The vice shopkeeper saw Su Jiu’s posture looking as if she wanted to escape, and hastily leaned over to ask, “Ladies, are both of you done looking?”
The nanny laughed and said, “Shopkeeper, we went out in a hurry today, all we have with us is…”
“Miss Su doesn’t have to pay the silver, our Young Master has said that this would be a meal to welcome her,” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan said appearing at her side before she finished her sentence.
The nanny immediately sighed in relief and smiled. “We’ll have to thank the Eldest Young Master!”
“You’re most welcome!” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan replied courteously.
“Help me thank Young Master Ji! I will remember this favour and in the future, if Young Master Ji has a need, I will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire to repay his kindness!” Su Jiu declared.
Chief Shopkeeper Yuan was stunned!
The nanny froze for a moment before she pulled on Su Jiu’s sleeves discreetly while she laughed. “What our lady means is that she’s very grateful to the Young Master Ji. Just let us know if we can be of help in the future!”
“Yes, yes!” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan nodded with a smile.
The nanny hurried out with Su Jiu, perspiring profusely. She shivered as the cold wind of late autumn blew.
“My lady, what mountains of knives and seas of fire? Those words cannot be said!” she scolded the moment they were alone.
Su Jiu was unconcerned. “Why can’t you say that?”
“Because…because it’s not what a lady should say!” The nanny was exasperated.
“Then how should a young lady speak?” Su Jiu asked, raising her eyebrows.
She had never spoken to a young lady before…although they occasionally robbed women, they had either fainted or hid in their carriage. Their eyes protruded in fear and could not speak, Su Jiu thought. So how could I know how young ladies behaved?
The nanny looked at how Su Jiu inquired seriously. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
“Well,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll teach you properly when we get back!”
——
The carriage stopped at the back of the restaurant, and the men were sitting on it and looking around. When they saw Su Jiu appear, they all rose to meet her.
“Chief, did that Ji fellow make things difficult for you?” Ah Shu asked with concern.
“I’ll just bear with it if he does!” By now, Su Jiu had calmed down and could laugh at herself.
“What?” Hu Dapao roared. “Did he really dare embarrass you? I’ll punch his head in!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Qiao An reprimanded him and looked at Su Jiu. “Chief, I’m sorry for putting you through this, but you did the right thing!”
“Rest assured!” Su Jiu leaned back against the carriage and nodded. “I like to use brute force, but I won’t be reckless. Besides, I had Nanny, it will be alright!”
Chang Huan sat down and opened his hand to Su Jiu, full of peeled melon seeds.
Su Jiu, bowed her head and ate a big mouthful of melon seeds straight from his hand. As she nodded, she licked at the corner of her mouth to get at the kernels of melon seeds on her lips.
“Nice!” Chang Huan grinned, as his eyes lit up at Su Jiu, happier than when he was eating it.
Su Jiu jumped into the carriage, all her frustration swept away, laughing, “Let’s go home!”
“Home!” the others agreed, and they got into their carriages and drove back to their little yard.
—–
Jingqin Restaurant, fifth floor.
The room was covered with a carpet embroidered with gold thread, a sturdy wooden table covered with silk and there was a fine incense fragrance that curled towards the ceiling.
It was bustling downstairs, but this room had a kind of reserved and quiet atmosphere.
The man leaned on the bed, his posture casual. His eyes were half-closed, his gaze permeated with imperceptible tiredness.
Jin Mi knelt in front of the wooden table, holding a vermilion teapot in her hands, brewing tea meticulously.
The tea was called Buxus tea, produced in Jiangnan, Qingling Mountain’s Yunwu Peak. Amongst the sea of tea trees, there were only two Buxus trees, and hence they were rare annual tributes offered them.
Ji Yuxian liked this tea fragrance, therefore, now Yunwu Peak belonged to the Ji Family.
Each year they obtained two tins of tea leaves, one which they would offer tribute to the imperial court, while the other was given to Ji Yuxian.
Just as the first cup of tea had just been poured out, Chief Shopkeeper Yuan knocked on the door and said, “Eldest Young Master, Shopkeeper Wu is here!”
In response, Ji Yuxian opened his eyes slightly and hummed faintly.
Creak! The door was pushed open as Shopkeeper Wu and Yuan politely exchanged pleasantries and walked in. As they walked around the screen and saw the man on the bed, Shopkeeper Wu immediately bowed his head, “Greetings, Eldest Young Master!”
“Have a seat!”
Ji Yuxian sat up, and took over the cup of tea Jin Mi served. As the steam curled, the man’s delicate features were blurred. His elegant voice rang, cutting through the mist. “Serve Shopkeeper Wu a cup of tea, too!”
