Chapter 259 No Good News
When Jiang Ling returned to the general store, she saw several simply decorated but sturdy carriages parked not far away.
Ji Wensheng stood with his hands behind his back, smiling, talking to Xiao Ran at the shop entrance.
Today he wore a brocade robe of a sky-blue color after the rain, which made him look exceptionally refined in the sunlight.
He was a born businessman; the shrewdness and quick wit in his eyes were impossible to hide.
"Young Master Ji, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Jiang Ling greeted him as she stepped forward.
"Mr. Jiang, you're too kind. It was my bad timing that brought you here and disturbed your field inspection."
Ji Wensheng returned the greeting with a cupped hand and a beaming smile.
Jiang Ling was amused by him: "Young Master Ji is too kind. I was just bored at the shop, so I took advantage of the spring weather and went to the fields for a spring outing. Please come in, Young Master."
Once inside the shop, Xiao Yi began pouring tea.
As Ji Wensheng inhaled the aroma of tea, his gaze occasionally drifted to the window: "I've long heard of the beautiful scenery and tranquil landscape of Jishui Village. I've long wanted to visit it, but unfortunately, I've been too busy to find the time."
"The spring scenery is just right now, it's the perfect time for an outing. Why don't we come earlier next time? Would you have the honor of treating me, Mr. Jiang, to show me the beautiful scenery of Jishui Village?"
"Mr. Ji, you're too kind. It's just some scenery in the mountains, nothing special, and naturally can't compare to the sights in the capital. If Mr. Ji is interested, Jiang Ling is happy to extend my hospitality and show you around."
Ji Wensheng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Very well then, I will take this as an agreement."
Jiang Ling smiled and gestured for Xiao Ran to go to the warehouse and bring out the wooden crates that had been prepared beforehand.
That was the second batch of one hundred bottles of floral water.
Ji Wensheng looked at the wooden crates, his smile widening. Before Jiang Ling could ask, he spoke first:
"Mr. Jiang, your floral water is truly a rare commodity! When the first batch arrived in Beijing, I only released fifty bottles as planned, and they were almost sold out as soon as they hit the shelves! You didn't see the scene; several ladies and young women I knew almost abandoned all decorum in their scramble for the last few bottles."
His tone was filled with undisguised smugness.
I remember seeing the Song family's cloth shop last year and I secretly envied it for a long time, and even felt jealous.
Who would have thought that the scene on the day the floral water was put on the shelves would be several times more lively than the scene in front of Song's Cloth Shop!
Although most customers came to buy floral water, they lingered in the shop for a short while, occasionally taking a fancy to one or two pieces of porcelain and buying them back.
Recently, sales of porcelain have also been increasing.
"That's excellent. I was worried that this floral water wouldn't have a market in winter. But since the goods are already sold out, why doesn't Boss Ji order more?"
It's quite a hassle to carry 100 bottles at a time.
"No, no," Ji Wensheng said, shaking one finger, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.
“Things are valued for their rarity. If too many are released at once, they become less special. I want them to want to buy it but not easily, so that they will keep thinking about it and spread the word. That's how the legend of this floral water will spread wider and become more and more legendary. This time, I still won't release all one hundred bottles at once. I'll release them slowly and gradually, keeping them in suspense.”
Jiang Ling immediately understood; wasn't this just modern-day scarcity marketing?
They also gained a wave of free advertising.
Ji Wensheng spoke eloquently, revealing his business philosophy and plans for the next three years.
They went into detail about how many branches to open and even calculated the quantity needed for each batch of goods.
Jiang Ling clicked her tongue slightly upon hearing this, thinking to herself: The Ji family truly lives up to its reputation as a business family; this person is indeed born to do business.
Unfortunately, transportation and information were underdeveloped in that era; otherwise, with his business acumen, he would have sold his products all over the country long ago.
"Young Master Ji is a master of business, which is truly admirable," Jiang Ling praised sincerely.
"Mr. Jiang, you flatter me. Merchants are driven by profit and are base. I was afraid you would find it annoying if I said too much."
"Why say such things? I'm a businessman too. Isn't this just my grocery store?"
Ji Wensheng was taken aback upon hearing this, only then realizing that he had never considered Jiang Ling as a businesswoman.
Although Cheng Fang had emphasized to him several times that there were no goddesses in the world, and those were just potent antipyretics that Jiang Ling had brought back from the Western Regions.
He spoke earnestly, and I myself agreed with his statement.
But every time he saw Jiang Ling, he would silently give her a halo in his heart.
"Ji is foolish."
The old shopkeeper checked the quantity of the floral water and, after confirming that it was correct, handed over the final payment.
Ji Wensheng also arranged a pickup time with Jiang Ling for the next batch of goods.
Once the main business was over, he changed the subject, lowering his voice slightly.
"I have kept in mind the matter entrusted to me by Miss Jiang. In the past three days, I have instructed the caravan members traveling to and from Ping'an County and the surrounding areas to keep an eye out, and I have also privately inquired about some news in the vicinity of the peony tree..."
Jiang Ling's heart jumped, and she stared intently at him.
Ji Wensheng shook his head slightly, a hint of apology on his face: "For now... there is no definite news about Miss Hongxiu. But one thing is certain, it seems that the people under the peony flower are also unaware of the situation. The government has accepted the case and is investigating. I have also bribed the shopkeeper in the government to notify me as soon as he has any news."
"But don't worry, Miss Jiang, I've increased the manpower and expanded the scope of our inquiries. We're not just going to Ping'an County; we'll also send people to inquire about the small roads leading to the north and west. We'll inform you immediately if we find any clues."
Although she was mentally prepared, a hint of disappointment still flashed across Jiang Ling's eyes when she heard the confirmed news.
Three more days passed, and the longer it dragged on, the less likely news became.
In the vast sea of people, where could a frail woman like Hongxiu go?
She suppressed her worries and said to Ji Wensheng, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Ji. This matter cannot be rushed, I understand."
"It's good that you understand, young lady." Ji Wensheng nodded, then spoke with a slightly heavy tone:
"However, there is one thing I hope Miss Jiang will be prepared for. I have already increased manpower to investigate the bodies of young women who died unexpectedly and were left unclaimed in Ping'an County and nearby prefectures and counties."
Although she had already considered this worst-case scenario, her heart still skipped a beat when she heard Ji Wensheng say it.
"I understand. Thank you for your help, Young Master Ji."
After seeing Ji Wensheng off, Jiang Ling stood at the shop entrance, looking at Xiao Tao hanging clothes to dry in the neighboring yard.
After a few days of rest, the injuries on her face have almost completely healed. She also looks cleaner and more energetic.
Aside from not allowing her to enter the shop and courtyard, Jiang Ling did not restrict her in any other way.
She didn't run around. After a few days of observation, she was considered to have behaved herself.
Jiang Ling occasionally asks Xiao Yi to bring her food and firewood, and these past few days she has been getting along quite well with Xiao Yi.
Jiang Ling didn't ask her how she planned to respond to the madam, and she didn't bring it up herself.
Even the Ji family's caravan hasn't been able to find out anything about Hongxiu. They can only hope that Xiaotao will bring back some useful information from under the peony tree the day after tomorrow.
She let out a soft sigh and turned back to the shop.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com