper’s face turned dark. Third Master Hu had taken the grain he had hidden away, effectively seizing his lifeline.
"Grain?" Chen Ji turned his head towards the shopkeeper, "What’s wrong with your grain?"
The shopkeeper said fiercely, "The grain I had stored was stolen by scoundrels. The livelihood of dozens in my family is now uncertain."
Chen Ji said in surprise, "Grain... I have plenty."
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up, "Are you serious?"
Chen Ji said with a smile, "What quantity of grain would the shopkeeper like to buy? White rice, millet, corn, pickled vegetables, cured at, I have them all."
The shopkeeper was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "You truly are a savior sent from heaven! I don’t need much, just enough to feed my family for a few days. I’ll send my clerks to fetch the old ginseng for you right away."
"Hold on!" Chen Ji raised his hand to stop the shopkeeper in his tracks.
The shopkeeper turned back in confusion: "Hm? Is there a problem, guest?"
Chen Ji asked leisurely, "How much do you sell the ginseng for?"
The shopkeeper replied as a matter of course, "Wild ginseng thirty taels per jin, old ginseng thirty taels each."
Chen Ji turned to leave: "Then keep your ginseng, I’ll co back in ten days."
"Let’s talk it over, let’s talk it over," the shopkeeper hurriedly stopped Chen Ji: "How much are you willing to pay?"
Chen Ji raised his hand and curled his index finger: "Nine taels for each stick of old ginseng, I’ll take as many as you have. Additionally, I have over a thousand jin of grain on hand, which I’ll give to the shopkeeper for free."
Upon hearing this, Third Master Hu narrowed his eyes toward Chen Ji: "Young fellow, don’t make a mistake. The ginseng business is not sothing just anyone can do."
Chen Ji smiled slightly: "What, you can do this business but others can’t? Business is all about willingness, and a lon forced off its vine is not sweet."
Third Master Hu laughed out of irritation: "Where did this blockhead co from? You try then."
Chen Ji said calmly: "Let’s give it a try."
The shopkeeper, who was initially hesitant, imdiately gave Chen Ji a bow: "Guest, I truly cannot accept this price, but I am earnest in wanting to do this deal. Could you please raise your offer a bit?"
Chen Ji pondered for a mont: "Shopkeeper, six taels per stick. If you don’t want to sell, I’ll walk away. There aren’t many people with grain in Guyuan City right now. I’d rather turn the grain into silver to make more money."
The shopkeeper’s pupils suddenly constricted, was there soone even more ruthless than Third Master Hu?
Third Master Hu burst into laughter: "What do you think? You might as well sell to ; I offer a higher price."
Chen Ji glanced at him: "How much are you offering?"
Third Master Hu’s smile faded: "Eight taels each."
Chen Ji said indifferently: "I offer nine taels."
The shopkeeper’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at Third Master Hu: "Third Elder, it seems our fate has not arrived."
Third Master Hu snorted coldly, stood up, and strode towards the door, "You think I’ll bid against him? What a pipe dream!"
The shopkeeper watched Third Master Hu leave and spat towards his back.
Chen Ji asked: "Shopkeeper, nine taels each, will you sell or not?"
The shopkeeper hesitantly said, "Guest, this price is really too low. Could you increase it a little?"
Chen Ji turned to leave, but the shopkeeper quickly grabbed his arm, "Please sit down, guest, everything is negotiable!"
Chen Ji turned back: "Shopkeeper, if you’re sincere about selling, then we have room to negotiate."
The shopkeeper’s eyes darted about: "How much grain can you give?"
Chen Ji said slowly: "How many people in your family?"
"Thirty-four."
"Two taels per person per day... Well, how about this, I will give you a hundred and twenty jin of grain, enough for your whole family to last thirty days."
The shopkeeper’s expression darkened: "Only that much?"
Chen Ji spread his hands, "If you think it’s too little then forget it."
The shopkeeper clenched his teeth, "Not little, not little at all!"
Having said that, he turned and shouted towards the backyard, "Serve the guest our best tea, bring out all our old ginseng for the guest to have a look!"
As the shopkeeper entered the backyard, a clerk leaned over and asked, "Shopkeeper, are we really going to sell to that kid at this price? We got this old ginseng from Tokyo Road for twelve taels of silver each. With all the escorting and transportation costs, wouldn’t we be at a huge loss?"
The shopkeeper sneered, "What’s the rush? That kid is just a greenhorn without a clue. In a mont, have so people load the ginseng onto a cart and deliver it to him. Just wait outside his door until it gets dark... He won’t be able to consu so much ginseng in a short ti. Sooner or later, it will end up back in my hands. Rember to act quickly, and don’t let Hu San’er intercept us!"
The clerk’s eyes glead, "Understood!"
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