Chapter 123 Fang Shijie Rescues Them

Fang Shijie strode forward, his cold expression instantly transforming into a warm smile. He cupped his hands to Jiang Ling and said, "It is indeed a coincidence. I had just finished my business and was passing by when I saw a figure from behind that resembled Miss Jiang, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect it to be true. Miss Jiang, are you interested in buying horses?"

Jiang Ling smiled slightly: "Just browsing."

His gaze swept over the two sickly old horses, a hint of disdain on his lips. "These two are no good. If you really want to find a good horse, I might be able to help you. I will make sure you don't make a mistake."

When the horse trader, Ma Laoliu, saw Fang Shijie's true face, he turned pale with fright. The arrogance he had shown while arguing with Granny Li vanished without a trace. He shrank back, not daring to even breathe loudly, let alone utter a sound.

Actually, he didn't have any horses at home. He just thought Jiang Ling was an easy target, a pretty young woman with a child. He planned to lure her to a secluded place, and then decide whether to rob her or... that would be up to her.

But despite all his calculations, he never expected that this woman would know his master!

He had worked for the Fang family and knew all too well the ruthless methods of this young master. Compared to him, the shady dealings he had done were utterly insignificant.

If you offend him, losing your life is a minor matter; the real danger is being unable to die.

At this point, how could they dare to offer even the slightest excuse?

He couldn't help but secretly pray for the girl; at most, he could only swindle her out of money and sex, but what if she fell into the hands of her employer...

Jiang Ling didn't notice the pale, regretful look on Ma Laoliu's face, and explained to Fang Shijie:

"Actually, I wanted to buy a ready-made carriage, but it seems they don't sell them here."

Fang Shijie nodded knowingly: "I see. There are indeed few places in town that specialize in carriage business; most are built piecemeal. However, I have some connections in the carriage business, so finding a reliable carriage shouldn't be difficult."

He glanced at the noisy and dirty surroundings and frowned slightly. "This place is unbearable; it's not a good place to talk. The Mulou Restaurant is just next door, quiet and elegant. Why don't we move over there and discuss this in detail? I can also send someone to inquire about the car dealership."

Jiang Ling was feeling dizzy from the smells and noise of the market and had been wanting to escape for a while.

"That would be wonderful, thank you for your trouble, Young Master Fang."

“Miss Jiang, you’re too kind. Please.” Fang Shijie stepped aside to lead the way.

The three immediately turned and left the noisy market.

Fang Shijie walked slightly behind Jiang Ling. Just as he was about to walk out of Ma Laoliu's sight, he paused slightly, turned halfway to the side, and swept his gaze over like a cold blade, giving the horse trader a warning look.

Ma Laoliu trembled all over from that glare and almost collapsed to the ground with his legs giving way.

Fang Shijie led Jiang Ling and Xiao Ran through the bustling West Market and turned into a relatively quiet alley. Not far away, the imposing signboard of Mulou Restaurant came into view.

He didn't go through the main entrance, but entered directly through a side door, where a sharp-eyed waiter respectfully greeted him.

"Master."

"Yes, prepare a quiet, elegant room, and serve some good tea and snacks. Also, immediately go and invite Manager Chen from the car dealership over. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him," Fang Shijie instructed calmly.

"Yes, boss." The waiter answered promptly and left.

The three were led to an elegant and quiet private room on the second floor. The view outside the window was of the restaurant's courtyard, a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the market.

Soon, fragrant tea and several plates of delicate pastries were served.

“Miss Jiang, Brother Xiao Ran, please sit for a moment and have some tea to soothe your throats. Manager Chen from the carriage company will be here soon. He’s a veteran of the trade and knows the carriage business in Ping’an County and even the surrounding prefectures like the back of his hand,” Fang Shijie explained.

Jiang Ling sincerely thanked him, "You've really gone to a lot of trouble, Young Master Fang."

I have to complain that buying a horse-drawn carriage in this dynasty was really inconvenient; you had to find someone with some prestige in the area.

"It was nothing, Miss Jiang, you're too kind."

Sure enough, not long after, a man of about fifty years old, with a short beard and dressed in the attire of a wealthy man, entered, led by a waiter, and treated Fang Shijie with great respect.

"Mr. Fang, you wanted to see me?"

"Manager Chen, excuse me." Fang Shijie nodded slightly and pointed to Jiang Ling.

"This is Miss Jiang. She wants to buy a reliable and comfortable carriage in town for daily travel. You are knowledgeable and have many connections. Do you know of any good carriages you can recommend? Or reliable channels for custom-made carriages?"

Manager Chen carefully examined Jiang Ling, and seeing that she was a guest personally introduced by Fang Shijie, his attitude became even more respectful:

"So it's Miss Jiang. May I ask what specific requirements you have for the carriage? Do you prefer one that's lightweight, or one that's large enough to carry cargo? Do you have any preferences regarding the breed, age, or temperament of the horses? And what is your approximate budget?"

Jiang Ling thought for a moment and said, "It's mainly for daily transportation, and occasionally for delivery. It needs to be lightweight and comfortable, and provide good protection from the wind and rain. The horse should be docile and obedient. As for the price..."

She paused for a moment. She wasn't very familiar with prices in ancient times, but she had brought enough money with her today; buying a carriage shouldn't be a problem.

"As long as the carriage meets expectations, the cost is reasonable."

Manager Chen stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. These were not high demands. He said:

"If you're looking for something readily available, there is indeed one that might suit your taste, Miss. The Liu family, the wealthy landowners from the south of the city, recently moved to the capital, and they happen to have an extra carriage that they're looking to sell."

The carriage was in excellent condition. Its body was made of camphor wood, light yet sturdy, and draped with a blue silk curtain, providing excellent shade and protection from the rain. Most importantly, the gelding was in its prime, extremely gentle, and pulled the carriage very steadily. The Liu family were meticulous people; they cherished both their carriages and horses.

Fang Shijie looked at Jiang Ling: "I know Master Liu. His son recently passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. To make it easier for his son to take the imperial examinations in the future, the whole family moved to the capital. If Miss Jiang is interested, could you ask Manager Chen to arrange for her to see the item in person?"

Jiang Ling had thought she wouldn't be able to buy a carriage today, but when she heard that there was a suitable one, she nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Manager Chen."

"You're too kind, young lady. I'll go to the Liu family right away and make the arrangements." Manager Chen was efficient and decisive.

Fang Shijie said, "Very good. As for the price, Manager Chen, please help to check it out and make sure it's fair."

"Don't worry, Mr. Fang, I've got it covered."

After Manager Chen left.

Fang Shijie, Jiang Ling, and Xiao Ran sat in a private room, drinking tea and chatting.

Inadvertently, Fang Shijie brought up the major incident that had shocked Ping'an County a few days ago: the case of the missing girl.

Fang Shijie frowned slightly and said with a serious expression,

"To be honest, things have been quite unsettled in Ping'an County lately. Who would have thought that the mastermind behind the disappearance of a young girl from Beijing would be Huang Dagang, the wealthy man from Daohua Village in Ping'an County!"