Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Mr. Huang’s full name is Huang Xingquan, he is in his teens…
Mr. Huang's full name is Huang Xingquan. He started his business from scratch over a decade ago and has faced plenty of threats and inducements in the business world over the years. If someone else had said this, he would have certainly shrugged it off. He was dreaming of shutting down four shops on the street in a month.
But Jiang Wan was different from all the businessmen he met.
When he heard of her reputation a few days ago, he thought she was just a girl with some talent. There were many people with business talent in this small Fangpan City, so she wasn't worth his attention. Later, Jiang Wan discovered the method of glazing celadon. In just a few days, he established a logistics system for custom porcelain delivery, and it became a hit throughout the city.
People rushed to buy, which made the Qian family shop, which also sold celadon bowls, deserted and they were unable to make ends meet for several days.
Even the business of the other three shops selling white porcelain and ceramics was affected.
Before meeting Jiang Wan, he had always been curious about the kind of woman who was so legendary in the small town. He had taken a quick glimpse upon entering the house, seeing the girl sipping tea with lowered brows and speaking politely to him. He had assumed that the so-called Celadon Master was just that, a meek and submissive servant to him, just to rent a shop, just like the shop owners he had exploited year after year.
He naturally proposed a "New Year's gift," and naturally tried to exploit her like he had exploited other tenants. That was until the girl stood up calmly and said, "Forget it," with such a cold tone and unwavering posture, as if he were just an ant being looked down upon, and all his dirty thoughts had nowhere to hide.
How could that be? Why was she different from the previous tenants? Didn't she need something from him?
He suddenly felt a surge of panic, a sense of oppression forcing him to reconsider Jiang Wan's words. Only then did he truly realize that with Jiang Wan's abilities, even without a shop, simply setting up a stall and delivering goods, he could monopolize the celadon business in Xiaofangpan City and put all four shops on the street out of business within a month.
Before this, Huang Xingquan had always controlled the town's commercial lifeline by monopolizing the shops. But if he refused to cooperate with Jiang Wan this time, then from now on, the celadon industry, and even the entire handicraft industry, would no longer be under the control of his Huang family.
Huang Xingquan's face turned ashen. He suppressed his fear and reluctantly tried to persuade her to stay: "Wait a minute, young lady. I was rude just now. You are so talented. You are willing to rent my shop. It is a recognition of my family. Why would I ask for an extra New Year's gift? It was just a joke. Please don't take it to heart. I will charge you twelve taels."
Jiang Wan stood by the door, not turning back. Hearing Huang Xingquan's words, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but her voice was cold and tinged with anger. "Are you kidding? I came here sincerely to discuss the rent, but you treated it as a joke. Ultimately, you're looking down on me because I'm young. Since you're not sincere, there's no need to say anything more."
You've cheated me out of money, and if I don't ask you to pay me some "New Year's gift", I'm not named Jiang.
"What do you want?" Huang Xingquan certainly understood what she meant. His already blue face became even darker, like the bottom of an iron pot.
Jiang Wan adjusted his expression, turned around and looked at Huang Xingquan with a serious face: "If you really want to rent the shop to me, please pay six taels of silver a year."
"Six taels? Cut it in half? That's absolutely not possible!" Huang Xingquan's eyes widened in anger, bloodshot visible in the whites of his eyes. He was the only one who cheated others, otherwise he wouldn't have earned the nickname "weasel." How dare this little bastard bargain with him?
"That's really a pity," Jiang Wan spread his hands, without a trace of regret on his face. "It's getting late, I won't disturb you. Mr. Huang, please go to bed early."
"Wait!" Huang Xingquan gritted his teeth and shouted, "Six taels is six taels! Steward, go get the receipt!"
Even if it was free, he would have to rent it to Jiang Wan, not to mention six taels of silver. No matter how prosperous the business was, it was still under his control. If he didn't rent it, he would no longer be able to control everything.