“Yes, master!” In response, Jin Mi took a white porcelain cup from another tea set, poured out the tea and placed it in front of Shopkeeper Wu.
The tea was clear and the aroma was fresh and pleasant.
Shopkeeper Wu’s face was frightened as he took the cup over hurriedly. Smelling it, his eyes lit up, “Buxus! I’ve been in the tea business for decades. I’ve never had this tea. It’s all thanks to the Eldest Young Master today!”
Jin Mi knelt silently, a hint of sarcasm on her lips.
“Shopkeeper Wu, you have something to meet me about today?” Ji Yuxian asked calmly.
Shopkeeper Wu put down the tea, and his attitude became more respectful and careful, “Eldest Young Master, Wu Business’s tea has arrived at the Laiyang Pier, but the people at Laiyang Pier said that you have recently prepared goods to be shipped, and could not transport my tea. May I ask if you could show some concessions?
“My tea is only on five ships, and it won’t take up much water ways. This new tea is moist, that if we delay it, I’m afraid it’s going to be ruined! We have been working together for many years. Three of these five boats of tea are for your tea house.”
More than half of Daliang’s water transport belonged to the Ji Family. If the Ji Family didn’t allow people to ship it, no one would allow them to ship it.
Ji Yuxian sipped his tea, as he blinked, smiling, “Isn’t Shopkeeper Wu and the Zhu Family close now? If you can’t ship at my pier, you can ship at the Zhu Family’s pier at the Luo River.”
Shopkeeper Wu’s face turned pale as he began to understand what was going on. He immediately replied, “Eldest Young Master, it’s all a misunderstanding. The Zhu family had sent someone to look for me, saying that their tea mountain was damaged this year due to a plague of insects, and the tea was not good enough. Thus, they wanted to buy my Wu Business’s tea, but I did not agree to it!”
Laiyang was in the east, Luo River in the west, it would take at least ten days for shipping, by then his five boats of tea would really turn stale!
Ji Yuxian smiled carelessly, “Is that so?”
There was a layer of perspiration on his forehead, but Shopkeeper Wu dared not raise his hand to wipe as he said, “We have had an agreement for many years, and I have been under the care of Eldest Young Master, I don’t dare harbor any thought of disloyalty!”
Ji Yuxian smirked subtly, but his aura was cold, as he spoke slowly, “Shopkeeper Wu, The Ji Family has always valued honesty when doing business, and we do not tolerate any form of dishonesty. In your five boats of tea, only one is of premium quality. You promised the Zhu Family with a 10% higher price, so what are you going to give me?”
Shopkeeper Wu froze, as his face turned ashen, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Eldest… Eldest Young Master, my son has been taking care of the tea business. He just entered the trade and doesn’t know the rules, he might have agreed to this. Rest assured, I will still provide the premium tea to you!”
Ji Yuxian toyed with the teacup, as he remained silent, his face expressionless.
The air in the room was quiet, but the sound of Jin Mi brewing tea, as the kettle rang the air. What sounded elegant to most rumbled like thunder in Shopkeeper Wu’s heart.
Ji Yuxian didn’t speak, but his domineering aura enveloped the room, striking fear in his heart.
Shopkeeper Wu bowed his head down and grit out, “Eldest Young Master, I will still provide the premium tea to the Ji Manor. If you are willing to make concessions, I will reduce the price by 30%. What do you think?”
Jin Mi smirked, as she smiled radiantly at Ji Yuxian. Holding a teacup out for him, she bowed, “Young Master, please enjoy!”
Ji Yuxian took the cup and glanced at Shopkeeper Yuan who stood silently at the door.
“Inform Bai Mo, Ji Manor’s goods can wait for a few days, let the Wu Business’s tea boats go first!”
Shopkeeper Yuan bowed and replied, “Understood!”
Shopkeeper Wu heaved a long sigh of relief as his expression brightened, “Thank you so much Eldest Young Master!”
“You’re welcome. It’s a partnership, making things convenient for others benefits me too.”
“Yes, yes!” Shopkeeper Wu nodded profusely and smiled, “I have brought a gift for you today, please accept it!”
He turned towards the door, “Come in!”
When he finished speaking, the wooden door opened and a lady walked in.
The lady was dressed in a long dress, embroidered with jade-colored flowers. Her dark hair was lustrous, her features delicate. She bowed gently in greeting, her voice crisp and pleasant.
“Greetings to Eldest Young Master, my name is Hui’er!”
Jin Mi raised her head and froze. This lady greatly resembled Lan Zhihui, especially when she had her head down, where their features were very much alike.
Zhihui, Hui’er…
They even put effort into the name!
