Chapter 110 Yunling County

Along the way, Gu Xixi passed by several villages that had survived the plague and were in need of reconstruction.

The New Year festival has just ended, but there is no trace of remaining festive atmosphere in these places.

The children who were collecting firewood would stop and watch curiously when they saw strangers. Their little faces were thin and sallow, but they could not hide their innocent life force.

The woman carrying a baby on her back, holding a sheep in one hand and a wooden bucket in the other, had a face marked by sorrow from the accumulated years. But when she looked up at her home in the distance, there was still a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

…

What they saw and heard along the way made Gu Xixi and others firm in their ideas.

She wants to make changes in this vast Northwest land, so that agricultural flowers can bloom little by little throughout the Northwest.

When we reached Yunling County, three miles away from the county seat, the scenery was completely different from what we had seen before.

From time to time, horse-riding caravans pass by, and occasionally camels can be seen.

It was early in the morning when the city gates were opening, and the further we walked, the more crowded it became.

Residents near the county town carried baskets carrying all kinds of agricultural products, livestock of all sizes, live chickens and ducks, and even live fish soaked in buckets...

They spoke with local accents and discussed the current prices in the city with people they knew.

It is worthy of being the gateway to trade with the Western Regions. This kind of vibrant atmosphere is not found in the surrounding areas of Qingtian County.

After entering the city, Gu Xixi followed the map given by Madam Meng and headed straight to the city center.

There is a straight and wide main street in the center of the city, which can accommodate four carriages running side by side. It is called Zhongjie.

This is not only the city center, but also the largest economic center of Yunling County.

Radiating from Zhongjie, there are four small markets selling mules and horses, second-hand goods, wood, tea, rouge, exotic goods, and seedlings.

These four markets surround Zhongjie like satellites and seem to have nothing to do with each other, but in fact they have some little-known connections.

If an outsider who doesn't know much about the business were to look at the market, the nursery stock market would be the least profitable and the least noticeable.

But it just so happens that this business is monopolized by merchants from the Western Regions, and they have even established a chamber of commerce.

Gu Xixi found an inn to stay in.

There are some high-quality restaurants and inns on Zhongjie Street.

Therefore, most foreign businessmen and tourists choose to live in the surrounding areas, which are not far from Zhongjie but much cheaper.

But Gu Xixi doesn't have much time on this trip.

I heard that the Western Regions people in the Seedling Chamber of Commerce are very united.

As she had just arrived and had never dealt with local merchants, it was inevitable that she aroused their suspicion.

In particular, the Pinellia fruit trees were monopolized by merchants from the Western Regions.

If you want to buy so many Pinellia saplings at one time and select the best ones, it may not be as smooth as buying and selling ordinary saplings.

So you can't save money on accommodation.

Gu Xixi is going to act in a high-profile manner this time.

She lives on Zhong Street, firstly to make herself known to other people, and secondly to improve her image.

After that, no matter who notices her and wants to assess her ability, it will be convenient for everyone, right?

In the afternoon, Gu Xixi went to the sapling market as planned.

The seedling market is very large, and each shop is actually a small nursery.

Gu Xixi walked into a store with a painted sign that read “An”.

The shopkeeper was a big shot, and he greeted her with a smile: "What would you like to see, young lady?"

His tone was easygoing, and it was obvious that he was not anxious about whether he could close this deal with Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi walked a few steps inside and looked around. "There is an empty space at home, but I always feel like something is missing."

“I want to plant fruit trees.”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Then you have found the right place."

"Look, here we have pears such as crisp pears, fragrant pears, and snow pears. Apricots include the common plum apricots and red apricots, as well as this golden apricot, which is larger than other apricots. When ripe, it is sweet and juicy, and melts in your mouth."

"The pear tree is long-lived, and the apricot tree is homophonic to "fortune", both of which are auspicious, and they are extremely elegant when they bloom in spring. They are both the most suitable fruit trees to plant at home."

Gu Xixi carefully looked at the several types of saplings recommended by the shopkeeper.

Although the saplings have no leaves at this time of year, experts can still tell whether the goods are in compliance with the specifications.

The shopkeeper continued to introduce, "There is also a peach tree here. This peach tree is amazing."

"The tree has a beautiful shape, bright flowers, and its fruit is crisp, sweet, and small. The governor has planted several of them on his farm."

At this moment, Gu Xixi already had a definition of this store in her mind.

She turned to the shopkeeper and smiled, "I heard that you have Pinellia fruit in your store, why don't I see it?"

The shopkeeper was stunned. He originally thought that it was just a retail business and he would be lucky if he could buy one or two saplings.

An's Nursery usually does large business, and most of its customers are gardeners and stewards from wealthy families.

If the shopkeeper wasn't free at the moment, he wouldn't have recommended it in so many words.

The shopkeeper looked at Gu Xixi and his expression became serious. "Judging from the guest's accent, he is not a local, right?"

Gu Xixi said, "I am also from the northwest, living in Qingtian County, not far from here."

The shopkeeper said, "We do have Pinellia trees, how many do you want? We don't do retail business."

"Two hundred trees." Gu Xixi said calmly, "We need these as the first batch."

"There will be more to come later, no less."

The shopkeeper was so surprised that his eyes widened and his posture straightened up.

He bowed to Gu Xixi and said, "I can't make the decision on this matter. I have to inform the boss."

"Could you please tell us your address? Our boss can come visit us someday to discuss this matter formally."

"We need to do it another day?" Gu Xixi smiled and shook her head. "It seems that the efficiency of Yunling County's business community is just like this."

"Forget it, I'll go look somewhere else." She said, turned around and walked out.

"Please wait a moment, sir!" The shopkeeper said after a brief struggle, "Please wait a moment, I will invite the boss."

Gu Xixi watched the shopkeeper hurried inside and a sly smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

Before coming, she knew that the Pinellia twigs in Yunling County were only sold to three types of people: nobles, acquaintances, and people with connections.

Gu Xixi does not meet any of the above three criteria.

So she deliberately quoted a figure of two hundred, at least to make the shopkeeper reluctant to refuse immediately.

Not long after, a man dressed in exotic clothes came out.

The man was much younger than Gu Xixi had expected. He was tall and straight, with a full beard that made it impossible to tell his original features. Only his high nose bridge and a pair of gray-blue eyes were particularly eye-catching.

The man looked at Gu Xixi, his eyes lit up, and he ran over with his arms open enthusiastically, "Oh, beautiful Oriental Rose, how can I help you?"

Gu Xixi was speechless: "..."

She originally thought that the other party would directly refuse her, or even worse, might even order her to leave.

But what is the situation now?

Gu Xixi asked, "Are you An Qingyu, Boss An?"

An Qingyu tilted his neck and asked happily, "Do you know my name?"

Gu Xixi took a breath and greeted him, "I have long heard of your name. My name is Gu, and I believe your shopkeeper has already told me the purpose of my visit."

An Qingyu nodded with a smile, "Although I personally really want to agree to you."

"But, unfortunately, no."