At the end of July, caravans from all over the country gathered in the capital, bringing rare items from all directions for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival.
These caravans were highly sought-after by merchants in the capital, as they traveled farther than ordinary caravans and brought back more exotic goods.
Merchants compete fiercely to replenish their stock or acquire rare items and materials to create novelties. Only by constantly innovating can they stand out from their peers and attract more distinguished customers.
Of course, Shen Ning didn't need to get involved in something like stealing goods; all the managers under him would do their jobs efficiently.
In addition to ordinary goods, they would also ask familiar caravans to carry some specific goods, and Shen Ning came for this purpose.
The caravan that cooperated most closely with Shen Ning came from the southeast coast, and the leader's surname was Zhu.
When Shen Ning arrived, the merchant guild was under renovation. The burly shop assistants were busy organizing the goods. When they saw Shen Ning, they all stopped what they were doing and looked him up and down. Their smiles were slightly frivolous, but not presumptuous. They were more amazed.
Shen Ning saw several familiar faces, but they only looked at her with the same eyes that would scrutinize a stranger. Shen Ning then realized that she had only been working with this caravan for two years and didn't know them very well, unlike in her previous life when many of the workers stayed in the capital to work for her.
Someone came up to greet her warmly: "Who are you looking for, young lady?"
Shen Ning was not shy at all and calmly asked, "Is this the old gang leader Zhu or some other deputy gang leader?"
Upon hearing this, the man realized it was a regular customer and replied with a smile, "Miss, you've guessed wrong. This time, it's the young master of the gang."
"It's Zhu Feng."
Just as Shen Ning was about to ask him to help announce the news, the man in the coarse blue clothes strode out. He was in his early twenties, with a handsome face and a tall but upright figure. He looked tired and travel-worn, but had a maturity and composure beyond his years.
The person next to him immediately called out, "Young Master, a young lady is looking for you!"
Zhu Feng naturally saw Shen Ning as well. After walking over, he first cupped his hands in a traditional martial arts greeting: "I am Zhu Feng, the young leader of the Wanlu Gang. May I ask how you are addressed, young lady?"
Shen Ning returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute, speaking with grace and composure: "Shen Ning has an appointment with Chief Zhu and has come to pick up the goods."
A group of people nearby were immediately surprised: "Wow, you're the big buyer the gang leader was talking about. The gang leader didn't say you were a great beauty."
Zhu Feng was also surprised. Shen Ning's appearance did not seem like that of someone who was in business; rather, she looked like a pampered young lady who did not concern herself with worldly affairs.
"Please present the token, Miss Shen, so I can verify it."
Shen Ning naturally brought along the contract personally signed by the leader of the Wanlu Gang, as well as a token.
After confirming that everything was correct, Zhu Feng led Shen Ning inside, saying, "Miss Shen, this way please."
The Wanlu Gang came from the coast, bringing mainly seafood, such as dried abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw. Of course, the ocean is rich and its treasures are not limited to these.
Besides edible seafood, there are various shellfish that can be made into medicine, as well as the most luxurious pearls, conch pearls, clams, and ambergris that only royalty and nobility could use.
Shen Ning naturally didn't have the ability to have everything; she came this time for the pearls.
Zhu Feng took out a box that was one foot long and three inches wide. Inside were pearls of varying sizes.
Don't underestimate these small things; with just this one box, Shen Ning could make half of the young ladies in the capital smile.
Large, round pearls were sent to the palace as tribute. Very few were kept by the common people, and even fewer were sent to the capital.
Among pearls, the Eastern pearl is even more precious, and only royalty and nobility could afford it.
Ordinary officials' families rarely had such privileges; only when the men in the family performed great merit could those wives of officials receive some reward.
The pearls in her hands were small and of poor quality, but they were the kind that ordinary nobles could use.
Shen Ning only learned about pearl harvesting by chance from the old gang leader, which is why she asked him for a large sum of money to help her buy them.
The value of this box is enough to buy a decent house in the capital, but if it were made into jewelry and sold, its value would definitely increase five or six times.
Of all these goods, only this box was personally kept by Zhu Feng, which shows its precious value.
"Thank you very much, old leader. You must be tired from the journey, young leader."
Zhu Feng waved his hand: "You're welcome. I can breathe a sigh of relief once the item is safely in your hands."
He was afraid of losing the item along the way, and also afraid of being discovered. If he encountered an official who wanted to embezzle it, this small box would make his entire trip a waste.
Shen Ning smiled, while Zhu Feng remained as straightforward as ever: "Then I'll take this first, but I'll have to trouble you, Young Master, to deliver the rest of the goods."
Zhu Feng: "Of course."
Shen Ning had something to say, but considering they would be staying for a few more days, she wasn't in a hurry.
He took out a money pouch and handed it over: "Please have a drink with the young master and the brothers."
After Shen Ning left, a group of people gathered around Zhu Feng, jokingly asking, "Young Master, isn't this girl beautiful?"
People around them cheered, "Beautiful!"
"Shouldn't several gang leaders marry her off to be their young mistresses?"
"good!"
Zhu Feng glared at them, annoyed: "Nonsense!"
A group of people burst into laughter. A steward who had been with them for many years stepped forward and said irritably, "You bunch of little brats, you're dreaming! Her father used to be the Minister of Works. She's a real daughter of an official. How could she possibly be interested in roughnecks like us?"
Everyone: "Wow, a rich young lady! The young master will have to work harder, otherwise he won't be able to marry her."
Zhu Feng: "Go away, stop fooling around, hurry up and divide the goods, or there will be no wine to drink tonight."
Upon learning that the young lady had even set aside money to treat them to drinks, the group became even more enthusiastic, vowing to help their young master win over the young lady.
Zhu Feng was both angry and helpless; these people just knew how to make fun of him.
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Having obtained what she wanted, Shen Ning was in a fairly good mood. Just as she was thinking about how to maximize the use of the pearl, the carriage jolted, and a figure darted up like a fish.
Yu Zhu, who had followed, was dumbfounded: "Who are you? What are you doing here? Get down!"
A fragrant breeze wafted over, and Shen Ning was suddenly embraced by someone, almost dropping the box in her hand.
The newcomer tilted her head back and smiled charmingly: "Wow, we meet again, Miss. We are truly destined to meet."
Shen Ning looked down at her, his eyebrows twitching slightly, and a glint of something unreadable flashed in his eyes: "Wang Xiaoya."
The woman instantly lost her composure, her expression turning ferocious: "What Wang Xiaoya? My name is Tao Ji, Tao Ji!!!"
Shen Ning: "..." This fierceness is quite frightening.
"Your name is none of my business, get off!"
"No!" Tao Ji grabbed Shen Ning's arm tightly, her body seemingly boneless, her eyes filled with seductive charm: "I have nowhere else to go, please take me in for a couple of days, Miss."
"I can make the bed, warm the quilt, and serve as a pillow; I can also help you bathe, change clothes, and... well, spend the night together... I can do it all!"
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