Chapter 44 A Dagger
Wu Qiong picked up a small piece of pagoda vegetable with his fingers, chewed it in small bites. It was just the right amount of salty and slightly sour, and it tasted crisp and refreshing. Although it didn't have the aroma of stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat, it had its own unique flavor.
“Okay, okay! If you have the right ingredients, you can make more and have it sold on my behalf. I won’t take a cut.” Wu Qiong readily agreed.
He figured that even if no one bought it, he could still spend a lot on himself, enough for the girl to earn some pocket money.
"The ingredients for this pagoda vegetable are extremely rare and hard to find. I only spared a dish for you to try because I thought you, Uncle, are someone who appreciates fine food."
"However, this pickling method is not limited to this one ingredient. I will definitely pickle more when I have other suitable ingredients in the future," Zuo Shan said with a smile.
"They say you're obligated to someone who feeds you, and I, Old Wu, have eaten these two good things from you. So tell me, what do you need my help with? Don't be shy!"
Wu Qiong would never do anything that involves taking something for nothing. The Wu family's ancestral motto is to be fair and honest in business, treating everyone equally, young and old.
If you have poor character, you may gain more benefits in the short term, but if you ruin your reputation, the losses will be greater in the long run.
Not only will they suffer losses, but their descendants will also suffer losses.
The reason why their family's Wu Lao Lao's small shop has been able to survive for over a hundred years is because of its reputation. Influenced by his father from a young age, Wu Qiong developed a habit of not taking advantage of others.
The small shop earns its profit from the price difference of goods, but it will never take advantage of people for nothing.
"Since you're so straightforward, I'll get straight to the point. I'd like to rent a courtyard in District 48 and would like to ask you to be my guarantor."
I know it's a bit much to make this request after only meeting you twice, but I really don't know anyone here, so I'm asking you for help.
"Of course, if you find it inconvenient, I won't blame you; after all, it's only natural," Zuo Shan said somewhat embarrassedly.
"Oh dear! I thought it was something big, but it turns out it's just being a guarantor. It's a small matter."
Actually, when you people from other areas come to rent a house, you've already paid such a large deposit. If something like theft or fighting happens, that deposit is enough to cover the losses.
"Besides, what trouble could a single girl like you possibly cause? I'm more worried about you getting bullied," Wuqiong said readily.
"Thank you so much, Uncle! I'll rent a place here once I've saved enough for the deposit," Zuo Shan said earnestly.
“Speaking of renting a place, what are your requirements for a house? You might as well tell me first, and I’ll keep an eye out for you and write down any suitable ones for you,” Wu Qiong said enthusiastically.
He really hoped that Zuo Shan could rent a place in District 48. If they lived closer, he could be the first to taste any new dishes she made.
"First, it has to be safe. Then, it has to be a detached house. I don't want to live in the same house as other people. Also, the rent can't be too expensive. That's all I ask for."
"As for furniture, I don't need any. I have a newly made set of bamboo furniture myself," Zuo Shan said.
"Okay, I'll keep an eye on things for you. You should also start saving money. Judging from your condition, you'll probably be due to give birth in a few months, right?"
"I advise you to move here as soon as possible, so that after you have the baby, someone won't be eyeing your bonus. There have been several robberies of single mothers in District 50." Wuqiong advised.
"Thank you, Uncle. That's what I considered when I decided to move to District 48. I just don't know how expensive the rent is here," Zuo Shan said worriedly.
"I actually know that. The rent here, if a detached house is well-maintained and in a good location, will cost at least 1,000 silver coins per month, and even a less desirable one will cost no less than 600 silver coins."
This price is a bit expensive for you, but safety is definitely guaranteed.
In our District 48, if you're caught burglarizing a house, you'll be fined more than ten times the amount. If you can't pay the fine, you'll be sent to the Vanguard Battalion as cannon fodder—a place where you're almost guaranteed to die.
"As for robbery, those who cause injury will be sent directly to the Vanguard Battalion; those who do not cause injury will be fined more than 50 times the amount. Those who cannot pay the fine will also be sent to the Vanguard Battalion," Uncle Wu said.
Zuo Shan did not press further about what kind of organization the Vanguard Battalion was, but it was certainly not a good place to punish criminals.
Receiving this information calmed her down a little.
Zuo Shan decided that no matter what, baby Achen had to be born in District 48. It would be too difficult for a baby to grow up safely in a place like District 50.
"By the way, sir, do you have any small weapons here? They don't need to be anything fancy, secondhand is fine too, as long as they can be used for self-defense," Zuo Shan added.
Having experienced being sexually assaulted by Qiangzi and his two companions, she deeply felt the inconvenience of lacking a weapon for self-defense. If she had had a sharp knife at the time, she wouldn't have needed to hold up a scalpel to cut the man's leg; she could have simply stabbed him in the back and ended the matter.
"As a single woman, you should have something for self-defense. You're in luck; I happen to have a dagger that someone consigned for sale."
The man had just finished the renovation when something happened at home, and he needed money, so he consigned it to me for sale.
I have carefully examined the item. It is made of pure snow cloud brocade stone. If I were to sell it to an outsider, it would fetch at least two thousand silver coins.
"If I give it to you, I won't make a profit. The person who consigned it said the minimum is 1600 silver coins. If you think it's reasonable, just take it." Wu Qiong took it out from under the counter and handed it to her.
He picked up the left blade and weighed it in his hand. It was quite heavy, unlike the kind of knife made of cheap alloy.
The dagger had a leather sheath, the type of animal hide of which I don't know, but it looked quite flexible.
After drawing the scabbard, I saw that its blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, light yet sturdy, gleaming with a cold light, as if it could cut through anything.
With a casual wave of his hand, it was like a bolt of lightning in the dark night, instantly shattering the tranquil space.
Most importantly, it is very small and exquisite, and it is difficult to be discovered when hidden close to the body, making it a perfect weapon for surprise attacks.
"I'll take it!" Zuo Shan immediately showed his wristwatch and transferred the money, seemingly afraid that Wu Qiong would change his mind.
Wu Qiong lowered his head to hide the smile in his eyes. This silly girl didn't know that a dagger forged from pure snow cloud brocade stone would cost at least five thousand silver coins.
This dagger was given to Zuo Shan cheaply by the son-in-law of the Lin family's small shop in District 49.
Wu Qiong had no idea what grudges or entanglements existed between them, but he had a good impression of Zuo Shan. Since she was the one who benefited from this, he agreed.
I was originally thinking about what excuse to use to get rid of the dagger to her, but she took the initiative to ask to buy a self-defense weapon, so I took the opportunity to get rid of it to her.
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