Chapter 088: Pre-consumption
Qi Er took this opportunity to observe Xu Qingying carefully.
She was not very old, rather thin, and her appearance had been deliberately made up, so that only her distinct black and white eyes could be clearly seen. She ate slowly and carefully, savoring each dish only briefly, and it was obvious that she had received a good upbringing.
In such a situation, she could still sit still without any panic on her face, which shows that she is mentally strong.
As expected of the niece of the Chief Censor in Bianjing City, she was bold enough to start a business on the road of exile.
It took only a month to travel from Bianjing City to Xingyuan Prefecture. She, a weak woman, was able to form a team of elite soldiers in such a short time. Even the escorts who accompanied her obeyed her orders.
Miss Qi became more and more afraid to look down on Xu Qingying.
Even though she had Xu Qingying's leverage in her hand, she still had to be extremely alert to deal with it.
The two people sat at the same table for dinner by some strange coincidence. One talked about what he saw along the way, and the other talked about local specialties.
He goes around in circles, is vague and unclear, and always avoids the main business, intentionally or unintentionally.
Xu Qingying, considering that they couldn't stay long, took the initiative to break the silence: "Second Miss Qi, I'm almost thirsty from talking so much. When are you going to give the person to me?"
Miss Qi slowly put down her chopsticks, a hint of a smile on her face. "Mr. Xu, are you talking about the escort named Huang Yazi?"
At this point, Xu Qingying already knew two things.
The first thing is that Miss Qi has found Huang Yazi.
The second thing is that Huang Yazi probably told Miss Qi Er everything he knew, including the prescription.
Seeing Xu Qingying remain silent, Second Miss Qi's face turned cold. She slammed the table and said, "Sixth Miss Xu, you are so bold! As an exiled prisoner, you actually dare to start a business on the road of exile?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the next table jumped to their feet, swords drawn. The two groups faced each other across the table, glaring at each other, and it looked like they were about to come to blows if they didn't agree on anything.
Xu Qingying gestured to Zhao Bantou to calm down, then smiled and crossed her legs. "Second Miss Qi, if you really wanted to arrest me and report me to the police, I would have been arrested the moment I set foot in Xingyuan Mansion. Why waste such a large table of food? But speaking of which, Zuixian Pavilion is worthy of being the largest restaurant in Xingyuan Mansion. These fermented rice balls are really fine and dense, with a long, sweet and lingering fragrance."
Miss Qi stared at Xu Qingying and actually saw her actually pick up the bowl and calmly drink up the fermented rice wine at the bottom of the bowl.
Miss Qi Er was at her wit's end. She burst out laughing and said to the maid beside her, "Look, look, I told you, this little display won't scare her."
The people at the next table didn't dare to breathe, and the atmosphere only improved slightly with Miss Qi's laughter.
Miss Qi sat down again, her tone gentle and doting, "You girl, you're even braver than me. This is just because we have some affection for each other. If it were someone else, they would have reported you to the police and had you arrested!"
"What crime?" Xu Qingying tilted her head. "The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty clearly stipulate that exiled prisoners cannot engage in business after arriving at the place of exile, but it doesn't say that they can't do business while on the road."
As for words like favoritism, just listen to them.
She wasn't stupid enough to believe the talk of favor from a business savvy with many years of experience.
As the saying goes, wealth and honor are sought in danger. Miss Qi is not a righteous citizen, so there is no need for her to make enemies and do stupid things that will hurt the enemy by a thousand and hurt herself by eight hundred.
The reason why Miss Qi pretended not to know her identity was probably because she wanted to see what kind of trouble she would stir up in Xingyuan Prefecture.
For a businessman, making money is always the first priority.
Xu Qingying, however, looked pleased and said, "Thank you, Second Sister Qi, for showing mercy."
"Hmph, I've been so open with you, yet you've been full of lies." The Second Miss Qi acted like a woman holding her heart in her arms, wounded. "Because of your words, I came all the way to Xingyuan Mansion and gathered so many acquaintances. You have to make it up to me."
