Qin Xiaozhou arrived at a park on the east side of the county town and realized it was the location of the county's Chamber of Commerce. After four or five months in the county town, she finally managed to get in touch with the upper echelons of the county.
In the garden, amidst pavilions and towers, Zhu Xian walked around the corner. "Manager Qin, we meet again. It seems I'm no longer the only woman here this year."
Qin Xiaozhou greeted him briefly, "What brings you here? Are you leaving?"
Zhu Xian curled the corners of her mouth, with a hint of indifference, "Just showing up to make an appearance, that's all. Are you coming with me?"
Qin Xiaozhou nodded, went inside briefly, exchanged a few polite words, and then followed. She disliked these kinds of occasions and wasn't interested in the Chamber of Commerce; as long as she didn't offend anyone, she was fine. They walked to the eastern dock, where three large cargo ships, each weighing tens of tons, were moored along the riverbank, with workers carrying heavy loads back and forth on them.
The steward ran off the ship, "Why is Miss here? This shipment will be loaded in half an hour, and we'll definitely depart for Wanzhou on time at noon."
Zhu Xian nodded, "When we get to Wanzhou, you'll know what to do."
"Yes, yes, yes, I will find out more about the Zhu family's affairs," the steward quickly assured him.
Qin Xiaozhou followed quietly behind her until noon before finally asking, "What does Miss Zhu want to do?"
"You're quite perceptive." Zhu Xian didn't mince words. "I'd like to do a business deal with you. Tell me your dessert milk recipes, and I'll open a shop in Yujing. We'll split the profits with you forty percent. How about it?"
Qin Xiaozhou pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay, deal."
Zhu Xian has many large transport ships that travel to many places, and judging from what she said at the dock just now, she seems to have a lot of connections in Wanzhou. Becoming a partner with such a person would be very beneficial with only one drawback: whether the person behind her is favored by those in power. If she is feared by those in power or is not favored by important officials in the court, the Lu family will also be implicated.
However, the Lu family is now highly sought after and will always be coveted by others. The only solution is to find a powerful backer, and Sun Yuanyuan and Zhu Xian are the most reliable backers Qin Xiaozhou can find so far.
Zhu Xian smiled and said, "You're quite straightforward. Fine, since you're sincere, I'll show you my sincerity too. From now on, your embroidery will be shipped through my ship, and I'll give you the most suitable price."
Qin Xiaozhou immediately pulled the person to sign and seal the document, and the matter was finally settled in black and white.
On the river to the east, a small boat was heading towards Fenggu County. Liu Hehua changed the water in the seafood container again and again, turning it into the inland river. Each time she changed the water, she couldn't completely empty the original seawater; she had to put in a bundle of kelp to bring the river water closer to the seawater so that the seafood could stay alive. She wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve. "Husband, how much longer until we get there?"
If it's not ready soon, the salt won't be diluted in the kelp anymore, and the seafood will die if it's only kept in river water.
Liu Zhuangshi rowed with difficulty, "Almost there, almost there. We'll be there after we get around this mountain. We're late this time. I don't know if Manager Qin still wants these goods."
They had agreed on a two-week delivery period, but it turned out to be a month late. If the Lu family didn't want the goods, the couple didn't know where to find a market. They fell silent, their brows furrowed with worry. Liu Zhuangshi sighed, "If Manager Qin doesn't want them, we'll go north along the river and sell as much as we can. There's bound to be a way out."
That being said, seafood is not popular inland. The seafood has a stronger smell than river fish and shrimp, which many people find off-putting. It can take ten days or half a month to sell even half of the goods. Liu Hehua almost burst into tears.
They drove straight into the county town, to the river behind the Lu family's house, where Liu Hehua tidied her clothes before knocking on the door.
Ma Da Ge's wife was washing her hands in the backyard, preparing to skewer meat. Hearing the knock, she hesitated to open the door. "Who is it?"
Liu Hehua forced a smile and said, "Is Manager Qin here? It's us, from the Liu family."
"Da Bao, go to the shop and call Sister Yan. Tell her someone is knocking on the door, and their surname is Liu." Ma Da Ge's wife stood at the door, guarding against someone breaking in. She had been working here for quite some time and knew that apart from the few regular delivery people, all other customers only came in through the main entrance of the shop.
Liu Zhuang was very anxious at the bow of the boat. "What's wrong, wife? Why won't you open the door?"
If they can't sell this seafood, the couple's efforts will have been in vain.
Liu Hehua wasn't sure either. "Don't worry, husband, let's wait a bit."
A moment later, the back door opened, and Lu Yan ran out, "Brother Liu, Sister-in-law Liu, you've finally arrived! Come in quickly."
"Oh, okay, okay." Liu Hehua was a little flustered and explained ingratiatingly, "I originally agreed with Manager Qin to come at the end of May, but because things were not peaceful at the seaside, I was late."
Lu Yan ran to the riverbank and peered into the boat at the seafood. "Wow, so much! And they're all still alive. Please, brothers and sisters-in-law, carry them in."
Liu Hehua was taken aback. "You want them all?" A child not even ten years old didn't seem capable of making decisions. She tentatively asked, "You want all of these? Shouldn't you ask your sister-in-law?"
"No need, no need." Lu Yan waved her hand. "My sister-in-law isn't here right now. She loves this kind of food and has been nagging about it for ages. Hurry up and move everything in. If we start cooking now, we can still have it for dinner tonight."
Ma Dage's wife whispered, "Now Yan is in charge of the shop."
Liu Hehua was quite surprised and didn't say anything more. She and Liu Zhuangshi carried the seafood into the backyard. Fearing that the smell would be too strong in the summer and affect the customers in the restaurant, the couple cleaned the seafood at the entrance of the backyard.
Qin Xiaozhou circled back home from the other side of the alley. As soon as he entered the shop, he heard that Liu Hehua and her husband had arrived. They came to the backyard and said, "Brother Liu and Sister-in-law, did something happen on the way? You've been gone for quite some time."
Liu Hehua hurriedly wiped her hands clean, her face full of worry. "There are Japanese pirates on the coast, it's so chaotic. Our hometown county was sealed off for a month, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. The Japanese pirates were only driven back a few days ago, and we came here with our travel permits, but we are still so late."
"I was just craving something; I'll be able to eat it sooner or later, it's alright." Qin Xiaozhou concealed his thoughts. There were Japanese pirates causing chaos on the coast, and he wondered how many people had died or been injured. "Are any of you injured? What's the situation on the coast?"
Liu Zhuangshi shook his head. "My wife and I were lucky to escape the Japanese pirates. Many people died while we went to the beach to collect goods. One village was even massacred. Alas, what a tragedy. A hundred or so people, all dead. It's hot now, and they've all rotted and no one is collecting their bodies... Fortunately, the government didn't conscript men, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to leave. As for the rest of us ordinary people, I don't know."
As the sun set, the Lu family's backyard became lively. Seafood was being grilled one by one, its aroma filling the air. Across the street, the proprietress of the cloth shop knocked on the door with a smug look on her face. "Sister Qin, I'd like to trade this cloth for something with you. Oh dear, my grandson smelled it and started crying and begging to eat it. He's made me lose all face."
There was plenty of seafood today, and Qin Xiaozhou generously gave someone half a wooden basin. She also accepted the cloth without hesitation.
No sooner had I sat down than there was another knock on the door. This time it was Zhu Xian and Cui Yun.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com