The sky pressed down, dark and heavy, heralding a rain that was about to fall.

The senior maids moved in a flurry — some taking umbrellas, others reaching for capes, with wooden clogs readied as well. Yet not one of them tried to talk their miss out of going, because they all knew it was pointless.

At the docks, everyone moved with hurried steps — more than a few were outright running — which made this one unhurried group stand out all the more.

The servant standing watch at the docks spotted the eldest young miss’s carriage and quickly stepped forward to meet her. Once she stepped out, he reported, “Eldest Young Miss, it is that ship.”

Even without him pointing, Hua Zhi had already recognized it. She had seen ships from the Donglai Shipping Company back in Zhenyang and knew their markings.

Only when she saw who had disembarked from the ship was she a little surprised. She stepped forward and offered a measured bow, smiling, “I did not expect you both to come in person. You have worked hard, Young Master Xia, and you too, Merchant Wu.”

Xia Hong and Wu Zheng returned the bow quickly. Having come to this unfamiliar capital, the sight of the eldest young miss was the first thing that gave them some reassurance. In this city where a true dragon roosted, the sense of pressure bearing down on them from all directions had set their hearts trembling.

Sensing their unease, Hua Zhi steered the conversation to their area of expertise. “I would like to have a look at the goods, if that is agreeable?”

“Of course.” Both men’s faces brightened at mention of the cargo that had brought them profit and opportunity on this voyage. Xia Hong said, “We were careful the whole way. Losses should be around ten percent. As per your instructions, we’ve kept the ones that didn’t survive packed in ice — none of them have gone bad.”

Wu Zheng was also smiling. “If it weren’t for the few days mid-voyage when the waves were too rough and we had to anchor and wait for calm seas, the losses would have been even smaller.”

So that was the reason — no wonder it had arrived several days later than expected. Hua Zhi’s heart settled, and she let Ying Chun and Bao Xia support her on either side as she boarded.

The ship was large, and a cold, briny dampness struck her face. Xia Hong explained, “We did set out ice, but Merchant Wu said it was still better to put things somewhere with good airflow, so we positioned the ice basins at the openings.”

“That was the right approach.” Hua Zhi crouched down and reached out to pick one up. Ying Chun’s quick eyes and quick hands shot out to grab her hand before she could — and in the next instant, Li De had already picked up the fish that the eldest young miss had been about to reach for.

Hua Zhi gave up resisting and took it from him with a helpless look. “If I only look at them from a distance, how am I supposed to assess their condition properly?”

Ying Chun was even more helpless — if the miss was going to do everything herself, what were they there for!

Hua Zhi picked through several varieties in turn — pressing, smelling, looking — and found conditions better than she had anticipated. The freshness had taken a hit, but for purposes of making broth it was still quite acceptable, and it could also be processed into dried goods. Either way, nothing would go to waste.

She then went to inspect the surviving live seafood. The seawater they had used had been kept quite spare — roughly half remained — which should be enough to keep them for a few more days.

“Bao Xia, take a few people and select a sample of each variety to bring back.”

“Yes.”

After letting Ying Chun wash her hands for her, Hua Zhi disembarked. These goods would bring her profit, but their smell was truly not pleasant.

“Miss, Steward Xu has arrived.”

The seafood shop was no small operation and required a managing steward to oversee all matters large and small. Steward Xu, whose name was Xu Biao, had been selected through the maids’ collective deliberation, and he had indeed proven capable.

Xu Biao motioned for the others to wait to one side and came forward himself to pay his respects.

“Eldest Young Miss.”

Hua Zhi gave a nod and looked toward Wu Zheng and Xia Hong. “Could I ask you both to have your people help unload the cargo? Also, please send a steward along to the shop — the goods are to be weighed there.”

“As you say, Eldest Young Miss. Steward Xu, you may board — I’ve already given the instructions.”

Xu Biao waited until the eldest young miss gave her nod before leading his people up onto the ship.

With the business properly settled, Hua Zhi had the leisure to speak of other things. “You both made the trip to the capital together — do you have other affairs to attend to?”

