Xin He squinted skeptically, "Did the Wang Family really say that?"
Manager Jin said helplessly, "Yeah, they claim that our Winding Pavilion is doing shady business because the real boss never shows up. Now that such a suspicious shipment has arrived, the Wang Family is left feeling uncertain and insists that you personally come to pick up the goods."
Xin He responded coldly, "If I go personally, will they be reassured?"
The silent Little Charcoal frowned, "Madam should be careful in case of deceit."
Manager Jin hesitated, "If there is deceit, isn’t that a bit unreasonable? Business is all about dealing with money right? Now they are trying to unmask our boss, what’s the point of it?"
What confused Manager Jin more was how reckless the Wang Family was acting this time. Weren’t they afraid of offending people? What’s the position of the Winding Pavilion in Lian’an Town now? If the Wang Family intentionally held up the Pavilion’s shipment once, could they ruin the Pavilion in the future? 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
The sound of his fingertip tapping on the table lightly echoed, Ji Xinhe muttered, "The Wang Family dares to act so recklessly. It’s like gambling with their family’s future. Unless there’s someone backing them from behind, they wouldn’t dare to be this bold."
"So, what are we to do about this..." Manager Jin was only sensitive to business dealings, he had no idea what to do when it involved other things.
Xin He said calmly, "They want to meet me to probe the depths of the Winding Pavilion. This is quite a smart move."
Little Charcoal said, "Then I think you should not go, let me go instead."
Xin He touched her lips, contemplated for a moment, and said, "I must go."
Little Charcoal knitted his eyebrows, "What if there’s really deceit..."
Xin He shook her head, "This whole thing is suspicious. Unless I go personally, I won’t feel reassured."
She had dealt with the Wang Family before. She had also met Lady Wang at Ah Guai’s birthday banquet last time. Lady Wang was a very simple and noble wife. Master Wang was also very cautious in his actions, even timid, not the kind of person who would act so presumptuously.
That was quite different from what was happening today.
Ji Xinhe couldn’t help but suspect that someone from the imperial court was behind the scenes. After all, it was a fact that the Emperor was starting to fear Yu State and was planning to secretly send Duan Lan to investigate the state.
Therefore, Ji Xinhe had to be more cautious and even considered that possibility.
If it really was the case, then this was not just a simple business matter anymore. If it involved the power of the imperial court, Ji Xinhe would be very sensitive to it, and therefore this time, she had to go.
"But..." Little Charcoal was obviously worried.
Ji Xinhe laughed, "You come with me. You’re the one they see and I will be in the shadows. How about that?"
Knowing that she is not easily swayed once she makes a decision, Little Charcoal reluctantly nodded, "Yes."
When Manager Jin heard that Ji Xinhe really agreed to go, he was first shocked, then quickly said, "This matter is a bit tricky, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to reveal your identity."
Ji Xinhe had not revealed herself in these five years, and now she was going to meet people because of his negligence, no matter how he thought about it, he felt like he was too incompetent.
Ji Xinhe laughed, "I didn’t say I was going to reveal myself, I’m just going to watch. The nominal owner of the Winding Pavilion has always been Ah Nan."
Little Charcoal fist-palmed a salute, "Yes."
"Now, let’s not waste any time and head directly to the wharf. Manager Jin, you send someone to rush there ahead of us and let them know your boss is coming. Have the Wang Family prepare the goods." Xin He ordered.
"Yes, yes, yes, I’ll send someone to do it right away!" Manager Jin rushed off immediately.
After putting on her veil and hat, Xin He and Little Charcoal set off downstairs.
The person under the veil was all covered up, making it impossible for anyone to figure out her appearance which caused no one to pay attention. She left the Winding Pavilion without attracting any notice.
Manager Jin had already sent someone to notify them and also prepared the Pavilion’s carriage. People from the Pavilion escorted her to the wharf.
Xin He did not take Shulan and Xiaoyu with her. They couldn’t fend for themselves and would become a nuisance if she brought them along. The key point was that Xin He was supposed to be hidden and the boss going to the meeting this time was Little Charcoal. How could a man conducting important business carry two maid servants with him? Wouldn’t that make people suspicious?
Although Shulan was quite worried, she thought about it and felt that she would only be an inconvenience if she went, so she refrained.
Xiaoyu said, "Don’t worry. Madam is protected by Little Charcoal, they are not lesser than us."
Seeing the departing carriage, Shulan mumbled, "If this continues, Madam might think I’m useless and really marry me off."
Xiaoyu playfully poked her forehead, laughing at the quip.
——
At first, Yu State only had one large wharf located near the prefecture city, quite a long way from Lian’an Town. But ever since Lian’an Town’s economy took off and more industries used canal transport, a new wharf was established outside Lian’an Town.
So, their journey there now was not far at all.
Inside the horse carriage, Ji Xinhe and Little Charcoal sat facing each other. As she was sipping her tea, she instructed, "When you show up there, just demand for the goods, there’s no need to pander to them. Your presence is already a great honor for the Wang Family. You don’t have to agree to any other requests. We need to have our own bottom line and temper."
Little Charcoal responded, "I know how to proceed, madam can rest assured."
Xin He nodded, "Mhm," she trusted him in handling matters.
After riding the carriage for about half an hour, they finally arrived at the wharf not far from Lian’an Town.
Although the wharf was newly built, it was buzzing with activity. There were many ships docked along the wharf. Men dressed simply, some even bare-chested, were sweating as they unloaded goods from the ships or loaded goods onto them. Their hustling and bustling added a lot of vitality to this wharf.
Little Charcoal slightly lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked at the sight, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Why did they choose such a place for the meeting?"
Xin He answered nonchalantly, "They probably didn’t expect that the hidden boss of the renowned Winding Pavilion would be a woman."
While they were talking, the driver had already stopped the carriage at the wharf. An attendant from the Pavilion ran off to find a wharf official, "Our boss is here, where are the goods?"
The official peered at the carriage and snorted, "Have your boss come out and talk. Who knows whether there’s a human or ghost sitting inside that carriage?"
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