"Then what kind of compensation does Second Sister Qi want?"
Miss Qi smiled slyly, "Master Xu, why don't you tell me, is the recipe in Huang Yazi's hand real or fake?"
At this point, Miss Qi finally bared her fangs. "I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Huang Yazi is a coward. He confessed everything as soon as we met. Including that prescription..."
Miss Qi Er leisurely fiddled with the cinnabar on her nail polish, smiling but with a cold glint in her eyes, "I just had a few of Huang Yazi's teeth pulled, and he was so scared he peed his pants and begged me to spare him. Now, I got a soap recipe for nothing. My dear sister, you've been so good at keeping this secret that you've actually tricked me, Qi Er, into a loop!"
Miss Qi Er was so intimidating without being angry that the temperature in the entire private room seemed to drop suddenly. Feng Er, standing aside, felt like her heart was about to jump out.
It’s over, it’s over, Miss Qi knows everything.
Would she kill the girl out of anger?
No, she had to protect the girl.
Feng'er stared at Miss Qi Er, as if she would pounce on her to protect her if she made any unusual movement.
"The recipe is real." Xu Qingying wiped her mouth calmly and glanced at Miss Qi. "I believe Miss Qi has already looked at the recipe and asked someone to test it. What's the problem?"
Qi Er's eyes narrowed, a smile playing on his lips. "How can it be so fast? Didn't your recipe say that we have to wait until it solidifies before removing it from the mold—"
Xu Qingying guessed that Qi Er must have made it according to the recipe, but the result was not good.
Although she wrote down the recipe at that time, she was careful not to specify at what degree the mixture could be poured into the mold. In fact, it was not difficult. She could find the pattern by trying a few times.
"Xu Liu, give me the recipe and I will give you twenty thousand taels." This time, Miss Qi's tone was unquestionable, even a little aggressive.
Everyone listened attentively, knowing that today's negotiations had reached a critical point, and they all held their breath.
"Impossible." Xu Qingying refused without a second thought. "My recipe would fetch at least this much on the market."
Xu Qingying made a ten.
"One hundred thousand taels, you are so arrogant!"
"Whether it's worth the price or not, Miss Qi will naturally know."
"Oh, Xu Liu, don't be so shameless. I'm telling you, the recipe is already in my hands. You only have two options. Either tell me the final step and take the money and leave. Or I'll leak the fact that you have the soap recipe and see how many powerful people will want to deal with you!"
Miss Qi Er's sudden change of expression caught everyone present off guard.
Zhao Bantou slammed the table and his hand was already on the hilt of the knife. If Xu Qingying hadn't repeatedly signaled him to be patient, Zhao Bantou would have drawn the knife and chopped someone down.
The others stared at Miss Qi with eager eyes.
Miss Qi smiled coldly, no longer as gentle as before. "Xu Liu, quit while you're ahead. Take the 20,000 taels of silver and get out, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, I'll make sure none of you can leave the gates of Xingyuan Mansion!"
At the critical moment, Xu Qingying slowly stood up.
She wasn't tall, but she had an imposing presence. Her black and white eyes stared at Qi Er, and she said word by word, "I won't give you the recipe. Miss Qi Er, you can kill me or chop me up as you please. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."
Miss Qi was stunned.
And just when she was stunned, Xu Qingying had already raised her foot and walked out without hesitation.
Everyone stared at the man's back in amazement, their jaws dropped.
No, what's the point of leaving midway?
Qi Er immediately became anxious and shouted at the figure behind him, "Twenty-five thousand taels, no more!"
The figure stopped immediately.
Zhao Bantou and others waited there.
Xu Qingying turned around, but there was no trace of anger on her face. Instead, she walked back and actually grabbed Miss Qi's wrist. She smiled like a lecher and said, "Miss Qi, remember next time you bluff, don't shake your hands."
Miss Qi's expression changed slightly. She pulled her hand away, pushed her away, and said angrily, "You are such a heartless person!"
Everyone started to lose track of the plot again.
Are all women so fickle?
