Chapter Twenty-Four: Cooking Oil Over a Raging Fire

The successful cooperation with the Western Region caravans was like throwing a blazing fire into boiling oil, bringing Datong Store to unprecedented heights of prestige.

In the early spring of the twenty-sixth year of the Zhenguan era, the mark of Datong Money Shop could be seen everywhere in Chang'an. Silk merchants in the East Market, jewelry shops in the West Market, and even ordinary households were all using the flying coins issued by Datong Money Shop. Those paper notes with special hidden patterns had become another form of circulating currency.

"Master, the silver deposit has increased by another 30,000 strings of cash this month," the accountant reported, his voice brimming with excitement.

Liu Bao'er sat in the newly expanded main hall, the abacus hairpin in her hair gleaming with a calm luster in the candlelight. Before her lay the reports from each branch, the sheer volume of numbers startling even herself.

"The Luoyang branch has requested additional staff, saying that people are lining up in long queues every day to make payments."

"The Yangzhou branch requests permission to increase the issuance of salt permit coupons."

"The Guangzhou branch reports that some merchants from the South China Sea also want to apply for Silk Road Gold Certificates..."

Requests from branches across the country arrived like snowflakes, and the carriage of Datong Pharmacy was speeding forward at an astonishing pace.

When Cui Jiulang visited that day, he looked at the endless stream of merchants and said meaningfully, "Does Madam Dou know that some people in the court are now calling you the 'Second Minister of Revenue'?"

Liu Bao'er paused slightly in her hand holding the teapot: "Ninth Brother is joking."

"I'm not joking," Cui Jiulang said in a low voice. "At yesterday's court assembly, an imperial censor suggested regulating the issuance of 'flying money' (a type of coin) in the private sector."

She looked up out the window. The spring sunlight shone on the "Diligent Merchant" plaque, making it gleam. This signboard, which had once protected her, had now become the target of everyone's criticism.

"A tall tree catches the wind." She gently turned the teacup in her hand. "I understand that principle."

However, the situation still developed in a way that exceeded her expectations.

Three days later, Hu Liu rushed over to report: "Master, a large amount of money has suddenly appeared on the market, all of them large sums of over one hundred strings of cash."

Liu Bao'er immediately became alert: "Have you checked the source?"

"The investigation is still ongoing. But..." Hu Liu's expression was grave, "Several branches in different prefectures have encountered similar situations."

She strode to the cash flow chart, her fingertip tracing several key points: "Immediately check the reserves of each branch. Also, have each branch slow down the repayment process, but not stop it completely."

"If anyone takes this opportunity to cause trouble..."

"Then let them see the true depth of Datong Pharmacy."

Over the next three days, Datong Courier Shop faced an unprecedented test. Tens of thousands of strings of cash were being demanded for redemption daily, and the treasury was draining funds at an alarming rate. Urgent reports from branch managers poured in, and even Cui Jiulang could no longer remain calm.

"If this continues, I'm afraid..."

"Don't worry," Liu Bao'er interrupted him, taking a secret letter from the box. "Take a look at this."

Cui Jiulang unfolded the sealed letter, his expression changing slightly: "This is... a document from the Ministry of War?"

"The imperial court is reorganizing the military pay for the border towns and has entrusted Datong Money Exchange to handle the remittance." Liu Bao'er's lips curled slightly. "The first batch of 200,000 strings of cash will arrive in three days."

This news was like a timely rain, instantly stabilizing the situation. Those who were waiting to see Datong Pawnshop make a fool of itself were instead greeted with the sight of Ministry of War officials personally escorting the silver cart into the shop.

The adversary lurking in the shadows clearly hadn't given up. Within days, various rumors began circulating among the common people:

"The value of the cash at Datong Pawnshop is about to decrease!"

"I heard they lost money on their business in the Western Regions..."

"We can't exchange the money now, hurry up and exchange it!"

Even more troublesome was that an imperial censor impeached Datong Money Shop in court for "disrupting monetary laws and competing with the people for profit."

Faced with these open and covert attacks, Liu Bao'er became even more composed. On the one hand, she clarified the rumors through Hu Liu's channels, and on the other hand, she increased her charitable efforts—adding free clinics in the East and West markets, sponsoring impoverished students, and even funding the repair of the long-neglected Zhuque Street.

These measures quickly won public support. When another round of bank runs occurred, many people spontaneously gathered in front of the Datong Pawnshop:

"We believe in Lady Dou!"

"We'll continue using the 'flying money' from Datong Pawnshop!"

Gazing at the familiar faces outside the door, Liu Bao'er gently stroked the gold hairpin in her hair. This hairpin, crafted with her first pot of gold, had witnessed countless storms.

As evening fell, she climbed to the top of the pavilion alone. The lights of countless homes in Chang'an City lit up one by one in the twilight, and the golden signboard of Datong Pawnshop gleamed in the setting sun.

Beneath this dazzling, bustling prosperity, undercurrents still surged. But she knew that having chosen this path, she had no choice but to continue down it.

And we must go higher and further.