Of course, whether or not one can manage it depends on their own abilities. For Jiang Wan, dealing with Huang Xingquan is only a matter of time.
She took out six taels of silver and put it in the butler's hand, but found that the butler just stood there in a daze.
Jiang Wan waved his arm in front of the housekeeper: "Are you daydreaming? Hey!"
"Oh oh oh, Miss Jiang, wait a moment. I will go get the certificate right away and take you to choose a shop tomorrow." After hearing Jiang Wan's words, the housekeeper came to his senses and went to the warehouse.
As I walked, I was brainstorming: Oh my god, what did I see! The master is actually renting it out at a discount! This is the master!
The housekeeper in the mansion lit a lamp and filled out the certificate. Outside the mansion, Zi Yan also unfolded a secret letter in the light of the lamp. There was only a short line of words on it.
"I have left Beijing and will arrive in ten days. Please hold on, my friend."
Zi Yan glanced at the note and tore it up. The carrier pigeon waited for a moment, but when it saw he hadn't replied, it rolled its round eyes in resentment before flying away.
The door to the Huang residence opened, and Jiang Wan emerged with her credentials. Seeing him waiting by the door, a smile spread across her previously stern face. She had a fair, delicate, oval face, with faint dimples when she smiled. Her eyebrows curved, and her pupils reflected the bright lights and his figure, brighter than the starry sky.
Zi Yan was stunned for a moment.
"I've rented a shop!" Jiang Wan was delighted and naturally took his sleeve. "Accompany me to choose a shop tomorrow afternoon, okay?"
Because she was happy, her voice rose at the end, and when she said "OK?", there was a hint of tenderness. Zi Yan nodded a little unnaturally.
To allow enough time to discuss the shop, Jiang Wan asked for leave from Shopkeeper Xu today. For the Lantern Festival, she could buy two lanterns for Wang Da and Wang Er, and she also planned to buy some Yuanxiao (Chinese glutinous rice dumplings) to share with her mother and brother. Thinking of this, she felt bright-hearted and couldn't help but want to tease Zi Yan.
"Hey, you have such a nice voice, why don't you like to talk?" She stared at his face, which looked like a Nuwa masterpiece, with a smile on her face. "I rented a shop, and you have nothing to say? Don't you want to praise me?"
Zi Yan stiffly avoided her gaze, opened his mouth, and uttered two words: "Congratulations."
...He was still so stingy with words. Luckily, she only hired him as a vase and to help carry things. If he were to sell things, he probably wouldn't sell a single thing. Never mind, learning to say congratulations was already progress.
As they were talking, they passed the entrance to the county government office. Jiang Wan took a closer look and saw that the list of fallen soldiers on the bulletin board had been removed. Instead, there was a report of a great victory. It said that General Wen of our dynasty had led 20,000 infantrymen to defeat 80,000 Xiongnu cavalry in one fell swoop. The Xiongnu had now retreated to the west of the Tekes grassland.
There was also a missing person notice posted next to it, saying that General Wen was shot and fell off his horse, and disappeared on the fifth day of the first lunar month. Anyone who found the general would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold.
Jiang Wan nodded. It was rare for the imperial court to be willing to fight a tough battle. However, upon seeing the general's portrait on the notice, he immediately shook his head.
Who painted this? I'm afraid the general's wife wouldn't be able to recognize it even if she stood here.
"Hey, Zi Yan, your family should be quite powerful. Have you seen General Wen?" Jiang Wan asked.
The man behind him didn't move at all. Jiang Wan said "Huh" and turned to look at Zi Yan: "I'm asking you a question?"
Zi Yan didn't answer, but stood with his back to the bustling street, looking at her with a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.
"That means I've seen him before." Jiang Wan understood. "Is he good-looking? How does he compare to you?"
...The uneasiness in Zi Yan's eyes faded, and he looked speechless and walked away.
Jiang Wan withdrew his gaze and walked towards the street, muttering softly, "Tsk, having such a stern face every day, how boring."