This retreat and advance, playing hard to get, what are these two people playing at?
Xu Qingying sat down again, this time in a much more relaxed posture, even leisurely crossing her legs. She gestured for Miss Qi to sit down, "Sister Qi, sit down. Let's have a good talk this time."
Qi Er sat down reluctantly, humphed arrogantly, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction: "I knew I couldn't fool you."
"Twenty-five thousand taels, is that all your wealth?"
Qi Er turned his head, his face slightly flushed. "I was planning to borrow five thousand taels from Zhao. I'm sure you've heard about my situation. My uncles and aunts are eyeing me covetously, and I'm being held back in every way. There's been a war in the north these past two years, and the Qi family's business has been tough."
Seeing Zhao Bantou and the others looking at her in confusion, Xu Qingying had no choice but to explain, "Second Sister Qi had no intention of blackmailing me. She was just bluffing. Even if we rejected her, she wouldn't attack us."
Qi Er patted her hands and said coquettishly with some resentment, "You silly girl, my Qi family's business relies on reputation. I can't do anything like forcing a sale. I wanted to fool you a little bit. If you can't bear it, I will give you the money. But you are so smart that you don't fall for it."
Xu Qingying smiled, "If your acting just now had been more realistic, and your hands hadn't been shaking so badly, maybe I would have actually believed you. Second Sister Qi, you're not cut out for shady dealings. You certainly can't fake this kind of ruthlessness."
Qi Er also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Xu Qingying hadn't left and was willing to sit down, it proved that there was still hope.
When she shouted out "twenty-five thousand taels", she knew that she was at a disadvantage in this game.
She really had to admire Xu Qingying.
Despite his young age, he is so calm and can maintain such keen observation skills even in such a chaotic situation.
"Second Miss Qi, I want to congratulate you too." Xu Qingying's voice was light, but there was a hint of condescending appreciation and approval in her eyes.
It's even like elders appreciating younger ones.
Miss Qi was confused: "Why, have you figured it out and are you planning to give me the recipe? Or, we can cooperate. As for the terms, we can negotiate!"
Xu Qingying smiled and patted Miss Qi's shoulder. "I want to congratulate you on passing my test."
"Hmm?" Miss Qi was completely bewildered this time. "What kind of test?"
"Actually, I do have some ideas about soap, and I'm in desperate need of a partner. Huang Yazi originally stole my soap recipe, and I figured he'd come looking for you, and maybe even reveal my identity and the recipe to you to save his life. So I'm going to take advantage of his tactic. Firstly, I want to catch him, and secondly, I want to test you and see what you'll do with the recipe."
Xu Qingying's eyebrows were indifferent and her tone was very light, but for some reason, it made Miss Qi feel frightened when she heard it.
"I thought that either you pretended you didn't get the recipe, then turned around and took it for yourself and started making soap. Or you threatened me with my identity and forced me to hand over all the recipes." Xu Qingying's hand tapped the table lightly. "But now it seems that I won the bet."
Qi Er was stunned. "So you guessed that Huang Yazi would give me the recipe?"
"Huang Yazi knows you bought our soap before, so he will definitely come to you as soon as he arrives in Xingyuan Prefecture. And you, under my commission, will definitely look for Huang Yazi as well. The two of you will definitely run into each other. However, judging by the results, Miss Qi is a girl worthy of trust and reliance."
Qi Er was stunned for a long time. "Why did you go through so much trouble? Just to test me? And then what?"
"Of course we have to make a lot of money together. Miss Qi, you forgot that I promised you that I would make a fortune in Xingyuan Prefecture."
At this moment, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Ming Xiaoshuang only showed his head and saluted her from a distance, "Miss, it's done."
Xu Qingying nodded.
Miss Qi Er looked at the two people playing dumb and asked quickly, "What's going on?"
Xu Qingying didn't answer but asked instead, a smile blazing in her eyes: "Second Miss Qi, are you interested in collaborating and squeezing the pockets of the wealthy people in Xingyuan Prefecture?"