The vice shopkeeper saw Su Jiu’s posture looking as if she wanted to escape, and hastily leaned over to ask, “Ladies, are both of you done looking?”
The nanny laughed and said, “Shopkeeper, we went out in a hurry today, all we have with us is…”
“Miss Su doesn’t have to pay the silver, our Young Master has said that this would be a meal to welcome her,” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan said appearing at her side before she finished her sentence.
The nanny immediately sighed in relief and smiled. “We’ll have to thank the Eldest Young Master!”
“You’re most welcome!” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan replied courteously.
“Help me thank Young Master Ji! I will remember this favour and in the future, if Young Master Ji has a need, I will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire to repay his kindness!” Su Jiu declared.
Chief Shopkeeper Yuan was stunned!
The nanny froze for a moment before she pulled on Su Jiu’s sleeves discreetly while she laughed. “What our lady means is that she’s very grateful to the Young Master Ji. Just let us know if we can be of help in the future!”
“Yes, yes!” Chief Shopkeeper Yuan nodded with a smile.
The nanny hurried out with Su Jiu, perspiring profusely. She shivered as the cold wind of late autumn blew.
“My lady, what mountains of knives and seas of fire? Those words cannot be said!” she scolded the moment they were alone.
Su Jiu was unconcerned. “Why can’t you say that?”
“Because…because it’s not what a lady should say!” The nanny was exasperated.
“Then how should a young lady speak?” Su Jiu asked, raising her eyebrows.
She had never spoken to a young lady before…although they occasionally robbed women, they had either fainted or hid in their carriage. Their eyes protruded in fear and could not speak, Su Jiu thought. So how could I know how young ladies behaved?
The nanny looked at how Su Jiu inquired seriously. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
“Well,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll teach you properly when we get back!”
——
The carriage stopped at the back of the restaurant, and the men were sitting on it and looking around. When they saw Su Jiu appear, they all rose to meet her.
“Chief, did that Ji fellow make things difficult for you?” Ah Shu asked with concern.
“I’ll just bear with it if he does!” By now, Su Jiu had calmed down and could laugh at herself.
“What?” Hu Dapao roared. “Did he really dare embarrass you? I’ll punch his head in!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Qiao An reprimanded him and looked at Su Jiu. “Chief, I’m sorry for putting you through this, but you did the right thing!”
“Rest assured!” Su Jiu leaned back against the carriage and nodded. “I like to use brute force, but I won’t be reckless. Besides, I had Nanny, it will be alright!”
Chang Huan sat down and opened his hand to Su Jiu, full of peeled melon seeds.
Su Jiu, bowed her head and ate a big mouthful of melon seeds straight from his hand. As she nodded, she licked at the corner of her mouth to get at the kernels of melon seeds on her lips.
“Nice!” Chang Huan grinned, as his eyes lit up at Su Jiu, happier than when he was eating it.
Su Jiu jumped into the carriage, all her frustration swept away, laughing, “Let’s go home!”
“Home!” the others agreed, and they got into their carriages and drove back to their little yard.
—–
Jingqin Restaurant, fifth floor.
The room was covered with a carpet embroidered with gold thread, a sturdy wooden table covered with silk and there was a fine incense fragrance that curled towards the ceiling.
It was bustling downstairs, but this room had a kind of reserved and quiet atmosphere.
The man leaned on the bed, his posture casual. His eyes were half-closed, his gaze permeated with imperceptible tiredness.
Jin Mi knelt in front of the wooden table, holding a vermilion teapot in her hands, brewing tea meticulously.
The tea was called Buxus tea, produced in Jiangnan, Qingling Mountain’s Yunwu Peak. Amongst the sea of tea trees, there were only two Buxus trees, and hence they were rare annual tributes offered them.
Ji Yuxian liked this tea fragrance, therefore, now Yunwu Peak belonged to the Ji Family.
Each year they obtained two tins of tea leaves, one which they would offer tribute to the imperial court, while the other was given to Ji Yuxian.
Just as the first cup of tea had just been poured out, Chief Shopkeeper Yuan knocked on the door and said, “Eldest Young Master, Shopkeeper Wu is here!”
In response, Ji Yuxian opened his eyes slightly and hummed faintly.
Creak! The door was pushed open as Shopkeeper Wu and Yuan politely exchanged pleasantries and walked in. As they walked around the screen and saw the man on the bed, Shopkeeper Wu immediately bowed his head, “Greetings, Eldest Young Master!”
“Have a seat!”
Ji Yuxian sat up, and took over the cup of tea Jin Mi served. As the steam curled, the man’s delicate features were blurred. His elegant voice rang, cutting through the mist. “Serve Shopkeeper Wu a cup of tea, too!”