During the Lantern Festival, the streets and alleys are bustling with activity. Children aged seven or eight play outside their homes, lantern vendors carry shoulder poles through the streets, young men peddle candied haws from their stands, and young women push carts selling cosmetics. The place is bustling with activity, a scene of bustling activity.
Jiang Wan had already packed her Yuanxiao (Chinese dumplings) and was now standing in front of the lantern stand. She picked out two rabbit lanterns and was about to pay when the vendor enthusiastically recommended, "Miss, how about a wish lantern?"
A prayer lantern? Jiang Wan looked where the vendor pointed and saw a hexagonal paper lantern with a piece of white wax hanging in the middle.
In her past life, she had seen these lanterns before. Lighting the white wax in the center, the warm air would prop up the entire lantern. With a gentle push, the prayer lantern would rise slowly into the air. During festivals, families would often light lanterns together and make wishes, hoping for good health and prosperity. However, in her past life, she had no family and never believed in the idea of praying for blessings.
If praying works, the richest people would be monks, not bosses.
She smiled and declined: "No, just buy two rabbit lanterns for my little apprentice to play with. I don't like these."
The vendor looked at Zi Yan, who was holding Yuanxiao and a rabbit lantern for Jiang Wan, and diligently tried to increase his sales. "Miss, legend has it that if two lovers light this lantern together, they will be together forever. You and this young man are truly a match made in heaven, it would be a shame not to light a lantern together."
Zi Yan silently took half a step back.
Jiang Wan turned his head to look at Zi Yan, and suddenly burst out laughing. He put his arm on his shoulder and said jokingly, "Brother Zi Yan, don't you think we are a perfect match?"
She was close and could clearly see her figure magnified in his eyes. The lights of the Lantern Festival reflected in his eyes, which were glittering and bright, and easily gave people the illusion of deep affection.
Jiang Wan was a little overwhelmed, so he took a few steps back and silently bought the wishing lantern. Amid the vendor's repeated calls of "May you have a happy marriage and a son soon", he awkwardly tried to carve out a three-bedroom apartment and ran away in a hurry.
Because the streets in the city were narrow, the townspeople placed their prayer lanterns outside the city. Jiang Wan followed the crowd out of the city and arrived at the shores of Duolun Lake.
At night, Duolun Lake, reflecting the full moon, shimmers with a luminous, still, serene image, embodying an indescribable mystical charm. It resembles neither the vast expanse of the northern lakes, where water meets sky, nor the southern lakes, where the moon sets, crows cry, and fishing lights flicker. Duolun Lake is a pearl of the grasslands, gentle and pure, its waves surging.
Jiang Wan unfolded the prayer lantern and picked up her pen, pondering what wish to write. She had been alone before, never lighting a prayer lantern, but now that she had a mother, a brother, and two lovely apprentices, her heart seemed to have softened.
"This is my first time lighting a wish lantern, and I don't know what to write." Jiang Wan stuck out her tongue. "Zi Yan, what do you think people usually write as wishes?"
The other person had a cold face and didn't say anything, but Jiang Wan clearly saw the misty confusion in his eyes and couldn't help but curl his lips.
I didn’t expect that children from wealthy families would not let go of wishing lanterns.
"For girls your age, it's common to pray for the health of their parents or a happy marriage," an old man who happened to pass by Jiang Wan suggested, "But prayers are in the heart, there are no rules, just write whatever you want."
Jiang Wan thanked the old man. As she pondered what wish to make, scenes from her two lives flooded back into her mind. A child easily bullied, a youth humiliated and then braved, an adult filled with ambition, and finally, a top antiques expert, all alone, through thick and thin. Until she traveled back in time, having lost all her fame and wealth, she found a home and a place of peace, thanks to the care of her family.
It was a blessing in disguise. Jiang Wan wrote down his wish on the lantern:
Loved ones are always around, and the moon is full and the family is happy.
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