Qi Er couldn't keep up with the pace at all. She had always been conceited about her intelligence since she was a child, and she could easily understand the twists and turns in the business world. But for some reason, now that she was in front of Xu Qingying, she was like a new daughter-in-law who had just married into her husband's family, and she was at a loss as to what to do.
She had no choice but to give up all her thoughts and simply asked directly: "Miss Xu, can you explain more clearly where the source of Xingyuan Prefecture's wealth lies?"
"We'll discuss the details on the way. Have you finished your meal? Then let's talk while we walk. Since we've finally come to Xingyuan Prefecture, we have to take a look around."
Miss Qi Er had to suppress her strong curiosity and asked, "What about the yellow-toothed man? Do you still want him?"
Xu Qingying stared at her and smiled faintly, but her every move exuded an aura that was impossible to ignore. "Huang Yazi... is already in our hands."
"Impossible! I locked him up in the backyard and sent someone to guard him."
Xu Qingying didn't say anything, but just walked out. Miss Qi had no choice but to follow her quickly, but she did not forget to wink at the maid beside her to ask her to confirm where Huang Yazi was.
It was not until this moment that Miss Qi Er finally felt relieved.
It was a close call. Just one thought away, I almost became an enemy of the person in front of me.
The thought of being Xu Qingying's enemy made me feel a chill down my spine.
How can I fight her? This girl is like a spirit. Xu Qingying calculates her every move and has her completely under her control.
She was still trying to get Xu Qingying's prescription, but Xu Qingying was already trying to get her.
While she was still worrying about the 20,000 taels, Xu Qingying had already thought of a bigger business.
To drain the pockets of the rich people in Xingyuan Prefecture.
Why do I feel so excited just thinking about it?
One afternoon, Xu Qingying led the team to walk around Xingyuan Prefecture.
The weather was a bit gloomy, and in the afternoon, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
Passersby took shelter, and those around Miss Qi Er also bought oil-paper umbrellas and opened them. Feng Er had no money and was at a loss as to what to do, when the girl also handed her an oil-paper umbrella and said with a smile, "Hurry up and shield your daughter from the wind and snow."
Feng'er accepted it with gratitude, but at the same time she couldn't help but sigh that she was still far from being the maid of a wealthy family.
Look at how he treats people. If she wants to do big things with the girl, she still needs more experience.
"By the way, Miss Qi, why isn't Mr. Zhao from Zhao's Grocery Store here this time?"
Qi Er said with a bit of gloating, "He has many brothers and sisters in his family, and they've been fighting fiercely recently. He said he was entangled by the woman sent by his second brother and couldn't get away."
Xu Qingying curled the corners of her lips.
It seems that the relationship between Miss Qi and Master Zhao is not as bad as it seemed that day. Otherwise, Master Zhao would not have told Miss Qi even such trivial matters.
Looking at the dense, goose-feather-like snowflakes, Xu Qingying also felt very cold, but she couldn't help but ask, "Second Miss Qi, is it normal to snow in November?"
Miss Qi Er looked at the gloomy sky with a serious expression, "This isn't normal. Xingyuan Prefecture was cold in previous years, but it rarely snowed, let alone such heavy snow in November, right at the beginning of winter."
Fang Ningmo frowned slightly and said, "I'm afraid the north won't be able to make it this year."
Zhao Bantou also said, "Last year, there was a severe locust plague in the north, and many people fled to Bianjing City with their families. This year, it snowed in the south, and I wonder what the situation is like in the north."
Fang Ningmo, perhaps influenced by the notice just now, pursed his lips and said coldly, "The superiors are immoral, bringing down heavenly punishment and leaving the people homeless."
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Although the people of the Zhou Dynasty had complained about the young emperor and Zhu Guojiu over the years, no one dared to criticize the emperor so openly.
No one dared to respond and just pretended not to hear.
Xu Qingying tilted her head to look at Fang Ningmo, only to see a hint of hatred on her porcelain-white face. She secretly patted Fang Ningmo's hand, reminding her to be careful. Fang Ningmo also realized that she had lost her composure and immediately changed the subject, saying, "I don't think there are many refugees in Xingyuan Prefecture."