“Yes, master!” In response, Jin Mi took a white porcelain cup from another tea set, poured out the tea and placed it in front of Shopkeeper Wu.
The tea was clear and the aroma was fresh and pleasant.
Shopkeeper Wu’s face was frightened as he took the cup over hurriedly. Smelling it, his eyes lit up, “Buxus! I’ve been in the tea business for decades. I’ve never had this tea. It’s all thanks to the Eldest Young Master today!”
Jin Mi knelt silently, a hint of sarcasm on her lips.
“Shopkeeper Wu, you have something to meet me about today?” Ji Yuxian asked calmly.
Shopkeeper Wu put down the tea, and his attitude became more respectful and careful, “Eldest Young Master, Wu Business’s tea has arrived at the Laiyang Pier, but the people at Laiyang Pier said that you have recently prepared goods to be shipped, and could not transport my tea. May I ask if you could show some concessions?
“My tea is only on five ships, and it won’t take up much water ways. This new tea is moist, that if we delay it, I’m afraid it’s going to be ruined! We have been working together for many years. Three of these five boats of tea are for your tea house.”
More than half of Daliang’s water transport belonged to the Ji Family. If the Ji Family didn’t allow people to ship it, no one would allow them to ship it.
Ji Yuxian sipped his tea, as he blinked, smiling, “Isn’t Shopkeeper Wu and the Zhu Family close now? If you can’t ship at my pier, you can ship at the Zhu Family’s pier at the Luo River.”
Shopkeeper Wu’s face turned pale as he began to understand what was going on. He immediately replied, “Eldest Young Master, it’s all a misunderstanding. The Zhu family had sent someone to look for me, saying that their tea mountain was damaged this year due to a plague of insects, and the tea was not good enough. Thus, they wanted to buy my Wu Business’s tea, but I did not agree to it!”
Laiyang was in the east, Luo River in the west, it would take at least ten days for shipping, by then his five boats of tea would really turn stale!
Ji Yuxian smiled carelessly, “Is that so?”
There was a layer of perspiration on his forehead, but Shopkeeper Wu dared not raise his hand to wipe as he said, “We have had an agreement for many years, and I have been under the care of Eldest Young Master, I don’t dare harbor any thought of disloyalty!”
Ji Yuxian smirked subtly, but his aura was cold, as he spoke slowly, “Shopkeeper Wu, The Ji Family has always valued honesty when doing business, and we do not tolerate any form of dishonesty. In your five boats of tea, only one is of premium quality. You promised the Zhu Family with a 10% higher price, so what are you going to give me?”
Shopkeeper Wu froze, as his face turned ashen, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Eldest… Eldest Young Master, my son has been taking care of the tea business. He just entered the trade and doesn’t know the rules, he might have agreed to this. Rest assured, I will still provide the premium tea to you!”
Ji Yuxian toyed with the teacup, as he remained silent, his face expressionless.
The air in the room was quiet, but the sound of Jin Mi brewing tea, as the kettle rang the air. What sounded elegant to most rumbled like thunder in Shopkeeper Wu’s heart.
Ji Yuxian didn’t speak, but his domineering aura enveloped the room, striking fear in his heart.
Shopkeeper Wu bowed his head down and grit out, “Eldest Young Master, I will still provide the premium tea to the Ji Manor. If you are willing to make concessions, I will reduce the price by 30%. What do you think?”
Jin Mi smirked, as she smiled radiantly at Ji Yuxian. Holding a teacup out for him, she bowed, “Young Master, please enjoy!”
Ji Yuxian took the cup and glanced at Shopkeeper Yuan who stood silently at the door.
“Inform Bai Mo, Ji Manor’s goods can wait for a few days, let the Wu Business’s tea boats go first!”
Shopkeeper Yuan bowed and replied, “Understood!”
Shopkeeper Wu heaved a long sigh of relief as his expression brightened, “Thank you so much Eldest Young Master!”
“You’re welcome. It’s a partnership, making things convenient for others benefits me too.”
“Yes, yes!” Shopkeeper Wu nodded profusely and smiled, “I have brought a gift for you today, please accept it!”
He turned towards the door, “Come in!”
When he finished speaking, the wooden door opened and a lady walked in.
The lady was dressed in a long dress, embroidered with jade-colored flowers. Her dark hair was lustrous, her features delicate. She bowed gently in greeting, her voice crisp and pleasant.
“Greetings to Eldest Young Master, my name is Hui’er!”
Jin Mi raised her head and froze. This lady greatly resembled Lan Zhihui, especially when she had her head down, where their features were very much alike.
Zhihui, Hui’er…
They even put effort into the name!