The two exchanged a glance, and it was Xia Hong who spoke first. “Father has put this route in my hands and sent me to the capital to broaden my horizons and learn what I can — and if I manage to negotiate a deal or two while I’m here, all the better.”

“I do not have dealings with others in the same trade, so I am afraid I am of little use to Young Master Xia in that regard.” Hua Zhi turned to Wu Zheng. “And Merchant Wu?”

“I myself simply lack the capacity for more. The volume the eldest young miss requires is substantial — our fishing company already has local business to handle, and we had to join hands with another firm just to supply the order. I dare not let my ambitions run any further.” Wu Zheng smiled. “This is the first delivery, and I could not feel at ease handing it off without coming in person. Besides, I wanted to take the opportunity to have a look at the capital. I’ve traveled to a number of places before, but the capital — this is my very first time.”

“I’ll arrange someone to show Merchant Wu around the places worth visiting, so the trip won’t be wasted.”

Wu Zheng was more than glad to hear it and expressed his thanks with repeated bows.

“As for Young Master Xia…” Hua Zhi paused briefly in thought. “Here is what I suggest: I will assign you a person who is not widely recognized. They may not be able to help you directly with business, but they can help you steer clear of people who are not to be provoked. The capital is never short of powerful and noble families — should you give offense to one, Young Master Xia, you might find it difficult to leave.”

Xia Hong was a man of ambition and ability. Though these words gave him a fright, he steeled himself and decided to go ahead regardless — even if he came away with no deals struck, he could still observe how business was conducted in the capital.

“For anything you need, simply let the servants know. Steward Li, please see both guests settled.”

Li De bowed in acknowledgment.

Wu Zheng and Xia Hong were both taken aback — they had not anticipated being offered hospitality on top of everything else. The eldest young miss clearly came from a distinguished family, and they had not even been certain they would meet her at all on this trip, yet here they were being looked after with such thoughtful care.

Wu Zheng said, “Eldest Young Miss, there is no need for this — we can sleep on the ship.”

“You have come from afar — this is the least a host can do.” Hua Zhi looked up at the sky, unwilling to linger on the matter. “This rain — I’m not certain whether it will fall or not. Bao Xia, go tell Xu Biao to hire some men from the docks and get the fish sent to the seafood shop as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.”

Just as she was about to bid them farewell and turn back, Ying Chun leaned close and said softly, “Miss, someone is coming.”

Hua Zhi looked back. Three men were approaching, all of them unfamiliar faces.

“What an unexpected meeting, Eldest Young Miss — I am Liu Ruyi of the Liu family.”

“Peng Runze of the Peng family.”

“Qi Hongdong of the Qi family.”

Hua Zhi returned their greeting with a bow. “My regards to the three young masters.”

Liu Ruyi glanced at the men hauling large barrels off the ship. “Is this a new business of the eldest young miss’s?”

“It is. We have just opened a shop called Seafood in the south of the city, dealing in dishes made from things caught in the sea. I welcome you all to come and try it sometime.”

“Food from the sea? I’ve had it once — though I must say, the taste is rather… difficult to describe. Is the eldest young miss confident it is actually good?”

Hua Zhi could see that of these three, Liu Ruyi was the one who led. She was not bothered by the skepticism and simply replied, “Young Master Liu surely knows that I deal only in food. If it were not good, would I not be ruining my own reputation? Come and taste it for yourself, and you will know.”

This much the entire capital would have to concede: every food venture the eldest young miss had undertaken to date had been without exception delicious — whether the preserved fruit, or the dozens of shops lining the green moss lane and the oriole cloud lane, or the reservation-only private dining restaurant, each with its own distinct flavors and its own devoted following. Even the fried dough and dried meat strips she had provided for the examination candidates two days ago had been outrageously good. His own household had a candidate sitting the exams, and he had snuck a couple of pieces that day; even now, the memory made him want more.

Wait — hold on. The person who had made those dried meat strips was standing right here!