Only then did Miss Qi dare to add, "I heard that most of the refugees went south."
Zhao Bantou said, "I heard the harvest in the south wasn't good this year. There were severe floods in several parts of Jinzhou Prefecture, and many people simply abandoned their fields and took to the mountains to become bandits. It's said that grain payments from Jiangsu and Zhejiang this year were less than two-thirds of last year's."
Xu Qingying looked at the refugees huddled in the corners of the streets of Xingyuan Prefecture. Most of them were half-naked, their lips turning purple from the cold. They huddled in the corners like zombies, their bodies lifeless, hanging on only by the last breath.
She couldn't help but sigh: "When prosperity comes, the people suffer; when decline comes, the people suffer."
But what can she do?
It seems that being able to take care of herself is already a great skill.
Xu Qingying could only force herself not to look at the suffering of others. She was like an ostrich, thinking that as long as the suffering did not enter her eyes, it would not enter her heart.
She was still too weak to change anyone's fate.
Xu Qingying finally understood that humans are resilient animals who can adapt to any environment.
In the past, people could spend a day in a heated room. Now in ancient times, people can still spend a day wearing two or three pieces of thin clothes.
It turns out that people's physical constitution is constantly changing with the environment.
Looking at the people coming and going on the street, the common people in thin clothes, she suddenly thought that the Zhou Dynasty did not seem to have widely planted cotton.
In the original owner's memory, the people of the Zhou Dynasty mostly kept warm by using animal fur, or wearing two more layers of silk and linen clothes, and then relied entirely on their righteousness to resist the severe cold.
So she asked curiously, "Second Miss Qi, don't people in Xingyuan Mansion wear cotton clothes?"
Miss Qi frowned and asked, "What is a cotton-padded jacket?"
Xu Qingying changed her words, "It's cotton... Kapok, have you seen it?"
Miss Qi Er laughed. "Ah, kapok flowers, they're everywhere in the countryside and on the mountains. But what are you talking about cotton-padded clothes? Are you using kapok flowers to make clothes?"
This time, Xu Qingying was certain that the Great Zhou Dynasty had indeed not yet realized the economic value of cotton.
Cotton is a plant with high yield and wide uses. It can be made into cotton-padded clothes, cotton-padded pants, and cotton-padded quilts, which are very effective in keeping warm in winter.
Isn’t this a ready-made business opportunity?
Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds to wait until the soap issue is finished before starting to deal with the cotton issue?
Xu Qingying began to think about tonight's Chamber of Commerce dinner. Then, she remembered the cold weather and thought she should pack some warm clothes. She instructed Feng'er, "Feng'er, see if there's anyone selling furs. If so, count the number of people in my family, including you and Zhenniang. Oh, and include Zhao Bantou and the officials, too. Place an order first, tell the boss to hold the goods for us, and send someone to pick them up tonight."
Xu Degui immediately stopped her and whispered in her ear, "Qingying, how can we have extra money to buy clothes? Don't forget, all the money was taken away by Huang Yazi."
"Don't worry, father. Huang Yazi is already in our hands, so the silver won't be lost either."
Xu Degui was even more reluctant to part with it. Seeing that Zhao Bantou wasn't paying attention, he immediately pulled Xu Qingying aside and said, "Do the math. A good piece of fur would cost at least ten taels of silver. There are at least forty people in our family, including Zhao Bantou's men. If you just talk like that, you're going to spend hundreds of taels of silver!"
"Father, what is the purpose of making money? Isn't it to have a better life? If you don't spend money, it's like stagnant water. If stagnant water can't flow, how can you mobilize funds and make more money?"
Facing Xu Qingying's clear and logical explanation, Xu Degui rarely lost his temper this time and directly pointed out the key point: "But the problem is that we are out of water and have no money."
"Spend in advance," Xu Qingying said with a smile, committed to changing the stingy habits of the Xu family's third branch. "And don't worry, father, we'll have money tonight."
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