It was also decades ago that the Xu family declined. The incense they made could not be sold, and the Xu family's descendants no longer studied or engaged in the incense-making business.
As the Xu family settled down, the population gradually dwindled, and the Xu clan members were repeatedly bullied by outsiders.
More than a decade ago, a highly skilled martial artist emerged from the Xu family. In order to protect his clansmen, he moved them to a mountain outside Yongzhou City, set up a stronghold there, and named it Tianxiang Village.
The previous chieftain was the father of the current chieftain.
The current chieftain is a woman with extremely high martial arts skills and an upright character. It is impossible for her to do such a thing. Even if it is just to ensure that the people of her tribe have food, she would never do such a thing.
After listening to Jiang Wenhan's words, Li Mai fell silent.
Xu Changhuan?
He remembered that the wife of An Nanyang, the town magistrate of Xiabei Town, was named Xu Changle.
Putting aside the fragrance I smelled on her last time, just based on her name alone, we must be family.
It seems that An Nanyang's wife really did come from Tianxiang Village.
"Is Tianxiang Village very poor?" Li Mai suddenly asked.
Jiang Wenhan shook his head, "Fortunately, in the past ten years or so, they have cleared a lot of land on that mountain area, and they grow crops and raise pigs and sheep. They have no problem making a living and having enough to eat."
“But I heard that people outside call them a bandit stronghold,” Li Mai said.
Jiang Wenhan shook his head, "I don't know how this news got out, but based on my understanding of them, it's impossible for them to rob passersby."
"But that night, we heard it with our own ears. One of the waiters at the inn gave them the information that they were using a sleeping potion to attack the guests. Later, the waiter confessed that they were from Tianxiang Village."
"That incense must have already been leaked. When we were in the village before, someone used that incense to drug the wealthy families in the village and steal their silver."
“My house was also targeted, but luckily I’m sensitive to smells and reminded my husband to cover his mouth and nose in time, so we didn’t fall for their tricks.” Li Mai said, looking at Jiang Wenhan.
Jiang Wenhan pursed his lips and remained silent, a look of doubt in his eyes. He was wondering where the bewitching incense had come from.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Li Mai suddenly asked, "Brother Jiang, have you been to Tianxiang Village?"
Jiang Wenhan nodded, "I've been there."
Li Mai laughed, "So, the supplier behind Jiang's Wenxiangzhai is actually Tianxiangzhai, right?"
When Li Mai said those words, Jiang Wenhan's expression changed instantly.
Li Mai looked at him calmly, "If I want to know, there's no information in this world that I can't find."
Jiang Wenhan stared at Li Mai with a stern face, then laughed heartily after a long while, "So, Li Mai, when you said we could have other business collaborations, were you referring to Wenxiangzhai?"
Li Mai smiled. "So, your shop has all kinds of incense, but not agarwood, right?"
Jiang Wenhan fell silent.
Mr. Yang quietly refilled their teacups and then sat quietly, listening.
He didn't understand business, so he didn't interrupt.
What he didn't expect was that, in this young couple's relationship, it was ultimately Mrs. Zhou who made the decisions.
In this short time, after so much talk, this young master Zhou only said one sentence; most of the time it was Mrs. Zhou who did the talking.
It's not that he looks down on women, but rather that this seemingly very opinionated Mr. Zhou is so indulgent towards his wife.
Seeing that Jiang Wenhan was silent, Li Mai smiled again, "I don't plan to do the incense business for the time being. I just want Brother Jiang to pass on a message that I will go to Tianxiang Village."
"If Tianxiang Village wants to continue to exist, it would be best to find out who made the bewitching incense and who leaked it. If I hear of any more women getting into trouble because of the bewitching incense, Tianxiang Village will be extinct."
Jiang Wenhan's expression also calmed down a bit. "Girl, we're just doing business. Those things don't seem to be our business!"
"Besides, Tianxiang Village is not one to be bullied anymore," Jiang Wenhan said with a smile.
Li Mai nodded. "I am indeed a businessman, but I also know where the bottom line of morality is. Brother Jiang, do you think I should tolerate someone who once tried to steal my money and take my life?"
After saying this, Li Mai turned to look at a potted plant about half a person's height outside the open door and said softly, "Brother Jiang, take a closer look at that potted plant. Sometimes, whether it lives or dies is just a matter of my will."
After saying that, Li Mai clenched her fist slightly towards the potted plant, and under their gaze, the half-person-high potted plant slowly withered, its leaves turned yellow, and its stem gradually turned black.
Li Mai glanced at Jiang Wenhan and Mr. Yang's expressions indifferently. As she wished, their eyes widened instantly in disbelief.
"I can decide someone's life or death with just a handshake," Li Mai said softly. Then she slowly opened her palm towards the potted plant and gently brushed it. The withered flower gradually turned green again and came back to life.
In the blink of an eye, it returned to its original state.
After reading it, Zhou Quan glanced at Jiang Wenhan indifferently and said, "I suggest that Brother Jiang should investigate your Wenxiangzhai properly when you get back. Perhaps some people are secretly selling things they shouldn't be selling!"
Jiang Wenhan was deeply shocked at this moment, and even felt a sense of fear towards Li Mai.
That's terrifying. If you can control the life and death of a potted plant in the blink of an eye, what about a human?
Now he finally realized how terrifying and formidable Li Mai was.
He wasn't unaware of the bewitching incense, but because the profits were considerable, he turned a blind eye.
As Zhou Quan said, that item was indeed produced secretly by Wenxiangzhai and would not be openly sold in the shop.
Moreover, he and Tianxiang Village are related by marriage; Xu Changhuan is his aunt's daughter.
An Nanyang's wife is Xu Changhuan's twin sister.
Chang Huan is great, Chang Le is small.
Neither Changhuan nor Changle knew about the bewitching incense; it was secretly made for them by someone from the Xu family at Wenxiangzhai.
But he knew he absolutely could not admit this to Li Mai.
Therefore, he nodded emphatically, "Okay, I will investigate this matter carefully when I get back. If anyone dares to sell that kind of thing in my shop, I will definitely not let them off easily."
Li Mai nodded, "Brother Jiang is so generous. Then I'll trouble you to put your heart into this matter."
"As for our cooperation, it depends on fate, and the time is not right yet. But don't worry, Brother Jiang, Jiang's fabrics are good, and I will continue to order from them."
Jiang Wenhan responded.
Li Mai and Zhou Quan drank tea for a while longer before saying goodbye and leaving.
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