The two walked to Chakchin's stall and were surprised to find Zhao Changqing there, chatting with the second prince.
The stall was simple.
Chakchin remained seated in his chair, while Zhao Changqing sat on a sack filled with goods.
Although the burlap sack was not pretty, he managed to make it look like a dragon coiled and a tiger crouching.
He Youyou secretly praised him, thinking, "He truly deserves to be called a high-ranking official, a relative of the Zhao royal family."
As the two approached, Chakchin's entourage stepped forward and blocked their path, preventing them from getting closer.
He Youyou and Cheng Tingrui exchanged a glance.
Understood. It's a diplomatic meeting between two countries, so unauthorized personnel are naturally not allowed to listen in.
Just as he was about to turn back, he heard Zhao Changqing's voice.
"Second Prince, they are my men. Let them in."
As a result, He Youyou and her companion were mistaken for Zhao Changqing's men and allowed to pass.
He Youyou didn't stand on ceremony and walked over to the two of them, finding a burlap sack to sit down.
Cheng Tingrui simply stood there and listened to their conversation.
Zhao Changqing clearly had no intention of avoiding the two of them and continued the previous topic.
"Second Prince, if that's the case, then from now on, whenever we encounter anyone from your country who violates our borders, we shall arrest them and hand them over to Your Highness for disposal."
Chakchin nodded: "I will make them compensate for any losses your country suffers with their own property."
Upon hearing these two sentences, He Youyou could immediately tell that the atmosphere between the two was friendly, the progress was smooth, and they had reached a tacit understanding.
After exchanging pleasantries, they finally ended the conversation.
Zhao Changqing turned his head and looked at He Youyou.
He Youyou knew that this was an opportunity for her to speak.
She smiled gratefully at Zhao Changqing: "Governor Zhao, if you have something to attend to, you can go ahead and do it. We can talk to the Second Prince here."
Zhao Changqing didn't even blink: "I'm not busy."
Sigh, they've decided to eavesdrop on their conversation here.
He Youyou didn't mind, and reached out to take out some loose silver and gave it to Xiao Wu: "Xiao Wu, go to the tea stall over there and ask the owner to brew a pot of tea, using the tea leaves I just gave him."
"Okay, sure." Xiao Wu took the silver and ran off.
He Youyou then turned to Chakchin: "Second Prince, I can help you with what you want. Would you mind taking the time to talk to me?"
Chakchin narrowed his deep brown eyes: "You? A woman?"
Wow, he's a chauvinist...
He Youyou, however, was not angry.
Having been in the business world for so many years, what hasn't she seen?
I've seen plenty of people who look down on women.
If she were so easily provoked, she would have been finished long ago.
In this world, there are all kinds of people and all kinds of values.
But what does that have to do with me?
She's in this line of work not to correct other people's values, but to make money.
If the other party doesn't buy into this approach, then try another one.
There's always a way to achieve your goal.
The tea stall owner brought over a pot of tea on a wooden tray, along with four teacups.
He Youyou picked up a teacup and handed it to Chakchin, smiling sweetly: "If the Second Prince doesn't want to talk to women, we still have men."
If you haven't reached the summit yet, then learn to bend over.
Chakchin accepted the teacup.
He Youyou got up from the burlap sack and made room for Cheng Tingrui.
"Master Cheng, it's all up to you now."
Cheng Tingrui understood and cupped his hands in greeting to Chakchin: "Second Prince, would you be willing to speak with me?"
Chakchin neither confirmed nor denied the allegations.
That means you don't object.
He Youyou believed that Cheng Tingrui had the ability, so she didn't need to worry about anything.
If he can't even handle this simple matter, he could never have become the head of the Cheng family business.
She then turned and left Chakchin's stall.
I hadn't walked more than a few steps when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.
It was Zhao Changqing who caught up.
He Youyou glanced at him sideways: "What, Grand Commander, aren't you going to listen to what they're talking about?"
"What else is there to talk about with a businessman? It's just business."
"Aren't you curious about what kind of business they're talking about?"
Zhao Changqing did not answer, but took two big steps forward and blocked He Youyou's way.
He stared intently at her: "What exactly is your relationship with Cheng Tingrui?"
He Youyou looked at him calmly: "A cooperative relationship."
"What kind of cooperation?"
"I have a stake in the Youruitang caravan, and Cheng Tingrui is in charge of management and operations. However, given the Cheng family's status, I hope the Governor can help keep this a secret."
"Hanzhang." He said firmly, his voice deep.
He Youyou chuckled: "Okay, Hanzhang, please keep this a secret."
Zhao Changqing then stepped back and returned to her side, walking forward with her.
"Is Cheng Tingrui planning to go it alone behind the Cheng family's back?"
"Otherwise what? People have to save themselves. At such a young age, are you just going to stand by and watch yourself be dragged to your death by those vampires from the Cheng family?"
Zhao Changqing remained silent.
If it were him, he really wouldn't have had a better choice.
“Zhao Changqing…”
"...Han Zhang".
"Hanzhang, tonight, invite Cha Keqin and Cheng Tingrui to have dinner together. Otherwise, once I leave, there won't be another chance."
Zhao Changqing suddenly turned to look at her: "Are you leaving?"
"Well, things here are almost done, and I should go back now. Ah Li is still at home, and I miss her after being away for so long."
Zhao Changqing asked, "Where would you like to eat?"
He Youyou thought for a moment.
Given Chakchin's status, he certainly couldn't enter the military tents of the Youbei Camp.
"Let's set up a pot and have hot pot right outside the tent at Youruitang."
"……good."
Outdoor cooking simply can't be very refined.
That evening, Zhao Changqing arranged for several people to set up a makeshift kitchen on the ground.
Firewood was added to the stove, water was added to the pot, and a hot pot base was placed in, and it simmered away.
The cooks' camp delivered various kinds of beef, mutton, and salted meat, as well as various kinds of soaked mushrooms.
There weren't many fresh vegetables, only some pickled vegetables and preserved vegetables.
Chakchin looked at the mushrooms and shook his head.
After giving a few instructions, some people went back to their own stalls, brought out some mountain delicacies, and threw them into the pot.
Besides various mushrooms, He Youyou also saw an old ginseng root.
Hot pot has existed since ancient times, and the Wuhuan Kingdom was no stranger to this way of eating.
But this spicy hot pot broth really opened his eyes.
Chakchin put a piece of meat in his mouth and praised, "Everyone says that the Central Plains is a vast and rich land with exquisite food, and that is certainly true."
Zhao Changqing lowered his head and ate his meat, remaining silent.
How should I put it?
He had never tried it before he met He Youyou.
Cheng Tingrui's eyes lit up: "Governor Zhao, may I ask where this spice comes from?"
Zhao Changqing immediately recognized this as a merchant's old habit: upon seeing something rare, he immediately began to wonder if he could make money from it.
He pointed at He Youyou with his chin: "Look, she gave it to me."
The blame has successfully shifted to He Youyou.
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